When I attended the D23 Expo last August and learned more about the Marvel history, along with pretty much the entire cast of The Avengers walking out on stage and giving us a preview of the movie (twice), my interest and excitement was piqued. Then, time got in the way and we really hadn’t seen any of the other Marvel films, aside from the first Iron Man. Knowing this screening was coming up, my husband and I went on an Avengers movie-watching spree and got caught up on the franchise. [We still have to see Hulk, but I feel like his story was the easiest to catch up on within The Avengers.]

If you need to catch up on the story behind The Avengers, here’s a featurette which will tell you more, including commentary from Joss Whedon and the actors.

In tweeting about our movie marathon, folks would reply with their favorite Avenger film, and in the case of my Avengers giveaway, everyone seems to have a different favorite character. After seeing almost all of the movies, I still cannot choose a favorite! I love Iron Man and Robert Downey Jr. and think his acerbic wit will always keep him close to my heart, but I also found myself really appreciating the story of Captain America and how his character as a man made him who he was, even before the shot of power he received. And then Thor, who doesn’t appreciate an arrogant heir apparent getting the lesson of humility and humanity (while being quite easy on the eyes at the same time)? So still, even after seeing Marvel’s The Avengers, I cannot choose a favorite character. And perhaps that is why The Avengers is such an amazing film. There truly is something for everyone, and if your favorite is in trouble, another Avenger will be there to help him (or her) out.

Iron Man and Captain America are reluctant but eventual partners

All of my thoughts aside, I felt the best person to write this review was my husband, a true comic book geek and fan with very pronounced opinions on the subject. I will just add my own thoughts that I think Joss Whedon‘s writing is the true star. The banter and one-liners within the film are reminiscent of every show Whedon has written, and that is what has created such fanboys and girls who think he can do no wrong. I’m there with them now. I think he got it and the audience in our screening appreciated it, as did we. We learned so much more about S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Avengers themselves and watching their alliance unfold before us was a treat. Loki is a great opponent and several times throughout the plot, just when I thought I knew what he was going to do, he surprised me. The ending battle when the Avengers had realized how powerful they were as a team, was full of non-stop action, laughs, and cheers. I left the film excited to see it again and anticipating the next Avengers installment. I cannot think of another superhero film that left me feeling that way. And now that I’ve said my piece, here are my husband, J.F. DiMarzio‘s more in-depth thoughts:

[Warning: some spoilers ahead!]

…

If you are a fan of Marvel’s Avengers you are going to have many reasons to love this movie.  If you are not a fan of Marvel’s Avengers, there are still reasons why you are going to love this movie.

Joss Whedon with Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, and Robert Downey Jr.

Avengers is the culmination of 5 movies worth of set up.  The Hulk, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America were all the set up for this comic book nerd’s dream. Joss Whedon was the perfect pick to helm the single most important comic book movie to date.  His use of humor fit in perfectly with the story.  Fans of Firefly or Buffy will feel right at home with the wit of Joss Whedon (there is even a subtle nod to Firefly as Black Widow swears in Chinese under her breath).

So, what makes this movie so great? This is going to be hard to answer with giving away some spoilers. Be forewarned.

Diehard comic book fans can relax, knowing that their beloved Avengers franchise was handled by someone who loves the characters and the story just as much as they do with the very opening scene. The first moments reveal a Skrull.  Joss Whedon makes it clear he knows what he is doing, by using the Skrull as the major force of evil in the movie.  The best part of using the Skrull is that he doesn’t even stop to introduce them.  For the fans this means no boring backstories to sit through. Whedon unapologetically jumps right into the Avengers’ storyline letting the 5 previous movies provide all of the setup.  The best part of this approach is that even if you do not know who the Skrull are, you do not feel left out; you quickly accept that this is “a bad guy” and you move on.

Where Whedon’s talents really shine are in how he incorporated each member of the Avengers’ abilities and was able to resolve the plot by giving each hero a specific goal to accomplish.  If each goal is not achieved, the team fails.  In this way, I cannot point to one Avenger and say “If it wasn’t for X they would have lost.”  By doing this, much of the intra-team bickering and frailty that was present in the comics is intact in the film.

Captain America mid-battle

Going into the film, I was worried about three things; how would Captain America be handled in the present day, how would the 4th Hulk in as many films come across, and would we have to suffer through more painful Thor love story?  Two and a half out of three isn’t bad at all.

Captain America feels totally out of place, as he should.  You see that he is uncomfortable, and very much trying to find his way in a world that he is not familiar with.  Some of the funniest gaffes of the movie come from this “fish out of water” scenario.

As for the Hulk, Mark Ruffalo does the best job he can playing a character that had already be messed up by three other actors. While this is by far the BEST adaptation of Hulk, it is Whedon’s treatment of Bruce Banner that is lacking.  He is portrayed as almost savant-like and at one point even walks around wringing his hands à la Rainman.  This is, in the grand scheme of the things, a very small complaint – and the only flaw I could find with the movie.

Finally there is no Thor love story.  Rather, there is a very quick mention of Jane Foster as having been “moved to safety”.

So, how do you top a movie like this? The closing credits.  Fans of the series know that little Easter eggs lay after the credits in the previous films, and the Avengers, by far, has the best one.  If you do not want to have the secret spoiled, stop reading now.

Thor and Captain America prepare for battle

******

As a set up for, presumably, the next Avengers film, the credits end with the camera back on the Skrull.  This time they are talking to a new character.  Comic book fans will immediately recognize the figure and squeal with delight just as Thanos comes into frame.  Does this mean that next Avengers movie will include the Infinity Gauntlet? Will we see Doctor Strange? Silver Surfer? Spiderman? What do you think?

…

In summary, as if you needed a reminder – go see Marvel’s The Avengers. You will not be disappointed. It is as close to a perfect action film as I’ve ever seen and supporting the franchise will equal more great sequels in the future. Avengers, assemble!

The good folks at Marvel were nice enough to put together a gift pack containing:

- MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS t-shirt in adult  sizes of S, M, L, XL

- MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS set of 6 buttons

- MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS one pair of limited edition 3D glasses

Avengers t-shirt

Avenger's buttons - these are really cool!

Avengers 3D glasses themed to your favorite characters!

The giveaway starts NOW and ends May 9, 2012 (11:59pm EDT) when a winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here. Open to U.S. and Canadian residents only.

To Enter:

1. Comment below with your favorite Marvel character.
2. LIKE Zannaland on Facebook. (Comment below letting me know)
3. Follow Zannaland on Twitter. (Comment below letting me know)

Additional entries may be earned by:

• Sharing the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook – feel free to tweet or share the following: “I just entered to win a Marvel’s The #Avengers Giveaway from @zannaland and you can too! http://bit.ly/J97Yur “.
• Following Zannaland at another social network (subscribe on YouTube, follow on google+, follow on Pinterest).
• LIKE Marvel’s The Avengers on Facebook.
• Follow Marvel’s The Avengers on Twitter.

Giveaway has ended, thanks to all who entered! Congrats to Jim who was chosen from random.org as our winner!

Good luck and see you in theatres May 4th!

First up – Brave: The Video Game. Disney Pixar’s Brave premiers in June and the game will follow suit this summer. I like that this will be a video game that appeals to girls, without being about puppies or Barbie, and I have high hopes that Disney Interactive Media Group will do it justice!

BURBANK, Calif. — (March 19, 2012 ) – Disney Interactive Media Group announced today that “Brave: The Video Game” is currently in development for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii™ system from Nintendo, Nintendo DS™ handheld system and Windows PC/ MAC.  Inspired by “Brave,”  the upcoming Disney•Pixar animated fantasy adventure movie, the video game invites players to run, jump and battle their way through the rugged landscape of mythical and mysterious Scotland. By using their wits and bravery, gamers will also be able to wield a sword and bow to defeat fierce enemies, break a magical curse and save a kingdom. The video game will release summer 2012, in conjunction with the film.

A third person action-adventure, “Brave: The Video Game” expands the tale beyond the movie’s storyline. Gamers can play as Merida, an expert archer and heroine, and in the console versions, players can also play as other entertaining characters from the film.  In addition, they will be able to go on quests through a magical world and solve puzzles to uncover secrets.

“We’re excited to offer a compelling game across multiple platforms for fans of the upcoming Disney•Pixar film ‘Brave’. Whether gamers want to play on their own or with others, they can relive highlights from Merida’s journey and go on new adventures inspired by the legends of Scotland and Disney•Pixar storytelling,” said Javier Ferreira, senior vice president of publishing, Disney Interactive Media Group. “With Kinect™ for Xbox 360 and Move on the PlayStation®3, gamers will feel like they are using a bow and arrow in an archery range and have a truly immersive experience.”

The console versions of “Brave: The Video Game” offer a variety of gameplay, including single-player, co-op for family and friends, and a special Bear mode, where players will be able to play as a bear. Several new opponents created exclusively for the game will challenge the player throughout the experience, culminating with an ultimate boss battle to complete the adventure. The Nintendo DS game is filled with its own exciting missions and a myriad of characters to engage single players.

“Brave: The Video Game” launches Summer 2012 for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii™, Nintendo DS™ and Windows PC/MAC.

Next up, Disney Interactive launches original web series for gamers “Power Up” hosted by Christina Grimmie and presented by Kinect for Xbox 360

Power Up, Disney Interactive’s new original web series gives families an inside look at the exciting world of video gaming.  Presented by Kinect for Xbox 360, the weekly show on Disney.com is hosted by YouTube and musical sensation, Christina Grimmie, who will cover a wide range of game-related topics, including reviews of popular console, mobile, social and casual games.  The series will also feature comedic game-based skits with other popular YouTube stars, as well as original songs and music by Grimmie.  Fans can also check out Power Up on Disney’s network on YouTube, Disney Mobile and Xbox LIVE.

To celebrate the launch of Power Up and the highly anticipated “Kinect Rush: A Disney•Pixar Adventure” video game, players can enter the “Power Up Sweepstakes” for a chance to win a family trip to San Francisco, for a private tour of Pixar Animation Studios, behind-the-scenes look at the making of the game, as well as the opportunity to play “Kinect Rush: A Disney•Pixar Adventure” with Christina Grimmie.  To enter the sweepstakes, guests can visit Disney.com/PowerUp or text “POWERUP” to 347639 (DISNEY).

And lastly, a new release in the Tinker Bell and friends series – Tinker Bell and the Secret of the Wings:

BURBANK, Calif., March 23, 2012 – The Walt Disney Studios unveils an all-new, original full-length CG-animated feature film, “Secret of the Wings,” starring Tinker Bell, one of Disney’s most beloved and iconic characters, along with her fairy friends (Fawn, Iridessa, Rosetta, Silvermist and Vidia) and introducing a sparkling new winter fairy, Periwinkle.  Debuting on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and Digital on October 23, 2012, the film marks the first time ever Tinker Bell will fly on Disney Blu-ray 3D.

For Tinker Bell and the other warm season fairies, the Winter Woods remains a mysterious and forbidden place.  “Secret of the Wings” takes audiences on an amazing journey of discovery with Tink, into this forbidden world where she discovers a magical secret that changes her life forever.

A magical fairy adventure for the whole family, “Secret of the Wings” features a spectacular voice cast including Academy Award®-Winner Anjelica Huston (TV’s ‘Smash’), Timothy Dalton (TV’s ‘Chuck’, The Living Daylights), Lucy Liu (TV’s ‘Southland’, Charlie’s Angels), Raven-Symoné (TV’s ‘That’s So Raven’), Megan Hilty (TV’s ‘Smash’), Pamela Adlon (TV’s ‘Californication’), Matt Lanter (TV’s ‘90210’), Debby Ryan (TV’s ‘Jesse’) and Mae Whitman (TV’s ‘Parenthood’), and introducing the sparkling new winter fairy, PERIWINKLE, voiced by Lucy Hale (TV’s ‘Pretty Little Liars’).  A DisneyToon Studios production, the film is directed by Peggy Holmes, co-directed by Bobs Gannaway, and produced by Michael Wigert. John Lasseter serves as Executive Producer.

“Secret of the Wings” is Disney’s highly-anticipated all-new movie in the Tinker Bell Disney Fairies film franchise.  These beautifully-animated films have ranked at the top of the home entertainment charts every year they have been released.

In addition to the all-new feature film, the spectacular animated release includes a host of exciting bonus features that extend the viewing experience, taking audiences deeper into the magical world of Disney Fairies.  (More details forthcoming)

To celebrate the upcoming release of “Secret of the Wings,” Disney has launched a new destination in Facebook for parents to stay updated on Disney Fairies news as well as receive the best new content and activities that they can share with their children. Audiences can become a fan now at:  https://www.facebook.com/DisneyFairies.

For the latest information on “Secret of the Wings,” fans can head to www.Disney.com/SecretofTheWings  to view film clips, and more.

I’ll share more news and releases as they come in!

The fleet of cars, at Leu Gardens: Volt, Cruze, Sonic, Cruze Eco, and Malibu

Those of you following me on twitter and facebook may have been wondering why I was tagging my photos last Saturday with #ChevyOrlando. I was invited to join a group of Orlando area bloggers as we toured Orlando – “The City Beautiful” in brand new Chevy vehicles, provided by GM in the Southeast and Chevy of Florida. Put together by fellow blogger and media maven extraordinaire Joscelyn Ramos Campbell, we set out to tour the “real” Florida, away from the crowds and tourists of the theme parks.

As you know, I am a huge Orlando theme park fan, however I am also a big nature-lover and anything that gets me back into the real world, looking up at trees, down at flowers, or surrounded by water, makes me happy. So I was thrilled to be on this day-long tour, visiting the Scenic Winter Park Boat Tour, historic Leu Gardens and other Orlando sites as we traveled in style in brand new Chevrolet vehicles: The Chevy Cruze, Cruze Eco, Malibu, Volt and all-new Sonic.

Along the way we enjoyed lunch at the beautiful and delicious Prato in downtown Winter Park, made our own chocolates at Farris and Foster in Baldwin Park, and dined at that newly opened Fogo de Chao on International Drive. It was a whirlwind day of non-stop fun and friendship and I was honored and grateful to be a part. Perhaps the best part of all is that the 12 of us – tweeting with our #ChevyOrlando hashtag – made #ChevyOrlando the number 3 trending topic by around 1pm that day!! That’s the power of bloggers, my friends!

I will be posting my experiences and reviews from the various locations we visited in the coming days and weeks, but for now I wanted to highlight the fun photos of the cars and blogging ladies from the day.

Amanda Tinney about to drive the Chevy Cruze Eco

We loved having OnStar in the cars because we could just call for directions, or put the address into the navigation system and we were on our way!

Bloggers on the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour

Gorgeous Winter Park canal on the Scenic Boat Tour

Driving the Chevy Cruze

This car had some great pick up and was comfy too. Loved having xm satellite radio built in as well.

Prato Winter Park - review coming soon, but it was SO good!

Making peanut butter cups at Farris and Foster's Chocolate Factory

Chocolate creations at Farris and Foster's

The #ChevyOrlando blogging team at Farris and Foster's

Chevy Cruze dashboard

The Chevy Malibu was also great to drive, so roomy and beautiful inside. It’s come a looong way since the one my husband drove in 1995!

Angel Trumpet flowers at Leu Gardens

After Leu Gardens, we were given an hour to tour the city and take some photos to tweet about the City Beautiful and Chevy. Here are our photos – they won me a gift bag and one to give away here, so keep reading for details! When we teamed up into cars, our ‘team’ was Amanda Tinney, Amanda Nethero and me and we drove the Volt. It was such a fun car, whisper quiet and had 3 charging ports for phones!

Chevy Volt at one of the scenic Orlando lakes - "Hey City Beautiful! We're electric in the Chevy Volt!"

Chevy Volt at the old Church Street Station - "Going to Church...Street is heavenly in the Chevy Volt!"

Chevy Volt at the Amway! - "Drivin' a Chevrolet in the USA at the Amway!"

Fun with the Chevy Volt at the Orlando precinct! "It should be illegal to drive a car that looks this good!"

Chevy Volt at Lake Eola - "Enjoying the views of The City Beautiful AND the Chevy Volt"

I think we’re ready for a Chevy commercial, don’t you?? Next we drove to Fogo de Chao for an amazing dinner.

Our blogging team at Fogo de Chao

On the way back after dinner, we drove the Chevy Sonic. While this is the smallest car we drove, it didn’t feel like it, and we were actually shocked when told that. The interior was really stylish and comfy too. Starting at $14,000, it’s a great first car, second car, or any car!

Huge thanks to Joscelyn and the Chevy of Florida team for putting this day together and letting it happen. It was a real treat to ride around in style and experience some lesser known attractions throughout the city. As I mentioned above, our fun photos garnered me a winning gift bag to give away here on the site. It’s a beach bag full of all the essentials for a trip to any one of Florida’s gorgeous beaches, or just a sparkling pool!

Beach Bag Giveaway! Contents include a Chevy reusable bag plus the actual beach bag, beach towel, tumbler, sunscreen and lip balm, and some snacks too!

To enter to win the beach bag:

1. Comment below with which Chevy vehicle you’d love to drive for weekend getaway in Florida.
2. LIKE Zannaland’s facebook page: facebook.com/zannaland

Optional entries:

Share the giveaway on twitter or facebook and comment here with a link. Be sure to include the @zannaland so I can see it too! (Sample tweet: “I just entered to win a Beach Bag of goodies from @zannaland and @ChevyFlorida and you can too! #ChevyOrlando http://bit.ly/GXHLTh “

Giveaway ends April 3 and winner will be announced April 4 here on this post. Winner will be contacted via email and mailing address must be given for prize to be mailed. Open to US residents only, thanks! Good luck!

Congrats to commenter #6, chosen at random.org as the winner of the beach bag! Thanks everyone for entering!

You can watch for more photos from the event, news and upcoming events with Chevy of Florida here:

Facebook.com/GMintheSoutheast

Twitter: @ChevyFlorida

@GMSoutheast

First let me say that I have a soft spot for all teen-angst/coming of age films, so I was actually excited to sit down and watch Geek Charming with my daughter. I also love the actress in the lead roll on Modern Family (Sarah Hyland), so I was looking forward to see her in a feature-length film. Geek Charming is the classic coming of age story of: girl has old friends, girl makes new popular friends, girl sees the error of her ways and it all works out in the end. Sort of a Clueless-meets-Mean Girls, with a Disney twist. My daughter loved it, I thought it was cute…if you have a tween girl, she’ll want it!

Check out a clip below:

Next up is The Three Musketeers. When I saw the trailers for this movie, I was super excited to see it. I’m a sucker for 17th century France, what can I say. I never did get around to seeing it in theatres, but was happy when the DVD arrived in the mail to review. When it did arrive, my daughter was the one who couldn’t wait, since it featured Logan Lerman from Percy Jackson. Orlando Bloom and Milla Jovovich didn’t hurt either.

As predicted, she loved the film. I wasn’t really that impressed with the acting, but the special effects and costumes made it worth watching alone. You can tell by the ending of the film that they were probably hoping to capitalize off of this franchise into a series, but I’m not sure that the box office returns supported that hope. Either way, the two films together make for great must-watch films for a tween or teen sleepover or party and are great to have on hand for family-friendly viewing.

Here’s a clip with the lovely Milla Jovovich:

Both films are now available on DVD or Blu-Ray. Thank you to Disney, who provided me with DVDs to review.

I was a huge fan of Epic Mickey, as I think so many Disney buffs were so I can’t wait to see what the second installment brings to life! Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two will release on multiple gaming platforms this fall and this time around, Oswald is a playable character! Here is the official press release, with game images and official trailer too:

BURBANK, Calif. – (March 23, 2012) – Disney Interactive Media Group today announced the development of “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two”, the sequel to the critically acclaimed and commercially successful “Disney Epic Mickey” video game.  In “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two”, gamers will play as Mickey Mouse and for the first time ever, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Walt Disney’s first cartoon star, in an all-new adventure of creativity and discovery. Created by video game industry luminary Warren Spector and Disney Interactive’s Junction Point game development studio, “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two” returns the franchise to the Wii™ system from Nintendo, and expands it to new HD consoles including the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

“As a life-long Disney fan, working with Mickey Mouse in the original ‘Disney Epic Mickey’ was a truly humbling experience,” said Warren Spector, creative director and vice president, Junction Point. “Millions of fans fell in love with Mickey as a video game hero and I know they’ll experience similar emotions when they get to interact with and actually play as Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in ‘Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two.’”

“Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two” returns Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to Wasteland, an alternate world filled with 80 years of forgotten Disney characters and theme park attractions.  But for the first time, Mickey and Oswald will join forces as true partners – Mickey with his magical paint brush that allows him to wield paint and thinner, and Oswald with his powerful remote control that allows him to command electricity.   This new co-op play further enhances the idea that “PlayStyle Matters” – a unique approach to gameplay pioneered by Warren Spector where players dynamically tackle different challenges in order to explore all possibilities and storylines, but with consequences for their chosen actions.

Image gallery: (click to enlarge)

Staying true to Disney’s rich musical heritage, “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two” is the first video game that can be described as a “musical.” At many points throughout the adventure, characters will advance the plot by expressing themselves in song, with all-original music and lyrics.  In addition to this distinctive musical approach to storytelling, players will hear tunes and instrumentation that change based on their personal choices, ultimately allowing each player to “conduct” their own unique soundtrack.  Disney Interactive has enlisted the help of Emmy award-winning composer James Dooley and noted lyricist Mike Himelstein to create these musical gameplay elements.

The magic of Disney will not only resonate through the game’s musical numbers, but also through the introduction of authentic Disney Character Voices talent who provide player direction through genuine character dialogue.  In “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two,” all characters—most notably Oswald The Lucky Rabbit whose voice will be heard for the first time—will communicate by speaking to the player.

“In the first ‘Disney Epic Mickey title,’ fans embraced Mickey as a true video game hero and welcomed Oswald back into the Disney family with open arms,” said John Pleasants, co-president, Disney Interactive Media Group. “Now, as the vision for the “Disney Epic Mickey’ franchise advances, fans and gamers across all platforms will experience completely new ways to embrace the immeasurable vault of Disney characters and attractions.”

Development for “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two” is being led by Disney Interactive’s Junction Point.   Supporting the latest technology, the game will also feature full support for the PlayStation Move.  The game currently is unrated by the ESRB.   For more information, go to www.disney.com/disneyepicmickey.

First, let’s go over the back story of the room designs. Princess Tiana, hailing from New Orleans, has invited her royal friends to visit her home. As royalty often do, Tiana’s guests have left behind gifts for her over the years, which she has incorporated into these guest rooms. I’ve captured these gifts and nods to other royal guests in the video. Let’s see if you can find them all!

In addition, things like the wallpaper border in the main room and bathroom area pay homage to the little animal helpers featured in each Princess’s story, the bedspread features their crowns, and of course, some hidden Mickeys can be found here and there. My favorite part by far, is the dazzling fiber-optic effects on each headboard. I am not joking when I say I pressed the button to make it light up all night. I have a soft spot for fiber-optics, going back to the sparkling tiles over at Epcot, so this fun surprise made me insanely happy. I captured the effect on video too, so let’s watch!

Special thanks to the folks at Disney Destinations and Laura Spencer for this opportunity. My family and I were truly grateful! Review of our dinner at Boatwright’s Dining Hall coming soon!

*If you’d like the run-down of the gifts from other princesses, here you go: Wooden carved frame from Snow White, Magic Carpet from Jasmine, Pumpkin Coach coat rack from Cinderella, Pooch foot rest/ottoman from Belle, Genie’s Magic Lamp is the faucet, look for the dinglehopper and snarfblatt from Ariel on the shower curtain…those are the ones I found anyway!

Magical Fiber-optics in Royal Guest Room

If you need to remember why you loved the movie so much, The Muppets have come up with another of their great spoof videos, this time taking on the epic Hunger Games film. Another masterpiece!

Still not convinced? I’ll go over some of the fun bonus features, if you still need any convincing. In fact, the Muppets themselves have commented on some of contents of the releases!

One of my favorites includes “The Longest Blooper Reel Ever Made (In Muppet History––We Think).”  The release also includes the hilarious featurette “A Little Screen Test on the Way to the Read Through,” which follows Jason Segel, Kermit, The Great Gonzo, Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy and others as they get ready for the first day of production, and much more fun.

“Blu-ray is a great way to bring the Muppets into your home without having to worry about cleaning up after us,” said Kermit the Frog, commenting on the announcement. “And the behind-the-scenes extras are a revealing tell-all look at what it took to bring our movie to the big screen. It’s a must-see for fans of bloopers, flubs and slip-ups – which pretty much describes our act.”

Miss Piggy is equally thrilled at the movie’s Blu-ray release, “Now you can watch moi whenever you want! Ooh! Lucky vous!”

Additional fun-filled features on Disney’s “The Muppets” Blu-ray include a groundbreaking industry first — ‘Disney Intermission,’ a hilarious all-new feature that allows viewers to press Pause on their remote control and watch as the Muppets take over the screen and entertain until the movie resumes playing.  We actually found that by accident and thought it was priceless. The release also includes “Explaining Evil: The Full Tex Richman Song,”  an extended version of the rollicking rap song by villain Tex Richman (Academy Award winner Chris Cooper)  who provides the hilarious backstory of why he hates the Muppets.  Audio commentaries with screenwriter and star Jason Segel, director James Bobin and screenwriter Nicholas Stoller are also included.

So in short, what are you waiting for? Order now, go pick it up tomorrow, run, don’t walk to get your DVD or Blu-ray or Digital Download! We were sent a free copy of the Wocka Wocka Value Pack, which is what I recommend. It comes with the traditional DVD, the Blu-ray, Digital Download to upload it to your computer or iPad, and a code to download The Muppets soundtrack.

Here’s how to enter to win:

Comment below with your favorite Muppet character.

Extra Entries -  tweet about the giveaway: “ I just entered to win The Muppets soundtrack download from @zannaland at Zannaland.com and you can too! bit.ly/yCMt7N ” (copy and paste this into your tweet)

LIKE Zannaland on facebook and comment on the facebook.com/zannaland wall with your favorite song from The Muppets.

Winner will be chosen at random on March 23 and will need to provide an email to be sent the download code. Good luck!

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man reopens today with all-new 4K digital high-definition animation, a new highly-sophisticated Infitec 3-D projection system, a new music score and new high-tech 3-D glasses so that guests can experience the improvements the way the attraction’s creators envisioned.  The attraction’s sets, audio system and lighting have also been upgraded.

As they reanimated the attraction film, the creative team added hundreds of new details and effects.  Guests will see moss swaying in the wind, rats scurrying through the streets and hear electricity arching so close it will raise the hair on the back of their necks.  And for the first time ever, Spider-Man co-creator Stan Lee will make a cameo appearance inside the attraction.  Lee was meticulously animated in 3-D and placed in more than one scene inside the new animation.

Guests Enjoying The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

“The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man was so wonderful before,” said comic book icon and Spider-Man co-creator, Stan Lee. “But now – with all of the new technology that’s been added – it is indescribably spectacular.”

Here are the top 10 unique new elements in The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man:

1. The action is more life-like than ever.  Guests will actually see the movement of the characters’ muscles and the changes in their facial expressions.
2. The new HD film animation combined with brand-new, highly sophisticated Infitec 3-D projection, allows guests to experience mind-blowing details they’ve never been able to…from the flames spewing from Hobgoblin’s pumpkins to the electricity arching through Electro’s body to the stitching on Spider-Man’s gloves.
3. Guests will experience the ride’s new details through all-new 3-D “Spider-Vision” glasses, complete with new lenses made of dichroic filters for amazing color and clarity.
4. The enhanced attraction features a new original music score.  It is the same Spider-Man theme you love – with a rockin’ twist.
5. The ride vehicle’s audio system has been upgraded from 8-channel to 16-channel so riders will be even more immersed in the action. Guests will experience 3-D sound quality.
6. All of the film animation for The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man has been completely reanimated in 4K high-definition – that’s one of the highest HD resolutions available.
7. Every single scene in the attraction has at least one new element.
8. There are hundreds of cool new details for guests to discover in the attraction.  Lighting, sets, graphics, props and even scenic detail have been updated to further enhance the animation’s tremendous improvements.
9. Legendary comic book icon and Spider-Man co-creator Stan Lee makes a cameo appearance in the new film animation.The attraction experience continues to use the latest technology to provide guests a fully integrated and immersive experience with some of their favorite Marvel characters.

Yikes!

Sounds fabulous, right? Now let’s hear from fan and fellow blogger Blaine Cummings, who experienced the ride in person this morning:

From when you first enter the building, to after you exit, The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure truly lives up to it’s name, amazing! Spiderman himself along with a group of little heroes helped reopen the ride! Cannoned confetti and streamers topped off the excitement!

When first getting in the queue you could easily tell everything was repainted and made more vibrant! Since it was reopening day I waited in line for about an hour, but the theming and cartoon news action to watch kept me well entertained the whole time. They changed up the queue just a bit, where there used to be a green screen to take pictures, there is now a trophy cabinet full of awards. A few by the man himself, J. Jonah Jamison. If you look even closer you might recognize a few names as some of the creative team on the attraction.

Before getting on I noticed that there were all new 3D glasses! Much like the ones Walt Disney World brought in for Star Tours: The Adventure Continues. These were a bit more durable though, with hard lenses made of dichroic filters.

Everything including audio, visuals, and even the vehicles themselves seemed to have a whole new touch up! This was not just new animation added in, this was the whole package. The ride was much smoother and reacted with the scenes much better than in the past. The onboard audio synced with the buildings speakers perfectly creating an excellent illusion of everything going on. Each vehicle’s sound system was enhanced from an 8-channel to a 16-channel to immerse you in the experience.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man - Doc Ock

The animation was very impressive! More realistic and drew you in more. They didn’t just copy it second by second, they changed a few bits up. It still all followed that same exact story, with a few twists!

You may have heard that Stan Lee makes a cameo in the attraction, he does! I saw him twice actually! I’ll add in below where you can see him in a spoiler section. All around a very “Amazing” revamp of a classic attraction. I’ll be returning to ride multiple times in the future!

SPOILER: Stan Lee can be found about half way through the ride, right after you encounter the Hob Goblin, you turn and run into Doc Ock, Stan is right under the theatre marquee that Doc blasts with the ray gun. He also appears again at the end of the ride when all of the villains are webbed up, he’s right under and to the left of them.

…

Thanks, Blaine! I can’t wait to head over there myself and check it out! Hopefully this Saturday when we’ll be experiencing Universal’s Mardi Gras party with the family!

You can find Blaine online at: DisneyMagicMan.blogspot.com on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DisMagicMan and YouTube: www.youtube.com/DisneyMagicMan.

For more information about Universal Orlando Resort, visit www.universalorlando.com.

10 Things Parents Should Know About Disney’s John Carter

By Tony Sims (original article here at Wired.com’s GeekDad column)

I recently had the tremendous privilege to see an advanced screening of Disney’s John Carter. I know there have been many mixed signals in the media lately concerning this movie. I hope that the answers to these questions help our readers make a more informed decision for themselves.

1. What’s it all about?

The author, Edgar Rice Burroughs, wrote the John Carter series of sci-fi/adventure stories about 100 years ago. Burroughs was also the author of Tarzan and many other stories. The main character, John Carter, is transported to the planet Mars. On Mars, he discovers he has superior physical abilities, such as the ability to leap 100 yards and unmatched physical strength. He eventually wins the respect of the local population of alien creatures know as the Tharks. He also becomes involved in assisting the human-like royalty of Mars against the uprising of a group who seeks to strip-mine the planet. If any of these concepts sound familiar – that is because much of our superhero fantasy and science-fiction over the past century has been created from ideas borrowed from Burroughs’ classics.

2. Will I like it?

Yes. If you are reading this site, most likely yes. If you like Star Wars or any other action sci-fi, then yes. You can really tell this movie was created with the passion that only a lifelong fan of this series could devote. Andrew Stanton, the writer/director, was actually working on this film’s screenplay while WALL-E was still in production (before a studio even signed on to do the project).

3. Will my kids like it?

If they are like you and you agree to the above, then yes. I plan on taking my 7-year-old son this weekend and I believe he will love it. It has something for everyone. Take your daughters to see this. It has amazing, strong female characters. In fact, many times they are the ones to fight the battles. Everyone will love Woola by the way – you’ll see.

4. How faithful is it to the books?

Disclaimer – I have not read the books in over 20 years. Even though many sites state that this movie is based on The Princess of Mars, actually it uses elements from Burroughs’ first three books in the series. This way, the audience gets to see the best parts of a third of the series, including more alien life and epic battles. One main difference between the books and movie is how he is transported to Mars; but fans of the book most likely won’t be disappointed with this change.

5. When’s the best time for a bathroom break?

At exactly 1 hour and 5 minutes in there are a few minutes of dialogue you could miss. When the heroes stop for a breather after the halfway point battle – head to the latrine.

6. How are the special effects?

Fantastic. What else could you expect from a movie that was created by Andrew Stanton? The man is behind WALL-E, Toy Story (1, 2 & 3), Finding Nemo, A Bug’s Life, and Monsters, Inc. Not to mention (if you believe the press buzz going around), this movie had a budget of nearly a billion dollars. The imagery is simple breath-taking.

7. What about the 3D?

This is probably one of the only movies where I would say that seeing it in 3D is worth it. Stanton made this movie to use 3D effects just to give the movie depth. This means that there are no “gimmicks” that use the 3D to overwhelm the viewer with “jumping out of the screen” surprises. Also this movie is filmed in primarily desert type regions, so the subtle darkening effect that 3D glasses tend to have on movies is not as noticeable. That being said, seeing it in 2D would not diminish the quality of the movie either.

8. It is rated PG-13. How PG-13 is it?

This was one of my primary concerns. I have younger children, so I wanted to see if this would be a movie I could introduce them to. Here’s the skinny: there is a lot of violence. The majority of the bloodshed is greenish alien blood, so some parents might find it easier to stomach with their children than others. Most of the fighting is sword play, so keep that in mind also. Hardly any foul language is spoken and there are no real intimate moments that need young eyes covered. [SPOILER ALERT, BUT IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS TAKING YOUNG CHILDREN] The one real moment I had concern about occurs in a flashback sequence where you briefly see the clothed remains of his dead wife and child. This is the one event that is a bit disturbing on anyone’s eyes – young or old. This scene takes place during an onslaught of a fight scene. If you want to cover younger eyes, here it is – when the Thark army is taking on John Carter by himself, he goes into a sort of battle rage. When you see this scene, he will flashback to images of his Virginia home which was burned to the ground, he will go back to the fight, the next flashback is that image – after that it is done. [END SPOILER]

Your mileage may vary on this. I will be taking my 7-year-old to see it, but he has also seen the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy (does that make me a bad dad?). If he can handle the battle of Helm’s Deep, then he can definitely handle this.

9. It is a Disney movie. Why can I not find any John Carter toys in the stores?

Disney decided with this movie not to license mass market toys. I know, this is a strange decision; after all, they produced Pirates of the Caribbean toys! Well, that has a good bit to do with it also. The other non-animated toy lines which have been produced in the past have never been big hits except with the collectors. With that in mind, Disney is only going to license John Carter to higher-end collectibles manufacturers. If the movie proves to be huge and the sequels get their green lights, then maybe we will see the mass market open up.

10. Will I want to see it again?

Yes – and you will hope that it does well enough to merit the two sequels that Andrew Stanton already has written and is ready to produce. You will probably want to go ahead and pre-order it on Blu-ray as well.

John Carter opens in theatres nationwide tomorrow, March 9. Go see it and see what all the buzz is about!

The story opens in Arizona, where John Carter is instantly identified as a valiant Civil War soldier from the Confederate Army in Virginia, who has now left the service. For some reason we don’t yet know, has no desire to return to service, even when imprisoned as a last resort. John Carter has his sights set on a different purpose, however, and nothing will stop him. He is looking for his cave of gold, which makes him the laughing stock of his fellow frontiersmen. We learn in a chase scene that he has no ‘side’ in the war anymore, and can speak in Native American tongue. He is out for himself, and no one else. Or so it seems.

Escaping soldiers and Native Americans he does find his cave of gold and with it someone from Mars, who he shoots and in the process ends up on Mars itself. It is here that our real story begins. John Carter discovers he has the power to jump great distances. That excitement is tampered by the fact that he is soon captured by tall green alien creatures, with four arms and tusks – the Tharks. I won’t go into a play-by-play of the movie plot, but the story here parallels that on earth; he does not want to fight or defend anyone, but is drawn in to defend those he considers defenseless, in the course of trying to get back home.

At this point, we still don’t know why John Carter is who he is, or why he so strongly defies choosing a side and fighting in a war. We are treated to various flashbacks as the central characters make their way to what John hopes will be a way home. This culminates in a fight scene when a rival tribe of Tharks has been called in to destroy him. John makes his companions go as he stays to fight, in one of the most powerful and emotional scenes I have seen on film in a long time. It brought tears to my eyes, and it is what sums up John Carter’s character, purpose, and hatred of war. It is beautifully edited and worth seeing the film for that alone, in my opinion.

John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), Sola (Samantha Morton), Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins)

After this turning point, John Carter is then on the side of good on Mars, or Barsoom as it is known by its people, and the battles continue to save the planet and get John home. However, John then falls in love with Dejah Thoris, princess of Helium – the most human-like of Barsoom’s inhabitants. This leads to several other twists and plot turns as John Carter fights for their lives. Just when all seems well, John is sent back to Earth. Yet another battle then begins – where John must seek out a way to return to Mars and his love. Since those details tie up the final points of the film, I won’t reveal them here, but rest assured, they are well done.

I’m not sure why the marketing for John Carter has been so confusing and poorly received, even in reading twitter streams after seeing the premier, there was a lot of silly chatter about Disney daring to make an action film. Maybe audiences are just used to the Disney marketing machine being the same, whether the film delivers or not, but in this case, it is sad to see such bad pre-press about a film I really had no problems with. Well, I take that back. In the beginning, John Carter’s voice and tone seem a little like a bad John Wayne impression, but by the end of the movie, I attributed it to the mannerisms of the time, and was okay with it, overall.

Airships of Barsoom

I didn’t want to see this movie. I was going to send my husband and son in my stead. I was completely won over and I plan to see it again once it opens officially on March 9th. It has all the elements of a wonderful film, Disney or otherwise: a story you want to hear, characters you care about, and just enough special effects and eye candy to make you ooh and ahh. More than just an action sci-fi flick, I had no idea it had a steampunk feel to it, and as a fan of that style, I was thrilled to see its use on Barsoom. It is appropriate for all tweens and up, with minimal up-close violence and gore, with a great message about preserving our world and doing the right thing. Go see John Carter of Mars – even if you don’t want to.

Simply log in to the widget below using facebook or your email, then click to “like” or “follow” the participating bloggers and complete your entry. There are even optional entries to increase your chances of winning.

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Thanks to Theme Park Mom and Disney Every Day for organizing this group giveaway!

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Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom Firehouse

If you are part of the online Disney community on twitter, facebook or message boards, you have no doubt heard the buzz about the new interactive card game that has premiered under beta testing in the Magic Kingdom Park – The Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. As a local, we saw the little portal stations being built for quite some time, as speculation swirled regarding what these new screens and areas would mean to the parks. Would they interfere with guests’ experiences as they explored the lands of the Magic Kingdom? Would Imagineers be able to pull off the mixing of villains and animated film characters? The answers are a bit complex, but overall, I give the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom a hearty “thumbs up.” I’ll go into further detail below.

First, let’s go over exactly what the game is all about. The premise is that certain villains, organized by Hades, Lord of the Underworld, are teaming up to steal pieces of the crystal of the Magic Kingdom. Merlin is on board to fight evil, and enlists us – the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, to help defeat the foes.

How it Works (the short version):

1. Head to the Main Street, U.S.A. Firehouse, pick up your cards and Sorcerers key card
2. Follow the icons on the map to defeat villains at various portals throughout the Magic Kingdom
3. Use your spell cards to defeat each villain and eventually become a Master Sorcerer
4. Come back again and again to collect more cards and defeat more villains!

You can hold the key card any way, front or back to activate the portal

How it Works (the long version):

You start off by heading to the Main Street Firehouse. There you can watch a preview, check in with your ticket media and receive a key card, 5 spell cards and a map marking the portal locations. You are given a key card which will correspond with your park pass. So you cannot have 5 key cards and expect to get spell cards for each key. You must present your park pass with your key card, so everyone can play fairly. You then watch a tutorial with Merlin so you know exactly what to do when you set out on your quest. Now here you must make a decision with your group – you can all battle together under one key card, or if you each receive a key card, you will most likely be separated and sent to different lands to explore the portals at different times. When we first checked in, we got key cards for each of our family members, but only used one, so we stayed together. Now that we’ve been playing for about a week, my older kids or husband can go off and fight at a portal in a different location within the same land. We usually stay together until we all get portals in the same land though, so for example, if my son gets Adventureland and I get Fantasyland, we’ll go to one land and then wait until he gets Fantasyland too so we can be in the same area. Of course it’s up to you how you want to handle these battles, and keep in mind, not going where the portal tells you to can impact your wait time.

Who Can Play? As far as age-range for the game, this was something my 3 year old could play – at least the unlocking of the portal with the key card. He could still use the spell cards, but only if we told him how to hold them, etc. I’d say in a year he’d be perfect at figuring out the right way to hold or picking out the spell cards he wants. However, from the sounds of level 2 and 3, it would probably take an older child or adult to weigh the options for each card’s skill points and so on.

Once you start collecting your cards, you will get doubles or duplicates of some of them. Especially with our family, we are getting 4 sets of 5 cards each day, so our collection has added up quickly. In the case of dupes, guests can trade with other Sorcerers players and pick up some missing cards that way. So far, we’ve run into new players, who don’t really have anything to trade, and seasoned players, who have almost everything and don’t really need to trade. But we have picked up I’d say about 10-15 cards through trading and it’s a great way to complete your collection. Especially if you have friends playing, they can hold cards for you and will be more willing to trade.

There are 70 cards – but at this time cards 61-70 have been pulled from play. Cast members are saying they will be selling those last 10. As of right now, the packs arriving at the Firehouse don’t have cards 61-70 within them, so you’ll have to wait, or find someone that’s been playing from day 1 of beta testing who’s willing to trade. [note: as of 3/4/12 we have been hearing reports in the park and on twitter of guests getting cards 61-70 randomly in their packs of 5 cards, so keep your eyes peeled!] The game has been officially started since February 22, 2012 and during medium and hard, which cards you use to defeat villains now matters.

Our first set of cards from the first time we played

All About the Cards:

Once you start your collection of cards, you’ll notice some numbers and symbols on the face of each card. in the bottom left corner there will be a number out of 70, which tells you simply the number the card is in the collection. For example, Sorcerer Mickey is 1/70 and Cabellero Donald is 43/70. In addition, the cards are listed by spell – Mystic Spell (blue background), Princess Spell (purple background), Toy Spell (red background), Machine Spell (black background), Warrior Spell (dark blue background), Monster Spell (green background), Hero Spell (dark teal background), Animal Spell (dark green background), and Fairy Spell (pink background).

Within each spell card, there will be three types of numbers: attack, boost, and shield. So Merlin’s card has a 5 Energy attack, 0 Energy boost, and 1 Energy shield. Other cards will have other types of spells. Options are Energy, Charming, Wishful, Quick, Flying, Strong, and Gross. Right now, in level one, these distinctions don’t really matter as any card defeats any villain. However when the game really goes live, or in higher levels, the type of card and type of attack will most likely matter.

Lastly, above the number is a symbol, with one of three designations – a star symbol, which indicates a rare card; a moon symbol, which signifies an uncommon card; and a planet symbol, which indicates a common card. There are also cards out there with lightning bolt symbols, which seem to be the 61-70 cards that are now pulled. Hopefully we’ll get more facts as the game gets out of testing mode.

UPDATE: throughout the course of playing, my son has been using a few cards continuously. As a result, these cards have become more powerful. Now when he uses Lumiere’s spell card, he often shoots 3 candles, rather than the one. Similarly, my husband was using the Mike Wazowski’s Great Entrance card today and over time the animated spell scene changed to show different monsters. I know when I first used that card, all that showed up was Mike opening a door. This makes for a fun way to keep things continuously changing as you play. And spells that may seem rather boring at first could change to something more magical over time.

UPDATE 2: friends playing on hard are now reporting how certain cards will defeat certain villains easier. For example, one friend spent 2 1/2 hours trying to defeat Kronk on hard, and discovered that Flower, Thumper and Eeyore worked, because they are woodland creatures! So the game is now making you think and really pick and plan the best attack card for each villain. It’s not just the spell or type of spell, but the character casting it that matters.

Game play:

Just head to the portal the Firehouse initially tells you to go to, and then you’ll be instructed where to go next. After you’ve played once, you can pick up where you left off, unless the system has been reset. You can always check where you are supposed to be by scanning your key card at any portal and it will tell you where you need to be. If the game has been reset, it will tell you to head to the Firehouse to get reassigned. There is also a booth in Liberty Square, behind Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe, staffed with cast members, who can fix errors, show you the tutorial and help you out. (You can also sign up there with usually no line compared to the Firehouse) In no time you’ll have all the portals memorized and be able to go from place to place without even needing a map.

Tortuga Tavern's fireplace portal, perfectly themed!

The game itself involves defeating 8 villains at this time:

• Main Street, U.S.A. – Cruella DeVil
• Adventureland – Jafar, Yzma and Scar
• Liberty Square/Frontierland – Dr. Facilier and Governor Ratcliffe
• Fantasyland – Maleficent and Ursula

Once you defeat ALL of those villains, you will have a final battle with Chernabog and Hades, and become a Master Sorcerer. Then you proceed to medium and from there, hard. You must check in with either the Firehouse on Main Street or the Sorcerer’s Training booth in Liberty Square, to be set up for medium or hard. They will then tell you where to go to continue your games, and give you 5 additional cards for moving up. Here’s a video of the Master Sorcerer announcement. If you don’t want the finale to be spoiled, don’t watch! You can check out another video on my YouTube channel of the scene before this one, where you actually battle Hades.

The first portal you go to tells you the story of the villain, and where to go next to help out. The next portal you will get to pick spell cards (you can combine spells up to 6 at a time!), and usually one of the portals will ask you to use the Sorcerer’s Crest on the back of the card (I actually don’t like this since you don’t get to pick the spells!). The final battle for that land’s villain will let you use two separate spell castings (again, up to 6 cards for each one). Then you have defeated that villain and Merlin will tell you if you’d like to continue to help, which land you should head to next.

Now that we have been playing Medium, I can update that the main differences here are an additional spell added to the scenes where you use spell cards vs. Sorcerer’s Crest card. Where you once cast one spell, you’ll cast two, and in the final battle, you’ll cast three spells, not two. It’s a little choppy in parts because you are just getting repeats of scenes where you had to cast spells before, but in some scenes, there are a few  new lines thrown in.

The portal next to the Frontierland Shootin' Gallery, one of my faves!

I highly recommend playing in both daylight and nighttime. At night you can see many details and lighting effects of the portals that just aren’t visible in bright sunlight. It’s also usually less crowded, though you must wait to play in Fantasyland until the fireworks have ended. After playing at night and in the day when the park was a crowd level 10, I have to say I much prefer night time. Waiting in the sun for your turn at the portal isn’t the most fun, and I can only imagine during the summer months it could be downright unbearable.

If you’d like to see more photos, I’ve created a flickr set for all our Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom adventures. Just click to see the portals – I’ll be adding more as I make future visits to the Magic Kingdom.

Pros and Cons to the game:

As far as pros go, for the most part, I’d categorize the game as unobtrusive to the average guest. You don’t have to pay attention to it as you are passing, though some portals are hard to ignore and can all be a bit loud. I don’t think a single portal detracts from its land or the space it is in. If anything, the only problem is the fact that passers-by will often ask WHAT you are doing, and you’ll have to give a quick synopsis of the game, usually while your animated scene is playing. In addition, those with quite a few cards can expect smaller children who’ve just started playing to ask “where did you get all those cards?” and even “can I have some?” so just be prepared for lots of questions. Since first writing this review, the additional issue of lines for portals has cropped up. On a weekend day, a queue for a portal can be up to 10 deep and definitely puts a damper on making the game fun. I am confident that Disney is aware of this issue and will attempt to come up with a solution as time passes.

I can see how those on a one-time trip to Walt Disney World or even a once-a-year visit would perhaps get frustrated by the time it takes to become a Master Sorcerer, but of course, that’s what Disney wants: return visitors. Or, for guests to plan a day longer vacation to be sure you get enough game time. In the 4 times we’ve played, we have not gone on a single ride in the Magic Kingdom, and we’ve spent about 17 hours playing (not counting time spent dining). Again, being locals, this isn’t a big deal to us…but those on a yearly vacation may feel they are missing valuable ride time. What we did get to do was notice more details around the park, and enjoy the various parades and nighttime shows from different angles than usual.  And just like pins or Vinylmation figures, the cards become your own prize collection, free – for now, and unlike Vinyls or pins, you get to actually use them in the park. There is a reward for your patience and your play.

The window I like to call Merlin's lab, looks amazing at night!

My hope, when the game goes officially live on the 22nd, is that cast members at the Firehouse are able to better explain the ins and outs of card use. What the symbols mean, what you want to do or not do in the second or third levels – even if only to give us a vague idea and let us figure it out for ourselves. [Note:  now that the game is live, this hasn't really happened yet. I can understand letting us all figure out the little secrets and tips within the game, but I do wish more help were available, with so many variables in play] In addition, there needs to be a more pronounced explanation about keeping the map and cards. A handful of times, I have heard, “do we get to keep these cards?” or “do we have to give the map back?” from guests. I understand that given the only other comparison game within Walt Disney World – the Kim Possible missions, you are instructed to return your Kimmunicator, but it makes me sad to think that people are worried they have to give their cool cards and map back, and the problem is easily solved by cast members up front.

With ALL of that said, I’m so excited to see where this game goes in the coming months and will of course update this page as I find out definitive facts or news. [I've decided to wait on reporting news that I hear until I can confirm it first hand through gameplay or experience.] Even as I type this post, changes are happening to some of the portals; updates, props, new posters and banners…Disney really is working to make this an amazing experience. You can also follow all the latest updates on twitter at @DisneySorcerers, an unofficial account offering tips, news, photos, videos and more. Now go get ‘em, Sorcerer!

Residing quietly beneath the floorboards are little people who live undetected in a secret world to be discovered, where the smallest may stand tallest of all.  From the legendary Studio Ghibli (“Spirited Away,” “Ponyo”) comes “The Secret World of Arrietty,” an animated adventure based on Mary Norton’s acclaimed children’s book series “The Borrowers.”

Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler), a tiny, but tenacious 14-year-old, lives with her parents (voices of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) in the recesses of a suburban garden home, unbeknownst to the homeowner and her housekeeper (voice of Carol Burnett). Like all little people, Arrietty (AIR-ee-ett-ee) remains hidden from view, except during occasional covert ventures beyond the floorboards to “borrow” scrap supplies like sugar cubes from her human hosts. But when 12-year-old Shawn (voice of David Henrie), a human boy who comes to stay in the home, discovers his mysterious housemate one evening, a secret friendship blossoms. If discovered, their relationship could drive Arrietty’s family from the home and straight into danger. The English language version of “The Secret World of Arrietty” was executive produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, and directed by Gary Rydstrom.

I was lucky enough to be able to see a preview screening of Arrietty last weekend. I should preface my review with the fact that I am a huge fan of Studio Ghibli in general and Hayao Miyazaki in particular. Arrietty has been out in Japan as The Borrower Arrietty for quite some time and now the American English dubbed version is coming to theatres. I was quite pleased with the voice acting from Amy Poehler, Will Arnett and David Henrie, and thought they seemed to fit their characters perfectly. As usual, however, the real star of the film is the animation and with it, the story.

Compared to the Miyazaki films of My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle and Ponyo, the animation in Arrietty is not as breathtaking visually, but it is no less amazing, if you watch for the details. Some little things that made me smile; when Arrietty’s mom pours their tea into dollhouse-sized cups, she is not just pouring liquid like we are used to doing – the tea looks like a tiny drop of dew – because after all, that’s how small their tea cups would be. When it began to rain, the drops on one of the stones outside look exactly like they do in reality – not tiny drops all uniform in size, but some larger than others, and all spreading out as the water soaks in to the stone. In addition, whenever you are seeing things from Arrietty’s point of view, the sounds around her are all amplified, since, to miniature eardrums, that’s how they would be heard. Brilliant little details that draw you into the secret world and truly make you feel a part of it.

Sometimes a perceived enemy can be an ally.

The story itself is one of family, friendship, trust, and hope. Arrietty learns that friendship can transcend differences while Shawn learns that it’s never too late to have hope. And all the characters learn that sometimes the risk of trust is worth it in the end. It was a truly beautiful story wrapped inside layers of Japanese landscapes. There is just enough comic relief to keep the little ones, who may not be as entranced by the details, entertained and laughing.

The Secret World of Arrietty opens in theatres on February 17, be sure to bring the whole family to experience the world of the borrowers.

Sketch from the Blu-ray of Lady and the Tramp

One winter day in late 1979, I was called out of my kindergarten classroom and to the office, where my father picked me up and took me to the car. When I got into the back seat, I noticed a basket with a blanket inside. Opening the blanket, I saw the tiniest two kittens. One was blueish grey with a dark tail and ears and the other was cream colored with a dark brown tail and ears. Both sets of eyes were blue. My mom told me they were Siamese cats (a blue point and a seal point), and I thought right then and there that they were the most beautiful cats in the world.

Despite attempts by my parents to go with more interesting names of Rhett and Scarlett, we ended up calling them Boy Kitty and Girl Kitty (we already had a Mr. Kitty) and they grew into gorgeous creatures. So when Lady and The Tramp was re-released in theatres in 1980 and featured Siamese cats, it became one of my favorite movies – even if those particular cats were very naughty. Boy Kitty lived a very long and happy life, staying with me until I was 22.

As an adult, I watched the film on video back when my first two children were little. Perhaps it was the turn-of-the-century time period, the Main Street, U.S.A. feel, or the snow falling on the peaceful lanes of Victorian homes that reminded me of my childhood in New England, – or maybe even remembering my sweet Siamese friends, but it reaffirmed its place in my heart. As Walt Disney knew, animals have a lifelong impact on children, which could be why this film, told from the perspective of man’s best friend, is such a revered classic.

Now, years later, I love the classic story and how, even if it were humans in a live-action movie, the film would be just as compelling, romantic and sweet. I won’t get into the actual movie too much, as it’s a tale we all know and love, but this Blu-ray version is impeccably restored and probably clearer than when it first came out in 1955. The iconic scenes of Lady in the pink striped hatbox, Lady and Tramp sharing spaghetti and meatballs, the pawprints in the cement; they all makes me want to jump right into the screen and move in next door to Jim Dear and Darling.

Blu-ray Bonus Features:

In the special feature, “Remembering Dad” Diane Disney Miller shares some wonderful stories of Walt, Disneyland history and the wonderfully detailed family apartment above the firehouse. Truly a treasure.

The Making of Si and Am feature is chock full of wonderful drawings of my favorite characters. The original theatrical trailers are fun to watch and remember a time when a new Disney picture was an event presided over by Walt himself. And then interesting to see how those trailers changed over the years.

There are some great sketches of deleted scenes from the beginning of the film, where Lady actually has two neighbor dogs, Homer and Boris competing for her attention. Boris moves in with an elaborate Russian-style dog house and is the aristocrat to Homer’s “dog-next-door” persona. Boris makes a later appearance in the dog pound scene. I’m glad they decided to cut this scene, however, it seems a bit long and not in keeping with the character they decided to go with for Lady.

The next deleted scene is of Jim Dear pacing and imagining the future possibilities for his about-to-be-born son. It’s cute, ending with Jim Dear passing out as he learns he is, indeed, father to a bouncing baby boy.

The final deleted scene is another long one where Tramp and Lady get stuck in a theatre watching a performing dog show. It’s cute; something I could see the Disney of today turning into an animated short.

You’ll also find some nice looks at the Disneyland television show, including “The Story of Dogs”, released in color for the first time. Bottom line, for a fan of Disney history, or Walt Disney himself, this dvd+Blu-ray collection is a must-buy. It’s chock full of wonderful history, nostalgia, and of course, Disney animation and story we all know and love.