No problem, Deb. I agree completely. We discuss this a lot over on the rumors board. The concensus seems to be that its cheeper because Disney already owns the concept. Anything that saves a buck or two is big with Eisner these days.
Also, Eisner is not big on taking risks anymore. If you check out the new Lilo and Stich DVD, you will discover that literally ALL of the previews are for sequels of earlier Disney films (including yet another Dalmation film). They think its safer to rehash old characters than to invent something new, so we get Tarzan 2, Snow White 2, Little Mermaid 2, Dalmations 3, Peter Pan 2, Dumbo 2, Beauty and the Beast 2, Lilo and Stich 2, Lady and the Tramp 2, Lion King 2, Cinderella 2.... The list goes on and on and on. The new trend toward making movies based on theme park rides is just an extension of this pholosphy.
By the way, many of the most creative people who worked for Disney have been layed off. There is very little left of the Animation and Imagineering departments, and no plans to make a full fleged animated feature again. They have been deemed too expensive and the future has been declared to be in computer animation.
Wait! Whats that whiring sound I hear? Oh, sorry, its just Walt spinning in his grave.
Oh my, aren't I just full of gloom and doom today! Sorry about that. Sometimes I take this stuff a bit too seriously. Oh well, I still think the artwork is cool.
