Toon Talk: Tomorrowland: Disney in Space and Beyond DVD - May 17, 2004

Toon Talk: Tomorrowland: Disney in Space and Beyond DVD
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From "Man in Space"
(c) Disney

Bonus Features:

Tying together all the aspects of the set are a pair of new interviews by Maltin with two men who played important parts in Walt’s life, especially in regards to his looks at the future.

  • The Optimistic Futurist: An Interview with Ray Bradbury: Bradbury, the acclaimed author of such science fiction classics as The Martian Chronicles and Fahrenheit 451, was a longtime friend of Walt’s and, as he states, a “kindred spirit�?. He relates how these programs helped stir public enthusiasm for the then new space program, and how he was instrumental in the creation of Spaceship Earth at EPCOT Center, the “permanent World’s Fair�?.
  • Marty Sklar, Walt and EPCOT: Sklar, the current head of WDI who has been with the company since the early days of Disneyland, shares memories on why Walt hated the original Tomorrowland, his involvement with the 1964 New York World’s Fair, and how Walt’s EPCOT (which Sklar said should have been called “Waltopia�?) evolved into the EPCOT Center theme park, although the details here are a bit skimpy.

Rounding out the collection are three Galleries, with Maltin’s commentary on select images.

  • Publicity: Includes material for Man in Space’s theatrical release and artwork from various publications inspired by these programs, such as textbooks and comics.
  • Behind the Scenes: Candid shots of key figures involved with the projects (including Walt ‘sparring’ with Garco the Robot), as well as close-up looks at the various spacecraft models used.
  • Story and Background Art: The first three Tomorrowland shows are represented here through storyboard and concept art. As seen here, it is apparent that a lot of effort was put into each of these programs, including the most new animation produced for the Disneyland series.

Toon Talk Rating: B+

The Toon Talk Top 10 - Men on the Moon:

Famous Disney astronauts and other space travelers:

  1. Captain Richmond Talbot (Tom Tryon) in Moon Pilot (1962).
  2. ZUNAR J5/90 DORIC FOURSEVEN (a.k.a. Jake) in The Cat from Outer Space (1978).
  3. Tom Trimble (Dennis Dugan) in Unidentified Flying Oddball (1979).
  4. The Cast of The Black Hole (1979), including Maximilian Schell, Robert Forster, Anthony Perkins, Ernest Borgnine, Yvette Mimieux and Joseph Bottoms.
  5. Joey Cramer (David Freeman) in Flight of the Navigator (1986).
  6. Buzz Lightyear (voice of Tim Allen) in Toy Story (1995) and Toy Story 2 (1999).
  7. Fred Z. Randall (Harland Williams) in RocketMan (1997).
  8. Uncle Martin (Christopher Lloyd) in My Favorite Martian (1999).
  9. Half the Cast of Lilo and Stitch (2002), including Chris Sanders, David Ogden-Stiers, Kevin McDonald, Zoe Caldwell and Kevin Michael Richardson.
  10. The Cast of Treasure Planet (2002), including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Brian Murray, Emma Thompson, David Hyde Pierce, Martin Short and Roscoe Lee Browne.

Coming Soon in Toon Talk:

  • Part 4 of the long awaited ‘third wave’ of Walt Disney Treasures DVDs, available May 18th: The Chronological Donald Volume 1 (35 shorts from 1934 to 1941).
  • Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz are joined by John Cleese, Julie Andrews and Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots in DreamWorks’ Shrek 2, the sequel to the blockbuster Oscar-winner, opening May 19th.
  • Return for another trip Around the World in 80 Days, the latest re-telling of the Jules Verne classic, starring Ella Enchanted’s Steve Coogan, Shanghai Knights’ Jackie Chan and Iris’ Jim Broadbent, June 16th.

And Coming Soon from Buena Vista Home Video:

  • June 1st: From the vaults, such Disney favorites as Candleshoe (starring Jodie Foster and David Niven), A Far Off Place (Reese Witherspoon and Maximilian Schell), Flight of the Navigator (Joey Cramer and Sarah Jessica Parker), the original Freaky Friday (Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris) and the classic Sherman Brothers musical The Happiest Millionaire (Fred MacMurray, Tommy Steele, Leslie Ann Warren, John Davidson, Greer Garson and Geraldine Page), as well as a Freaky Friday two-pack DVD set (including both the original and the remake) and the Herbie the Love Bug Collection, a five disc set including the Love Bug Special Edition and it’s three theatrical sequels. Also available: Ernest Goes to School (Jim Varney), A Saintly Switch (Vivica A. Fox), Power Rangers: Dinothunder and special edition sets for Miramax’s Flirting with Disaster (Ben Stiller), Cop Land (Sylvester Stallone) and the contemporary classic Trainspotting (Ewan McGregor).
  • Brazil’s surprise Oscar nominee City of God finally arrives on DVD June 8th.
  • Teacher’s Pet, the recent animated musical comedy featuring the voice of Nathan Lane, makes its DVD debut June 15th.

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-- Kirby C. Holt
-- Logo by William C Searcy, Magic Bear Graphics

Kirby is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. He is also an avid list maker and chronic ellipsis user ...

Took Talk: Disney Film & Video Reviews by Kirby C. Holt is posted whenever there's something new to review.

The opinions expressed by our Kirby C. Holt, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.

-- Posted May 17, 2004

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