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Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 3, 2013 in Animation, Cinema, Videogames 
By now it’s known that Disney had considered featuring additional game worlds in Wreck-It Ralph, but cut them for various reasons. The world farthest along in the planning stages was Extreme Easy Living 2, an open-world game (Grand Theft Auto) with a Sims vibe and lots of modern social gaming aspects (think Facebook-like interactions). It was cut both for pacing and logistical reasons — Ralph ended up on the arcade owner’s computer, since this sort of game is not something that would be found in an arcade — but it was storyboarded. Check out this clip showing what might have been had it made it into the finished film. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Wreck-It Ralph
Posted by Ben Huber on May 12, 2013 in Television 
Are you surprised? The Disney-owned channel ABC will be picking up Joss Whedon’s TV side-story featuring Agent Coulson and his team, called Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Later this evening the first look at the show will air at 8pm, before the season finale of Once Upon a Time. I’m not sure if it will be substantial peek or just a 5-second promo, but hopefully we’ll get a good look at the pilot footage. What I wonder most about is whether Agent Coulson’s big-screen popularity in Avengers will translate to the small-screen as well. Watch the preview tonight if you want to find out! Read more…
Tags: Agents of SHIELD, Disney, Marvel, The Avengers
Posted by Bob Muir on May 8, 2013 in Videogames 
Kingdom Hearts fans may still be waiting for the perpetually undeveloped Kingdom Hearts III, but at least the wait will be over for an HD update soon. Square Enix has revealed that Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX will be releasing on PS3 this fall, on September 10, 2013. The game includes HD versions of Kingdom Hearts Final Mix (a minor update to the game that was previously Japan-only) and Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories (a PS2 remake of the GBA original). Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days has also been remade as almost three hours of HD cutscenes, so you get the story without any of the mediocre gameplay from the DS original. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Kingdom Hearts, PS3, square enix
Posted by Bob Muir on May 7, 2013 in Star Wars, Videogames 
It was a semi-sad day when Disney closed Lucasarts recently — the studio was no longer the home of strong adventure games and other creative experiences, but it still seemed unfortunate. But we all knew that it couldn’t mean the end of Star Wars games; the official statement even said that Lucasarts would adopt a licensing model. Now we know where that license is ending up: in Electronic Art’s hands. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Electronic Arts, LucasArts
Posted by Bob Muir on May 7, 2013 in Cinema, Comic Books 
I think the Marvel Cinematic Universe is awesome, and I love where Marvel is trying to take it. Unfortunately, well before Marvel came up with their own shared universe, they had licensed out rights to certain properties to other studios. That’s why Sony keeps making Spider-Man movies and why Fox definitely won’t be quitting on X-Men anytime soon — they want to keep holding on to these money-making rights in an environment where superhero movies are thriving. But what about some of those other Marvel properties that aren’t being exploited? Read more…
Tags: Disney, Ghost Rider, Marvel, The Punisher
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 16, 2013 in Videogames 
First Ducktales (NES) was announced to have an HD remake in the works, and now Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (Genesis) is getting an HD remake! Unlike Ducktales, which is being made by WayForward Technologies for Capcom, Castle of Illusion is being remade by Sega Studios Australia. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Mickey Mouse, Sega
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 3, 2013 in Cinema 
It’s easy to be skeptical when Disney talks about making a movie out of a theme park attraction. Sure, Pirates of the Caribbean turned out to be surprisingly great, but the rest of the films weren’t so hot, and the less said about The Haunted Mansion with Eddie Murphy the better. But when Brad Bird supposedly has an idea for the upcoming movie Tomorrowland based on a box of Disney memorabilia labeled “1952,” you start to wonder if it could possibly be intriguing. A supposed plot leak only piques interest further. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Disneyland, Science Fiction
Posted by Ben Huber on Mar 30, 2013 in Star Wars 
With Star Wars Weekends 2013 coming up starting May 17th, you can be sure that this year is going to be way more involved that previous years, just due to Disney now owning Lucasfilm. I would imagine lots of messy rights negotiations fade away with that new factor. So here comes all the new merchandise! Combining Star Wars and Disney characters, or Muppets too! Some of it is very hokey, but they are other cleverer items too. Uncle Deadly as Emperor Palpatine? Mickey Mouse in a Jedi Starfighter? The Muppets chickens with Stormtrooper helmets? Yes, it’s all here. Even a thermal detonator hot potato game. Even that. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Disneyland
Posted by Ben Huber on Mar 24, 2013 in Videogames 
PAX is just overflowing with great news, and Capcom has been clearly been busy: their latest announcement is sure to tickle your nostalgia bone. The NES classic Capcom/Disney game will return as DuckTales Remastered, releasing this summer on all three systems’ digital download services (PS3, 360, and Wii U). WayForward, makers of such platforming classics as Shantae, Contra 4, and the recent a Boy and His Blob, will be handling the remake duties, with the excellent Jake Kaufman working on the soundtrack. Even better? The game was announced with a sing-along to the main theme. Now that’s cashing in on nostalgia, right there. Watch the trailer after the break! Read more…
Tags: Capcom, Disney, DuckTales
Posted by Bob Muir on Mar 21, 2013 in Cinema, Comic Books 
Remember last summer’s San Diego Comic Con, when there was test footage shown from Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man film? Well, it’s finally leaked out online. Granted, it’s shot from a balcony and some guy’s head is in the shot, but you can still see a dude shrinking, getting bigger, and taking out two other dudes. Read more…
Tags: ant-man, Disney, Marvel
Posted by Ben Huber on Mar 18, 2013 in Animation 
Wondered where Mickey Mouse has been all these years? His animated adventures have been few and far between, but it seems Disney is finally letting him back out again. Disney Animation has teamed up with Paul Rudd (Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory), to create 19 new animated shorts featuring the rambunctious mouse. The first, Croissant de Triomphe, is already available online for you to watch, and the rest will be trickling out onto the Disney Channel starting June 28th. I love how the art looks, and I can’t wait to see more of these films because this first one is fantastic! Check it out below. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Mickey Mouse
Posted by Bob Muir on Mar 6, 2013 in Cinema, Comic Books 
The latest Iron Man 3 trailer is out, and as predicted by last week’s poster, Tony Stark and Rhodey will have plenty of help. This movie is going to be bursting with new suits, and it looks like they’ll be providing back-up for Tony instead of being worn. It’s not clear if anyone else is wearing them, but I could see the movie explaining them as controlled by A.I. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Iron Man, Iron Man 3, Marvel
Posted by Bob Muir on Feb 26, 2013 in Videogames 
Consider me somewhat unduly excited, but I can’t help it: Square Enix has finally announced a Western release for Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX. It’s an HD collection consisting of Kingdom Hearts Final Mix (the slightly improved original game, previously only released in Japan), Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories (the PS2 remake of the GBA interquel), and redone, expanded cutscenes that tell the story of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (a DS spin-off set around the same time as Re:Chain of Memories). Naturally, trophies have been added as well. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Kingdom Hearts, PS3, square enix
Posted by Bob Muir on Feb 21, 2013 in Cinema, Star Wars 
Surely you’ve heard all the rumors lately about which classic Star Wars actors are or aren’t returning to Disney’s new trilogy (or spin-off films). Well, don’t get your hopes up, because Mark Hamill is ready to be a complete buzzkill about them. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia
Posted by Bob Muir on Feb 7, 2013 in Cinema, Star Wars 
It seems like Disney is definitely set on making some Star Wars spin-off films to be released between official episodes of the sequel trilogy. Yesterday we heard about a Yoda movie, but Entertainment Weekly is claiming that Han Solo and Boba Fett will be getting their own stand-alone films. Han Solo’s will explore the smuggler’s origins, set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, perhaps with an older Harrison Ford as a framing device for a new actor younger than Han Solo’s original portrayal. Meanwhile Boba Fett’s will be a bounty hunter adventure, set either between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back or between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Star Wars
Posted by Bob Muir on Feb 6, 2013 in Cinema, Star Wars 
Here’s a juicy rumor about the fate of Star Wars in Disney’s hands. We all know about the sequel trilogy, and everyone is pumped about J.J. Abrams directing Episode VII. But while these sequels will be released every two-to-three years, not as much attention has been paid to Disney’s plans for additional stand-alone films. Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are writing two stand-alone films, so what’s the deal with them? At least for one of them, there’s one word: Yoda. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Yoda
Posted by Bob Muir on Jan 31, 2013 in Animation 
For those of you who didn’t get to see the surprisingly well-done Wreck-It Ralph last fall, you probably missed a bonus cartoon before the movie named Paperman. The black-and-white short film married 3D animation to a classic 2D style that has me very excited for what Disney may be planning in terms of future animated films. Plus, it didn’t hurt that it was well-directed and had a sweet story of an office worker trying to grab the attention of a pretty lady he met that morning. Since Paperman is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, Disney has made the short available online! Read more…
Tags: Cartoons, Disney
Posted by Bob Muir on Jan 29, 2013 in Cinema, Star Wars 
Were you one of the few people excited about the entirety of the Star Wars series — well, as of now — being converted into 3D and returned to theaters? Then prepare to be disappointed, as Lucasfilm has officially dropped plans to continue with the remaining five films. Apparently, the 3D version of The Phantom Menace last year did poorly, only pulling in $23 million domestically. In addition, all the hardcore fans it was being marketed to treated it like a blatant cash grab. Attack of the Clones would have followed this September, with Revenge of the Sith in October. Read more…
Tags: 3D, Disney
Posted by Ben Huber on Jan 26, 2013 in Star Trek, Star Wars 
So by now, unless you’re living under the largest and most impenetrable rock, you’ve heard that J.J. Abrams will be directing Disney’s upcoming Star Wars Episode VII. And with one fell swoop, both Star Trek and Star Wars are now ruled by one man. The entirety of nerd culture (well, ok, maybe not) is subject to the whims of Abrams now! Some people are disappointed by this development, others are thrilled, but the overall perception seems to cautious optimism. Let’s face it, Abrams has done an excellent job with Star Trek, and the biggest bullet point you need he lives out every day: he’s a nerd just like us. Read more…
Tags: Disney, J.J. Abrams
Posted by Ben Huber on Jan 5, 2013 in Cinema, Videogames 
Who knows if this is just Disney getting with the times, or perhaps a carefully planned marketing move, but either way it looks like a win for consumers: Wreck-It Ralph will be available digitally on February 12th, weeks before it arrives on DVD and Blu-ray March 5th. This is following the recent trend of releasing films earlier on digital distribution services, and it seems to be working out. Wreck-It Ralph will be Disney’s first film they’re doing this with, and it couldn’t suit its market better. I think many of the fans of the movie would rather have it digitally! Hopefully this will continue into the future. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Wreck-It Ralph
Posted by Ben Huber on Dec 15, 2012 in Animation, Cinema 
You may have seen a few pieces of art relating to this before, but here’s your first Disney-approved look at their next CGI film: Frozen. They’re following in Tangled’s (excellent) footsteps and applying traditional animation style to modern CGI tech, and of course, renaming old fairy tales so as to attract a larger audience. In this case, as you may have gathered, this film is based off of the story of the Snow Queen. It’ll be starring Kristen Bell as Anna, along with what the PR calls an “extreme mountain man” to find her sister, the Snow Queen (Idina Menzel). If they can do what Tangled did – or better – I think we’ll have another winner on our hands. I’m not sold on Bell as the main character… but the art looks great! Read more…
Tags: Disney, Frozen
Posted by Bob Muir on Nov 29, 2012 in Cinema, Star Wars 
File this one under “rumor,” but at least it has some evidence to justify its existence. We’ve heard about the writer for Star Wars VII (and rumors of writers for VIII and IX), but no director is yet attached, and considering the difference that directors made in the original trilogy (compare A New Hope to Empire), that could very well be the major deciding factor of how much we love or hate the new films. Now Matthew Vaughn, who directed Kick-Ass and X-Men: First Class, may be directing the movie for Disney, based on several things. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Star Wars
Posted by Bob Muir on Nov 21, 2012 in Cinema, Star Wars 
We know that Toy Story 3 writer Michael Arndt is writing Star Wars Episode VII, but it’s never too early to look ahead to VIII and IX. After all, Disney didn’t pay $4 billion for Lucasfilm to half-ass a new Star Wars trilogy. So who is getting scouted by the Mouse? There are two guys the company has in mind, and if you’re holding out hope for these movies, you definitely want one over the other.
Read more…
Tags: Disney, Star Wars
Posted by Ben Huber on Nov 11, 2012 in Star Wars 
I’d like to say that Disney buying Lucasfilm may indeed be the best thing to happen to Star Wars in a long while. Perhaps that’s presumptuous to say at this early stage, but when you’re getting good news like this, it’s had to temper your excitement: Michael Arndt will be writing the script for Star Wars: Episode VII. Some of Arndt’s previous accomplishments include writing Little Miss Sunshine and Toy Story 3 – the former won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. He had already written a 40 page treatment of the upcoming 3 films, so that Disney and Lucasfilm signed him on is no surprise. Now we just need to find a competent director. I wonder who would be up for the job? Read more…
Tags: Disney, Episode VII
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