Friday, November 28, 2014

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Official Teaser Trailer

Now we all have something else to be thankful for. The official teaser trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens has been released. See it here, courtesy of Lucasfilm and darthmaz314.




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WDW Video Featurette: For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration - Part I

darthmaz314.com
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration

The second installment in darthmaz314's coverage of Frozen Summer Fun at Disney's Hollywood Studios features part one of For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. This combination live action and video clip singalong show was literally packing them in all day at the Premier Theatre in Hollywood Studios this past summer. Admittance to the show required a reservation pass for each guest,which had to be picked up earlier in the day, to assure your spot at a particular show time. 

To grasp the popularity of this show, all one needs to know is that there was significant wait time for the reservation pass distribution line.  Yes, that's right. You had to wait in line to obtain a reservation pass, which entitled you to return later in the day to wait in another line to see the show. Was it really necessary for Disney to create a line to secure a guest's place in a later line for the show? On the day I attended, the early shows were all booked up by mid-morning and at that point in the day, passes were being distributed for the late afternoon shows. So, yeah, it was necessary.

During the show, the Royal Storytellers of Arendelle (a slightly amusing but eventually irritating duo) spin the tale of the two royal sisters of Frozen, complete with brief appearances by Anna, Kristoff, and a very brief cameo by the queen of cold herself, Queen Elsa. Sing-along clips from the film are featured on a massive video screen in the immense theatre as hundreds of enthralled voices belt out their favorite Frozen tunes. Complete with a special effects-laden ending that has everyone "letting it go," this show was not to be missed by anyone who enjoyed the film. 

So if you haven't had your Frozen fill and need a frosty fix, darthmaz314.com brings you part one of For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. 


...and be sure to check back for Part II in a future post.


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Saturday, November 22, 2014

darthmaz314 WDW Video Featurette: Frozen Fireworks at Disney's Hollywood Studios Frozen Summer Fun 2014

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Olaf at the Entrance of Disney's Hollywood Studios During Frozen Summer Fun 2014

This past summer, Frozen basically took over...well pretty much everything, everywhere. More specifically, the Frozen Summer Fun celebration took up residence in Disney's Hollywood Studios, bringing Disney's biggest animated blockbuster to the park "supposedly" themed to film and television. The peak season celebration entitled Frozen Summer Fun included several entertainment nuggets, all rolled into your standard park admission, with no additional charges, something that seems more and more rare at Disney these days.

darthmaz314 was on hand to soak in the Frozen Summer Fun and brings you many of these entertainment nuggets, also free of charge, in a series of posts that we hope you will enjoy. As expected, Frozen Summer Fun was such a success that it was extended beyond summer. Now that summer is far behind us, many of its elements have been been incorporated as permanent park attractions, that is at least until the Frozen phenomenon begins to thaw a bit.

Today we bring you one of the true highlights of Frozen Summer Fun, the Frozen Fireworks. Disney is normally second to none when it comes to fireworks. True, the Gruccis  Macy's July 4th fireworks show is on a level of its own as well. However, they prepare for that show for an entire year and only produce one Macy's show annually. Disney produces multiple fireworks shows every day of every year and while it can be said that they should be masters of the craft by now, it can also be said that they face the challenge of infusing variety and novelty into their shows on a constant basis. How do you make these shows special after so many consecutive productions?

Inevitably, the answer comes down to what always sets Disney apart from everyone else...the Disney Magic. Maybe it is the Frozen frenzy that has swept across the world. Maybe it is the fact that Frozen has aided Walt Disney World in breathing new creative life into their daily task of "making magic." Maybe its the Arendelle snow that falls in blisteringly hot Orlando at the conclusion of  the show, seeming to make the truly impossible, possible, if only for a few fleeting moments. 


courtesy darthmaz314.com
Snow Falling at the Conclusion of the Frozen Fireworks at Disney's Hollywood Studios - courtesy darthmaz314.com

In the end, it doesn't really matter. There is something special about this show that makes it one of Disney's best ever. You decide for yourself. True, watching it in front of your computer does chip away at some of the immersiveness and "magic" of the experience. Nevertheless, darthmaz314 invites you to enjoy the Frozen Fireworks from Disney's Hollywood Studios.  

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Is this one of Disney's best fireworks shows ever? Post your comments and let us know.

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Friday, November 7, 2014

Lucasfilm Announces Title of Episode VII: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Lucasfilm announced yesterday that principal photography has concluded on Episode VII and that the official title of the much anticipated film will be Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

copyright Disney/Lucasfilm
Announced Title of Episode VII: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- copyright Disney/Lucasfilm

darthmaz314's approach to Episode VII has been to reluctantly keep its distance, not scratching too deeply at the surface and basically waiting back to see how this newest chapter in the Star Wars saga will unfold. Truthfully, I was doubtful of Lucasfilm's ability to have the film ready for the December 2015 release date, particularly given the fact that they fired an Oscar winning screenwriter early on in the process. However, with principal photography wrapped and with the Disney/Lucasfilm machine behind the project, all seems on track for the film to hit theaters in a little over a year. 

Since the announcement of Episode VII, darthmaz314 has been (cautiously) optimistic about the future of the franchise, which now sits securely in the four-fingered white glove of the Mouse. Let's hope optimism translates into reality.



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