2024 “Disney Legends” Inductees Announced

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

March 19, 2024

 

Every once in a while, when I look at the list of the hundreds of Disney Legends, I’m taken off guard by who is on — and not on — the list.  This is one of those years that you would’ve assumed some of these illustrious nominees had achieved this honor long before some of the newer celebrities and magic makers with shorter Disney resumes.

Disney has just announced the list of the 14 men and women who will be inducted into this year’s class of Disney Legends.  For those who don’t know what this honor is, becoming a “Disney Legend” is the equivalent of Disney’s Hall of Fame, and Burbank is their Cooperstown.  At the Disney headquarters, there are rows upon rows of plaques detailing the contributions these creatives have brought to the Disney company during its history.  The Legends program has been honoring Disney creatives for 37 years.

Disney explains, “The Disney Legends Award honors artists and visionaries throughout the company’s history who have pushed the envelope of creativity, challenged conventional wisdom, and broken the restraints of the status quo in search of new possibilities and excellence.”

 
The inductees will receive their awards at the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony during the D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California (August 9-11, 2024).

Among those who should have been inducted eons ago is Harrison Ford.  Why wasn’t Indy brought in before this, considering the enormity of the body of work that he’s brought to Disney?  (By the way, many of Han Solo’s Star Wars cohorts, including  Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and George Lucas, are already Legends.) James Cameron got an entire Pandora land gifted to him at Disney before becoming a Legend, all movie-making skills aside.  And Joe Rohde?  Lordy, he is probably the most influential creative force behind Animal Kingdom, not to mention his  myriad other accomplishments as a Disney Imagineer.  (OK, we’ll overlook the whole “Disco Yeti” thing.) He’s the reason guests enjoyed The Adventurers Club at Pleasure Island for so many years, and still mourn its demise.  Frank Oz gave voice to Yoda, Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, and a host of other Disney characters…. How was he not inducted years ago? John Williams?  Disney itself says, “The unforgettable music of John Williams is the soundtrack of our lives.”  What more needs to be said to that?  The man created the music for more than 100 movies, including the Star Wars films and the Indiana Jones franchise, and has five Academy Awards to his name. Disney even lauds him as the “Academy’s most-nominated living person and the second-most-nominated person in the history of the Oscars, a number second only to Walt Disney.”

A hearty congratulations to each of them, for achieving what fans have celebrated all along – the amazing depth of creativity that this year’s class brought to the world. What took the Legends committee so long to catch up with the rest of us?

 
If you’d like to see a more detailed biography of this year’s honorees, you can go to Disney’s media website.

The complete list of 2024 honorees includes: 

• Colleen Atwood (costume designer)

•  Angela Bassett (actress)

• Martha Blanding (Parks & Resorts/cast member)

• James L. Brooks (producer/director)

• James Cameron (filmmaker/director)

• Jamie Lee Curtis (actress)

• Miley Cyrus (singer)

• Steve Ditko (comic book artist/writer)

• Harrison Ford (actor)

• Mark Henn (animator)

• Frank Oz (director/Muppeteer)

• Kelly Ripa (actress/talk show host)

• Joe Rohde (Imagineer)

• John Williams (composer)

 
Ryan Seacrest will be hosting the Legends Ceremony at 5:00 p.m. on August 11, and it will take place at the Honda Center. The show always pays tribute to the honorees and their accomplishments, but there are typically additional performances and guest appearances as well.

   
Bob Iger, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, added, “To be named a Disney Legend is the highest honor our company can bestow on anyone, reserved for those whose talent and achievement have earned them an enduring place in our history. The fourteen individuals to be honored as Disney Legends this year have each made extraordinary creative contributions across the worlds of Disney and we look forward to celebrating them at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.”

Actor Fred MacMurray (The Shaggy Dog, The Absent-Minded Professor) was the first Disney personality to be given Disney Legend status in 1987. Since then, 318 recipients have placed their handprints in bronze in the Disney Legends Plaza, and received the two-foot-tall bronze Disney Legends sculpture that “signifies the imagination, creativity, and magic they have brought to the company.”  Previous inductees have included Mark Hamill; Carrie Fisher; Robin Williams; Julie Andrews, Howard Ashman; Wayne Allwine; ; Robert Downey Jr.; Annette Funicello; Angela Lansbury;  George Lucas; Tony Baxter; Jim Henson; Steve Martin; Alan Menken; Jon Favreau; James Earl Jones; Stan Lee; Marty Sklar; Josh Gad;  Johnny Depp; Danny Elfman; Steve Jobs; Dick Van Dyke; Barbara Walters; Betty White; Bob Gurr; Rolly Crump; Yale Gracey; Lillian Disney; Roy E. Disney; X Atencio; Thurl Ravenscroft; the Sherman Brothers; John Hench; Marc Davis; and Tim Allen, among the more than 300.

 

Tickets to the D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event go on sale March 23.  Details can be found at D23.

 

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

 

Get The Disney Planner: The TO DO List Solution by Ray Keating. More information at

https://raykeatingbooksandmore.com/shop/ols/products/disneyplanner. And please listen to the Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating podcast. 

 

A Sad Rewatch of “Indiana Jones and the Dial Of Destiny”

 by Ray Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

March 12, 2024

 

Okay, it was time. As a big Indiana Jones fan, I’ve avoided doing the rewatch of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny since I first saw it in theaters last year, and wrote my initial review.  

Why the delay? Hmm. Life and work certainly are busy. But there was something else lingering, perhaps holding me back.

 

As I mentioned in my initial review of Dial of Destiny, this Indy fan had real trepidations heading into the movie theater. Indeed, an angst stayed with me throughout the movie: What would they do to one of my all-time favorite characters in fiction?

 

As the movie ended, I felt relieved, and gave the film 3.5 to 4 stars out of a possible 5. I concluded that review writing: “Well, coming out of the theater, I was at 3.5 stars. But I know that when I re-watch Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny free from worry and angst, I’ll enjoy it more in various ways (such as catching and appreciating more of the humor). And yes, my opinion of the movie will improve – most likely, pushing it up to a solid 4 stars.”

 

Well, is that how it turned out upon this first re-watch? Alas, no. 

 

In fact, I liked the film less, and would now give it 3 stars out of 5. While it’s entertaining for many of the reasons that I mentioned in the first review, it actually falls far short of the previous four Indy movies.

 

Why? Director James Mangold, who also served as a co-writer with David Koepp, Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth, didn’t really know how to tell an exciting, fun Indiana Jones adventure. He captured some of that in the film’s opening scenes taking place on a train in World War II, but that was that. The rest of the film is spent with the audience largely watching an Indiana Jones beaten down and largely beaten by life. Who the heck thought this was a good idea? Well, obviously, Mangold did.

 

In the end, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny went against who the Indiana Jones character is. (This is similar to what happened with Woody in Toy Story 4 – what the heck, Disney?) 

 

In Dial, it was largely about what Indy has lost. And he is worn out by it all, and this Indiana Jones, lacking in heart and optimism, kind of hangs around throughout the entire movie. The film’s time-travel ending was too over-the-top for some reviewers. For me, it wasn’t the time travel, it was what Indiana Jones did – or didn’t do – while traveling in time. 

 

There is a very brief final moment in the movie when Indy’s hand reaches out and grabs his iconic hat. Is this supposed to tell us that the old Indy is back? If so, by that time, it was too late – especially since this most certainly was Harrison Ford’s last ride as Indiana Jones.

 

Indeed, we all would have been better off left with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and its near-perfect ending with Indy and Marion getting married, and Indy confidently taking that hat and putting it on his head.

 

Check out…

 

“My Indy Adventure, Part IV: New Reviews of Raiders, Temple of Doom, Last Crusade, and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” by Ray Keating

 

“Movie Review – My Indy Adventure, Part VI: Angst and Enjoyment  for ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’” by Ray Keating

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, the Alliance of Saint Michael novels, and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

The Disney Planner: The TO DO List Solution combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more.

 

Consider other books by Ray Keating, including…

 

• The Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. There are 19 books in the series now.

 

• Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel is at Amazon. 

 

• Order The Weekly Economist III: Another 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist.Signed books here and Kindle and paperback editions here.

 

• Order The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed books here.  And Kindle and paperback editions here.

 

• The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks at RayKeatingOnline.com or paperbacks, hardcovers and Kindle editions at Amazon.com.

 

• The Lutheran Planner: The TO DO List Solution combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement, inspiration and consolation from the Christian faith.

 

• Signed editions of Ray’s books are at www.raykeatingbooksandmore.com. 

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

Movie Review – My Indy Adventure, Part VI: Angst and Enjoyment for “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”

 by Ray Keating

Review (No Spoilers)

DisneyBizJournal.com

June 30, 2023

 

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

3.5 to 4 stars (out of 5)

 

Okay, before I get to the actual review, a brief personal confession is in order. The period running up to and the actual arrival of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny gave me the most fan angst I’ve ever experienced for a movie. As far as characters and series in pop culture go, Indiana Jones tops the list, along with Captain Kirk and Captain America, in providing me with entertainment and enjoyment since my teens. Make no mistake, this discomfort, which lasted through the movie, surprised me. After all, it’s not like this was the release of one of my own books. But nonetheless, that was the case, and I’ll come back to this later. But on to the actual review…

“Playing it safe” can carry multiple meanings when it comes to making or reviewing movies. For the most part, the phrase tends to bug me. And given how often I’ve seen this used in reference to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (was there a memo I missed?), I now find this group of words extremely annoying. That’s especially the case given that they’re being tossed around to criticize this enjoyable and entertaining final entry in the Indiana Jones film series.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is a darn good Indy movie. Is it as good as the previous four? (See my new reviews of those Indy movies at “My Indy Adventure, Part IV: New Reviews of Raiders, Temple of Doom, Last Crusade, and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”) No. And there are various reasons for this. First and foremost, director James Mangold, who did a fine job with Dial of Destiny, does not measure up to Steven Spielberg as a director. But who does, given that Spielberg ranks as one of the all-time greats? Second, while there are welcome bits of humor throughout this latest film, they don’t seem to be as frequent and memorable as was the case with the previous movies. (Again, there’s a reason why I use the word “seem” here.)

 

As for what you might have heard, the opening of the movie taking place in World War II with a de-aged Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones overall works well. In story terms, it’s a wonderful start to the movie (we get a flavor of what Indy was up to during the war), and the de-aged Harrison Ford ranges from looking absolutely amazing for much of the time to being a bit odd here and there.

 

Also, many reviewers have claimed that the third act of the film just goes too far and is goofy. Understanding what occurred in the previous Indy films in terms of the final conflicts, Dial of Destiny definitely is the greatest stretch, but it still basically works. After all, Indiana Jones isn’t just action/adventure, but also sci-fi/fantasy.

 

As for the ending, which also has been alluded to by reviewers, I’m not going to spoil anything, but for this story and for Indiana Jones being at this point in his life, Mangold deserves credit for sticking with an ideal ending. I don’t hesitate giving the film’s conclusion a big thumbs up.

 

Along the way, we get treated to some great Indy action and globetrotting. And Ford deserves enormous credit for stepping up once more as Indiana Jones at his, let us say, advanced age, and doing it with heart and skill. The story has a certain tone that’s different from the previous films, and Ford takes that a bit deeper.

Regarding other assorted characters, I’ll just touch on three. First, John Rhys-Davies is back as Sallah, and that’s a treat. We get a couple of solid Sallah moments. Second, Mads Mikkelsen excels as the evil Dr. Voller. That’s not surprising, and the writers and director clearly let him have fun with the role. Third, and most significant outside of Indy himself, is Helena, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who is Indiana Jones’ goddaughter and starts the movie as a gray character. Her links to Indiana Jones are strong and long, but the depth of her love of cash, and not much else, run deep as well. 

 

Dial of Destiny takes both Indiana Jones and Helena on interesting character arcs.

 

There’s more to say about characters and story, but not without giving away too much.

 

Whether out of ignorance or arrogance, or both, not “playing it safe” with beloved characters and/or franchises often has come to mean not being true to the character. It tends to indicate that audience expectations must be flouted in the worst possible ways in order to be creative. Think Rian Johnson and what he did to Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. In the end, though, such notions amount to a different type of uncreative formula (again, see The Last Jedi). 

 

Thankfully, Mangold didn’t succumb to the wrongheaded impulse or urgings to undermine Indiana Jones. Instead, he stayed true to the essence of the character and the films that came before. Mangold, Ford and others involved in creating Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny deserve credit for resisting the siren call of many of today’s moviemakers and critics to undermine the audience. 

 

Instead, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny turned out to be an engaging, interesting, occasionally over-the-top (as is the case with all Indy movies), fun adventure romp, with some real heart, that wound up not just meeting but exceeding this angst-ridden Indy fan’s expectations. No, it’s not Raiders of the Lost Ark or Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, but again, it’s a darn good Indiana Jones movie. 

 

So, why am I giving this movie the odd rating of 3.5 to 4 stars out of a possible 5? Well, coming out of the theater, I was at 3.5 stars. But I know that when I re-watch Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny free from worry and angst, I’ll enjoy it more in various ways (such as catching and appreciating more of the humor). And yes, my opinion of the movie will improve – most likely, pushing it up to a solid 4 stars.

 

Previously…

 

“My Indy Adventure, Part I: Visiting the Indiana Jones Den of Destiny” by Ray Keating

 

“My Indy Adventure, Part II: Indiana Jones and the Hawaiian Shirt” by Ray Keating

 

“My Indy Adventure, Part III: Indiana Jones and the Search for the Comfy T” by Ray Keating

 

“My Indy Adventure, Part IV: New Reviews of Raiders, Temple of Doom, Last Crusade, and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” by Ray Keating

 

“My Indy Adventure, Part V: Indiana Jones and the Search for Disney Movie Profits” by Ray Keating 

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, and the Alliance of Saint Michael novels; and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right? 

 

Consider books by Ray Keating…

 

• The Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. You can order the latest book in the series – Under the Golden Dome: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel. Get the signed books here, or paperbacks and Kindle editions right here.

 

• Order The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Kindle editions and paperbacks via Amazon here and signed books here. And don’t forget the first book in this growing series, i.e., The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks at RayKeatingOnline.com or paperbacks, hardcovers and Kindle editions at Amazon.com.

 

• Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel. Signed paperbacks and/or paperbacks, hardcovers and the Kindle edition at Amazon. 

 

• The Lutheran Planner: The TO DO List Solution combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement, inspiration and consolation from the Christian faith.

 

• Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  –  signed books  or at  Amazon.

 

•  Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know is available at  Amazon  in paperback or for the Kindle edition, and signed books at  www.raykeatingonline.com. 

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

Chris Evans is Captain America?

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #91: Chris Evans is Captain America? – What happens when the absolute right actor plays the absolute right role? What happens when a company does such a good job that they become the product?

The “Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating” podcast serves up a Disney or Disney-related quote each day, with DisneyBizJournal’s Ray Keating offering brief, additional thoughts on how each dose ties in to life, career, business, entrepreneurship, creativity, storytelling, work, or just plain fun.

Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones, Right?

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #34: Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones – Can anyone be Indiana Jones or is the role the exclusive domain of Harrison Ford?

The “Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating” podcast serves up a Disney or Disney-related quote each day, with DisneyBizJournal’s Ray Keating offering brief, additional thoughts on how each dose ties in to life, career, business, entrepreneurship, creativity, storytelling, work, or just plain fun.

Spielberg Will Not Direct Indy 5, According to Variety

by Ray Keating

News/Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

February 26, 2020

Apparently, this is the week for mega-surprising announcements related to The Walt Disney Company. First, it was Bob Chapek replacing Bob Iger as CEO, and now Variety is reporting that Steven Spielberg has decided not to direct the next Indiana Jones movie.

Variety notes that director James Mangold, who was at the helm of Ford v. Ferrari, likely will replace Spielberg behind the camera with “Indiana Jones 5.” Though that has not been finalized.

Of course, this raises questions about possible further delays for this movie, which originally was slated for a release in July 2019. I have written at DisneyBizJournal before wondering why Disney seems to be lagging on the Indiana Jones front – see What’s Up with Script Delays and Indiana Jones? (July 23, 2018) and What the Heck is Disney Doing with Indiana Jones? (October 25, 2018).

Now, only one of the “Big 3” on Indiana Jones will be directly involved with “Indy 5.” While Spielberg reportedly plans to be a “hands-on” producer, George Lucas isn’t involved. That leaves only Harrison Ford returning in the role of Indiana Jones. 

Let’s hope Mangold can capture the Indiana Jones magic, while at the same time, avoiding further major delays.

Geez, Disney, anything else you want to tell us this week?

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution and the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Next Indiana Jones Movie to Start Filming

by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

June 2, 2019

(CORRECTION: Harrison Ford was incorrect. The next Indiana Jones movie starts filming next year, i.e., in 2020.)

The next Indiana Jones movie is scheduled to start filming during the coming week, according to a quote from Harrison Ford in a Variety report.

Variety reported:

     Ford also discussed the upcoming reboot of another of his hit franchises, “Indiana Jones.” According to Indy himself, the much-anticipated Steven Spielberg film “should be starting to shoot sometime next week.” 

     “I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “Things are coming along well.”

Movie fans last saw Ford is his iconic role of Indiana Jones in the 2008 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The film fell short of the previous three Indiana Jones movies from a critical perspective, but it did rake in $787 million on a production budget of $185 million, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com.

It took 19 years for Indiana Jones to return to the silver screen after 1989’s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Looking ahead, it will be 13 years since Crystal Skull, as this next Indy installment is scheduled to hit theaters in July 2021. Steven Spielberg will be back at the directorial helm (he directed the first four Indy films), with the screenplay reportedly from David Koepp, George Lucas and Jonathan Kasden.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

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