Tag: Disney

[Sidney, BC] Disney’s ‘Moana’ Co-Director, Chris Williams, to Appear at Van Isle Comic Con

Chris WilliamsBy James Robert Shaw
(The Wind up Geek)

Sometimes for a con going big or go home can be dangerous. When your event makes a single guest your draw, going big can be a good thing. As in the case with Van Isle Con, Vancouver Island’s upcoming comic and cosplay convention, having Moana‘s co-director Chris Williams as your guest of honor is a very smart move. Sure, Williams doesn’t have the muscles of Dwayne Johnson (who voiced Maui), and okay, maybe he can’t sing like Auli’i Cravalho (Moana), but what he does have is a lot of talent and experience when it comes to creating films for all ages to enjoy.

William’s earliest credits are as story contributor for Disney on animated feature films such as 1998’s Mulan, The Emporer’s New Groove, and Brother Bear. More than just an ideas man, Williams also performed story artist duties on films Chicken Little, Meet the Robinsons, Tangled, Frozen (where he voiced Oaken), and the Academy Award winning Zootopia.

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The Vintage Tempest’s Picks of 2017 Animated Films to See

Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)
By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

2017 is upon us, and this year seems light in comparison to last year’s stellar line-up of animated movies and direct-to-video products to must-see. DreamWorks Animation (one of my favourite studios) had three titles, but sadly with The Croods 2 dropped, the remainder does not seem as exciting. Time will tell, however, until official trailers for The Boss Baby and Captain Underpants are released.

In the international front, Tad Jones: The Hero Returns might be fun, though this title ranks more in the honourable mention front. Also coming is Howard Lovecraft and the Underworld Kingdom. No official word has been made yet, but if Arcana Studios is sticking to schedule, we can expect this release in September.

In a holdover from last year’s releases in the film festival circuit, a few reports is suggesting The Red Turtle will get a wider distribution. This winner deserves to arrive at more shores, as it’s a powerful story about a man stranded on a deserted island, and how he connects with a particular turtle. Leading the pack of movies I must see is one that is making rounds at festivals:

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Window Horses
(Please check local listings, Q2 wide release)

Director: Ann Marie Fleming

This colourful animation caught my attention when the National Film Board of Canada reported about its West Coast première at the Vancouver International Film Festival. If only it was playing the same or next day when I was in Vancouver, I could have gone to see it. Thankfully it will be getting a wider distribution in the new year.

When considering it is about a young poet of mixed descent going to Iran to learn about her past, I feel she will discover that the world is interconnected in more ways than she realizes. The unique character designs is also another selling point, and I’ll be anxious to see where the plot goes.

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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 Teaser Trailer 2 Released!

A new teaser trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 is now out, released in part due to Comic Con Experience in Brazil taking place this weekend by James Gunn.

Guardians of the Galaxy 2 Noir PosterA new teaser trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 is now out, released in part due to Comic Con Experience in Brazil taking place this weekend by James Gunn on Twitter, and people can start this feeling right away. If only fans can ooga-ooga ooga-chaka tickets sooner than later, because everything we adored from the first film is here in the second. All the intense energy, the humour and love had for the first film will no doubt be transferred to second. Baby Groot will easily steal the show, and merchandise sales will no doubt go through the roof for this sapling now a few months older.

No timeline has been established into when the shenanigans resume in-universe. It’s a safe bet a few weeks if not months have passed. When considering the bomb-loving Rocket Raccoon has built a nuke that it will kill everybody in a huge radius, just what this team has done has me curious. Maybe the explosive is meant to kill that huge octopoid like creature? The only “plot” detail known is Kurt Russell plays Peter Quill’s father, a living planet known as Ego.

The montage set to Sweet’s “Fox on the Run” in the trailer may suggest the team is being chased yet again. The threat is uncertain. Until the release date nears, we can all wait for May 5th, 2017 to arrive in bated breath.

Guardians of the Galaxy 2 – First Trailer

[Victoria Fringe Festival ’16] SMUS Shakes it Up with Disney’s Camp Rock!

CAMP-ROCK_4CNOTE: Reblogged from Two Hungry Blokes & written by Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

LOCATION:
St. Michaels
University School
3400 Richmond Road
Saanich, BC

SHOWTIMES:
Fri Aug. 26 – 7pm
Sat Aug. 27 – 2pm
Sat Aug. 27 – 7pm

Sometimes it’s tough to decide on what to take on as the first Victoria Fringe Festival presentation for the 2016 season. This year, the decision was a no-brainer and I had to see the results of what St. Michaels University School (SMUS) Summer Musical Theatre program produced. The folks involved always deliver a quality educational curriculum to teach the next rising stars the basics while having fun at the same time. On opening night, they put on the musical version of Disney’s Camp Rock.

This show highlights the musical stylings of bands like The Jonas Brothers and the modern sounds of the past decade. Like ’em or not, those who grew up to these tunes had a rollicking time with this production. James Shaw admits to not being fond of today’s music whereas I’m open; at least I keep up when he can not, thus making me the ideal candidate to look at this production. His limitations in what he likes to talk about make for better opportunities for me to talk about my fondness for modern Disney.

Opening night was not without a few chuckle-worthy moments, gaffes included; the group was able to roll with it and continue on. They also helped each other out on stage when lines were forgotten and I believe that’s the heart of what this program extols than to provide a higher calibre show other local professional theatre schools like Canadian College of Performing Arts works on. I’ve seen their production of Little Shop of Horrors years ago, and that was a memorable show to which I grinned like a Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland when rubber bands were shot towards audiences!

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Disney’s Re-imagining of Pete’s Dragon is Warm and Fuzzy

Petes_dragon_2016_film_posterBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Trying to convince my buddy James Shaw to go see the remake of Pete’s Dragon is like pulling hair. When considering he has a fondness for the original and does not want memories of that being tarnished, I had to wonder if this fuddy-duddy will ever accept anything modern? For example, he hates using tablet computers whereas I love using them. In comparing him to the original version starring Sean Marshall, I have to say they both have that lost look which makes them excellent company for one another. But I have to ask, who is leading the blind? In this film’s case, who knows how to phone home first? Is the dragon a figment of Pete’s imagination or is he an extraterrestrial? Most likely neither. But in this remake, the concept of a lost individual (be it human or animal) needing to find that forever home impressed upon me sooner than later.

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Star Wars: Floats of Future Galaxy Far, Far Away Too Modern for Nebuta Festival

2015Nebuta1By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

In a land such as Japan where licensed characters are everywhere, from 66 Doraemon figures on display in Roppongi to the 18-metre tall Gundam in front of Diver City Tokyo, there are still places where licensed characters are still forbidden. In a posted YouTube video it was an empire built by a mouse that found its ears ringing after they asked to take part in a long-standing festival.

During last year’s Aomori Nebuta Matsuri, known for its lantern floats, The Walt Disney Company had created three floats, each float represented a Star Wars movie trilogy. According to the YouTube poster Ronin Dave, the Organizers of the Nebuta Matsuri denied Disney parade status because the floats were not traditional. With no privileges to take part in the festivities, Disney was still allowed to display their floats on the grounds of the local museum.

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