‘Interesting’ Things from D23 ’24

I’ve become increasingly “meh” with all the sequels and reboots out there replacing original content, and Disney has become the king of it.

I used to be one of the biggest Disney nuts around. I loved the parks, I loved the movies, and I loved the attention to detail on the attraction…then everything went decidedly south. Not just because storytelling was replaced with messaging, but because they got lazy.

Too many sequels and gutted live action remakes, and not enough actual adventure and imagination. It was as if the entire legacy of Walt Disney is being rebuilt with AI generators. Ergo, I only half-paid attention to anything coming out of this year’s D23.

Except there were a few interesting things. I’m using the term “interesting”, because I can no longer speculate if anything is going be decent or not. If I get excited for a project from any company, it tends to disappoint. For example, I had such high hopes for Borderlands movie and Batman: Caped Crusader.

So, “interesting “it remains. These announcements sound like cool things, for now, but I make no promises, and let you be the judge.

The Greatest Showman as a Broadway musical

This should be a no-brainer. This movie was custom made for live stage adaptation, and as much as I love Hugh Jackman, I don’t doubt other actors can play PT Barnum well. However, there might be some do-gooder trying to change elements in the movie that weren’t there. For example, I’m really not digging the modernized costumes it too much. Yes, I realize it’s a musical and you can take tons of liberties. Yet, PT Barnum’s costume (short jacket with no tails) looks like a new Star Lord skin, the Lady Gaga/Cardi B shoulder pads, high leather boots and bandana on the Anne Wheeler character are just too “today.” I wouldn’t mind that look in a concert, but not as part of turn-of the century.

Nine Inch Nails is Doing the Music forTron: Ares

Tron is cool for us Gen-Xers, and it is always exciting to see new music from Nine Inch Nails. The announcements online were accompanied with #FlynnLives, so it might be…interesting. Yet, I wasn’t looking for any new Tron sequels, and not sure if we need one. I did like the laser presentation, though. This might be the case where the movie is so-so, but the soundtrack completely rocks. It wouldn’t be the first time.

A Live Action Lilo And Stitch???

I love the original Lilo And Stitch for so many reasons. The beautiful watercolor backgrounds, and hilarious dialogue my whole family still quotes like “thus far you have been adrift in the shallow waters of my patience.” The Elvis music was perfect. The characters were perfect and the vibe of “Ohana” and the importance of a family unit was perfect. Most importantly, Stitch was delightful. He was so well loved, he is one of the main Disney characters in meet-and-greets and promotions.

Yet, if something is perfect, it will be screwed with and ruined. The announcement of the CGI style Stitch was certainly interesting. I’m not sure if I find him kinda cute or I want to kill him…with fire!

Since I try to be a positive person, I will show you one thin circulating from this year’s D23 I think was genuinely groovy. Ken Page, the booming voice of Oogie Boogie in Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, sang “Poor Unfortunate Souls” Oogie Boogie style.

I dig it.

Of course there’s the unwavering string of already spread-thin IP sequels with “3”, “4” or “5” after its name, uninspiring Star Wars and Marvel content, and they seem to keep trying to make that live action Snow White something people want (no one does). Hopefully, there will be some good coming from this event.

At least, for the most part, it will be…interesting.

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