Michaela Jaé Rodriguez and Matt Czuchry have joined the cast of the 12th season of American Horror Story. What’s Happening: Through separate reports from Deadline, it has been confirmed that Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (Pose) and Matt Czuchry (The Resident) have joined the upcoming season of the hit FX anthology series. The latest season of Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s […]
After watching “Peter Pan and Wendy,” I finally get why Disney is making live action remakes of their animated classics. It’s not to honor the original, but to correct the problems that some people have with the original. And by doing so, they show it is Disney who has the biggest problem with the original narrative, depiction of characters, or societal views.
When you watch the original Disney animated classic on Disney+, you will be greeted with a warning that states: “This program contains negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. They were wrong then and are wrong now. Rather than remove the content, we want to acknowledge the harmful impact, learn from it, and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together,” before the film starts. There is no such warning before “Peter Pan and Wendy,” implying that, theoretically, everyone should be happy with the newer version because it corrects everything that was wrong with the original.
But is it a better film? The simple answer is no. It’s a typical Disney live action remake.
What surprised me about “Peter Pan and Wendy” is how radically different it is from the original Disney animated film. Walt Disney took liberties with the original, too, so you can’t totally fault the new version for all the changes. In fact, some of the changes are more faithful to the original story written by J.M. Barrie. My problem is that Peter is not the central character in his own story — it’s Wendy. (Though, perhaps our expectations should have been different, given that they added Wendy’s name to the title.)
Wendy, played by Ever Anderson, is more of a leader in this version, though she comes off as tough and uncaring at times. She rarely smiles and is troubled by the era-appropriate expectations of becoming a lady.
In this version, she’s bothered that her parents are sending her to boarding school and expect her to be on the path to adulthood. I don’t think Wendy comes across as likable; instead, she’s mad that the whole world is seemingly against her. That is a mistake; in my eyes, Wendy was the mother figure and voice of reason in the original. Here, she becomes the hero.
Then there is Peter. Alexander Molony plays him, and there is no sugarcoating his performance — awful. His portrayal is emotionless, boring, and often robotic like he’s reading lines off of cue cards. He has no real presence or impact with his performance. If the director instructed Molony to play the character like Mr. Spock, then mission accomplished. But that is not Peter Pan to so many.
Peter should be the child that never grew up, but in this version, Peter seems more like he is miserable, never smiles, and doesn’t know how to have fun. He also comes off as though he wishes he was anywhere else but in this movie.
The one standout for me was Tinker Bell, played by Yara Shahidi. She seemed like the only character having fun and genuinely expressing joy. They radically changed Tink’s character, too, sometimes for better and sometimes for worse.
In this version, she’s not jealous of Wendy — they’re best friends. In fact, she’s seemingly even better friends with Wendy than she is with Peter, because Wendy wants to know more about Tink and to hear her speak. When Wendy finally says goodbye to Neverland, she cries more that she will miss Tink, not Peter. This underscores the impression that Peter and Wendy had no real relationship (and definitely no chemistry).
And then there is Captain Hook, played by Jude Law. I am not the biggest fan of Jude Law’s acting. He usually comes off as bored and doesn’t really push himself. And big surprise: that’s how he plays Hook.
The character is also radically changed here. This goes back to Disney’s more recent trope that there are no real villains, just misunderstood people. Some may like the change, and others may think it doesn’t work. For me, if you don’t have a strong, evil villain, you aren’t going to have a good movie.
(It should be noted that Walt Disney felt the animated version of Hook was not all bad, stating that “The audience will get to liking Hook, and they don’t want to see him killed,” as cited in “The Disney Villain” by Ollie Johnston.)
Another shocking change was the crocodile chasing after Captain Hook. First, I am shocked that no one at Disney thought to refer to the character by his name, Tick-Tock. They essentially turned the crocodile into Jaws. This is not a lovable, goofy looking crocodile to add some comic relief. This is a giant monster showing no mercy to its victims as he eats them and rips them apart. For some kids, this will be pretty scary, so exercise caution.
As I had mentioned, many characters and storylines have been radically changed from the original. Check below for a full list.
SPOILERS BEGIN
Tiger Lily, in this version, is never a damsel in distress. She is basically Rambo-lina. In fact, it’s John and Michael that are kidnapped by Hook, not Tiger Lily. Peter does not save Tiger Lily. Tiger Lily saves Peter.
To be more inclusive, The Lost Boys are both boys and girls.
Tinker Bell does not betray Peter and The Lost Boys by leading Hook to their hideout. Wendy sings a song, and Hook hears it from miles away. Tink is nothing but good in this version.
James Hook was once a Lost Boy and Peter’s best friend. He started missing his mother, and Peter banished him from the Lost Boys and Neverland forever.
Wendy does walk the plank in this version, but she is not saved by Peter. She is saved by Tinker Bell. Tink gives Wendy pixie dust that makes her fly, and Wendy basically becomes Peter Pan for the rest of the movie. According to Hook, “She has the boy’s magic.” Wendy replies, “This magic belongs to no boy,” given that both Peter and Wendy need the pixie dust from Tink to fly.
At one point, Peter can’t fly and is falling to his death, and Wendy saves him. Peter never saves Wendy.
Peter once lived in The Darling’s home before they lived in it. That’s why he visits so often.
Peter apologizes to James (Hook) for treating him so poorly. Soon after, it appears James falls to his death, and he is presumably eaten by the crocodile. Just before the movie ends, you see James and Smee floating on some of the ship’s debris. Peter comes back to rescue James, and they become friends again.
SPOILERS END
Overall, “Peter Pan and Wendy” has very little going for it, and it’s not very good.
It’s patently obvious that Disney would prefer that you watch this over the original animated “Peter Pan.” Disney wants to correct some of their former choices, and it sometimes comes off as preachy. Rafiki once said, “The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it.”
I’ll add another thing: you can’t change the past. You learn from the mistakes of the past, and you try not to repeat those same mistakes going forward. I feel that If Disney wants to promote evolved and current values, then they should write new stories and make movies that reflect positive changes.
I give “Peter Pan and Wendy” a 4/10.
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Thanks to a Freudian slip from Steve Martin, we have learned that season three of Only Murders in the Building will premiere on August 8th. What’s Happening: As reported by Variety, Steve Martin casually dropped the release date for the third season of Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building during his “You Won’t Believe What They Look Like […]
More updates have been made to CommuniCore Hall and Plaza at World Celebration, including more bright yellow sheathing.
CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza
We recently stopped into EPCOT to check on the progression of the construction at World Celebration.
Here, we can see CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza. There are lots of construction cranes and metal framing surrounding the outside of the building.
An outer metal frame is being covered with yellow sheathing.
We can also see where the future home of CommuniCore Plaza will be. It seems like they are moving dirt and paving the ground in the area there now.
This will be split between CommuniCore Hall, a flexible indoor space, and CommuniCore Plaza — an outdoor event space. A new Mickey & Friends character meet-and-greet is also set to debut.
Part of the façade on the building is covered in yellow exterior wall sheathing.
On this part of CommuniCore Hall, there is still lots of scaffolding set up to continue work on the building’s exterior.
When World Celebration is complete, it will serve as primary hub for the entire park, with new nighttime lights, exhibition spaces, music venues, and room to expand festival opportunities at EPCOT and promote an ethos of community. Spaceship Earth and Journey into Imagination with Figment are considered part of this new area, but the large space between the two attractions has been closed off for its re-envisioning over a span of several years now.
Journey of Water Inspired by Moana
We also had a bird’s eye view of the construction of Journey of Water Inspired by Moana at World Nature. The attraction looks very close to being completed.
Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana,” is scheduled to open this fall. It’s near the center of EPCOT, behind Spaceship Earth, and part of the World Nature neighborhood.
“Along with Moana as a steward of water conservation, Te Fiti is a symbol of how we should protect and nurture water wherever we find it,” Reid Ekman, Lead Concept Designer at Walt Disney Imagineering, wrote on Disney Parks Blog. “This is an important theme in Journey of Water, where guests will learn more about how water travels from our skies to the ocean, and back again. This story will unfold along a lush trail inspired by the environments and art style of the beloved Walt Disney Animation Studios film.”
Here’s a zoomed-in look at Journey of Water in EPCOT concept art. Te Fiti can be seen at the center, looking over a pool of water. Themed orb-shaped lanterns hang throughout, and water jumps across pathways to the right.
Are you looking forward to these projects to being completed at EPCOT? Let us know in the comments.
For more EPCOT construction news, check out these articles:
National Geographic’s Life Below Zero: First Alaskans is back for a second season. The series focuses on a variety of Alaska Natives and their tools to survive through the state’s harsh winters. Some of the featured Natives are: Tig Strassburg passes on knowledge and skills to his seven children. The younger Apassingoks become the village providers. […]
Join us live tonight, Sunday, April 30, at 9:00 p.m. ET or watch ParksCenter anytime on our new home, WDWNT.TV.
Each week, we cover the top stories in Disney Parks news and discuss the topics that are top of mind for the Disney community. We’re back tonight with more news and discussion surrounding the latest happenings in Disney Parks. Join us live at our new time, 9 p.m. ET!
Finally, have you ever done a character breakfast at Disney World? Our panel is going to tell you the best and worst of all the options currently available. Watch live and weigh in!
So much to cover, and we’ll pack it all into 90 minutes. You won’t want to miss this special episode of ParksCenter!
Watch PARKSCENTER Live at 9:00 P.M.
Also, our WIGS members receive a 30-minute interactive post-show each week, exclusive to our Patreon program.
Check out a recent episode of the show below.
ParksCenter is broadcast live on YouTube every Sunday, now at 9:00 p.m. ET!
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
The good news is this is OUTSIDE the parks. You’ll just need to head to the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin. Once there, head to Fuel, and look for this little station that says “Chill Out.”
Time to chill out with Dole Whip
You’ll see a sign telling you that Froyo is 68 cents per oz. so fill up your cup until your heart’s content.
Price of froyo
The machines are self-serve, so just choose whatever flavor you want and help yourself!
Self-serve machines
You’ll find Sweet Coconut and Dole Whip if that’s what you’re craving (and when are you NOT craving Dole Whip?).
There it is!
Other flavors available include New York Cheesecake and Dulce De Leche…
New York Cheesecake and Dulce de Leche
…and Strawberry and Mango Sunrise.
Strawberry and Mango Sunrise
You can also get your choice of toppings. They’re in little cups like this.
Toppings!
So if you’re craving a Dole Whip (or even some froyo) and find yourself near the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, head on inside and get your chilly sweet treat! We’ll also let you know if we spot Dole Whip anywhere else (like in a grocery store), so stay tuned to DFB for more.
WE KNOW – there are SO many great snacks at Disney World! How do you choose (we don’t want to choose but will blow our budget on Day 1 otherwise)? We’ve got you covered! We have reviewed nearly EVERY snack available at Disney World, and we’ve written a series of DFB Guides about them!
DFB Guide and Snacks Bundle
Check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining + Snacks Bundle for all the details you need to plan your snackin’ and spending. You can even download them to your smartphone – it’ll be like we’re right there with you in the parks!
Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 900 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
You’ll get a Reference Guide, a 101 Plan, and a Printables and Resources Guide! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis; and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
The new animated series “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” will debut May 4 simultaneously on Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney XD, along with Disney+. The Details The series will debut all seven episodes on Disney+ on May 4, but for those who don’t subscribe to the streamer, the series will also debut the same… Read More »‘Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures’ to Debut May 4 on Both Disney+ and the Disney Channels
New Munchlings merchandise has arrived at World of Disney in the Downtown Disney District.
Chip Dark Chocolate Scented Munchlings Pillow- $39.99
The Chip Munchlings plush is part of the Sweet Treats collection and is dark chocolate scented.
Chip has some pink and purple icing drizzled across the top of his head.
The bottom of the Chip Munchlings pillow is designed to look like a cupcake holder.
Dale Dark Chocolate Scented Munchlings Pillow- $39.99
The Dale Munchling is also part of the Sweet Treats collection and is designed to look like a dark chocolate cupcake.
Dale also has pink and purple icing drizzled across the top of his head.
Each Disney Munchling plush has a scent that matches their plush. They are all designed after popular desserts and snacks. Like Chip, Dale is also dark chocolate scented.
Disney Munchlings Set of 4 Plates- $34.99
Another part of the new line of Disney Munchlings merchandise is a set of four plates.
There are four thin plates in this pack and each resembles a different Disney character. As you can see above, there is Cinnamon Swirl Mickey Mouse, Wild Strawberry Cupcake Minnie Mouse, Honey Cake Winnie the Pooh, and Blueberry Muffin Eeyore. Each of the plates are modeled after Munchlings from the Baked Goods collection.
Disney Munchlings Set of 4 Magnets- $24.99
You can complete your Disney Munchlings collection and add the magnets as well. Four small magnets are included in this pack.
A closer look at the detail in the small magnets. The set features Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, Baymax from “Big Hero 6,” and Stitch.
This magnet is the Wild Strawberry Cupcake Minnie Mouse Munchling. Minnie is covered in chocolate and has little pink and red sprinkles on her ears. She also has a little strawberry in the center of her famous bow.
This magnet is the Cinnamon Roll Mickey Mouse Munchling. Mickey is depicted as a cinnamon roll and is covered in white icing.
Next, we have the Baymax S’mores Munchling. Baymax is depicted as the fluffy white marshmallow in the center of two graham crackers and has chocolate dripping down from the top of his head.
Finally, we have the Pineapple Upside Down Cake Stitch. Stitch resembles the bottom of a pineapple upside down cake and has a pineapple, cherry, and some frosting on his head.
Will you be adding any of these Munchlings to your collection? Let us know in the comments.
For more Munchling merchandise, check out these articles:
For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT.
If you’ve been to EPCOT recently, you’ve probably attended one of its many festivals. From early January all the way through late December, you can count on EPCOT to host a food-filled seasonal celebration in the World Showcase!
EPCOT Festival of the Arts
Right now, the springtime EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival is happening in Disney World, but earlier this year, the EPCOT Festival of the Arts ran from January 13th through February 20th. Usually, seasonal snacks change with each new festival, but this year, a few Festival of the Arts snacks continued to stick around after the event!
Currently, it looks like TWO EPCOT Festival of the Arts snacks decided to stay in EPCOT after the festival — they’re available right now!
EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival is happening now!
First up, the Rainbow Katsu Sando is still around. This is a Pork cutlet sandwich with tangy tonkatsu sauce and cabbage in rainbow sweet bread. We previously found it at the Festival of the Arts Goshiki booth.
Rainbow Katsu Sando
Right now, you can find the Rainbow Katsu Sando at Katsura Grill in the Japan Pavilion for $14. The Katsura Grill serves this as a full sandwich; we only got a half sandwich during the previous festival.
A full sandwich
You can also still get the Chorizo and Potato Empanada, which we saw at the Vibrante & Vivado booth at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts. This house-made dish is served with turmeric aïoli and annatto aïoli.
Chorizo and Potato Empanada with turmeric aïoli and annatto aïoli
Guests can now find this snack at Refreshment Outpost for $6.75. The description now says it’s served with a “spicy aïoli.”
Get it at Refreshment Outpost
If you happened to love either of those snacks at the old festival, you’ve still got time to enjoy them now! We don’t know how long these snacks will stick around, so be sure to get to EPCOT soon if you want to give them a try.
WE KNOW – there are SO many great snacks at Disney World! How do you choose? (We don’t want to choose — but we would probably blow our budget on Day 1 if we didn’t do a little planning) We’ve got you covered! We have reviewed nearly EVERY snack available at Disney World, and we’ve written a series of DFB Guides about them!
DFB Guide and Snacks Bundle
Check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining + Snacks Bundle for all the details you need to plan your snackin’ and spending. You can even download them to your smartphone – it’ll be like we’re right there with you in the parks!
Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 900 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
You’ll get a Reference Guide, a 101 Plan, and a Printables and Resources Guide! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis; and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
