If for some reason you never got on the LOST bandwagon, or were on but left it behind, now is the perfect time to catch up and get ready for the January 21st debut of Season 5. This ‘Starter Kit’ video will catch you up… Read More »LOST – catching up the first four seasons
In addition to the theatrically released short “Presto” Pixar and Disney have decided to include an additional short on the WALL-E DVD and Blu-Ray releases. They did this with Tow Mater and the Ghostlight on Cars to great effect. Here WALL•E is partnered with BURN•E.… Read More »WALL-E DVD available for pre-order; includes exclusive animated short BURN-E
A few years ago John Lasseter swept into the Walt Disney Studios on the waves of the Pixar / Disney merger. Like Obama, Lasseter had a mandate. His mandate was to reform the culture of Walt Disney Feature Animation. Make it more like the successful culture up in Pixar, while still retaining that which is essential to Disney. Near the top of Lasseter’s list, end the direct to video sequels (aka cheapquels).
So why in the world has Disney released yet one more Direct to Video movie? And how could it involve one of Walt Disney’s more beloved and classic characters – Tinker Bell. How could you let that happen Uncle John?
Well, he let it happen because, hey turns out the idea was pretty good. It needed some tweaking, a real reworking, really. They had to upgrade from the ‘TV afternoon quality’ animation the movie started with, rework the story, rework it again, and again, and then suffer while all the merchandise that was created for the original release date hit the streets with no movie to tie-in too.
So the question is, was it worth it?
My answer is yes. “Tinker Bell” turns out to be a good movie. Yeah, they didn’t get Tinker Bell’s look or personality right. Yes, it’s computer animation, not hand drawn. But if you think of it as a re-launch, or an update to keep the character relevant, then they did a good job. In fact, if you can get over the fact that Tinker Bell speaks, you can easily overcome all the other changes that Pixie Hollow brings.
Some of those changes are good things. The story has heart, great characters, and a good message. You certainly can’t ask for more when you’re looking for good home entertainment from Disney. I guess that’s the reason the DVD is number one on the Amazon sales chart right now.
Now we hear that not only is the second Tinker Bell film well under way, a third film is being scripted. There’s a fourth and fifth film in the series if those two do well too. All this is part of the Walt Disney Company’s plan to make the Disney Fairies brand as big a money maker as the Disney Princess brand. I wish them luck.
The full press release with details on the DVD, Blu-Ray and Special Features is below the cut. So click on through.
Read More »Tinker Bell Makes A Movie, Signs Deal for Four More
Walt Disney’s Animated Masterpiece Sleeping Beauty 50th Anniversary Platinum Edition has been remasterd and re-released on DVD and Blu-Ray. Each frame of the original fairy-tale classic has been painstakingly recreated to Walt’s original specs. That means you’ll get to see the movie in a way hidden from audiences since the original theatrical release.
On the plus side this means that you get to see characters and detail that were previously cut from the widescreen version of the film. On the bad side, that means that the letterboxing is extreme. So unless you have a fairly good sized TV, you’ll be squinting a bit to take it all in.
Also updated were the rich color palette of the original film. We’ve all grown used to a somewhat dulled version with deep blues and greens. But the remastered version reveals purples, reds, bright greens, and other amazing colors that add a whole new depth to the film. I do have to big complaints in this area however. The greens tend to be a little on the puke green side and the pinks now tend to be more red. This is particularly bad in the famous pink or blue dress fight.
That said, the small errors are mostly overwhelmed by how rich and detailed this restoration is. To see the master animators at work, the detail of the backgrounds, and the hear the masterful soundtrack in a whole new level of high definition makes all the difference.
Even if you already own Sleeping Beauty, which we did, there are plenty of new extras that make this worth adding to your collection. My number one favorite is the featurette on the Original Disneyland Sleeping Beauty Walk-Through Attraction With Walt Disney Imagineering. It’s a fully-immersive 3-D experience recreating the original Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-Through that Walt supervised over 50 years ago.
Do yourself a favor and buy the Blu-Ray edition even if you don’t own a Blu-Ray player yet. It comes with the normal DVD and you never know when you might own a Blu-Ray player.
The full DVD details are below the cut:
Read More »Sleeping Beauty: Remastered, Reissued, Really Good
As all eyes turn to the presidential election it’s time to rediscover the infectious music, witty lyrics and colorful animation of Schoolhouse Rock! The Election Collection. The blast from the past comes is available on DVD September 23, 2008 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.… Read More »School House Rock Election Edition Rediscovered
When The Walt Disney Company saw that The High School Musical series was a surprise hit and it appeared that musicals were “hip” again with young audiences, Disney knew they just had to tap into that gold mine. One of the ideas they came up… Read More »Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato in Camp Rock: Extended Rock Star Edition DVD
Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds 3-D Concert Now Available On DVD and Blu-Ray High-Def Miley Cyrus is the latest, and perhaps greatest, teenage starlet to be produced by the Disney machine (although Annette Funicello will never displaced in my heart). Miley’s… Read More »Hannah Montana Concert Tour DVD: The Best of Both Worlds
I did not see National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets in the theaters. So this DVD was my first exposure to the film. Never the less I had quite a bit of Deja-Vu as I watched the movie. Large sections of the first half of this film play just like the first film.
I have to wonder if that is by design. Since the first film was so popular, why deviate too much from the formula. So even with, perhaps because of, this formula, the second film was as enjoyable as the first. The second half of Book of Secrets, where they deviated the most from the first film, managed a few surprises and some some great moments.
There are plenty of reasons to add this DVD to your collection. The collection of actors assembled were all wonderful. The story of the “Gates” family as they travel through history continues to be interesting. Interesting enough that I’d be happy to see one more film documenting their next adventure.
As for the DVD itself, the special features are treasures themselves. I enjoyed the audio commentary, even though I would have liked to have a voice from the technical side of the production in the booth. Deleted Scenes and Bloopers were fun to watch and the featurettes provided insight in the making of.
The full press release and DVD details are below the cut
Read More »National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets DVD Review