Today, we look at what’s on …
DISNEY+
Sure, cost of streaming services can affect family budgets. From the beginning, Disney+ has appeared family friendly.
But who knew Disney+ would provide so much more than, well, Disney to keep the young, and young at heart, entertained?
For example, click on Disney+ on your television and the following chapters all are featured: Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic.
First of all, one has his or her choice of Disney movies, old and new, animated and live action.
Disney movies range from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” to the recently added “Frozen II.” Also included are live-action projects such as “Avatar,” “Remember the Titans,” the “National Treasure” adventures with Nicolas Cage, and “The Pirates of the Caribbean” and its sequels.
Disney owns Pixar – and provides the four “Toy Story” films, movies involving “Monsters” and “Cars,” “Up,” ”Wall-e,” “Ratatouille” and “The Incredibles,” to name a few.
Disney also controls Marvel, so families can wind their way through the Marvel feature films. Examples: “The Avengers Endgame,” “Black Panther,” “Iron Man,” ”Thor,” “Captain America,” and more. But also provided are Marvel specials, and some super behind-the-scenes documentaries.
Skip to the “Star Wars” legacy, including the three trilogies, specials and some more series, both live action and animated.
The National Geographic category – which some have yet to discover – includes series (“Wild Yellowstone”), movies (award-nominated “Free Solo” and “Jane”) and more within the sub-chapters Vets & Pets, Science & Innovation and Exploring Our World.
After all, there is nothing wrong with quarantined students learning something before schools reopen.
If I had to pick a popular new Disney+ attraction, it would be “Star Wars” spinoff “The Mandalorian.”
This is more family than adult-oriented, with the first season having already aired.
A Mandalorian bounty hunter (Pedro Parcel), rarely seen without his armor, takes possession of what initially is referred to as a “baby” – and which audiences nationwide quickly call Baby Yoda, one of the cutest characters destined to sell millions in merchandise.
Lest one consider this a children’s series, note that co-stars include Nick Nolte as the voice of Kuill; director Werner Herzog as the Client; Gina Carono as warrior Cara Dune; Carl Weathers as Greef Largo, head of the bounty hunters’ union; and Giancarlo Esposito as former Empire officer Moff Gideon.
The show was created by Jon Favreau, executive producer of the “Avengers” franchise.
“The Mandalorian” is set five years after the Empire’s defeat in “Star Wars.” It follows one Mandalorian bounty hunter hired by a sinister Client to locate a “target” on desert planet Arvala-7.
This Mandalorian hails from a warrior race on the planet Mandalore, which was first introduced in “The Empire Strikes Back” via Boba Fett. It also was referenced in Cartoon Network’s “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.”
However, this Mandalorian and Boba Fett do differ. Consider:
https://time.com/5706585/mandalorian-boba-fett-difference/
He could be considered sci-fi’s version of an Old West loner protecting a child. Think John Wayne in “The Three Godfathers.”
No one skimped on production values, each cliffhanger works, there is a “Star Wars” vibe and audiences care about even characters who are not green, with not all surviving.
Season Two, arriving in October, is bound to make a bigger splash.
Tomorrow, check back for tips on Hulu and ’50s TV.