HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Stuff Your face!!!

Wow. This means that tomorrow is the start of the Christmas season! Time goes too fast nowadays.

What are you Thankful for?



10 YEARS OF HARRY POTTER

It is really late, so I won't say much, but I just had to point out that "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", the first installment in the Harry Potter film Series was released 10 years ago today. It certainly has been cool to see the actors grow up after all these years. (Even if Daniel Radcliffe STUNK!) It would have been interesting if Richard Harris somehow lived to play Dumbledore in all of the films. He was amazing in the first two.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM DISNEYLAND!

Alright, I know that Thanksgiving hasn't even happened yet, and this video is actually from LAST year, but the holidays st Disneyland start today, and just I had to post this really cool video.

Enjoy!

HARRY POTTER - THE END

Well, after 10 years, the film adaptions of J.K. Rowling's best-selling Harry Potter books are finally complete.

I always wondered how all of the films would look together...

We sent the series off last night by watching Deathly Hallows Part 1, and then immediately putting in Part 2. I liked the film a lot better this time. I don't really know why, but I didn't really approve of the film when we saw it last summer in theaters. It think it all just happend too fast. The movie was hurried and waaaay too short. It jumped around a lot (not as bad as previous films, but all of those British accents are a bit disorienting!) I was able to follow it a bit better this time around though.

As for the Blu-ray special features on this set, there is a few good ones, but it was a little disappointing. I really enjoyed the Maximum Movie Mode Commentary track, hosted by Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom) and features the cast, that explores and explains certain aspects of the film. It has short passages of the book read by members of the cast, deleted scenes that should have just been included in the movie anyway, and Focus Point documentaries on certain points in the film that play as you watch it.

On disc two, There is an hour long interview with Daniel Radcliffe and J.K. Rowling that explores different aspects of writing the movies and filming the books. ("Wait! Scratch that, reverse it.") I recommend watching it at least once because it's good, but not great. At least it was better than the "Goblins of Gringotts" and "Women of Harry Potter" mini-documentaries also included on disc 2. (Yawn) Veeeery Boring.

At least the features on DH Part 1 were substantial. I guess they probably didn't go all out for this release because the movies were split into two parts and they put a lot on the Part 1 Blu-Ray.

All that's left is Pottermore. I highly recommend joining Pottermore when it opens to the public in the near future. It is only in it's beta testing period, so only a select few are in right now. (Wink Wink - That's me!) You go through each chapter of the book and explore pictures like the one above to find hidden objects and Galleons and extra material from Ms. Rowling about the world of Harry Potter. I think Pottermore is the perfect supplement to the books. I was sorted into Slytherin house, but other than that, it is awesome.

How do you feel about the end of Harry Potter? Anyone going to join me and Grandma in Pottermore when it opens?

 

THANK YOU VETERANS

Today, 11-11-11, I want to thank those who have bravely gone out to fight for our country.

I had a pretty cool experience today. My school had an assembly to honor the veterans in our city who had any affiliation with Nampa High. One who was there was my Seminary teacher, who is a Vietnam war vet. He shared his experiences with us in class, and showed a video of Elder L. Tom Perry talking about the importance of remembering the sacrifices of those who have gone before. At the assembly, they presented the flag, and they had a former NHS grad who recently returned from the army give a speech on the importance of service in the community. They also had our band play patriotic songs and the themes of all the different...millitary...sections (I don't know the correct "terms", but you know, the marines, the air force, the navy, etc...)

They also had a memorial constructed at our flagpole to honor the veterans of NHS that was dedicated today. I got to see the ceremony and ribbon cutting. That was pretty cool.

So, in closing, thank you veterans. Thank you for your struggles, and your sacrifices, and for constantly defending our country.

Thanks Brian!

Thanks Paca Smitty!

HARRY POTTER - 1 DAY

There is only one day left until the epic tale of Harry Potter is over forever.

This last one is very sad, but it is my favorite.

(Click to Enlarge)

HARRY POTTER - 2 DAYS

There's only two days left!

(Click image to enlarge)

HARRY POTTER - 3 DAYS UNTIL THE END

3 Days until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 ends the tale of Harry Potter.

Here is today's image (Click on it to Enlarge)...

HARRY POTTER: 4 DAYS 'TILL THE END

As a tribute to the end of Harry Potter, I created 4 pictures that I will reveal, one every day, until the home video release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" ends the series.

Here is the first one (Click to enlarge)...

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION...

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is now up for your consideration...

Here is a list of eligable award nominations the film has...

Best Picture
Produced by:
David Heyman
David Barron
J. K. Rowling

Best Director
David Yates

Best Adapted Screenplay
Steve Kloves

Best Actor
Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter)
Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley)

Best Supporting Actor
Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid)
Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort)
Michael Gambon (Dumbledore)
John Hurt (Ollivander)
Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom)
Gary Oldman (Sirius Black)
Alan Rickman (Severus Snape)
David Thewlis (Remus Lupin)

Best Actress
Emma Watson (Hermione Granger)

Best Supporting Actress
Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange)
Maggie Smith (Professor McGonagall)

Best Art Direction
Production Designer
Stuart Craig
Set Decorator
Stephanie McMillan

Best Cinematography
Eduardo Serra, ASC, AFC

Best Costume Design
Jany Temime

Best Film Editing
Mark Day

Best Makeup
Special Makeup Effects
Nick Dudman
Makeup Designer
Amanda Knight

Best Original Score
Alexandre Desplat

Best Sound Mixing
Production Sound Mixer
Stuart Wilson
Re-Recording Sound Mixers
Stuart Hilliker
Mike Dowson
Adam Scrivener

Best Sound Editing
James Mather

Best Visual Effects
Tim Burke
John Richardson
Greg Butler
David Vickery

Plus, there's a "For Your Consideration" promotional video...

I personally think the official trailers for this film should have been a lot more like this short promo. (Less on the dark/action side, more on the emotional side.)

Now I'm 17,

going on 18!

I am 16, going on 17...

23-19! WE HAVE A 23-19!

The Disney-Pixar film "Monster's Inc." was released in theaters 10 years ago today.

It was directed by Pete Doctor and produced by Darla K. Anderson. It starred John Goodman as "James P. 'Sulley' Sullivan", Billy Crystal as "Mike Wazowski", Steve Buscemi as "Randall", James Coburn as " Henry J. Waternoose III", and Mary Gibbs as "Boo". Music by Randy Newman.

Fun Facts about the film:

1. Billy Crystal, voice of Mike Wazowski, was originally offered to voice Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story but turned it down. When he was asked to do Mike, however, he said "yes" immediately.

2. On January 18th 2013, Monster's Inc. is scheduled to be re-released in theaters in 3-D.

3. It won an academy award for "Best Original Song" (Randy Newman "If I didn't Have You") and was also nominated for "Best Animated Film", "Best Original Score", and "Best Sound Editing."

4. A prequel to the film, "Monster's University" directed by Dan Scanlon is due out June 21st 2013. It said that it is about a younger Mike and Sulley studying at the University of Fear. It will star the original voice cast.

5. It is 92 minutes long.

6. It was made on a budget of $115,000,000 and grossed $525,366,597 worldwide.

7. A short film starring the main characters, "Mike's New Car" was released as a supplemental feature on the film's DVD.

8. It inspired the "Monster's Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue" Dark-Ride attraction at Disney California Adventure park at Disneyland that opened in 2006.

9. The Pizza Planet truck from Toy Story can be seen when Randall is sent to the mobile home in the human world. That same mobile home is also seen in 1998's "A Bug's Life"

10. In Boo's room, there is a child's drawing of Mickey Mouse, the ball from Pixar's 1986 short film "Luxo Jr." and toy versions of Nemo from 2003' "Finding Nemo" and Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl from 1999's "Toy Story 2".

11. When Randall tests out his disguise on the scare floor, one of the backgrounds is the cloud wallpaper from "Toy Story".

12. Several Disneyland Attraction posters can be seen throughout the movie. A couple are the one for Storybook Land Canal boats in the Hidden City Cafe, and one for the Sailing Ship Columbia in a kid's room at the end of the film.

13. John Ratzenberger, who voices a character in every Pixar film, voiced Yeti the Abominable Snowman in Monster's Inc.

14. It was preceeded in theatres with the short film "For the Birds", which won the Academy Award for "Best Animated Short Film" in 2002.

I find it really wierd that it's been that long since it came out. I was in first grade when I went to see it. This film is special to me because when it was released on DVD, it was the one that started my obession with all things Pixar and gave me insight to how an animated movie is made. All of that stuff still really interests me and I will always remember that.

"Monster's Incorperated. We Scare, Because We Care."

CARS 2 OUT ON DVD TODAY!

Yup. Cars 2 is out on DVD and Blu-Ray today. Complete with the Toy Story Toon "Hawaiian Vacation" and the brand new Cars Toon "Air Mater". Let's see what is on Pixar's slate of upcoming projects...

Let's just hope that Pixar does better with "Brave" next summer...

It is due out June 15th with a brand new short film "La Luna".

Then, Disney has a World of Cars spin-off film called "Planes".

I'm not sure what to think about that yet, but hopefully it's good! (Anyone see the "113" on one of the planes? I wonder if that was a reference to something... A113 maybe?)

This month, on the 23rd, the new Toy Story Toon "Small Fry" will be in theaters with "The Muppets".

Several films are scheduled for releases in Digital 3-D on the big screen. The two most recently announced are 2003's Finding Nemo on September 14th 2012...

...and 2001's Monster's Inc.

Monster's Inc. will be released January 18th 2013, right before its prequel...

in June of the same year.

Also announced are 3 untitled films. An "Untitled Dinosaur Project" due out November 27th 2013, an "Untitled Inside the Mind Project" directed by Pete Doctor due out in 2014, and an untitled film directed by Lee Unkrich in 2015.

Pixar's got one heckuva busy schedule! I can't wait for what's coming!

10 DAYS!

10 Days until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is OUT!!!

Anyone Excited Yet???