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Advance Tickets For FREE GUY On Sale Today

2 August 2021 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment

In early December 2019, Twentieth Century Studios uploaded the first trailer for their new epic adventure comedy FREE GUY. Over a full year and three release delays later, the film is finally set for release this summer on August 13.

Today, Twentieth Century Studios announced that advanced ticket sales for the film are available for purchase at fandago.com. There’s also a strange new featurette of the film to view.

In “Free Guy,” a bank teller who discovers he is actually a background player in an open-world video game decides to become the hero of his own story…one he rewrites himself. Now in a world where there are no limits, he is determined to be the guy who saves his world his way…before it is too late.

I’m personally excited for the film, which also features cameos from several notable Twitch streamers. Those of you who agree can stay tuned for more updates from the film and an inevitable review by checking here.

Spoiler-Free Review: Iron Man 3 Changes the World

3 May 2013 by Suzannah Otis 4 Comments

I’ve said before that it is very difficult to choose a favorite Avenger movie; I do love Captain America and his storyline (and am excited for part two to come out soon), but I do believe Iron Man holds the biggest place in my heart as far as the Marvel movies go. I never really got into super hero movies until Iron Man came out. I had always been a fan of Robert Downey Jr. and when I saw that he had imbued the role with his famous RDJ charm and wit, I was hooked. Of course, the storylines and action were a plus too. So, when I saw the first trailers for Iron Man 3, I was absolutely thrilled with how it looked; so many visual ‘wow’ moments and it truly left me excited to see more. And more is definitely what I saw, earlier this week at a media screening of Iron Man 3. My review of the film follows, but given the almost crazy amount of twists and turns within the plot, my review will be safely major-plot-point-spoiler-free for your reading pleasure!

I think part of why I love Iron Man, and Tony Stark so much is that at the end of the day, he’s just a man. He has no super powers when the suit is off, he’s just a guy trying to figure life out too. And those human struggles are where Iron Man 3 begins its story. Tony Stark has been having difficulty dealing with “New York” -as the events of the Avengers film are referred to in this movie. Just as he is at his breaking point of handling the stress, a villain appears on the scene and gives him no choice but to get back into action, save the world, and in the process, save himself.

What proceeds from there on in Iron Man 3 is a series of events that you could never see coming and challenge your belief that it will all be okay in the end. We see Tony Stark pretty much at rock bottom and being forced to rely on others as well as returning to the most base elemental components that make up “Iron Man” and Stark as a human being – he “fixes things.” I loved it from start to finish and really enjoyed the humor throughout the film, even poking fun at traditional villains, and of course, Iron Man himself along the way. It really humanized the super human, and made me feel for all of the characters within the film. The theme here is rebirth, reinvention, and getting back to what you know, and it’s a message that so many can relate to, myself included.

Here is the latest released clip, showing some of Tony Stark’s struggles

I will say one thing, there is a sub-plot within the film where Tony interacts with a young boy, and I thought this was a great addition to the movie and story. The scenes may have worked just as well without this character, but what this young actor brought to the screen was wonderful, and as a parent, even heartwarming to see. It was a great counter-point to the non-stop action going on around the rest of the story. In addition to this, the entire cast works so well as an ensemble, it’s great to see more of Don Cheadle and Gwyneth Paltrow in their respective roles.

I can’t really say too much else without giving things away, so I’ll end my brief but no less heartfelt review here. As I said on twitter after seeing the screening, “Iron Man 3. Amazing. That is all.” And really, that’s all the review you need, go out and see this movie – today! (And stay past the credits as always!)

Iron Man 3 is open today in theatres everywhere! I was provided a free media screening of the film, but my opinions are my own.

Like IRON MAN 3 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ironman

Follow IRON MAN 3 on Twitter: @Iron_Man

Visit the website: http://marvel.com/ironman3

SeaWorld and Busch Gardens PreSchool Pass-FL Kids 5 and Under FREE!

5 January 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

CHILDREN AGES 5 AND YOUNGER CAN EXPERIENCE
FAMILY ADVENTURE FOR FREE AT BUSCH GARDENS & SEAWORLD
The New SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Preschool Pass Offers Kids
Unlimited Admission With No Blackout Dates Through 2012

The folks at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens just sent over this press release and I’m excited to get one for my little guy!

– It’s an awesome time to be a preschooler! Children ages five and younger can now explore the wonders of Africa and the depths of the ocean for FREE with the new Busch Gardens & SeaWorld Preschool Pass. Little ones will experience kid-size thrills at Busch Gardens’ Sesame Street Safari of Fun and SeaWorld’s Shamu’s Happy Harbor play areas, get up close to their favorite furry and feathered friends, and see new shows brought to life.

The pass is valid for all of 2012 at both SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Kids are welcome to experience all there is to do for the preschool set, including seasonal events such as Summer Nights at Busch Gardens, SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular and festive holiday events at both parks. New this year, Busch Gardens will delight guests with its biggest ice show ever, Iceploration, premiering Feb. 2. And SeaWorld is introducing an all-new festival this year, “Just for Kids!” featuring concerts by Lazy Town, Max & Ruby, the Doodlebops and Choo-Choo Soul, along with plenty of family-friendly fun and activities on Saturdays Jan. 14 through Feb. 4.

Parents and older kids can join in on all the excitement with a Fun Card, which invites guests to pay for a day and play all year through Dec. 31, 2012, with no blackout dates.

“Must-see” preschool attractions at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Preschoolers will delight in Sesame Street Safari of Fun, a sunny, funny play land, filled with moments that your family can share for the first time — like a first coaster experience aboard Air Grover. And everyday smiles can be repeated again and again: clapping along to original shows, splashing in an expansive water play area and enjoying kid-size rides.

Also available in Sesame Street Safari of Fun, families can Dine with Elmo and Friends on select days and enjoy special event dining experiences with the characters to mark holidays, character birthdays and more. Beginning in March, opt for the Family Fun Buffet, offered on select days. It’s the perfect way to feed your hungry family during your busy day and not miss out on any of the fun! Enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet along with the chance to meet beloved Sesame Street characters between 12 and 4 p.m. on select days in the Sesame Street Safari of Fun Dining Pavilion. Reservations are not required.

In February, children’s imaginations will go wild when Iceploration takes the ice. The all-new, 30-minute show combines ethereal ice skating, larger-than-life puppets, amazing costumes and even animal stars. Iceploration opens Feb. 2, 2012 with shows daily in the Moroccan Palace Theatre. Another family favorite at Busch Gardens is “Critter Castaways,” in which a cast of unlikely characters – including dogs, cats, parrots and exotic animals – come together to create a side-splitting show with surprise twists that will have the whole family laughing.

There are plenty of animal encounters and pint-sized rides for families with young children to enjoy as well. In Jungala, families can connect with the jungle through a three-story play land, enjoy a water play zone and come face to face with exotic and endangered animals. At Jambo Junction, guests can have up-close interactions with animals such as flamingos, lemurs and sloths. And in Timbuktu, a carousel and other junior rides will delight those not ready for the major coasters. And what preschooler doesn’t enjoy a train ride? You and your little one can journey across the Serengeti Plains to view zebra, rhino and giraffes aboard the Serengeti Express.

Some additional features that Busch Gardens offers families with young kids include stroller parking and reduced prices on kids’ meals in 2012. Parking spots are available within our preferred parking area designated strictly for guests with strollers, so they can bypass the tram. No additional fee is required, and spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis to guests who request them at the parking tollbooths. At the park’s restaurants, kids’ meals are now just $5.99, including a drink, making it even more affordable to not only entertain, but also feed your little ones at Busch Gardens.

SeaWorld loves kids, too

And don’t forget that this awesome new FREE Preschool Pass also includes admission to SeaWorld Orlando. Just a short hour’s drive away, SeaWorld’s littlest guests can enjoy the wildly popular 4-acre play area, Shamu’s Happy Harbor. It’s a kid’s dream come true, complete with kid-size rides, a 4-story net climb, and a great place for parents to relax in the shade. The park’s first family-oriented roller coaster, Shamu Express, can be found here, along with many other kiddie rides to explore.

And that’s in addition to all the wondrous animal encounters at SeaWorld. Your family can meet penguins, dolphins, fish, rays, sharks, and, of course, Shamu!

Sign up today!

The Free SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Preschool Pass is an online-only offer, available at BuschGardensTampaBay.com or SeaWorldOrlando.com. It is exclusively for Florida residents ages 5 and younger and is valid for unlimited admission – with no blackout dates – through Dec. 31, 2012 at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and SeaWorld Orlando. The Preschool Pass does not include parking or Premium Passport discounts or benefits.

After registering through either park’s website, registrants can pick up the Preschool Pass for their child by bringing a printed confirmation and a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate to any ticket window at Busch Gardens’ or SeaWorld’s front gate.

For more information on the Free SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Preschool Pass, visit BuschGardensTampaBay.com or SeaWorldOrlando.com.

REVIEW: DEAR EVAN HANSEN, Your Movie Is Bad

22 September 2021 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment

As with all of my reviews, I want to make sure people are aware that I won’t be spoiling any of the plot here. That being said, the Dear Evan Hansen stage production premiered in 2016, and it’s been a moderately well known story since. Even if you’ve never heard a song off the soundtrack, you likely understand the concept of the story – which is so simple conceptually that you’ll be able to guess exactly how it ends.

Even if the film was good, the story would’ve been a hard sell on its own. To describe the film, the word that kept coming to mind was ‘cringe-worthy.’ Not ‘cringe’ in a modern ‘uncouth’ or ‘out of touch’ way, but cringe-worthy in the way you would describe watching someone’s marriage proposal get rejected. It’s just genuinely hard to watch Evan’s actions in the film – it’s not an enjoyable experience.

Evan Hansen is not a character that anyone is rooting for (and I don’t think by the end anyone will be), but the movie expects us to listen to this character who is so self-centered and sociopathic that he ruins the lives of people around him. I do believe that a large part of this is due to Evan’s casting – and we’ll get to that in a moment.

Dear Benj Pasek and Justin Paul,

Ben Platt as Evan Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen, directed by Stephen Chbosky.

I’d like to take a brief pause to talk about the music. It’s a big musical, so surely the music is good right? Well, not necessarily.

I personally have never been a fan of the songwriting duo behind Dear Evan Hansen. The only work of theirs I particularly enjoy is 2016’s La La Land – and that’s entirely because the soundtrack is primarily the work of Justin Hurwitz.

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who’s previous work also includes The Greatest Showman and two original songs for the 2019 Aladdin remake, have a particular style to their music – pop songs pretending to be musical theatre songs. And I definitely understand that some people are very big fans of their work – The Greatest Showman’s soundtrack is very popular to this day, and Dear Evan Hansen’s stage production won just about every Tony imaginable. It’s just not the best that the musical theatre genre has to offer, despite now making up its most popular tracks in decades.

Still, I would be lying if I said ‘Waving Through A Window’ didn’t make a frequent appearance in my musical theatre playlist. Before watching the film, I deliberately avoided listening to the original soundtrack again to enter bias-free. As a result, when the film began, I was really enjoying the first three tracks – and I thought to myself ‘Wow, this is way better than I remember!’ But after ‘Sincerely Me,’ the track list takes quite a dip.

The issue with Pasek and Paul’s work is that – with a few exceptions – most of their songs sound pretty identical. If you were to randomly assign a singer four songs from the duo’s discography, I don’t know if you’d be able to identify what songs came from what production.

Needless to say, there’s nothing in the film version that adds musically to the original version. If you’re curious at all about the show, I really recommend just listening to the Broadway recording instead, it’ll save you some money and about 137 minutes of boredom.

Dear DEH Cast,

(from left) Larry Mora (Danny Pino), Cynthia Murphy (Amy Adams) and Zoe Murphy (Kaitlyn Dever) in Dear Evan Hansen, directed by Stephen Chbosky.

Okay, so the story’s bad, the music’s bad, surely the cast has to be good right? You’d think that would be the case. Before I get too into the weeds here, I’ll begin with what I enjoyed. I didn’t know that Amy Adams was here, and she was a nice surprise. It’s not her most phenomenal role (she didn’t have very much to work with after all), but she’s still one of the more watchable characters of the film.

The MOST watchable performance goes to Colton Ryan (no relation), who played Connor Murphy. It goes without saying that he doesn’t have very much screen time, but he truly makes the most of what he does have. He actually served as an understudy for the role in the original Broadway production, and it shows that he has experience with the character.

The last highlight goes to Kaitlyn Dever – who you may have previously seen in 2019’s Booksmart, one of my favorite films of all time. Her character isn’t the best written, but she does bring a lot of realism to Ben Platt’s scenes, which is extremely necessary.

Dear Ben Platt,

(from left) Evan Hansen (Ben Platt) and Jared Kalwani (Nik Dodani) in Dear Evan Hansen, directed by Stephen Chbosky.

Ben Platt may very well be the worst part of this film. As mentioned before, he also played the titular role in the original Broadway production. Now, I didn’t see his Broadway performance myself, but the Tony’s and clout he earned seem to speak to how good it was.

However.

He’s not the only person who played the role. The stage production cast a new lead 4 different times, not including the national tour of the show, which featured a different actor altogether. Many people have taken the helm of the lonely high schooler who takes a lie too far. As a result, many people were confused when Platt was announced to play the character in the film adaptation.

Sure, he’s the most well known portrayer of the role, but that doesn’t mean he’s the only person who can play it for the rest of time. Take for example, the recent film adaptation of In the Heights: the character of Usnavi was initially played by Lin Manuel Miranda, someone who’s already become stereotyped with casting himself as a major role in whatever he writes. And yet, the role was instead taken by Anthony Ramos. LMM was older than he was in the initial production, and it was time to give it to someone else who deserved the spotlight.

It seems like a weird thing to be up-in-arms about, but Platt’s casting in the film seems even weirder when you learn that his father is a producer for the film, likely playing a big part in giving his son the lead role. Platt later responded to the cases against him by saying,

…were I not to do the movie, it probably wouldn’t get made. And so I think, you know, my defensive response is to want to like, go onto twitter and be like, you know ‘F you guys, like you don’t even know that like this wouldn’t exist without me.’

Never in my life have I seen something so disrespectful and egocentric from someone who was very publicly handed a lead role in a major film by his father. It does such a disservice to everyone else who has played the role on stage – one of whom I should point out is Platt’s current boyfriend – all of whom are equally as qualified to play the character again.

All of this to say, Platt’s performance is very difficult to watch. I had read that Platt would be digitally altered to appear younger (ideally to make a 27 year old appear 17). Either that article was fake, or it was done so subtly that it didn’t make a difference at all, because Platt still appears significantly older than any of the other high school students in the film.

Evan Hansen seeming like a creepy guy hanging around at a school severely changes the tone of the film. Rather than being a quirky misunderstood guy who gets caught up in wanting a life that he doesn’t have, Platt’s performance in the film instead gives us a hunched and awkward sociopath who is too egocentric to understand when he’s severely upheaving the familial lives of people who he doesn’t know at all.

I won’t even go into the issues now present Hansen’s romantic side plot with the character played by Kaitlyn Dever, an actress who just naturally looks young in general. Platt sadistically reciting all of the absurd minute details of Dever’s character who he obsessed over – of course, under the guise that these were actually the thoughts of her dead brother – is just something no one should ever be forced to sit through.

It really changes how Evan Hansen as a character will be interpreted by audiences, and it’s entirely because Platt got Daddy on the phone and decided he needed more attention.

Dear readers,

As a whole, this movie is not good. It’s absolutely minimalist stance on ‘mental health’ boils down to about as progressive someone tweeting ‘I just learned eating yogurt is a trauma response.’

I just truly cannot advise you enough to not see this. It’s not even entertaining in a “Oh I just want to see the train wreck” kind of way, it’s just not watchable at all. By the end of my screening, the audience, which was made up of the target demographic for this film, were simply laughing in embarrassment at Platt’s asinine emotional breakdown.

I assume studios were clamoring for the chance to bring this to the silver screen, but all of the negative press and negative reviews pretty much guarantee this version will be unmemorable in about 6 months.

Just go listen to the Broadway soundtrack instead.

Disney Skyliner Review: What to Know Before You Go

24 September 2019 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

If you follow me on instagram and facebook, you know that we got to experience a preview of the newest Walt Disney World Resort transportation system: the Disney Skyliner. I was super excited and yes, a little nervous to try this newest way to travel in Walt Disney World, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.

Being of the “Magic Kingdom Skyway generation” (aka over 30), I remember a time when riding the Skyway from Tomorrowland to Fantasyland (and back) was my favorite thing to do in the Magic Kingdom, and something I did every single visit. I was pretty heartbroken when the Skyway closed back in 1999, and even more so when I finally learned just how cool the Disneyland Skyway was, knowing I’d never experience sailing through the middle of the majestic Matterhorn. But this new Skyliner is not an attraction, at least that’s not why it was built, it is a convenient and easy way to transport guests from certain WDW Resort hotels to either Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. (But you can still ride it for fun if you want, which is exactly what we did last night.)

Riding the Sky(liner)

Before I get into the facts and figures, I will say it was a wonderfully enjoyable ride on the Disney Skyliner. Right after we took off from the Disney’s Hollywood Studios station, we paused, right after passing the parking lot. Of course stopping like that mid-air was a little scary at first, but at no time was I worried we’d fall or the cable would snap or anything.

The main concern was that being stopped meant almost no air-flow through the vents of the cab, and yes, it did get a little toasty. This was at 6:30 at night, and the sun was directly shining on us, but it wasn’t as hot as a 3pm in-the-middle-of-summer day. That said, the time we stopped was only a few minutes, and it wasn’t unbearable. Most guests concerned with the extreme heat at Walt Disney World have some sort of personal fan or cooling device, so I think those that are worried will probably be prepared, and those that can handle direct sun for a few minutes will be okay. The good news is even if the wind isn’t flowing through because you’re not moving, the vents ARE still open, so you are still getting air, it just may not feel like it. The most common question whenever anyone asks about the Skyliner – “Is it air conditioned?” Well, once we were moving, the breeze was constant, and it was even windy in the cab. I’ve definitely been on the monorail when the “AC” wasn’t really helping matters at all, at least in this case, you will have that breezy cross-ventilation as long as you aren’t stopped.

Skyliner Safety

My other concern was loading and unloading the cab from the platform. I’d heard it was a little wobbly and it was, but, nothing so shaky that it caused panic. Yes, the cab moves a bit as you step on, but it is very sturdy and stable, and you feel that as soon as you step on. I do feel like some guests with less mobility or balance may benefit from a handle of some sort, but I’m sure that was looked into and may have caused more issues if people held onto it too long while getting out. So my suggestion if you have balance issues or walk slowly, is to have someone go out first and then give you a hand to help you out. It is slow enough that it should not be an issue, but of course, if you need additional assistance, or are in a wheelchair, they can stop the cabs to allow you more time to get in or out. The good news is the platform aligns perfectly with the floor of the cab, so there is no need for ramps or additional maneuvering to assist guests needing more time.

Skyliner Sunset

As I noted on instagram, we were lucky enough to time our visit to the sunset, and boy was that serendipitous! The views were amazing last night, and watching the sky dissolve from a bright blue, to hints of pink creeping in, to full on golden orange, followed by a dark purple and deep orange, was amazing. Christian has a video at the end of this post, so you can see how scenic it was, but I was really blown away by how beautiful it was and it’s been a while since I experienced a sunset like that from such a unique vantage point. If you are planning to ride the Skyliner just for fun, I definitely recommend doing so around sunset!

Here is a gallery of photos from our Disney Skyliner experience to click and scroll through:

Disney Skyliner sign — Disney Skyliner at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney Skyliner leaving Hollywood Studios, headed to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort Skyliner Station — Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Station

Remy's Ratatouille Adventure construction Skyliner

Remy's Ratatouille Adventure construction

Disney Skyliner at Disney's Riviera Resort

Disney Skyliner Facts & Figures:

Skyliner Stations: 5 – Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort/Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort, Epcot (see map above for line routes)

Skyliner Capacity: 10 guests, or 6 with a wheelchair. The seats are two wooden benches and you slide over to make room, similar to a Monorail-sized bench, but everyone gets a seat, there is no standing.

Skyliner Stroller Policy: If you have a single or tandem double stroller (not side by side), you can board normally and don’t have to fold it up. The stroller or mobility aid must fit within a 30″ by 48″ area, so you may need to fold it up if you can’t fit your stroller in that space. We asked a cast member and they hadn’t gotten a double-wide stroller yet, so they were kind of unclear on how they’d handle that, but keep in mind, this is still in the technical rehearsal stage so they may have more info as they open to all guests.

Skyliner Food/Drink Policy: We asked about bringing food and drinks into the Disney Skyliner cab, and were told that everything was allowed except alcohol. I hadn’t really thought of bringing anything on, until we passed the Joffrey’s Coffee kiosk at the Caribbean Beach Station, and thought “ooh, coffee…” (and whoever thought to put that there, brilliant!) it’s the perfect spot for it because the Caribbean Beach Station is where you would switch to go to Pop Century or Art of Animation, or on to Epcot or the Riviera Resort, so everyone has to get out here, and go to a different spot to re-load – why not stop and get a drink and a snack?

Skyliner Routes: As mentioned above, you do have to disembark and re-embark at some stations to get to your final destination. The only place you don’t have to get off and get back on (right now) is Disney’s Riviera Resort, because it’s not open. I’m not sure if when that resort opens they will make you get off and back on, but I can’t imagine they would because most people at that point would be heading to Epcot. So to get to Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios from either park, you will have to get off and get back on, because those lines do not connect.

Going to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a straight line from the Caribbean Beach Resort Station, that line does not connect anywhere else. Then from the Caribbean Beach Station, which really is the main “hub,” you can choose to take a line that goes ONLY to Pop Century/Art of Animation, or another line that goes to Riviera and Epcot. Similarly, if you are coming from Epcot, you’ll need to transfer at Caribbean Beach if you are trying to get to Pop/AoA, or Hollywood Studios. It sounds confusing at first, but once you ride it once, it all makes sense.

Disney Skyliner seating — You can see the seating in the teal open Skyliner cab

Skyliner Special Needs: As mentioned above, if you need special assistance to get into the Skyliner cab, they can definitely stop the movement for you and assist. They are slower than I thought they’d be, so that is good and should eliminate most potential issues with boarding. There is also an extended loop at all the stations except the Riviera Resort where cabs can be sent to completely stop, to help those that need additional assistance. Separate from that, if you have serious motion sickness or vertigo, dizziness, or equilibrium problems, or are just generally really scared of heights, you may want to avoid this method of transport.

I note on the video that at first I did feel a little dizzy, but I do have some equilibrium issues with some movement (I can’t ride Expedition Everest, for example, without my brain rattling around my head for a few days after). I quickly got used to the movement though. I have no problems with normal (non-upside-down/backwards) roller coasters, and don’t usually ever get sea sick or anything. So, your mileage may vary, but I think the majority of guests will be just fine. Just know your limits because there is a chance you will pause mid-air, and if that will set off a panic attack, you should be aware that it’s a possibility. There is a call box on each cab in case of emergency.

Skyliner Weather: So let’s talk about Florida weather. It is as predictable as it is ever-changing. You know it’s going to be in the mid to high 90’s in the summer, you know it’s going to rain every day at around 3pm-ish during the summer, and you know there will be very few days with low humidity. How will the Disney Skyliner handle that weather?

Here’s what I know: I know that Disney has thought of and tested and accounted for alllll of the crazy central Florida weather we all “enjoy,” so I’m not at all worried that they would put a transportation system out there that wasn’t made to withstand it. I also am not worried that in extreme cases, they will cease operation for the safety of guests. Yes, lightning strikes and storms can seem to appear out of nowhere sometimes, but I am confident Disney will have planned for that and has an appropriate course of action. (Also, having grown up going to the Boston Museum of Science and the Lightning Theatre there, I know that being in a metal box can actually be the safest place to be in a lightning storm. That’s why I’m never afraid to be in my car when that happens. The metal will conduct the lightning if it hits, and the tires will send the current back out. I think the same would apply here, and you’d be sitting on a wooden seat, which would not conduct electricity. Anyway, I’m clearly no scientist, but I feel safe).

Similarly, with rain, I assume Disney has tested this. The openings for the vents do have covers to close, so if it was raining, the rain would probably hit those first, and not be directly getting anyone inside wet. We’ll just have to wait and see on that one though.

Skyliner Attraction?: We’ve talked about the facts and figures and rules and regulations, but bottom line, would you or should you ride the Disney Skyliner…just for fun? My answer is yes. I think, if you are the type of guest that isn’t running from Fastpass to Fastpass and wants to do something a little different, get some amazing views, and get from point A to point B (with some stops along the way), why not take a trip on the Skyliner just for fun. I think it would be a great way to see resorts that some guests may not otherwise go to if they were just visiting without a car and staying at one resort. I also have no doubt that in no time at all, we’ll be seeing “Disney Skyliner Crawls” to try foods and drinks along the route – just remember no alcohol on board and maybe being drunk while way way up in the air isn’t the best plan so let’s not ruin this for everyone guys. 😛

Skyliner Merchandise: In the gallery above, you can see a preview of the coming merchandise for the Disney Skyliner. There will be a Funko Pop coming out in November, some DVC Member only and Passholder exclusive merchandise, as well as open edition merchandise, so something for everyone! Some of the shirts are really cute, I may have to pick one up myself!

Skyliner Operating Hours: Ending on a positive note, as mentioned a few times now, riding the Disney Skyliner at sunset is not to be missed. It really is worth it for some perspectives we’ve never seen before at sunset. The operating hours will vary depending on park hours, but it appears to be opening at 9 or 10 am some days and staying open till 11pm most nights, with some 1am opening hours to account for Extra Magic Hours. So it doesn’t appear like Disney wants the Skyliner early morning capacity to be tested, but this is a great option for those staying at Caribbean Beach or Pop and Art of Animation that may not be rope dropping, but want a fun way to get to the parks.

Click to enlarge the photos below of the amazing Skyliner sunset!

I hope that this has given you all the facts and figures and help you need to plan your Disney Skyliner transportation! If you have any questions, feel free to comment and ask here or on any of my social media accounts. I’ve added our video below so you can see some of this info in action. We hope you enjoy it!

If you’d like to see what we all thought as we rode and see the Disney Skyliner in action, watch this!

Want to remember these tips? Save the Disney Skyliner Must Know Before You Go pin to your favorite Pinterest board!

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EPCOT – The Magic of Possibility?

26 August 2019 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

I was planning to update my D23 Expo post with all the Parks, Experiences, and Products news announced on Sunday, August 25, but there ended up being SO much EPCOT news, it needed its own post. For those who were not following along on social media or at the Expo itself, there were about 13 new announcements or opening dates revealed yesterday, so it was a bit overwhelming to take it all in! In previous years, we have been given some exciting news, like New Fantasyland, Galaxy’s Edge, and Toy Story Land among others, but 13 things about ONE park alone is unprecedented! Let’s break down all the news with the official Disney releases – and I’ll add some commentary along the way – all images are in most cases concept art released by and copyright Disney, some were taken at the presentation at the Expo by Scott, who was there representing Zannaland, but the content is of course, still Disney’s images:

New EPCOT 2019 — Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is undergoing an historic transformation, bringing the next generation of immersive storytelling to life through a plethora of new attractions and experiences. The park’s entrance will be transformed with a reimagined fountain, new pathways, and sweeping green spaces that beautify the entryway while paying homage to the origins of Epcot.

“Epcot will be unified with four neighborhoods that each speak to important aspects of the world
and its people: World Showcase, World Celebration, World Nature and World Discovery.
These neighborhoods will be filled with new experiences rooted in authenticity and innovation
that take guests to new destinations, where the real is made fantastic in a celebration of
curiosity, hands-on wonder and the magic of possibility.”

World Showcase

• World Showcase will continue to be a celebration of culture, cuisine, architecture and
traditions – infused with new magic.
• The United Kingdom pavilion will welcome the first attraction inspired by Mary
Poppins. Guests will step in time down Cherry Tree Lane past Admiral Boom’s house,
then enter Number 17, home of the Banks family, where their adventure will begin.

So this was probably the most shocking and exciting of the announcements. Many had speculated what the last “to be revealed on Sunday” attraction poster would be, since most of us assumed one of the two would be Brazil, which was NOT announced at Expo at all. Whether it will be announced in the future remains to be seen. Maybe at the WDW 50th celebrations? Maybe in another 37 years? Anyway, the Mary Poppins announcements were suitably vague in classic Disney style. Will it be a dark ride? A show? An interactive walk-through experience? Nothing official has been announced except the above, so we’ll just have to wait and see. It is interesting to note that the images in the poster and concept art both seem to be referencing the NEW 2018 version of Mary Poppins…hmmm.

Additionally, as an EPCOT Center kid and purist, it is strange to me to see a fictional place represented in World Showcase, which was supposed to be a World’s Fair-esque sort of cultural exploration of other countries and their traditions, food, and shopping…but that time has long passed, especially with the addition of Frozen to Norway, and of course Remy is on his way to France as well. So, as Bob Chapek shared both at this Expo and 2017’s, they are making EPCOT into a place where families “can see their favorite Disney stories come to life”. And yes, I would love to say “But that’s not what EPCOT is all about,” but as we all know, it hasn’t been about what it was about in 1982, for a long, long time. I think what is so difficult for us, as EPCOT Center diehards, to let go of; we know EPCOT *could* have been updated and plussed and kept current throughout the past 35+ years. Disney had the technology, the wherewithal, and yes, the money, to keep the heart, the soul, and the vision of EPCOT Center alive. Sure, some things would have had to change over time, but the message and the hope for the future could still have been there, instead ripping bits and pieces out over the years, and making it so the story of Future World no longer made sense. And that’s why we were all on pins and needles with these announcements, because it could have been the final crushing blow for a park we still held out hope for, or it could’ve been an amazing salvation and promise for the future of EPCOT. And what we got was a kind of “hmmm, oookaaay?” So without being too much of a Debbie Downer about this overall theme/feel change to my beloved EPCOT Center, I am cautiously optimistic about this and other changes to the park…but let’s move on, there’s a lot left to share!

• In 2020, following the limited-time run of “Epcot Forever,” the new “HarmonioUS” will
debut as the largest nighttime spectacular ever created for a Disney park. It will
celebrate how the music of Disney inspires people the world over, carrying them away
harmoniously on a stream of familiar Disney tunes reinterpreted by a diverse group of
artists from around the globe. “HarmonioUS” will feature massive floating set pieces,
custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics, lasers
and more.

I am hopeful for the new HarmoniUS show, but most excited for EPCOT Forever. I realize Disney didn’t HAVE to give us any tribute to anything from the original EPCOT, so I am very grateful that they are, and plan on crying non-stop and going to as many EPCOT Forever shows as I can get to. I AM excited for the updated technology that will no doubt be featured in HarmoniUS, and look forward to seeing what unfolds.

• In summer 2020, the France pavilion will offer even more for guests to discover,
including the much-anticipated attraction Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, where guests
will shrink to the size of Chef Remy and race through Gusteau’s restaurant on a wild
adventure. Summer 2020 will also see the debut of a delicious new restaurant in the
France pavilion, La Crêperie de Paris, offering both table- and quick-service options
featuring a menu from celebrity chef Jérôme Bocuse.

I will admit, I’m very excited for the Remy ride. Mostly because I’ve seen clips of how cute it is in Disneyland Paris, and I’m not heading there any time soon. I realize I’m being totally hypocritical about bringing Disney IP’s into EPCOT, but again, it’s a lost cause at this point. I’m excited for the Creperie, and think this will make France have the MOST food offerings in any pavilion?? Chefs de France, Monsieur Paul, Les Halls, Artisans de Glace, and now the Creperie. Is there another pavilion with more than 5? Let me know if I’m forgetting any. I also hope they have something I can enjoy there as a recent convert to a vegan diet from vegetarian. But France isn’t exactly known for healthy options haha.

• Also in the France pavilion, the classic Impressions de France film will be joined by the
new “Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along,” debuting in January 2020 and directed by
Don Hahn, producer of both the animated and live-action versions of this tale as old as
time.

Excited for Don Hahn’s involvement, but NOT happy about any remote possibility of Impressions de France being edged out over time. I will be heartbroken if that happens, but I hope it sticks around for us EPCOT Center fangirls and boys.

• “Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360” will debut in January 2020 in the Canada
pavilion with new scenes and a new story.

I’m totally ok with this. The other 360° movies in World Showcase have never really stood the test of time because they always had people in them and really showed things which easily looked out of date, whereas Impressions de France was always more of an art piece, sure parts are outdated, but it’s a beautiful time-capsule, not a caricature.

• In the China pavilion, “Wondrous China” will take guests on a spectacular journey
across the country, filmed and presented in a completely seamless 360-degree digital
format.

Again, I’m okay with this. SOOO much has changed in China since the early 80’s (or late 70’s when it was probably filmed – I know they updated it once but still). I’m excited to see the modern look at China mixed with the historical past and cultural aspects.

World Celebration
• World Celebration will offer new experiences that connect guests to one another and the
world around them.

Ok, first of all, I’m really not a fan of these new names. World implies, well, the World, like World Showcase, but not everything relates to the entire world like that, especially if it’s going to involve Disney animated feature characters, but I guess their definition of “world” can be interpreted in many ways, like “the magical worlds of Disney animation…”. Anyway, I dunno, Celebration just seems the most out of place of those names. Nature and Discovery I get. Maybe Celebration could’ve been lumped in to Discovery and that way keeping Imagination and Spaceship Earth in that group would’ve made more sense? More on Celebration later…

• The iconic Spaceship Earth will remain a voyage through time as the journey
transforms to reflect the power of storytelling to unite the human experience. New
narration and an entirely new musical score will focus on the moments and ideas that
define the story of humanity. Guests will follow a magical “story light” that brings the
entire experience to life in dynamic ways, giving each scene energy and beauty that ties
the entire journey together.

So this is another curious update, because we can all agree that Spaceship Earth needs some TLC and major updates, however, what’s most beloved about it is that it retains many of its original scenes and concepts. So I think the destruction of any of those will be very sad, but if those areas can truly be “plussed” with updated technology or effects that BLEND with the existing scenes, and maybe update the ending which is pretty much non-existent, that would be good. I’m also okay with having a ‘guide’ because Disney has certainly done that and done it well before, however, I don’t think there needs to be any Disney IP or characters within the ride. We all know the stories that Disney movies have to tell, but I’d be fine (and interested in) an historical view of storytelling in general, and how that’s changed over time. So I’m again cautiously optimistic with this one.

• A new pavilion will be the perfect place for live events, and the home base for Epcot’s
signature festivals. It will provide a stunning elevated view of the entire park and an ideal
spot to witness Epcot’s nighttime spectacular. This beautiful three-level structure will
have one of the most remarkable architectural designs at any Disney park, featuring a
plaza level, a middle expo level, and a park that sits in the sky on the top level.

Ok so this is concerning to me. I mentioned right when I saw this concept art, I said, “Hmm, looks like that top area will be prime dessert party real estate…” and yes, it looks amazing, and yes, I’d love to go up there and get sweeping views of whatever’s happening at EPCOT, or watch fireworks. But let’s be real here, look at the last 5 years, separate ticketed, upcharge events have been more and more prevalent and I’m SURE this was designed with that in mind. I mean, what do I know, but that’s what I think anyway. It just makes sense. I hope that I’m wrong, and everyone can enjoy this new green space with spectacular views, but it just seems a little toooo perfect given Disney’s upcharge event tendencies lately. Time will tell (which seems to be the mantra with all of these updates)

• As guests exit Spaceship Earth, they will discover a breathtaking new view of World
Showcase from Dreamers Point. World Celebration will also feature a new statue
celebrating the legacy of the original dreamer, Walt Disney, plus beautiful natural
environments and global design elements filled with Disney magic and surprises,
including a wishing tree in an enchanted forest and a story fountain celebrating the
power and music of iconic Disney storytelling.

Ok, I actually love the statue. I think perhaps it was put there to ensure that any naysayers of these new changes will be appeased by “Uncle Walt” but I’m still okay with that, true or not. I think there is a risk of people taking very weird photos if they are able to basically climb all over Walt (we all know no one reads the “do not climb” signs), but I just like the statue itself, the age of Walt they chose, his pose, etc. Does it belong in EPCOT? Probably not, because “Walt’s EPCOT” is not and never has been this EPCOT, but it IS created with his ideals in mind, so I get it. I like that it’s casual, a reminder that he was a real, human guy, with visions and dreams, like all of us.

As far as these other updates, I’m all about wishing trees and story fountains, y’all. That seems very EPCOT Center to me, both visually and description-wise. (Feels like it could’ve gone in an Imagination area but…)

• Epcot’s entrance plaza will be transformed with new experiences that connect guests
with the world around them, welcoming them with a reimagined fountain, new pathways
and sweeping green spaces that beautify the entryway. The design will pay homage to
the origins of Epcot.

Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana” at Epcot will be the first attraction inspired by the hit Walt Disney Animation Studios film. This lush exploration trail will invite guests to meet and play with magical, living water. (Disney)

World Nature
• World Nature is dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty, awe and balance
of the natural world. It will include The Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends
pavilions.
• Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana” will be the first experience inspired by the hit
Walt Disney Animation Studios film. This lush exploration trail will invite guests to meet
and play with magical, living water. The water will have a life of its own – just like
Moana’s friend, the ocean – and guests will learn about the importance of the natural
water cycle.
• The Land pavilion’s new film, “Awesome Planet,” which showcases the beauty, diversity
and dynamic story of the planet, will begin welcoming guests in January 2020.

I don’t have too much commentary on World Nature. It makes sense, it goes with the existing pavilions of The Land and Seas (with Nemo and Friends), and I think the Moana Journey of Water will be a nice addition, but again, I love any sort of water feature, and I think there are some great uses of technology that would work here, while sharing a conservation and ecological message as well. I’m hopeful, and excited.

World Discovery
• In World Discovery, stories about science, technology and intergalactic adventure come
to life.

This makes sense and works with the existing science/space theme that exists over on that side of things.

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be the first “other-world” showcase
pavilion at Epcot. The adventure starts in the “Galaxarium,” a planetarium-like exhibition
that explores the similarities and mysteries of the formation of Earth’s galaxy and
Xandar. Guests will be invited to learn more about the treasures Xandar has to share –
until the moment when the Guardians of the Galaxy arrive, and adventures across the
cosmos ensue. The attraction will feature a new innovation from Walt Disney
Imagineering – a storytelling coaster that rotates 360 degrees to focus guests on the
action, including the first reverse launch on a Disney coaster.

This really speaks for itself, and all that’s left is for me to wonder how I will ever survive riding this attraction.

• An expansion of the Mission: SPACE pavilion, the new restaurant Space 220 will be a
culinary experience featuring the celestial panorama of a space station, including
daytime and nighttime views of Earth from 220 miles up. Guests will board a special
elevator for a journey to a space station that is home to an incredible dining experience.
Along the way, viewports will give guests real-time perspective as they travel high above
the planet. Once they arrive, guests will enjoy fantastic meals and drinks while taking in
views that are truly out of this world. Opening this winter, Space 220 will be operated by
the Patina Restaurant Group.

I’m excited for this. I hope it’ll be like a space version of the Good Turn, or Garden Grill restaurant. Very “vision of the future in a movie” kind of feel to it, and I like it.

• The PLAY! pavilion will open in time for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World. In
this digital metropolis, guests will discover an interactive city bursting with games,
activities and experiences that connect them with friends, family and beloved Disney
characters – both real and virtual – like never before. As part of this new pavilion, guests
will have the chance to help legendary fashion icon Edna Mode on her quest to rid the
world of uninspired style, or make a splash competing in a water-balloon fight hosted by
Huey, Dewey, Louie and Webby.

I mean, anything is an improvement to Wonders of Life’s current state. This definitely has an early Communicore if they had the technology feel to it, and I’m totally okay with it (I hope it goes without saying that I realize me saying “I’m okay with it” is not to imply me not being okay with anything would have any effect at all on things, but simply sharing my opinions on each of the updates.)

Guests will be able to visualize these exciting plans for Epcot when doors open Oct. 1, 2019, for
Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience in the Odyssey Events Pavilion.
They will discover engaging and interactive exhibits that showcase the relentless innovation,
energy and excitement driving the park’s future throughout this unprecedented period of
transformation.

While “Walt Disney Imagineering presents the EPCOT Experience in the Odyssey Events Pavilion” is perhaps the longest title we’ve gotten to date, I am excited for this space. I’m glad the Odyssey name is staying on that building, hopefully the exterior design will remain in all its 80’s glory, and I love a good preview center with models and concept art and all that good stuff. I anticipate spending a lot of time in here over the next few years.

And with that, we complete our EPCOT updates have drawn to a close. It’s a LOT right? Honestly, it took me writing all of this out to really process all of the info and digest the changes. It’s very easy to get excited by “NEW UPDATES FOR EPCOT” and not stop and realize what it means and how it fits into the overall feel and message of the park. So that’s what I tried to do here. My opinions are, as always, my own, and may differ greatly from yours. I’d love to hear your thoughts on all of this news. What are you most excited about and what are you most worried about? If you don’t want to leave a comment here, feel free to track me down on instagram, twitter, facebook, youtube, my cell if you have it…haha I kid, but I’d love to hear from you and what you think. Thanks as always for reading, and for visiting Zannaland. <3 If you need to say goodbye to EPCOT Center, read my Love Letter to EPCOT, written in 2013, and updated today. Because we all need to remember.

REVIEW: All the Buzz About Ant-Man and the Wasp

3 July 2018 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

I will admit, I could watch Paul Rudd read the latest tax code updates and be totally content. I’m a fan. (And my husband reminds me of him as well, so I really lucked out there.) That said, I wasn’t super excited about the upcoming Ant-Man and the Wasp. It just didn’t look that intriguing to me, especially after the action-packed Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, and Avengers: Infinity War in recent months, this seemed like an afterthought. However, as usual, Marvel came through and made me eat my words. It was a fun romp, just the type of levity needed after the dare I say it, super depressing Infinity War ending. I’m sure many of us are still recovering after that killer ending (no pun intended). What AM&tW did was fill in the blanks and connect the dots to what was going on in the rest of the world while those last movies were happening, and also primed both Ant-Man, and the Wasp, to be a part of the continuing Avengers storylines.

I don’t want to give anything away, and this review will be spoiler-free, but I must say, I love how Marvel can just connect everything with a sentence or two, or even just one visual shot, and make you go “Ooooh, okay!” I’m not versed on the original comics, so I go in to all of these movies blind, but I am a nerd at heart, so I appreciate subtle links that lead to huge backstories and a wider universe of relationships and connections for our storylines.

Ant-Man and the Wasp does not disappoint with comedy and hi-jinx, heartwarming family ties, and a few jaw-dropping moments as well. I love that Ant-Man isn’t afraid to say what we all are thinking as an audience, “Are you guys just adding quantum before words now?” and isn’t afraid to be a “real guy.” We learn more about Scott Lang and his bad-guy-gone-good personality. We understand more about Hope van Dyne and her family, and how little we actually know of what else is out there in the universe.

I walked in not a huge fan of Hope, as I found her so reserved and not really endearing in Ant-Man, but this film does make strides in that department and she really is the yin to Scott Lang’s yang 😛 Other fun performances are from of course, Michael Peña as Luis, Randall Park as FBI Agent Woo, David Dastmalchian as Kurt, and Bobby Cannavale as Paxton, who picks right up where he left off in Ant-Man. I really enjoyed Laurence Fishburne’s Dr. Bill Foster, and hope this isn’t the last we see of him. Scott’s daughter Cassie, played by Abby Ryder Fortson is a breakout star of the film, as is the city of San Francisco itself, which I love. Another thing I like about this storyline is the fact that things don’t always go as planned with Ant-Man or his suit. They may not have access to perfect Wakandan or Stark-tech environments, but work with what they have, and figure out how to make it work and fight for what’s right.

Speaking of what’s right, there are many times when you wonder, what is right, who is right, and who is the bad guy or the good guy. I appreciate this element because it mimics real life and what you might think is the obvious “good guy” or “villain” just may not be the case. And of course, even the worst villain may be redeemable (e.g. Loki).

All in all, I now view Ant-Man and the Wasp as a necessary chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and it has, of course, led me to want more, and get ready for Captain Marvel and upcoming Avengers (4 – to be named later), which really can’t come too soon. As always, stay for the 2 post credit scenes – the first is a MUST see, the second is lighthearted. The end credits themselves are also super fun, for all those Marvel fan boys and girls out there who wish they could run home and recreate the entire movie…with their action figures at home.

Ant-Man and the Wasp opens everywhere Friday, July 6 and is the perfect summer flick to see again and again! I’d love to hear your thoughts on Ant-Man and the Wasp. Who’s your favorite character? What are your MCU theories?! Share in the comments below!

REVIEW: Black Panther – the Movie We All Needed

15 February 2018 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Oh hi, Zannaland readers, readers, readers…hmm, bit of an echo. I’m prefacing this review with a touch of editorial mea culpa. I’ve been embarrassingly absent from my beloved site, focusing mostly on instagram to share my mini-blog posts and thoughts and pretty photos. In addition, I’ve been working full-time, as I’ve mentioned before, but I really shouldn’t use that as an excuse for neglecting this place. Before opening up this “Add New Post” page, I re-read my cathartic 2014 post The State of Zannaland (don’t read it now, it’s really long and we have a movie to discuss. But if you want later, feel free.) and I was shocked at how 4 years later, I could’ve written the same thoughts today. Basically, I get too busy to post, rely on the quick and easy places, then get down on myself and wonder if I should continue writing at all. It’s a vicious circle, which, as I read my own words expressing the same emotions years later, was a bit of a wake-up call. I’ll get into more of that in a future post. For now I’m just acknowledging that yes, I’ve neglected this place, and I’m really going to try my best at more writing and less neglecting. And now, Black Panther!

I am a Marvel fan. I’m not, however, a Marvel nerd, by which I mean, I don’t know all the backstories and original comics and what parts in the movies are canon vs. artistic interpretation – though I will admit to looking many things up in the Marvel Universe to better educate myself before and after movies because, let’s face it, there are some confusing storylines and characters out there. After watching Thor: Ragnarok in theatres, which I loved, I felt the need to re-watch Doctor Strange (and look stuff up online), because hey, Doctor Strange was in there and everything’s connected and wow…so yeah, that’s where I am on the scale of Marvel fangirl.

When I first saw a preview for Black Panther, I was IN. Actually, I was in when he appeared in Captain America: Civil War and as he first appeared and was trying to kill “the good guys” I thought “oh no please let him be a good guy I love him and want him to be a hero not a villain!” Which really, says a lot about heroes and villains because as Civil War pointed out, who’s to say what is on the side of “right” and the side of “wrong?” Sometimes there are various indistinguishable shades, and just as half the internet may see a dress as blue, the other half sees it as gold. And certainly in this real-world of political divisiveness, taking a knee, gun control, healthcare, taxes, and more, we often see people on both sides who believe without a doubt that they are fighting for what’s “right” and “good” even if, in our minds, they are completely wrong. Before I get into that, I will just say again, I was very excited to see trailers for the Black Panther full length film.

Now, dear reader, we come to a bit of a difficult point. I am, as most of you know, a suburban, white, middle-aged (gah that’s the first time I’ve admitted that one), wife and mom. The emotions I felt and the thoughts I have been trying to organize regarding this film, left me saying, “who am I, to have an opinion on this? Who am I to have a say in the themes presented on the screen? How can I rally in support of things I have had pretty much zero experience with in my real life? I don’t want to sound, as is so easy to do, like the person that says, ‘some of my best friends are (insert character descriptor here)!’ ‘Some of my favorite shows are Atlanta and Insecure!’ ‘I love Kendrick Lamar!’ or look like a bad YouTube video of someone trying desperately to be hip and relevant.” It’s awkward. It’s uncomfortable. My thoughts are my thoughts and my opinions and acceptances and loves are my own, but do they matter in a real-world environment of discrimination and brutality and defamation of character that by default I was born into the wrong side of? And then I realized, this is the point. This is the purpose. To feel uncomfortable. To get to that point where all you want to do is shout from the rooftops how amazing something is, even if you look like a fool for doing it, because it’s the right thing to do. To have the thoughts that make you question the way things are. To see the world from a different perspective. With discomfort comes growth. If we are comfortable with the way things always were, we will forever be living with the way things are vs. how they could be. So yes, here I am, a middle-aged (nope, still stings) white lady, discussing the film which is life-changing for many people of color and I’m just going to do it and it’s going to be a good time, I promise.

You may be starting to think, “Is this still a review for a Marvel super hero movie or did I accidentally click on a HuffPo link? It’s *just* a movie. A fun, action flick, not a commentary on the real world.” Yes, and the Princess and the Frog is just another animated cartoon. To many. To many more, it was the first time they got to go to a store and get a costume representing a character that looks like them. A princess that isn’t blonde with blue eyes with fair skin. A super hero that doesn’t look like he is a Viking god (sorry Thor). A friend of mine in the Disney community (I asked her permission to link to her 🙂 ) went with her sister and her nephew to DragonCon this past year, where he proudly dressed up as Black Panther. They took a group photo of all the Black Panthers there at the convention that day, and he was among all the other little guys looking like a mini army of Wakandan princes. And I teared up seeing the photos she shared because I felt just one tiny, miniscule, microscopic fragment of the pride of representation that they were feeling, and a big ol’ chunk of happiness. I don’t think I ever told her that, because, well, I felt dumb and again, like it wasn’t my place to celebrate that victory. That’s the thing with privilege, even if you don’t think you display it, seeing an instance where generations have gone without it, is very eye-opening. A little uncomfortable. And in that discomfort, you grow in understanding. This is not just an action movie.

Imagine a world, where a country was able to rely only on itself and its people, rich in resources, dependent on no one for trade, or benefits of any kind. Where your land and your people were not a place to be, in their terms: colonized, civilized, converted, saved – in our terms: exploited, suppressed, and oppressed. A place where your land, your people, your culture, your traditions, and your history was preserved, celebrated, venerated, expanded upon, magnified, glorified. This is more than just a list of adjectives, this is Wakanda.

In the Marvel universe, Wakanda is the richest nation in the world. Completely self-sufficient, it has never been colonized, and more than that, because of their great wealth and technological power, they have for the most part hidden themselves from the rest of the world. Why? Because they didn’t need us. To see the downtown city of Wakanda is to imagine our cities, if they weren’t built by people with no cultural traditions, no history to celebrate. I know that I’m painting the developed world with a very broad brush, but it’s true. You can’t celebrate traditions and history and tear it down to build the next biggest high rise full of multi-million dollar condos. You just can’t. We only see this downtown area briefly, but that is the “what if?” that struck me. How the modern was mixed with the traditional. You have a skyscraper with a thatched roof added on to the side or on top, because that is how your traditional buildings were built. The people of the different tribes of the country might wear the traditional attire and markings of their ancestors, or a modern suit paired with a lower lip plate and stretched earlobes. It is literally the best of both worlds, the past and the future living in cultural harmony and peace. I watched in awe and wished I could live in Wakanda. Sadly, this place is fictional, but it certainly makes you wonder, at least it did me, what if. What if centuries of colonization and conquering and oppression and yes, slavery, hadn’t taught the world how “progress” worked.

Now imagine our reality and the world we live in, with the struggles, and persecution, and keeping down of marginalized peoples. And as a marginalized person, you discover that Wakanda exists. Would you want to move there and live out your days? Or would you want to expose the overflowing resources and seemingly endless solutions to the problems the rest of the world faces, in hopes of creating a perfect world everywhere, at any cost? Therein lies the dilemma of Black Panther. Some of these same sentiments are felt by citizens of Wakanda as well. So the new king, T’Challa, must decide how he is going to rule. Will he save the world, or protect Wakanda?

That’s all I’m going to discuss in the way of plot details, I won’t spoil this for anyone because there were some great surprise moments in the film. I will say that Black Pantheris enjoyable from start to finish. From the sweeping Wakandan visuals, to the uber cool Black Panther tech, to the up to date(ish) pop culture references, it’s smart, funny, and everything you’d expect from a Marvel movie. With one token white guy. Martin Freeman is a great foil against the typical “token” character and I love how the movie embraces that, making us white folk squirm just a teensy bit, and doesn’t just pretend that isn’t a reality of the situation in this world.

The performances by all the actors were amazing. I loved the character development and the juxtaposition of the modern outside world against Wakanda’s isolated one. I loved the costumes – so many details. I can only imagine the amount of research that went into each tribe’s backstory, traditional garb and appearance. There is a whole Wakandan language that is spoken and written! The level of realism to create the country of Wakanda and all its history is a standalone success even without the acting, writing, backgrounds, and music too. And I loved the messages throughout the film. They are all important. It was wonderful to see strong (physically and emotionally) women represented on film without a second thought as well. This film on a whole is a great commentary on culture, traditions, rituals, and family; how even the mightiest of men can be flawed and, at the end of the day, we are our choices, so make good ones. And, it’s never too late to make up for the sins of the past and attempt to heal the damage done – and, to be open to new solutions.

So there you have it. My review, peppered with the lightest of social commentaries. I am not 100% sure I have expressed everything I wanted to express about Black Panther, but I am going to see the movie again tomorrow with my 17 year-old daughter, who is also dying to see it, so I may have more to add to this post. I look forward to hearing her perspective on it, as a member of the generation that has been a part of more social change and inclusion since perhaps the 60’s. Things like how the standard of beauty has done a 180 from a generation ago. The standard of human rights and representation is growing exponentially. We still have a long way to go, and I think we have seen recently that what has been the ‘norm’ cannot be the norm anymore. Change is afoot, and movies like Black Panther are the stepping stones to those changes.

Edited to add one more thing: IF I have, in fact, offended anyone, please – let me know. I tried to be completely open, honest, and transparent with some very important real world issues, but I completely understand if I have overstepped any bounds or if my tone did not come across as intended. I come in peace and love, and I hope that’s how it appears. I have had people I know tell me that they actually had no desire to see this movie, and when I asked why, they said (and I’m not making this up – I wish I was), “I’m just not a fan of the urban-ness of it all…” and that, my friends, is a very sad sentiment, which unfortunately is still all too common in 2018. So if anything, I wanted to show whoever did read this, that this IS an important and fun movie and if you can’t handle the “urban-ness” of a country full of peaceful, technologically advanced beyond anyone on the planet, and ridiculously rich citizens, then perhaps it’s time to move to a new galaxy.

WAKANDA FOREVER!

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BLACK PANTHER arrives in theatres everywhere on February 16, 2018!

The Lego Movie Has Laughs For All Ages-Celebrate at Legoland Florida

5 February 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

After seeing several commercials for The Lego Movie in our house, my kids were pretty excited to see it. I thought it was a joke at first; some independent filmmaker deciding to have some fun with Lego. The characters seemed to be poking fun at their own personas and even Lego-building itself. Surely this couldn’t be an official thing, I thought. But I was wrong. It was official and after seeing the film at a screening last Saturday, thanks to Legoland Florida, I have to applaud all involved. Following local theme parks and entertainment like I do, it is very rare to see huge corporations have a sense of humor about their own reputation. The Lego Movie was a refreshing and human take on the cult and culture of Lego-building, covering everything from following the included instructions to the way Lego figures move, to the crossing of Lego themed sets from one ‘universe’ to another. I wont give away all of the ending, but it was definitely a surprise, and made me get a little emotional about the act of play itself, using imagination, and the bonds between parent and child.

As far as kids go, they will love the movie just because of the cool Lego action – things being built, Legos they’ve known and loved actually moving and talking, and that absolutely everything is made out of Lego bricks. Filmed using a combination of stop-motion animation and computer animation, filmmakers took great lengths to make sure the animated parts looked like real Lego figures and bricks. The use of water, smoke and bubbles as well as other special effects make you laugh with the realization that yes, that’s what Legos would look like in that situation.

Parents and adults can relate to all the old-school Lego references, the relationship humor and the personalities we get to know in the movie. Batman (voiced by Will Arnett) is pretty full of himself, as both a superhero and a boyfriend, while Lord Business (voiced by Will Ferrell) plays the stereotypical bad guy perfectly. And surely we all know someone like Uni-Kitty (voiced by Alison Brie), from Cloud Cuckoo Land, the capital of rainbows and puppies – spouting positivity and happiness at every turn while avoiding reality until their pent up emotions and anger within eventually explode…or is that exclusive to the Disney community? Regardless, the characters and jokes are hilarious and they did not skimp on the voice actors, with greats like Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Will Ferrell, Will Arnett, and Elizabeth Banks on board.

I absolutely loved the opening scene, showcasing the “life of a Lego” or at least how “President Business” (voiced by Will Ferrell) deems life should be. Following instructions to a tee, this sequence will make you want to watch the movie again and again to catch new little references or jokes here and there. We follow Emmet, a construction worker who wants desperately to fit in and have friends, so he follows the instructions every day. When he happens to see Wyldstyle (voiced by Elizabeth Banks), his ordinary life changes forever. He discovers President Business is actually Lord Business and he is seeking to destroy the planet with the ultimate weapon – the Kragle (super glue to you and me). Emmet stumbles upon the “piece of resistance” (the only way to stop the Kragle) and Wyldstyle takes him to Vitruvius, the somewhat kooky prophet (voiced by Morgan Freeman) as they attempt to save the world. Emmet finds himself in the process and the ending will have you wanting to run out and build an entire Lego world yourself. Definitely a must see (and see again!).

In coordination with the launch of the first-ever, full length theatrical LEGO^® adventure, “The LEGO^® Movie^TM”, LEGOLAND^® Florida celebrates with a movie-themed weekend in the park on Feb. 8 and 9. Guests can head to their local theatre to watch “The LEGO Movie,” opening nationwide on Friday, February 7, and then come to LEGOLAND Florida to see LEGO come to life amidst more than 50 rides, shows and attractions and special movie-themed fun all geared for families with children ages 2 to 12.

“The LEGO Movie” Weekend at LEGOLAND Florida includes the following activities:

“The LEGO Movie” Scavenger Hunt – Miniland USA
Movie characters Emmet, Wyldstyle, Lord Business and MetalBeard are lost in Miniland USA. Guests can help find them to save the day! Guests can submit an entry to win a LEGO Prize Pack at www.LEGOLAND.com. See website for official rules.
“The LEGO Movie” Video Game Challenge – Warner Bros. Games Zone
Gaming fans can test their skills and play the latest action-packed video game, “The LEGO Movie.”
Build Your Own World Competition – Imagination Zone
Guests can use their imagination to build their own unique LEGO model. LEGOLAND Florida Master Model Builders will select a winner from each event day to receive a LEGO prize pack. Official rules will be available at the park.
“The LEGO Movie” Mural Build – Imagination Zone
Families can build together and help create a giant LEGO poster of “The LEGO Movie.”
Character Meet & Greets – LEGO City
Fans can walk the red carpet and meet two of the stars of “The LEGO Movie.” Emmet and Wyldstyle.

“The LEGO Movie” Weekend is included with park admission and guests will have complete access to a full day of theme park fun with more than 50 rides, shows and attractions. The best way to experience LEGOLAND Florida is with the LEGOLAND Florida Resident Annual Pass as low as $99 each. Pass members receive unlimited admission for 12 months to LEGOLAND Florida and the LEGOLAND Water Park, as well as all other Merlin US attractions (LEGOLAND California & Water Park, LEGOLAND Discovery Centers, Sea Life Centers and Madam Tussauds), free parking and 10% off food and merchandise with no black-out dates. For the most current information on special events, daily operating hours and to purchase tickets, visit www.LEGOLAND.com.

I’ll be at Legoland Florida this Sunday live-tweeting, instagramming and posting on Facebook so be sure to follow along! Thanks again to Legoland Florida for providing my family with tickets to see the movie, and tickets to their park this weekend. My opinions and thoughts are my own, as always!

REVIEW: Wreck-It Ralph Is a Game-Changing Masterpiece From Disney Animation

2 November 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

I will admit, I fell in love with Wreck-It Ralph before I even saw one clip from the movie. We first heard about it at the Disney D23 Expo in Anaheim in August of 2011. When I heard it was an 8-bit game bad guy that traveled to other video games, I was instantly hooked. Being an Atari child, I remember like it was yesterday the Christmas morning when my big brother got his Atari 2600 and our lives were changed forever. Even though it was his present, I spent hours, way too close to the t.v., playing Q*bert, Pitfall, E.T., Pac Man, and Yars Revenge (which I never did understand the point of), among countless others. More than that, at the time my father was the general manager of a restaurant which had a lounge containing several table-top arcade games. Centipede became MY game and I’d sit, amid the smoking and drinking, just to better my score (things were different in the 80’s kids). So you see, Wreck-It Ralph had my heart before the trailers even came out. Once I saw not one, but two preview screenings (thanks to the Disney Parks Blog and a media screening via my own blog), I was not disappointed.

Wreck-It Ralph is a triumph of story, characters, and animation. The story is one we can all related to; feeling under-appreciated and trapped in your current position and willing to do anything to change your situation. The characters, although a mix of existing video games and the new games created for the film, all work perfectly together and you truly feel for the members of Bad Guys Anonymous, or the out of work Q*bert creatures. You might think it difficult to give 2-dimensional video game characters a backstory, but Disney does it and does it well.

The animation is, in a word, breathtaking. The attention to detail within the Game Central areas, the fun, polished 8-bit setting of Fix-It Felix and Niceland, and the sharp, HD animation within Hero’s Duty all just work together flawlessly. And then, we have Sugar Rush. I, like many of my friends that saw the film, want to LIVE in Sugar Rush. It is just SO. PRETTY. The landscapes, the impeccable detail down to every sugary crumb, is just beautiful. The writing here is hysterical too, lots of candy puns and visual gags to keep you laughing. As my friend and I noted during the movie, once you get to the Sugar Rush scenes, it’s impossible not to want candy, so make sure you arrive to your seat well-stocked with movie snacks!

I truly hope Disney develops the other games featured in Wreck-It Ralph into full video games. While Fix-It Felix is a fun, nostalgic romp to video games past, Sugar Rush is a game I would find myself completely addicted to. And I know people online were asking to play Hero’s Duty as well. The games are just that good in the film, you don’t want to leave them behind when the credits roll. Even down to the theme songs for the games; Hero’s Duty is epically composed by Skrillex in a song that gets everyone’s heart pumping, while the Sugar Rush theme is sung, in English and Japanese, by Japanese supergroup ABK48 (and is now my phone’s ringtone).

Back to the story, believe it or not, it is a heartwarming tale of friendship and redemption. Without the full-on heartstring-pulling that Pixar is known for, I actually did shed a tear at the end of the film, when Ralph discovers his importance in the life of a child. Truly a life message, which Ralph delivers very matter-of-fact-ly, without sappy good-byes or any sad ending. I was completely satisfied when the movie ended, happy with every aspect of the film. I think this is an instant Disney classic and a home run for the entire Disney Animation team. So walk, run, jump, double jump, or “Up, Down, Up, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A” your way to theatres NOW to experience Wreck-It Ralph yourself.

Disclosure: I was provided a free screening of the film, and also attended a free screening held by the Disney Parks Blog. My opinions are my own and unaffected by this. It’s just that great!