This week Walt Disney Studios released Walt Disney Treasures DVDs featuring the complete first and second season of Zorro. All 78 episodes of the Disney TV classic are included on two new six-disc sets housed in collectible Zorro black, numbered unique tin cases. Both debut Walt Disney Treasures sets are hosted by noted film historian, author and critic Leonard Maltin. Additionally each limited edition, individually numbered volume includes a Zorro pin, an authenticity certificate, exclusive lithograph and comes in a unique, collectible black tin.

From 1957 to 1959, Disney’s Zorro was one of the most popular series on television starring Guy Williams, Henry Calvin, and Gene Sheldon. The show helped transform the literary character Don Diego de la Vega into the ultimate iconic, beloved swashbuckling masked hero of the time. Even if you weren’t alive when Zorro first aired it’s likely you caught it when it was re-aired on the Disney Channel in 1983 and re-colorizing the episodes in the 1990s or any of the other channels it has appeared on over the years. After the series conclusion, the Zorro adventures lived on from 1960 to 1961 on Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color in the form of a four-episode anthology series of hour-long Zorro specials, all of which are also included in Walt Disney Treasures Wave IX.

Bonus Features:

Zorro: The Complete First Season

Zorro: El Bandido – Part 1 of a 2-part story shown as a 1-hour-special on the Disneyland television show (original air date: October 30, 1960)

Zorro: Adios El Cuchillo – Part 2 of a 2-part story shown as a 1-hour-special on the Disneyland television show (original air date: November 6, 1960)

Zorro: The Complete Second Season

Zorro: The Postponed Wedding – A 1-hour special that originally aired on the Disneyland television show (original air date: January 1, 1961)

Zorro: Auld Acquaintance – A 1-hour special that originally aired on the Disneyland television show (original air date: April 2, 1961)

As a lifelong Disney fan, I was weened on a digest of Zorro reruns and still get excited when that theme music comes on. If you are raising your own Disney mouselet, you will certainly want to own both of these Zorro DVD sets and introduce them to the masked bandit.

If you follow below the jump, there are some video clips of what you’ll find on the discs.

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I’m really looking forward to a chance to revisit Pixar’s latest amazing animated feature ‘UP’. That chance arrives November 10th when the film will be available on DVD and Blu-ray disc. To celebrate the release Disney*Pixar has made available 8 retro style posters celebrating the artistry of ‘UP’.

Also here’s a preview of the bonus short that will be available on the DVD – “Dug’s Special Mission – Dug In A Hole”.

Follow below the jump for seven more great retro posters:

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In her second direct-to-DVD animated movie, Tinker Bell, the world’s most famous pixie, sets off on an adventure that takes her away from Pixie Hollow, and toward a new friendship. Along the way she makes mistakes, learns some lessons, and, in the end, saves the day in her own unique way. All-in-all Tinker Bell And The Lost Treasure is a worthy successor to the first movie.

If you watched the first movie for the secondary pixies, you’re going to be a big disappointed by Lost Treasure. The DVD producers appear to have made a choice to make this second film more boy friendly, and so Fawn, Iridessa and their friends are left with only minor roles. It actually seems like they have bigger roles in the DVD extras than they do in the movie

In Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure the adventure takes place in Autumn, as the fairies are on the mainland changing the colors of the leaves, tending to pumpkin patches, and helping geese fly south for the winter. The rare Blue Moon will rise, and when its light passes through the magical Fall Scepter that Tinker Bell has been summoned to create, Pixie Hollow’s supply of pixie dust will be restored. But when Tinker Bell accidentally puts all of Pixie Hollow in jeopardy, she must venture out across the sea on a secret quest to set things right.

Along her journey Tink meets new friends, including Blaze, a cute and courageous firefly that helps Tinker Bell complete her mission. It’s a long and dangerous journey, full of astonishing encounters, a few narrow escapes and a daring rescue by Tink’s friend Terence.

My biggest problem with the movie was that the adventure took so long to get going. Then once it started, there was enough momentum to keep it going, but the audience is asked to make a log of jumps in story along they way. That was the same problem I had with the first movie, so if you liked the first one, you’ll probably enjoy this one the same.

I was impressed with the quality of the animation in this film. Although it is CG Animation, the style worked well with the story, and the enhanced natural presentation that is Pixie Hollow.  It was wonderful to have all the big name voice actors back representing their characters. There will be three more of these films and I’m sure they’ll all make Disney a ton of money, not just in the DVDs, but in the product division, which basically ordered the DVDs to help with merchandise sales. If that’s the goal, then it is working.

Both the Blu-ray and DVD have magical bonus features including animated “scenes you never saw,” a guide to Pixie Hollow, and much more, offering viewers an extraordinary trip deep inside the enchanted world of Pixie Hollow. This is one of those special features where the animators put in extra work to make the audience laugh, and while most are very funny, it would have been better to see that humor in the film.

Bonus Materials

• Scenes You Never Saw – These fairy funny alternate scenes did not make it into the movie.
• Magical Guide to Pixie Hollow – Tinker Bell and Terence are your guides as you explore the autumn area of Pixie Hollow.
• Deleted Scenes with Filmmaker Introductions – Play deleted scenes with optional intros by Director Klay Hall and Producer Sean Lurie.
• Pixie Hollow Comes To Florida – Discover how the filmmakers helped transform Epcot into Pixie Hollow.

Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure is directed by Klay Hall and produced by Sean Lurie. It will be available in stores on October 27th, but you can pre-order it now online.

Feature run time: Approx. 70 minutes
Rated: This movie is not yet rated
Technical specifications may only apply to feature
Aspect ratio: Family-friendly wide screen, 1.78:1
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound
Languages: English, Spanish and French
Subtitles: English, Spanish and French

There are few of my favorite childhood movies that hold as special a place as BedKnobs And Broomsticks. Although it was produced after Walt Disney’s death, it continued the Mary Poppins tradition of combining live action with animation, brought on wonderful actors like Angela Lansbury and David Tomlinson, and was chockful of musical tunes to boot. What more could a budding Disney fan want?

How about the new Enchanted Musical Edition DVD? It’s restored and remastered and ready to occupy that empty spot on your shelf.

We have the Sherman Brothers to thank for the songs for the film, including The Age of Not Believing, Portobello Road, and The Beautiful Briny Sea. If that strikes your memory bone, then you’ll want to make sure you watch the best special feature — Music Magic: The Sherman Brothers. Inside Angela Lansbury narrates the history of the development of the songs and you’ll enjoy a rare listen at a song never before heard.

Also knew is the “Wizard of Special Effects” feature that walks viewers through the special effects of the movie and compares them with Disney’s current wizard TV show, The Wizards of Waverly Place.

Bedknobs and Broomsticks is a must have for any Disney fan. The Enchanted Musical Edition DVD captures the family entertainment value you expect from the team at Walt Disney Pictures.

More details of the DVD below the jump:

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When you think of all the things the Walt Disney Company should be doing now, returning to movies in the spirit of True Life Adventure may not be at the top of your list. But it was at the top of mine, so I can’t tell you how happy I was when Disney rolled out the DisneyNature label.

Now the first film from DisneyNature is out on DVD and Blu-ray. EARTH tells a trio of unforgettable stories sure to captivate movie lovers of all ages. Set against some of the world’s most spectacular vistas, this breathtaking motion picture achievement uses the classic Disney storytelling tradition to celebrate the diversity and determination of its animal stars in a heroic journey that covers the Earth from pole to pole.

Award-winning filmmakers Alastair Fothergill (“The Blue Planet”) and Mark Linfield (“Planet Earth”) employ the latest innovations in film techniques to bring EARTH’s stunning visuals to the screen. Narrated by James Earl Jones, the inaugural release from Disneynature is just the beginning of an instantly collectible new line of films and a worthy successor to the beloved, Academy Award-winning True Life Adventures series. I’ve previously posted the transcript of a chat with Fothergill about the making of EARTH plus some signals of future projects too.

EARTH follows the stories of three main groups of animal characters. In the Arctic, a mother polar bear trailed by her two cubs searches for food as their icy hunting grounds melt away. A herd of African elephants slowly traverses the arid Kalahari Desert toward the water-rich Okavango Delta. A humpback whale and her calf make a 4,000-mile journey in an epic migration that takes them from tropical waters all the way to Antarctica.

To me the weakest part of EARTH was the way the story jumped around in time and space across the globe. It made it more difficult to follow than was absolutely necessary. However, the amazing footage of nature at its finest, more than made up for that.

Available in a single-disc DVD or two-disc Blu-ray Hi-Def/DVD Combo Pack, EARTH includes bonus features that offer viewers an in-depth look at the making of the film and an opportunity to learn more about our planet and its myriad fascinating inhabitants. In Blu-ray, the film gives audiences an unmatched opportunity to view its dizzying aerial photography, epic backdrops and rare footage of land, sea and air in astonishing high definition.

Tinker Bell returns this fall in a brand new adventure! Here’s a sneak peak of the first 6 minutes of Tink’s second film “Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure”. Queen Clarion’s fairies are all aflutter with the preparations for autumn. Tink’s got a new mission – create the Fall Scepter to hold the Pixie Hollow Moonstone – and some helpful new pals.

I was first exposed to “Lost Treasure” back at the EPCOT Flower and Garden festival in April. So I’m happy that it’s almost here. Look for an October 27th release on both Blu-ray & DVD.

I grew up watching reruns of the Mickey Mouse Club and the Sunday night Disney Family Movie. Films like the Apple Dumpling Gang, Parent Trap, or My Dog The Thief (who can forget that one) were decidedly bland compared to some of the other offerings of the day. But that was okay, life was pretty bland.

It’s obviously a different world today. Everything is faster paced. Kids grow up faster and pop-stars grow up just as fast. And on screen. Few fit that description better than Miley Cyrus, Disney’s current teen superstar. Her first-ever full-length theatrical movie as Hannah Montana – “Hannah Montana: The Movie” – is available for a limited time only in a Three-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack that includes the film in both Blu-ray and DVD formats, as well as Two-Disc and Single-Disc DVD editions. Both the Blu-ray Combo Pack and Two-Disc DVD include DisneyFile, a digital copy of the movie that can be viewed on an array of electronic devices.

The plot of the movie is actually fairly simple, hearkening back to those Disney films of yore. Being a superstar as well as a normal teenager is getting even more complicated for Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus). Her crazy double life as pop sensation Hannah Montana is taking its toll on the teen and her family. So Miley’s dad, Robby Ray Stewart (Billy Ray Cyrus) decides a visit to the family farm in Tennessee to celebrate Grandma Ruby’s (Margo Martindale) birthday will bring his little girl back down to earth. Far away from the bright lights and the big city, Miley reconnects with childhood friend Travis (Lucas Till).

Their budding romance, along with the love of her family and friends, gives Miley some much-needed perspective on life. But when her pushy publicist (Vanessa Williams) comes calling and a smarmy reporter (Peter Gunn) tries to dig up the dirt on Hannah, Miley is forced to make the hardest decision of her life. Cyrus is joined in the film by her stellar cast mates from the hit Disney Channel series including Emily Osment, Moises Arias, Mitchel Musso, Billy Ray Cyrus and Jason Earles.

In addition, fans will enjoy special appearances by Lucas Till (Walk the Line), Vanessa Williams (”Ugly Betty”), Tyra Banks (”America’s Next Top Model”), Barry Bostwick (”Nancy Drew”), Melora Hardin (17 Again), and hit recording artists Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts.

Even if you’re not a fan of the television series, I think you’ll find Hannah Montana: The Movie a good fit for your Disney DVD Collection. It’s another successful property for The Walt Disney Company.

Follow below the jump for some of the excellent bonus features available:

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Director Alastair Fothergill took part in a Virtual Roundtable for DisneyNature’s EARTH today. They also showed the ‘Earth Diaries” film that will be a special feature on the Blu-Ray Disc. It took over 5 years to complete the film, so there is a lot of territory covered in the feature, but it really lets the creators put some umph behind what is otherwise just the story of the movie.

The next two films Fothergill is working on for DisneyNature are Big Cats, projected to release early in 2012, and Chimpanzee, which should arrive early in 2013.

For those interested in the nitty gritty, I’ve included the full transcript below.

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