darthmaz314

Friday, January 17, 2014

Godfather Trivia: Round II

Ready for Round II? darthmaz314.com makes you an offer you can't refuse and brings you our second installment of trivia on The Godfather. Buona fortuna!

"You have to answer for Santino, Carlo"

1. At Connie and Carlo’s wedding, photographers take a photo of one of the guests and immediately afterward, that guest signals to his men, who swoop in and grab the camera. That guest then opens the camera and rips out the film and throws it on the floor. Who was that guest?

A. Barzini

B. Tattaglia

C. Vito Corleone

D. Sonny Corleone

2. What was Sollozzo’s nickname?

A. Virgil

B. The Turk

C. The Black Hand

D. The Prince of Powder

3. Johnny Fontaine goes to his godfather Don Corleone for help in convincing Hollywood studio chief Jack Woltz to give him a role in his upcoming war film. Although the name of the fictional film is never mentioned in The Godfather, the character of Johnny Fontaine is said to be based on a real life singer/actor whose career was revived by appearing in what actual film?

A. The Bridge on the River Kwai

B. The Caine Mutiny

C. Tora, Tora, Tora

D. From Here to Eternity

"and in a month from now, this Hollywood big shot is gonna give you what you want." Don Corleone to his Godson Johnny Fontaine

4. Don Corleone sends Luca Brasi to meet with which rival family hoping to deceive them into believing he is unhappy with the Corleone family and willing to betray them?

A. Barzini

B. Tattaglia

C. Cuneo

D. Tommasino

Luca Brasi Before He Slept With the Fishes

5. Where does Michael hide after assassinating Sollozzo and McCluskey?

A. Palermo

B. Taormina

C. Rome

D. Corleone

6. What is the name of the girl Michael marries while he is in hiding?

A. Kay

B. Talia

C. Apollonia

D. Francesca

"Michael, the women in Sicily are more dangerous than shotguns" Calo to Michael in The Godfather

7. Which of the following was not involved in the protection of Michael while he was in hiding?

A. Calo

B. Don Tomassino

C. Fabrizio

D. Don Altobello

8. Who betrays Michael while he is in hiding?

A. Calo

B. Don Tomassino

C. Fabrizio

D. Signore Vitelli

9. How is Apollonia killed?

A. She is shot

B. She is in Michael’s car which explodes when started

C. She is poisoned

D. She is strangled

No! No! Apollonia!

10 . On the day of which occasion does Michael settle all family business?

A. The wedding of his daughter

B. The Communion of his son

C. The Baptism of Connie and Carlo’s son

D. The funeral of his father

Don Vito Corleone

Answers:

1. A. Barzini

2. B. The Turk

"I think you and I can do business." Sollozzo to Luca Brasi in The Godfather

3. D. From Here to Eternity

4. B. Tattaglia

5. D. Corleone

Michael Corleone in Hiding After the Assassination of Sollozzo and McCluskey

6. C. Apollonia

7. D. Don Altobello

8. C. Fabrizio

Fabrizio Realizes His Plan Has Gone Wrong and Runs

9. B. She is in Michael’s car which explodes when started

10. C. The Baptism of Connie and Carlo’s son

Today He Settles All Family Business

Check out Godfather Trivia Round I by clicking here:

Godfather Trivia Round I

Find out the significance of oranges in The Godfather in darthmaz314's "Godfather Orange Omen" post by clicking here:

The Godfather Orange Omen

All images copyright Paramount Pictures

darthmaz314 always welcomes your comments and shamelessly asks you to share this and all our posts with your friends (or enemies) if you like what you see. Also, please visit, follow, and like our new facebook page by clicking the link below...

Darthmaz314

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Disney Teases Possible New Star Wars Attractions at 2013 D23 Expo

darthmaz314 speculated in a past post entitled "Where Will Disney Build the Future Star Wars Land?" that Star Wars Land was an inevitability at one of the Disney Orlando parks, namely Hollywood Studios. It was speculated by many that Disney would make an announcement regarding the development of Star Wars Land or perhaps an Orlando Cars Land at the 2013 D23 Expo, which was held August 9-11 in Anaheim. Disney had officially denied that any such announcements would take place and in support of this claim, went as far as to remove the Disney Parks presentation from the slate of events at the 2013 D23 Expo. Still, speculation ran rampant that perhaps Disney was merely lowering expectations during the weeks leading up to D23, only to blow everyone away with huge development announcements regarding the Disney Parks. Well, in an age when no one’s word means anything, Disney held true to their word. There were no groundbreaking park expansion announcements at D23.

But if you are in the entertainment business, one of the most crucial elements of success is generating interest and anticipation for your product. So what is better than making an announcement? Teasing your fan base. At the 2013 D23 convention, that is exactly what Disney did.

While there was no official announcement about a “land” dedicated solely to Star Wars, the Disney Park Pavilion at D23 hosted the “Journey Into Imagineering” immersive experience, where guests could enter a recreation of the Walt Disney Imagineering headquarters in Glendale, California for a peek into all things Imagineering. In addition to being able to view some elements (maps, models, design drawings) used in the planning of legendary Disney Park attractions, the Journey Into Imagineering experience provided D23 guests with a not so subtle confirmation of their suspicions…Disney has future Star Wars attractions in their plans.

In true Disney fashion, the Imagineering team created a story around the teaser for the future Star Wars attractions. The story goes that the large collection of wooden crates on display at the D23 Expo were originally delivered to Disney Imagineering headquarters from a galaxy far, far away to be opened at a future date.

The crates contained various cryptic markings and messages, leaving no question that Star Wars projects are in the works, although not ready for official unveiling. Featured prominently on several crates were the words “Project Orange Harvest: Speculation Beyond Imagination.” Orange Harvest being a not so veiled reference to the code name Blue Harvest, which was used to keep the filming of Return of the Jedi a secret back in the early 1980s.

The writing on the various crates certainly leaves the door open for “speculation beyond imagination” by the Star Wars and Disney faithful. These hints may have a direct correlation to concepts being considered for attraction design or may just be references to various elements of the Star Wars universe placed there to get a chuckle out of the crowd.

Here are some of the references from the crates which were on display.

RANCOR FOOD: CASE OF 12 CANS/13.2 OZ

SERIES 401 HYPERDRIVE MOTIVATOR (another Millennium Falcon reference)

CLASS VT-1300 – LIGHT FREIGHTER (another Millennium Falcon reference)

CONTENTS: 1 PROTOCOL DROID (C-3PO)

RADON-ULZER G20C RACING ENGINE (a podracer reference?)

There was also an open crate with what appeared to be rolled-up design plans protruding from the top on which blueprints of a speeder-bike and the word “SCOOTER” could be read. Could this hint at a speeder bike thrill ride in the works?

At this point, it is all speculation. However, you don't need the imagination of Lucas or Disney to figure out that now that the Mouse owns one of the most lucrative brands in the history of entertainment, they will use every opportunity to cash in on the Star Wars investment. Star Wars attractions are coming to the Disney Parks. The when, where, and what have yet to be revealed. But if you are a Star Wars and Disney fan and you are looking forward to more Star Wars attractions, in the words of the Emperor, "It is unavoidable. It is your destiny."

Darthmaz314

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Godfather Trivia - Round I

darthmaz314 brings you our first round of Godfather trivia. This first round focuses solely on the first legendary film. Buona fortuna!

1. Who is the first character to appear on screen in The Godfather?

A. Don Vito Corleone

B. Buonasera the Undertaker

C. Tom Hagan

D. Sonny Corleone

2. What real life crooner is the character of Johnny Fontaine based on?

A. Tony Bennett

B. Al Martino

C. Frank Sinatra

D. Dean Martin

Johnny Fontaine Sings at Connie Corleone's Wedding

3. Who wrote The Godfather novel and later the adapted screenplay for the film?

A. Mario Puzo

B. William Goldman

C. Ken Kesey

D. Nino Rota

4. This author also wrote the screenplay for another blockbuster film of the late 1970’s. Name that film.

A. Rocky

B. Superman

C. Grease

D. Saturday Night Fever

5. What is the first line of dialog spoken in The Godfather?

A. "Don Corleone, I am honored and grateful that you have invited me to your home on the day of your daughter's wedding."

B. "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse."

C. "If you'd come to me in friendship, then this scum that ruined your daughter would be suffering this very day."

D. "I believe in America."

"...and then they would fear you." - Don Corleone to Buonasera the Undertaker

6. What was the name of studio mogul Woltz's prized horse, whose head wound up in his bed after his refusal to give Johnny Fontaine the part in his "new war picture?"

A. Wilbur

B. Khartoum

C. Man O' War

D. Anubis

7. Who sold out Sonny to the Barzini family which led to his brutal assassination at the toll both?

A. Paulie

B. Tessio

C. Carlo

D. Fabrizio

"Look how they massacred my boy." - Sonny Corleone is Assassinated on the Jones Beach Causeway

8. Who makes the cake for Connie's wedding, which takes place at the start of The Godfather?

A. Nazorine

B. Enzo

C. Clemenza

D. Buonasera

9. Finish Clemenza's legendary line:

"Leave the gun. Take ________ ___________.

A. your time

B. the cannoli

C. the body

D. the bullets

Clemenza and Rocco Make Paulie Disappear

10. Name the restaurant in the Bronx that Sollozzo takes Michael to for their sit-down to negotiate peace after his failed attempt on Don Corleone's life.

A. Louis Restaurant

B. Jack Dempsey's

C. Umberto's

D. Genco's

Answers:

1. B. Buonasera the Undertaker

Buonasera the Undertaker from The Godfather

2. C. Frank Sinatra

3. A. Mario Puzo

Sollozzo from The Godfather

4. B. Superman

5. D. “I believe in America.”

6. B. Khartoum

An Offer He Can't Refuse - Woltz from The Godfather

7. C. Carlo

8. A. Nazorine

Nazorine the Baker from The Godfather

9. B. the cannoli

10. A. Louis Restaurant

Michael Corleone Takes Revenge on Sollozzo and McKluskey

Find out the significance of oranges in The Godfather in darthmaz314's Godfather Orange Omen post by clicking here:

The Godfather Orange Omen

All images copyright Paramount Pictures

Darthmaz314

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Disney Snapshot of the Day - The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

Today's Snapshots of the Day feature The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, a Christmas tradition at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Each year from mid-November to December, the Streets of America section of the park is bathed in millions of dazzling lights, which come to life as they dance, race, and flash to selected songs played by the DJs throughout the night. As a special treat, at selected times, park guests experience more Disney magic as Florida "snow" falls on the Streets of America amidst the countless Christmas lights. Like them or not, no one does things quite like Disney...

One of the 'Streets of America" During "The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights" at Disney Hollywood Studios

"More Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights" Magic at Disney Hollywood Studios

Darthmaz314

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Disney Snapshot of the Day - Marching Wooden Toy Soldiers at Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade in Disney World

With the Christmas season now in full swing, darthmaz314 brings you another Yuletide Snapshot of the Day. darthmaz314 is a native New Yorker and in my humble opinion, there is little doubt that there is nowhere else on Earth like New York city at Christmas time. A close second however, is Walt Disney World. From gingerbread houses that you can walk around and shop in to a nearly 200 foot castle bathed in shimmering Christmas lights, Walt Disney World is brimming with even more special memories than usual at Christmastime.

Today's Snapshot of the Day features a glimpse of the marching wooden toy soldiers from the Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. This parade is one of the special elements of the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party event that takes place at the Magic Kingdom on selected nights during the holiday season. You can check out some posts that cover Christmastime in Disney and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party by clicking on the links below.

When Should I Go to Disney World?

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Continued & the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

Marching Wooden Toy Soldiers in "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade" at Walt Disney World

Darthmaz314

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Disney Snapshot of the Day - Grand Floridian Life-Sized Gingerbread House

With the Christmas holiday season in full swing, darthmaz314 brings you a Yuletide Snapshot of the Day. Every year, a portion of the cavernous Grand Floridian lobby is dedicated to something that you could only find in Disney World...a life-sized gingerbread house, in which they are selling...wait for it...gingerbread houses. Yes, the structure pictured below is made of gingerbread and if you don't believe that it is life-sized, check out the second photo which shows a Disney cast member in the window working the cash register. Only in Disney...

The Grand Floridian Life-Sized Gingerbread Christmas House

"Yes, Virginia, there is a man selling gingerbread houses in the giant gingerbread house."

Darthmaz314

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Disney Snapshot of the Day - Main Street Confectionary Jumbo Jawbreaker

Today's Snapshot features a sampling from the Magic Kingdom's Main Street Confectionary...Mickey's Candy Company Jumbo Jawbreaker, proof that when Disney does something, they do it up big. For size reference, check out how big it is in comparison to the hand that is holding it.

The Jumbo Jawbreaker - A Whopping 4 Ounces in Weight!!!!

Darthmaz314

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Monsters University: Does It Make the Grade? - A darthmaz314 Re-post

To celebrate the Monsters University release to Blu-ray and DVD, darthmaz314 brings you a re-post of our June review of Pixar's latest offering...

It is hard to name another creative team that has repeatedly hit the mark as many times as Pixar. Each and every year, this animation studio rolls out another film that not only rivals any animated film released to compete with it, but has the cinematic credibility to stand toe to toe with most live action films as well. Disney/Pixar's latest offering is a sequel to the hugely successful Monsters Inc. Pixar proved that they could produce a successful sequel with Toy Story 2 and then proved that they could deliver on a third installment with the cinematic gem Toy Story 3, which was nominated for Best Picture. And while Cars 2 may not have had the chops to ride with its full throttle predecessor, Monsters University,more than makes the grade.

Creating great cinema is easy. Easy for me to say. Yet, there is one element that every great film has, regardless of it's budget, its box office take, or how many Oscars it wins...a great story filled with characters that the audience can connect with and embrace. Monsters University has both. Of course, the character part was already prefabricated in the original film, so it was easy for Pixar to mail this one in, right? It may have been easy, but as they have consistently proven in the past, Pixar never mails it in.

In Monsters University, the first Pixar prequel, we are introduced to the lovable Mike Wozowski and James P. Sullivan back in their college days, when they were not yet scarers and not yet even friends. In fact, when they meet, and for the first half of the movie, the two can barely stand one another. This movie shows us how the duo became friends and how they overcame all the odds to become Monsters Incorporated's best scaring team ever.

Monsters University paints the portrait of Mike Wozowski as the hardest working scare program student in the monster world, who dreamed of becoming a scarer ever since an elementary school class trip to the Monsters Inc. factory. Everyone counted little Mike out and no one ever took him seriously. But his boundless enthusiasm and hard work landed him a spot in the scare program at Monsters University, where Mike was determined to make a name for himself as the best candidate the program had ever seen. He never fit in with the "cool kids" and may not have ever really been very scary, but he worked harder and longer than anyone at honing the craft of scaring.

Enter Jimmy Sullivan, a hulking mass of pure bred scarer, whose family name was steeped in the great tradition of scaring. With his snarling and menacing visage and his blood-curdling roar, Sully could scare a kid straight out his pajamas. But with his cocky attitude and a lack of interest in learning the theory and techniques that make a truly great scarer, Sully soon finds out that his family name and his ability to belt out a good roar may not be enough to make it through the scare program.

In this film, Mike and Sully are the furthest from friends that they could be after they meet one another. They develop a bitter rivalry that eventually escalates in their both being thrown out of the scare program by the head of the School of Scaring, Dean Hardscrabble, voiced by Helen Mirren. The boys eventually team up with a band of misfit

students and enter an MU competition called the Scare Games, the winner of which is granted entrance into the scare program. Mike and Sully must learn to work together with their team and with each other if they are to prove Dean Hardscrabble and everyone else on campus, that they are wrong about their chances of making it as scarers.

What make Monsters University a good movie is that it takes millions of little dots on a computer screen and infuses them with more humanity and emotion than many live action films can muster even in their best scenes. The story, the animation, and the vocal performances all combine to bring computer generated characters to life in a way that is hard to imagine is possible. These characters are believable because they are real. They are flawed. They make mistakes and they don't always save the day. True, the endings are usually happy, but Pixar blends human weakness and fallibility into their characters, creating a complexity and a reality that makes them transcend their computer generated limitations and brings them to life in that uniquely Pixar fashion.

The result it that we can all see a glimpse of ourselves in these characters. Whether it was Mike's inability to be accepted as the smallest guy in the room, or Sully's in-crowd disregard for the rules and refusal to put in the time to make the grade, these are characters you have met. They are the pimply-faced kid who was pushed into the urinal. They are the jerk wagon jock who thought he descended from the divine. Their flesh and blood counterparts may not have had one enormous eye or been covered in electric blue polka-dotted fur, but you know these characters. Some may even see the shadows of these characters every day when they look in the mirror.

Like nearly all the other Pixar films, we become invested in the characters. We have seen them in action at a later stage in life in Monsters Inc. Now we see how the meld into the characters that we fell in love with more than a decade ago. As usual, the message is a positive one in this film. Hard work, dedication, perseverance, and true friendship, are what eventually land Mike and Sully at the door to Monsters Inc. In fact, it is refreshing that this story does not tie everything into a neat little bow for our

heroes within five minutes of the ending credits. Mike and Sully earn their spot as the top scarers and never have anything handed to them on a silver platter. It may be cliché, but even the most cynical of us has to love a story like that.

In a world that seems to value cutthroat tactics and making your way by stepping on the backs of others to get ahead, darthmaz314 applauds Pixar for telling a story about how being a decent person (or in this case, a decent monster) pays off in the end. With competition infused into nearly every form of entertainment, overwhelming us at every turn, it is important to take a step back and question what it is that we are all competing for. Monsters University reminds us all that it is our relationships that are the true rewards in life. Mike and Sully make be the most unlikely duo at a glance, but it is who they are inside and how they grow and work together that make them an unstoppable force in the world of scaring.

Monsters University has plenty of laughs, some for the kiddies and some only the adults will be able to catch. It has stunning visuals that will make you wonder how a computer can recreate life so vividly and crisply. It has the endearing characters we love from the original, and a few new ones that make for a solid supporting cast. It delivers on the Disney/Pixar track record of good family entertainment and it has the previously referenced positive message. What more could you want for your family entertainment dollar?

darthmaz314 always welcomes your comments and shamelessly asks you to share this and all our posts with your friends (or enemies) if you like what you see. Also, please visit, follow, and like our facebook page...

Darthmaz314

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Disney Snapshot of the Day - Rock n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

Today's snapshot features another photo from darthmaz314's recent trip to Walk Disney World. When Disney decided that their Hollywood Studios park needed an infusion of thrills for their guests, they dropped two rides that have since become two of Disney World's most popular at the far end of Sunset Boulevard...The Hollywood Tower of Terror and The Rock n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. This attraction is an indoor roller coaster in the dark featuring a slingshot launch which propels riders from zero to 60 miles an hour in seconds and takes you through inversions, corkscrews and hairpin twists and turns, all to the pulse-pounding and hard rockin' soundtrack of one of the greatest American rock bands in history...Aerosmith. In addition to featuring a sampling of some of the band greatest hits, the band members themselves are featured in a unique (especially at the time of its debut) pre-show, which creates the back story that you the rider are late for the gig and are being whisked "to the Forum" in a super stretch limo as personal guests of the boys from Boston.

Pictured below is the Rock N' Roller Coaster's iconic Fender Stratocaster, which dwarfs anyone in its presence, as it sits in the shadow of the equally impressive Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

Hats off to Disney for not caving to the musically void world of rap and hip-hop and partnering with a legendary group of true musicians like Aerosmith whose music has truly stood the test of time.

Darthmaz314

Friday, October 4, 2013

Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid - Full HD Ride Through - WDW Video Featurette

In today's Walt Disney World Video Featurette, darthmaz314 brings you a full HD ride through video of one of the new Fantasyland attractions, Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid. Several of the new Fantasyland additions focus on classic Disney Princesses and this attraction is no exception. In Disney's first new "dark ride" in quite some time, guests board a clamshell and journey to the depths of the ocean to join Ariel and all her undersea friends in this family friendly frolic beneath the waves.

Whether it's with Ringo and the Beatles in that "little hide-away beneath the waves" or Ariel and Sebastian in the grotto, we wish we could be under the sea...

What's your favorite New Fantasyland attraction? Send us a comment and let us know.

Darthmaz314

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade at Animal Kingdom - Walt Disney World Video Featurette

Today's darthmaz314 Walt Disney World Video Featurette brings you the full Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Fun fact: A unique feature of this parade is that park guests are featured on many of the animal floats. They are selected randomly during the day to participate as part of Animal Kingdom's only parade. Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade usually kicks off one hour before park closing, which on most days is 5:00pm.

What's your favorite Disney parade? Send us a comment and let us know.

Darthmaz314

Saturday, September 14, 2013

darthmaz314 Disney Snapshot of the Day - Postcard Disney Magical Moment - Cinderella's Castle

Today's snapshot features a photo from darthmaz314's recent trip to Walk Disney World. As a novice photographer, even I realize that there are rare moments when all the elements come together just right for a special photo opportunity. Sometimes, you take a picture and you don't realize that those elements lined up just right until you look at the picture you just snapped. Other times, you realize that the stars are all aligned for that perfect shot and you know that you just have to capture it...right now! You start digging feverishly through the camera bag, hoping you can freeze that perfect moment in time through the magic of photography. Sometimes you succeed, other times you fail. In my opinion the photo below was one of those rare successes.

So, although we already featured this Disney icon in a Snapshot of the Day, it was hard to let this photo go unshared. So if you believe in (sounds corny, I know) Disney magic, you will appreciate the beauty of this photo.

A Magical Moment at Cinderella Castle in Walt Disney World

Darthmaz314