Update: video of President Obama as he records his lines for the show. “I [name] do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution… Read More »The Hall of Presidents Transformed
I’d like to welcome Kevin Yee as a guest author to The Disney Blog. Opened in 1989 as an inaugural part of Pleasure Island, the Portobello Yacht Club maintained the backstory of shipping magnate Merriweather Pleasure, whose warehouses were decimated by a storm, prompting him… Read More »The New Portobello Restaurant: Deceptively Simple
The countdown to Pixar’s next film ‘UP’ is on. It opened Cannes film festival to much praise, the Hollywood premiere was this weekend, and the reviews are coming in (so far 100% positive on Rotten Tomatoes). Meanwhile, the rest of us wait until May 29th… Read More »Finding Inspiration for Pixar’s ‘UP’
Ed: I’d like to welcome back the podcast review feature to The Disney Blog. Daniel Ross, aka @dross6 on Twitter, is the new guest reviewer.
Welcome to the Weekly Podcast Review (name pending)! I’ll focus on a different Disney podcast each week. This week, we’ll take a look at the Netcot Podcast (#140):
Van, the host, has a semi-regular format (News->Top 7->Feature->Audio) and nothing’s different this week. We’ll start off at the beginning:
This April, Disney’s Miramax film studio has two DVDs out that are a must have for any collection. Best Picture Oscar winning No Country for Old Men set a new standard for action-thrillers. Doubt won five Oscar nominations and is an acting tour de force.
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN – COLLECTOR’S EDITION
When you sit down to watch a Coen brothers film you should have a set of expectations. There will be violence, exploration of human suffering, and excellence in film making. No Country for Old Men reached the peak of excellence deservedly winning the 2007 Academy Award for Best Picture, and the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Javier Bardem), among others.
The Coen Brothers deliver a sizzling and supercharged action-thriller with No Country for Old Men, based on the novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Cormac McCarthy. Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), a down-on-his-luck Vietnam vet, stumbles across an illicit fortune and decides to keep it, setting off an unstoppable chain of violence.
When Moss discovers a drug deal gone bad in the West Texas desert, he decides to keep the two million dollars he finds there and hit the road. In short order, both Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones), the local sheriff, and Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), one of the most frighteningly amoral psychopaths in film history, are on his trail and Moss is scrambling to stay one step ahead of the law—and avoid a gruesome fate at Chigurh’s hands. Javier Bardem’s role as death personified is one that will deservedly be remembered for ages.
The 2007 Oscar® winner for Best Picture, No Country for Old Men, arrived in new collectible three-disc DVD and 2-disc Blu-ray editions from Miramax Films, Paramount Vantage, and Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. Acclaimed filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen’s most gripping and ambitious film, No Country for Old Men – Collector’s Edition comes with more than five hours of bonus features, available on DVD and Blu-ray for the first time ever, including extensive interviews with the filmmakers, stars and technical team behind this unforgettable thriller. From an unauthorized trip backstage with star Josh Brolin, to an insider’s look at the unique moviemaking process of the Coen brothers, fans will get unprecedented access to the story behind the celebrated movie. In addition, both the DVD and Blu-ray versions include a special digital copy of the movie that enables viewers to enjoy it anywhere, anytime in their choice of iTunes or Windows Media formats.
DOUBT
Doubt is set in 1964 and based loosely on real events. The nation is at a crossroads. Stay in the past or be dragged into a new and uncomfortable future. The feeling of doubt moves through all the characters lives and the audience’s mind as the film progresses. Whether we get an answer is up for debate, but there is no doubt that you will enjoy the performances in this movie.
St. Nicholas Church in the Bronx finds Fr. Brendan Flynn’s (Philip Seymour Hoffman) progressive views and charismatic presence have won him the respect and admiration of the congregation. At the parish school, principal Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Meryl Streep) keeps her students in line with old-fashioned fear and intimidation. When young Sister James (Amy Adams) shares with Sister Aloysius her concern that that Father Flynn has “taken an interest” in twelve-year-old Donald Miller (Joseph Foster), the school’s “first Negro student,” the older nun launches her own investigation. Determined to protect every one of her charges, Sister Aloysius attempts to use the evidence she discovers to have Flynn removed from the school. John Patrick Shanley’s finely shaded script takes audiences through a spectrum of truth, emotion and belief, and asks if any decision is ever free from doubt.
It was one of the biggest upset of the 2009 Academy Awards that the film didn’t receive a single Oscar, despite being up for five of them. Both the DVD and Blu-ray Hi-Def versions of Doubt include some great bonus features including an audio Commentary from the writer/director.
More details on Both DVD’s below the cut:
Read More »Two Miramax DVDs – No Country for Old Men / Doubt
There are all sorts of reasons to own the latest animated film from Disney. You could be a complete-ist and need it just to round out your DVD library, you could be a fan of those lost-animal-finds-its-way-home stories, or you could be fan of John Travolta or Miley Cyrus. All valid reasons that this film is sure to please. But the number one reason to buy BOLT is heart.
All the films main characters show great heart as they grow over the course of the movie. The animation team showed great heart with behind the scenes challenges to overcome. And the Disney studios showed great heart thinking it would compete against the vampire teen idols of Twilight.
Alas, that last one was just wishful thinking. So while you may not have seen BOLT in the movie theater, all that means is you’ll be pleasantly suprised by what you have when you get it home.
You have two choices on what to bring home, either the deluxe 2-Disc DVD or the 3-Disc Blu-Ray High Def format. If you’re on the border, get the Blu-ray as it comes with a standard DVD disc so you’ll be able to watch it now even if that Blu-Ray hasn’t yet appeared under the Christmas Tree.
Ther are also a few fantastic Blu-ray only bonus features, including ‘Bolt’s Be-Awesome Mission’ an exclusive interactive game; an inspiring ‘Bolt Art Gallery’ which highlights the film’s breathtaking art and showcases the animation technique, and the film comes alive with the exciting Blu-ray only ‘BD-Live’ which allows viewers to enjoy ‘Movie Chat,’ ‘Movie Mail,’ ‘Movie Challenge’ and ‘Disney Movie Rewards.’ Both the Blu-ray and DVD releases of BOLT, include an exciting all-new short film, “Super Rhino” as BOLT’s breakout star Rhino, the hyperactive hamster, gets a chance to headline his very own hilarious adventure!
Bolt (voiced by John Travolta) is the star of the biggest show in Hollywood. The only problem is, he thinks the whole thing is real. When the super dog is accidentally shipped to New York City and separated from Penny (voiced by Miley Cyrus), his beloved co-star and owner, Bolt springs into action to find his way home. Together with his hilarious new sidekicks Rhino (voiced by Mark Walton) – Bolt’s #1 Fan – and a street-smart cat named Mittens (voiced by Susie Essman), Bolt sets off on an amazing journey where he discovers he doesn’t need super powers to be a hero.
Nominated for two Golden Globe Awards for Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song (“I Thought I Lost You’), BOLT features the voices of Academy Award® nominee John Travolta (nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Pulp Fiction, 1994 and Saturday Night Fever, 1977) as Bolt, the wonder dog and Miley Cyrus (“Hannah Montana”) as Penny, his “person.” The stellar voice cast also includes Susie Essman (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”), Mark Walton, Malcolm McDowell (“Heroes”) and James Lipton (“Inside the Actor’s Studio”). BOLT was also produced by Pixar co-founder and CGI pioneer John Lasseter (director of Toy Story, A Bug’s Life and Cars).
Think you know Walt Disney World? Do you know the backstory of Dinoland U.S.A. that unifies the entire land? Do you know how Dreamflight is commemorated in today’s Magic Kingdom? Do you know how Ellen’s Energy Adventure mentions the ride which preceded it? Do you… Read More »101 Things You Never Knew About Walt Disney World, really.
Are you tired, listless? Do you scan your iPod looking for something new? Does your playlist need a shot in the arm? Well, Have You Heard This? This week we switch gears and take a look at a different genre of the podosphere, vidcasts or… Read More »Have you heard this? – Disney Fan Podcast Review – Beyond Main Street