Mousey Movies Preview - John Carter

In March 2012, Disney hopes for a new blockbuster franchise with Andrew Stanton’s John Carter.  The movie tells the story of a Civil War veteran transported to Mars, or to the natives, Barsoom.  Carter discovers being born and raised in earth gravity that he has superhuman powers and becomes a renowned warrior amongst the Martians. 

I have paid a lot of attention to this movie release for three reasons.  First, Andrew Stanton from Pixar is leading this effort.  This may be his first “live action” film, though can you really call a film with this much computer generated graphics live action, but other Pixar family members such as Brad Bird have been successful in live action offerings.  And I really want Stanton to succeed.  Second, I missed Pirates of the Caribbean.  I was very late to the party, like second movie on DVD late and with the original movie's run I completely was not part of the party.  So if John Carter is starting something bigger I want to be there.  Third, it has been interesting to watch the reaction to this film.  Some claim this will be a huge Disney flop.  I have to admit sometimes the trailers have been a little flat to me, though I really enjoyed the 3D version.  From those who have seen the movie the reaction has generally been highly positive.  I really wonder though if bad press can beat great word of mouth and hinder this film.  

Though not an official trailer, this fan made trailer has gotten a lot of fans excited for the film's release. 

 
I think part of the problem is that most moviegoers do not have a lot of background on the John Carter story.  Edgar Rice Burroughs, who also created Tarzan, introduced John Carter in 1912 in the serialized story, “Under the Moon of Mars.”  The story was published in 1917 in novel form as 1917 as A Princess of Mars.  Those dates are correct, yes this movie is based on a story that is a 100 years old.  And I will say for a tale that old, you will find the story to be engaging with interesting conflicts, characters, and cultures.  It was the cultures that shocked me the most as Burroughs carefully crafted his world and its interesting biological and societal rules.  I really recommend reading A Princess of Mars which can be found as a free EBook. 

Disney realized that not everyone is familiar with the stories behind John Carter and its history so they have created this video to help orientate potential audience members.

There have been times that I have questioned my support but I am still being positive about John Carter.  It is based on enjoyable source material and has a director with a proven track record.  I hope other movie goers do the same and perhaps Stanton will have a chance for more Carter movies in the future.  

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Mousey Movies - Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol is a Mousey Movie…there I said it.   Was it produced by a Disney studio?  Nope!  Is it based on Disney park or story material?  Nope!   Were the other three installments mousey?  Not really!  Not every Mousey Movie gets produced by the House of Mouse my friends.  Regardless of its origins, this Tom Cruise led Paramount Pictures blockbuster has plenty for Disney fans to enjoy: 

·     Brad Bird: It all starts with director Brad Bird.  Bird is a well established animator and director of animated films.  He both wrote and directed Pixar’s The Incredibles and Ratatouille.  And Ghost Protocol has a fast paced action packed feel that would be very familiar to fans of The Incredibles.  He is clearly someone that Disney fans know and appreciate.  Ghost Protocol is his first live action picture and it’s a success.  Bird identifies with his animation and Pixar past as can be seen in his twitter name @BradBirdA113.  A113 is a classroom at CalArts where many Pixar staff were schooled.  A113 can be found in every Pixar movie as an easter egg.  Bird has also used A113 in non-Disney projects including this one.  A113 is used as both a code name and most strikingly on a prop that dominates the movie screen.  With Bird’s fingerprints this movie has a mousey feel.      

·     Jeremy Renner: Marvel is slowly but surely becoming more and more mousey as this relatively new addition gains prominence with Disney fans.  Renner plays William Brandt an analyst that gets added to Ethan Hunt’s (Cruise) Impossible Mission Force (IMF) Team. Renner also plays Hawkeye in the Marvel movies leading up to The Avengers.  And we have already seen Renner as Hawkeye in Thor, giving us two of the best minutes of that superhero film.  And I’m not even a Hawkeye guy. 

·     Michael Giacchino:  Mr. Giacchino is there nothing you can’t score?  Giacchino also scored Mission: Impossible III.  But for us Disney fans he is the current go to musical guy with The Incredibles, Sky High, Ratatouille, Up, Cars 2 and the future John Carter all within his credits.  That impressive list does not even include his ABC television productions.  And we cannot overlook the Disneyland version of Space Mountain’s score which may be my all-time favorite of his work.

·     J.J. Abrams: I have never watched Lost or Alias but these Abrams’ productions have been hits for ABC.  Abrams directed Mission: Impossible III and was a co-producer on this offering.  Between Brad Bird and Abrams, this staff was very familiar with Giacchino who has frequently collaborated with them.  Between these three creative forces Ghost Protocol really is a mousey party.    

·     Laminar Fountains:  What is it with me and jumping water?  In one scene the IMF attends a party at the home of an Indian telecommunications giant.  What does this rich gentleman decorate with….laminar fountains of course!  It just proves, you can bring a piece of Epcot home with you for the right price.  Or at least build a piece of Epcot.  I wonder what the Between family would think if we added this water feature to the living room!    

·     BMW i8: I’m not a car guy, in fact some of you may be laughing thinking about me as a car guy.  I’m not a Tron guy, and now more of you are laughing.  But the BMW i8, a hybrid concept car, needs to be taken out of Ghost Protocol and dropped into the Tron franchise. 

BMW i8

      As Ethan Hunt drives through the streets of Mumbai in this set of wheels I kept looking for it to be trailed by a light wall.  There needs to be a law that you can only drive the i8 driving a glowing jumpsuit. 

It’s true, not every Mousey Movie comes from the House of Mouse.  Out here in Between Disney we have look everywhere to find our connections back to Disney.  And with a movie like Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol that can be pretty easy to do.