MONTERY: With the phenomenal box office achievements of “Finding Nemo” a fading memory, Pixar is attempting to succeed where many studios have failed — with a hit sequel years after the original.
When “Finding Dory,” starring Ellen DeGeneres and Idris Elba, comes out in the United States on June 17, a full 13 years will have passed since Marlin the clownfish delighted audiences with his quest to find his disappeared son Nemo.
Studio bosses will be aware such a long gap can be a real buzz-kill, with numerous follow-ups to huge blockbusters bombing at the box office because the appetite for their themes and characters faded with time.
“Bambi II,” which came out 63 years after the original, was a relative failure, while critics said “Fantasia 2000” was a pale imitation of the 1940 film. Critics resented having to “Return to Neverland” and “Return to Oz” — 49 and 45 years respectively after “Peter Pan” and “The Wizard of Oz” delighted cinemagoers.
Will Pixar’s ‘Finding Dory’ find success?
Will Pixar’s ‘Finding Dory’ find success?
Egypt’s grand museum begins live restoration of King Khufu’s ancient boat
- The 4,600-year-old boat was built during the reign of King Khufu, the pharaoh who also commissioned the Great Pyramid of Giza
CAIRO: Egypt began a public live restoration of King Khufu’s ancient solar boat at the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum on Tuesday, more than 4,000 years after the vessel was first built.
Egyptian conservators used a small crane to carefully lift a fragile, decayed plank into the Solar Boats Museum hall — the first of 1,650 wooden pieces that make up the ceremonial boat of the Old Kingdom pharaoh.
The 4,600-year-old boat was built during the reign of King Khufu, the pharaoh who also commissioned the Great Pyramid of Giza. The vessel was discovered in 1954 in a sealed pit near the pyramids, but its excavation did not begin until 2011 due to the fragile condition of the wood.
“You are witnessing today one of the most important restoration projects in the 21st century,” Egyptian Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy said.
“It is important for the museum, and it is important for humanity and the history and the heritage.”
The restoration will take place in full view of visitors to the Grand Egyptian Museum over the coming four years.
