My family contributed to the strong opening weekend of Enchanted much to my chagrin. I wasn’t too excited to go see a film about a princess staring Patrick Dempsy (screams chick flick). However, due to too much turkey and apple pie, I relented. Turns out the movie was better than bad, it was good.
It starts as a regular animated story of a princess finding true love’s kiss akin to a Sleeping Beauty mixed with the woodland creatures of Snow White. The animation seems rushed and maybe too computer aided, but it works because you know the whole movie isn’t going to be in 2D drawings. When the evil step-mother (Cinderella anybody?) decides that she doesn’t want anyone marrying her son and taking over her throne, she turns into an old hag and pushes the princess into the real world.
I was fully expecting this to be an innocent person lost in a strange city like Will Farrell in Elf, but it was more. The princess was able to retain her powers of likability - even with the woodland creatures (or in New York, rats). My favorite scene is when the princess busts into song in the park. Like all good animated movies, starting a song means everyone joins in and starts singing and dancing. Despite this being the real world, the same held true here. It was reminiscent of the duet between Simba and Nala at the beginning of the Lion King, but pulled off wonderfully with live actors.
I’m still not sure if this is a “go out and see it in the theatre” movie, but admittedly I find very few of those these days. However, if you are looking for a family or date movie, this is a good choice.
In honor of the 70th Anniversary Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Great American Ink has created an online video and exhibition that you can see at their site. Snow White was Walt’s first feature length film and he received much criticism while making it, even from his wife Lilian. But, obviously, taking a big risk and having a great vision paid off.
Read the full press release from Great American Link after the jump
This “just in time for the holidays” DVD features all the lovable character’s from the 100 Acre Woods except Christopher Robin. A young girl by the name of Darby takes his place in this 3D computer animated version based off the Disney Channel kids show with the same name.
In Super Sleuth Christmas Movie, Roo and Lumpy find Santa’s missing toy bag along with a stray reindeer. The gang must help the little reindeer get back to Santa with the toy back to save Christmas. By persevering some hardships along the way, they are all rewarded with very special gifts from Santa.
The DVD also contains two bonus episodes of the My Friends Tigger and Pooh television show. It also contains a DVD game where the viewer gets to choose one of four courses to snowboard down collecting presents along the way. At the end of the course, you must help decide which gift goes with which character.
My kids enjoyed watching the Christmas episode as well as the bonus episodes. None of the three are available on iTunes as of yet, so for $19.99 you are getting episode you can’t get anywhere else. I would assume that the bonus episodes will air on the Disney Channel this season, but I’m not sure if the Christmas episode will be made available. Priced near or at the same price as Disney feature films, I would probably rather purchase “Meet the Robinsons” or “Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End.” However, if you have younger toddlers with shorter attention spans, this might be the DVD for you.
* Disclosure - I received a free evaluation copy of this DVD from Disney’s PR group *
The new Enchanted Tales DVD comes out next Thursday, 09/04/07. It includes two new original stories. The first featuring Princess Aurora and the second featuring Princess Jasmine. Disney has posted a 4 minute online clip from the DVD for your viewing enjoyment.
I have a pre-release copy of the DVD and can say this isn’t like the previous re-purposed princess DVDs where Disney takes clips from old movies, TV shows and specials and turns them into a compilation. Instead, these are two original hand drawn cartoons that are well done. The songs are catchy and my 4 year old has enjoyed watching them over and over again.As for the special features, I was surprised at how much we enjoyed the DVD games. There are two, one for Aurora and one for Jasmine. There is also a Belle music video from an upcoming Princess DVD.All in all, very well done and highly recommended.
BTW, here is a link to a music video of a song Jasmine sings in her feature.Â
Earlier, I linked to some online clips for the new Little Einstein’s DVD. Via some Disney PR folks, I was able to get an advanced copy of the DVD to review. While I’m not an expert reviewer, I can tell you my kids have watched it probably 10 times over the last five days - that means it’s good.
The main feature, Rocket’s Firebird Rescue, is about the length of three normal TV episodes found on the Disney channel. The nice thing about the DVD is instead of featuring one artist, usually a painter, and one classical song it features multiple types of art including sculpture and dance. In this DVD they also include some shapes around June’s dancing. All in all, it is far more educational than a typical episode.
The alternative viewing that I mentioned previous turned out to be a some what interactive “game”. During the DVD, when a feather appears on screen, you can hit enter on your DVD remote. It will pause the movie and run an educational feature related to that spot in the movie. When all the feathers are found, you get to see a special surprise - I won’t spoil it here.
This DVD makes good use of Disney’s FastPlay feature. Usually, this means the movie plays after the previews without having to hit play - nice when watching in the car. In this DVD with FastPlay, a second regular length episode will play after the main feature.
You can buy the DVD starting today. Here is a link to Amazon: Rocket’s Firebird DVD. I recommend it if you’re kids are a fan of the Little Einsteins or if they are just getting to that age where Baby Einsteins isn’t cutting it anymore.
Slate.com has a great piece on Brad Bird, the director of The Incredibiles and Ratatouille. Mr. Bird obviously has very strong ethics and passion for what he believes in. Don’t forget to launch the slide show which has video clips from some of his past work.
I was able to catch Ratatouille Sunday afternoon. I was all ready to write a review of it when I read John’s review and felt he captured it perfectly. So instead of gushing about how good the story and characters were, I’ve decided to gush about the technology.
I remember walking away from A Bug’s Life in 1998, excited for a career in 3D animation. At that time, I couldn’t think of a cooler field that was on the verge of explosion. Pixar was doing things with 3D that blew every one else out of the water. But after seeing how bad the lab computers were at rendering 3D at my university, I changed fields. If the school couldn’t afford machines to train on, how was I ever going to.
Since my inspired moment after A Bug’s Life, things have only gotten better at Pixar. They went from toys to bugs to fish honing their 3D skills. Everyone knew that doing humans would be challenging and the few in Nemo were less than realistic. Then came the Incredibiles. Finally, believable human characters - still a little comic like, but that fit the story.
I won’t say the humans in Ratatouille are perfect. Skinner - the chef that takes over for Gusteau - is more than comical. But there are a few shots, like when they show the back of Colette’s head - that look so real. It makes me wonder if they will get to a point where their CGI will be indistinguishable from live action.
It looks like the next Pixar movie, Wall-E, may be less human oriented, but Up in 2009 will be about a seventysomething guy. I can’t wait to see what else is improved by then.
My daughter’s 4th birthday is coming up and this Tinkerbell Dance DVD seems like a perfect gift. It’s $12.99 and 38 minutes. I’m amazed at how much she likes to dance, but maybe that’s normal for little girls.
Disney has an awesome video posted up on their site with conversations from all the major actors and the writers. The movie is only a few weeks away! Watch the behind the scenes video
As for the actual preview, I’m not sure. Pixar has made us love toys, fish, and cars. They’ll now have to convince us to love a Rat especially around food. I have faith in Pixar and it looks like this movie will glorify cooking - which would be awesome. I can’t think of any better activity than cooking with my kids.
Both of the released POTC movies as well as Cars and Chicken Little will be in high def this summer. I hate this HD DVD war. I have an XBOX 360 and can see buying the $199 HD-DVD add on. I won’t be buying a Blu-ray player even to watch these movies in high def.
Disney will be releasing a new Cinderella III DVD on Feburary 6th. I haven’t seen Cinderella II and these straight to Disney DVD sequels can be hit or miss. Here’s the synopsis: What if the slipper didn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t fit? Experience the wonder and the majesty of Cinderella?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s classic fairy tale with a spectacular twist in Disney?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s all-new motion picture CINDERELLA III: A TWIST IN TIME. When her evil stepmother gets hold of the Fairy Godmother?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s magic wand and turns back the hands of time, Cinderella must try to find Prince Charming and break through the evil spell. Gus, Jaq and all your favorite characters return in an exciting and hilarious new take on one of the most celebrated films of all time. Bursting with show-stopping music and more magic, wonder and suspense than the original, CINDERELLA III is enchanting entertainment for the entire family. There will be a number of bonus features including:
Bibbidi-Bobbidi Choose Game — Grab The Fairy Godmother’s Wand, And Make Some Magic Of Your Own
Cinderella’s Ballroom (DVD-ROM) — Dance To The Princess Jukebox, Choreograph Your Own Ballroom Dances — Even Use Your Own Phone Photos To Turn Yourself Into A Princess
“I Still Believe” Music Video Performed By Hayden Panettiere
Backstage At Disney Cruise Line’s “Twice Charmed” — Go Behind The Scenes To See The Making Of “Twice Charmed,” Disney Cruise Line’s Original Twist On CINDERELLA
First Look At The New DVD, DISNEY PRINCESS ENCHANTED TALES
Get the POTC3 marketing engines rolling. This YouTube clip is footage as seen on the Disney Channel. They even got Johnny Depp to give a little sound bite.
My family contributed to the strong opening weekend of Enchanted much to my chagrin. I wasn’t too excited to go see a film about a princess staring Patrick Dempsy (screams chick flick). However, due to too much turkey and apple pie, I relented. Turns out the movie was better than bad, it was good.
The new 
comes out next Thursday, 09/04/07. It includes two new original stories. The first featuring Princess Aurora and the second featuring Princess Jasmine. Disney has posted 
Earlier, I linked to 
Slate.com has a great piece on Brad Bird, the director of The Incredibiles and Ratatouille. Mr. Bird obviously has very strong ethics and passion for what he believes in. Don’t forget to launch the slide show which has video clips from some of his past work.
Gus, Jaq and all your favorite characters return in an exciting and hilarious new take on one of the most celebrated films of all time. Bursting with show-stopping music and more magic, wonder and suspense than the original, CINDERELLA III is enchanting entertainment for the entire family.