Dreaming Disney - Galactic Empire

How big of a Star Wars fan am I? Big enough to use my Republic credits for tickets to a metal music show where grown men cosplayed and played heavy metal versions of Star Wars theme songs and instrumental pieces! Yeah, I’m a nerd!

Galactic Empire is a five-piece band that rocks the galaxy. As noted they primarily play Star Wars themes but with a heavy rock edge. The five members dress up as their own Star Wars characters. We get Dark Vader, a Sith Lord on lead guitar. Don’t forget the Mandalorian drummer, Boba Sett. We get an alien, a bounty hunter, and a trooper to fill out the band…a band that plays the Emperor’s favorite hits!

I personally began listening to them online. They showed up in a music feed as a suggestion, a suggestion where the Force was strong! I read a lot of books with instrumentals playing in the background. When I read a Star Wars book, I play themed music. And Galactic Empire spiced up the mix from the regular orchestral John Williams themes I was playing when visiting a galaxy far far away.

I recently attended a Galactic Empire concert live. I pulled the Between Bride into this wildness who stared with awe and fear as I jammed out to “Cantina Band” a smidge more than a grown man should. I think the first question about going to a Galactic Empire concert is literally, will I fit in? I found the crowd to be nerds like me mostly! Some were Star Wars bounding, some wore Star Wars novelty shirts like me, while others were clearly metal fans. But almost everyone was really there to have a good time. It never felt as overwhelming as a convention, and reminded it most of when I saw Dick Dale playing in a grimy college bar with just a mix of open-minded fans.

Now, here’s my biggest complaint. They did move away from just Star Wars anthems. They played the “Indiana Jones Theme” which they have also released. But they also played “Main Theme” from Pirates of the Caribbean and “The Avengers Main Theme” which were true bangers, and I really want to be able to access recordings of them when reading in other genres. But perhaps, those tunes are the dark side! 

The band Galactic Empire is fun. They dress up and don’t take themselves too seriously while making some really fun music. Would I go again, yes! And I really do hope they continue to put out metal versions of some of my favorite Disney themes, including those from other galaxies. 

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Between Books - Disney Parks Presents Pirates of the Caribbean

I like fun…you like fun. And pirates like to have fun! Shouldn’t kids have fun too?

Disney Parks Presents Pirates of the Caribbean with music by George Bruns, lyrics by Xavier Atencia, and illustrations by Mike Well walk young readers through the classic attraction. The images are homages to the Disneyland Park version, which made me miss it as it’s been years since I have ridden it. Wells’ images are paired with lyrics and lines from the slow-moving boat ride and are generally fun-natured. Overall, it’s a colorful fun romp through the ride.

Wells’ images highlight this book. They are fun and light-hearted. They also do a great job providing a tribute to the attraction. However, I do need to say I think Wells gave Carlos a glow-up! The mayor hasn’t looked so young with flowing hair for years. Also, pirates are stealing actual treasure from the housewives and not food!

I am outspoken! I prefer kids' attraction books that use the actual lines and lyrics. So no complaints here. Yes, it would be tough to create a kid's book that uses all the lines from the cocktail party that is Pirates! The ones here have been carefully chosen and do a great job preparing kids for what’s to come or what they remember from the classic.

I think the most difficult piece at the moment is this book, which provides a tribute to a past version of the attraction is out of print.  I personally could not recommend spending $40 plus on the secondary market to get a copy for a kid! 

 
Disney Parks Presents Pirates of the Caribbean is fun. And despite the fact I don’t know if I can even play the accompanying CD anywhere but in my car, reading through the book led to me singing the theme out loud! And that is nothing but winning. 

 

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Between Books - Claude Coats: Walt Disney’s Imagineer

 

Claude Coats: Walt Disney’s Imagineer-The Making of Disneyland From Toad Hall to the Haunted Mansion and Beyond by David Bossert is an excellent addition to the history of Disney Imagineering.  The text balances images with narratives and gives this legendary Imagineer the chronicle he deserves.

The text offers exactly as titled.  Bossert works through Coats’ career from birth to the completion of one of his most famous projects, The Haunted Mansion.  The book outlines his early career from art student to animation.  Bossert follows with discussions of his transitioning to work on Disneyland, moving beyond design to actually painting backgrounds to get the work done.  The discussion of the Grand Canyon Diorama is one of the most in-depth that I have seen.  Chapters provide details on his collaborations for the fan-beloved Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion.  But along the journey, the book includes interludes on presentations to NASA and painting for the U.S. Air Force.  The text is well-balanced with Coats’ images and text providing historical context to Coats’ work.

The text is really well done overall.  Bossert helps us understand Coats as an artist as he was someone who unlike Marc Davis did not work alone in his office.  But instead would often work outside working on models and collaborating with other artists.  Bossert frames Coats, not as someone who would be adversarial with other artists.  But instead, someone who was a team player, mentor, and project management.  Additionally, the chapter on the Air Force paintings demonstrated Coats as an artist outside of his Disney work and makes it clear that he truly was a respected Califroonaia fine artist.  The biggest gap I see in the books is a lack of discussion after the Haunted Mansion.  It would be interesting to be able to compare the frustrated Marc Davis after the Mansion with Coats and how he navigated being creative as the next generation grew into their own.  

Claude Coats: Walt Disney’s Imagineer-The Making of Disneyland From Toad Hall to the Haunted Mansion and Beyond by David Bossert is a great inclusion to the Between Books bookshelf.  It is well written and illustrated.  And it clearly left me wanting more.  Maybe we needed a two-volume set here! 

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Between Books - Marc Davis In His Own Words

 

Marc Davis In His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks by Pete Docter and Christopher Merritt is much more than a simple book.  The title is truly an experience, one which can help enlighten and raise the spirits of a Disney fan…because in 2020 more of us are Between Disney than ever before.

During the health crisis of 2020, I took eight months to read this two-volume text.  And when I say read, I mean experienced.  For me, every session was carefully staged in strong lighting.  I played appropriate attraction or movie themes on a speaker.  I never ever read so long that my mind began to wander.  I truly just let the book pull me into the art, process, and finally the experience of many of Mark Davis’ masterpieces. 

The structure of Marc Davis In His Own Words is largely what one would expect.  The 749 pages open with a chapter about Davis’ career in animation, a career which on its own merit was a triumph.  The book then follows his path through Imagineering, being called over by Walt Disney to provide creative ideas at Disneyland for “Nature’s Wonderland” and other established attractions.  Then the authors bring us through Davis’ most celebrated attractions including “Pirates of the Caribbean”, “Haunted Mansion”, “Country Bear Jamboree” and more including the transfer of many of these ideas to Florida and the Magic Kingdom Park.  The book ends with a period of creative frustration for Davis as many of his ideas were never fulfilled including the “Enchanted Snow Palace.”  Finally, a retired Davis continues to provide support of Imagineering creative endeavors, consulting with EPCOT and Tokyo Disneyland.  The chapters are picture heavy, with really the Davis art at the center of attention.  Davis quotes surround his striking art along with the words of his colleagues.  There is some background information provided by the authors, but they admittedly take third place to the art and words of Davis and those who worked closely with him. 

I have many thoughts, and learned so much during the months of reading this book that everyone praises.  First, I feel like I can now say I have experienced new Davis’ attractions such as the “Enchanted Snow Palace” as the excellent presentation of his art allowed me to sit Between Disney and experience a ride that has never been realized, and perhaps it should be!  But even for the attractions I know deeply, I can see them in a new way as Davis’ art provides never included details, variations and insights that I had never considered.  I also believe I know Davis the artist better.  His attraction development includes numerous brainstorming ideas which he drew out so he could find the right idea.  We have often discussed as fans that Walt Disney noted you cannot choose from one.  This maxim is true for Davis and his own efforts to find the story as he sought multiple ideas in his storytelling.  The best part is this is not told to us but shown to us through his concept art.  Additionally, he did not see an attraction as true pure storytelling.  An attraction was an experience and he could immerse guests into it.  But the story would be different for everyone.  And so Davis was not truly looking to tell stories but instead experiences.

If you are interested in Disney books, you have likely heard how great Marc Davis In His Own Words is.  They are right.  The two-volume book can be seen as a major investment, but the title can at times be found on sale which makes the price more reasonable for two large art of books.  But in the end, for me the price was fair.  Because I was able to use my time largely at home to bury myself multiple mornings into Davis’ fantastic worlds.   

Between Books - A Historical Tour of Walt Disney World Volume 1

A Historical Tour of Walt Disney World Volume 1 by Andrew Kiste reviews the real world history behind key Walt Disney World attractions. Kiste visits attractions in Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland and Tomorrowland in this volume. The author provides a brief overview of the land and then explores two to three attractions in more depth.

A Historical Tour of Walt Disney World Volume 1 is a book for the history junkie! Do you want an extensive history of the Crystal Palace and its place in history? Would you be interested in architectural differences between the original Crystal Palace in London and the Walt Disney World version? Or would you like to know what happened to the original building in London and if it is still standing? If so, this book is one that you would enjoy. Do you watch a movie like Braveheart and then start to breakdown the differences between the real historical events and the movie? If so you might enjoy Kiste’s breakdown of Pirate of the Caribbean and the actions pirates took in real life in comparison to what is seen in the ride. Do you want to know the chances that a pirate would have been surrounded by gold and silver in a treasure room? Then again this book is for you.

Kiste’s writing is clear. But for some it may be too serious in tone at times. He has researched the real life non-Disney historical events and places very well. A good example is the Crystal Palace chapter which includes references to scholarly articles going beyond the typical Disney library.

Do you love history? Are you the person in your circle that enjoys sharing what others would believe are obscure historical facts? If so A Historical Tour of Walt Disney World Volume 1 is probably the book for you.

Now I’m sure I will never look at the Crystal Palace in the same way again!



Review Copy Provided by Theme Park Press 

Between Books - Marc Davis: Walt Disney's Renaissance Man

As I have become more and more familiar with those that make the magic, the late Marc Davis has become my favorite Imagineer.  His ability to mix fun with interesting designs continues to help The Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Haunted Mansion.  I have often said on my list of literary wants is a volume that captures all of his interests from animation to the theme parks and beyond.  And now we can finally say that title exists.

Marc Davis: Walt Disney's Renaissance Man provides an artistic biography of Davis' life.  The artist's journey is documented by numerous authors, including some who knew the man, including John Canemaker, Andreas Deja, Pete Doctor, Marty Sklar and Marc Davis (yes, I said Marc Davis).  Each author takes up an aspect of his career from his own early animal studies, Davis the art teacher, animation, Imagineering, Davis' fine art and more.  Davis' own chapter is an excerpt from an unpublished book in which he discusses anatomy and motion.  Author Mindy Johnson provides a chapter that will delight Disney fans, "The Divine Miss Alice", which provides a biography of Davis' widow Alice who is a legend in her own right.  The entire volume is wonderfully illustrated with Davis' work, much of it coming from the Alice Davis Collection.

First and foremost what strikes a reader is the art.  The book has over sized pages which show off a master artist and draftsman's efforts.  A common theme amongst the authors is Davis' flawless representation of movement, and his personal sketches of football games and dancers shows that clear ability to visually communicate movement with static pictures.  The inclusion of early drawings, including those done on Butcher paper are exciting, as one feels they are uncovering Davis' early works.  And the included Disney Theme Park images will delight.  My personal favorites include concept art for the Western River Expedition which show that Davis planned a ride full of puns.  But the concept art for the Haunted Mansion art gallery found on pages 138 and 139 made me wish the page was even bigger so the crease did not have to interfere with my view of the masterpiece. Speaking of masterpieces, the book provides something that Disney fans are not used to, numerous samples of Davis' fine art.  These pieces, be it a tree study or a spirit house from his Papua New Guinea trips show Davis' ability to work in numerous formats and styles.

The chapter text, usually 3 to 5 pages long, present Davis' well-rounded life.  My favorite chapters show a teacher, a man at play, and a husband.  "Marc as Teacher" by Bob Kurtz presents Davis the instructor.  One really can see the ease at which Davis could quickly form an image with expert lines.  And you get insight to his teaching style.  For me a highlight is seeing something I thought no longer exists, photographs of some of his chalkboards.  "Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands" shows a man looking to learn more about his world and his art.  But his sketches, including a canoe mishap allow us to see a man with a sense of humor.  And of course, his art from his trips is spectacular.  And along with his whimsy, the accompanying text shows that even in his later years he still had a vivid imagination.  Finally, "The Divine Miss Alice" gives us a biography of Alice Davis.  I have personally gotten so used to hearing Alice Davis talk about Marc Davis that it was refreshing to see her own work highlighted.  Additionally, the images help document a true romance.

Marc Davis: Walt Disney's Renaissance Man is a book I have wanted on my Between Book shelf for awhile, well before it even existed.  This volume is a must have for Marc Davis fans, Disney animation historians and Disney Parks enthusiasts.  In one volume Davis fans can reference his entire art career and see why Walt Disney considered Davis his Renaissance Man. 

 


Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Between Books - The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World Trivia

The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World continues to be a sentimental favorite for me.  It is as I have said before the first Disney book that my wife gave me as a gift.  And the Between Book installment reviewing that first book continues to be the most viewed post at BetweenDisney.com! So any book that Susan Veness offers, is something that I must read.

The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World Trivia is a tour of the four parks of the Walt Disney World Resort.  But along with a tour, it is a game.  For each attraction there are two trivia questions.  One question is multiple choice.  The second is an open ended question.  The answers for both questions are found in the back of the book.  Along with the trivia questions, Veness provides a scavenger hunt for each park.  And as bonuses a kids and a die-hard scavenger hunt is provided towards the end of the book.  And since this is a hidden history book, Veness provides a fascinating fact and something to look for each attraction along with the questions. 

As a game, the book is lightweight and could fit in most backpacks.  The book would probably experience some wear in a pack, but should not add much weight to carry around the park.  The questions could easily help fill time in lines within the parks.  I have not even considered the eBook version of the book, which would not take up any weight since many guests would have a phone with a book app.  I just wonder how quickly one can jump from question to answer.  If anyone reads the book on a eReader, I would love the answer to that question.  And for added usability, the scavenger hunts can be cut out to go into a pocket our pouch.

Most of all I was worried that they would be too easy.  They are not, there are plenty of questions that I did not know the answers for.  During the week I read this book I kept it on my desk at work.  I told everyone who needed something that they needed to start with a question that I could answer, to put me in a good mood.  Not everyone started on a good footing!  So the questions are definitely challenging and not the same reused facts that we typically find in a Between Book.  

There is also plenty of new facts that I at least have not run across.  For example I did not know the secret of the floating bubbles at Voyage of the Little Mermaid.  The quality of facts is beyond what one can generally think to Google.  And as someone who has read many books with fun facts, I was satisfied that many of the facts were fresh to me.

The book is updated and in fact looks into the future.  For example, Veness discusses the very recent addition of mermaids to Pirates of the Caribbean.  And of course, the recent Fantasyland additions are all mentioned.  But she also has facts for an attraction that is not open with the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.  The only announced addition she does not provide content for is Avatarland, but who can blame her!

The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World Trivia is a great extension of the Hidden Magic series.  It provides Hidden Magic in a new format, with the trivia providing a twist.  The book is interactive by providing a game that the whole family (or office) can play.  And the book does not just restate facts that can be found elsewhere (unlike many books I have been reading lately).  Fans of Veness' prior works will be pleased and families looking to add bonus fun to their trips should consider this book as a fun option.



Review Copy Provided by Author 

Goofy Gadgets - Disneyland Explorer for iPad



Screenshot from Disneyland Explorer

 The Between Family is constantly looking for ways to have Disney fun in Betweenland.  The youngest Between Kid has become a big fan of the free application Disneyland Explorer for iPad. 

“Disneyland Explorer for iPad” allows one to slide through a virtual tour of The Disneyland Resort including Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, the Downtown Disney District, and the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort.  The screen is filled with images from these locations and one truly just slides the image to navigate to another land, attraction or region within the resort.  Then by clicking on the images one can dig deeper into the attractions of the resort.  For example clicking on Monstro the Whale will allow you to pull up a more detailed picture of the Storybook Land Canal Boats.  But it’s the games that are a real hit.  Favorites include:

·         The Matterhorn: Play hide and seek with the Yeti.

·         Pirates of the Caribbean: Shoot at and sink pirate ships.

·         The Haunted Mansion: Play the organ.

·         Splash Mountain: Use a water cannon to fight off bees.

·         Star Tours – The Adventure Continues:  Visit alien worlds.

·         Fireworks at Disneyland Park: Create your own fireworks show.

·         Soarin’ Over California: Tour California landmarks.

All of the games are pretty simple with easy navigation and objectives.  For an adult they may be too simple.  But for a young child the navigation and goals are easily within their reach.  In many ways the younger you are, the more fun this free, yes free, application is.  It will help the entire family recapture their Disney memories or prepare for a Disneyland vacation.  If you love Disney and have an iPad in the house it is very worth your time to download Disneyland Explorer for iPad. 

Dreaming Disney - Real Pirates

Since 1967 with the opening of Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland, Disney fans have been suckers for Pirates.  The addition of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise has both reinforced this tendency but also brought pirates into the public eye and pop culture.  Being Disney fans, when the Between Family saw that The Science Museum of Minnesota was hosting Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate Ship sponsored by National Geographic, it was a no brainer that we would be attending.  Of course attendance in this family means with tricorn hats and spyglasses for the kids. 

My first word of warning is this traveling exhibit is somewhat pricey.  For those looking to take in Real Pirates at The Science Museum of Minnesota, the cost can easily be $36 per adult on the weekend.  I recommend seeking out discounts, determining if an annual pass (much like the Disney parks) may provide a discount, or touring during times when the price may be decreased like the weekdays.  As we Disney fans know, time and money are likely two of your most valuable commodities when looking to make family memories. 

At The Science Museum of Minnesota guests are provided a timed entry ticket to the Real Pirates exhibit.  Guests enter from the queue as a group into a small movie viewing room that provides background information about piracy, the pirate ship Whydah, and the discovery of the sunken ship off the New England coast.  At the conclusion of the film the screen rises to unveil the original bell from the Whydah carefully preserved in a water tank.  I hope this revelation does not spoil your visit, but the sight itself is remarkable and puts the audience in a nautical state of mind as you begin to wander the exhibit.  

Bell of the Whydah

Guests then walk through an exhibit that starts with a history of the African slave trade including artifacts.  The oldest Between Kid was especially struck with the fact that items on display were used to hold people in forced captivity.  The heaviness of it hit the Kid right between the eyes.  For something that the kids thought was only going to be fun, I think the lesson about treating each other humanly was unexpected. 

Real Pirate Life

 

The exhibit then leads guests through the story of how Captain Sam Bellamy of the Whydah chose to make his fortune as a pirate and grew his reputation as a pirate captain.  The exhibit shows a number of recovered items from the Whydah including cannons.  As part of the exhibit an actor portrays Bellamy, who to the pride of any Disney fan stays convincingly in character.  Bellamy discusses the use of cannons on the Whydah including his strategy for defeating another ship.  Later in the exhibit is a walk through replica of the Whydah showing life aboard the pirate ship.  Before stepping onto the ship with their right foot, infamous pirate Blackbeard spoke with the Between Kids about pieces of 8 and making change in the pirate world.  Again, the actor never left character and the Between Kids gave the pirate full attention.

Real Pirates including kid pirate John King

Reproduction of the Whydah

Like Pirates of the Caribbean, I thought the exhibit was over with the treasure room.  The exhibit displays the only recovered pirate treasure in a room filled with pieces of silver and gold.  This includes a chest full of Spanish pieces of eight.  I could imagine Jack Sparrow sitting in the middle of the chest counting his treasure.  After leaving the room, guests are providing information on the final fates of members of the Whydah crew including Captain Bellamy and kid pirate John King.  The exhibit also tells guests of the end of piracy.  And as I walked past these final plaques I thought it was time for the Between Family to run out into the rest of the museum.

Real Pirate Treasure

But I was wrong, and we still had a figurative waterfall to climb.  I was quite impressed that the final room was actually a display of recovered artifacts.  The exhibit showed actual water protected recovered blobs of artifacts.  The display showed how these collections of metal are preserved, identified and recovered.  It was a piece of working history that I did not expect to see in this exhibit.

As part of the exhibit each guest was provided a free audio guided tour.  The tour included narration from actors portraying Whydah crewmen and helped provide a flavor of what being a pirate is, along with education.  Walt Disney would have probably signed off on this form of Edutainment. 

Out here Between Disney you find connections to your Disney experience and make the most of it.  In the end, others may have found it odd that the Between Kids were wearing pirate hats but honestly we entered this educational experiment with a sense of fun.  All in all every member of the family learned from and enjoyed this exhibit.  We may not look at Pirates of the Caribbean completely the same again, filled with facts of real piracy.  If it’s in your budget and near you out here Between Disney, Real Pirates may be a fun way to spend an afternoon. 

   

Mousey Movies - Thor

I have a love/hate relationship with Thor.  At first a friend phrased it as “The Best Weekend In New Mexico Ever!”  And after watching it for a third time I have decided it is completely unbelievable!  Don’t get me wrong, I will more than happily accept the story of a Norse god visiting New Mexico, finding himself, discovering love and thwarting his brother’s plans to rule over their home of Asgard.  Now, what I find unbelievable is that in this New Mexico small town that an S.H.I.E.L.D. agent can find a Whopper!  I grew up in small towns and let me tell you the local diner exists but you won’t find a major fast food franchise in a town this small.  Clearly Thor’s adventures happened in Product Placement, New Mexico.  Those living in Product Placement wash down a Whopper with a Dr. Pepper while reading USA Today followed by a Budweiser chaser.   As often as we hear that New Mexico is the Land of Enchantment, Marvel had to have taken some funds from the state budget!  Maybe John Carter could have performed better financially if Dr. Pepper was available on Mars! 

With that aside Thor has really grown on me.  The Son of Coal, Agent Coulson, is heavily featured and in many ways steals this movie.  Though the biggest scene stealer is clearly Jeremy Renner as he introduces his Avenger Hawkeye to the Avengers Initiative.  Thor is a action romp through New Mexico and the beautiful Asgard that will satisfy one’s need for escapist fiction.  And, there is a touch of the mouse in there:    

·         Hammer in the Stone:  The basic premise is that the Norse god of Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is bad tempered and makes poor choices.  After breaking a treaty with the Frost Giants, Thor’s father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) casts him out of Asgard and exiles him without powers on Earth.  Good parents discipline their kids!  Thor’s trusty weapon the hammer Mjolnir is also cast out awaiting the day that Thor is worthy.  Many attempt to pull the unmovable hammer from its resting place including Stan Lee!  One of them is Drunk Townie played by the very familiar Joel McCrary.  The goateed McCrary instantly struck me as a guy I knew.  And it’s because he is a very active actor.  Disney fans may not be aware McCrary voices Baloo in Kinect Disneyland Adventures.  But they may recognize him as Bobby Wasabi on Disney XD’s Kickin’ It.  McCrary is not the only familiar face from Disney television productions.  Isaac Kappy plays Pet Store Owner in Thor is also seen in the Disney Channel’s Lemonade Mouth as Mel the owner of an organic lemonade company.    

·         Dead Men Tell No Tales:  Stellan Skarsgård plays Dr. Erik Selvig the friend and mentor of Thor’s love interest Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman).  Selvig has some doubts that the Norse god of thunder has really decided to spend a restful weekend in the Land of Enchantment.  It’s kind of strange for me to see a Skarsgård character doubting after playing Bootstrap Bill Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.  For heaven’s sake Bootstrap bill was part of the boat!  Skarsgård must have enjoyed this role which requires a lot less makeup because he is part of the cast for The Avengers and has been announced for Thor 2.       

·         Prince Charming:  Every good Disney movie needs a dashing prince.  Admittedly Thor is a prince, but we tend to think of fine gentlemen with swords not brutish men with hammers for our Disney princesses.  Josh Dallas plays the dashing, and well groomed, Fandral in Thor.  He is the master swordsman with that romantic look that could easily fit in a Disney animated classic.  Currently Dallas plays Prince Charming on the very Mousey Once Upon a Time on ABC, further showing Dallas’ princely virtues, or lack of on occasion.  

·         Beware the Maelstrom:  Thor opens in Tønsberg, Norway as the Gods battle the Frost Giants on Earth.  This of course takes me back to Epcot and the Norway pavilion!  I personally enjoy meeting not Thor but the princesses at Akerhus Royal Banquet Hall.  It’s not as pricey as eating in Cinderella’s Castle, though the view is not the same.  I recommend the open-faced beef sandwich.  And the deserts are always a hit with the family.  It’s a feast that Thor’s friend and fellow warrior Volstagg would give his stamp of approval to.  And the Maelstrom is one of the few rides you will find in the World Showcase.       

·         The Walt Disney Parade: When using the high tech tools of the Product Placement, New Mexico library, Dr. Selvig picks up a book that reminds him of the childhood tales he heard and read about the Norse gods as a child.  The book appears to be Iain Lawrence’s The Giant-Slayer, a book that does not seem to have anything to say about Thor and his fellow Norse gods.   But you have to admit the title sounds cool.  In fact it’s a story about one child telling stories to another who is forced to use an iron lung!  Thor’s name does not even appear in the book, or Odin or Loki or the word Viking.  But why do I even bring this up?  Next to The Giant-Slayer on a book truck are three books in the “Walt Disney Parade” series.  They are Great Moments in Fiction with the Duchess from The Aristocats on the spine, Adventures in Fact with what appears to be a Buddha, and Fantasy on Parade decorated with a castle.  You cannot escape the Mouse!      

Though this movie is directed by Kenneth Branagh who has helmed many Shakespeare plays for the modern audience, don’t confuse Thor with a timeless classic.  It is fun and action filled.  You will enjoy your adventure to New Mexico.  And it’s a vital piece of The Avengers story, a building piece you cannot ignore if you want to understand the background of the villain Loki!  Enjoy…Enchanted New Mexico!