Disney Movie News & Reviews

Guest MOVIE REVIEW: The Bourne Legacy

22 August 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

A few weeks back, my husband had the opportunity to attend a screening of Universal Pictures The Bourne Legacy – here’s his review of the film:

The Bourne Legacy is a good movie, and good addition to the Bourne franchise. It can best be reviewed by breaking the movie down into…The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. WARNING: The Ugly contains spoilers.

The Good:
Tony and Dan Gilroy do a great job of working the story seamlessly into the previous Bourne trilogy of movies; fitting the story into the events of the third movie. Jeremy Renner and Ed Norton are amazing in their roles and really stand out in an amazing cast. Renner, in particular, is very believable as Aaron Cross and pulls off the roll with ease.

The Bad
Tony Gilroy directing was just…bad. In one of the opening scenes of the film, two people are talking in a small office. The camera, for some inexplicable reason, “helicopters” around them as they are talking, producing a motion sick feeling that will leaving you needing Dramamine. The rest of the movie is okay directorally until the climatic car chase at the end. This scene looks and feels like it was directed by my 4yo, with my 92yo grandfather working the camera. There is a lot of fast action, but the camera always seems to be zoomed in on a random car bumper, or unaware passenger.

The Ugly
I really liked the movie, and the storyline of a failed government project that is trying to swept under the carpet is riveting. However, toward the middle of the movie you realize that Aaron Cross doesn’t know he’s being hunted down, in fact all he is looking for is more “chems” (the government supplied drugs that make you stronger and faster). The movie proceeds with Aaron trying to save the life of a doctor in order to obtain more drugs, not realizing he is the one being hunted. Then the bomb drops…figuratively. It is revealed that Aaron is only looking for the “smart” drug because his iq test results on his entrance exams were pumped up by his recruiter, thus making him, in his pre-drug state, 12 iq points below normal…and he doesn’t want to go back to that. So basically the moral of Aaron’s crisis is, it’s not good to be…well…not smart. I felt not smart after realizing that was the guiding force behind the plot; he didn’t know he was trying to stay alive, he just didn’t want to be dumb.

All together, the movie was a great addition to the Bourne franchise and very fun to watch…it just won’t make you smarter. – J.F. DiMarzio

The Bourne Legacy opened in theatres August 10

NEW: Steven Spielberg’s LINCOLN Movie Poster Released

22 August 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

After the first stunning image of Daniel Day Lewis as Abraham Lincoln, Dreamworks has now released the first official movie poster for its upcoming film:

Steven Spielberg directs two-time Academy Award® winner Daniel Day-Lewis in “Lincoln,” a revealing drama that focuses on the 16th President’s tumultuous final months in office. In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change, Lincoln pursues a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country and abolish slavery. With the moral courage and fierce determination to succeed, his choices during this critical moment will change the fate of generations to come.

Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Hal Holbrook and Tommy Lee Jones, “Lincoln” is produced by Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, with a screenplay by Tony Kushner, based in part on the book “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln” by Doris Kearns Goodwin. The DreamWorks Pictures/Twentieth Century Fox film, in association with Participant Media, releases in U.S. theaters exclusive on November 9, 2012, with expansion on November 16, 2012.

“Like” LINCOLN on Facebook: http://facebook.com/lincolnmovie

Follow LINCOLN on Twitter https://twitter.com/LincolnMovie

Sneak Peek: PARTYSAURUS REX Toy Story Toon To Show Before Finding Nemo 3D

16 August 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

The toys are back! Disney*Pixar’s brand-new Toy Story Toon, PARTYSAURUS REX, will run in theaters before FINDING NEMO 3D starting September 14th. This adorable short is directed by Mark Walsh, produced by Kim Adam, and is the third installment of Toy Story Toons.

Check out this brand-new clip from PARTYSAURUS REX!

“Partysaurus Rex” features Rex (voiced by Wallace Shawn), the insecure toy T-Rex in the ‘Toy Story’ gang. Rex goes from shrinking violet to sudsy stud when Bonnie brings him into the bath! What follows can only be described as an EPIC bathtub party.

FINDING NEMO 3D & “Partysaurus Rex” Hit Theaters September 14th!

FIRST IMAGE: Daniel Day Lewis in Steven Speilberg’s Lincoln

8 August 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

LINCOLN focuses on the last four months of the president’s life and the political strategizing he undertook at the close of the Civil War to ensure that slavery would be forever outlawed. “Our movie is really about a working leader who must make tough decisions and get things done in the face of overwhelming opposition,” Spielberg says.

LINCOLN is a DreamWorks, Twentieth Century Fox, Participant Media production opening in limited release November 9, expanding November 16, 2012.

Like LINCOLN on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LincolnMovie

Raglan Road Hosts Central Florida’s First Boutique Irish Festival: ‘Great Irish Hooley’

7 August 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

It is no secret that Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant is one of my favorite spots at Downtown Disney here in Orlando. I’ve always been a fan of their amazing Chef Kevin Dundon‘s creations as well as the great live music and atmosphere the location offers. Having grown up outside of Boston, the granddaughter of Irish immigrants, I’ve also always had a great love in my heart for Irish music and dancing. Many high school friends took part in Irish step-dancing and I was always amazed by their syncopated movements and talent. Now Raglan Road brings some great Irish culture to all of us here in Central Florida, with their first ever boutique Irish festival called “The Great Irish Hooley” taking place from August 31-September 3 at Downtown Disney.

Here is all the official information about what exactly a Hooley is and what to expect there:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Labor Day weekend guests at Downtown Disney Pleasure Island can eat, drink, dance and celebrate during Central Florida’s first boutique Irish festival — The Great Irish Hooley — August 31 through Sept. 3.

A traditional Irish social celebration, the “Hooley” combines music ranging from traditional to rock tunes with entertainment and interactive fun for the whole family. Raglan Road’s Great Irish Hooley will make the long weekend memorable with a mix of great Irish bands, Irish Dance Workshops for anyone in the family, structured set dancing known as the Ceili (pronounced kay-lee), Celtic face-painting Saturday through Monday and authentic food and beverages for all.

“At last, Orlando has its own boutique Irish festival like those found back home in Ireland and in certain other U.S. cities,” says John Cooke, a founding partner of Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant. “This unique Irish festival will be jam packed with the best of Irish music and entertainment outside of Ireland.”

The four-day party kicks off Friday, August 31 at 5 p.m. and continues through midnight Monday, Sept 3. The Great Irish Hooley entertainment lineup includes six top Irish bands and a troupe of acclaimed dancers:

o Full Set, a popular Irish band that released its successful debut album last year. The band plays the festival Friday through Monday to begin a U.S. tour that includes the Milwaukee Irish Fest.

Raglan Road Great Irish Hooley 'Full Set 2 — This Irish band begins its U.S. tour at the Hooley — they recently released their hit debut album

o Elevation, the U2 Tribute Band. Elevation will play the pub stage Saturday and a full show under the Florida sky on the patio stage Sunday evening.

o Creel, Raglan Road’s popular house band, will play all weekend.

o The Raglan Rogues, here from Dublin with their energetic expression of Irish folk and traditional tunes, will play Thursday through Monday.

o Danny Burns brings his unique blend of Irish ballads and contemporary Irish music to Raglan Friday through Monday.

o Johnny “Snaggs” Norton is a renowned Dublin entertainer in the tradition of the great Irish folk and ballad groups who has toured worldwide with Riverdance. His performances Saturday through Monday include sing-along songs from the great Traditional Irish Songbook.

o The Raglan Road Irish Dancers, the resident six-strong troupe of champion Irish dancers plucked from the stages of the most famed Irish dance shows, perform throughout the weekend.

Raglan Road Dancers — Guests can watch this amazing troupe of award-winner dancers almost every evening at Raglan Road. They’ll be part of the Irish Dance Workshops with Ronan McCormack

On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, guests can participate in Irish Dance Workshops — “From Our Roots to Riverdance” — with renowned Irish dancer and choreographer Ronan McCormack of the original Riverdance cast and the Raglan Road Dancers.Ronan will chart and demonstrate the origins and traditional styles of Irish Dance through to the contemporary styles of dance made famous by Riverdance. And on each of those three afternoons, guests can step up for a two-hour Ceili (kay-lee) – a traditional music and structured set-dancing event that was the precursor to today’s popular country line dancing.

Throughout the Hooley, guests can belly up to one of Raglan Road’s 130-year-old imported-from-Ireland bars or grab a table for authentic fare by Irish celebrity chef Kevin Dundon. The restaurant, a Diners’ Choice 2012 award winner, is known for its beer-battered fish and chips, as well as its Shepherd’s pie with a contemporary twist, delectable seafood, Kevin’s Heavenly Ham and other popular entrees. Desserts like the Bread & Butter Pudding and the decadently chocolate Dunbrody Kiss are just as popular. Raglan Road also offers gluten-free items including scallops, fish and chips, calamari, onion rings and pasta dishes.

Owned and operated by Irish partners and celebrity chef Kevin Dundon – famous for his five-star hotel and cookery school in Ireland – Raglan Road features traditional Irish dishes and new creations with a Celtic twist. The restaurant’s warm interior of aged walnut and mahogany woods from old Irish bars and churches was built in Ireland and shipped to Orlando. Live entertainment nightly includes Irish house band Creel (Monday through Saturday) and Irish duo Johnny and Justin (Sundays) plus The Raglan Road Irish Dancers perform seven nights a week. Lunch is served 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Dinner 3-11 p.m.; Bar menu 11 p.m.-late. Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant is located on Pleasure Island at Downtown Disney in the Walt Disney World Resort, 1640 E. Buena Vista Dr., Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Visit RaglanRoad.com or call 407/938-0300.

Special “Odd Life of Timothy Green” Online Q&A Session With Jennifer Garner

6 August 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

From her first reading of the script, Jennifer Garner knew this was a film she wanted to be involved with. She was taken not only by the storytelling, but also by the characters of Cindy and Jim Green who wish themselves a boy at a time when they thought all bets were off on having a child. “This is the most relatable film I have ever worked on,” says Garner, “because I am a parent, but also because I am a sister, a daughter, a child.”

Now you are invited to a special online Q&A with actress Jennifer Garner for Disney’s The Odd Life of Timothy Green. Register for the free event at constellation.tv and on August 14 at 2:45 PM EST, watch an online sneak peek followed by an interactive Q&A with Jennifer Garner joining live via webcam to answer audience questions. See more details here at www.constellation.tv/event/oddlifelive . Check out instructions below to take part:

More Marvel Tokidoki Shirts Bring on the Super+Cute!

6 August 2012 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

It was just about a year ago that I first strolled into Downtown Disney’s West Side shop, D-Street and saw these adorable Marvel Tokidoki crossover t-shirts. Last night I was browsing again and found even more adorable new Marvel Tokidoki shirts. This time, Thor and unicorns are involved. I couldn’t ask for anything better. See the new designs below:

Marvel Tokidoki Spiderman hat — Marvel Tokidoki Spiderman baseball cap

Marvel Tokidoki Storm — Storm gets a Tokidoki makeover too!

Marvel Tokidoki Spiderman vs. Hulk — Hulk vs. Spiderman

Marvel Tokidoki Spiderman hoodie — Back of the Spiderman date hoodie

Marvel Tokidoki Hulk hoodie — Hulk is smashing through your hoodie!

Marvel Tokidoki — Iron Man and the X-Men

Marvel Tokidoki Captain America — Cap is lookin’ serious!

Marvel Tokidoki Iron Man Captain America and Thor — Iron Man, Cap and Thor are in a rockin’ band!

Marvel Tokidoki Thor — Thor, riding a Tokidoki unicorn. Must have.

As mentioned above, I found these at D-Street, but I’m sure they are available in other shops on Disney property as well. I just love this crossover!

REVIEW: The Odd Life of Timothy Green – A Heartwarming Instant Classic

5 August 2012 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

I was almost reluctant to attend a media screening of Disney’s The Odd Life of Timothy Green, simply because I knew it would be a tear-jerker. Since I cry at the drop of a hat (just watching or listening to other people’s kids at Walt Disney World makes me tear up all the time, in addition to, of course, my own), I knew I was in for it when the premise was a couple who dreamt up the perfect child and he appeared in the garden one night. That said, I still wanted to see exactly what happened and where the story took us.

The tale unfolds in fictional Stanleyville, the “Pencil Capital of the World.” Filmed in Georgia, the town represents “Anywhere, U.S.A.,” bringing us back to a simpler time and place. The couple, Jim and Cindy Green, played by Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Garner, work in the small town’s pencil factory and pencil museum respectively. They live in an adorable farmhouse, and seem to want for nothing – except for the fact that despite trying everything they could, they were unable to conceive a child they so desperately wanted. Cindy handles her grief by wanting to just move on and put the pain behind them, while Jim decides that they need to write down qualities that they’d want their dream child to have. They laugh and cry together as they create this perfect little person on paper, then put the papers in a box and bury it in the garden. That night a crazy storm arrives and with it, Timothy – an 11-ish year old boy who appears with leaves on his legs, wanting to call the Greens “Mom and Dad.”

Click to watch the trailer.Once the shock wears off and they realize that this is, in fact, the child they dreamed of, the real parenting begins. The film then brings us on a journey of life lessons, laughter, and heart, as we all fall in love with Timothy. Of course, Timothy Green is no ordinary child. In addition to the leaves, which his parents hide with socks, warning him that not everyone will understand, he also stands with arms raised when the sun shines, seeming to soak in its rays and be rejuvenated by them. In this way, I was reminded of the movie Powder, where someone so different arrived on the scene and everyone was able to learn from his differences. Timothy’s odd behavior attracts the attention of a girl who also feels different, and the two form a lovely relationship full of friendship, love and beauty.

The overall tone of the movie reminded me of classics like Big, a film which I love watching because of the feeling of “home” you get and the lessons the characters learn along the way. Timothy Green is no exception, leaving us fondly remembering childhoods and family, and giving us messages of hope and love. The performances within the film are wonderful as well, CJ Adams as Timothy is just captivating and will own your heart. We can all identify with the various characters portrayed, from annoying bosses to competitive siblings to parents we don’t want to emulate, making the film relateable to all.

There are some details I won’t give away here, but I can definitely see The Odd Life of Timothy Green becoming a family classic. We are left remembering what’s truly important in this life, and, parent or not, how we treat others becomes how we live our lives. I definitely recommend watching it with family and friends, and hugging when it’s all over.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green opens August 15 in theatres everywhere. You can “Like” The Odd Life of Timothy Green on Facebook or Follow The Odd Life of Timothy Green on Twitter.

Locals and Visitors-Win $50 To Use At Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores

3 August 2012 by Suzannah Otis 11 Comments

August is now upon us and back to school sales are filling up the local stores. A great place to get some shopping done for the school year is right around the corner from Walt Disney World – the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores. I remember when I was little, I always loved going to the outlets up in New England for back to school clothes, shoes, and backpacks. Not surprisingly, consumers recently surveyed by the National Retail Federation noted that shopping smarter and stretching their budget will be a priority. Now, whether you’re a local or a visitor to our fine state, you could win a $50 gift certificate to use at any of the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores, one of Central Florida’s best-kept shopping secrets where you’ll find savings up to 75% off at select stores.

The village-style center offers a customer-friendly shopping experience and 50 spacious outlet shops with convenient store-front parking, including favorites: Aeropostale, American Swimwear, Carter’s, Converse Shoes, Dressbarn, Eddie Bauer Outlet, Fossil, G by GUESS, Gap Outlet, Izod, Levi’s® Outlet Store, Loft Outlet, NikeFactoryStore, Old Navy Outlet and featuring outlet exclusives; OshKosh, Reebok, Samsonite, Timberland, Tommy Hilfiger, Travelpro, Wilsons Leather Outlet and many more!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tax-free days are now through midnight on Sunday but deals will still be happening throughout the month. Even if you don’t win the giveaway, you can still get in on the savings by downloading a coupon from the Center’s website, then bringing it to Travelpro at the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores to receive a coupon booklet valued up to $400 in savings. The Center is located at 15657 S Apopka Vineland Rd (SR 535), Orlando, FL 32821.

Shop happy!

GIVEAWAY: Disney On Ice Rockin’ Ever After Tickets for Orlando Performances

24 July 2012 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

We shared Feld Entertainment’s newest Disney on Ice show a few weeks ago -check out video and details at my Rockin’ Ever After post. Now we are giving away FOUR tickets to an Orlando showing of Disney on Ice Rockin’ Ever After! Simply enter below for your chance to win 4 tickets to a show of your choice on the following dates:

Friday, September 7, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 9, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Show takes place at the Amway Center, 400 West Church Street – Suite 200, Orlando, Florida 32801

Winner will be selected July 30 – just enter below using the Rafflecopter widget so you don’t even have to leave this page to enter, “like” or follow anything! Simply click on the “Do It” buttons in the widget below and follow the instructions that pop up. (You must be logged in to Facebook or enter your email for the widget to work) Good luck!

THIS GIVEAWAY FROM 2012 IS CLOSED

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here is more info on ticket prices and a special code for discounted tickets –

$52 Front Row, $37 VIP, $27, $22, $15 (Ticketmaster service charges and facility fees notincluded.) All seats are reserved, and tickets go on sale to the public July 20 at 10 a.m. Tickets are available at DisneyOnIce.com or ticketmaster.com, at any Ticketmaster outlet, by calling 800-745-3000, or at the Amway Center box office (phone for information only: 407-440-7900). For group ticket sales and information, call 866-248-8740.

SPECIAL: Get 4 Tickets for just $48 with code MOM12, valid for specific performances!

Belle Be our Guest — See Belle, Ariel, Rapunzel and Merida at Disney on Ice Rockin’ Ever After!

Disclosure: I was provided with tickets for my family to attend a performance in exchange for this giveaway. I love their shows and I hope you do too!