Event Review: Disney On Ice Presents Rockin’ Ever After – Amway Center, Orlando FL

Disney on Ice presents ROCKIN’ EVER AFTER
Sep 7 2012 at 7:30 pm
Amway Center, Orlando FL
Produced by: Feld Entertainment
Running Time: 2 hours with intermission

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

I have been attending Disney on Ice events for about 30 years now and I still enjoy them every time. Now having a daughter of my own (only 3 months old though), I am looking forward to introducing her to this event next year, hopefully just like my parents did for me. “Disney On Ice Presents Rockin’ Ever After” was the perfect event for any little girl…oops sorry, I mean Princess. There were many little princesses all around the Amway Center, I just couldn’t help but thinking about my daughter in those costumes. This event honestly though has been my favorite in many years.  There was something about it that just really engaged the audience, yes even the adults too!  The songs are just amazing and timeless. I can’t wait to see what they do next with Disney on Ice. I am not sure how they will top this one though?!!

The basis story for the show features Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy introducing different talent as they “compete” to be the next superstar.  The princesses that take the spotlight in this show are Ariel, Rapunzel, Belle, and Merida from Disney•Pixar’s BRAVE in her ice debut!.  Like I said this show was amped up from last year.  There was something about the costumes that just really stood out and shined.  I really enjoyed the re-imagination of the characters wardrobe, especially for “The Little Mermaid” section. While on “Little Mermaid”, it stood out from the others being the only part of the show that used non-Disney music.  They had a nice blend of 80’s music including Madonna, with the classic songs.  “The Little Mermaid” also really stood out for its great use of black light on the environment and its skaters.

I am a huge Rapunzel fan personally, I feel that they did the “Tangled” portion up really well.  I thought the way they changed up the “The Ugly Duckling” scene into a dream sequence was very clever.  I also really enjoyed the way the lantern scene was presented. Merida from Disney•Pixar’s BRAVE was up next after the intermission in her ice debut!  They did a good job of working this section into a story being told by Mickey to his friends.  This way they were able to tell the story and leave out the witch and the bear aspects of the film.  It really flowed well.  Lastly, what better way to end then with “Beauty and the Beast”, one of my favorite films of all time.  This story is timeless and always warms your heart.  I should note it is also the only one out of the four that included the final showdown between good and evil, or Beast and Gaston in this case.  Of course then as usual Mickey and his friends closed the show and what an ending it was.  I had a hard time getting up, hoping that there would be more.  Oh well, have to wait till next year.

If you are interested in catching this great event while it visits the Amway Center in Orlando FL from September 7th-9th, 2012.  Click here for tickets and more details.

Here are a few pics that we were able to snap throughout the show, hope you enjoy!

For more information, visit us at: http://www.DisneyOnIce.com
Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DisneyOnIce
Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DisneyOnIce

 

Related Content

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Theatre Reviews Tagged With: amway, center, disney, event, fl, ice, ...

Blu-ray Review “Nazis at the Center of the Earth”

Directed by: Joseph Lawson
Starring: Dominique Swain, Jake Busey, Josh Allen, Christopher Karl Johnson
Distributed by: The Asylum Home Entertainment
Release Date: April 24, 2012
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running time: 90 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

With a title like “Nazis at the Center of the Earth”, how can you obviously not be attracted to this film. Throw in zombie Nazis and a robot Hitler and you are in for a real treat. The Asylum is known for these low-budget gems. This film is made with a smirky grin and is one hell of a great time. The special effects are not bad for a film made for under $500K and do I need to repeat there is a robot Hitler in this film. If that doesn’t make you laugh and drawn to this film then this is not for you obviously.

The film follows a group of researchers in Antarctica who fall through the center of the earth and are abducted by a platoon of gas-masked Nazi soldiers. They find that in this hidden continent in the center of the Earth, they discover that Josef Mengele and group of surviving Nazi soldiers are plotting the return of Hitler using advance technology.  They are also planning the invasion of Earth in a UFO spaceship in order to create a Fourth Reich. Sounds fun right?

The Blu-ray looks and sounds great for this low-budget film. The 1080p transfer looks sharp, clear and works well with the film’s visual effects and action scenes. The audio works well with its Dolby Digital 5.1 track and rocks it with the action scenes. I commend Asylum for continuously releasing their films on Blu-ray and really embracing the format even though the film’s are low-budget.

The special features are also decent like the film. There is an audio commentary from Joseph Lawson. It is very entertaining and a real treat. Must listen for fans of the film. There is a brief featurette about the film’s Pre-Production featuring cast and crew interviews. There is a another feature called “Cast & Locations” which focuses on the shooting locations. There is a featurette on the film’s Production looking into the special effects used in the film. Lastly there is a funny Gag Reel and additional trailers for titles from The Asylum.

 

Related Content

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, center, earth, nazis, review

Aretha Franklin fills Kauffman Center with Soul

Photo by: Patrick Howell courtesy of Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

Aretha Franklin
Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Kansas City, Missouri
May 8, 2012

A few years ago, “Rolling Stone” magazine published a list of the 100 greatest voices in rock and roll history.  No surprise that number one went to the Queen of Soul herself, Ms. Aretha Franklin.  At the beautiful Kauffman Center in Kansas City, her majesty held court for a sold out audience.  And she didn’t disappoint.

Cloaked in a fur coat and carrying her pocketbook, as if she was just stopping by to say hello, Ms. Franklin opened her show with a rousing version of Jackie Wilson’s “(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher.”  For the next hour and a half she regaled the audience with many of her hits (“Think,” “Chain of Fools”) as well as some surprises.

The show went off without a hitch.  Almost.  After her second number Ms. Franklin requested that the stage airconditioning be turned off, threatening to leave the stage if it wasn’t.  “I came to give Kansas City my best performance,” she informed the unknown tech, again requesting the a/c be cut.  Thankfully for all in attendance it was.  Later in the show one of her bracelets fell off.  She eventually enlisted the help of her band director, who refastened it to much applause.

Ms. Franklin was in fine voice, hitting all of the notes the audience expected.  She kicked off the second act of her show by sitting down at the piano and paying tribute to one of her mentors, the late, great Sam Cooke.  While images of Cooke were shown on the video screen, Ms. Franklin sang one of Cooke’s biggest hits, “You Send Me.”  “Jesus” she said, as shots of the handsome Cooke filled the screen, “he was a fine man!”  She followed up with a moving tribute

Photo by: Tim Hursley

to the late Whitney Houston, singing a few bars of “I Will Always Love You.”  She concluded the second act with an audience favorite, “Freeway of Love.”

For her encore she informed the audience that the other night she had seen one of her five favorite films on television (among her favorites: “Dr. Zhivago,” “The Thomas Crown Affair” and “Lady Sings the Blues.”  I can only assume one of them is “The Blues Brothers.”)  She then delivered a moving version of “The Way We Were.”  She concluded the evening with her signature number, “Respect.”

On a side note, I must add here that this was my first visit to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and it was easily one of the most beautiful venues I’ve attended an event at, The complex, along with the Sprint Center, is one of the crown jewels in Kansas City’s performing arts crown.

SET LIST:  (Your Love Is Lifting Me) Higher and Higher, Share Your Love with Me, Think, Baby I Love You, Something He Can Feel, Chain of Fools, Ain’t No Way, Instrumental Highlights (the band was TIGHT), Find Me An Angel, Help Me Lift Him Up, You Send Me, I Will Always Love You, Freeway of Love.  ENCORE:  The Way We Were, Respect.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Concert Reviews Tagged With: aretha, center, fills, franklin, kauffman, soul, ...

Van Halen Heads to Amway Center This April with Special Guest Kool & The Gang

The boys are back! One of the greatest rock bands of all time, Van Halen will rock the Amway Center on Apr 12 2012 at 7:30 pm. The lineup features David Lee Roth, along with Eddie, Alex and Wolfgang Van Halen. They will also be joined by special guest Kool & The Gang. As band, they’ve had more number #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart than any other in history.

After performing at the world famous Cafe Wha? January 5th in New York City to announce their upcoming world tour, the Big Apple Press roundly applauded as fans and followers posted videos and photos of Van Halen’s unique first show opening. The band continues its campaign with the release of its brand new studio album A Different Kind Of Truth on February 7th.

Van Halen’s new single, “Tattoo” has been played on more than 160 stations since its release on January 10th. Currently, it’s #1 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Singles chart, #1 Most Played Song at Classic Rock Radio in its first week and #1 Most Added song at Mainstream and Active Rock Radio.

A Different Kind Of Truth was released in the U.S. by Interscope Records on February 7th. The album is Van Halen’s first original studio album with singer David Lee Roth since the band’s diamond certified album 1984.

“Van Halen is still one of the most limber bands in hard rock, with a higher center of gravity than most.” New York Times

VIP Packages are also available through VIP Nation, including premium seats, exclusive merchandise and more. For more information please visit: VIP Nation.

On Sale: On Sale Now

Ticket Prices: $27.50, $47.50, $77.50, $147 | All tickets are subject to applicable taxes, service, handling and facility fee charges.

Buy Tickets: online now here or at the Amway Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling 800.745.3000.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Music Headlines Tagged With: anmway, april, center, gang, guest, halen, ...

Concert Review “Jimmy Buffett: Welcome to Fin Land Tour 2012” Anway Center, Orlando FL

Artist: Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band
Date: February 4th, 2012
Venue: Amway Center- Orlando, FL
Tour: Welcome to Fin Land

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

I have been a fan of Jimmy Buffett for at least the past 15 years or so but I am embarrassed to say that I have never attended a live concert. Now if you are Buffett fan or a Parrothead as they are called you know that it is the only way to party and listen to his music. Let me tell you one thing, FL knows how to party. It was quite an experience and I have to say Jimmy Buffett and his band, The Coral Reefers, really know how to put on a performance. There was so much energy in the Amway Center,  it was extremely infectious.

You know you are going to have a great time that before the concert even begins within the audience there is probably around 50 beach balls flying in every single direction. When Jimmy and the band takes the stand you just couldn’t help but shoot up out of your seat and scream! For someone like Jimmy Buffett that has been touring since 1976, you would think that this was his first time out. He sang his songs, barefoot, and did not stop smiling and grinning the entire time. You can just tell when someone is enjoying themselves and it definitely translates into the audience’s participation as well.

About 30 minutes into the 2+ hour concert, my wife turned and looked at me and said “what songs is he going to sing for an encore, he is playing all the good ones now”. It just a small reflection of how the night was going to pan out. The set list was absolutely fantastic, totaling 24 songs and 3 in the encore.  He kicked it off with all of my favorites songs and didn’t let up for one single second. It was just song after song and hit after hit. After years of listening to the concerts live on SiriusXM Margaritaville, I am very happy that I finally got the chance to experience the wonder that is Jimmy Buffett.  I think there might be only one small problem…I might be hooked. Until next time Mr. Buffett…

Set List:
  1. The Wino and I Know
  2. License to Chill
  3. It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere
  4. Pencil Thin Mustache
  5. Come Monday
  6. Life Is Just a Tire Swing
  7. Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
  8. Grapefruit—Juicy Fruit
  9. Bama Breeze
  10. Volcano
  11. Cheeseburger in Paradise
  12. One Particular Harbour
  13. Creola
  14. Floridays
  15. Why Don’t We Get Drunk
  16. Margaritaville
  17. Son of a Son of a Sailor
  18. School Boy Heart
  19. Last Mango in Paris
  20. Knee Deep
  21. Woman Goin’ Crazy on Caroline Street
  22. A Pirate Looks at Forty
  23. Back Where I Come From (Mac McAnally cover)
  24. Southern Cross (Crosby, Stills & Nash cover)
Encore:
  1. Fins
  2. Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison cover)
  3. Tin Cup Chalice

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Concert Reviews Tagged With: 2012, anway, buffett, center, concert, fin, ...
« sdf
Previous
Page 3 of 3