Reviews are in for O! Canada
Well, some early reviews are in for the brand new version of the O! Canada Circlevision 360 film. John Frost from the Disney Blog, a critic whom a place much faith and trust in, has posted a lengthy article about the film.
All in all, I am pleasantly surprised by how well this new film version plays. Martin Short made a great host (sort of a counter to the Steve Martin hosted film over at Disneyland) and the parts of Canada that had changed so much since 1979 are now given appropriate due. I don’t think it will cause large crowds to materialize in the Canada Pavilion, but it’s exactly what Disney should be doing to some of the other outdated areas of the park. Nice to see it happen.
Mr. Frost draws the right conclusion. This is a tourist film first and foremost, so let’s not pretends that we are going to get the next Curse of the Black Pearl here. The last film did its job well, so simply updating it to not look like archive footage of the 1970’s is really all that needed to be done. But in typical Disney fashion they have gone a step further. It seems the film has been “plussed”, if only subtly.
Mr. Frost also gives a positive review to the film’s new narrator Martin Short, someone I was a bit nervous about when hearing of his inclusion. I am looking forward to seeing this and hearing the new version of the old song.
John from thedisneyblog.com said,
September 2, 2007 @ 2:13 pm
Not sure what that photo has to do with my review.
Actually, the whole pavilion of Canada, including the totem poles recently got some fresh paint. That was a nice touch too.
I had heard they were going to change the name to “Canada, eh?” But not a single ‘eh’ was uttered in the film. Yet another disappointment from WDI.
Thanks for the link
-John
David said,
September 2, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
The photo has nothing to do with it, other than being from the Canada Pavilion. Sometimes I just like to look at my photos!!
Mike said,
September 4, 2007 @ 2:38 am
I figured the totem just read the review and smiled
Jason said,
September 4, 2007 @ 4:04 am
I don’t think there was any reason to be nervous about Martin Short. Every movie he’s been in for the Disney parks is a great one. And if the guy can successfully tell people about where babies come from, he can definitely tell people about Canada.
My only concern is that if the French film is updated with a celebrity host, the joke at the beginning (given by the fantastic Corey Burton) will make no sense.
Brian said,
September 4, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
I saw the new O’Canada film on opening day. I don’t dislike Martin Short but I’m not really a big fan of his, so I was a bit nervous about the update. I was pleasantly surprised. Martin was funny without being over the top. The entire film was entertaining and the updated song was catchy. I think most O’Canada fans will enjoy the “plussed” version.
BTW, Martin also makes a reference to one other attraction in Epcot. Listen to the directions he gives on how to get to Canada.
YoHo said,
September 4, 2007 @ 10:55 pm
Saw the Video on youtube. I found Short underwhelming as host. He wasn’t funny at all and yet, he also didn’t have the gravatis to make it more meaningful. In “short” I don’t think it enhanced my opinion of Canada in any meaningful way.
I’m not a big fan of the Steve Martin movie at Disneyland, but It’s not Steve’s fault, it’s how trite the movie is given the scope of the celebration. The movie wasn’t grand enough in other words. Steve Martin felt like Steve Martin though.
Short, eh, not so much.
KINGCRAB said,
September 25, 2007 @ 6:11 pm
Sorry, YoHo, but I strongly disagree with your opinions on the new “O Canada”.
The new film is great and funny. A nice (and much-needed) update to a film that really needed to be updated with the changing times.