(Yet Another) Disney Attraction Movie - The Jungle Cruise - Beyond Tiki

T Tangaroa Tiki Socialite Joined: Apr 25, 2002 Posts: 1566	T Tangaroa Posted posted on Wed, May 19, 2004 1:51 PM If you have to do a film with a theme or amusement park storyline, I'd much rather see an adaptation of something like "The Devil In The White City" by Erik Larson, or "Dreamland" by Kevin Baker. Either of those stories would make excellent films. One thing that Marc Davis used to tell me was, "As I say....these things (the Disneyland attractions) are not meant to TELL A STORY! They are just a series of events that happen - there is no story at all there... That way, if you happen to miss something - a gag or something - you aren't missing out on the whole experience - unlike in a film. That's the way Walt preferred things." I'm paraphrasing here - but he said this many, many times. It always makes me cringe when someone (usually some Disney executive) talks about the "story" of a ride. The "story" of Pirates, or the "story" of Haunted Mansion". There is no narrative in these rides, just a series of vignettes. and that's why, in my opinion (which is probably not worth much) that basing a film on a ride, will never work well. Pirates was a fairly entertaining film - but to my mind, I think that had more to do with excellent performances by Depp & Rush, as opposed to a working script that was heavily based on the ride (I feel it was not - the "Black Pearl" and all that other stuff had very little to do with the original attraction). Am dem's my thot's! "Oh mystic powers - hear my call... From my limbs, let new life fall..." http://www.christophermerritt.com [ Edited by: Tangaroa on 2004-05-19 13:53 ]

If you have to do a film with a theme or amusement park storyline, I'd much rather see an adaptation of something like "The Devil In The White City" by Erik Larson, or "Dreamland" by Kevin Baker. Either of those stories would make excellent films.

One thing that Marc Davis used to tell me was, "As I say....these things (the Disneyland attractions) are not meant to TELL A STORY! They are just a series of events that happen - there is no story at all there... That way, if you happen to miss something - a gag or something - you aren't missing out on the whole experience - unlike in a film. That's the way Walt preferred things."

I'm paraphrasing here - but he said this many, many times. It always makes me cringe when someone (usually some Disney executive) talks about the "story" of a ride. The "story" of Pirates, or the "story" of Haunted Mansion". There is no narrative in these rides, just a series of vignettes. and that's why, in my opinion (which is probably not worth much) that basing a film on a ride, will never work well. Pirates was a fairly entertaining film - but to my mind, I think that had more to do with excellent performances by Depp & Rush, as opposed to a working script that was heavily based on the ride (I feel it was not - the "Black Pearl" and all that other stuff had very little to do with the original attraction).

Am dem's my thot's!

"Oh mystic powers - hear my call...
From my limbs, let new life fall..."
http://www.christophermerritt.com

[ Edited by: Tangaroa on 2004-05-19 13:53 ]

Post #91948 by Tangaroa on Wed, May 19, 2004 1:51 PM