There are some movies that hit the big screen that you watch and make you want to create. Take for example, Ratatouille. It isn't the best Pixar movie but it sure makes you want to eat delectable food or make something delectable yourself be it food, writing a book, or designing an advertisement. I think Disney has taken this aspect of creative inspiration and paid it forward with their newest hit, Big Hero 6. When you think about it, many super hero movies are about creativity. Spiderman has to design his own machine to shoot out web and Batman has to creatively stump his opponents like the Joker. And in Big Hero 6, main character Hiro, loveable robot Baymax, and Hiro's buddies have to creatively harness their talents and figure their way out of sticky situations. But it isn't even particularly the super hero aspect of the film that inspires the audience but the technological advances these characters could make (and now that I think about it, super heroes usually have access to crazy technology so I guess this still exists in the super hero realm). Watching Hiro present his microbots idea made me feel as if I was at an attraction at Walt Disney World. It makes you wonder, would Walt approve of this film?
Like him or hate him, no one can deny that Walt Disney was some sort of genius. His desire for innovation and creativity is what has given us some beloved movies and amazing theme parks, and being at the parks often inspires creativity too. It inspires us to tell stories and make things. Hiro's use of materials in Big Hero 6, like Walt's, inspires kids and adults alike. The film has already been linked to creating via things such as the World Maker Faire in New York City and the X Prize Challenge. Creativity isn't always looked at as a virtue per say yet I would argue that it is essential to living in a better world. Big Hero 6, like Ratatouille and Walt Disney, calls us to create and think deeply about things. This brings us closer to human understanding. This element of Big Hero 6 is what makes it a really great film. While it isn't perfect and has many faults, the main characters all call us to make something and make something bigger than ourselves. What sort of things would you love to create that would make our world a little better? Let me know in the comments or speak your mind on the Talk Magic to Me Forums. And be sure to listen to the newest episode of Talk Magic to Me where we talk about Big Hero 6!
Minecraft. It is the game title that can be split into two parts that collectively and simply describe the game. When you play Minecraft you mine and you craft. The premise is very creative yet also a bit confusing at the start. Many people don't get it and ask, what's the point? The game seems so simple that it would be borderline boring and pointless. I wondered these exact same things about two years ago when I watched YouTuber Luke Conard post a video of him playing the game on his YouTube gaming channel. Through a snowball of events that are too jumbled to go into, I bought the game and have been a fan ever since. Minecraft has a very rare quality about it that I find very appealing. At times it is an addicting computer game taking over my life as alcohol would an alcoholic. Of course at these times I have to pull myself away as this is a very unhealthy habit. The game also has an ambient quality to it. You the player are an explorer venturing around the various spawned worlds, listening to the simple score that becomes so familiar to your brain that it relaxes you outside the game as well. Okay, so perhaps all of these things sound a little weird and you may be questioning my sanity. But if you have ever played Minecraft, this may sound familiar.
Forgetting all of that, Minecraft offers a lot of room for fun adventures and gaming which is why I believe it to be so successful. It gives complete control to the gamer in charge. What's not to love?
Now combine this game with one of entertainment's largest global names...That's right, someone created a Minecraft map replica of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida! From strolling down Main Street USA to riding the Tower of Terror, there really is no limit to this awesome recreation. The map offers as much as Minecraft is limited to do. Users can download special resource packs to see cool visuals and hear actual audio that would be playing in the parks. The audio also allows users to watch fireworks shows like Wishes and Illuminations as if they were watching the real thing! These resource packs allow an even more immersive experience for Minecraft players.
The map is called MCMagic. Hours upon hours upon hours have gone into this project and it is offered to Minecraft players 100% free! This takes more than just dedication. It takes passion. The project is clearly created by people who love Disney and who want to keep the spirit alive. Many may scoff at people who spend so much time perfecting a Minecraft server but the truth is that a lot can be learned from creating something like this. There is a real discipline that is required to build on Minecraft. The same can be said of other professions and projects. When I come onto the Walt Disney World server, I feel an intense longing to create something too. Not only does a project like this excite but also inspires and that is what creating is about.
This server will only further Walt's dream of what Disney Land and Disney World could become! I can't wait to see what comes of this server and encourage any Disney fan to check it out. You will be utterly amazed just as I continue to be every time I explore on there! If you want to see me explore the Magic Kingdom along with my Talk Magic to Me co-host Rachel in our new gaming series, check out the video below and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more videos to come.
Pixar
has always been a huge part of my life. I grew up with the movies and
can appreciate them as artistic films as an adult. When I was in high
school, I became very fascinated with entertainment and the connections
with Christian spirituality. Being a teenager and still very
inexperienced in many aspects of life, I didn't quite have the
vocabulary to state what I felt and saw, but I continued to have an
interest and learned a lot since then. I now know I'm not the only one
who sees these connections. There are books and books discussing
entertainment's connection with faith as well as psychology, philosophy,
history, etc. I have read quite a few of these books and want to write
one of my own someday. The Wisdom of Pixar by Robert Velarde is
one these awesome books and it does a great job of analyzing these films
and forming connections that the viewer may not have noticed before. If
you aren't aware, I am a host on a Disney podcast called Talk Magic to
Me. Disney is a big part of my life and I have always felt a strong
connection with their movies. That is why I am on the podcast, to
discuss my love for Disney in a community based way. Our summer theme is
Pixar and I figured this was as a good a time as any to start reading
this book. A big plus to being on a podcast is that I contacted author
Robert Velarde himself and had a chance to interview him! How cool is
that?! I'm
going to state right away that this will be a five star review. I'm
telling you this early because I don't want you to think I'm giving the
book kudos just because I interviewed the author. Nope, not the case. I
genuinely really loved this book. While the title of the book doesn't
overtly hint at any faith based analysis, it is primarily focused on
Pixar films and their connection to Christian faith and spirituality.
Wisdom itself is a biblical virtue after all. I find it a bit ignorant
when I see people reviewing this book with one or two stars just because
of it's Christian worldview. Every book has a worldview so why start
getting picky when there is a Christian one? Velarde doesn't shove the
theology mindlessly down our throats. He meets us in the middle and is
very straight forward...here is a movie, this biblical virtue exists
within that movie, this is what we can learn and take away to apply to
our own lives. Velarde makes it clear that he isn't saying Pixar
intended to make their movies as biblical metaphors. But as John Green
states, "Books belong to their readers" and this saying isn't limited to
books but all entertainment. What you get out of a film, TV show,
painting, or video game is equally (if not more) important than the
author's intent. This phrase has always been bittersweet for me because
as a writer and creator I want my intentions to be known yet as a reader
I have interpreted texts and art in a very specific way that has helped
me grow as a person but not everyone gets. The
book is split into chapters in order of Pixar movies, starting with Toy
Story and ending with Up. Each chapter has a different focus on wisdom
such as love, humor, technology, justice, etc. and how the piece of
wisdom ties into the movie of focus (with an occasional look at other
Pixar films that also incorporate the same aspect of wisdom). The
chapter will use biblical examples to make things clearer. Velarde does a
great job at breaking these films down and analyzing them in a
simplistic way. He reveals the depth within Pixar that many
choose not
to see since they label it as kids entertainment. David Beagley, a
professor at La Trobe University once said in a lecture, "Children's
literature is not simple. It's as complex as adults. It's the audience
that is different, not the literature." The same can be said about any
other medium. Of course with film this idea is hard to see since so many
companies only make kids movies for money and use stupid dialogue and
easy humor that suggests no adult will ever enjoy these movies at all!
Luckily Pixar is not one of those companies, nor Disney...or at least
most Disney movies don't adhere to that standard but there are
exceptions. Ironically enough, David Beagley also stated in his lecture
that he hates Disney which made me die a little inside because I really
respect him and hoped some scholar would see the good in Disney but so
many don't. Pixar
is the perfect example to show that not all "kids" movies are simple.
They hold a lot of weight! What is cool about being a 90's kid is that I
grew up in arguably the greatest era of Disney...the Disney
Renaissance, good Disney channel programming, and of course the birth of
Pixar. These films have really shaped me as a person. I'm not saying my
entire being is all thanks to Disney/Pixar but you get my point. I was
able to enjoy these as a kid and now can still enjoy them as an adult
but in an academic way which is really awesome! The
book was excellent. I really enjoyed Velarde's writing style. He wrote
as if you were on the
journey through Pixar movies together. He has a lot of important things
to say about these movies and the biblical imagery within them that
should be taken more seriously by Christians and entertainment lovers
alike. It was thought provoking and written well. If you love Pixar,
you will really enjoy this book. As I said, I will be giving this 5 out of 5 stars. If you want to check out our interview with Robert Velarde, visit www.talkmagic2me.net and be sure to rate and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
I was sitting in the family room, watching Jeopardy with my grandma. My dad was upstairs trying new clothes on and my mom was in the living room discussing vacation plans with a friend. It was a relatively ordinary evening. I had made dinner that night instead of my mother which was a welcomed change but other than that, everything seemed particularly dull. As we watched Jeopardy, a red banner appeared at the bottom of the screen with white letters. At first I thought it was a weather alert but upon reading the text, my mind first jumped to Tracey Morgan who I knew had been in a bad accident a few weeks ago. I assumed this may be an update on his condition. And then my eyes saw the name Robin Williams and my brain slowly registered what I was reading. Robin Williams found dead. Death by suicide, it said.
Perhaps it sounds strange when I say I teared up. I am writing this the day after and still feel choked
up about it. This has never happened to me before. I imagine I am feeling something similar to fans of MJ when he died. I never knew that I could feel a connection of such caliber from a person I never actually met. I know this is a pretty heavy topic to start out with on my new blog but I feel I need to reflect on the impact Robin Williams had on my life because truth be told, he was like a member of my family. My family and I may disagree on many things, but one universal truth in our house is that we are all lovers of Robin Williams. He has entered our household countless times, telling hilarious jokes and moving us to tears from his brilliant performances. Perhaps this is why I feel so sad about his passing. He was more than just an actor. He was a role model, a mentor, and a friend. Only the most brilliant actors are. Where do I begin? It is hard to find a starting place for this post. I can hardly begin to answer the question, what impact has Robin Williams had on my life? To answer in broad terms, he has introduced me to good comedy. He has demonstrated what it means to be a genuinely good actor. His film range is exceptional and every performance is beautiful and honest and funny and outright special. You will never forget a movie Robin Williams was in.
There are two roles that Robin played that I grew up with and these movies have stayed with me for a long time, and I imagine they will remain with me for the rest of my life. The first has to be the Genie from Aladdin. I grew up watching Disney movies constantly and Aladdin was one my brother and I always popped in to the VHS player. Speaking specifically toward Robin's character, I can't say enough just how much my friends and I quoted him in college. His performance as the Genie encompasses Robin completely...a man of heart and humor. You can't watch the movie without smiling. Aladdin is one of the best Disney movies ever made and part of that is the Genie's character, brought to life by Robin!
The other role which Robin played that was a huge part of my childhood is Daniel Hillard slash Euphegenia Doubtfire. Mrs. Doubtfire was the first PG-13 movie I ever saw, at the age of 9. My younger brother and I, oblivious to the film's dirty humor, cracked up at Daniel's alter ego. From watching her dance with a vacuum to Daniel's hilarious impressions with the social worker, we were hysterical. And it wasn't just us...it was our parents too. Yet the film is not just all laughs. It is about a very serious topic, divorce. Robin does an amazing job at capturing a man who would do anything for his children while also balancing being a big kid himself. The humor is dirty but man, it is fantastic. It is simply an amazing film.
Looking back, there are so many Robin Williams movies that I love and want to briefly reflect on during this blog post. One that doesn't come to most peoples minds is Flubber. That is another movie I grew up with though it never moved me as much as Aladdin or Mrs. Doubtfire. Flubber always cracked us up as kids. We still on it on VHS. Robin had perfect comedic timing and plays a professor who everyone can get behind.
The next movie I want to talk about is Dead Poets Society. Surprisingly I have only seen this movie once. Robin plays another professor though this time he excels in Poetry. This is the kind of film I knew I would love before I watched it, the kind where a teacher swops in and inspires their students to be more, that they are special and can make a difference in the world. His performance is fantastic. It completely exemplifies Robin's message - that you can do and be anything.
The next film is Patch Adams. I saw this when I was in middle school. Like most of Robin's films, it cracked me up (or rather, he cracked me up) and it once again embraces another one of his philosophies on life - that making people happy is essential. His character experiences great personal loss but still manages to bring smile to the world. His character shows that it isn't normalcy that cures or even standing out, it is love. He loves people as they are and meets them where they are.
Now let us talk about Good Will Hunting. This is another movie I have seen only once. I watched it on Netflix a little over a year ago. Again, Williams is a professor and a mentor. I don't have much more to say other than, watch the movie. It is as simple as that. You will thank me for it later.
Now The Bird Cage. This movie never cracked me up until my stomach hurt but the dry humor does make you chuckle quite a bit. It isn't a typical Robin film but I still love it. It just showcases another side to his acting style.
GOOOOOOOOOOOD MORNING VIETNAM! I have an interesting story to tell that is directly tied to this movie. In 2009 when my family traveled to Disney World, we rode the Great Movie Ride. At the end there was a brilliant montage that briefly scanned over the great Hollywood films and above Tara's Theme from Gone with the Wind came Robin shouting GOOOOOD MORNING VIETNAM and I felt such passion from him at that moment and I hadn't even seen the movie. It is phenomenal! A great portrayal of the damages of war and the humor and love that can exist despite the hardships.
My last mention will seem silly to some but it is another film that was a big part of my childhood. That movie is, Aladdin 3: The King of Thieves. Okay, so we all know Disney sequels usually equate to poop. But there are a few that are genuinely good and this is one of them. Not only is the story easy to get behind but Robin's comedy is top notch. His impressions and references are hysterical and his comedic timing is, you guessed it, brilliant!
He are some honorable mentions to end this blog: Hook, Jumanji, Night at the Museum, License to Wed, and Happy Feet.
The brilliance of being in entertainment is that your memory truly remains alive through the projects you were apart of. I hope to watch many Robin Williams films for the next few weeks. And I am aware of how many times I have used the word brilliant in this post...but seriously, how can I not?
Good-bye Robin. You will be deeply missed. I hope you find peace wherever you have gone. Your creative, awe inspiring, funny, and genuine acting style will not be forgotten.
Hello all! Welcome to my new side blog, Disney Danielle! Of course I must give credit where credit is due...the title of this blog must be credited to my good friend and podcast co-host, Eric. Thank you Eric! He has been insistent on this name ever since we began recording our podcast and I was never into it until, well, a few weeks ago.
So here is an introduction to me! My name is Danielle. I am 23 years old, 24 later this month. Ever since I was born I have been exposed to Disney. I had Disney toys, Disney clothes, Disney books, and Disney VHS tapes. Like most children in the 1990s, Disney was shoved down my throat...though I don't say that with all the negative baggage a saying like that usually holds. On the contrary, I'm so thankful for having such a prevalent exposure to Disney in my childhood, otherwise I may have rejected it when I became an adult. From the animated films to the classic 90s TV shows to the man himself, I can't get enough of Disney! I dressed up as Disney characters on Halloween as a kid, read tons of Disney books and even got to go to Disney world a few times. I watched the VHS tapes my grandma bought endlessly. I could never get enough. When I was a teenager I attended a week long church camp and my pastor showed us a clip from the Lion King. This is when I began to realize how relevant Disney remained even as I grew up. It was at that moment that I became engrossed in studying entertainment and it's connection to faith and spirituality, though at the time I hardly knew how to put into words what I was feeling. Since then I have created my very own podcast, with the help of my three very good friends, all about Disney and looking at this company with a critical lens called Talk Magic to Me.
You can usually find me at my blog, The Reader (original title, right?) where I blog about books, art, and social norms and I frequently write about Disney. Now that I am more heavily invested in Disney with the podcast, I figured I should make a new blog where all of my Disney posts can reside. And when this idea was conceived, Disney Danielle was soon born. Ta-da!
On this site you will find movie reviews, book reviews, news commentary, analysis posts, and more! I will frequently recommend books, podcasts, Broadway shows, blogs, youtube videos, and whatever else comes to my brain! I will blog once a week. For the first few months of this blog I will be reposting blogs from my reading blog as well as the Talk Magic to Me blogs I wrote in the past. I can't wait!
My hope is to interact with you all and make this a place for freedom of opinions and healthy conversation! Always let me know what you think! Conversation is always welcome and your opinion is just as valid as my own and the next persons! I hope this will be a magical experience for all of us!
Check in every week for a new blog! And be sure to listen to Talk Magic to Me!
