2013 is shaping up to be a banner year for movies. Oblivion, Iron Man 3, Man of Steel, Star Trek Into Darkness, After Earth, a new Hunger Games, and now add Ender’s Game to that list. The first trailer for the movie version of the seminal science fiction novel that helped many kids discover its okay to be different was just released:

The movie stars Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis, with Abigail Breslin and Harrison Ford. Look for it in theaters November 1, 2013!

Time to dust off my copy of the book.

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We have a fun opportunity for you to enjoy one of the two remaining Viva La Musica Saturdays at SeaWorld Orlando. We have a pair (2) of free tickets that you can use to see Grupománia (merengue) on Saturday, April 27 or El Gran Combo (salsa) on Saturday, May 4. All you have to do is be a fan of THRLLD’s Facebook page and leave a comment on the thread below with the answer to the following question:

What is your favorite attraction at SeaWorld Orlando?

Please make sure you will be able to visit SeaWorld Orlando before May 4th and to include your email address in the field below so I can contact you should you win. One entry per household, thank you. This is a pop-up contest, so all entries must be received by 4pm ET tomorrow April 24th.

We saw some of the land theme work in progress when we toured last month. I didn’t make it beyond the fence this trip, but you can still see that a lot of progress has been made.

A look over the wall shows many types of ice forming in the land. The mother penguin rock looks good too.


Here’s a close up on some of the icicles.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much SeaWorld can do to hide a giant three story building in the middle of the park. Part of the problem of not using a hub and spoke model when building a theme park, you can’t put the e-tickets to the edges.

Moving to the other side (close to the Sea Lion entrance), we see a heavily forested area leading into an archway. This is the ‘main entrance’ that will provide most of the wow for park guests.

Through the arch we see a hint of the sign for the restaurant and some more of the blue ice that will part of the limited palate of colors SeaWorld has to play with in the Antarctica.

SeaWorld Orlando has very much taken their concept of themed entertainment to a new level with Antarctica. Will you be adding a visit to SeaWorld Orlando on your next visit?

Paramount has released a second clip from Star Trek Into Darkness that shows the team working together in a difficult situation, but still managing some witty banter:

Unless these two clips are the only good moments from the film, seems like JJ Abrams has done a good job with the sequel.

Previously: Star Trek Into Darkness Clip 1.

Paramount Studios has released a dramatic clip from Star Trek Into Darkness. You get to see most of the crew here. Spock’s in a volcano and be sure to keep your eye out for the giant fish.

Star Trek Into Darkness opens in IMAX theaters on May 15 with general release on May 17. The film stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, John Cho, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin, Benedict Cumberbatch, Alice Eve and Peter Weller.

In the wake of a shocking act of terror from within their own organization, the crew of The Enterprise is called back home to Earth. In defiance of regulations and with a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads his crew on a manhunt to capture an unstoppable force of destruction and bring those responsible to justice. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.

Are you getting excited?

It is official. I have finally completed all 64 episodes of Veronica Mars. It. Was. Amazing. The third season gets some flak for being the worst one, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself during all 20 episodes.

There were some format changes in the third season that I disliked at first, but grew to really enjoy. Every season thus far had had a season long story arc (Lilly Kane’s murder the first season, the bus crash season 2), but the third season opted for mini-arcs (Who filmed Veronica naked, who really is the Hearst rapist, etc.). Also, this season went even heavier with the jokes, yet still not in an overpowering way. Most people say they really hated the third season for the increased humor, but I loved it. This season had my three favorite jokes from the entire show (I made a playlist of some great Veronica Mars jokes below!).

My one tiny problem with this season was Veronica’s stupidity. She was drugged and raped in high school, which is incredibly tragic. If I was drugged, I would keep my eye on all of my beverages in my possession and never take drinks from ANYONE other than myself, yet Veronica gets drugged ANOTHER TWO TIMES! Of all people in the world, Veronica is not one to act so foolishly.

I did enjoy the more screen time given to Mac, though. Such a witty and fun character played fantastically by Tina Majorino. The college scenery could have gone the way of failed college adaptations, like the Clarissa Now pilot that never took of or the Saved By The Bell: College Years, but it really gave viewers the same great show we knew and loved from the first 2 seasons.

Just the other day, the Kickstarter ended and became the project with the most backers of all-time. They raised more than $5.7 million dollars, which is a guarantee that the film will be made and released in spring of 2014. All I know is that my countdown has begun.

Let me know all of your Veronica Mars thoughts below! I will be sure to keep you updated on the movie as more information comes out.

Also, since I am done with one cult TV show, might as well move on to another! I am one episode away from finishing the first season of Pushing Daisies and after I have finished all 22 episodes, I am thinking about trying Better Off Ted. Let me know if you have any suggestions for what I should watch next! Until next time…A long time ago…we used to be friends.

Love this new trailer for The Man of Steel. The film revisits the origin story of Superman and updates it for the world we are faced with every day.

He will give the people of Earth an ideal to strive for. It’s a little cheesy, but perhaps it is what we need right now.

Love the music, love everything about this trailer. Can’t wait to see it when it hits theaters on June 14th. How about you?

I’ve been looking forward to the opening of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts since it was first announced. What I wasn’t aware of was how big a facility it is, how beautiful it will be, and how it will place Orlando firmly on the world stage with a modern venue that can house all forms of performing arts and generate a sense of community and place for Downtown Orlando.

This virtual fly-through of the facility gives a wonderful sense of what it will eventually become once it opens in 2014.

The space includes two grand performance theaters, a community theater, outdoor performance plaza, and educational programming space, the performing arts center will be more than a building; it is intended to be an education and creative hub, city builder and community family room.

The only quibble I have, and I realize it’s way to late for this, is the location. The Dr. Phillips Center for is located away from many of the spaces where Downtown Orlando visitors and residents currently hang out. It’s on a bit of an island over there and will need some additional development in the area to bring in the sort of public spaces, restaurants, clubs, and nightlife that will support the Dr. Phillips Center. Let’s not forget parking either. Low cost and free parking is already at a premium in that section of downtown.

(photos courtesy of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.)

The California Supreme Court recently issued a ruling that clarifies an outstanding issue related to whether recreational facilities, including theme and amusement parks, could be sued for injuries suffered as a result of the inherent nature of the experience. In this case, a women was on a bumper car ride, got bumped, and broke her wrist. She sued and lost, but the appeals court reverse the decision, so the California Supreme Court had to step in:

the primary assumption of the risk doctrine had previously only been at issue in the Supreme Court in a few cases, all involving sports—football, waterskiing, competitive swimming and baseball. Not surprisingly, therefore, these prior decisions discussed the doctrine in terms of the sport at issue, for example, noting that the sponsor of a football game had no duty to protect a player from “risks inherent in the sport itself.” Because of this, some California courts, like the Court of Appeals in Nalwa, interpreted the doctrine as only applying to sports, while others interpreted the doctrine as more broadly applicable to recreational activities. Only the Supreme Court could say for sure which way was correct. (source)

The court declared that primary assumption of the risk doctrine applied to all recreation activities, not just sports. Now lawsuits over injuries will have to prove a higher standard that the operator did something to elevate the risk beyond the rides inherent nature (such improper negligence on the bumper cars leading to a more severe injury, etc).

Finally some common sense. Right now this ruling only applies in California, but it could be used in other courts as a guideline to follow.

Does this ruling make you feel more or less safe at your local theme park?

Although it was overlooked during the big announcement for the World of Chima expansion coming to LEGOLAND Florida, part of the expansion will include some improvements to the main toddler friendly area of the park — Duplo Village. For time and safety reasons, Duplo Village is scheduled to be closed until some point in July.

Attractions affected include Granny’s Jalopies, Big Rig Rally and Jr. Fire Academy. However the Duplo Barn and Playtown will remain open (the baby care area is located inside the Duplo barn as well).

I won’t go as far as saying you should reconsider your trip if you have a toddler in your party. The Safari Jeeps, Boat School, Jr Driving School and Carrousel still offer some value for the day, plus there are Duplo and LEGO bricks to build and play with. Also be sure to take in the shows and the Fresh from Florida Greenhouse (aaah, air-conditioning). True there are not as many toddler offerings, but what is left are the best of the original options.