Wednesday, October 31, 2007
About Town: Christmas Decorations
Don’t Feel Like Cookin’?: 50s Prime Time Cafe
Even if the studios theme park doesn’t get the fan attention that is awarded the Magic Kingdom or Epcot, in one area it excels. It has two excellent restaurants that, in addition to good food, are the most immersive on property. It’s a difficult distinction, but for me the Sci-Fi Drive-in is an experience first, a restaurant second. Even more so is the 50s Prime Time Café. Diners are thrust confidently into a 1950s household where Mom rules the kitchen, and the kids each have their own chores… in this case, serving tables.
The restaurant is designed around a multi-room home, each room - and in some cases each table- has its own unique décor, firmly from a 1950s household. Black and white art deco television monitors pepper the home, running short bits from classic television shows – Prime Time, of course. The servers… err kids may be out front taking food orders and bringing stuff around, but it’s obvious that Mom is in charge. She remains out of sight, busy in the kitchen. Grandma assists her with dessert. But Mom’s presence is felt, and the kids let you know, ‘reminding’ you of Moms rules.
Today I was eating alone, and they still made me set the table for myself. After a restroom break several of the family asked me if I washed my hands. When I verified I had, they persisted, questioning whether I used soap.
The menu is, of course Mom’s home cooking. Roasted Peppers, Pot Roast, Chicken Pot Pie… Lunch entrees range from $12.99 up to $16.. So I chose a nice meatloaf ($14.99) and a generous helping of vegetables. (And you better eat those!) I topped it off with a Chocolate Shake ($4.99) that was off the charts delicious. I actually left half a cup of shake behind as the serving was so large.
They are all in the $5 to $6 range and include nice gooey S’mores.
When it was time for me to pay the bill, Mom had sent a reminder “No tower for at least an hour!”
The 50s Prime Time Café may not have the kitchen of the Brown Derby or anything in the World Showcase of Epcot, but it has a dining experience that is most enjoyable. I have never eaten there when I wasn’t surrounded by consistent laughter… Just like Mom wants it.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
On the Boards: Tarzan swings through town
Compared with other Disney properties Tarzan didn’t have much of a life on Broadway. It closed after a year and a few months for various reasons. It was an expensive show to produce and even a dangerous one. Audience and critical response were lukewarm. So, the show it shuttered. But did it deserve its drubbing?
I saw TARZAN early in its run and found the evening entertaining and visually appealing, but it didn’t grab my heart the way the Lion King did. The director, Bob Crowley had an intriguing take on the story, but it still seemed simple compared to Taymor’s Lion King.
The film on which the stage show is based is an excellent film, easily the best telling of Tarzan to grace the silver screen. But it wasn’t really a musical. Sure, it won an Oscar for Best Song, but there were only a few songs and most were not performed on screen, rather as background for montage. Now, composer Phil Collins expanded the score to include nine new songs. Of those nine, I found two as worthy pieces. The strongest is Tarzan’s ‘eleven o’clock hour’ song “Everything That I Am”.
The entire stage is draped with ceiling to floor strips of green fabric on all three walls. This is an interesting choice as it obscures entrances, allowing someone to appear out of nowhere. The most interesting choice in the production was the extensive use of ‘wire work’. One expects a Tarzan to have some wiring as he swings back and forth across the stage, but Director Crowley uses his wires pretty consistently. For much of the show, the stage is a vertical one. Characters climb up and down, swing back and forth. The most effective use, Tarzans shipwrecked family walks down the back wall – giving the illusion that the audience is in the trees looking down at them. This along with stupendous scrim work make the opening six minutes awe-inspiring.
On the flipside are some risks that don’t pay off well. Worst of these is a minute long “animated” Tarzan doing shadow puppets during “Son of Man”.
American Idol runner-up Josh Strickland is vocally strong with Phil Collins music. His physical presence is different from other telling of Tarzan; he remains muscular, but is thin and at times, tiny.
I’m not sure of the show will ever tour the US. I imagine if it does, it would be re-worked with less of the physical requirements that required venue design changes. If it does tour, check it out. It is far from perfect, but it is also much better than the anti-Disney backlash that greeted it in New York City.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Movie Night: Think Happy Thoughts
Now, the folks at Disney have given us yet another release of the film. This third time around we are treated to a 2-Disc platinum edition - and it is also the best one yet. The disc includes plenty of new activities and extra materials in addition to a fascinating audio commentary hosted by Roy Disney and including many of the original animators, performers and content experts. This is the same audio commentary that was on the “Special Edition” released back in 2002.
What really separates this release from the others is the amazing restoration. Frame by frame looks like it was done today, the colors crisp and vibrant… the darks are dark and the lights are light. It is truly a joy to see this (and others in the Platinum series) looking better than they probably ever did. The sound ain’t too shabby either, working to utilize your home theatre system, although they stray from some of the original sound designs…
The low-point of this (and other recent Disney DVDs) is the inclusion of “Disney’s FastPlay”. This is a feature that means the opposite of what most people would hope. We’d want fast play to be a way to quickly start the movie, avoiding all the extra stuff that is thrown on movies nowadays. Actually, fast Play takes you into all that stuff, only faster. So, the marketing of other projects trumps quality a bit here. Not so bad since it can still be bypassed by going to the main menu.
The film of Peter Pan is a super ambitious effort. Detail and character business are absolute first-rate. If the film had a little more heart, it would fly even higher.
Movie Night: Chicken Nuggets
Chicken Little has a lot going for it: Great voice casting. A fun color palette. A great musical score by John Debney. Some recognizable pop songs to make the film more hip. But the story itself isn’t either sturdy or identifiable. The story lays there and by the time aliens attack the planet (in an homage to Spielberg’s War of the Worlds) the story seems devoid of care. But again, I digress.
Chicken Little is a film for kids, and in that arena it works. Characters are easy for them to follow and root for.
The DVD itself offers some fun nuggets of its own. A couple deleted scenes including a 2 dimensional (hand drawn) opening segment that was deleted. This scene with some proper editing may have been a good piece but as the hosts tell, it didn’t seem to fit with the tone of the film.
Chicken Little is a fair offering, but pales in comparison with the potential of the artistry of Disney.
Movie Night: First Trip to Narnia
In December of 2005, THE LION THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE made a huge appearance, traveling successfully to the screen. There have been sufficient animated and televised versions before, but this is the real deal with amazing sets and a pretty loyal screenplay. Like the books, the humor remains light and un-offensive. Even the story concepts, including an appearance by Father Christmas, are comfortable for the youngster in all of us. It is nothing like the complex structure used in the Harry Potter films that many children are devouring today.
But after the monster success of THE LORD OF THE RINGS, the book did receive a face-lift. Gone is the dialogue that only can be read to the very small in favor of a more mature speech. Battles that took up a couple hundred words on the page are now major battles and even share an aesthetic with a certain hobbit adventure. The special effects creators are also shared with the RINGS trilogy.
The Narnia stories are indeed a Christian allegory, but C.S.Lewis’ message is lost on many on both sides of the argument. He used biblical story elements as his own personal guide. His major intention was not to preach, but to entertain. Reviewers who dismiss the book and films based on its Christian ties are not likely to gain any converts. Nor will those who demand the work be altered to explore those Christian themes.
The DVD set is a strong offering: Gorgeous sound and packaging, grand making of material, everything that is now expected from a major DVD release. One where every film is given the deluxe treatment, no matter how deserving.
I’m looking forward to our next cinematic trip into Narnia… Prince Caspian… May 2008
Sunday, October 28, 2007
BookWorm: Spinning Disney’s World
Has there ever been an organization that had as many books written about it as Disney? From its movies, television and Broadway shows to its fabulous theme parks, even on to its corporate strategies; there are enough books to garner its own section of most bookstores. But still, most fans will scour the pages of any new tome in hopes of uncovering a small gem or two of knowledge. When a new book comes along that is penned by a true Disney legend, it is sure to be a treat.
Charlie Ridgway began his Disney career as a press agent in 1955. He has attended openings of all the theme parks from the original Disneyland to the most recent park in Hong Kong. His fifty year association with Disney has resulted in a vast offering of experiences, and each one evolves into a story or two. So, it’s easy to pick up Charlie’s new book “Spinning Disney’s World”, and find yourself taken in.
Charlie devotes his time to stories focused on situations and stories directly related to his duties as press agent; whether it be guiding ducks down Main Street USA or posing Walt behind the wheel of a fire truck. So many of Charlie’s “Adventures” are as globe-trotting as a James Bond novel but he remains as humble and accessible as possible. The book is a must for anyone interested in a career in public relations, especially when penned by the man who pretty much created Disney public relations from scratch. But more than likely, it is going to be read be fans (and detractors) of Disney.
At its heart, the book is a reminiscent journey through fifty years of a man s career – a career that he loved. At times, his memory hops around a bit, so the book can meander. But if you’re willing to go along with Charlie, you’re sure to have a good time.
Here is a picture of Charlie’s Window on Main Street, U.S.A..
Out with the Old…
…In with the New.
The partnership proved to be built on shaky ground early on when MGM took Disney to court claiming the studios could not put only the Disney name on films created at the then operational movie studio on property. Disney countersued awhile later when MGM opened a ‘theme park’ of its own at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. There was no clear cut winner. Since then, the rumors of a studio name change have been running rampant.
Finally, in 2008, will now be known as “Disney’s Hollywood Studios”.
So let’s look at the new logo. It is a much simpler logo. Much ‘cleaner’. And while I don’t think it speaks of the grandeur of an entire movie themed park, it does accomplish a couple of things: It successfully excises the “MGM” and more importantly seems familiar. It almost suggests that this new logo has been the logo since 1989. At least that is what it says to me whose marketing genius ended probably 8 minutes after I was born.
I am curious to see what other changes are in store for Disney’s Hollywood Studio.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Don’t Feel Like Cookin’?: Tutto Italia
What would a stroll through the Italy pavilion in Epcot be without a restaurant? Since the pavilion lacks a ride, movie or show – it would be a beautiful but brief stroll. L’Originale Alfredo di Roma closed its doors at the end of August, 2007. After a brief hiatus, the restaurant Tutto Italia has opened in its place. So, on Epcot’s 25th Anniversary, it was only appropriate we experience the new offering tucked into the back corner of Italy.
The first thing to notice is that the aesthetic changes are minimal. With the exception of a few fancy knickknacks, this is still Alfredo’s. And it will be that way for a short time, after which the establishment will close its doors for a refurbishment. One obvious change already in place is the “pasta room” where tourists leer at chefs creating the many pastas served in the restaurant is gone. Now tourists leer into the “Antipasto room”. (Talk about going in the opposite direction!) A funny side note: as I was doing my leering through the antipasti window, I asked the manager Davide “what do you do with all the lemons?” He responded “Make lemonade”. Sure enough, fresh squeezed lemonade was on the menu that night.
Upon seating, the manager highly recommended the Antipasto appetizer. But only a few hours after eating lunch, my group avoided the pre-meal munchies. The seven appetizers ranged in price from $10 up to $24 for the “Grand Antipasto Misto”.
Even so, they bring a starter… or “Assaggini” to the table. It consists of Olives, vegetables for dipping, and eggplant relish and breadsticks. Certainly not a large order but a unique offering nonetheless.
The main entrees range from a few $24 dishes up to a $36 “Tangliata di Manzo”. My friends and I did a great job in ordering for our personal tastes. We did a horrible job in ordering for a restaurant review. Three of us ordered the “Lasagna al Forno” ($24) and the fourth ordered the Bucattini Pasta (24). We were all happy with the food and service. The menu itself may be a bit difficult as the descriptions don’t feel very informative. Thus, we all ordered the same thing as it seemed recognizable.
Agonizingly, we were too full for the great looking desserts, ranging from $8.00 “Gelati and Sorbetti” up to a $12 Cannoli.
We all enjoyed our dinner, the food and service were very good and our conversation - four Disney geeks chewing it up – was top drawer.
My friend seemed a little miffed that there was no Fettuccine Alfredo on the menu. This may be an issue with many folk. I’d bet its because this restaurant is replacing one operated by the creators of the Alfredo, it may be counterproductive to promote the previous regimes mainstay.
Tutto Italia is said to only be a temporary establishment, a place holder for what will soon be a new offering by first class restaurateurs, the Patina Group. . Until then, this is a real nice place holder. Like most of Epcot’s sit down restaurants, Tutto Italia is a bit pricey, but as far as I am concerned, the food quality is stellar compared with any food offering at any theme park the world over.
