tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57423977357507860162024-03-18T14:32:29.546-05:00Between DisneyBetween Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.comBlogger565125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-37000117672367785762024-03-18T14:29:00.003-05:002024-03-18T14:30:20.181-05:00Between Books - What Have We Here? <p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVyI-sUD_NXWKDZjfusIKEbGB8YcDcrqLOT_mgwT8qSlPEXTd9r_PGrmrqQFJ701izOc1OvKFX17oJQr19_dng-SpEZcrLga6wp-KszBo6Xi9pbc1xLKr4zEpdwXKaSDgPPhYO37s9ePoHr5IGR_Bnk1pKKkufgS9gf7tqAFiHw-OCfFyksxyMf9E_eo/s1500/71LhE+S2QaL._SL1500_%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Book cover for What Have We Here? with Billy Dee Williams turning to make a blue cape flow up on his back." border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1007" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVyI-sUD_NXWKDZjfusIKEbGB8YcDcrqLOT_mgwT8qSlPEXTd9r_PGrmrqQFJ701izOc1OvKFX17oJQr19_dng-SpEZcrLga6wp-KszBo6Xi9pbc1xLKr4zEpdwXKaSDgPPhYO37s9ePoHr5IGR_Bnk1pKKkufgS9gf7tqAFiHw-OCfFyksxyMf9E_eo/w269-h400/71LhE+S2QaL._SL1500_%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br />I remember falling in love with history as a kid. It was a youth biography about Albert Einstein. It had me on the edge of what seemed like every word! It was the life of someone who was an academic and not as exciting as a biography of a suave debonair hero should be. I just got done reading Billy Dee Williams’ autobiography and I expected that sort of feeling again for someone who truly could be one of the coolest men in Hollywood. Oddly, I found myself thinking about my first biography read, and how I was left with very different feelings. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><i><a href="https://amzn.to/48U9i7a" target="_blank">What Have We Here?: Portraits of a Life</a></i> by Billy Dee Williams tells the professional and personal life of the actor who is best known for his portrayal of Lando Calrissian. Born in 1930s New York, Williams was part of a close-knit family of loving parents who found the time in their busy schedules to expose their twin children to the world around them. Young Billy Dee found that he was attracted to artistic pursuits, painting and acting. Thinking that he was going to be a professional portrait painter, he entered art school and further refined his craft. But he could not escape the call of the theater, walking away from painting and taking roles in theater and eventually film and television. He officially made his mark in Hollywood with <i>Lady Sings the Blues </i>and <i>Brian’s Song</i>. His roles and his private life crafted the image of him as a romantic leading man, of any color. After the release of <i>Star Wars</i>, George Lucas was criticized for a lack of diversity, and he cast Williams as the Lando in <i>The Empire Strikes Back</i>. Despite taking on what some would see as a silly sci-fi role, Williams threw himself into creating a character, one who included many of the suave characteristics of the real-life Williams, and was a figure not just defined by race. This role propelled Williams from more than an actor well-known by African-American audiences but by the wider movie-going audience. This opened new roles, endorsements, and opportunities for Williams. It also, put greater scrutiny on his personal life including his wife, children, and girlfriends. He would also reconnect with painting. The autobiography reaches its end as Williams returns to Lando in <i>Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker</i>. <br /><br />Williams does an excellent job of showing his love for his supportive parents, grandmother, sister, and children. These relationships are really the foundation of his life which he sees as well-lived. However, it’s also clear that many of his relationships, and thoughts, are somewhat atypical. For example, his third marriage would likely be defined as open and included a long period where spouses lived separately with Billy Dee living with another woman. This arrangement, and many of his relationships, make me feel like this lifestyle is less exciting than outsiders may believe. <br /><br />Also a gentleman does not kiss and tell. Billy Dee’s life story is more romantic, dare I say erotic than I expected. I saw a public image that I assumed was more myth than reality. But in his own words, it’s reality. Yet in one sentence wrap up an entire romantic adventure, leaving you with a lot of questions. And I found myself not wanting more detail. But these stories tend to provide more essay than romantic fiction notes. <br /><br />It is the Star Wars stories that bring in the readers. That was likely my favorite part due to my fandom. I would not say he provides any bombshells in this section. Carrie Fisher was funny and gorgeous! She does come off as the tough princess we want. And it is all about the cape! But these sections to me lack anything that will become clickbait headlines due to their new nature or scandal. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Billy Dee Williams at the time the book was published is an older gentleman in his mid 80’s. He has lived a life. He was a young man who wanted to be a leading man, but being African-American faced challenges in casting and typecasting. While he does not deal with this issue to the detail he likely could have, he to me, is the archetype of the romantic dashing lead. But the fine gentleman in <i><a href="https://amzn.to/48U9i7a" target="_blank">What Have We Here?: Portraits of a Life</a></i> generally avoids scandal and perhaps tells a less exciting version of his life than the one he lived. There is so much that could be expanded on in his experiences and worldview that are not. I sadly, I think that unless you are a big big big Star Wars fan you can likely skip past this title.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This post contains affiliate
links, which means that Between Disney receives a percentage of sales
purchased through links on this site.</i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-63007039229923263592024-03-05T09:06:00.003-06:002024-03-05T09:06:16.560-06:00Between Books - The Orange Bird (Little Golden Book) <p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0CYn1wCm0P-O442G1lAkU3IwSZD5_jhS77Xe7pdgS7GP1b24jN0XZxGWbxucxGJ27syAdCyGmvSkmE1GK_RcaYrOyzYRKxcHFSRbw0FyLzAeljX59_t7pNx95EIUfGeZK6Ov0zDMzrCWcVwleDtdv-umifqrfu0tEUoJPi2p0vylD4VVudDx5CIfneE/s1500/81wL3jU0lWL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Book cover for The Orange Bird showing the Orange headed Orange Bird flying out of an orange tree." border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1243" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0CYn1wCm0P-O442G1lAkU3IwSZD5_jhS77Xe7pdgS7GP1b24jN0XZxGWbxucxGJ27syAdCyGmvSkmE1GK_RcaYrOyzYRKxcHFSRbw0FyLzAeljX59_t7pNx95EIUfGeZK6Ov0zDMzrCWcVwleDtdv-umifqrfu0tEUoJPi2p0vylD4VVudDx5CIfneE/w331-h400/81wL3jU0lWL._SL1500_.jpg" width="331" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br />Citrus Swirl or Dole Whip…make your choice! At least that’s how it always seems to me. I am a Dole Whip type of guy. But I understand the love of Citrus Swirl and how the Orange Bird creates nostalgia for this treat! And the Orange Bird makes a super cute lead for a Little Golden Book! <br /><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3uNx6vH" target="_blank"><i>The Orange Bird</i></a> written and illustrated by Jason Grandt and Scott Tilley gives the beloved Disney marketing creation of all things oranges a backstory. In Florida, one can find the beloved Sunshine Tree. where the farmer grows the juiciest oranges under the gaze of the Orange Bird. The Orange Bird is a quiet bird with the special ability to provide thought bubbles with images. The Orange Bird works and plays with the farm birds, but the farm cat Clementine wants to chase not play. Can Orange Bird be a superhero and save its friends?<br /><br /><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3uNx6vH" target="_blank">The Orange Bird</a> </i>is cute with a simple story. We all know why a cat chases birds. I do go into these books wondering how one would use the book to connect a youngster to the parks, in this case, Walt Disney World. The opening pages and cute illustrations do a great job of preparing a kiddo to visit Florida. But beyond that, not so much. Kids will not meet Orange Bird in the park, and they won’t visit the Sunshine Tree or the farm. They will get to enjoy a Cirtus Swirl, but that’s about all.<br /><br />The story itself has a lot of words. And they are big ones. So they may help a young reader to add words like “plump” to their vocabulary. But it also is not a book that an early reader will likely be able to manage on their own. It is a more complex book than I expected from a Little Golden Book. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3uNx6vH" target="_blank">The Orange Bird</a></i> written and illustrated by Jason Grandt and Scott Tilley is a cute little farm story. I did find myself, as a superhero fan, enjoying the twist of an ending. Though as a word of caution, the book has a heavier-than-expected vocabulary that may not be within reach for all early readers.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This post contains affiliate
links, which means that Between Disney receives a percentage of sales
purchased through links on this site.</i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-34495395274797836012024-02-26T09:30:00.005-06:002024-02-26T09:30:51.861-06:00Between Books - Jungle Cruise (a Little Golden Book) <p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEoK14fMXu3UySsKqDnT_sJVGV5djwxovKATt46mW-NnOg9JETFL_4ZoECxypB4YKKzH_sMXhuVvTNyndhYGs2Q16LYMfe7zfyj5nCQO2YI058WfJh1zcqb63B9Gk16JKWGb1gP0lHztrmaifzquDMYH4lp9gBXDuLL7I6C-6am7gFyjdgsWR95z763U/s1500/81legyDrkfL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Book cover for Jungle Cruise a little golden book showing an illustration of Skipper Albert guiding a family in a Jungle Cruise boat through a hippo pool." border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1242" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEoK14fMXu3UySsKqDnT_sJVGV5djwxovKATt46mW-NnOg9JETFL_4ZoECxypB4YKKzH_sMXhuVvTNyndhYGs2Q16LYMfe7zfyj5nCQO2YI058WfJh1zcqb63B9Gk16JKWGb1gP0lHztrmaifzquDMYH4lp9gBXDuLL7I6C-6am7gFyjdgsWR95z763U/w331-h400/81legyDrkfL._SL1500_.jpg" width="331" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I laugh at Jungle Cruise jokes, and so should you…and your kids!<br /><br /><i><a href="https://amzn.to/49t0Tc0" target="_blank">Jungle Cruise</a></i> a Little Golden Book by Brooke Vitale, illustrated by Paul Conrad and the Disney Storybook Art Team, and designed by Winnie Ho, is a delightful homage and tribute to the world-famous attraction. The book follows a family guided by Skipper Albert on the Amazon Belle through the jungle. Albert spiels as he passes familiar scenes. Conrad and the art team's images are fun and delightful original depictions of show scenes. The book is a true tribute to the ride, with even dock jokes provided to readers.<br /><br />This book is a delight for Jungle Cruise fans. First and foremost, Vitale adapts traditional Jungle Cruise jokes to a younger audience, and most importantly, the essential jokes are there. And like any good skipper, Vitale makes sure to include the most essential jokes, like the Backside of Water! The team understood the assignment! <br /><br />The ride featured here is clearly the Magic Kingdom, due to the inclusion of a temple. But the featured boat is Disneyland Park exclusive. In the end, the visuals are definitely Florida, but both coasts are included. Skipper Albert, that can't be important, right? It is if you listen to the radio broadcasts as you travel through the queue.<br /><br />The book is a time capsule, as the scenes are kid-safe versions of the pre-2021 attraction. Alberta Falls and the Society of Adventurers and Explorers are not present in this edition. But I would argue this is just a good reason to update the Little Golden Book!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://amzn.to/49t0Tc0" target="_blank"><i>Jungle Cruise</i> </a>a Little Golden Book by Brooke Vitale and illustrated by Paul Conrad with the Disney Storybook Art Team, is a delight. When this grown adult says he laughs at Jungle Cruise jokes…well, I chuckled and smiled. I think this is a great introduction to the attraction for the youngster or a way to bring a favorite Disney experience home!</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This post contains affiliate
links, which means that Between Disney receives a percentage of sales
purchased through links on this site.</i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p> </p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-21247943904453907512024-02-19T07:26:00.000-06:002024-02-19T07:26:44.702-06:00Between Books - MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtxAzMJGBBt0i7L4L6mxl3Pnj4PfgcNYGE-4QVuQnpmwbMMYDH6csEhf7mZPE9p7Cus1UEPTBmhxwxEyRubFmnZKrMPv2SqwWougS799hANZcU-mw0xttEgjx_mxHMHh9LN_-iHC5f1kJZ7R19jFwsIUfNbNJ-OSGY0KfHOxZcE-zisFpn9igv0JV0OU/s1500/81kpF2bbywL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Book cover for MCU The Reign of Marvel Studios showing Iron Man flying over the Hollywood hills with a M C U sign replacing the famous Hollywood sign." border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="954" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtxAzMJGBBt0i7L4L6mxl3Pnj4PfgcNYGE-4QVuQnpmwbMMYDH6csEhf7mZPE9p7Cus1UEPTBmhxwxEyRubFmnZKrMPv2SqwWougS799hANZcU-mw0xttEgjx_mxHMHh9LN_-iHC5f1kJZ7R19jFwsIUfNbNJ-OSGY0KfHOxZcE-zisFpn9igv0JV0OU/w255-h400/81kpF2bbywL._SL1500_.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br />I love superheroes!<br /><br />I love Marvel movies! I loved them before they were cool like broadcast poorly produced Spider-Man movies from the 70s love! And I remember sitting in a theater watching the end credits scene of Iron Man where I saw Nick Fury enter the frame and blow my mind with promises of what could happen next!<br /><br />And I love history, hence an entire section of this site that is really just an index of books, mostly history. Clearly, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3SZc0n3" target="_blank">MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios</a></i> was written literally for me!<br /><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3SZc0n3" target="_blank"><i>MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios</i></a> by Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards is a complete and thorough history of Marvel Studios’ projects before its founding in August 1996 under the guidance of Avi Arad. The book outlines how a scrappy studio with a lot of intellectual property and a mission to sell toys, started mainly by leasing characters to other studios and providing some oversight largely to support toy sales. But with 1996 and the coming of Marvel Studios, Marvel looked to make movies itself. Armed with incomplete ownership of their character roster, leadership with a vision, and taking a big bet on itself, the Studio found near-instant success in 2008’s <i><a href="http://www.betweendisney.com/2012/04/mousey-movies-iron-man.html">Iron Man</a></i>. This movie launched the true beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a massive storytelling endeavor under the watchful eye of Kevin Feige. The book details how Marvel Studios came to be, its sudden successes, the long-form storytelling and, the the more recent critical and financial setbacks that the Studio has seen in the 2020s.<br /><i><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3SZc0n3" target="_blank">MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios</a></i> is deep and wide when it comes to telling the story of Marvel Studios. It is clear writing, despite often detailing complex situations including contracts, legal cases, and personalities. You will not find a more complete one-volume history of Marvel Studios. But that being said, I did often feel like its major accomplishment was bringing together a lot of content in one title and not adding to what fans know about this Disney intellectual properly machine. However, bringing it all together in one read does help refine thoughts on specific themes. <br /><br />One example that emerges to readers really early is the belief of Marvel Chief Executive Officer Ike Pearlmutter that the purpose of Marvel Studios was to sell toys. Therefore, decisions about the movies supported this belief. This does make sense when you consider that Pearlmutter came from the toy background, not the comics or publishing industries. Therefore, the guidance or interference from Pearlmutter and the Marvel Creative Committee, largely under his influence, looked to support his thoughts on toy sales. And the belief was when you wanted to sell a lot of toys, white male characters sold, not diverse heroes and villains. This drama can seen played out in the characters of Black Widow and Gamora, often hidden in the associated toy lines. This belief would be opposed by Fiege and Disney’s CEO Bob Iger who supported diversity and larger storytelling. While it’s clear that Fiege and Iger found Pearlmutter to be a difficult personality, you can also see how the creative and business beliefs only further pushed this split wider. It is also interesting to watch as the Creative Committee, largely built to act like a Pixar Brain Trust failed to support creativity despite having some talented storytellers included. In the end, the call for toys may have drowned out their voices. <br /><br />Another emerging theme is how Marvel Studios has strayed from its roots. I don’t mean plausibility, a quality that Jon Favreau sought in the production of <i><a href="http://www.betweendisney.com/2012/04/mousey-movies-iron-man.html">Iron Man</a></i>. Instead they have lost the jazz, the inability for directors, writers, and actors to improv and creatively flex their muscles as productions were in progress. This supported a Fiege principle that the movie mattered more than the whole. But with decades of movies completed and years more in production, the role of Fiege to channel movies and TV to movie together has increased, and play by creative forces now must be limited. Fiege’s role in holding it all together is essential to this endeavor. But it also has the price of limiting creative freedom. Additionally, expensive special effects while visually stunning has blocked the ability to run with a discovered story angle. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />You like superheroes and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Then <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3SZc0n3" target="_blank">MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios</a></i> by Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards is for you. The book is a complete history with many themes for readers to dive into, with me just skimming a few. The book ends in the recent past, with the future of the MCU at a potential crossroads as real-life legal events have led to a requirement to change story plans, economics have changed the movie and television business, and the MCU has had creative missteps, (I found Secret Invasion to be a giant meh). Maybe someday an expanded or revised volume will detail what comes next. But for now, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3SZc0n3" target="_blank">MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios</a></i> provides fans with a handbook of creative achievement and a record of how we got to this enormous financial and creative success…despite itself! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This post contains affiliate
links, which means that Between Disney receives a percentage of sales
purchased through links on this site.</i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-82685120483007935732024-02-12T12:49:00.001-06:002024-03-05T09:08:08.419-06:00Between Books - Figment <p> </p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnvrDIKeIm59R3O2IDcIggY0nokb9OLNXjDYhDVJMqYG5GZk3GNjsKhjan8BxVgEeUOANwRyRdoiMcKpLl21r2kHg0wAMDxbHBVX5QaWtgynKf7czNYfwwuprW-dKqUfDtL38iVq1DdI42n9zQa8Sg9eipC8s7lkLgidoxjsbs89qCbyFPsz3eVTvMCU/s1500/81pEsKdrbwL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1243" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnvrDIKeIm59R3O2IDcIggY0nokb9OLNXjDYhDVJMqYG5GZk3GNjsKhjan8BxVgEeUOANwRyRdoiMcKpLl21r2kHg0wAMDxbHBVX5QaWtgynKf7czNYfwwuprW-dKqUfDtL38iVq1DdI42n9zQa8Sg9eipC8s7lkLgidoxjsbs89qCbyFPsz3eVTvMCU/w331-h400/81pEsKdrbwL._SL1500_.jpg" title="Book cover for Figment with the purple dragon sliding down a rainbow with a paint brush in front of the Imagination pavillion with Dreamfinder above him on his ballon built dream mobil." width="331" /></a></div><br /><br /> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Here it comes again, Between Disney to bully a children’s book!<br /><br />And to make it even more likely, it’s about Figment. And Between Disney has only experienced the current and least beloved versions of his attraction! What could go wrong?<br /><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3SEUXW0" target="_blank"><i>Figment</i></a> written by Jason Grandt and illustrated by Scott Tilley, Nick Balian, and Jason Grandt is the latest Little Golden Book to catch the interest of Disney fans. The basic plot is that <a href="http://www.betweendisney.com/search?q=dreamfinder">Dreamfinder</a> introduces readers to his newest creation <a href="http://www.betweendisney.com/search?q=figment">Figment</a>. The two heroes then explore the pages of the book to collect ideas to inspire imagination. The two explore art, science, sound, and more to fill the idea bag. The book ends with the gift of an idea from Figment to Dreamfinder, the type of gift that every parent can understand!<br /><br />I don’t dislike Figment. I don’t love Figment. I do like the idea of Figment and his boostering of imagination. I do love imagination! But I also was never the right age or saw the right version of the attraction to go deep into Figment fandom.<br /><br />I do like the book. It’s colorful. The illustrations are delightful. And Jason Grandt, being an Imagineer knows how to give Dreamfinder and Figment all the homages they need with references to the Dream Moblie, Dreamport, and other Disney attractions. I am convinced that future readings will uncover new Easter eggs. <br /><br />Storywise it’s pretty simple. And the team does use Sherman Brother’s lyrics which eliminates my only real worry. And for a kiddo, it does support the idea to be curious and that inspiration for imagination can come from anywhere…and no one can complain about that!<br /><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3SEUXW0" target="_blank"><i>Figment</i></a> by Jason Grandt and illustrated by Scotty Tilley, Nick Balian, and Jason Grandt completes the assignment. It introduces kids to Dreamfinder and Figment or keeps them connected if the child met them in the park. The Little Golden Book captures the spirit of the attraction with a call to imagine. <br /><br />Don’t we all need a little imagination? </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This post contains affiliate
links, which means that Between Disney receives a percentage of sales
purchased through links on this site.</i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-50005588478940779942024-02-05T08:22:00.002-06:002024-02-05T08:22:07.031-06:00Between Books - Disneyland on the Mountain: Walt, the Environmentalists, and the Ski Resort that Never Was<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9B7REj7kdtpQhgecKoG0pbmUMVOBZ-q_YxXmCiyXUbqPoBaGf0rv9d4hRz4-fgfUly86o5CQlKroUNXZW-tJyAxERM4IOSvMB72L4ANpJkaaS_IPT34Z6pJSrPz6uZDgP7UqwTgETaJv84-4jRpRPAksPriUZV3fld3y_x_sBReLezIBd9jSR9XioOo/s1500/81hszBkp20L._SL1500_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Book cover for Disneyland on the Mountain displaying Walt Disney and Califronia officials looking at plans for Mineral King outside in the natural setting" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="943" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9B7REj7kdtpQhgecKoG0pbmUMVOBZ-q_YxXmCiyXUbqPoBaGf0rv9d4hRz4-fgfUly86o5CQlKroUNXZW-tJyAxERM4IOSvMB72L4ANpJkaaS_IPT34Z6pJSrPz6uZDgP7UqwTgETaJv84-4jRpRPAksPriUZV3fld3y_x_sBReLezIBd9jSR9XioOo/w251-h400/81hszBkp20L._SL1500_.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br />Mineral King is a project mentioned in every complete Walt Disney biography. It’s also one mentioned throughout books on the development of the Disney parks. But generally, these mentions are glancing, a paragraph or, a few pages. But now we have a complete look at the history of Disney’s failed outdoor recreation area. As one delves deeper, it becomes clear that this story is about more than Walt Disney and his hopes for the Mineral King Valley. <br /><br /><i>Disneyland on the Mountain: Walt, the Environmentalists, and the Ski Resort that Never Was</i> by Greg Glasgow and Kathryn Mayer provides a detailed history of the Walt Disney Company’s hopes and failed vision for the Mineral King Valley. In 1966, Walt Disney, after extensive research, announced his intention to develop Mineral King as a skiing and outdoor recreation area. Disney, inspired by European ski villages hoped to bring visitors to the valley’s natural beauty through a ski resort that would bring visitors all year long. But others saw his vision as destroying the valley's splendor by bringing in a cheap Disneyland aesthetic to the Sierra Nevada mountains. The book chronicles the regulatory, legal, and public relations challenges that kept the Walt Disney Company from moving forward on its ambitious plans. Immediately creating obstacles was Walt Disney’s death soon after the announcement, and leadership changes within the corporate structure. Mineral King would be added to the Sequoia National Park in the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978, ending any options for extensive land development and putting an end to a project that had fatigued many in the company. The book ends with a discussion of the legacy of the fight over Mineral King, both inside and outside of Disney's corporate history. <br /><br /><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3HHovgF" target="_blank">Disneyland on the Mountain</a></i> feels complete and is super dense. This is a true serious well well-researched study of the park. The language used is formal and is more than a fan-written history. The 180 pages are misleading, as each page is packed with facts and reports of the action. Glasgow and Mayer also ensure that their writing goes beyond the perspectives of Walt Disney, Card Walker, and other Disney executives. Instead, they look at the issue from the perspective of Walt Disney employees, Sierra Club officials, Mineral King homeowners, a Supreme Court Justice, and many more. The story is made even more complex through all these perspectives making the tale one much more than a Disney story and infused with unexpected drama. For example, some parties in this tale, saw their opinions change as developments moved forward. The authors are fair to all involved voices, leaving room for readers to make their own conclusions about the benefits of the outcome. <br /><br />This story does what I love about history, using one story to point out greater societal changes within history. Glasgow and Mayer use this incident to point out the growing voice of women in politics, as key members of the movement against Mineral King development were women who were freed by the standards of the day to not only add their voices but also use their voices in leading this movement. Also, it is a good case study, as the authors show, for the growth of the environmental movement. Mineral King serves as one incident in the growth of advocacy groups, lobbying, and legislation that increased environmental protections. <br /><br />While this book’s beautiful cover features a picture of Walt Disney at Mineral King, due to his death his memory was more active than the man himself. Readers, much like the participants in the story, are often left asking what was Walt’s intent. So while Walt is not always present, you do ask yourself like those who lived the story, what would Walt do?<br /><br />For Card Walker, leading Walt Disney Productions, he was left with a charge and moral obligation to honor Walt Disney’s hopes for Mineral King. As a reader, we find that Walker was very concerned with the impact of the struggle on the company’s public image which placed the company as the villain looking to destroy natural wonder. The incident strained the company's image with the state and federal government along with California citizens. And one wonders how the story will be reflected in more recent legal struggles with the state of Florida. I will say one lesson that I took from the story was that for the company this incident passed and is now very much today mostly locked away in the Disney Archives. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3HHovgF" target="_blank"><i>Disneyland on the Mountain: Walt, the Environmentalists, and the Ski Resort that Never Was</i></a> by Greg Glasgow and Kathryn Mayer expands the story that many Disney fans just see as a paragraph or rare failure in Disney history. However the book goes beyond just telling the story of Mineral King by presenting a case study that demonstrates changing societal norms in American society. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><i>Review Copy Provided by Rowan & Littlefield. </i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This post contains affiliate
links, which means that Between Disney receives a percentage of sales
purchased through links on this site.</i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span> </p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-35622110444870827712024-02-01T09:13:00.001-06:002024-02-01T09:14:27.217-06:00Introducing Between Pints <p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-vQoZ7a38RvCXV9LO2nPH0A9eCP-acljZ6ovlhxyxavNaIaJxgNnW3CPXyPAzVntIAjRPSONdSHwjTfe6oznAzrf65NLzeBIwmgaV-DiRJhokyJEGIbInTXlBZHBBO65cw1D-KkyhSzICE_FaUJngBRbxE3vt0TILmZTc9FXzUWPyRJu2PEcLgLnzJY/s1272/Polite%20Pig%20-%20Sow%20Select%20Dunkle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A pint of dark Sow Select Dunkle" border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="954" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-vQoZ7a38RvCXV9LO2nPH0A9eCP-acljZ6ovlhxyxavNaIaJxgNnW3CPXyPAzVntIAjRPSONdSHwjTfe6oznAzrf65NLzeBIwmgaV-DiRJhokyJEGIbInTXlBZHBBO65cw1D-KkyhSzICE_FaUJngBRbxE3vt0TILmZTc9FXzUWPyRJu2PEcLgLnzJY/w240-h320/Polite%20Pig%20-%20Sow%20Select%20Dunkle.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There have been a lot of changes in Betweenland recently. And it has given me more opportunities to explore theme parks and the beers of Central Florida on a regular basis. New opportunities is allowing me to launch a new blog, <a href="http://www.betweenpints.com" target="_blank">Between Pints</a>, where I will review and catalog beers found near and in Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resorts.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can find the new blog at <a href="http://www.betweenpints.com">www.betweenpints.com</a>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And you can follow new posts on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/betweenpints" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cheers! </span><br /></p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-64973125339831491492024-01-29T08:56:00.000-06:002024-01-29T08:56:07.013-06:00Between Books - Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago....Volume 5<p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCLbLu2Mg8SbuI5SPWxZpeL4zNNZ6JF1RnkOTu25vstH03mEbie_bsGt8VM8CxCtxTLgC3uty6Oda1c-d3yzEnQxKJR8Afi38PrI6MVjvH_bk5y9mq5XxXT_qks9R5oNsQa6DmeIQOOJGdjk0U5HPOlFxJ9mqwXqHYjqqS4rwBvB5t608Dgdg1tGwQ1E/s466/615Sj2-EK8L._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover for Star Wars Onmibus: A Long Time Ago Volume 5 showing a stormtrooper brandishing a blaster with assorted aliens in the background." border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="303" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCLbLu2Mg8SbuI5SPWxZpeL4zNNZ6JF1RnkOTu25vstH03mEbie_bsGt8VM8CxCtxTLgC3uty6Oda1c-d3yzEnQxKJR8Afi38PrI6MVjvH_bk5y9mq5XxXT_qks9R5oNsQa6DmeIQOOJGdjk0U5HPOlFxJ9mqwXqHYjqqS4rwBvB5t608Dgdg1tGwQ1E/w260-h400/615Sj2-EK8L._SY466_.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br /><p><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Omnibus-Long-Rebellion-ebook/dp/B00PJ2CEP8/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1706539656&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago...Volume 5</a> </i>published by Dark Horse captures the final issues of Marvel's original Star Wars comic run, with issues 86 through 107. But would this final volume capture the same magic of earlier volumes.<br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Omnibus-Long-Rebellion-ebook/dp/B00PJ2CEP8/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1706539656&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago....Volume 5</a> </i>continues to deal with the Rebellion's decisions after the end of the Galactic Civil War. The Rebellion has become a Republic, and they no longer have the clear cut villains of The Empire. Instead, the Rebels attempt to create a new galactic government in the face of new violent planetary struggles. Finally the Republic is forced to come back together to face a new enemy to freedom in their universe, the Nagai. But the Nagai's history may not seem to be all that it is!<br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />
The ending of the Marvel Star Wars comics is mostly helmed by writer Jo Duffy with typically Cynthia Martin providing pencils. Honestly, this duo somewhat is lacking from me. I continue to applaud Duffy for her attempt to create a story of what happens to the rebels after victory. I honestly love much of Duffy's Marvel contributions. But in the end she is forced to create a new enemy, like other writers, to unite our heroes. But at times the results seem somewhat comical with the Tofs and Hiromi. If anything it at times appears and feels cartoony with the Martin pencils. And maybe that was the point with the title taking on a more kid focused approach, like a Saturday Morning cartoon. And in the end, I guess comics are for kids...mostly. And perhaps in an attempt to conclude the story, the final issues at times feel rushed and with plot holes. And I know it was the 1980s, but there is an attempt to link a female character romantically with her former male abuser that makes my skin crawl. <br /></span>
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I do have to say that the opening issue, "The Alderaan Factor" written by Randy Stradley who would go on to be a Dark Horse Star Wars comic legend is fantastic. The story is emotional and dark, leaving adult readers satisfied with a well-told and thought provoking story!</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">These Dark Horse editions are well out of publication with Marvel taking publication rights for these stories back and including them in their <a href="https://amzn.to/3u8w90x" target="_blank">Epic Collections</a>. Today <a href="https://amzn.to/3S9G51y" target="_blank">a paperbook copy</a> of this collections costs over $200. That leaves me recommending the Kindle version, unless one is a competitionist! <br /></span>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Omnibus-Long-Rebellion-ebook/dp/B00PJ2CEP8/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1706539656&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></a>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Omnibus-Long-Rebellion-ebook/dp/B00PJ2CEP8/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1706539656&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago...Volume 5</a> </i>is honestly not as strong as earlier contributions to this series. One at times feels as if writers were struggling to tell a story in a new and unworn path in the post <i>Return of the Jedi </i>galaxy. One has to applaud the efforts. But in the end it is easy to see why this series was one that Marvel no longer saw as a key title after over 100 issues. Perhaps, there were simply too many Zeltrons! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This post contains affiliate
links, which means that Between Disney receives a percentage of sales
purchased through links on this site.</i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-86278602888551149782024-01-22T08:31:00.002-06:002024-01-22T08:31:55.874-06:00Between Books - Star Wars: Crimson Climb <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRYWTmFVfhtahmuamdjVQ_hn0alaY9qxR5a_zgPcgBl2E2Dp4MD5R-NjcKG1M4quRkP6Gc_ovXVTnQlYJ-bPR0PCm5mPc7vGrlJsXEzuKx7PwJxRXypfaAeoe8s_U6yAejCJDyjMm7IKHgZqFmIM11b9wkYksr1yq4n0VzXoCB7Tnzu-dNIEKpEdilCE/s500/518m2O32R0L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Audiobook cover showing Qi'ra standing in front of the Crimson Dawn symbol, a red circle half filled" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRYWTmFVfhtahmuamdjVQ_hn0alaY9qxR5a_zgPcgBl2E2Dp4MD5R-NjcKG1M4quRkP6Gc_ovXVTnQlYJ-bPR0PCm5mPc7vGrlJsXEzuKx7PwJxRXypfaAeoe8s_U6yAejCJDyjMm7IKHgZqFmIM11b9wkYksr1yq4n0VzXoCB7Tnzu-dNIEKpEdilCE/w320-h320/518m2O32R0L.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Am I the bad guy in fandom? Star Wars High Republic titles have failed me. It’s left me feeling like I’ve been sitting on my front porch yelling at the kids to get off my Star Wars front yard! For Pete’s sake, I’ve been reading Star Trek books! Can my Grumpy Dwarf attitude ever find relief?<br /><br /><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3U9F8sH" target="_blank">Star Wars: Crimson Climb</a></i> by E.K. Johnston starts right where the movie <i>Star Wars: Solo</i> ends. Han Solo’s first love Qi’ra has made her move to take the leadership of the criminal organization Crimson Dawn. We enter the immediate moment after, right at the top of the syndicate. What happens next is not the question that Johnston explores! Instead, this book answers a question that we may have had when we watched the movie, how did Qi’ra move from a human scumrat in the White Worms of Correllia, where she met Han, to the right-hand of the leader of a powerful crime family? <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3U9F8sH" target="_blank">Star Wars: Crimson Climb</a></i> moves the readers from Solo’s escape from Correllia and the impact it had on Qi’ra’s standings in the White Worms. From that moment, we follow her as she ages, leaves the White Worms, and matures from the savvy girl to the wise and powerful woman that Han meets again years later. Johnston takes us into Qi’ra’s mind as she navigates the capers and obstacles in her way, and we better understand the character's depth.<br /><br />I liked it. But why?<br /><br />I think a big piece of it is simply, it’s well-written. Johnston does a great job of giving us a story with tension, action, internal struggle, and emotional depth. Could this book work outside of the Star Wars galaxy? I think a lot of it could and would. It does help that we already have an introduction to Qi’ra and unanswered questions, but maybe that just allowed for some shortcuts for setup. But honestly, I was tense and stressed, and Johnston even gives us the ending of the book by having the start and end align with <i>Star Wars: Solo</i> and I’ve read comics that go beyond that moment.<br /><br />I also think that using Qi’ra who moviegoers have already seen as smart and conflicted and tied to one of the big three Star Wars heroes helps a lot. We may never get a sequel to payoff events on the screen for <i>Star Wars: Solo</i> but the movie left us with questions and maybe a desire to know more. Now with Marvel Comics, who have featured an older more powerful Qi’ra, and this book which fills in gaps with the movie, we can find some satisfaction in open questions. Additionally, having seen her and supporting characters and settings on screen, I think it really helps to settle the mind by providing mental images that help tell not distract from the story.<br /><br />Confession time! The High Republic brought me to a point where I also didn’t read this volume but listened as an audiobook. Narrator Olivia Hack does a wonderful voice of changing voice tone, dialect, and volume to the extent that you sometimes forget it’s unjust one narrator. Additionally, the production includes a soundtrack and audio cues that make this a super enjoyable audio adventure.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yes, I do like Star Wars, see how I feel about <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3U9F8sH" target="_blank">Star Wars: Crimson Climb</a></i> by E.K. Johnston. It’s a story full of tension, especially emotional, set in the high-paced Star Wars criminal element! I enjoyed the adventure, especially as an audiobook full of audio production elements that supported a solid story. </span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This post contains affiliate
links, which means that Between Disney receives a percentage of sales
purchased through links on this site.</i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p> <br /><br /> </p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-22127907494377029112024-01-08T08:50:00.002-06:002024-01-08T08:50:51.946-06:00Between Books - it's a small world (Disney Press)<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyTLzRWJhxx_6TwudKTmlwLA5MDdSl2nwl8yVAO6zRC_m3Vrl_zlViZ3DzQwRA0sLkb4LgNpgWP99_DstivHashjX49jj2DfpWZcTVwbMT3x-2d-QveRyJFeFE7Nkhwda5zdTaLPMfg_ZVAgvhK3qUgO8dqKiteaC19avIXcQn1cWOcRz6LNi6YMc_LI/s500/51brIfJ50pL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Coverful book cover from it's a small world book showing cute playful children of the world around a it's a small world facade" border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="500" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyTLzRWJhxx_6TwudKTmlwLA5MDdSl2nwl8yVAO6zRC_m3Vrl_zlViZ3DzQwRA0sLkb4LgNpgWP99_DstivHashjX49jj2DfpWZcTVwbMT3x-2d-QveRyJFeFE7Nkhwda5zdTaLPMfg_ZVAgvhK3qUgO8dqKiteaC19avIXcQn1cWOcRz6LNi6YMc_LI/w400-h351/51brIfJ50pL.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Recently I read the Little Golden Books offering honoring the classic it’s a small world. I found myself disappointed, yes I know it’s a kids book! But part of my frustration is because of the existence of the Disney Press book honoring the Sherman Brothers and their attraction masterpiece. <br /><i><a href="https://amzn.to/41WZl75" target="_blank"><br />it’s a small world</a></i> with words and music by Richard Mr. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman and illustrations by Joey Chou provides a literary tribute to the Disney attraction. The book matches the lyrics of the Sherman Brothers with Chou art that do not provide direct lifts from the attraction scenes but interpretations that match the fun and meaning and the words and sets. The hardcover also comes with a CD which has a copy of the song.<br /><br />This is a really successful way to bring the attraction to kids and Disney adults. The book relies on the song lyrics, with every line but “it’s a small world” refrains included in the song in the correct order. The scenes are cute and fun, which while not Mary Blair figures do stay in the spirit of fun and play. I do love Chou art, with these easily being prints in a child or adult’s room. I think everyone in the Between house has an item with Chou Disney art. The scenes keep to an order that will help kids learn the pacing of the ride, with really only the last page being Chou’s take on an ending in unity instead of him presenting the white room finale. This version is also from 2011, which can explain the CD inclusion. I mean, do you even know where the CD player is in your home? <br /><br />This book is colorful, the same as <a href="http://www.betweendisney.com/2024/01/between-books-its-small-world-little.html">the Little Golden Book</a>. But this is the winner for me. It’s just more expensive being a larger hardcover and out of print. I’d like to say there’s room enough for both versions, but you really need to use some or all of the lyrics to pull off small world packaging for me! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><i><a href="https://amzn.to/41WZl75" target="_blank">it’s a small world</a></i> with words by the Shermans and art by Joey Chou is a fun and cute presentation of it’s a small world. It presents the classic words to the audience in an enjoyable fashion to help kids and adults stay connected to the attraction. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This post contains affiliate
links, which means that Between Disney receives a percentage of sales
purchased through links on this site.</i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-1893451143952572262024-01-03T08:14:00.004-06:002024-01-03T08:20:30.895-06:00Between Books - it's a small world (a Little Golden Book)<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemwxVhxqB5z77DRIW1BJBnsKAuSMRH1tQbYXce1TGBsh6sztq5v65gRL2hDO13dgmEbI2hMuQllO0KBPhoI10qRG3Mo2jfi9u-uE359aaP99O1exZoWOZ4n5BY4cSG7HWJygQdBENtq0gF99PjexyoHFIgJtclRMMtwCILpQFfrLb8x6AnS83MdyvVtg/s1500/91b0BQuVaoL._SL1500_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1243" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemwxVhxqB5z77DRIW1BJBnsKAuSMRH1tQbYXce1TGBsh6sztq5v65gRL2hDO13dgmEbI2hMuQllO0KBPhoI10qRG3Mo2jfi9u-uE359aaP99O1exZoWOZ4n5BY4cSG7HWJygQdBENtq0gF99PjexyoHFIgJtclRMMtwCILpQFfrLb8x6AnS83MdyvVtg/w331-h400/91b0BQuVaoL._SL1500_.jpg" title="Book cover for a Little Golden Book Disney it's a small world showing the illustrated children of the world sitting in a boat waving at us in front of the it's a small world attraction" width="331" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br />I 100 percent get I’m not the target audience for a Little Golden Book. But I am a target audience for media related to it’s a small world! I’m mature like that. Sadly, the Little Golden Book adaptation of the attraction to me fails on so many levels.<br /><br /><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3tBI073" target="_blank">it’s a small world</a></i> by Lauren Clauss, illustrated by Steph Lew, and designed by Winnie Ho introduces kids to the classic Disney attraction. The text tells the story of a group of friends traveling the world, through the attraction, and all the things they see. On each page, children say hello to the reader in their native language. Every page is illustrated with cute adaptations of attraction scenes.<br /><br />I’ll start with the good. The images are cute. They really are. I can see them decorating a young child’s room, especially if their parents are Disney Adults. It is the Disneyland Park version of the ride as Disney characters like Aladdin, Jasmine, Woody, and Jessie are in the scenes. They are cute.<br /><br />But the art really can’t get me over the bad. This is an attraction defined by a song written by Disney legends! There is no reference, foreshadowing hint, allusion, introduction, or otherwise direct copy of the words. I have read, and will need to review, other books that do a much better job at introducing the song to kids, by actually, wait for it, using the lyrics! Second, if this book is to introduce the attraction to kids or remind them of it, the scenes are not in the right order. The images jump around in a way that if a kid reads the book over and over again…because kids don’t do that at all…they may be really confused when they ride the attraction for the first time.</span><p></p><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3tBI073" target="_blank">it’s a small world</a></i>, the Little Golden Book edition, fails for me on several levels. I don’t know why the production team ran away or ignored the Sherman Brothers’ lyrics. Maybe that would be too close to other books? Maybe they were instructed to treat the lyrics as words that cannot be named! But if you write a it’s a small world inspired book and never drop a verse, it’s likely going to fail for Disney fans.</span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This post contains affiliate
links, which means that Between Disney receives a percentage of sales
purchased through links on this site.</i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-89341758290713521872023-12-13T09:38:00.003-06:002023-12-13T14:05:30.331-06:00Between Books - The House of Tomorrow <p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz14-tpEPvPOO0A6eKCVxrI6yHdiYIDRyevnl8D7EXVaMRxBwJHuKC2qD8rx0IB7FGMW5yvNe62T8LcVSa4DuJu-EqehV2DJCIGkgyEvAy7M6gtgTXSZMpFSSDtdXH931ofkezS4xqt554FhPfcljoGIRf795ztKqIebngYgd43_HO7pPvNNOdh6bOnRg/s1000/61jlSJCZwaL._SL1000_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Book cover for the House of the Future showing an artists depiction of the while mushroom like home in front of the Matterhorn." border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="713" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz14-tpEPvPOO0A6eKCVxrI6yHdiYIDRyevnl8D7EXVaMRxBwJHuKC2qD8rx0IB7FGMW5yvNe62T8LcVSa4DuJu-EqehV2DJCIGkgyEvAy7M6gtgTXSZMpFSSDtdXH931ofkezS4xqt554FhPfcljoGIRf795ztKqIebngYgd43_HO7pPvNNOdh6bOnRg/w285-h400/61jlSJCZwaL._SL1000_.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br />David Bossert gives Disney fans a tour of an attraction that graced Disneyland with Walt Disney’s spirit of innovation for a decade, but that he never experienced. The Monsanto House of the Future ended its run in a Disney park over fifty years ago. But it still is hailed by Disney fans as giving us a snapshot of how Walt Disney may have seen his EPCOT’s role in educating and entertaining.<br /><br />David A. Bossert in <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3Nsqo49" target="_blank">The House of the Future: Walt Disney, MIT, and Monsanto’s Vision of Tomorrow</a></i> provides a visual history and tour of the extinct Monsanto House of the Future which demonstrated the power of plastics in our near future from 1957 to 1967. Bossert starts by giving readers a history of plastics and the story of how Disney, MIT, and Monsanto came together with the idea to build a showcase home using primarily plastics as a building material and furnishings. This history is followed by a visual tour of the home, using archival pictures that show readers the layout and furnishing of the showcase, complete with renovations that occurred during its decade of existence. The book ends with legacy, with Bossert balancing a discussion of plastics and their impact on the environment, with an overview of the House of the Retro Future Suite down the street from Disneyland at the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel.<br /><br />I never visited the Monsanto House of the Future, it was gone well before I was born. And I think this is probably the closest I can get. The House of the Retro Future Suite is a fantastically designed tribute to the extinct attraction, but it is not a reproduction. The sequence of photos that Bossert provided gave me the sense of a walking tour. His written narration made me feel like I had a researched in-person guide weaving me through the rooms of the home… especially since I don’t know anything about architecture or the chemical composition of plastics. The experience also reminded me of the Imagineering books that give us the behind-the-scenes, story overview, concept art, and images of the final attraction all in one package. <br /><br />I will say as Disney fans, we have visited Pixie Hollow and debated walls and stones which may have been part of the Monsanto House of the Future. Bossert uses images, his walkthrough, and other experts to attempt to put to rest what of the house remains. This discussion gives us the blueprint to be able to do our fieldwork during future visits to see Tinkerbell. <br /><br />I’ve never visited the Monsanto House of the Future. With it being extinct for 50 years, there is a chance you haven’t either. David A. Bossert through <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3Nsqo49" target="_blank">The House of the Future: Walt Disney, MIT, and Monsanto’s Vision of Tomorrow</a></i> gives us a path to visit this attraction through the page. It also gave me an experience, I would love to have for other attractions that I can no longer visit. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This post contains affiliate
links, which means that Between Disney receives a percentage of sales
purchased through links on this site.</i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-87514698702367411092023-12-08T08:59:00.004-06:002023-12-13T14:05:47.426-06:00Between Books - Star Wars The High Republic: The Eye of Darkness <p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqITY3wswfdsdLVX-Ob3M9vRfSk_umBqmm_-9pni7_z1cIiXjZNGADmhKXmAexj3_T8NSOQAvcnT-gqremvZaBLB0tVP1NsBwatL_MFXe1ntysixoZZhE6dmZgvumWY8J3zOWWMPT58MCmmDk_cXDCCC9dkR-NkelrdG0UNyCU6irKZ9VB3GQsi7rSH30/s1500/91P2JIqwJOL._SL1500_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="987" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqITY3wswfdsdLVX-Ob3M9vRfSk_umBqmm_-9pni7_z1cIiXjZNGADmhKXmAexj3_T8NSOQAvcnT-gqremvZaBLB0tVP1NsBwatL_MFXe1ntysixoZZhE6dmZgvumWY8J3zOWWMPT58MCmmDk_cXDCCC9dkR-NkelrdG0UNyCU6irKZ9VB3GQsi7rSH30/w264-h400/91P2JIqwJOL._SL1500_.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br />Yeah, I just can’t stop. Call me a completionist! Call me stubborn. Or just call me a bit loony, because <a href="http://www.betweendisney.com/search?q=high+republic">Star Wars: The High Republic</a> is back with a book and I chose to read it so you don’t have to…unless you want to.<br /><br /><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3RfYKbz" target="_blank">Star Wars: The High Republic The Eye of Darkness</a></i> by George Mann brings us back to the later High Republic after Lucasfilm publishing had moved us to earlier in the period for several books. We need a printed info graphic timeline to track this thing! In those books we learned why Marchion Ro hated the Jedi so much. Though, I am not buying it! Now, Mann brings us back to the original High Republic time frame and story line that Disney introduced to us. There’s just a lot of confusion here as we jump between different stories in different times in a Star Wars era we’ve not spent a lot of time in. For example,e, I found myself confusing characters between the two phases of the High Republic.<br /><br />Back to <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3RfYKbz" target="_blank">Star Wars: The High Republic The Eye of Darkness</a></i>! The Nihil led by Marchion Ro are at the heights of their power after the fall of Starlight Beacon. Ro’s forces has claimed a portion of the galaxy, with the Nihil establishing the Stormwall, a buried that Republic forced cannot pass. Within Nihil space, the chaos of the Nihil causes disorder and death. Outside the Stormwall, the Jedi hide from Ro’s ultimate weapon, the Nameless, animal force user hunters. Mann follows a few key Jedi as they struggle to stay alive within Nihil space or seek to crack the Stormwall to bring freedom to the Nihil captives.<br /><br />It is getting better? A little bit! There are fewer characters to keep track of which helps a lot. Honestly, the first volumes had so many Jedi and other characters it was difficult to remember who was who. At this point, the cast has been weeded down enough that really we are focusing on a few characters like Avar Kriss. It just makes the plot easier to follow. And it also brings stakes as we have seen so many of them reach the end of their stories in their past. The basic plot of hostages and hopelessness also creates a lot of internal stress. I will admit, there are stakes as we don’t know where these heroes and villains end. <br /><br />Mann’s writing provides an adventure tale that holds attention. However, it does feel like it rushes to an ending. I kept looking at how much needed to get at least partially involved and it felt like a lot for me, especially reading in Kindle and knowing there was a small percentage of the book to go. <br /><br />Yet, I still have thoughts. <br /><br />I don’t believe that the added earlier phase of the New Republic is needed to enjoy this story. The story within this phase focusing on Starlight Beacon is the best preread for this story. The idea that the Ro family has complaints about the Jedi doesn’t give me more depth to Marchion Ro. No, just let him be a horrible terrible person. That’s enough. And we could have avoided the literary flashback that none of our characters asked for. <br /><br />I’ve had concerns about the Jedi, starting with the prequel trilogy forward. When I was a kid, Yoda was a hero, mentor, and someone to look up to. Now knowing that he worked closely with a Sith Lord and allowed him to groom his future apprentice under his watch my thoughts have evolved. The earlier phase of the High Republic makes it even worse for me. Yoda we now know was aware of the Nameless, had seen Jedi die to the Nameless, and seemed committed to learning how to combat the Nameless. Now generations later, he seems to have done nothing. Yoda quite simply does not come off as the hero that young me needs and wants him to be.<br /><br />I recently saw a TikTok that declared the High Republic to be a failure. I’m not that far yet. I may say the High Republic isn’t the most interesting or what I want! But that did get me thinking. Disney and Lucasfilm have a history of scraping projects. We have all heard of movies and Disney+ offerings that were canceled, never made, and walked away from. I mean I would still like to see <i>Star Wars: Rouge Squadron</i>. If fans are not loving the print offerings on the High Republic, why hasn’t Disney done so here? I get that publishing is a lot cheaper than movies and television. I understand how comics and books can be trial balloons to gauge interest. And if this is a pilot, well I think interest is low. Personally, I think that it’s time to revise what the High Republic could be or should be. If I was the architect, I would revise the plan for this era to follow one Jedi, I vote for Porter Engle, who is longed lived, like Porter Engle, has some mystery behind him, a Porter Engle type, and some drama, such as Porter Engle, and is respected by others, much like Porter Engle. They’d probably need to create an entirely new character! You could have this one Jedi travel the galaxy and have adventures. Then this one Jedi’s journey could give us the backstory for <a href="http://www.betweendisney.com/search?q=high+republic">the High Republic</a> if Disney really wants us to enjoy stories in this era. <br /><br /><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3RfYKbz" target="_blank">Star Wars: The High Republic The Eye of Darkness</a></i> by George Mann shows us that Marchion Ro is a bad bad man. He holds millions hostage and the Jedi are helpless. If one can look at this story as one of good versus evil in the Star Wars universe, the tale works. But as something that is part of a larger framework, it does not connect as well as Lucasfilm might hope.<br /><br />Oh yeah, remember when I said I felt like Mann had to rush to an ending? As those who have read books before might guess, the story doesn’t end here. So everyone can look forward to more Marchion Ro and his hatred of the Jedi. <br /><br />Will I try to read it? Well, there is no try, only do or do not!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This post contains affiliate
links, which means that Between Disney receives a percentage of sales
purchased through links on this site.</i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span></p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-45274244543191410202023-08-11T07:18:00.001-05:002023-08-11T07:18:58.735-05:00Mousey Movies - Haunted Mansion <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7XTowEZIJI5oPCFyMMXIkSL7C2-fJmTddDU6f6yhuEdrygM8nRTWMZQ8Y-uNYD6_vfX37GtVt4WBTDZ-LqSVbHRr0DYr3mACvgEmyAVRQ8B5jssMTikGbpZAk19YVvibDlnr2K1RjjqrXsJwoDaQwjanxm_VDzfUdIrS2ZIYg5-GLqXKm9eULSGbMHQ/s1280/MV5BNTlmZmFkYTEtMDM4NS00NTgzLWFhODEtZjMxOTlmN2QxZTdiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTMzOTQyOTk1._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Haunted Mansin movie poster showing the cast hovering over a crystal ball which contains a haunted house inside." border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="864" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7XTowEZIJI5oPCFyMMXIkSL7C2-fJmTddDU6f6yhuEdrygM8nRTWMZQ8Y-uNYD6_vfX37GtVt4WBTDZ-LqSVbHRr0DYr3mACvgEmyAVRQ8B5jssMTikGbpZAk19YVvibDlnr2K1RjjqrXsJwoDaQwjanxm_VDzfUdIrS2ZIYg5-GLqXKm9eULSGbMHQ/w270-h400/MV5BNTlmZmFkYTEtMDM4NS00NTgzLWFhODEtZjMxOTlmN2QxZTdiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTMzOTQyOTk1._V1_.jpg" width="270" /></a><br /> <br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As Disney parks fans we have waited for years for a new Haunted Mansion movie. Many fans have mixed thoughts on 2003’s <i>The Haunted Mansion</i> with Eddie Murphy. Personally, I don’t like scary things so a more comical version was more than fine with me. We need to remember this is an attraction that creators debated scary versus funny. That debate led to a story that was a mix of both and we loved it. But it has seemed to me that the movie reboot debate has been let’s get something really different from Murphy’s take and make it scary, and that’s a no-thank you situation for me. Much like the first time I entered the Haunted Mansion, I was afraid to attend the 2023 movie on opening day…because I don’t do scary! And I heard this was scary,</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For comic book fans, my summary is; Night Nurse shares a house with Mobius and the Joker won’t let them sleep! <br /><br />Gabbie, a doctor, and her son Travis relocate near New Orleans to a dark and dusty Mansion. The two discover quickly that the house is haunted by ghosts they cannot escape. In trying to escape their fate, Gabbie gathers ups a rag-tag crew of a priest, an astrophysicist, a historian, and a medium who all get pulled into Gabbie and Travis’ fate. The group discovers that one spirit has more devious plans than haunting a family, and they must avoid becoming the last ghostly inhabitant of the mansion so he cannot gain his full dark power. Along with the horror comedy of the mansion, the group, such as astrophysicist Ben, struggle with their own grief and what the existence of ghosts could mean. <br /><br />We came for the movie but stayed for the ride. Haunted Mansion attraction fans won’t be disappointed. The big bad is the Hatbox Ghost. And we mean bad, real bad. He’s not fun at all. There are stretching paintings, busts, and ghosts that all bring us into the ride. They pulled some much of the attraction in that I’m pretty sure I didn’t see it all and will still miss things when I rewatch on Disney+.<br /><br />Is it scary? We have gotten a lot of questions from friends about can my ten-year-old, and my twelve-year-old watch the movie? You likely know your child’s horror tolerance. The Hatbox Ghost is scary and dark. The ghosts are definitely not always nice. There are a few jump scares. I hate scary, but this movie is well within my scare tolerance. It’s dark and forbidding, but no over-the-top gore and images that kept me from sleeping at night. If anything the Eddie Murphy crypt scene may be scarier than anything seen here in 2023. <br /><br />Speaking of <i>The Haunted Mansion</i>. Personally, I enjoyed it. I still enjoy it. And I currently just see it as a separate thing in a different universe. There has been so much added over the decades to the attraction, I really don’t see any story as canon. To me, neither <i>The Haunted Mansion</i> or <i>Haunted Mansion</i> are the true and only story of the mansion. And I enjoy them both for what they are without either taking from the other. <br /><br />We have to give a special call out to Danny Devito as Professor Bruce Davis. The man is a national treasure and must be protected at all costs. He delivers the best one-liners in the film. And while he doesn’t get to play a beloved classic character like Jamie Lee Curtis’ Madame Leota, he is a new fresh, and fun one that gave a lot to the film, especially when a laugh was needed. A member of my group did not enjoy the film as much as the rest but made sure to let us know that Devito was the actor she kept following throughout the film. <br /><br />Sigh, did I mention Disney+? The box office for this release under performed, by so so much. There are clearly two reasons for this. First, <i>Barbie</i> and her friend <i>Oppenheimer</i> are dominating the box office at release. Having seen Barbie, it definitely felt more fresh and new and it also has a lot of nostalgia. While there are a lot of <a href="http://www.betweendisney.com/search?q=haunted+mansion">Haunted Mansion</a> fans, Barbie definitely has more. Second, do you want to see a Halloween-themed movie in July? Disney originally was going to release <i>The Marvels</i> in this slot but switched movies. The July release seems questionable. But, it also allows Disney to add it to Disney+ before the fall holiday. Maybe Disney is playing chess here, accepting that the movie release window would mean less at the theater but maybe have more of an impact when it hits streaming! I enjoyed watching the movie in a theater, mine was actually packed on opening day with that energy, but I would have liked it better in the fall. <br /><br />I really enjoyed <i>Haunted Mansion</i>. But the question I am getting is do I need to see it in the theater? If you are a Disney Parks fan, <a href="http://www.betweendisney.com/search?q=haunted+mansion">Haunted Mansion</a> fan, or even a Halloween holiday fan, I think you really should see it big. But I think of my friend who is a genre fan but not really a Disney fan at all. He likely can wait for it to arrive on Disney+ mainly because the material likely means a little less to him than to me, the guy who showed up in the Hitchhiking Ghost baseball jersey to see the movie. He’s really going to be entertained and enjoy <i>Haunted Mansion</i>, but he’s likely to enjoy his living room seat just as much as a theater seat. <br /></span></p><br /><br /><p> </p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-56531814569475744362023-08-03T14:27:00.004-05:002023-08-04T06:45:09.539-05:00Between Books - Who Was Walt Disney?<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_OV9uKDDE1zu3q_ciO2RfrPzprksmsdRLgnwIn_3w5AZW-KF5uuvKL63NR3xmRrn_R4ENsxm1fKM2xpNaeF-SuBGnuZuA0ZByR7uxpvvqIPYosWp55_C9PtRKPMYidrDqwTgni0T8zYB3vGvhJcDD2u-aDLlqQfIXu0w5VAlotTjZ5y2FAF82wVyfPg/s2288/910F0aOfkkL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Book cover showing Walt Disney in an Hawaiian shirt standing in front of a castle." border="0" data-original-height="2288" data-original-width="1594" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_OV9uKDDE1zu3q_ciO2RfrPzprksmsdRLgnwIn_3w5AZW-KF5uuvKL63NR3xmRrn_R4ENsxm1fKM2xpNaeF-SuBGnuZuA0ZByR7uxpvvqIPYosWp55_C9PtRKPMYidrDqwTgni0T8zYB3vGvhJcDD2u-aDLlqQfIXu0w5VAlotTjZ5y2FAF82wVyfPg/w279-h400/910F0aOfkkL.jpg" width="279" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br />When I was a kid I remember falling in love with history. One of the important moments I remember is a kid’s Albert Einstein biography that I borrowed from the library. I am not huge into Einstein's history today, but I remember the feeling of being fascinated by a true life story of obstacles and triumph. And I hope that kids can still use the pages of books to reclaim that feeling.<br /><br /><i><a href="https://amzn.to/47eolZH" target="_blank">Who Was Walt Disney?</a></i> by Whitney Stewart is a Walt Disney biography for kids ages 7 and up. Along with Stewart’s text are illustrations from Nancy Harrison. The book is a from-birth-to-death biography of Disney. It glances over all the big moments but does not go deep into many topics. With around 100 pages there is only limited space to discuss in depth a full life. This is especially true when many of the illustrations are full or nearly full-page spreads with a medium-sized font.<br /><br />For a child in the 7 to 10 age range, I think this is a fine biography to introduce a child to Walt Disney or help grow Disney excitement in a young fan. As a biography there are a few moments where I was like, no that’s not right. And I mean a few handfuls of moments. As I looked back at them, it was really items that were actually true, but being the person who can be asked a question and then answer for 30 minutes, items of omission. There is simply just not enough room in 100 pages for a comprehensive take on Disney. But hey, we have really long Disney biographies for those adult fans. Even with it being brief, Stewart does introduce kids to the major themes of Disney’s life. For example, Stewart captures Disney’s emotional change as the studio grew and the animator’s strike in the 1940s showed him that his company was no longer a tight family. <br /><br />Some of the illustrations don’t feel to be fully on model. But this is also an unauthorized biography. The publisher does need to be cautious in the handling of Disney images. And how many 8-year-olds are really going to be worried about if Roy O. Disney looks just like his photos? <br /><i> </i></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><a href="https://amzn.to/47eolZH" target="_blank">Who Was Walt Disney?</a></i> by Whitney Stewart is an accurate introduction to Walt Disney’s life and legacy. Hopefully, kids can find excitement in triumphs in the face of obstacles in the book. And maybe it will help foster the next generation of history nerds, if it be here or another of the volumes in this very successful series. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /><i>This post contains affiliate links, which means that Between Disney receives a percentage of sales purchased through links on this site.</i></span></p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-85078890857596501102023-07-24T09:49:00.001-05:002023-07-24T09:49:22.132-05:00Between Books - Disney Presents The Haunted Mansion <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRa0A7JJfoM2SXOWJMh5VLscI0QzctOOLRQsgEV7FGS1xMvdS1OVIwjDzzItYD8TAltJU2Gc_jGOVoIMouNIsmKPd0KjiicrO4x_WciTWsHPPOsCR4K1gvGkyGd2jF1rSrSVXkDiHKH9TFfgq2E8vLmdI9MqHVcyPZKS0rlwb4CAR9bfPq6De5BOswUQY/s2560/918dOfZPhnL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Book cover for Disney Presents the Haunted Mansion with an illustration of the hitchiking ghosts in front of the mansion." border="0" data-original-height="2254" data-original-width="2560" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRa0A7JJfoM2SXOWJMh5VLscI0QzctOOLRQsgEV7FGS1xMvdS1OVIwjDzzItYD8TAltJU2Gc_jGOVoIMouNIsmKPd0KjiicrO4x_WciTWsHPPOsCR4K1gvGkyGd2jF1rSrSVXkDiHKH9TFfgq2E8vLmdI9MqHVcyPZKS0rlwb4CAR9bfPq6De5BOswUQY/w400-h353/918dOfZPhnL.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br />The first time I rode the Haunted Mansion, I was afraid. I hate scary things. I also was a grown adult. So if I was scared, I think kids would likely be also.<br /><br /><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3Q6LDKT" target="_blank">Disney Parks Presents The Haunted Mansion</a></i> with music by Buddy Baker, lyrics by Xavier Atencio, and illustrations by James Gilleard presents a kid-friendly version of the mansion. The printed lines come directly from Atencio’s lyrics, with a verse or two on each page. The illustrations are all new with fun child approachable images. The lyrics and illustrations provide a walkthrough of the attraction, with scenes that those who have enjoyed the attraction will find very familiar. Along with the book, included in the packaging is a CD of the beloved song. <br /><br /><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3Q6LDKT" target="_blank">Disney Parks Presents The Haunted Mansion</a></i> is really cute. I can see how for some young readers they could come to enjoy this packaging and begin to fall in love with the Haunted Mansion. It may even take away some anxiety in enjoying the Mansion. It may even bolster the courage of some before seeing a potentially scary live-action adaption. <br /><br />The enclosed CD does make me chuckle a little bit. My copy is still sealed in the envelope not because I’m refusing to open the package for collecting, but because it is actually harder to listen to a CD than it was 5 to 7 years ago when all the music I listen to is digital. I did listen to a copy of the song with the book. It led to some really fast page-turning as the lyrics played. And then as the song went into reprises, a lot of playing without turning. I honestly liked it better without the tune.<br /><br />The Haunted Mansion is beloved by young and old. <a href="https://amzn.to/3Q6LDKT" target="_blank"><i> Disney Presents The Haunted Mansion</i></a> is a fun part of that program to create young fans. It is definitely one path to helping young fans enter fandom. It is cute, but perhaps a little misleading for those preparing for a live-action fright!<br /><br /><i><br />This post contains affiliate links, which means that Between Disney receives a percentage of sales purchased through links on this site.</i></span>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-78375599932281177472023-06-12T13:58:00.002-05:002023-06-12T13:58:46.741-05:00Between Books - All of the Marvels<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFLvflc11JyhB2ezAvoG_wfjLwNM1NONJBPVzbMIxnr88bj_aaTfWas_JZ8Z6SMZG2ilIkR7EeOIZjiuhrVWF7FbWxAjHsheZINOyB7ibm1LRxIB-mtv2ifuPuTc1rfbQsDO1NVMRzWsfarQuhF5d2fpg2VDvBiuwUy2sNlxDUQW3an-HlaZXgZOy/s2560/All%20of%20the%20Marvels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1684" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFLvflc11JyhB2ezAvoG_wfjLwNM1NONJBPVzbMIxnr88bj_aaTfWas_JZ8Z6SMZG2ilIkR7EeOIZjiuhrVWF7FbWxAjHsheZINOyB7ibm1LRxIB-mtv2ifuPuTc1rfbQsDO1NVMRzWsfarQuhF5d2fpg2VDvBiuwUy2sNlxDUQW3an-HlaZXgZOy/w264-h400/All%20of%20the%20Marvels.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">As my brother-in-law and I strolled through Disney Springs he found <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3NnayIw" target="_blank">All of the Marvels</a></i> and tossed it to me to thumb through. He knows I love comics and thought I may need a impulse buy...I did not. A few days later I was able to borrow a library copy and found something that was not Star Wars The High Republic (am I in a rut) and allowed me to review some of the history of another Disney universe.<br /><br />Douglas Wolk for <a href="https://amzn.to/3NnayIw" target="_blank"><i>All of the Marvels: A Journey to the Ends of the Biggest Story Ever</i></a> took on a challenge that I still struggle with. I mean, I know how big this task is, and in fact, I mentally think of it as semi-impossible. Wolk read 27,000 plus comics. Now I have read most of Marvel’s run for a few years in trades from the library. But the idea of decades and decades of reading is flabbergasting to me. Yes, he does call out the restrictions he gave himself so he could focus on the Marvel throughline. But honestly, it’s more comics than I can comprehend. <br /><br />The journey of the history of Marvel comics is really broken into two essay sets. The long essays deal with major Marvel characters or themes. These essays include topics like the X-Men, Thor, and Black Panther. There are also shorter essays or interludes that cover more obscure topics like presidents in Marvel, music, and Linda Carter also known as Night Nurse. Wolk uses specific comics as milestones in his essays. He lists the title and date and then summarizes it. Then he jumps to another title, usually with a gap between issues, and explains how they all together make one large story. Sometimes, he even goes backward. <br /><br />The good news for me as a reader is I am highly familiar with almost all of these titles. So the essays have a structure that I know, understand, and sometimes add my own commentary. But, the essays are also really recaps too of the stories. So I would suggest one not look for a deep-dive literary essay in every summary. What Wolk does is show how “it’s all connected” as a Marvel fan would say. But it does not deeply go into every major turn with full literary dissection. If one really does not want to read recaps, this may not be the book for you.<br /><br />For me, one of the best points that Wolk makes about the Marvel story is that the main theme is a romance comic. And that is why Linda Carter is really so important to this tale. Before superheroes, Marvel (under any of its former names) printed all kinds of genres. They could be Western or monsters before superheroes. One of the most important in this history is romance. And this is why Linda Carter, who was a romance title lead and eventually found herself pulled into the chaos of superheroes is so important. Wolk does an excellent job of showing how romance titles evolved into the Marvel universe we enjoy today. Peter and Mary Jane…Reed and Sue…there are so many romances among our superheroes and it is a theme that’s been in place since the beginning. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3NnayIw" target="_blank"><i>All of the Marvels: A Journey to the Ends of the Biggest Story Ever</i></a> by Douglas Wolk is a Herculean effort, and I’m not talking about the superhero version. It is just so many comics to read in a reasonable amount of time, says a guy who reads a lot of comics. I applaud the effort and am glad that I read it. I just wonder if it may be too recapping or too inside the panel for comics novices. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This post contains affiliate links, which means that Between
Disney receives a percentage of sales purchased through links on this
site.</i></span> <br /></p><p></p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-9641075856960180722023-05-31T09:27:00.000-05:002023-05-31T09:27:00.810-05:00Between Books - Star Wars: The High Republic Quest for Planet X<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEiBpSGHlXz1_l1rx_CdbhZCcMHhgC9pN1Hxb_-9tRmwDWLuwDxTVf26l06ncm4arFXqWzDBKaXd-ZjFW_CeFriZGLBlZbFsx8jhdDs8d4HW77X6w9HhZmwttdGHk3Z3sqnSrZrcm924pI4CRLPKSpki37ZucSZfcs5teo69DyLnYNsVNuDTsE6ZGN/s500/51F+eaBjiaL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="393" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEiBpSGHlXz1_l1rx_CdbhZCcMHhgC9pN1Hxb_-9tRmwDWLuwDxTVf26l06ncm4arFXqWzDBKaXd-ZjFW_CeFriZGLBlZbFsx8jhdDs8d4HW77X6w9HhZmwttdGHk3Z3sqnSrZrcm924pI4CRLPKSpki37ZucSZfcs5teo69DyLnYNsVNuDTsE6ZGN/w315-h400/51F+eaBjiaL.jpg" title="Book cover for Star Wars: The High Republic Quest for Planet X showing three young people, one a Jedi with lightsaber, looking at some sort of space map." width="315" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tessa Gratton continues the tween reading program for Star Wars: The High Republic with a follow-up to <a href="http://www.betweendisney.com/2023/03/between-books-star-wars-high-republic.html"><i>Star Wars: The High Republic Quest for the Hidden City</i></a>. I hoped this time, new author, new setting, and mostly the same teen heroes would create a less gloomy situation.<br /><br /><br /><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3oFR0FI" target="_blank">Star Wars: The High Republic Quest for Planet X</a></i> by Tessa Gratton tosses a Jedi Padawan and a young hyperspace prospector from the earlier book into the Hyperspace Chase, a race to find new hyperspace lanes. The duo joins a third youngster, a member of a powerful prospecting family member with an agenda of their own. They make their target Planet X, a world of great promises for all three of them. But their agendas and the Path of the Open Hand may stop the trio from obtaining their prize.<br /><br />Gratton’s offering fits what is wanted for a tween book. There is action. There is adventure. There are crossovers to adult books from the High Republic. If anything, that is a little frustrating to me as here in the non-adult book we get part of the origin of the Leveler. And I’m even more frustrated as Yoda in other books makes the Leveler’s existence a Jedi secret, yet here we have a Padawan who fully knows of its presence, origin, and even name.<br /><br />Where Gratton excels over some of the other authors in this round of stories is making members of the Path of the Open Hand more rational and intelligent than we have typically seen. They are not all brainwashed. They are often nice people. But they have gotten themselves caught in something bad by sincerely believing. Sadly, that’s more common than we might think in this world. <br /><br />If anything I at times find myself asking, who is letting these children run wild through the galaxy? It’s dangerous out there for heaven’s sake. The funny thing is of the three young people, it’s really only the Jedi who don’t seem concerned that a youngster is unsupervised. Does this mean the Force is an acceptable emergency contact?<br /><br /><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3oFR0FI" target="_blank">Star Wars: The High Republic Quest for Planet X</a></i> by Tessa Gratton does what it’s asked. It provides growing readers with some fun and adventure from their viewpoint. I think I just wish it did not rely so heavily on the books in the series that may be a stretch for some readers who enjoyed this offering. Do those readers have somewhere to go next? It definitely was not as gloomy as the last quest book. <br /><br /></span><br /><br /> <p></p><p><i><br />This post contains affiliate links, which means that Between
Disney receives a percentage of sales purchased through links on this
site.</i> <br /></p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-74967384166728898092023-05-26T10:06:00.000-05:002023-05-26T10:06:08.876-05:00Between Books - Marvel Masterworks Presents Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos, Volume 1<p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyg1yNYzexxYKhKT4EIx75F8GccTL-yGJHlEdu-rF7T7Hl1vS2H7z4hsYnDYvir49sOVGXHztn8Gyvsc5ziB_rz2zHCSefYrYyzexJRsgaKdlru76dlG0EEFOJwsneIiEE1FJ0GHQNzixkhe_jyjtxFeaOEECGrt2tVjFM5cT1BQ39tcM62NskTkV/s293/51yF9TK5lmL._SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_FMwebp_.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyg1yNYzexxYKhKT4EIx75F8GccTL-yGJHlEdu-rF7T7Hl1vS2H7z4hsYnDYvir49sOVGXHztn8Gyvsc5ziB_rz2zHCSefYrYyzexJRsgaKdlru76dlG0EEFOJwsneIiEE1FJ0GHQNzixkhe_jyjtxFeaOEECGrt2tVjFM5cT1BQ39tcM62NskTkV/s16000/51yF9TK5lmL._SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_FMwebp_.webp" title="Book cover from Marvel Masterworks Sgt. Fury Volume 1 showing Fury in a firefight with other soldiers standing behinf him fighting." /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Sometimes I think it’s fashionable to question the writing skill of Stan Lee. Many want to credit him for his marketing and promotional skills, but not his writing. We all know that <i>The Fantastic Four </i>changed the comics industry. But often the credit goes to Lee’s co-creators and not Lee. But for me, I have often argued that Lee was someone who was creative and artistic and partnered with other fantastic creatives to make great things.<br /><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3H9EfIz"><i>Marvel Masterworks Presents Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos, Volume 1</i></a> collects the first thirteen issues of the 1960s comic written by <a href="http://www.betweendisney.com/search?q=stan+lee">Stan Lee </a>with art by <a href="http://www.betweendisney.com/search?q=jack+kirby">Jack Kirby</a> and Dick Ayers. The stories depict the fictional United States Army Commando Nick Fury and his band of seven Howling Commandos. They are sent on secret missions in the European Theater of Operations, once to the Pacific. The missions are generally the same, something fantastical for non-superheroes to complete. And generally, Fury and his Howlers win the day (okay there are more volumes) through teamwork and fierce dedication to duty. <br /><br />The stories are as good as any military action movie not based on a true story. Lee deals head-on with issues of class and race which were prevalent in the discourse of the 1960s. He does not hide from it but instead gives a very traditional conservative military landscape for these issues to be played out. And in the heat of battle, as one would expect, right often wins out. And while Kirby may have framed the action, we cannot forget that these messages were scripted with words given by Lee and are very consistent with his other writings on social issues. <br /><br />There is a reality to this writing. This is a war story, not a superhero one. And yes, <a href="http://www.betweendisney.com/search?q=captain+america">Captain America</a> and Bucky do make a co-starring appearance. Yes, Baron Strucker is a villain, but he is one on par with Sargent Fury, not Captain America or future Agent Nick Fury. This volume reminds us that while Marvel is known for superheroes, we cannot forget comics including multiple genres including military, horror, and romance, formats that Lee, Kirby, and Ayers were all familiar with. A constant complaint about comic stories is that they often lack weight. If you are not Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben, you can be killed and return again. But here, characters are killed, and we know they have passed. As a reader, you can feel the grief. Lee and his artists crafted tales they felt were real. <br /><br />I have an unpopular opinion. Jack Kirby draws really ugly people. Often in comic books, this doesn’t work for me because superheroes are well pretty. Kirby’s art works perfectly here. This Fury is ugly. He is a dogface, unpretty, and not yet Marvel’s super spy. Dino Manelli, the pretty boy in the group and former actor, looks very different from the gruff squad leader. And of course fan favorite Dum Dum Dugan looks differently than both of them. Kirby’s art works perfectly for me, and Ayers when he picks it up matches pencil to pencil. They created a group of separate models that differ and do not merge. <br /><br />I’d say don’t sleep on <a href="https://amzn.to/3H9EfIz"><i>Marvel Masterworks Presents Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos, Volume 1</i></a>. I found a kindle version for less than a dollar. Kindle Marvel collections often are put on deep discounts. Lee, Kirby, and Ayers were all veterans of World War II and clearly were passionate about telling the story of Fury and his men, giving it more realism than one expects from a Marvel title. The collection also reminds us why Lee and Kirby really were the masters of their industry, especially when collaborating together. <br /><p></p><p><i><br />This post contains affiliate links, which means that Between Disney receives a percentage of sales purchased through links on this site.</i></p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-83824805805419333172023-05-15T10:44:00.002-05:002023-05-15T10:44:37.501-05:00Between Books - Star Wars: The Battle of Jedha <p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQalyqW7urWggn8dYx7OBc0ZCCvwkHmjVuhJQTTfUln7KTcyPUyHTszlfkZ2a24aRo-n1VogTK0BgAbYy-LCQhU_VbRgJlfu_cD7HwYGkp3QnRtfI18PHZRXSPEZEyWCwhIhnjFbbXiz724Up-TESTupxT-n3nPDgrA5GuOao1ea0BChuDfcX6eH3s/s500/513jfF1Ab-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQalyqW7urWggn8dYx7OBc0ZCCvwkHmjVuhJQTTfUln7KTcyPUyHTszlfkZ2a24aRo-n1VogTK0BgAbYy-LCQhU_VbRgJlfu_cD7HwYGkp3QnRtfI18PHZRXSPEZEyWCwhIhnjFbbXiz724Up-TESTupxT-n3nPDgrA5GuOao1ea0BChuDfcX6eH3s/w320-h320/513jfF1Ab-L.jpg" title="Cover for Star Wars the Battle of Jedha showing a human and non-human Jedi in a battle pose." width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Nope!<br /><br />That’s how it started. I opened up the Kindle edition of <a href="https://amzn.to/3pwfm4H" target="_blank"><i>Star Wars: The Battle of Jedha</i></a> and saw it was a script, not a book and I could not do it. I returned the book immediately and requested the audiobook immediately! This was a good choice.<br /><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3pwfm4H" target="_blank"><i>Star Wars: The Battle of Jedha</i></a> by George Mann provides us with a narrative of a moment from the High Republic that other books have hinted at. The battle was a moment where the Path of the Open Hand challenged the Jedi’s ability to make peace in the Forever War, many Jedi were lost, and the Order was at a low point. The audiobook provides a dramatic account of the incident, complete with total audio production. The story covers a few days on Jedha as the Republic attempts to sign a major peace agreement, and the Path of the Open Hand attempts to strike silently at the prestige of the Jedi. The manipulations of the Path create a full-out battle on the world that we best know from Rogue One. There is a lot of action and fighting to keep the listener entertained.<br /><br />No Yodas appear in this adventure.<br /><br />I grew up loving audio shows. I had a volunteer experience where I could listen freely to old-time audio shows like The Shadow. And while I had read a script version of a Star Wars book/audio presentation in the past, I simply could not do it again. I needed the version as it was intended to be, an audio presentation with all its narration, acting, audio cues, and sound effects. And I was happy that I went to the story as it was meant to be. It was entertaining. It did its job, even being a tale from the High Republic which I am not in love with.<br /><br />I do grumble a little bit about the Forever War…it’s lasted all of five years! That oddly does not feel like forever. Even in our world, the Forever War seems to have lasted a natural amount of time. I would have preferred a name like the War of Water and Sand! I just think the name was a little misplaced especially in a galaxy where the creators could have made it last 100 years or more.<br /><br />This story also shows the Jedi to not be all the powerful and beloved space wizards we may expect. At Jedha, the Jedi are just one of many brands of Force users. Not everyone trusts the Jedi. This makes the manipulations of the Path even more believable. This is likely my favorite story point as we see Jedi vulnerable to galactic opinion. <br /><br />I am a fan of audio productions. And <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3pwfm4H" target="_blank">Star Wars: The Battle of Jedha</a></i> by George Mann is produced well with a professional cast and plenty of sound effects to keep a listener engaged. The voice actors help you care about these Jedi who you know nothing about due to voice inflection and acting. I support not reading this book and listening instead as the actors and production allow you to hear the script notes versus reading them and imagining what it should like instead. This entry is likely my favorite of the early High Republic stories, due to the well-executed production of the sound team to support Mann’s writing. <br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><i>This post
contains affiliate links, which means that Between Disney receives a
percentage of sales purchased through links on this site. </i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-65560584572143702182023-05-08T10:53:00.006-05:002023-05-08T10:56:16.486-05:00Between Books - Agent Carter: Season One Declassified <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCY_J-JfFzWl8t2-I_HI3kKNtrFKwedfp0i4psxgQhaFkYVNu8BVuaHJWZ3SoqX6UlOWf9M0pEpvLpwWC2rWSdXeRI1LI0_1yng6SOGANumDAHnZkILv2w-K41j0bvWmtUVvvk-lasGu2NZRmSsV_ZdQQOuTc3Ws1TNEpIn12EAouGOiT6olveoQY/s598/B0754X5XH8.01.S001.LXXXXXXX.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="598" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCY_J-JfFzWl8t2-I_HI3kKNtrFKwedfp0i4psxgQhaFkYVNu8BVuaHJWZ3SoqX6UlOWf9M0pEpvLpwWC2rWSdXeRI1LI0_1yng6SOGANumDAHnZkILv2w-K41j0bvWmtUVvvk-lasGu2NZRmSsV_ZdQQOuTc3Ws1TNEpIn12EAouGOiT6olveoQY/w400-h331/B0754X5XH8.01.S001.LXXXXXXX.png" title="Book cover for Agent Carter Season One Declassified with the book title and a SSR logo on what appears to be a weathered file folder." width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><i><br /></i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3B5oyzy" target="_blank"><i>Agent Carter: Season One Declassified</i></a> has sat on my shelves for years wrapped in plastic. I popped it open wondering if this volume would better inform my one viewing years ago. <br /><br /><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3B5oyzy" target="_blank">Agent Carter: Season One Declassified</a></i> by Sarah Rodriguez walks readers through the first season of the 2015 ABC Marvel series. The book frames the question of how a Marvel One-Shot evolved into a series. Then Rodriguez provides an episode guide for each of the eight stories. And then finally, the book ends with production notes including special effects, wardrobe, hair and makeup, and other production services that lead to the final product of our home screens. The text is adorned with numerous striking color set photos and production art. <br /><br />I am conflicted about this volume. Visually, the photos and art really pull us into Agent Carter's world. I find quotes from Hayley Atwell to be fun and delightful. But there are only, yeah just only, eight episodes. And while this is the same size as the other MCU art of books, it does feel a little thin. Television does have less production time than a movie, so there is a lot less art. Also, the book feels more publicity than behind-the-scenes secret sharing. The quotes and interviews provided to Rodriguez feel like publicity. And while there are a lot of set photos they feel like they have tossed every publicity shot onto the pages. <br /><br />If anything, the thing that is frustrating to me is the book’s production. For example, 99.9999% of the photos have no captions. And since I have not watched this show in five years, I may have forgotten who some secondary characters are. Also, I have no idea who the producers, directors, showrunners, and other production staff are. There are pictures where a director may be speaking to Atwell, but please don’t ask me who that nameless man is! </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3B5oyzy" target="_blank">Agent Carter: Season One Declassified</a></i> by Sarah Rodriguez gave me a flashback to when Agent Carter was on TV and Disney+ didn’t exist yet. It was fun to remember and I found myself arguing to myself that I needed to have a rewatch soon. I guess that’s the win, it is a publicity book that convinced me I need to watch a series I have already seen. But I don’t feel like I unlocked the code of Agent Peggy Carter and her corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><i>This post
contains affiliate links, which means that Between Disney receives a
percentage of sales purchased through links on this site. </i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-53260034867752745582023-04-28T11:07:00.000-05:002023-04-28T11:07:07.375-05:00Between Books - Star Wars: The High Republic Cataclysm <p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QVXsjY4N9r6m1861LldtAkfUYMlmS6_-MHpeiy3LG305VmCcL87RgPkQAqQeB9lDyi8mEQuByBb98zWcQnVXdn_smQo0he169Dd3jnEPI99goxskrSbHUufaVLIwDV8pMm7TVvOBfN3B6TBZiT6ygGuj3WTVUNaH-J01Jdcg7nKxpM3l_o8-Bpt-/s346/516Fwf4U1oL._SY346_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="228" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QVXsjY4N9r6m1861LldtAkfUYMlmS6_-MHpeiy3LG305VmCcL87RgPkQAqQeB9lDyi8mEQuByBb98zWcQnVXdn_smQo0he169Dd3jnEPI99goxskrSbHUufaVLIwDV8pMm7TVvOBfN3B6TBZiT6ygGuj3WTVUNaH-J01Jdcg7nKxpM3l_o8-Bpt-/w264-h400/516Fwf4U1oL._SY346_.jpg" title="Book cover for Stars Wars the High Republic Cataclysm showing a Jedi in robes with a purple lightsaber." width="264" /></a></div><br /> <br /><br /><br />In <i><a href="http://www.betweendisney.com/2023/01/between-books-star-wars-high-republic.html">Star Wars: The High Republic Convergence</a></i> stuff happened. Star Wars: The High Republic Cataclysm launches from the earlier book’s stuff with worlds we don’t know, heroes we’ve just met, Jedi we barely know, and an enemy that we’ve never seen on film or tv.<br /><br /><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3oHDZLm" target="_blank">Star Wars: The High Republic Cataclysm</a></i> by Lydia Kang continues the second phase of The High Republic. Newly married Phan-tu Zenn and Xiri A'lbaran hope for peace for their warring worlds of Eiram and E’ronoh. Still, an unseen enemy works against the young heirs to the thrones of their worlds and they are separated after an attack against the potential peace. Xiri and a group of Jedi travel to Dalana to confront the Path of the Open Hand for their role in the potentially world-killing threat. We of course know that the Path of the Open Hand are really the big bad. On Dalna, numerous Jedi, politicians, and lost young people coverage for a massive battle where the Jedi may not have the advantage. <br /><br />I did like this volume more than the earlier offering. I think there were numerous reasons. First, I had met the main cast before and had developed feelings about them. And with them being all newer cast members they were all at risk at every moment, so we have the tension that Kang likely wished to create. Second, Kang was able to avoid a trap other authors have been asked to take on, mentioning Yoda without actually showing Yoda. And in this case, we are able to see actions from both Yoda and Yaddle, two Jedi that are well-known to Star Wars fans. And I really do believe that having some familiar characters who we know will escape this battle is beneficial to the entire story <br /><br />Also, this story is action packed It feels like the whole second half of the book is action. This fact provides a payoff for <a href="http://www.betweendisney.com/2023/01/between-books-star-wars-high-republic.html"><i>Star Wars: The High Republic Convergence</i></a>. It is finally faster more intense action. <br /><br />Honestly, I am still not in love with The High Republic! Sorry, it’s not for me. But this installment is likely my favorite volume to date. I do feel like Kang in Star Wars: The High Republic Cataclysm did succeed in providing a book that was packed with action and generally kept my interest. <br /><br />Maybe I am a sucker for Yoda doing a thing instead of being talked about as a wise warrior who is so far off-screen that we know we will never see him swing a lightsaber. I have a feeling I am not the only one with that opinion. <br /><br /> <br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><i>This post
contains affiliate links, which means that Between Disney receives a
percentage of sales purchased through links on this site. </i></span> <p></p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-77190705556604803122023-04-19T10:33:00.000-05:002023-04-19T10:33:07.441-05:00Between Books - The Official Walt Disney Quote Book <p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhe0hWjina4sxiGDthO3ixup3GJPX570ezRKCI4kqPr6B6Pxw_ATkRaF1MWnSRy2fX-wcC26Y7vIndaP0FPGmcTXmZPgA0mDVHFL3HZaqnAOtM_gGWXs6_qeA-BkvImTfJ37UGaIWnd3XaiK7DIfZPNvG89Tm2OqUUZdkxS_5iGyxnFS3pjbEGoLVO/s2550/81I99keNToL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Book cover for The Official Walt Disney Quote Book with a portrait of a smiling Walt Disney." border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="1673" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhe0hWjina4sxiGDthO3ixup3GJPX570ezRKCI4kqPr6B6Pxw_ATkRaF1MWnSRy2fX-wcC26Y7vIndaP0FPGmcTXmZPgA0mDVHFL3HZaqnAOtM_gGWXs6_qeA-BkvImTfJ37UGaIWnd3XaiK7DIfZPNvG89Tm2OqUUZdkxS_5iGyxnFS3pjbEGoLVO/w263-h400/81I99keNToL.jpg" width="263" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><br /><br />“All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all the troubles and obstacles have strengthened me.” Walt Disney<br /><br />That just has to inspire you as a Disney fan, even when you have a bad day! <br /><br />We know the story. We know how it started and ended. And we know there was a lot of adversity. <br /><a href="https://amzn.to/41nxMTg"><br /></a><i><a href="https://amzn.to/41nxMTg" target="_blank">The Official Walt Disney Quote Book</a> </i>by the Walt Disney Archives provides us not a story but quotes such as the one above to inspire our spirit, jumpstart our imagination, and provide us insights directly from Walt Disney. The book is divided into 21 chapters around themes such as films and animation, the Disney theme parks, television, animals and nature, family, life, wonder, and more. The quotes are a page or less in eye-catching fonts on pages embellished with pictures from Walt Disney’s life. While there is no index, as topics are easy to look for in their chapters, the Walt Disney Archives staff does provide an original source for all quotes and images. <br /><br />This book is honest. It is a quote book, and there is no story provided. Though the themes of the chapters do provide some thematic cohesion that keeps readers from feeling like they are jumping from topic to topic to topic and I quite like it. The title is part of the Disney 100 campaign, with Disney Editions making it very visually attractive with its hardcover adorned by Walt Disney along with good use of fonts and images on the page. The text can easily serve as a thought jogger as one considers Disney and non-Disney topics.<br /><br />I do have another Walt Disney quote book printed in the 1990s for the parks, which I have not reviewed. That edition is smaller and softcover. And honestly, it does not look as good on the shelf. It also has 100 plus chapters, which are really headers with multiple topics on the page and not thematic but in alphabetic order. That version may make it easier to find a topic, but it lacks the idea of moving together a story.<br /><br /><br />Is <a href="https://amzn.to/41nxMTg" target="_blank"><i>The Official Walt Disney Quote Book</i></a> by the Walt Disney Archives for everyone? Probably not. It is however attractive visually and I like having it where I can quickly grab it when I need a Walt Disney quote. Yes, I could get those in an internet search too, but it doesn’t feel as satisfying as flipping the pages myself. Often times inspiration for me is easier to find on a page in my hand than a screen in front of my face. <br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><br /><i>This post contains affiliate links, which means that Between Disney receives a percentage of sales purchased through links on this site. </i></span></p><p> </p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-45205277141617625102023-04-12T10:48:00.001-05:002023-04-12T10:48:10.994-05:00Between Books - Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvTQ17qN1w4PZu4E5TVNgUOwBwTP7w5TGtO69w7npfKzHbSndeAIE6EVMF7NeNr-2dy29Ts-IbX80JbrJWMStWohy2zc-u2tGZydS10zrXdMGMLimHxuSeK5ImU74JJiscEr76VFR0Zct84FQxSMN_2pFL8s8-za21xMx1v_dJY4YNcgB7ibrlxYt/s2560/91hpxB2Bm8L.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Book covering of Star Wars Jedi Battle Scars showing the 4 crew members of the Stinger Mantis with a large image of an Inquistor in the background." border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1684" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvTQ17qN1w4PZu4E5TVNgUOwBwTP7w5TGtO69w7npfKzHbSndeAIE6EVMF7NeNr-2dy29Ts-IbX80JbrJWMStWohy2zc-u2tGZydS10zrXdMGMLimHxuSeK5ImU74JJiscEr76VFR0Zct84FQxSMN_2pFL8s8-za21xMx1v_dJY4YNcgB7ibrlxYt/w211-h320/91hpxB2Bm8L.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br /><p></p><br />Cal Kestis…never heard of him!<br /><br />Okay, maybe I heard about him with they started selling his lightsaber in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. I saw the excitement. I recognized the actor/model from <i>Gotham</i>. But I had no interest because I’m not a gamer and have never played <i>Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order</i>. <br /><br />Also, many of you may have suggested that Star Wars books and I go on a break because the Old Republic has made me really grumpy. <br /><br />But hey, I read these so you don’t have to…you’re welcome!<br /><br /><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3JHXn1T" target="_blank">Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars</a></i> by Sam Maggs follows former Jedi Cal Kestis and the crew of the <i>Stinger Manti</i>s about a decade after the fall of the Jedi and Order 66. Kestis and his crew are drawn into a caper to acquire a super secret super powerful piece of technology before the Empire can get it. Leading the empire’s attempt to collect this item is an Inquisitor who is also seeking to kill or turn Kestis and his Jedi master. As the crew plans and executes their plan, we are pulled into all the emotions of the crew.<br /><br />I am familiar with Star Wars. I know the general story of the Empire and the Jedi refugees post-Order 66. I know what Inquisitors are, I’ve seen them in comics, animation, and live-action. I even feel the pain of former Jedi as they hide from the Empire. So while I was not familiar with Kestis, there are enough context clues around me to put me into the story without me saying I know this world but this isn’t right and gosh now my head hurts. Basically, I think unlike the Old Republic the pre-knowledge from being tied to the already well-built Star Wars era makes this functional for me. So yeah, look at me not railing against this and being really mad. I was entertained!<br /><br />This book is a caper. It is <i>Star Wars: Firefly</i> with Maggs (and the video game designers maybe) giving us a ship and a well-designed crew of misfits that many of us can see likable traits in. With my brain not hurting, I was able to slip into the story and just let it do its job, tell me a story. I was also willing to get to know the characters better. <br /><br />Kestis wasn’t even my favorite character. It was Merrin the Dathomir Nightsister. Again, I think it helps that we’ve met Nightsisters before in Ventress and have been pre-delivered the background of these non-Jedi force users. Merrin gives us very “human” emotions of grief, trauma, and multiple versions of love. In fact, we see with Merrin a Star Wars character who does something I rarely believe happens in this universe, display intimacy.<br /><br />Boom, <a href="https://amzn.to/3JHXn1T" target="_blank"><i>Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars</i></a> by Sam Maggs did the job. I was entertained! To me, that’s really the job of a Star Wars book. It is escapist fiction and works best when I get pulled into a fun adventure. Here, I also get the bonus of some real emotional character reflections that make me feel like this crew is, well, real. <br /><br />This post contains affiliate links, which means that Between Disney receives a percentage of sales purchased through links on this site.Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742397735750786016.post-78377391761597045412023-03-30T09:12:00.001-05:002023-03-30T09:12:26.263-05:00Between Books - The Story of Disney: 100 Years of Wonder<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEF0pSYMI2J4wMbUARp70UIuedlGAXu6vafIQKLcX_gVQx8CtgkyiPf7zF-kcBmatWPeZ0qRYMSwHTMSQVO1UYJTO37auXvl7S4Xxdljsoz_faWDbgzBsQRvH8lcUfGlLdydShIWj5w_yyNqHHUqGo4XB--NanukzUX_SfT6om1-BycexghDklDWhd/s648/41lw4FkTVrL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Book cover for The Story of Disney 100 Years of Wonder with shilloutes of Disney characters ringed along the edges of the book." border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="525" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEF0pSYMI2J4wMbUARp70UIuedlGAXu6vafIQKLcX_gVQx8CtgkyiPf7zF-kcBmatWPeZ0qRYMSwHTMSQVO1UYJTO37auXvl7S4Xxdljsoz_faWDbgzBsQRvH8lcUfGlLdydShIWj5w_yyNqHHUqGo4XB--NanukzUX_SfT6om1-BycexghDklDWhd/w259-h320/41lw4FkTVrL.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>No hologram Walts here my friend!<br /><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/40cO3Kd" target="_blank"><i>The Story of Disney: 100 Years of Wonder</i></a> by John Baxter, Bruce C. Steele, and the Staff of the Walt Disney Archives is a companion book to the <i>Disney100: The Exhibition</i> which began traveling the world in 2023 to coincide with the Walt Disney Company’s 100th year. The book is broken into topics that include the foundation of the company, adventure, innovation, the parks, sound, and others. Since the book is topical, each chapter generally covers large spans of the company’s century of history and multiple subtopics. Each chapter comes across as an essay with a variety of supporting color images and interstitials that highlights historic people or moments.<br /><br />This text is trying to capture in a visually pleasing way 100 years of history. This is a drinking from the firehouse situation. As a reader, you will get deep on nothing. But you will glance off a lot of Disney creations as they get namechecked for their historical contributions. It does at times feel like films and tv get more space than parks, but the parks-specific essay is in the last half of the book. If one was to teach a course on Disney history, The Story of Disney: 100 Years of Wonder could serve as the textbook. But other texts would be required to ensure that students could learn deeply on specifics. The images are visually wonderful, as one would expect from the Disney Archives.<br /><br />I do find it interesting how Bob Chapek is managed in this book. The book was being completed during the time that Bob Chapek’s tenure began to sour and eventually Bob Iger returned as CEO. Chapek is thanked for his interviews…but he’s never mentioned in the text of the book. But Bob Iger is really prominent as he adds color to the company’s history. I speculate that much of the real estate given to Iger speaking as the company’s leader may originally have been reserved for Chapek. And with him leaving the company, he was replaced and removed from the history. Disney can be very controlling of their history’s image. And I wonder if, like Michael Eisner, who is mentioned once, we will see Chapek have a historical return in a few decades, especially for his work in home video.<br /><i><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/40cO3Kd">The Story of Disney: 100 Years of Wonder</a></i> by John Baxter, Bruce C. Steele, and the Staff of the Walt Disney Archives is a celebration of 100 years. It is visually appealing with text that varies between historical examination and marketing speak, as one would find in D23 Magazine. And that is not shocking with contributors that are often asked to fill this assignment of informing fans about and marketing Disney products. <br /></p><p><br />This post contains affiliate links, which means that Between Disney receives a percentage of sales purchased through links on this site.</p>Between Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653018376821284998noreply@blogger.com0