Saturday, July 23, 2011

Martin Scorcese's " Hugo Cabret " Trailer



Legendary and master film director finished recently his next movie which will be released this fall. The movie is called Hugo Cabret and it's the first movie "for children" ever directed by Scorcese. It's also his first one filmed in 3D and, although i begin to be tired of all these 3D movies, i will rush to see this one as i'm sure that Scorcese will use 3D at its best.

Why? First, because it's a Scorcese movie, and he is one of the last great movie master, and two, because the story is a kind of tale located in Paris in 1930 and i won't be surprised if Scorcese was paying, visually speaking, a kind of tribute to Georges Méliès, the magician and film director who invented movie special effects.



Also, don't miss in this first trailer the young boy, hero of the movie. I don't know where they succeed to find this young Asa Butterfield - who is playing Hugo Cabret - but he is a pure miracle of child innocence. "Hugo Cabret" is telling the story "of a 12-year-old orphan who lives in the walls of a Paris train station in 1930 and a mystery involving the boy, his late father and a robot". Also playing, Jude Law, Ben Kingsley, Christopher Lee, Sacha Baron Cohen and many more great actors.




Vido: copyright GK Films, Infinitum Nihil

Pigeon : Impossible , cool short animated



A really cool short animated for the week-end! Almost 7 million people already watched "Pigeon: Impossible" on Youtube so chances are that you know it already, but if you don't you're gonna like this short animated in which "a rookie secret agent is faced with a problem seldom covered in basic training: what to do when a curious pigeon gets trapped inside your multi-million dollar, government-issued nuclear briefcase".

Have a look, this short animated was presented in dozens of film festivals and won a lot of awards!




Liked it? More about it on their web site HERE.

Video: copyright Lucas Martell

Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson at San Diego Comic Con



The San Diego Comic Con has began and thousands of fans are rushing over there, hoping to be able to watch the special screenings of upcoming productions. Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson were also there to discuss their upcoming "The Adventures of Tintin", and if you are as interested as i am by this highly awaited movie, then you should watch the video below in which Spielberg and Jackson explain their technical choices for the making of Tintin!




Video: metallifemag

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Paris Cars 2 special screening with John Lasseter - Video



Paris Cars 2 special screening with John Lasseter happened last night and the lucky winners of the D&M contest were of course at this event. Among them Leonard Meyer who shot the above picture and Eddy who filmed the video below of the entire appearance of John Lasseter, answering the fans questions. Thanks to both of them, even if you were not there last night you'll be able to share this special evening!




Many thanks to Leonard and Eddy!

Video: copyright DisneyFilmParade

Disneyland Hotel Trader's Sam - Edited with new videos



If you like Disneyland's Tiki Room as much as i do then you will love the new Trader Sam "Tiki" bar at the Disneyland Hotel. Trader Sam is supposed to be the “head salesman of the jungle", the one you see at the end of the Jungle Cruise and "every inch of this new place is decorated with his collection of artifacts and photos from his many adventures around the globe" as you will see on the video below just released by Disney Parks. On a certain point of view it's a new kind of Adventurer's Club theming, although with a totally different theming than the one which is now unfortunately extinct at WDW. But just like at the Adventurer's Club there is some nice little special effects, including rain effect (a bit like in the Tiki Room storm sequence), a Volcano erupting scene and even a ship in a bottle which is sinking!

By the way, do you want to know who provided so many Tikis and "Adventureland" artifacts to Disney parks since the last 40 years? It's a Californian company called Oceanic Arts. Oceanic Arts has been one of the main provider of Adventureland props to Imagineering since a looong time and if you're an Adventureland lover who wants to create your own Adventureland at home you will find everything to do it at Oceanic Arts. And when i mean everything, i really mean EVERYTHING, from sculpted Tikis of all sizes - including giant ones - to Polynesian war clubs and ceremonial paddles or bamboo poles you'll be able to find all the props (or almost) that Imagineering is using in Disney Parks' Adventureland. You won't see a lot on Oceanic Arts web page HERE but if you ask them their products catalogue you will be amazed, really!

That said, and this little secret shared with you, have a look at these short videos, and to know more about Trader Sam legend, jump on the Disney Parks blog HERE.




The next video will show you the volcano erupting effect.




On this last video you can see "the sinking ship in the bottle" effect - great effect, by the way.




If you are at the Disneyland Resort, make sure to have a drink at Trader's Sam!

Video: Copyright Disney and HV10N90

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Jasmine's Flying Carpets opens at Tokyo Disney Sea - Video



I thought that all new attractions for 2011 were opened in Disney theme parks, but no, there was one more to come as Jasmine’s Flying Carpets, one of the new attractions for Tokyo Disney Sea's 10th anniversary just opened July 18! The new ride is located near the Sindbad fortress in the Arabian Coast land. With a total of 16 vehicles and a cost of 2 billion Yen ($22 million) Jasmine’s Flying Carpets "is a ride attraction where guests can soar over Jasmine’s garden on a flying carpet. Guests are able to maneuver their vehicle up and down to a height of 5 meters, and tilt the vehicle forward and backward, as if flying their own magical carpet. This uplifting ride can be enjoyed by all, from young children to adults. Guests can also watch their friends and family on their flying carpet from an elevated viewing deck".

After the Aladdin Magic Carpets ride at WDW Magic Kingdom and at the WDS Toon Studio it is the third version of this ride but Jasmine’s Flying Carpets as you will see on the video below is undeniably the one with the most sophisticated decor. Once again, Tokyo Disney Sea gets the best version! Below, a great video filmed by uranezu.com and you can see plenty of pictures on their site HERE.




Talking about Tokyo Disney Sea, if you have not download yet the great TDS Wallpapers application for iPhone or iPad - see below - it's still time to do it!



Click HERE for direct access to the TDS Wallpapers HD iTunes page
or READ my article first HERE.

Picture: copyright Disney - Oriental Land Co

Video: copyright uranezu.com

Monday, July 18, 2011

Editor's Note: Apparently the Photobucket problem is now resolved as all pictures are back on Disney and more. So, end of the crisis!

Edited 3pm: Ooops, there we go again with the Photobucket problem... Hope the pictures will be back soon, i'm checking with them what's happening. Sorry about that and thanks for your patience.

Edited 7pm: O-Kay, this time i think that the Photobucket problem is finally resolved and all pictures are back on all Disney and more sites! Again, thank you for your patience!

D23 EXPO : Disney Parks announces a "Carousel of Projects"



Disney Parks latest press release announces nothing less than a "Carousel of Projects" in the Disney Parks -Imagineering section of the upcoming D23 Expo! Sounds good!

BURBANK, Calif. (July 18, 2011) Fans attending Disney’s D23 Expo August 19-21 at the Anaheim Convention Center will have the chance to experience “a great big beautiful tomorrow” as they immerse themselves in the future of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, which is currently in the biggest period of global expansion in its history.

Drawing inspiration from a classic attraction that debuted at the 1964 New York World’s Fair and has made stops at Disneyland in California and Magic Kingdom in Florida, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts invites attendees to hop aboard the “Carousel of Projects” for a sneak peek at concepts, designs, models, storytelling tools, and technologies currently being developed at Walt Disney Imagineering for Disney parks around the world.

Throughout the weekend, exclusively at the D23 Expo, fans will get a look at the latest details for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts’ 11 parks and five resorts around the world, as well as Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa in Hawaii, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney and Disney Vacation Club, including:

Actual figures, props and ride vehicles for Radiators Springs Racers, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the building of Cars Land, the newest land at Disney California Adventure which opens next year.

The opportunity to meet a classic Disney icon in an entirely new way.

Concepts, models and plans for Fantasyland, one of the most ambitious expansions in the 40-year history of Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

What’s new at Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney and Disney Vacation Club.

In addition to the pavilion, D23 Expo attendees will also have the chance to attend numerous presentations and panel discussions. On Friday, August 19, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs will give guests in the 4,000-seat main arena an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at some of the biggest projects currently underway at Disney parks, featuring a few surprises along the way.

Imagineers and cast members who create and operate Disney’s parks, resorts, cruise ships, and other vacation experiences will take fans behind-the-magic with nine exciting presentations including:

Radiator Springs Reality: Imagineering Cars Land for Disney California Adventure – Join Disney•Pixar’s John Lasseter and a panel of Imagineers and Pixar creative talent as they share the twists and turns through the real-life development of Radiator Springs.

The Making of Star Tours – The Adventures Continue – Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald will share the inside scoop on how Walt Disney Imagineering and George Lucas’ Industrial Light & Magic began laying the groundwork for a new version of Star Tours.

A Good Look at Buena Vista Street – Imagineers Lisa Girolami, Ray Spencer, and Coulter Winn provide a preview of the new entrance to Disney California Adventure, an idealized depiction of the Los Angeles Walt Disney lived and worked in throughout the 1920s and 1930s.

Imagineering the Dream and the Fantasy – Imagineers Joe Lanzisero and Bob Zalk talk about charting the design course of the two newest Disney cruise ships.

Legends of Walt Disney Imagineering – Disney Legend Marty Sklar will lead a celebration of the careers and accomplishments of Walt Disney Imagineering, including Alice Davis, Orlando Ferrante, Bob Gurr, and Don Iwerks. With special guest and current Imagineer Kim Irvine, daughter of Disney Legend Leota Toombs.

In addition, and for the first time, the Parks and Resorts pavilion will also feature Mickey’s of Glendale, an outlet of Walt Disney Imagineering’s employee-only store, where—for just three days– guests can shop for “Carousel of Projects” souvenirs and collectibles and Walt Disney Imagineering merchandise not available anywhere else.

Tickets to the D23 Expo are available at http://www.D23Expo.com. Admission includes access to all experiences and entertainment at the D23 Expo, including the Disney Legends Ceremony, and can be purchased for single days or for the full three days of festivities. Admission is $47 for a one-day adult ticket and $37 for children 3-12. Three-day passes are $136 for adults and $106 for children. Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will receive a discount for up to four admissions, as well as early entry to each day of the D23 Expo for themselves and their guests.

It's Disneyland 56th Anniversary !



It was Disneyland 56th Anniversary this week-end, and to celebrate this here is a selection of high-res wallpaper images of Disneyland. Whatever is your favorite land, you will find a great picture. Don't forget to double-click on the one you like to see it in larger size. Enjoy, and happy birthday to Disneyland!



















All photos: copyright Disney

A Day in the Life of John Lasseter - Video

I'm a bit late on this one and you probably already saw on other sites this great video showing a day in the life of John Lasseter, but if you didn't, don't miss it!



Video: copyright Disney - Pixar