Saving Mr. Disney

Last week I had the pleasure of viewing Saving Mr Banks, the historical drama staring Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks, which details the development of the 1964 Walt Disney studios film, and subsequently P. L. Travers’ fortnight long stay in Los Angeles as she is persuaded by Walt Disney, to sign over the screen rights to her novels.

 Leaving the cinemas after the two hour long film, I felt a mix of emotions. As well as showing the audience the troubles of developing the film, we see Travers childhood. Being non-linear, the plot travels between California in the 1960’s and Outback Australia in the 1900’s, giving us insight into why Travers is the way she is. The audience watches as her father fights a losing battle with alcoholism, and as Travers (nicknamed ‘Ginty’ by her father) watches her mother attempt suicide. 

 Admits the sorrow I felt for the Travers character, the screen lit up every time Hanks featured on the screen. The emotions I felt where the same I feel every time I enter a Disneyland, or watch a Walt Disney Animations film. Pure joy and inspiration to create. And I could tell the rest of the audience where loving the Hanks scenes, one in particular where Travers and Disney go to the park for a ride on King Arthur’s Carrousel. 

 Upon arriving home, I decided to do a quick google search on both of the interesting characters, and discovered that Tom Hanks is the first man to ever play the icon, Walter Elias Disney. Some one hundred years after his birth, and nearly fifty years since his death , and it’s only now we get to see a tiny behind-the-scenes look at a man who brought joy to so many children’s living rooms. 

 And it isn’t like there is not enough material to make a film on the legend. Walt Disney, although having a relatively short life, had many aspirations and completed a lot in his life time. The film could be able to show his early life and work with the red Cross, his beginnings in animation and the development of Mickey Mouse, being a pioneer of feature film length animations, creating Disneyland, his personnel life with Lillian Disney and his dark sides, and unfortunate death.

 Casting would be easy, as Tom Hanks has already been proven perfect for the role, and maybe even Emma Thompson could make a small cameo. It would be a nice touch.

 

@kingsleyyy

so as we should all know by now, Kingsley has announced that 2014 will be his final year on youtube. His reasoning is totally fair and I can understand why he needs to move on with his life. Although it must be had for his like ultra-mega-super fans to accept.

But what he has said is right. So many “vloggers” on youtube are just there for the fame and the number of subs and to basically work their way up the ladder. The reason I started making videos in November was cause I felt like I didn’t have many people that would listen to me talk about what I really wanted to talk about, and if there was someone out their on the internet willing to listen, then that’s just a bonus. It really shows what youtube (for the majority) is all about these days when I told a friend that I started making videos and her reaction was “sick, so you can get famous?”

Another thing I admire about Kingsley is that he isn’t gonna pretend to like other youtubers just for the sake of being friends with everyone. I’m not saying he is rude to others, but what I like is he isn’t willing to waste time sucking up to others to do “colab’s” and “challenges” for the opportunity to reach new subscribers. There are a lot of bloggers that I feel in a way “use each other”. They all play best friends and basically do collaborations  with each other every single week. They mustn’t be very entertaining in the first place, if they have to really on the same people to appear with them every single week. And kingsley isn’t afraid to call them out on their bullshit. He mentioned in his announcement interview that “there are still some kick ass people on YouTube whose heads haven’t flown to space with Sandra Bullock.” Which is so true. Yes, I understand we live in a age where some on youtube are more regarded that reality stars now days, but that doesn’t mean you all have to have a massive ego. Calm down, we get it you reached 700,000 subs, you don’t need to do a #ask[insert youtube users name] every week to celebrate your new found fame.

to sum this all up, Kingsley is a God and has enough balls to call other youtubers out on the bullshit they spin for 365 days a year.

Justin Bieber’s ‘retirement’ tweet was a joke, and so is his album sales in Australia

The Canadian pop star’s tweet, which was retweeted by over 300,000 accounts, has now been claimed to be a prank. One which his fans were not really amused by. It becomes clear that this was most likely a stunt pulled by Justin’s team, to get the world talking again, right before his new compilation album, ‘Journals’, and new film, ‘Believe’, were released. 

 

All the publicity in the world could not help Bieber at the moment though. His newest album includes the ten singles he promoted during ‘Music Mondays’ and five new tracks. The ten songs released between the months of October and December did not sell that well themselves, so it was no shock that ‘Journals’, which features many of the songs all ready released, only sold 4607 copies in Australia and debuted at number 35 on the ARIA Charts. To put things into comparison, in the lead up to Christmas, Beyonce’s self titled visual album sold 26,904 copies. 

 

Making things worse, the sequel to the successful ‘Never Say Never’, did not pull in the kind of money at the Box Office that his management was hoping for. The music doco only pulled in $3.1 million, in North America, during its first three days, and is only expected to make $4.5 over its five day debut. The numbers would be disappointing when comparing to ‘Never Say Never’, which earned $29.5 Million on debut, and went on to become the highest grossing concert film of all time in America.

 

This is strange as I feel that some of the stuff on ‘Journals’, is his strongest yet. I consider Heartbreaker to one of the best songs I’ve heard Justin sing, and Bad Day and All That Matters, have more personnel content when compared to hit singles Boyfriend and Baby. Maybe a early retirement wouldn’t of been the worse thing for Bieber, as he would of been able to quit while on top, or maybe the recent bad press and dismal sales will spur him on to come back better than ever. Only time will tell.

 

Youtuber Tyler Oakley reaches three million subscribers

Congratulations Tyler on reaching this amazing milestone, which comes only six months after you reached one million subscribers. The self proclaimed ‘professional fangirl’ and huge directioner has been on youtube for over five years now entertaining the masses and making us laugh along the way. To celebrate I will look back at my favourite video’s of Tyler’s.

 

 

5. Twin Twinks Learn Gay Slang – This video had me laughing and Tyler blushing the whole way through. Tyler is joined by Jack and Finn Harries(JacksGap) where they discuss gay slang. What follows is hilarious.

4. The Tumblr Tag Challenge – Although the video is not extremely better or worse than any of Tyler’s videos (as anything Tyler makes is fine by me), this is more on the list as the first time Tyler and Australian actor/singer/vlogger Troye Sivan appear on camera together. The pair have became friends through youtube and are now collectively known as troyler. 

3. Where The Magic Happens: Apartment Tour 2012 – Tyler takes us in for a look in his apartment, MTV Cribs style. Featuring Tyler’s roommate and longtime friend Korey, we get a look at their crib and are served up multiply Lady Gaga references.

2. Chicken Nugget Challenge – Once again featuring friend, roommate and longtime collaborator, Korey and Tyler try to consume 50 nuggets each within twenty minuets. Both are about to throw up by the end of things, but it is the hilarious banter between the pair that makes me laugh at the top of my lungs every time I watch. 

1. Draw My Life: Tyler Oakley – To say thank you to his fans in celebration of hitting one million subscribers, Tyler shares with us his life story.

Links:

http://www.youtube.com/user/tyleroakley/featured

         Twin Twinks Learn Gay Slang (ft. JacksGap) | Tyler Oakley     

The Tumblr Tag Challenge (ft. Troye Sivan) | Tyler Oakley     

         Where The Magic Happens: Apartment Tour 2012     

         The Chicken Nugget Challenge | Tyler Oakley     

         Draw My Life: Tyler Oakley     

Entertainment Weekly Issue #1291/#1292 – Best & Worst of 2013

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In their latest issue, Entertainment Weekly look back at the best & worst pop culture moments of 2013. Everything you can think of is there including, Miley’s swinging Wrecking Ball, HIMYM’s final season, Beyonce at the Superbowl, Superman’s return to the big screen and remembering those who had passed away during the year. The issue is on news stands this Friday.

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Image Credit: Entertainment Weekly / ew.com

What to watch in 2014

With all three major Australian networks having released their 2014 highlights, I’ve decided to sort through them and look at what I will be tuning in for next year. At the top of my list INXS: Never Tear Us Apart from the Seven Network. It stars Luke Arnold as the band’s lead singer Michael Hutchence and features Hugh Sheridan (Packed to the Rafters) and 2012 X Factor Australia winner Samantha Jade. I have a great deal of confidence in the program as it has gained approval from the band itself. Also on Seven is the return of reality series House Rules. Due to its scheduling against the Nine network favourite The Block, I was unable to view the first season. Looking forward to checking it out the second time around.

 

My picks from the Nine Network are their new drama series Love Child and what can be seen as the true sequel to the original Underbelly, Fat Tony & Co. Set in Kings Cross during the late 1960’s, Love Child is a powerful and uplifting new drama series which tells the stories of young women and men fighting an unjust system in a world on the brink of change. Features Jessica Marais, Jonathan LaPaglia and Mandy McElhinney. The new series based on the true story of Tony Mokbel sees the return of Robert Mammone, Vince Colosimo, Gyton Grantley, and Les Hill back to our screens as gangland figures Tony Mokbel, Alphonse Gangitano, Carl Williams and Jason Moran respectively.

 

On Network Ten is Secrets & Lies a six part series which Ten is calling event TV at its best. Back in 2014 is So You Think You Can Dance Australia and Puberty Blues.