Monthly Archives: February 2015

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P1020220While I was at Universal Studios Florida earlier this week I noticed that the pathway from Hollywood to the Springfield area was closed off. Cast members were redirecting guests through the Central Park pathway along the lagoon instead. Construction continues on the Garden of Allah Villas. It has been told to me that the two buildings are being connected and that's where the current construction seems to be focused. Construction pictures are below.

The latest word from Screamscape is that the inside of the buildings are being remodeled into series of conference and special event rooms. The rooms are being equipped with several monitors mounted to the walls. It doesn't seems as though anyone was right in guessing the area would be used as a Universal museum for the 25th anniversary or as a new entrance to E.T. Adventure. I'll keep posting in case of any new developments.

It also seems that Fieval’s Playland will close for a brief rehab from March 1 to March 12, 2015, so no hope of that area being rethemed or torn down any time soon. ...continue reading →

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P1020233During the slow season is when the parks like to get their annual refurbs done. At Islands of Adventure they've just completed work on Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls and Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges in Toon Lagoon. Now that things are all sparkly and new over there they've moved their attention to the Jurassic Park River Adventure and surrounding areas. Workers have been cleaning the rockwork at the big drop, painting posts and there are construction walls up all around the area. Everything is going to be all shiny and new just in time for Jurassic World to hit theaters this summer! See the pictures below. ...continue reading →

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P1020252The rockwork has finally begun over at Project 340 in Islands of Adventure.  Things are shaping up to make for a gorgeous facade. In addition to the temple gate area a flat two-dimensional "rock-like" structure is being applied to block the show building from guests inside the park. It looks like that's what will be seen looming behind the Thunder Falls restaurant in Jurassic Park, which is good, as rocks look better than another big building ruining the skyline. Construction photos from today are below!

Also, today Comcast executives let the cat out of the bag during an earnings call, confirming that Kong is in fact returning to Orlando. "As we continue to invest in attractions, including Harry Potter and Fast and Furious in Hollywood and a King Kong attraction in Orlando, investments in our theme park are driving strong returns," said Michael Angelakis, CFO, during the fourth-quarter conference call. There has not yet been an official announcement from Universal Orlando, but at this point in the construction it's pretty hard to deny what's being built. This is clearly the temple gate from Skull Island we're seeing. ...continue reading →

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kingsman-poster-mainIt's great to see a spy film that's not afraid to be fun! With all the seriousness of the newer Bond films and the darkness or realism of other new spy thrillers, it's nice to see something more akin to the earlier days: campy, fun, and a bit over the top. Of course, as with Kickass, another one of the director's recent works, this film does feature quite a bit of violent, gory, action. But a gory, campy, fun spy thriller is just what I wanted and just what I got out of this one. Super fun. Would watch again.

4.0 Stars (out of 5)

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P1020086Lately I have been noticing a bit of construction happening between the Kids Zone and Hollywood areas of Universal Studios Florida. The area is currently empty of attractions and just for show, except for the seasonal restaurant Cafe La Bamba. I remember visiting in the 90's when they had a walk-through attraction there, but I always wondered what would come of the area. Now it seems something is happening , so I thought it might be a good time to look into the history (and future) of the Garden of Allah area. Be sure to also check out the construction update below to see how it's looking now! Continue Reading...garden-of-allah ...continue reading →

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The_Voices_Movie_Poster_Ryan_ReynoldsThis film constantly straddles the line between comedy and horrific drama. Long sequences of dark humor are always interrupted by the shock of dark reality, usually seen through the eyes of another character. While I thought it was an interesting take on the subject matter, I can see how it could turn off general audiences just looking for a straight comedy or horror film. Ryan Reynolds gives one of, if not the best, performances of his career. It's incredible that he actually plays both of the animals' voices as well as the main character. It's definitely an interesting film, seen from the point of view of someone who may be crazy, knows he is, but really wishes he wasn't.

3.0 Stars (out of 5)

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jupiter_ascending_movie_poster_2Despite all of the bad reviews I have seen I still had to see it. I'm a fan of the Wachowskis' works, even though they've all been somewhat terrible since the first Matrix film, (which I now assume was just a fluke). Even though their films tend to do terribly at the box office and are panned by critics, I still find them fascinating, in one way or another. Jupiter Ascending is no exception. Like Cloud Atlas before it, this film tries so very hard to tell a simple enough story in a most complicated way. As many critics have pointed out, the visuals are done quite well, and this film had some of the best action sequences they've pulled off since the highway chase in the second Matrix film. It wasn't the visual spectacles or action that interested me this time, but more the way they used science-fiction to tell a story of people in power and their greed winning over compassion for others. Beneath the strange face of the film, under the facade of silly looking genetic hybrid people, lies a story of a few families so wealthy and so well-connected that they feel they can do whatever they choose, and that rules, or ethics do not apply to them. Under the guise of a space opera may be the film's main ideas and concepts, that are more akin to our current world than meets the eye.

3.5 Stars (out of 5)

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P1020123In checking in on the construction progress at the site of Project 340 in Islands of Adventure, it looks like rockwork for the facade is about to be applied. The steel skeleton has been wrapped in some sort of cloth and then a wire mesh that resembles a tough chicken-wire, to maintain its shape. In addition to the huge facade, a two-dimensional cutout of what looks like rough rocks has been added behind the gate to block the view of top of the show building. This flat piece is being wrapped in weather-proof materials in preparation for its forthcoming aesthetic covering. Check out today's Construction photo report below and be sure to subscribe for more updates! ...continue reading →

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project_almanac_posterI haven't met a time travel movie I didn't like, and while this one tries its hardest to make me not like it at times, I couldn't help but still enjoy it. Like the first half of Chronicle showed what teenagers would do with superpowers, this film perfectly illustrates what they would do with a time machine. Much of it is enjoyable enough: watching them build a time machine, then use it for fun, win the lottery, etc., but the third act is thin, not really delving into the consequences of their actions. And I wasn't that impressed with the way it's wrapped up in the end. Still, I liked it. Didn't realize going in that it was in found footage style, which may have run its course, but wasn't too distracting for me.

3.0 Stars (out of 5)