Attractions going away

GMR is supposed to give you a taste of Hollywood from every era and every genre. It wouldn't make sense to make everything current.

Can you imagine?

"Welcome to the Great Movie Ride. Where we showcase the great films of Hollywood. From Twilight to the Hunger Games.
And Stitch. Everything should include Stitch. ;)

Seriously, I agree! I never understand the "movies are outdated" mindset when classic Hollywood is clearly the theme.
 
We are movie buffs around here and it surprises me to see comments that the Alien franchise is no longer relevant or that classic actors such as Clint Eastwood should be removed. It never occurs to me that others aren't interested in classic Hollywood like we are.

Maybe there should be a compromise. Keep some of the classic theming if only to match what the supposed theme of DHS is and throw in more Disney and something current. You certainly couldn't change every scene to something current because Disney would never be able to keep up with trends fast enough.

Besides, what is actually current? Star Wars would be nice but that one will likely be represented more elsewhere. Marvel in some way? Thank goodness that Twilight is done.

I agree. I think people look at Universal and Harry Potter and are wondering when Disney will ever do that and look at the movie ride as an opportunity for change. If Disney built a Star wars land similar to Harry Potter with speeder transportation and themed rides, it would not only be the best thing since sliced bread but would also take the focus away from reimagineering alot of these rides.
 
We are movie buffs around here and it surprises me to see comments that the Alien franchise is no longer relevant...
But don't you see the irony here? Alien was only included because it was current at the time of the creation of the ride. It certainly was not the case that the movie (which came out in 1979) was featured so prominently because it was a "classic". Perhaps Disney was banking on it becoming a classic. They guessed wrong. 2001: A Space Odyssey? Sure. That would be a classic movie to represent. And yes, Star Wars as well. But Alein is still represented in the ride simply because they are too cheap or lazy to make a change.

or that classic actors such as Clint Eastwood should be removed. It never occurs to me that others aren't interested in classic Hollywood like we are.
It's not that Clint and the Duke shouldn't be represented. It is that their current iterations should be replaced. That silly Clint Eastwood figurine isn't even fit for a wax museum. Disney can do better.

Maybe there should be a compromise. Keep some of the classic theming if only to match what the supposed theme of DHS is and throw in more Disney and something current. You certainly couldn't change every scene to something current because Disney would never be able to keep up with trends fast enough.
Agree 100%. I am arguing in favor of modernization, not contemporarization. For example, I have no issue whatsoever with Gene Kelley "Singin' In The Rain" (though I would prefer to see the trio of Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds singing together with arms linked instead of just having a stationary Gene Kelly clinging to a lamp post.) That is a classic. Footlight Parade? Not so much. Not even a little. You admit to being a movie buff. I'll bet if they put you in charge of deciding which movies should be represented in the GMR, you would come up with many appropriate substitutions that would serve to represent "classic" Hollywood while at the same time offering guests of all ages some relevant, iconic imagery. A human pyramid from Footlight Parade and a lame Tarzan would probably not make the list. Give me Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, Hitchcock, Katherine Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn and the like. Tarzan and Alien? Puh-leeeze!
 
But don't you see the irony here? Alien was only included because it was current at the time of the creation of the ride. It certainly was not the case that the movie (which came out in 1979) was featured so prominently because it was a "classic". Perhaps Disney was banking on it becoming a classic. They guessed wrong. 2001: A Space Odyssey? Sure. That would be a classic movie to represent. And yes, Star Wars as well. But Alein is still represented in the ride simply because they are too cheap or lazy to make a change.

I'm confused. It sounds like you're saying the movie was current when the park opened in 1989 but then you say it wasn't because it came out in 1979.

It's arguably the BEST Horror/Sci-Fi movie ever made.

It spawned 3 sequels, 2 spin offs and 2 prequels.

Currently, on IMBD's top 250 movie list, Alien is listed as #49.

Popular Mechanics lists Alien as #12 and Aliens as #4 on their greatest Sci-fi movies of all time.

I think you would be hard pressed to find a list of top horror or sci-fi movies that doesn't have Alien listed somewhere near the top.

If that's NOT "relevant" to an attraction that showcases great films, then maybe I just don't understand the word.
 

I'm a huge fan of GMR. While I'm not a fan of all the movies featured throughout the attraction I appreciate seeing them all there, and understand why each is represented. I've loved this attraction since I was a kid (I'm 34 now) and will definitely be sad to see it go; but excited to see what its replaced with.
 
I think it is very conceivable for Disney to just sprinkle in Frozen references to Maelstrom, kinda like what they did with Jack Sparrow in POTC. Just enough for kids to point and squeal but not very expensive or altering the core of the ride significantly. At the most they could change the town at the end to more look like the place in Frozen.

I don't mind Disney tie-ins mixed in with the World Showcase, especially since the WC is so static and it already serves as a country specific meet and greet platform already. It would be nice to see some new growth and if it takes movie connections to do it, so be it.
 
I'm confused. It sounds like you're saying the movie was current when the park opened in 1989 but then you say it wasn't because it came out in 1979.

Yes, you are confused. Or I was less than clear. I am saying that the movie was current when the park opened. Period. It was not a classic. As compared to Casablanca, or Public Enemy, or Singin In the Rain or The Wizard of Oz, the movie was current. I believe that it is the most recently represented movie of all those depicted in action scenes (as opposed to the ending montage.) Had Disney wanted to depict a "classic" space sci-fi movie, it could have used 2001, Star Wars, Bladerunner, and many others. (Incientally, while Alien may have been #12 on Popular Mechanis' List, take a look at what #1 is.)

As for relevant, there is no way to measure or define it. I use as my baseline the number of people in my vehicle at DHS who ask what movie it is they are seeing on the ride, what it was about, and what is going on. I swear that the majority of people on the ride have never seen Alien. But play the opening few bars of "Also sprach Zarathustra" and everyone will instantly know what movie that is from.
 
Yes, you are confused. Or I was less than clear. I am saying that the movie was current when the park opened. Period. It was not a classic. As compared to Casablanca, or Public Enemy, or Singin In the Rain or The Wizard of Oz, the movie was current. I believe that it is the most recently represented movie of all those depicted in action scenes (as opposed to the ending montage.) Had Disney wanted to depict a "classic" space sci-fi movie, it could have used 2001, Star Wars, Bladerunner, and many others. (Incientally, while Alien may have been #12 on Popular Mechanis' List, take a look at what #1 is.)

As for relevant, there is no way to measure or define it. I use as my baseline the number of people in my vehicle at DHS who ask what movie it is they are seeing on the ride, what it was about, and what is going on. I swear that the majority of people on the ride have never seen Alien.

While you may not like Alien, it is most definitely a classic.

As you may or may not be aware. The designer of the alien creature passed away today. Look up just about any article regarding his passing (so it will be dated today) and you will see this:

"OSCAR winning artist H R Giger, who designed the terrifying creature in Ridley Scott’s 1979 sci-fi horror classic film Alien, has died after a fall."

"Swiss artist H.R. Giger, who designed the creature in Ridley Scott's sci-fi horror classic "Alien," has died at age 74 from injuries suffered in a fall, his museum said Tuesday."
 
It's true, Ric Flair would be the first thing that popped into my head

WOOO.jpg


I'm guessing Elvis Presley would be the first for many people.
 
I believe Alien is a classic sci-fi movie. I personally love the icky alien "hiding" in the ceiling. It's been worth a lot of memories for my family. Maybe a lot of people haven't seen that movie (or a lot of the movies depicted). To me, that hardly equates to a movie not being considered a classic in film history. I've personally never seen Citizen Kane, but that doesn't mean it's not a classic to the millions of people who love that movie. It might be a little boring to have a Rosebud sled scene in GMR, though. :rotfl2:

Also, among action scenes depicted, the Indiana Jones scene is from a movie 2 years younger than Alien. Maybe the Indiana Jones series is more popular than the Alien series, but I don't fault GMR for having Alien among the movies shown.

I'd love to see new stuff in there to update the ride a bit, as long as the Wizard scene stays, Alien stays and the western or gangland hijack scenes stay.

But yes, that ending montage definitely needs updating. The ear-splitting "Good Morning Vietnam!" would be my first choice to go.
 
I believe that it is the most recently represented movie of all those depicted in action scenes (as opposed to the ending montage.) Had Disney wanted to depict a "classic" space sci-fi movie, it could have used 2001, Star Wars, Bladerunner, and many others. (Incientally, while Alien may have been #12 on Popular Mechanis' List, take a look at what #1 is.)

Also, I'm not saying Alien is the best sci-fi film, nor the best horror film. But it is near the top of both of those lists and it is most likely the best sci-fi/horror film.

I'm not going to argue if Star Wars is a better Sci-Fi film or Exorcist is a better horror film. But Alien fits into both those genres and covers 2 film types using only a single show scene.
 
Also, I'm not saying Alien is the best sci-fi film, nor the best horror film. But it is near the top of both of those lists and it is most likely the best sci-fi/horror film.

I'm not going to argue if Star Wars is a better Sci-Fi film or Exorcist is a better horror film. But Alien fits into both those genres and covers 2 film types using only a single show scene.

Holy carpsicles. I know you weren't suggesting that they put that film into the ride, but I would have had to sue for emotional damages if it was. I have a horror film phobia and it's ridiculous that there are no trigger warnings on the stupid thing even WITH only Alien in it. I know we're talking classic Hollywood here, but horror is not something that meshes with Disney. Look at how many attractions they've had to change because of that--Alien Encounter, Countdown to Extinction--and how nice it would be if GMR was next...

Obviously you can call me a masochist for continuing to ride GMR with the knowledge of the Alien scene (I've actually made great strides and become a little more desensitized thanks to it), but for me it's always been really bothersome to know that there are parents taking very young ones on that ride only to be freaked the CRAP out by it. Really bad.

Update this thing, for sure, IMO. For my generation it's very important to focus on true classics instead of outdated, shoved-into-corner movies like Footlight Parade and Tarzan...and I think Alien goes in that category now as well.
 
Yes, you are confused. Or I was less than clear. I am saying that the movie was current when the park opened. Period. It was not a classic. As compared to Casablanca, or Public Enemy, or Singin In the Rain or The Wizard of Oz, the movie was current. I believe that it is the most recently represented movie of all those depicted in action scenes (as opposed to the ending montage.) Had Disney wanted to depict a "classic" space sci-fi movie, it could have used 2001, Star Wars, Bladerunner, and many others. (Incientally, while Alien may have been #12 on Popular Mechanis' List, take a look at what #1 is.)

As for relevant, there is no way to measure or define it. I use as my baseline the number of people in my vehicle at DHS who ask what movie it is they are seeing on the ride, what it was about, and what is going on. I swear that the majority of people on the ride have never seen Alien. But play the opening few bars of "Also sprach Zarathustra" and everyone will instantly know what movie that is from.
Alien is a classic. Comments from people in one car is hardly a scientific way to measure something like this. I understand that you don't like the movie and I respect that but I don't expect to like every movie possibly represented in the GMR. In fact, I can't stand 2001 or Bladerunner but that's just me.
 
Look at how many attractions they've had to change because of that--Alien Encounter, Countdown to Extinction--and how nice it would be if GMR was next...

I thought I had read that Countdown was changed when they switched the name to Dinosaur, but other DISers told me I was incorrect. They said it's the same ride (minus some broken special effects).
 
I thought I had read that Countdown was changed when they switched the name to Dinosaur, but other DISers told me I was incorrect. They said it's the same ride (minus some broken special effects).

I read once that they slowed it down and made it less dark and less intense. But honestly I rode it both before and after and didn't notice a difference. Though NOW yes there are some broken special effects. LOL.
 
I've never actually seen Alien (shame on me, I know), but I hardly think it's considered an outdated, "shove-into-corner" movie. So many people still love it to this day.
 
I love the GMR and I believe it does need updating, not so much with the movies represented but with the technology. I don't mind Footlight Parade, I object to the stationary chorines with a few bubbles around them. I think the finale from 42nd Street would be a better salute to Busby Berkeley. To me classic horror would be best represented by Boris Karloff or Bela Lugosi or Lon Chaney Jr but of course, Universal has the rights to those depictions. Tarzan is a classic but the Audio Animatronics need to actually DO something. I guess most Disney buffs know the Fantasia scene was originally supposed to depict the Twister from The Wizard of Oz, but the money ran out or it had something to do with the cost, so the cheapie Fantasia clip was substituted. I do think Alien is a modern classic but for goodness sake, fix the Alien which doesn't even come down from the ceiling most of the time. Whenever I'm on the ride I see just the steam effect and hear the screams but the Alien stays up in the roof. And do they even do the bank robbery scene nowadays? I always seem to get the gangster scene with the car that hardly moves anymore. And get rid of the Sorcerer's Hat!
 


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