Search Results for: blog pushing up into new territory

Exciting Upcoming Disney Films

I’ve missed talking about Disney movies. A lot has gone on in the parks lately so I’ve focused on them, but it felt so good earlier this week to ditch all of that and speculate on “Maleficent.” After all, the movies are the true reason why we’re Disney fans, right? I’m waiting until this weekend to see “Brave,” so I can go with my two best friends, but there’s still plenty of other Disney movie news to talk about in the interim. June’s seen the release of two trailers for forthcoming Disney movies, so let’s get watching. The first is … Continue reading →

“Up” House Flies — For Real

Many months ago I posted that Utah-based real estate company had built a house modeled after the one from “Up”. Well that’s been sold now, so unless you’ve got enough money to build a customized house, there goes your opportunity to live in in Carl and Ellie’s home. But it’s not your only chance to check out real-life versions of the most famous flying home since Dorothy’s Kansas abode. Last year National Geographic built a wooden house-sized structure and lifted it into the air using balloons. It was all part of a feature for the National Geographic’s “How Hard Can … Continue reading →

Visit the House from “Up” in Real Life

In further proof of the emotional resonance and technical mastery of Pixar’s “Up,” a building company in Utah has constructed a replica of Carl and Ellie’s home from the 2009 movie. The Salt Lake Tribune has the full story. As Blair Bangerter of Bangerter Homes watched “Up” one night with his family, he was struck by the “incredible lengths the masters at Disney/Pixar had gone to in creating such a wonderfully presented house and felt like a true to life version could be attempted,” according to a Bangerter Homes press release quoted in the Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake City, … Continue reading →

Infants: The Hottest New Market

We all know that Disney will market to absolutely anyone it thinks it can get to buy its merchandise. We also know that Disney will pursue its advertising targets till the ends of the earth, producing any conceivable product (and some hitherto inconceivable) to ridiculous and often extreme ends. So really, Disney ought not to surprise anyone with whatever new marketing schemes it rolls out. Despite all of that, I just can’t help it; Disney’s got my eyebrows raised with this one. What’s the Mouse House’s latest marketing target? Infants. Pushing products towards the just-out-of-the-womb isn’t entirely new territory for … Continue reading →

Pushing “Up” into New Territory

On Tuesday, November 10th, Disney released “Up” on DVD, and I eagerly rushed to the store to add Pixar’s latest triumph to my collection. Each year I find myself blown away by the studio’s offerings, especially their original storytelling, sharp writing, and gorgeous graphics. “Up” holds a special place in my heart and mind, however, for its groundbreaking take on an important issue. One of the struggles facing modern families today is how to raise tolerant, discerning children. It can be difficult teaching children to overcome stereotypes. If all the heroes and leading characters they see on screen are young, … Continue reading →

Become a Wilderness Explorer at the Animal Kingdom

If “Up” is one of your favorite Disney/Pixar movies, then Disney World’s Animal Kingdom has a great new surprise coming for you this spring.  Soon guests to the Animal Kingdom can become Wilderness Explorers, just like Russell from “Up.” Wilderness Explorers was the Boy Scout-style troop to which Russell belonged in the film.  An early version of this new experience was tested at the Animal Kingdom way back in the fall of 2011, and now it’s finally going to be making its debut this spring.  Wilderness Explorers isn’t a proper game like Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom; it’s closer to … Continue reading →

“Toy Story 3” Both A Relief and A Letdown

In my very first blog for families.com I bemoaned Pixar’s current penchant for making sequels, a trend I blamed on Walt Disney Corp. CEO Bob Iger. I’ve expanded, or at least reiterated, my opinions on the matter since then. Some might say, however, that I should stop criticizing the making of all of Pixar’s recent sequels if I never bother to see them, something I just haven’t felt motivated to do. Nearly a year after it came out on in theaters, I finally decided to see “Toy Story 3.” Before I get into how I felt about the movie, however, … Continue reading →

Monsters, Marple, and Merida

Earlier this week saw the announcement of saw the announcement of two new Disney movies, one that was already rumored in production, and the first stills from another highly anticipated film. The first is Pixar’s next sequel, the previously titled “Monster’s Inc. 2.” NME Movie News revealed that Pixar didn’t say much about the film, merely that it would again star John Goodman as Sully and Billy Crystal as Mike. We do, however, have a title for the movie, and it is the most creative yet. Rather than just adding another number to the end, the new “Monster’s Inc.” film … Continue reading →

“Cars 2” Trailer Released

I’ve possibly been a bit unfair towards “Cars” in complaining that it gets a sequel, the forthcoming “Cars 2,” when it’s my least favorite Pixar film. I know “Toy Story 3” was fantastic, but I just wasn’t as excited for it or into it as I have been for years about Pixar, because I’m sad that they’re not being encouraged to further innovation. Unfortunately for it, “Cars 2” has borne the brunt of my disgruntlement over the whole issue. Its existence incorporates all the things I don’t like about the direction in which Walt Disney Corp. CEO Bob Iger is … Continue reading →

Disappointed in Disney’s Summer Offerings

Why doesn’t Disney have me excited this summer? That’s the question I keep asking myself, and one to which I just can’t find the answer. My first major shock of the summer is that I’m not interested in seeing Pixar’s newest film. For the past three or four years, one of the few trips I actually take to the movie theater is to see Pixar’s latest. As soon as I found out that 2010 meant “Toy Story 3” my enthusiasm waned. What surprises me even more is that I still feel the same after hearing and reading the film’s rave … Continue reading →