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Digital Media FX News Archives
Tuesday
- August 7, 2001
- Animation Used to Show Off New Thrills
- Star Wars II: Attack of
the Clones
- Final Weekend Box Office Numbers
- News Link of the Day -
How Dwarfs Hit it Big in Hollywood
Animation
Used to Show Off New Thrills
(by digitalmediafx.com) Six Flags Magic Mountain is using the
power of animation to psyche roller coaster enthusiasts with the introduction
of two new roller coasters - "X" and "Deja Vu". Both
coasters are expected to open during Labor Day weekend or shortly thereafter.
"X" is set to be one of the most unique roller coasters in the U.S.. The seats sit off to the side of the coaster and while the coaster is in motion, each seat rotates, adding an extra element to the experience. In order to demonstrate this, and the new "Deja Vu" roller coaster, Six Flags Magic Mountain commissioned a detailed animation of each coaster. The footage was provided to the press several months ago and is now available online.
After sitting through a long introduction, the animated footage begins showing the experience from several different angles. Click here to see animated footage of Magic Mountain's "X" and "Deja Vu."
Six Flags Magic Mountain
is located in Valencia, California.
Star Wars II: Attack
of the Clones
(by digitalmediafx.com) George Lucas has announced the title of Star
Wars: Episode II as "Attack of the Clones." In addition
to the announcement the following details about Episode II were
announced:
"Ten years after the events of The Phantom Menace, not only has the galaxy undergone significant change, but so have our familiar heroes Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) and Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) as they are thrown together again for the first time since the Trade Federation invasion of Naboo. Anakin has grown into the accomplished Jedi apprentice of Obi-Wan, who himself has transitioned from student to teacher. The two Jedi are assigned to protect Padmé whose life is threatened by a faction of political separatists. As relationships form and powerful forces collide, these heroes face choices that will impact not only their own fates, but the destiny of the Republic."
Reaction at Star Wars Fan Sites across the Web have been mixed, but mostly negative. A poll of fans by The Force found that over 60% either disliked the name or outright hated it. Just over 30% thought it was a good title. Many suggested a variation of the title would have been much better like, "The Clone Wars" or "The Clones Attack".
Lucas faced the same kind of reaction when "The Phantom Menace" was announced as the title of Star Wars: Episode 1. Many people are still trying to figure out the meaning of the title.
While many called the newest title a "B-movie" title, others defended it saying that's how the whole Star Wars sega began - as a "B-type movie."
Star Wars: Episode
II - Attack of the Clones will be released on May 22, 2002.
Final Weekend Box
Office Numbers
(by digitalmediafx.com) Final weekend box office numbers are in and
here are the results for the top animated and visual effects movies:
|
Movie |
Rank |
Weekend Total |
Gain/Loss |
Overall Total |
| Planet of the Apes | # 2 | $27.5 Million | -60% | $123.7 Million |
| Jurassic Park 3 | # 4 | $12.3 Million | -46% | $147.0 Million |
|
Dr. Doolittle 2 |
# 9 |
$02.3 Million |
-51% |
$106.1 Million |
| Cats & Dogs | # 10 | $02.2 Million | -52% | $81.6 Million |
|
Shrek |
# 13 |
$01.1 Million |
-40% |
$257.9 Million |
|
Tomb Raider |
# 16 |
$522,794 |
-48% |
$129.5 Million |
|
Atlantis: The Lost Empire |
# 17 |
$441,726 |
-49% |
$80.5 Million |
|
Pearl Harbor |
# 18 |
$434,965 |
-47% |
$194.5 Million |
| A.I. | # 21 | $341,124 | -64% | $77.6 Million |
| Final Fantasy | # 23 | $303,786 | -77% | $31.5 Million |
|
The Mummy Returns |
# 34 |
$94,115 |
-25% |
$201.1 Million |
The gain/loss represents the movie's performance when compared to last weekend.
Rush Hour 2 was the number one movie of the weekend, bringing in an astounding $67.4 million in just three days.
News Link of the
Day - How Dwarfs Hit it Big in Hollywood
According to F.A.Z:
"The year 1937
was a banner year for fairy tales. J.R.R. Tolkien published "The
Hobbit," and Walt Disney released his movie "Snow White and
the Seven Dwarfs." In the crisis-ridden 1930s, audiences regarded
both works as promises of salvation. Now the phenomenon is supposed to
repeat itself, in a year that is increasingly perceived as a year of crisis,
from debates about the life sciences to riots over globalization, a year
in which we have to seek reassurance about what is left of our own creation
myth..."
Click here for the full story.
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These news articles and all digitalmediafx.com content are ©copyright 2001 by Joe Tracy and may not be reused for any purpose without expressed written consent of the author and Digital Media FX. All rights reserved.
