Walt Disney Studios 2017 Preview

As you know we love Disney films. Whether it be a wonderful animated feature, a fairy tale brought to life or an action packed film with heroes from pirate lore, superheroes with super powers, warriors from a long, long time ago in a galaxy far away and even ones from galaxy not far away.  Today we received the synopsis for their 2017 feature film line up.  Here’s what you can expect to see in theatres in 2017 courtesy of Walt Disney Studios. We are sure you will find something for everyone in your family on this list.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

DISNEY
Release Date: March 17, 2017
Cast:  Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Kevin Kline, Josh Gad, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Audra McDonald, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Hattie Morahan and Nathan Mack with Ian McKellen and Emma Thompson
Director:   Bill Condon

The story and characters audiences know and love come to spectacular life in the live-action adaptation of Disney’s animated classic “Beauty and the Beast,” a stunning, cinematic event celebrating one of the most beloved tales ever told. “Beauty and the Beast” is the fantastic journey of Belle, a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a Beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s hideous exterior and realize the kind heart of the true Prince within. The film stars: Emma Watson as Belle; Dan Stevens as the Beast; Luke Evans as Gaston, the handsome, but shallow villager who woos Belle; Kevin Kline as Maurice, Belle’s father; Josh Gad as Le Fou, Gaston’s long-suffering aide-de-camp; Ewan McGregor as Lumière, the candelabra; Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza, the harpsichord; Audra McDonald as Madame De Garderobe, the wardrobe; Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette, the feather duster; Hattie Morahan as the enchantress; and Nathan Mack as Chip, the teacup; with Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, the mantel clock; and Emma Thompson as the teapot, Mrs. Potts

BORN IN CHINA

DISNEYNATURE
Release Date: April 21, 2017 
Narrator:  John Krasinski
Director: Lu Chuan

Disneynature's new True Life Adventure film “Born In China” takes an epic journey into the wilds of China where few people have ever ventured. Following the stories of three animal families, the film transports audiences to some of the most extreme environments on Earth to witness some of the most intimate moments ever captured in a nature film. A doting panda bear mother guides her growing baby as she begins to explore and seek independence. A two-year-old golden monkey who feels displaced by his new baby sister joins up with a group of free-spirited outcasts. And a mother snow leopard—an elusive animal rarely caught on camera—faces the very real drama of raising her two cubs in one of the harshest and most unforgiving environments on the planet. Featuring stunning, never-before-seen imagery, the film navigates China’s vast terrain—from the frigid mountains to the heart of the bamboo forest—on the wings of red-crowned cranes, seamlessly tying the extraordinary tales together.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: VOL 2

MARVEL
Release Date: MAY 5, 2017
Cast:  Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, featuring Vin Diesel as Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, Chris Sullivan, Sean Gunn, Tommy Flanagan, Laura Haddock and Kurt Russell
Director: James Gunn

Set to the all-new sonic backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES

DISNEY
Release Date: May 26, 2017
Cast: Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Brenton Thwaites, Kaya Scodelario, Kevin R. McNally, Golshifteh Farahani, David Wenham, Stephen Graham, and Geoffrey Rush      
Directors: Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg

Johnny Depp returns to the big screen as the iconic, swashbuckling anti-hero Jack Sparrow in the all-new “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.” The rip-roaring adventure finds down-on-his-luck Captain Jack feeling the winds of ill-fortune blowing strongly his way when deadly ghost sailors, led by the terrifying Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem), escape from the Devil's Triangle bent on killing every pirate at sea—notably Jack. Jack's only hope of survival lies in the legendary Trident of Poseidon, but to find it he must forge an uneasy alliance with Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario), a brilliant and beautiful astronomer, and Henry (Brenton Thwaites), a headstrong young sailor in the Royal Navy. At the helm of the Dying Gull, his pitifully small and shabby ship, Captain Jack seeks not only to reverse his recent spate of ill fortune, but to save his very life from the most formidable and malicious foe he has ever faced.
 

CARS 3 DISNEY*PIXAR
Release Date: June 16, 2017
Voice Cast: Owen Wilson
Director: Brian Fee

Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician, Cruz Ramirez, with her own plan to win, plus inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet and a few unexpected turns. Proving that #95 isn’t through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage!

THOR: RAGNAROK

MARVEL
Release Date: November 3, 2017
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson, Karl Urban with Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Hopkins
Director: Taika Waititi                 

In Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Ragnarok,” Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok—the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization—at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela. But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger—the Incredible Hulk! 

COCO

DISNEY*PIXAR
Release Date: November 22, 2017
Voice Cast: Gael García Bernal, Anthony Gonzalez, Benjamin Bratt, Renée Victor
Director: Lee Unkrich 

Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (voice of newcomer Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (voice of Benjamin Bratt). Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector (voice of Gael García Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel's family history.

STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII

LUCASFILM
Release Date: December 15, 2017

**Official synopsis still to come

Cast: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, and Andy Serkis, Benicio Del Toro, Laura Dern, Kelly Marie Tran         
Directors: Rian Johnson 
    
Rey took her first steps into a larger world in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and will continue her epic journey with Finn, Poe, and Luke Skywalker in the next chapter of the continuing Star Wars saga, Star Wars: Episode VIII.

For Pete’s Sake, Go See Disney’s Pete’s Dragon - Review

When I first received the press release in 2015 that Disney would be releasing a new live action version of Pete’s Dragon I had no idea just how amazing this film would be.  Not only was this movie on point with the visuals it also pulls at your heart strings. So much so though that I keep thinking that it’s a pun on a famous Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers song.  I feel the title of the song should now be “Stop DRAGON My Heart Around”

So yes during this film I laughed and cried. We can say it had “all the feels” that you expect from a Disney classic. 

What To Expect From Pete’s Dragon

 

The film begins in a very sweet way but soon you learn how Pete became lost in the forest.  The young boy is in what could be a very awful situation until he happens to be saved by a dragon.  Soon you see the film change as you learn Pete has been growing up in the woods under the watchful of dragon he named Elliot.  This scene in the forest are very reminiscent of Mowgli and the animals in THE JUNGLE BOOK that was released earlier this year.  Soon after the plot changes again as Pete and Elliot learn about the world just outside of the forest.

The animators did a great job of bringing Elliot to life through CGI.  When he is first introduced you notice the fur and the forest colours in it, but as the movie goes on you begin to recognize the facial features and characteristics of the 1977 animated version of Elliot.  They also kept the time frame the same with the use of station wagons, pickup trucks and corded telephones from that era. 

For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) has delighted local children with his tales of the fierce dragon that resides deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), who works as a ranger, these stories are little more than tall tales…until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley). Pete is a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant, green dragon named Elliot. And from Pete’s descriptions, Elliot seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr. Meacham’s stories. With the help of Natalie (Oona Laurence), an 11-year-old girl whose father Jack (Wes Bentley) owns the local lumber mill, Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this dragon.

We think this film is a great way to spend some family time, not only to see the film, but also to learn about the importance of trees and surrounding environment.

Click Image To Enlarge

 

Disney's Alice #ThroughTheLookingGlass Reminds You To Make Time For Your Family - Review

We had the opportunity to attend an advanced screening of Disney's Alice #ThroughTheLookingGlass last week and we really enjoyed it.

For fans of their previous film Alice In Wonderland you will be delighted to see the characters from the first film in a new light. For those new to the live action Alice films by Disney you will be enchanted by the look and tone of these films.  They are visually impressive and almost display the feelings of the characters by their surroundings.  Both the heroes and villains run through a rollercoster of emotions in a "matter" of minutes.  Which brings me to the "Matter of the Hatter"


This film follows the story of what happened to the Mad Hatter and how Alice must once again save him and their friends.  This "TIME" around all the characters learn about the importance of time with their families.

Alice Kingsleigh (Wasikowska) has spent the past few years following in her father’s footsteps and sailing the high seas. Upon her return to London, she comes across a magical looking glass and returns to the fantastical realm of Underland and her friends the White Rabbit (Sheen), Absolem (Rickman), the Cheshire Cat (Fry) and the Mad Hatter (Depp), who is not himself. The Hatter has lost his Muchness, so Mirana (Hathaway) sends Alice on a quest to borrow the Chronosphere, a metallic globe inside the chamber of the Grand Clock which powers all time. Returning to the past, she comes across friends – and enemies – at different points in their lives, and embarks on a perilous race to save the Hatter before time runs out.

We think this film is great for families with older children, as there are a few frightening scenes throughout the film. If your family members enjoyed the first film, then they will surely enjoy this movie as well.

For more updates about this and other upcoming Disney films, we suggest you follow these links
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