Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>The amount of rockword would have made it the Carsland of its time.<<<< That's a insult to WRE. Which would have been infinitely. better.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well, I enjoy the wonderful tribute to WRE on Phantom Manor at DLP (although I am not sure they originally envisaged Dreamfinder taking his head off - lol). But the awesomeness of that section shows it would have been cool. Oddly enough though, lots of people come off of PM with a WTF? response. Especially folks that were expecting the graveyard of the US variety.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer I don't know why PM us viewed in a negative light. It's a NEW HM, with a variation on the theme. Sure, it isn't WED-era brilliance, but few things are.
Originally Posted By Bolna <<I don't know why PM us viewed in a negative light. It's a NEW HM, with a variation on the theme. Sure, it isn't WED-era brilliance, but few things are.>> I am not nearly the DLP expert that Dave is and I might be wrong about this (especially since I think that on my last visit I had audio issues in my doom buggy), but there is no ghost host (maybe he speaks French? which would have nearly the same effect as no one since I don't understand it). For me the narration is a very important part of the whole experience. And the hitchhiking ghost isn't sitting in your doom buggy but above. Those are two reasons why I like the American versions better.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Right, I know most of the differences. I just don't see why it's viewed like it's a second rate product. It's not comparable to the original Mansion, it's the next generation of it.
Originally Posted By Bolna Yes, but loosing the narration takes away from the experience, so that's why it isn't as rounded as the others. I think there was supposed to be one which got taken out, so possibly with a narration I would appreciate it more. I still like that it is different and offers a new perspective and the end scene is very impressive (I guess that's the one we are talking about, the ghost western town?). But if the whole ride lacks something that keeps it together, the end can't help either.
Originally Posted By DlandDug As I understand, Phantom Manor was supposed to have a fully delineated story line, dealing with the Phantom Bride and her Lost Groom. A full narration was recorded with Vincent Price, but concerns over multiple languages left that on the cutting room floor. The Ghost Town that replaced the Graveyard finale was intended to reflect the placement in Frontierland, and provide an added fillup of western storytelling. I was pleased to hear some snippets of Paul Frees' original dialogue intermingled in the new tracks that play in the Ghost Town. Don't know that I would call Phantom Manor an advancement over the other HMs. It just seems like a unique version for Disney's European park. And a very good one, at that.
Originally Posted By Bolna Yes, and I think the attraction still lacks that narration. I would love to hear it. I wonder whether there is a recording out there somewhere, so I could take it with me on my ipod next time I visit...
Originally Posted By DlandDug Somebody did this on line: <a href="http://www.veoh.com/watch/v976032Qp7rnjXs?h1=Phantom+Manor+with+Vincent+Price" target="_blank">http://www.veoh.com/watch/v976...nt+Price</a>
Originally Posted By DlandDug And the best tribute site out there, as far as I'm concerned: <a href="http://www.doombuggies.com/phantom3.php" target="_blank">http://www.doombuggies.com/phantom3.php</a>
Originally Posted By Bolna I thought I recognised the woman walking in front of the camera - I had seen her in other videos. And it turns out that it is indeed a Martin Smith video. DlandDug, thanks for pointing it out to me, I really enjoyed watching it. But now I feel guilty that you went and searched for a video which I could have found easily if I just had looked up Martin Smith's website: <a href="http://www.martinsvids.net/?p=401" target="_blank">http://www.martinsvids.net/?p=401</a>. I always expected there to be more narration, but it turns out there isn't. And the video shows the queue leading up to PM quite nicely which we just discussed on the various queue threads...
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>Yes, but loosing the narration takes away from the experience, so that's why it isn't as rounded as the others. I think there was supposed to be one which got taken out, so possibly with a narration I would appreciate it more. I still like that it is different and offers a new perspective and the end scene is very impressive (I guess that's the one we are talking about, the ghost western town?). But if the whole ride lacks something that keeps it together, the end can't help either.<<< See, I disagree. I grew up loving the HM and hearing the Paul Frees narration, but I LOVE just having an amazing orchestral score, much better. Most complaints I hear from Americans is it is darker and not as funny. That is actually what I love about it. And the poker playing ghosts are still amazing after seeing them the first time 19 years ago. We must have clocked at least 100 trips through, and PM is my fav version.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Yep, I had the pleasure of hearing the Vincent Price audio, but it stopped when you got to the doom buggy. It lasted the first week or two (we were there for the opening, when I returned in June 1992, it was gone). Though I love now knowing the French spiel, I have tried to learn it as well as some of Rex's sayings on Star Tours. Talk about a fun way to learn a language!
