Star Wars Cast revealed!

Today Star Wars officially announced the cast of the still untitled Star Wars VII. You can head to the Star Wars official site here. Rumor is that the title will be revealed at Comic Con later this year. But I thought I would give you run down of the cast, and tell you who the new cast is. I know I did not particularly recognize some of the new cast.

official still from Star Wars with the entire cast

The original cast to return are Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker. For the uniformed that is Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, C-3PO, Chewbacca, and R2-D2.
The new cast are Max von Sydow, Andy Serkis, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, and  Domhnall Gleeson.
Max von Sydow is probably the best know of the new cast, some credit to him are The Greatest Story Ever Told as Jesus, The Exorcist as Father Merrin, and in Minority Report as Director Lamar Burgess.
Andy Serkis is another familiar name as he is Gollum/Smeagol, Caesar in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and was even King Kong in the 2005 remake.
Here is where the names become less recognizable.

John Boyega

John Boyega is a newer face having a guest star in Law & Order: UK, will be appearing in the 24: Live Another Day mini event, and was Moses in the film Attack the Block.

Daisy Ridley

Daisy Ridley has done guest spots on BBC shows like Mr. Selfridge and Silent Witness.

Adam Driver

Adam Driver is from the HBO series Girls and has appeared in films like Lincoln, J. Edgar, and Inside Llewyn Davis.

Oscar Isaac

Oscar Isaac is another familiar name for those who enjoy more independent films, he has starred in Inside Llewyn Davis and appeared in Drive, 10 Years, and Sucker Punch.

Domhnall Gleeson

Domhnall Gleeson is best known for being Bill Weasley in the last Harry Potter films but has also appeared in About Time, True Grit, and Dredd.

Hearsay and Rumors: Disneyland's Astro Orbiter

Hi there, this is a new post that I am introducing to cover the hearsay and rumors going on in the Disney-sphere of things and my thoughts. 

Me posing in front of the rocks and Astro Orbiter

I am sure you all know by now that the newest Disneyland rumor is that the Astro Orbiter that has cluttered the entrance to Disneyland's Tomorrowland would be moved. Where to you might ask, according to the ghosts of the Peoplemover, there are two locations depending on who you listen to. One is up on the Peoplemover track where it used to be and the other is up on the helipad area of the outside queue of Space Mountain. This would be part of the rumored Star Wars Tomorrowland retheming. Also the huge rocks will leave according to this rumor.

I am a little skeptical right now about this as you may have heard that the highly rumored Nemo Subs going away was dispelled by Bob Iger at the Shareholder's meeting. I am sure most people are now skeptical about Disneyland moving or removing anything for the time being, as am I. I also am a little on the fence because this would make the walkway into Tomorrowland even more messed with the construction walls and it would also force another attraction into the out of commission list. But I suppose this would have to start soon so as to be cleared in time for next year, Disneyland's 60th Anniversary.

Now let me furthermore add that I welcome this as I hate the bottleneck you get at the entrance to Tomorrowland. Any visitor to Disneyland knows that this area is a high traffic area even in the offseason. It is particularly bad because on the sides of the path you have the extended queues of Star Tours and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and smack in the middel is the Astro Orbiter and it's switchbacks. I have to admit though that I do think the rock work at the entrance gives it a kind of epic look but I don't mind those leaving either.

from Yesterland.com

Now to jump onto my soapbox, I would much rather have the Peoplemover/Rocket Rods track worked on and the Peoplemover returned to it's rightful place. I know they would have to spend money on the track but is it really that hard to replace? Also consider that it doesn't need a real queue as it is such a fast loading people eater that you can basically just install a moving ramp up to it, like at Walt Disney World. Personally, I loved the Peoplemover and every trip I've made to WDW, the Peoplemover is the attraction I ride the most. It's so easy going and you get a great sight of all of Tomorrowland. It would be perfect to return to Disneyland. Not to mention, Disney fans have been begging for it's return since it left. We might get lucky though since as announced at the Shareholders meeting, we are finally getting the one Pixar sequel we all wanted the Incredibles.

from Yesterland.com

Also when it comes to the Star Wars Tomorrowland retheming or even going as far back as the Avengers Tomorrowland retheming, I don't like the idea of retheming all of Tomorrowland as a franchise. I believe more so in Disneyland Paris and to a lesser extent WDW's "Tomorrowland That Never Was". It's true that it's hard to not date yourself with a land of tomorrow theming but it works so well to be the "tomorrow that never was." It would be easier too to explain having the Avengers, Buzz Lightyear, Star Wars, Tron, and even Captain EO all in the same place under this theme.

Let me also add that the proposed area that the Astro Orbiter would go would block out the sight of Space Mountain. This is such an iconic showbuilding. So personally I hope we just get a return to the old Astro Orbiter or Rocket Jets. Couple that with a return of the Peoplemover and you've got a little kinetic energy to the entrance sight line.

Also the Orbitron needs to go.

And for my brother, Hunter, let's add Alien Encounter somewhere.

from Endorexpress.net

So this will wrap it up for this first Hearsay and Rumors post, what did you think? 

Leave a comment, 

tweet me at twitter.com/giodisney 

or email me at giodisney113@gmail.com

Thanks for reading,

Josh

Late on the Scene: Star Wars Episode VII: Super 8

Hey there, sorry, it's been about two weeks since I have blogged a thing. On January 25, 2013, Walt Disney Studios announced that they had selected a director for Star Wars: Episode VII. In a great surprise, it turned out to be one of the first directors who counted himself out of the race, J.J. Abrams. Now how this will effect the look and feel of Star Wars is yet to be seen but I had some thoughts on the issue.
I was first of all surprised that they would have selected the guy who is doing the Star Trek films to do Star Wars too. I know a lot of people gripe that what the prequel trilogy of Star Wars needed was George Lucas to step back because he was way too concerned with effects than story but are we really going to let someone control all Sci Fi? J.J. Abrams already has the Star Trek franchise, so are we going to see a crossover of themes and look?

And don't get me started with the look. I really hope Abrams doesn't bring his camera flare to Star Wars. It will be a huge detractor. I feel his directorial style is just too artsy for Star Wars. Star Wars is filmed more cinematic look (the original trilogy anyway).

I do have some positives though. I love that Abrams is more about practicals than special effects. I also love his films' storytelling. It will be nice to have an interwoven Star Wars universe again, where the writing will be written out in advance, rather than mangled together. I hope that they are planning to write it in a somewhat Lost sense, where you there are hints of things to come all through the first couple films.

Well, no matter what I think or anyone thinks, this is happening. I must say, if I see a Darth Locke in Star Wars: Episode VII, I'd be content!