Attendees at Comic-Con got the first look at this new video for the fictitious ‘dating site’ Singlebrooke. It’s meant as a fun bit of viral marketing for ABC’s hit show ‘Once Upon A Time’ video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player Of course, the people at ABC… Read More »Singlebrooke – Once Upon A Time goes Viral at Comic-Com
I excitedly picked up the John Carter Blu-ray combo pack last week, popped it into my player, and then fell asleep about 40 minutes into the film. Suddenly, a week went by and I realized I didn’t really have the urge to finish the film. Not a good sign. But, you know, I owed it to myself, and to the creative team (who I like!), to finish the film and then develop an opinion.
John Carter, based on the novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs and directed by Wall-E’s Andrew Stanton, is a befuddling work. It’s ambitious, chock full of characters, special effects, and a fairly dense plot, but in so many ways it just doesn’t work. The civil war between Helium and Zodanga is convoluted right from the first scene; both forces wear nearly the same uniforms, save a batch of blue or red here and there to distinguish them. Carter’s motivations and acceptance of his status on Mars seems all too convenient. Odd edits, especially during Dejah’s first “damsel in distress” moment (I mean, really, how many times did Carter need to catch her while falling in this movie?), make following the action difficult. The acting, especially from lead Taylor Kitsch, is adequate but far from the kind of engaging you need to launch the kind of franchise Disney was looking for here.
Unfortunately, the biggest sin against the film is its lack of emotion, which is surprising, given Stanton’s (not to mention his fellow screenwriters, who include Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon) pedigree. The romance between Carter and Dejah just sort of happens, since it’s supposed to, and the objectives for other characters, like Dominic West’s Sab Than or William Defoe’s Tars Tarkus, are barely addressed. If you were unfamiliar with Burrough’s stories, as I was, you probably aren’t going to find yourself invested in these characters.
I really wanted to like this movie. I disregarded a lot of the negative buzz, which had more to do with the film’s financial failures than its creative ones. I suppose that’s why, once I finally got around to finishing it, I was ultimately disappointed. It’s clear that John Carter had a lot of ambition and there are elements to like, like the Tharks, Dejah, and some of the less cumbersome mythology, but the film is weighed down by its many flaws.
Though films like Cinderella, Pocahontas and The Rescuers received the bulk of the attention when Disney revealed their impending major home video push—more than 30 Disney films will be released for the first time on Blu-ray in 2012—several more obscure titles will be hitting store shelves soon.
Probably the most relevant of these upcoming releases is the 20th anniversary edition of Newsies (in stores June 19 or pre-order today). The cult-favorite is the basis for the current Broadway musical hit of the same name. Newsies The Musical won two Tony Awards this past Sunday, including Best Original Score for Alan Menken and Jack Feldman.
Oft-maligned Disney animated films Treasure Planet and Home on the Range will be released next month on July 3rd. If you’ve never seen these films–up until John Carter, Treasure Planet was considered one of Disney’s biggest flops—they’re worth a second look. I can’t speak to these releases’ specs, but the films themselves have a lot of worthwhile aspects. Treasure Planet, in particular, is filled with clever design work and gorgeous backgrounds. Home on the Range and Treasure Planet are available July 3rd.
Aside from the Diamond Edition of Cinderella, other fall releases include Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Brother Bear, Hocus Pocus and a trilogy set of The Santa Clause films. The Great Mouse Detective, a personal favorite, is scheduled for Blu-ray release on September 18th.
For a complete run-down of what will be available from Walt Disney Home Entertainment for the rest of the year, checkout below the jump:
If you want to lock in what will most likely be the lowest price on a slew of upcoming Walt Disney Home Entertainment releases, act fast. Amazon has revealed $5-$8 coupons for seven upcoming Disney Blu-ray releases, including Finding Nemo (December 4, 2012), The Avengers… Read More »Pre-Order Disney Blu-Ray DVDs And Save Big, Deal Ends Soon
In home entertainment parlance, “Second Screen” is the device you hold while watching a movie on DVD in the comfort of your home. It provides an augmented viewing experience designed to enhance one’s enjoyment of the film you’re watching. If you own the John Carter… Read More »John Carter “Second Screen”
Editor: Please welcome new guest author Jeff Birou! Last week, Disney, through its North American distribution partnership with Japan’s Studio Ghibli, released three more titles from Ghibli’s catalog on DVD and for the first time on Blu-ray: The Secret World of Arrietty (2010; 2011 in… Read More »Disney Releases Three Studio Ghibli Films on Blu-Ray
Say what you will: For years, I have consistently ranked 1991’s Father of the Bride and its sequel, 1995’s Father of the Bride-Part II, as two of my favorite films of all time. These movies are singularly responsible for making me a fan of Steve… Read More »Disappointing Blu-ray Treatment for ‘Father of the Bride’
Walt Disney Studios and the legendary Studio Ghibli (“Ponyo” & “Spirited Away”) proudly open the doors to “The Secret World of Arrietty” on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD, available now for pre-order for delivery on May 22, 2012. This visually stunning animated masterpiece stars an illustrious voice cast that includes Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, Bridgit Mendler, Moises Arias, David Henrie and the iconic and much beloved Carol Burnett.
Based on the acclaimed children’s book series “The Borrowers,” by Mary Norton, “The Secret World of Arrietty” is an imaginative tale of “little people” living furtively among us, and the unlikely friendship that forms when their hidden world is discovered. The heartwarming family adventure features beautiful, stylized animation and timeless themes of friendship, courage and determination.
In addition to the stunning Blu-ray hi-definition picture and digital sound, the 2-DiscCombo Pack includes an array of bonus features that will fascinate animation fans, including a storyboard version of the film and the original Japanese trailers and TV commercials. Additional features include music videos for the songs “Summertime” performed by Disney Channel star Bridgit Mendler, who is the speaking voice of Arrietty; and the movie’s theme song “Arrietty’s Song” performed by French singer/songwriter Cécile Corbel.
An enthralling story, with the English language version directed by 7-time Academy Award®-winner Gary Rydstrom, “The Secret World of Arrietty” is a remarkable filmmaking achievement that families will want to add to their home entertainment collections and enjoy over and over.
FILM SYNOPSIS:
Residing quietly beneath the floorboards are little people who live undetected in a secret world to be discovered. Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler), a tiny, but tenacious 14-year-old, lives with her parents (voices of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) in the recesses of a suburban garden home, unbeknownst to the homeowner and her housekeeper (voice of Carol Burnett). Like all little people, Arrietty (AIR-ee-ett-ee) remains hidden from view, except during occasionalcovert ventures beyond the floorboards to “borrow” scrap supplies like sugar cubes from her human hosts.
But when 12-year-old Shawn (voice of David Henrie), a human boy who comes to stay in the home, discovers his mysterious housemate one evening, a secret friendship blossoms. If discovered, their relationship could drive Arrietty’s family from the home and straight into danger. From the legendary Studio Ghibli (“Spirited Away,” “Ponyo”) comes “The Secret World of Arrietty,” an animated adventure based on Mary Norton’s acclaimed children’s book series “The Borrowers.”
The film was directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi and produced by Toshio Suzuki. Gary Rydstrom directed the English-language version of “The Secret World of Arrietty” from a screenplay written by Karey Kirkpatrick. The producers include Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall. The original Japanese screenplay was written by Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa.
Read More »The Secret World of Arrietty – Studio Ghibli’s Latest – on DVD