By: Jason Surrell Publisher: Disney Editions Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Disney Editions Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 144 Publication Date: November 15, 2005
Product Description: Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the most popular and beloved attractions in Disney theme park history, and can be found in each Magic Kingdom Park around the globe. Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies will illustrate how the scalawags and buccaneers made the voyage from sketches to reality, evolving from early story concepts to adaptations and changes as it moved into each of the parks around the four corners of the world, to the very latest ideas for show enhancement.
Prepare to be boarded! Know this first: I'm a huge fan of all things Disney, especially POTC the ride.
Imagineer Surrell's book is very well-done. This is one of those (along with his earlier work on the Haunted Mansion) that I go to again and again, like watching a favorite movie or listening to a favorite album. Maybe I'll notice on the 50th reading ONE MORE DETAIL I somehow missed... I especially enjoyed the look at the other parks' version of the ride. Rock on, Jason!
Con: Woulda liked it in HARDCOVER.
Now, as with any OTHER topical subject, some of the info goes out of date the day the book is published, and will continue to "go stale". The 2nd, 3rd, and even talked-about 4th movies are, of course, not included. The much-publicized ride rehabs are not either. This is the same with Jason's earlier Disney's Haunted Mansion book (a good companion piece, by the way). That said, the HM book goes off into a hopeful description of the actually-miserable HM movie, touting it as the best thing since Bela Lugosi. This was written well in advance of the actual public release of the HM movie, I guess, so they were gambling the public would love what turned out to be a huge embarrasment. ( When I need cheering up, I sometimes imagine HM Director Minkoff at what I hope is his new day job, asking people if they want to add a cherry turnover to their order for just 50 cents more ). Okay, here's your soapbox back.
They shouldn't have pushed the HM movie so hard in THAT book.
Not so in THIS book: Because they "got burned" on the HM movie, there's a decidedly less-throat-cramming push for Curse of the Black Pearl, which, of course, in hindsight, they could have laid on thicker, now that the movie has generated some kind of Star-Wars-level cultural shift.
Buy the book. You know you want it.
I know I want more books on CLASSIC Disney attractions, and I only want 'em writ by Jason Surrell. Amen.
Daughter loves it!!! My daughter just loves all the background information. She's very happy with it.
Updated version now available! As of November, 2006, a newer, updated version of Mr. Surrell's book is now available! Look for the version with the compass rose in the upper right corner of the cover.
Cheers!
Beck
BIG BIG BIG BIG fan of the movies :) I love Disney world and I love love The Pirates Of The Carribbean! Great if you like both!
Fascinating read for Disneyland fans I really enjoed the first chapter on how the concept translated into the final product of a ride. Amazing how these things come together. The second chapter comparing the ride throughs between the four parks I found a bit frustrating - hard to really picture it unless you're there (for me). I was more interested in the ride portion than the movie chapter myself. Worth the buy (though I bought it used).
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