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Top Disney News from April

April has been a giant month for news across the Disney spectrum. Here’s a look back at the biggest stories of the month: The New Fantasyland expansion attracted a lot of attention. Our weekly updates and the recent behind the walls video keep everyone informed… Read More »Top Disney News from April

Test Track Re-invisioned Puts You In The Computer

EPCOT’s re-imagined Test Track attraction will put the guest inside a computer as they partake in a digital test environment from the queue, through the ride, and even into the post ride experience. Modern day automotive design relies on computer aided-design significantly more than it did when they original blueprints for Test Track were drawn up. Now that Chevrolet has become the attraction’s new sponsor Disney is taking the opportunity to update the experience to a new concept.

Guests in the queue will be able to make design choices for their car based on the four qualities of Capability, Efficiency, Responsiveness, and Power. After they experience the attraction they will be able to compare the results of their choices with other people in their car.

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Cars Land at DCA greets Disney execs ahead of June 15th opening

The signature e-ticket ride of Cars Land at Disney California Adventure is sure to be Radiator Springs Racers. The attraction will put the guest in the world of Pixar’s popular Cars film franchise as they race other guests in a thrilling, twisting, turning, high-speed adventure… Read More »Cars Land at DCA greets Disney execs ahead of June 15th opening

Disney Animation working on new Hand Drawn film

This morning on Facebook Disney’s Animation Research Library wished Disney animation director Ron Clements a Happy Birthday. We do too! On this 25th of April, we wish Artist-Writer-Director Ron Clements a Happy Birthday! Born in Sioux City, Iowa, Ron joined Disney Animation as an apprentice… Read More »Disney Animation working on new Hand Drawn film

Newsies Review – Broadway’s Must See

Editor: Please welcome guest author Jim Dallas who is reviewing the April 20th showing of Newsies The Musical.

Newsies on Broadway is a must see!

I first became an avid fan of composer Alan Menken when I saw The Little Mermaid at the movies. But I knew he was really a Broadway composer when I first listened to the Beauty and the Beast sound track and could visualize how each scene could be animated. He brought the Broadway score to animation. So, back in 1992 I was excited to learn that Disney was producing a live action musical, Newsies, with a score by Alan Menken. It sounded like a sure fire hit. My family was in the theater that April weekend when Newsies had its’ theatrical debut. There was one problem: we were the only people in the theater! Newsies never found an audience, closed quickly and barely earned 2.8 million dollars. For all of the issues that plagued this film, the songs and score by Menken were still brilliant, allowing Newsies to grow in popularity and develop a cult following over the past two decades.

Last evening, 20 years later, I sat in the sold out Nederlander Theater in NYC amidst an exuberant audience to experience Newsies – the Broadway Musical. Newsies had come home, was on the stage where it always belonged and was in better form than ever. Newsies is an exhilarating evening of musical theater entertainment.

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Reviews and New Featurette Show Strength of Marvel’s The Avengers

Marvel’s The Avengers isn’t due to open in the USA until May 4th, but it’s already open in a few countries around the world. That means various movie reviewers have decided to break the embargo (after all the internet unites the world) and publish their reviews. Guess what? They’re almost all positive

“As creatively variable and predictably formulaic as the Marvel films have been, this one will not only make the core geek audience feel like it’s died and gone to Asgard but has so much going for it that many non-fans will be disarmed and charmed. This is effects-driven, mass appeal summer fare par excellence, that sought-after rare bird that hits all the quadrants, as marketing mavens like to say.” – Todd McCarthy, THR

“As written and directed by the ever genre-savvy Whedon, it’s a clean-burning, six-cylinder entertainment that exudes discipline in every particular, from the script’s balance of sincerity and self-effacing humor to the well-integrated visual effects to the keen sense of proportion that governs the ensemble. Whenever the possibility of boredom or excess rears its head, Whedon finds an elegant solution.” – Justin Chang, Variety

“This might be why Whedon has succeeded with The Avengers; he’s focused on the humanity of the characters. For example: Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Johannsen as Hawkeye and Black Widow respectively, both bring more depth than anything thought possible to two characters who could have been peripheral, but here become just as pivotal as The Hulk, Cap, Stark or Thor.” – Paul Veerhoven, The Vine

“As a lifelong comic book fan, I walked into The Avengers with the highest hopes and deepest fears. A little over two hours later, as the credits began to roll, I turned to the friend sitting next to me, smiled and exclaimed, “They actually did it!” What Whedon and Marvel have created here is not just extraordinary, but one of the most entertaining and satisfying comic book movies yet.” – Eric Eisenberg, Cinemablend

A special new featurette from The Avengers below the jump:

Read More »Reviews and New Featurette Show Strength of Marvel’s The Avengers