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If you’re going to see “ Ponyo ” and expecting yet another ambitious animated feature like “ Spirited Away ” and/or “ Princess Mononoke ,” you may be in for a bit of a disappointment. Copyright 2009 Disney Enterprises, Inc. / Copyright 2008 Nibariki-GNDHDDT. All Rights Reserved This time around, Japanese...

You remember what happened to Wart in “ The Sword in the Stone ,” right? How he suddenly went from being Kay’s clumsy squire to becoming the “ … rightwise King born of England.” Copyright Disney. All Rights Reserved Well, Bradley James now knows a little bit about Wart must have gone through. Given that...

The Walt Disney Company has long been an innovator when it comes to its theme parks & resorts. But that being said, that doesn’t mean that the Mouse doesn’t still keep a close eye on the competition. And when one of the other Central Florida parks introduces a service that quickly proves to be popular...

Given the firestorm that that “TRON” test footage created at last year’s Comic-Con … Well, it only made sense that the creative team behind this highly anticipated follow-up to that landmark 1982 film would then return to San Diego to reveal even more to this year’s attendees. The only problem is … Director...

It’s been kind of interesting watching the Pixar fan community react to Rich Greenfield ’s recent mea culpa in regards to “ Up .” Back in April, Greenfield (who’s this Wall Street analyst that keeps tabs on The Walt Disney Company for Pali Research ) expressed concerns about this Pete Docter film. Saying...

For most of us, advance planning means that – a whole week ahead of time – you know what you’ll be doing over the upcoming Fourth of July weekend. Michael Roddy (he's the one on the right), Director of Show Development for the Universal Orlando Resort. Photo courtesy of Gregory Nicotero Whereas Michael...

On paper, “ The Proposal ” really looks like it should work. Copyright 2009 Touchstone Pictures, Inc. All Rights Reserved I mean, this film stars Sandra Bullock . The girl we fell in love when she had to keep that bus zooming along at 50 MPH in “ Speed .” Who made us cry when she finally told the truth...

Christopher Sieber has a favor to ask of his fans: No more questions about his knees. Please? “Seriously, my knees are fine,” Sieber laughed, “Everything else on my body hurts right now. But my knees are great.” Of course, it’s easy to understand why friends, family, even perfect strangers would continually...

This past Thursday, Six Flags Over Georgia had a genuinely festive feel. A Dixieland band played while specially invited guests enjoyed a picnic lunch inside of this closed-to-the-public theme park. “And what was the special occasion?,” you ask. Well, a quick look at the centerpieces on the picnic tables...

Six Flags Over Georgia fans dodged a bullet a few months back. A speeding bullet, to be exact. Copyright Six Flags Theme Parks, Inc. All Rights Reserved Last year, Six Flags management gave some very serious thought to shutting down that theme park’s much-beloved Monster Plantation attraction. Worse...

In response to last week's review of Jeff Kurtti 's newest book , " Walt Disney's Imagineering Legends and the Genesis of the Disney Theme Park ," I got the following e-mail: Not everyone who reads JimHillMedia is interested in the Disney theme parks. Some of us come to your site because we want to learn...

Executives need reasons for success or failure. It's called survival. It's how you cover your butt. If you can provide a plausible reason for success or failure, then you've taken yourself off the firing line. I've often joked about marketing, and the people who market motion pictures. Granted, it's...

Christmas time in NYC means lines. All over the city this past Saturday, there were people standing in lines. They lined up on the 8th floor at the Macy's in Herald Square in order to see Santa . They lined up along 5th Avenue in order to see Saks ' holiday windows . They even lined up at Rockefeller...

Alright. I know. It's been kind of a scary week for all you folks who live and work in Central Florida. What with all the stories that are making the rounds about Walt Disney World 's projected occupancy rate for the month of January as well as how miserable things have gotten for all those hotels &...

"There can be only one ..." And -- no -- I'm not channeling for the Highlander here. I'm talking about the real budgetary challenge that many consumers are facing this holiday season. Where -- instead of heaving multiple presents at friends & family as they have in years past -- they can now afford...

Now that Thanksgiving is over, it's time to break out all of those Christmas lights and start decorating the exterior of your home. Mind you, Rob Hamberg got kind of a headstart on the rest of us. This Walt Disney World Entertainment show producer didn't wait 'til turkey time to start his holiday decorating...

"Tis the Season to be Jolly ... " Well, normally it would be. But given what's been going on with the economy this year, for a lot of folks holiday time 2008 is shaping up to be "Tis the Season to be Stingy ..." So with so many people cutting back on their holiday spending, why should you spring for...

Are you like me? And after you finish carving the turkey ... Well, it looks like that once-beautiful bird has just been through the blender? Let's face facts: Most of us haven't had enough knife time to properly carve a turkey. Which is why we make such a hash of things whenever the holidays roll around...

A word of warning before you head home for Thanksgiving: Be careful what you place in your mouth this holiday season. For that hors d'oeuvre might just be an author. Don't believe me? Okay. Then let us consider Pepe the King Prawn . With the help of Jim Lewis , this Muppet just turned out his first tome;...

If you're planning on watching this Thursday morning's broadcast of Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade , be prepared to see an awful lot of Disney. And -- no -- I'm not talking about that Buzz Lightyear balloon which will be making its debut in this year's parade. Or the fact that Miley Cyrus will be appearing...