Hi Friends. Martin here. Today I'll be talking about my day at the D23 2015 EXPO. I went on Saturday August 15th. I got to see the live action panel of upcoming movies for the next rwo
years. The live action version of THE JUNGLE BOOK looks great as does ALICE THRU
THE LOOKING GLASS. As a special treat JOHNNY DEPP showed up as CAPTAIN JACK
SPARROW who introduced aq clip from PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN
TELL NO TALES. That looks awesome.  MIA WASIKOWSKA was there to talk about
ALICE THRU THE LOOKING GLASS. Again that one looks as well. Also there was
CHRIS EVANS & ANTHONY MACKIE to talk about CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL
WAR. CHRIS PINE was to talk about a film called THE FINEST HOURS. Based on a
true story of a incident that happen in the 1960'S. In CAPTAIN AMERICA 3 IRON MAN
(ROBERT DOWNEY JR) makes an appearence CIVAL WAR. For the finale of the event
J.J. ABRAMS was there to introduce the cast of STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS.
OSCARR ISSACS, LUPITA NYANGO, & as a surprise HARRISON FORD. We all
stood up and cheered for HARRISON as he entered the room. Then after that the president
of the WALT DISNEY COMPANY announced the building of the new STAR WARS
themed lands. Before I forget BEN KINGSLEY was there to talk about the live action
version of THE JUNGLE BOOK. He's rhe voice of BAGHERRA in the film. We also
saw clips of the new PETE'S DRAGON & BEAUTY & THE BEAST. BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD was there for PETE'S DRAGON. This PETE'S DRAGON is not a musical.
Repeat not a musical. That's pissing off a lot of fans of the original because the songs
in the original were the best thing about the original film. Later that night I got to see a panel
talk with THE EVIL QUEEN & SNOW WHITE  from ONCE UPON A TIME. We got
a sneek peak at upcoming season with EMMA SWANN now known as THE DARK
SWANN. The new season will also bring us the princess MERIDA from BRAVE.
She will be the first PIXAR character to be featured in ONCE UPON A TIME.
Well tha's all I have to say about THE D23 EXPO OF 2015. It's just too bad
that they happen every two years. The next one will be in 2017. Until
THE D23 EXPO OF 2017 enjoy the upcoming movies and I hope to see
you in 2017.

Hi friends. Here's my late review of MERYL STREEPS new movie RICKI & THE FLASH. Since I
didn't have this blog last year I'll also be talking about the musical INTO THE WOODS.








                                                              RICKI & THE FLASH


                           Diablo Cody has done it again. RICKI & THE FLASH is her best
                           screenplay since JUNO. Meryl Streep shines as an aging rocker
                           who when she was younger leaves her family to pursue her singing
                           career. Cut to many years later her ex husband calls her home for
                           daughter who's going through a messy divorce. Meryl's real life
                           daughter Maime Gummer plays her daughter in the film.
                          It's also nice to see KEVIN KLINE back on the big screen. He made
                          his big screen come back in a movie called LAST VEGAS, He's also
                         working with Meryl for the second time since 1982'S SOPHIE'S CHOICE.
                         It's been a good year for Meryl's two duaghter's. Meryl's other daughter
                        Grace Gummer is on the Hallee Berry show EXTANT as a villian.
                       Diablo Cody has written other screenplays for movies such as
                      JENNIFER'S BODY & PARADISE. She also directed PARADISE
                      which starred Julieanne Hough, Russell Brand, & Octavia Spencer.
                     With JENNIFER'S BODY Diablo wrote the famous kissing scene
                   between MEGAN FOX & AMANDA SEYFRIED. Up next for
                 KEVIN KLINE is playing Maurice Belle's father in the live action
                version of the Disney animated & broadway hit musical BEAUTY &
                THE BEAST. Also with RICKI & THE FLASH Rick Springfield
               does a good job playing Meryl's lead guitarist. So go see RICKI & THE
             FLASH & drop me a line. I loved RICKI & THE FLASH I saw it 3 times.





















                                                        INTO THE WOODS

                          


                       Like LES MISERABLES I waited for 27 years for them to
                       make a film version of one of my favourite musicals of all
                       time. It has one of the best cast ever for a musical. But alas
                      Disney messed it up. My friends & I have come up with a
                     word for Disney when they decide to change the story. We
                     call it Disneyfiying. In the broadway version of INTO THE
                    WOODS at least 5 people die. The show has a narrator who
                    doubles as the baker's father. The baker's father dies after he
                   helps end the curse on his sons house. The second death comes
                   as a surprise when the  narrator is picked up  by the giantess
                  & is thrown across the stage.  The third death another surprise
                  as Rapunzel is steped on by the giant. The fourth death is Jack
                 from JACK AND THE BEANSTALK mother who is killed
                by the prince's steward when he hits her over the head with his
               staff. The final death is the Baker's Wife who is crushed to death
             by falling trees. The original broadway version with the great
             BERNADETTE PETERS & JOANNA GLEASON is available
             on BLU-RAY & DVD so check out the show then see the movie
           & let me know what you think of it. Meryl Streep plays the witch
            in the movie. She was good but not as good as Bernadette.
           





              So that's ,t review of RICKI & THE FLASH. No movies this
              weekend. I'll be at THE D23 EXPO on Saturday. Hope to
              see there. Next movie I'll be reviewing will be AMERICAN
              ULTRA with KRISTEN STEWART & ESSIE EISENBERG.
            So sit back & enjoy the popcorn. Oh & save me some.