Bambi: Diamond Edition (a J!-ENT Blu-ray Review)

A timeless animated classic!  “Bambi: Diamond Edition” on Blu-ray looks and sounds more incredible than it has ever been before.  If this 1942 masterpiece resonates strongly with you or you are a Disney fan looking to upgrade to “Bambi” in High Definition, you won’t be disappointed.  “Bambi: Diamond Edition” is another must-own Disney animated classic on Blu-ray and is highly recommended!

Images courtesy of © Disney. All Rights Reserved.

TITLE: Bambi: Diamond Edition

FILM RELEASE DATE: 1942

DURATION: 70 Minutes

BLU-RAY DISC INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition Full Screen (1:33:1), English 7.1 DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby DEHT Language Tracks, Restored Original Theatrical Soundtrack, Subtitles: English SDH, English ESL, French and Spanish

COMPANY: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

RATED: G (All Ages Admitted)

Release Date: March 1, 2011

Directed by James Algar, Samuel Armstrong, David Hand, Graham Heid, Bill Roberts, Paul Satterfield and Norman Wright

Story by Felix Salten

Story Direction by Perce Pearce

Story Adaptation by Larry Morey

Story Development by Vernon Stallings, Melvin Shaw, Carl Fallberg, Chuck Couch, Ralph Wright

Produced by Walt Disney

Music by Frank Churchill, Edward H. Plumb

Art Direction by Tom Codrick, Robert Cormack, Lloyd Harting, David Hilberman, John Hubley, Dick Kelsey, McLaren Stewart, Al Zinnen

Featuring the voices of:

Hardie Albright as Adolescent Bambi

Donnie Dunagan as Young Bambi

Stan Alexander as Young Flower

Peter Behn as Young Thumper

Thelma Boardman as Mrs. Quail

Tim Davis as Adult Thumper

Sam Edwards as Adult Thumper

Ann Gillis as Adult Faline

Otis Harlan as Mr. Mole

Eddie Holden as Chipmunk

Sterling Holloway as Adult Flower

Cammie King Conlon as Young Faline

Mary Lansing as Aunt Ena/Mrs. Possum

Margaret Lee as Thumper’s Mother

Clarence Nash as Bullfrog

Bobby Stewart as Baby Bambi

John Sutherland as Adult Bambi

Paula Winslowe as Bambi’s Mother

Fred Shields as Great Prince of the Forest

As morning light breaks across the meadow, a young deer named Bambi is born and hailed as ‘Prince of the Forest.’ Soon Bambi emerges from the thicket on wobbly legs, much to the delight of his new friends, Thumper, the playful rabbit, and Flower, the bashful yet lovable skunk. But the fun of nibbling on fresh blossoms and frolicking through the woods is only the beginning. Exploring his new world, and guided by the wisdom of Friend Owl, Bambi learns valuable life lessons with every adventure – experiencing the power of friendship, family, and love along the away.

Back in 1923, Felix Salten wrote a novel titled “Bambi, a Life in the Woods” in Austria.  Five years later, the novel would receive its English translation and became an instant hit and a classic.

This led to MGM producer and director Sidney Franklin purchasing the rights to a film version of “Bambi, A Life in the Woods” in 1933 but because he felt it would be too difficult to make it into a live action film, he sold the rights to Walt Disney in 1937.

But Walt Disney was not a healthy company at the time.  “Pinocchio” and “Fantasia” were box office flops and it didn’t help that the International audience that Disney depended on for revenue was lost due to World War II.  And as for Bambi, as the budget started to reach up to over $800,000, it seemed as if the company would not be able to make their next film.  Fortunately, Walt Disney, who is a wonderful businessman, managed to woo Bank of America in getting the funding for “Bambi”.

While “Bambi” would become an instant classic for Disney throughout the last 70-years, back in 1942, the film still faced problems due to World War II and would also lose money in the box office, but it would regain its income in 1947 and would also receive the ire from hunters who felt the film was harsh towards them.

But needless to say, “Bambi” has come an instant classic in Walt Disney’s line of animated films (“Bambi” is the fifth film from Walt Disney) and it also paved the way for the animation industry as the film would lead to the hiring of Disney’s first female animator, the film would utilize multiplane camera technology, would feature an impressionist style courtesy of artist Tyrus “Ty” Wong and his artwork of the forests would be groundbreaking for its time and an inspiration for future artists.  Also, the film would feature a lot of paint and colors developed during the making of the film and would eventually lead to newer colors which would be used for future Walt Disney animated films.

Also, “Bambi” was created on an extreme budget and it was a learning experience for Walt Disney and the studio.

As “Bambi” has had its DVD release in 1997 (as part of the Masterpiece Collection Version) and in 2007 as a Platinum Edition, the film will receive its 2011 Blu-ray release as a Diamond Edition to celebrate it’s 70th year.This new release features a new enhanced digital restoration, newer special features and the use of Disney View and the introduction of Disney’s Second Screen technology.

“Bambi” is a film that features a doe giving birth to Bambi.  As Bambi learns to walk, he befriends a young rabbit named Thumper and a skunk named Flower.

We see how Bambi learns from his mother, from learning to walk, learning about the meadow and warning him of the dangers but also introducing him to his father, the Great Prince of the Forest.

As Bambi grows up, he meets a young fawn named Faline at the meadow but during this time, he quickly learns the danger of man, as hunters begin shooting towards the animals.  Bambi and his mother managed to escape death and she explains to him about the dangers of man being the forest.

As the animals go through a rough winter, trying to find food, his mother teaches him how to eat the bark from a tree and Bambi learns from Thumper on how to slide on ice.

By the end of the Winter, a hungry Bambi is shown a patch of new grass that has grown, in which he can eat.  As the grass is a sign of the arrival of spring, his mother can sense a hunter nearby and warns Bambi to run.  Both mother and Bambi run as fast as they can and a the shot of a rifle is heard.  As Bambi runs quickly back home, he waits for his mother to arrive, but she has not come back.

What has happened to Bambi’s mother?  And how will Bambi survive on his own?

VIDEO:

“Bambi” is one of the most wonderful looking animated films that still looks magnificent 70-years-later.  The artwork is highly regarded by artists and although not realistic, you get a feel of a painted style, a brilliant artistic use of paint in animation brought to Disney’s attention courtesy of Tyrus Wong.  It was a look that Disney had wanted and amazingly implemented to “Bambi” and the overall look of the film is even more impressive on Blu-ray.

“Bambi” is presented in 1080p High Definition (1:33:1).  The colors are vibrant, the blacks are nice and deep and the character designs and animation look absolutely cute but also its lines are absolute clean.  But it’s how the artistic backgrounds and foregrounds compliments the animation is quite amazing!

“Bambi” has never looked this magnificent and I am impressed by how much of an upgrade this film looks compared to its previously awesome Platinum DVD release only four years ago.  There is no compression artifacts, no banding, no scratches or dust, it looks perfect!

If you love this film, you definitely need to upgrade to Blu-ray because “Bambi” looks fantastic in HD!

Because the film is presented in 1:33:1, once again, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment brings back the “DisneyView” featuring the art of Lisa Keene, so instead of the black bars on the side, you can opt for colorful artwork that matches the scenes of the film.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

“Bambi: Diamond Edition” is presented in 7.1 DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, French and Spanish Dolby DEHT  Language Tracks and restored original theatrical soundtrack.  It’s important to note that Disney chose to go with High Resolution audio over lossless DTS-HD Master Audio.  But the audio is still fantastic as you can hear the thunder and lightning throughout your surround channels, you can hear Frank Churchill and Edward Plumb’s wonderful score and while this film is primarily dialogue and music driven, there ares some scenes where the audio sounds fantastic (primarily the final half hour of the film).

The soundtrack is not to immersive, but “Bambi” is not an action-driven film. So, the audio is well-utilized when it matters most and its during those more intense, action-based scenes.  Needless to say, this is a wonderful lossless high resolution soundtrack.

Subtitles are in English SDH, English ESL, French and Spanish.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Bambi: Diamond Edition” features the following special features:

• Bambi: Inside Walt’s Story Meetings – A pretty awesome featurette.  It’s hard to tell you the duration as my player wouldn’t give me the duration time for this feature but because it is featured in a way where you can watch various features separately, you can listen to Walt Disney and staff’s audio meetings on “Bambi”, you can also see two deleted scenes, the making of the film, two bonus animated Disney shorts, anecdotes and more.  The sequence does show picture-in-picture while the film is playing on one side you get to watch this special feature on the other side.  It’s clearly one of the best Disney special features I have seen thus far!
• Disney’s Book of Knowledge - An interactive game based on multiple choice and for players to earn stickers (on-game stickers).
• Disney Second/View/What is Disney SecondView – This feature allows people to watch a film on their iPad or laptop and sync it with what they are watching on TV, so you can use the iPad or laptop like a remote but while watching it on screen of your portable device.
• Two Leaves – (3:07) An original concept of how Disney and crew were thinking of creating dialogue between two leaves but opted not to use it on “Bambi”.
• Bambi Stuck on a Reed - (1:20) Another concept that was not used for “Bambi” but is featured on this Blu-ray.
• Twitterpated – (1:53) An explanation of what “Twitterpated” is.
• Bambi Interactive Galleries – An extensive look at the films sketches, background paintings production pictures, storyboards and visual development.
• Deleted Scenes – Featuring two deleted scenes (featured on the original 2007 DVD) – Winter Grass (:56) and Bambi’s First Snow (2:31).
• The Making of Bambi: A Prince is Born – A wonderful making-of featurette (about an hour long) featured on the original DVD.  This featurettete goes into the art and Disney hiring its first female animator, the hiring of Tyrus Wong, who brought the look and feel of Bambi’s artistic backgrounds because he wanted to move up in his job from in-between animation, the music of “Bambi”, the history of “Bambi” and how the book was adapted into an animated film and more.
• Tricks of the Trade - (7:18) Walt Disney talks about the multi-plane technology used on “Bambi”.
• Inside the Disney Archives – (8:39) A visit to the vault to look at unused art and sequences from “Bambi”.
• The Old Mill – (8:58) A 1937 Silly Symphonies animated short.
• Original Theatrical Trailer – (2:12) The original 1942 theatrical trailer for “Bambi”.

EXTRAS:

“Bambi: Diamond Edition” comes with a Blu-ray slipover case and a DVD fof the film.  The DVD features an introduction by Diane Disney Miller and also includes the enhance edition of “Walt’s Story Meetings” and DisneyPEdia: Bambi’s Forest Friends.  The DVD is presented in 1:33:1 aspect ratio, 5.1 Dolby English, French and Spanish language tracks and subtitles in English SDH, French and Spanish.

“Bambi” is a classic that will continue to entertain generation after generation.

It features a wonderful, touching story about family and how they continue to survive in the wild but faces the challenge of man.  Granted, I understand that this film may not satisfy hunters (as many of them were upset by the film during its original release) but for my family, as my wife and I, both have grown up with this film and it was one of the first Disney films that we introduced to our son.

We both felt that it was a family film that featured cute characters, innocent characters but also showed the importance of family, listening to rules and of course but also a first step of explaining to them about what was transpiring between Bambi and his mother and what happens later in the film.

So, as this film has resonated so strongly for my family, I’m sure it’s a film that many other families will love.  Afterall, it has entertained generation after generation for 70-years.

And with this film now being released on Blu-ray, I do have to say that this is one of the most beautiful classic animated film from Disney on Blu-ray thus far.   Call me biased but not only is the artwork magnificent, everything about it… from the animation, it’s character design, the cast (the voice actors were magnificent and how they used the young voice actor’s accidental pauses during the recording and actually using it in the film was brilliant!), its music and the storyline, everything works in harmony.  The nature of the film had a unique style, the use of the multiplane cameras also gave it a distinct look.  I really enjoyed this Blu-ray release!

Now, of course, comparing the special features to other animated classics from Disney on Blu-ray, it may seem that “Bambi” has less special features.  In the past, the special features were all separated but the way its done on “Bambi”, they were combined as one full special feature.  So, for example “Bambi: Inside Walt’s Story Meetings”, this may seem like on feature but really, there are about ten special features in that one feature alone.  For “The Making of Bambi”, there are five special features and of course, the other additional special features, if added, you get a lot included in the “Bambi: Diamond Edition”.  Granted, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Pinocchio” are still excellent as they go way beyond what one would expect for special features but this release is still quite solid!

Overall, if this 1942 masterpiece resonates strongly with you or you are a Disney fan looking to upgrade to “Bambi” in High Definition, you won’t be disappointed.  “Bambi: Diamond Edition” is another must-own Disney animated classic on Blu-ray and is highly recommended!

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie’s Masquerade (Mickey Mote+DVD Playset) (a J!-ENT Children’s DVD Review)

Starting with this DVD release of “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Numbers Roundup”, Disney is creating a new form of interactivity for educational DVD’s for your children. With the new “Discovery Mode”, children can now use the “Mickey Mote” (sold with the DVD or without) while watching an episode and partake in several fun questions about colors, shapes and sizes. Definitely a big step for educational interactive DVD’s for the children. Highly recommended!

Images courtesy of © Disney. All Rights Reserved.

DVD TITLE: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie’s Masquerade

DURATION: 120 Minutes

DVD INFORMATION: Dolby Digital, NTSC, Family Friend Widescreen (1:78:1 – Enhanced for 16×9 Television), Spanish Language Track, Subtitles: English SDH

COMPANY: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

RATED: TV Y

RELEASE DATE: February 8, 2011

Directed by Rob LaDuca

Written by Bobs Gannaway & Leslie Valdes

Producer/Story Editor: Leslie Valdes

Executive Producer: Bobs Gannaway

Line Producer: Bradley Bowlen

Featuring the voices of:

Wayne Allwine as Mickey Mouse

Tony Anselmo as Donald Duck

Bill Farmer as Goofy

Tress MacNeille as Daisy Duck

Russi Taylor as Minnie Mouse

Jim Cummings as Pete

Corey Burton as Ludwig Von Drake

April Winchell as Clarabelle Cow

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie’s Masquerade starring Disney’s Fab Five — Minnie, Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Daisy – takes viewers on an all new adventure as they dress-up in their favorite costumes for Minnie’s Masquerade Ball. In this episode, Minnie needs some help getting everything ready for her party including making royal crowns for their costumes, searching for Sir Goofalot’s lost shoe, stringing up paper lanterns and much, much more. At the ball, Professor Von Drake hosts the great Clubhouse Costume Show and gives out prize ribbons to all the friends who have dressed up in some funny and fancy costumes. All it takes is a heaping helping of imagination…and the right Mouseketools.

“MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE” is a children’s television animated series (presented in CG) that airs on the Disney Channel’s “Playhouse Disney” block targeted towards pre-school children.

The series is created in a similar style as “Blue’s Clues” and “Dora the Explorer” in terms of the main character interacting with the viewer. Disney’s “MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE” features Mickey Mouse as the main character communicating with his friends and then occasionally looking towards the viewer for help in a variety of adventures. Mickey uses a variety of tools and a compass inside the clubhouse to help them solve their problems and get from point A to point B. And then during the mission, Mickey offers various ideas of paths they can take and asks the viewer which path should he take.

“Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie’s Masquerade” is the third DVD release along with “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Numbers Roundup” and  “Handy Manny: Big Construction Job” to utilize the  “Mickey Mote”, a child-friendly handheld remote to answer fun questions about colors, shapes and sizes. It’s important to note that you can use your regular DVD remote but the “Mickey Mote” is child friendly and will be much easier to use for children.  But the Mickey Mote can be used with Disney Preschool DVD that includes the Discovery Mode and to date, there are more than 11 titles that can be used with the remote control (look at the back of the packaging to make sure).

In this latest DVD release of “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”, for “Minnie’s Masquerade”, we get a total of five episodes (24 minutes each).  One of the episodes is a never-before-seen episode and premieres on this DVD:

• Minnie’s Masquerade – Goofy has lost his boot for Minnie’s masquerade, will Mickey and friends be able to help Goofy in time?
• Minnie’s Mouseke-Calendar - Minnie is missing her Mouseke-Calendar and so Mickey and friends go to look for the pages.
• A Surprise for Minnie – Mickey forgot it’s Valentines Day and needs to come up with a surprise for Minnie.
• Secret Spy Daisy – Secret Spy Daisy is contacted to stop Pete from stealing Clarabelle’s secret recipe.
• The Friendship Team – Twelve party hats are missing, help Mickey, Minnie, Daisy and Pluto find them.

“Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Numbers Roundup” utilizes the new MickeyMote, a child-friendly handheld remote control, shaped like Mickey ears, that will take children’s viewing experience to a whole new level by providing an engaging interaction with their favorite Disney characters. With multiple levels of play, the new Mickey Mote will provide hours of fun, engaging and challenging adventures for kids age 2-5.

According to Disney:

The Mickey Mote works with any Disney Preschool DVD that includes Discovery Mode™, the interactive “Watch & Play” feature on the DVD! All parents have to do is program the remote control – there‟s an easy and quick set-up guide in each DVD- and select the Discovery Mode feature on the menu screen. Within minutes, kids will be easily responding to questions, throughout the story, about scenes they just watched (such as “What color is Goofy‟s hat?”) by pressing one of four color-coded buttons on the device — a yellow star, green circle, orange triangle or blue square – to click in their responses. Discovery Mode features include two levels of play, which provides more challenging questions as the child grows.

And Disney does have plans to release more Discovery Mode enhanced DVD titles that utilize the Mickey Mote.

Once families have purchased a Disney Preschool DVD that comes packaged with the Mickey Mote, they can continue to build their Disney Preschool libraries as the Mickey Mote works in compatibility with any Discovery Mode enhanced DVD. For example, kids can immediately use the remote with any of the following titles: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Road Rally, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Adventures in Wonderland, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Choo Choo, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie’s Bow-Tique, Handy Manny: Manny’s Motorcycle, Adventure Handy Manny: Manny’s Big Race, Little Einsteins: Fire Truck Blast Off, My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Super Duper Super Sleuths, My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Bedtime With Pooh

Note: Discovery Mode can also be played using any DVD remote control.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

“MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE” features colorful CG animated episodes for the children. Nothing too detailed but simple and clean enough for the young children to enjoy. Presentation this time around is in Widescreen (1:78:1), previous DVD’s were in full screen (1:33:1). As for the audio, audio is presented in Dolby Digital Surround Sound plus French and Spanish language tracks.

Subtitles in English SDH are offered.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie’s Masquerade” comes with the following special features:

• DISCOVERY MODE – Using your Mickey Mote (or DVD remote), viewers can partake in Discovery Mode where they can answer fun questions about colors, shapes and sizes. Children have the choice of selecting Level 1 and Level 2 for more challenging questions.
• Program Remote – Instructions on how to use your remote control to program the Mickey Mote.

EXTRAS:

“Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie’s Masquerade” comes with a free mask inside plus color your own DVD cover.

For families looking for an educational DVD for their children, you really can’t go wrong with “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie’s Masquerade”. You get a total of five episodes included in this DVD release.

With this latest Mickey Mote DVD release, as the other two DVD’s did have a more targeted release for young boys (and can be enjoyed by girls as well), “Minnie’s Masquerade” features the character Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck more and thus, is targeted for the young girls but because of the involvement with Mickey Mouse, Donal Duck and Goofy, boys can still easily enjoy this release as well.  Pretty much, the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episodes are geared for both boys and girls but for this release, they chose episodes that primarily feature Minnie Mouse.

Also, among the Disney releases targeted towards children, “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” is probably the best out there from Disney that caters to the education of your young child (2-5 years old). Similar to other popular children’s shows which require your children to help the character decide on how to solve a puzzle, it was one thing to allow the child say it out loud but now with the introduction of “Discovery Mode”, using the new Mickey Mote (or your own DVD remote), children have more interactivity with these episodes.

Although you don’t need to purchase a release with the new Mickey Mote, for younger children, it’s quite convenient as it’s pretty big and you only have four buttons: yellow star (up), blue square (left), green star (right and orange triangle (down). A regular remote may be too difficult and confusing for the younger children. For those that are curious about purchasing “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie’s Masquerade” with the Mickey Mote, you will need two AAA batteries.

Programming the remotes are easy, for example, by holding the front of your DVD/Blu-ray remote towards the front of the Mickey Mote, pressing a combination of two buttons on the Mickey Mote starts the programming session and you see a green light on the Mickey Mote front light up.  By clicking four times up on your DVD/Blu-ray remote, you will see the Mickey Mote green light flash (this means it learned the up button).  Then you repeat by pressing down four times, left four times and right four times for the Mickey Mote to learn all four directions. And if you mess up during the programming, no problem, you can easily repeat it.

On the Discovery Mode, for children, to keep things simple, the Discovery Mode don’t ask what directions to press but more of pressing the color of a button for the correct answer (which is typically a color that is featured on the Mickey Mote).  It’s very simple to use, just watch the episode and answer fun questions that are asked throughout the stories.

But this is a pretty big step for Disney as they are really wanting to make these DVD releases interactive and the release of Disney’s new Mickey Mote + DVD Set is a pretty big deal, especially for parents and children who are familiar with the Disney characters and Disney animated shows.

As mentioned, “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie’s Masquerade” is for the young girls but yet boys can still enjoy it.  For the girl’s, by purchasing this release, you also get a free mask inside and a color your own cover (reverse of the DVD cover).

Overall, “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie’s Masquerade” is an entertaining, educational children’s release and is definitely recommended!

Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 (a J!-ENT Children’s Blu-ray Disc Review)

An enjoyable, fun and safe family film! The sequel is geared more towards a younger audience but it has a storyline that would interest parents and adult viewers. If your children enjoyed “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” and also enjoy Disney’s “Buddies” or “Santa Paws” films, they will definitely enjoy “Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2″.

Images courtesy of © Walt Disney Studios Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

TITLE: Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2

FILM RELEASE DATE: 2011

DURATION: 84 Minutes

BLU-RAY DISC INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition (1:78:1), English, 5.1 DTS-HD MA, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital Subtitles: English SDH, French and Spanish

COMPANY: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

RATED: G (All Ages Admitted)

RELEASE DATE: February 2, 2011

Directed by Alex Zamm

Written by Dannah Feinglass, Danielle Schneider

Characters by Jeffrey Bushell

Produced by David Hoberman, Brad Krevoy, Todd Lieberman

Executive Producer: Mike Callaghan, Sara E. White

Music by Chris Hajian

Cinematography by Robert Brinkman

Edited by Marshall Harvey, Heath Ryan

Casting by Cathy Sandrich

Production Design by Richard Holland

Art Direction by Charles Daboub Jr.

Set Decoration by Don Diers

Costume Design by Kristin M. Burke

Starring:

Marcus Coloma as Sam Cortez

Erin Cahill as Rachel

Susan Blakely as Aunt Viv

Lupe Ontiveros as Mrs. Cortez

Castulo Guerra as Mr. Cortez

George Lopez (voice of Papi)

Odette Yustman (voice of Chloe)

Miguel Ferrer (voice of Delgado)

Ernie Hudson (voice of Pedro)

Zacharary Gordon (voice of Papi Junior)

Chantilly Spalan (voice of Rosa)

Emily Osment (voice of Pep)

Madison Pettis (voice of Lala)

Delaney Jones (voice of Ali)

Tom Kenny (voice of Sebastian)

Loretta Devine (voice of Delta)

Bridgit Mendler (voice of Appoline)

Alyssa Milano (voice of Biminy)

Jon Donahue (voice of Antonio)

Jon Huertas (voice of Alberto)

Elaine Hendrix as Colleen Mansfield – Appoline’s Owner

Brian Stepanek as Mr. Kroop

Morgan Fairchild as Female Commentator

French Stewart as Male Commentator

From the creators of Beverly Hills Chihuahua, everybody’s favorite talking Chihuahuas are back in a comedy that’s a pack of outrageous fun for the whole family. Puppy mayhem turns the lives of newlywed Chihuahua parents, Papi and Chloe, upside down when their playful puppies present one challenge after another. But, when their human owners find themselves in trouble, the tiny pups will stop at nothing to save them—because in good times and hard times, the family always sticks together. Papi, Chloe and the puppies embark on a heroic adventure, proving once again that big heroes come in small packages.

Mud Slide

French Poodle

The Beverly Hills Chihuahuas are back!

Papi and Chloe return for another adventure in the sequel to the popular children’s movie “Beverly Hills Chihuahua”.

Since the ’90s, Walt Disney Home Entertainment has successfully bringing talking (voice-over) canines to live action films which began with the “Air Bud” films to its “Buddies” and “Santa Paws” films and the fun continues with this direct-to-video film which features the return of many of the canine characters from the first film.

In the sequel, both Papi (voiced by George Lopez) and Chloe (voiced by Odette Yusman) have just gotten married. Hardcore dog lover, aunt Viv (played by Susan Blakely) has thrown a luxurious party to celebrate the wedding of both dogs and now Sam Cortez (played by Marcus Coloma) and Rachel (played by Erin Cahill) are talking about marriage.

But with aunt Viv and Rachel planning a trip to the rainforest, Sam and Rachel can discuss it later but for now, the celebration is for the marriage of Papi and Chloe.

Four months later and we see that Papi and Chloe are parents of five young chihuahua: One boy, Papi Jr. and four girls, Rosa, Pep, Lala and Ali.

Chloe is starting to get upset with Papi because he acts more like a playmate to his kids than a father and she wants him to show authority, since the kids are starting to pick up on their father’s bad habits.

But Papi feels that being a father is quite difficult but he’s ready to try, in order to make Chloe happy.

Sam then takes Papi, Chloe and the kids to meet with his family in Los Angeles to meet with his parents and their dog Pedro (voiced by Ernie Hudson).  Upon arriving, the little ones are afraid of Pedro because of his menacing smile but Papi let’s them know that his brother is a nice dog.

As for Sam, he finds unpaid bills at his parent’s home and is very concerned.  Mr. Cortez tells Sam that they are unable to pay their bills and now they are in danger of being evicted.  Because Mr. Cortez threw his back, he is unable to work and through the landscaping business, and with the economy so bad, the only employee left is Sam.

Unfortunately, the Cortez are behind by $40,000 and if they don’t pay it, they will lose the house. At first Sam considers asking Viv (because she is wealthy) but Mr. Cortez will not allow it because it is a family affair.  And if they lose the house, Sam’s parents would have to move to Arizona to live with Mr. Cortez’ sister.

Meanwhile, as for Papi, Chloe and their kids, Chloe is starting to get upset that Papi tells them stories and the kids acting out on it.  As Papi loves telling the stories of the chihuahua warriors, Papi Jr. jumps on the window ledge to pretend his fighting a snake.  But he falls off the ledge and before he crashes down on the pavement, he is rescued by a familiar friend, the German Shepard Mexican police dog, Delgado (voiced by Miguel Ferrer).

Delgado has come to Los Angeles in hopes that Chloe can help him out.  Delgado tells her a story that he had two children but while on a case, a criminal threatened to kills his two German Shepherd pups and in order to prevent them from getting hurt, Delgado took them to the LAPD and dropped them off anonymously and to save him from being hurt, he never said goodbye.  His two pups have now grown up to become part of the K-9 division of the LAPD and he just wants to talk to them, but his two dogs are still hurt about their father abandoning them.

As Sam and his family try to get the bank to give them time enough to raise money to pay for the house, unfortunately the bank won’t wait.  As the bank visits the house the next following day, they try to inspect the house but Papi and friends will not allow it.  They prevent the employees from staying in the house and it angers the bank rep even more and tells them that instead of getting two weeks, now they are expected to leave immediately by nighttime.

Stressed and not knowing what to do, Sam gets a call from Rachel and he explains to her the problem but Sam will not allow her to help or talk to her Aunt Viv.  Sam tells her that it is a family problem but Rachel tells him that she is family as they are supposed to get married but still, Sam won’t allow it and Rachel is heartbroken.

Not sure what they can do, Chloe sees her rival Appoline in the newspaper and reads that there is a dog show that night and the winner can win $50,000.  More than enough money for the Cortez to save their home.

So, Papi, Chloe, Delgado and Pedro decide to take part in the dog show to win the money and Sam and the Cortez are hoping one of them will win.

Can they win the dog show and get the money needed to save the Cortez’ home?

VIDEO:

“Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2″ is presented in 1080p High Definition (1:78:1 aspect ratio) and the PQ is great!  The colors are vibrant and while the costume design are not as super-detailed like the first film (as there was impressive costume designs in the previous film), the sequel still manages to hold up by its frequent daytime shots.  Colors really pop out for this film and the detail on the chihuahua is well-done.

It’s important to note that as the last film would focus on many locations, the primary focus of this second film is inside the home of the Cortez family or at Viv’s mansion ala indoors.  While the outdoor shots are typically outside of the home until you get to the dog show and with the puppies roaming around Los Angeles.

Blacks are nice and deep, the flashbacks show effective lighting and skin tones, pigmentation, stubble, fabric, grass, dirt to the hairs of the dogs are well-detailed.  There is a good amount of grain, but you tend to see some low-light noise at ties.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

“Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2″ is presented in 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital.  The film is primarily center channel and front channel driven.  There are times during the film especially the scene with the dog show in which you hear crowd ambiance, cameras taking pictures of the dogs but the film is primarily center and front-channel driven, dialogue is absolutely clear while the film also tends to showcase quite a bit of music.

Subtitles are presented in English SDH, French and Spanish.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2″ features the following special features:

• Music Video: “This is My Paradise” By Bridgit Mendler – (2:37) The star of “Good Luck Charlie” and “Wizards of Waverly Place”, Bridgit Mendler sings “This is My Paradise”.
• Blooper Faux Paws – (3:22) Bloopers from “Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2″.
• Beverly Hills Chihuahua Challenge – interactive game show led by Papi.  A Q&A multiple choice game in which you use your Blu-ray remote (or keyboard) to select the right answer.
• Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure Sneak Peak – (1:57) A sneak peak of Ashley Tisdale’s “High School Musical” spinoff film.

EXTRAS:

“Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2″ comes with a slip over case plus a DVD featuring the film and the special features.  The DVD is presented in widescreen (1:78:1 – enhanced for 16×9 televisions), audio is presented in English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital.  Subtitles are in English, English SDH, French and Spanish.

“Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2” is a fun and enjoyable family film!  If your children loved the first film or if they loved Disney’s “Buddies” or “Santa Paws” films, they will definitely enjoy this sequel!

There was no doubt that there was going to be a sequel to “Beverly Hills Chihuahua”.  As the first film grossed over $29 million in its opening weekend and $117 million worldwide, similar to the “Air Bud” films from Disney during the the late ’90s, you pretty much knew there would be direct-to-video sequels and to capitalize on the future of original film and have future installments, the main characters would have to produce children and sure enough, similar to how “Air Bud” spun off to having “Buddies” films, I wouldn’t be surprised if we started seeing films starring these little chihuahuas.

While the first film had star power, the direct-to-video does feature a good number of talent especially the return of George Lopez and Odette Yustman to provide the voices of Papi and Chloe, as with Miguel Ferrer returning as the voice of Delgado.  We have a new Aunt Viv, a new Sam Cortez and a new Rachelle for this sequel and for the most part, these three do a good job and one can only hope that for future installments, to keep things consistent, hopefully Disney uses these same talents for the next film.  It was one thing about the “Air Bud” films that would get out of hand, you had the same kid but always different talents playing the parents or sister.  Hopefully, we see Marcus Coloma, Erin Cahill and Susan Blakeley return in the near future.

Also, what makes this sequel different aside from one having a larger budget and was a film as opposed to a direct-to-video release, the first film tend to balance a storyline between Sam and Rachel’s growing relationship and Papi and Chloe’s relationship to appeal to both parents and children.  While “Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2″ does tend to focus more on the dogs, especially the puppies and thus targeting a younger demographic, there is a storyline for adults that is relevant and that is how the downward economy is hurting family’s and in this case, Sam’s parents are losing their home.  So, while children may not understand this, it is a storyline that adults can understand and also share interest in this film, so “Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2″ appeals to audiences of all ages.  But this sequel is definitely more geared for the younger children.

As for the Blu-ray release, parents will get the best of both worlds as the Blu-ray release does come with a DVD, which is perfect for family’s on long commutes, especially before Spring Break and the Summertime.  This film will definitely keep children busy.  Picture quality is very good for this Blu-ray, as the lossless audio is very good but not too immersive but still clear and understandable.  And there are a few special features which are once again more targeted for a younger demographic.

Overall, “Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2″ is different from its predecessor but still family-geared.  While I do enjoy the first film much more (primarily because it was a film, higher budget, various locations and had a romcom storyline between Sam and Rachel, I do feel that the younger audience and their parents will still enjoy this film.

The sequel is more geared towards the young viewers and if you have children who enjoyed the first film, the “Buddies” or “Santa Paws” films, they are definitely going to enjoy this movie as well. In fact, I recommend this film to parents who are looking for a safe family film to watch with their children.

Secretariat (A J!-ENT Blu-ray Disc Review)

“Secretariat” is an enjoyable, feel-good family film about of one of the greatest moments in American sports and also American culture. “Secretariat” is a wonderful homage to the iconic horse that won the Triple Crown and also to Penny Chenery, the owner/housewife who put everything all on the line to make Secretariat’s success a reality!  Wonderful storyline and cinematography, a film that is definitely recommended on Blu-ray!

Images courtesy of © 2010 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

TITLE: Secretariat

FILM RELEASE DATE: 2010

DURATION: 123Minutes

BLU-RAY DISC INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition (2:35:1), English 5.1 DTS-HD MA, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Subtitles: English SDH, French and Spanish

COMPANY: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

RATED: PG (For Brief Mild Language)

RELEASE DATE: January 25, 2011

Based on the book “Secretariat: The Making of a Champion” by William Nack

Directed by Randall Wallace

Written by Mike Rich

Produced by Mark Ciardi, Pete DeStefano, Gordon Gray

Executive Produced by Bill Johnson, Mike Rich

Associate Producer: Jayne Armstrong, Andrew Wallace

Production Executive: Todd Y. Murata

Music by Nick Glennie-Smith

Cinematography by Dean Semler

Edited by John Wright

Casting by Sheila Jaffe

Production Design by Thomas E. Sanders

Art Direction by Sarah Boardman, Naaman Marshall

Set Decoration by Patrick Cassidy

Costume Design by Michael T. Boyd, Julie Weiss

Starring:

Diane Lane as Penny Chenery

John Malkovich as Lucien Laurin

Dylan Walsh as Jack Tweedy

Margo Martindale as Miss Ham

Nelsan Ellis as Eddie Sweat

Otto Thorwarth as Ronnie Turcotte

Fred Dalton Thompson as Bull Hancock

James Cromwell as Ogden Phipps

Scott Glenn as Chris Chenery

Michael Harding as E.V. Benjamin

Richard Fullerton as Robert Kleburg

Roger D. Smith as Multifarious Stature

Tim Ware as John Galbreath

Nestor Serrano as Pancho Martin

Keith Austin as Laffit Pincay

Kevin Connolly as Bill nack

Eric Lange as Andy Beyer

Drew Roy as Seth Hancock

Carissa Capobianco as Sarah Tweedy

Amanda “AJ” Michalka as Kate Tweedy

Sean Michael Cunningham as Chris Tweedy

Jacob Rhodes as John Tweedy

Dylan Baker as Hollis Chenery

Disney presents an astonishing true story bursting with hope, heart and courage. Diane Lane and John Malkovich lead a celebrated cast in this inspirational motion picture from the producers of Miracle, Invincible and The Rookie.

Behind every legend, lies an impossible dream. Witness the spectacular journey of an incredible horse named Secretariat and the moving story of his unlikely owner, a housewife who risked everything to make him a champion. Out of the gate with never-before-seen bonus features, Secretariat is hours of pulse-pounding entertainment for the whole family!

The early ’70s, a tumultuous time where Americans were fed up with the war, the politics and wanted to see some glimmer of hope.  From the USA losing to USSR in the Olympics in controversial fashion, in 1973, the year proved to be a magical year as many Americans came together to support a race horse named “Secretariat”.

Afterall, it’s been 25-years since a horse has won the U.S. Triple Crown and there was so much hype going into this Triple Crown as owner Penny Chenery, a Colorado Housewife and daughter of a horsetrainer, came to take over the role that her father once had as an owner and breeder for racing horses.  As many men didn’t think she could do it, with the right people, each of them came to put their belief and for Chenery, she gambled everything in hopes that this horse can win that Triple Crown and in fantastic and amazing fashion, she did.

Secretariat was the first horse to win this amazing feat in 25 years and an amazing horse that continues to hold the record at the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes.

It has been over 30 years since America has had a Triple Crown winner and many have come close but to lose it at the Belmont Stakes (The final competition of the Triple Crown) and many are still awaiting a new champ, and at times wonder if there will ever be a horse like Secretariat.

But let’s not categorize Secretariat as any normal racing horse, this one was quite special.

Not only because it broke records and because how it gained so much attention from fans to non-fans of the sport, his winning of the Triple Crown was remarkable and memorable as it was televised and the story of Secretariat even continued after his death in 1989 as autopsy has found that his heart was twice the size of a regular horse’s heart and is known as an “x-factor” that only special horses have.  Specifically, the race horse Eclipse who had an enlarged heart from the late 1700′s (80-90% of race horses today have Eclipse in their pedigree) and research has found that Secretariat had traces from a dam-line to the daughter of Eclipse.

The horse was able to read the people around him, he knew when won, he knew when he lost.  This horse had intuition and he loved the attention from photographers (yes, this horse would pose for the cameramen) and had great stature.  Researching this horse, you can’t help but be amazed.

But as the story of “Secretariat” was amazing, the story of its owner and how Secretariat winning the Triple Crown may have not happened if it was not for Penny Chenery Tweedy, the daughter of the late Christopher Chenery who breeded race horses but due to his declining health, was unable to continue his duties at the farm and trusted people to watch over his interests.

Penny who was a married housewife and dedicated her life to her husband four children was thrust into a position as a businesswoman who was determined to continue her father’s legacy and eventually find the right people to train and race this horse.  She left her family behind, going back and forth from the farm in Virginia and back home.  She only had her determination and the belief from those around her that she can truly make a Triple Crown win a reality.

Life was not easy as this housewife from Colorado would have to leave her family over the course of four years off an on to make sure the horse was ready to race and take care of operations of her father’s business and to make things even more challenging, her brother and even her husband wanted her to sell the business and horses, because their farm was so much in debt.

But Penny Chenery was determined in keeping her father’s legacy alive and this is the basis of the movie “Secretariat”, a film adaptation of the book “Secretariat: The Making of a Champion” by William Nack.

The film would feature director Randall Wallace (“Braveheart”, “Pearl Harbor”, “We Were Soldiers”), a screenplay adaptation by Mike Rich (“Finding Forrester”, “The Rookie”), composer Nick Glennie-Smith (“Pirates of the Caribbean” films, “The Rock”, “Con Air”) and cinematography by Dean Semler (“Dances with Wolves”, “2012″, “xXx”, “Apocalypto”).

The film which was budgeted at $35 million, went on to make over $59 million in the box office and now the movie will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on January 25, 2011.

“Secretariat” is a film that begins with Penny Chenery (played by Diane Lane, “The Unfaithful”, “The Perfect Storm”, “Jumper”, “Untraceable”), a housewife living in Colorado with her husband, John Tweedy, Sr. (played by Dylan Walsh, “Nip/Tuck”, “Congo”, “The Lake House”) and their four children.

Penny receives a call that her mother has died and so the whole family goes back to her home at Meadow Farm in Virginia.

Her father, Christopher Chenery owns a horse breeding/training business but at his old age, he is no longer able to run the business and they are far in debt.  Her brother Hollace (“Revolutionary Road”, “Spider-Man” films) wants to put their father in a nursing home, sell the business and the horses which should pay for their father’s retirement home bills but also benefit the children).

As Penny stays behind to handle the family business and her family returns back to Colorado, she starts to remember the memories that she had with her father, who raised her to love the horses.  And immediately finds out that the farm’s current trainer was trying to sell the horses for lower money which she stops and fires the man.  She also notices that her father had information on the books that he and multi-millionaire Ogden Phipps would have a coin toss to decide who would own one of the two foals of the Hall of fame racehorse Bold Ruler.

Penny Chenery wanted the colt that came from Hasty Matelda but most of all the unborn foal of Somethingroyal. While Phipps won the weanling filly from Somethingroyal and in the coin toss, Phipps got what he wanted (as did Penny Chenery).  And to continue her father’s business and make it successful once again, she would need a trainer and a jockey.

But the adjustment as a trainer would not be easy for the Chenery family as she would have to leave her children with her husband, John who was not happy with his wife not being home.

So, from a tip from a friend, she does all she can to get Lucien Laurin (played by John Malkovich, “Being John Malkovich”, “Dangerous Liasons”, “Con Air”) to become a trainer at the farm and later would hire jockey Ronnie Turcotte (played by Otto Thorwarth).  And to take care of the horse would be Eddie Sweat (played by Nelsan Ellis), who has taken care of the family’s horses for many years.

Immediately, when Somethingroyal gives birth, the horse amazes Lucien and Eddie because it stood on its four legs right after birth, but as the horse grows, they start to learn how special “Big Red” is.

And “Big Red” is then taken into competition and becomes the “Horse of the Year” as it wins nearly every race it has participated in.

But tragedy hits Penny as her father passes away.  And now her brother Hollace, along with her husband John are interested in selling the farm because their father has accumulated over $600,000 in debt  and because of the horse’s success on the track, he would bring in $7 million which would be great for the family to pay off the debt and earn money.

But Penny is staunched against selling her horse and vows to continue her father’s legacy.  This upsets both men in her life but she knows she is taking a risk.  She can lose the farm, the horse but most importantly her husband and her brother but she is willing to throw it all on the table as she and her team prepare to have Secretariat compete in the Triple Crown.

She takes an even higher risk by finding investors who would put a lot of their money into Secretariat in winning the Triple Crown, which has not have happened in 25 years.

Penny Chenery will bet everything on Secretariat winning the U.S. Triple Crown.

VIDEO:

“Secretariat” is presented in 1080p High Definition (2:35:1).  Colors are absolutely vibrant and for a film that takes place in the late ’60s and early ’70s, the presentation looks very good on Bluray. Detail is quite evident with the paint on the stable, the grime on the jockey’s faces, the dirt lifting off the tracks when the horses are racing and overall, wonderful cinematography from Dean Semler.

But there is crush that does showup from time-to-time and blacks are sometimes muted.  But by no means is this distracting.  The textures are great and I didn’t notice any banding or any artifacting at all.  No sign of DNR and for the most part, this film looks absolutely great on Blu-ray.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

“Secretariat” is presented in English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English DVS2.0 Dolby Digital, French and Spanish Dolby Digital. “Secretariat” is pretty much center and front channel driven for the majority of the dialogue-driven film.  But once the races start, that is when the surround channels are kicked into full gear as the announcer can be heard through the surround channels, the crowd gasping and cheering for Secretariat and you can hear the horse’s hoof’s.

You can hear the ambiance of the film (may it be the crowd, in the stable), you can hear it through the surround channels.  So, there is good use of surround channels in this film.

Also, the film has its share of ’70s music and the music comes quite clear through the front channels.  The music composed by Nick Glennie-Smith (“The Rock”, “Pirates of the Caribbean” films”, “Con Air”) is also dramatic and well-done but if there is one major nitpick I did have about this film, it’s the final music used during the Belmont competition.  I felt it would have been better served to use an instrumental song to capture the mood courtesy of Glennie-Smith than using a ’70s song.  It just didn’t seem right for that moment but that is my opinion.

If there is one thing that I wished, Disney has been moving towards a 7.1 lossless soundtrack lately and so I was hoping that “Secretariat” would have a 7.1 lossless soundtrack.  But for the most part, this lossless soundtrack is very good!

Subtitles are in English SDH, French and Spanish.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Secretariat” features the following special features:

• Heart Of A Champion – (14:56) This feature is on the DVD of the film and the real life Penny Chenery and the actual people who worked with the original Secretariat plus the cast and crew talk about Secretariat.
• Choreographing The Races – (6:27) This piece looks at how director Randall Wallace and the filmmakers used innovative tools and technology to accurately and excitingly recreate the Triple Crown races that make the viewer feel like they are standing on the backstretch themselves.  For filmmakers, this featurette was quite intriguing on the rigs that were built and how risky and difficult it was to shoot this footage.
• A Director’s Inspiration: A Conversation With The Real Penny Chenery – (21:10) Director Randall Wallace sits down with Secretariat owner Penny Chenery to review the movie and some of the key scenes. Penny reflects on what it was like to have been a woman in a male dominated sport and to have been part of horse racing’s most exciting moments in history. Definitely my favorite featurette as Penny Chenery talks about how things were in reality vs. how things were in the film.
• Audio Commentary By Director Randall Wallace – Optional audio commentary from Director Randall Wallace who talks about working on a movie that deals with horses and trying to make horse racing and racing choreography work for a feature film.  A pretty cool and informative commentary!
• Deleted Scenes With Optional Audio Commentary By Director Randall Wallace – Featuring seven deleted scenes with optional commentary by director Randall Wallace: Alternate Opening, Introduction, “Are You A Golfer?”, No Time To Rest, Memories, Seth Joins The Team and Too Soon To Celebrate
• Secretariat Multi-Angle Simulation – Relive Secretariats triumphant 1973 Preakness race by viewing the race from a number of perspectives as well as listening to commentaries from fans, announcers and even the jockey who rode Secretariat to their record finish.  A very cool featurette as one can watch the actual 1973 Preakness race and also change to watch a computer simulation and more.  Featured are jockey Mike Smith (3:43) who talks about life as a jockey, reporter Brad Free (5:08) who talks about the idiosyncrasies of a horse, Dennis Mills, owner of the Preakness (3:35) who talks about the history of the Preakness, spectator Mike Calderon (4:14) who talks about going with his father and brother to watch the 1973 Preakness and also included is the actual Preakness.
• Music Video – AJ Michalka “It’s Who You Are” – (4:04) Actress/singer AJ Michalka (of 78violet/Aly & AJ) sings “It’s Who You Are”

EXTRAS:

“Secretariat” comes with a slip case cover and also a DVD featuring the feature film and bonus features.

The DVD is presented in 480i (2:35:1 – Enhanced for 16×9 television), English, French, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital.  Subtitles are in English SDH, French and Spanish.

I actually first became interested in “Secretariat” when I started following the Triple Crown back in 1993.  Everyone had dreamed of having another “Triple Crown” winner and one wondered if it would happen again anytime soon. Afterall, people waited 25 years until Secretariat would win in 1973.  And in 1997, it looked like it was going to happen once again nearly 25-years later with Silver Charm but it wasn’t meant to be.

But although I don’t take part in the betting side of horse racing, I do recognize the work that these families who own the horses put into breeding them, training them and preparing them for these competitions.  Knowing the danger for the jockeys, knowing the stress and tear that some of these horses go through in a race, but you wonder if there will be anything close to a “Secretariat” (and I know some of you will respond with a “Zenyatta” comment).

But one has to realize that this horse, Secretariat, was truly phenomenal not just for its time but even impressive when you see these records that were broken and have not yet been beaten today.  Not only was this a horse that knew instinctively how to win, it was like he was born with the magic touch.  This horse wanted to win and those near him would talk about how he was fantastic, not just as a horse should respond or how a horse should race but since birth, he shown a lot of potential and promise.

So, I think that “Secretariat” was seen as an iconic horse back in the early ’70s.  People wanted something to believe with the Vietnam War going nowhere, public moral was literally down and so you look to sports for some excitement of that American spirit.   But in 1972, with the US loss to Russia in the Olympics, needless to say, Americans felt deflated.  So, in 1973, when you had a housewife, but a magnificent business woman taking up ownership and showing us her strength as an owner to one of the best racing horses of all time, putting everything all on the line for  horse in hopes that it would win the Triple Crown and accomplishing this rare and magnificent feat., it’s no surprise that Americans who were fans or non-fans of the sport, tuned in!

“Secretariat” the film was a film that I look forwarded to but at the same time, I wondered how accurately can they portray the Triple Crown in a film?  Are they going to show old clips?  And Diane Lane, how would she do in playing the part of Penny Chenery?  So, many unknown factors with this film and that is where I have to give director Randall Wallace and cinematographer Dean Semler some amazing credit for what they were able to accomplish.

The amount of work, risk and challenge these two had along with their crew and their jockeys in recreating and constantly reshooting the racing sequence is amazing.  One can watch the featurette included on this Blu-ray release of how it was all done but even watching how it was shot and how close that camera was to the horses and the jockey, I’m really impressed!  Those were risky shots but they wanted to capture the feel of riding with those horses, especially feeling the speed of Secretariat.  Once, again…impressive!

Overall, “Secretariat” is a wonderful, feel-good movie.  One shouldn’t expect anything significant as we know the outcome of the race but it relied in making us believe in these underdogs.  Penny Chenery facing the challenge of being away from her family and putting everything on the line in order to continue her father’s legacy is very intriguing.  And sometimes when you have these stories of heroic or iconic athletes, you’re used to the banality of these films and how one faces adversity and wins.  But to not become too banal, that it needs to stick out and go further than any feature film that featured horseracing (the last was the 2003  film “Seabiscuit”).

Randall Wallace was able to successfully create a film that pays the ultimate homage to Secretariat and also getting things right with the story of Penny Chenery, even if he had to take liberties for the sake of entertainment, he didn’t go astray too far and if anything, even the blunt Chenery paid her compliments in the special feature included in the Blu-ray release.

As for the film, I enjoyed it a lot.  Was there anything that I didn’t like?  Possibly the music selection for when Secretariat was about to win the Belmont.  I would have liked to hear a more inspiring instrumental score versus a commercial pop song. It felt out of place.  But that’s my opinion.

But there are not many things I can nitpick of the storyline.  I felt Diane Lane was incredible as Penny Chenery, John Malkovich also felt right playing the part of Lucien and everything else, from the screenplay to the cinematography worked smoothly.  “Secretariat” doesn’t strive to become polemic, nor does it strive to be anything controversial.  This is a positive, spirit-lifting film.

Otherwise, I felt the movie was very good and possibly the best horse racing movie I have seen thus far.  If anything, “Secretariat” is a feel-good, enjoyable family film of one of the greatest moments in American culture.  I may have not been old enough to appreciate Secretariat’s win at the time but watching this film, I do feel it paid a great homage to one of the great racing horses of all time but also giving a positive portrayal of Penny Chenery and the personal risks she took in making Secretariat’s success a reality.  Also, a strong and courageous woman who took on a business which is typically seen as a man’s world and for this Colorado housewife, she proved her detractors wrong and came out successful.

How awesome is that?

“Secretariat” on Blu-ray is recommended!

Alice in Wonderland: 60th Anniversary Sp. Ed. on BLU-RAY & DVD 2/1!

THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED RELEASE OF WALT DISNEY’S ORIGINAL, WHIMSICAL ANIMATED CLASSIC WILL FINALLY ARRIVE ON BLU-RAY™ AND MOVIE DOWNLOAD

ALICE IN WONDERLAND
60th Anniversary Special Edition

Premiering on Blu-ray Hi-Def And As A Movie Download on February 1, 2011

With interest in all things ALICE IN WONDERLAND at an all-time high following the record-breaking theatrical performance of Disney’s epic live-action fantasy adventure, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE) proudly unveils aone-of-a-kind 60th Anniversary Special Edition of Walt Disney’s original animated version of the whimsical classic tale ALICE IN WONDERLAND on Blu-ray — on February 1st, 2011. Released just in time for Valentine’s Day, the 60th Anniversary Special Edition will be available across the country as a Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) for the suggested retail price of $39.99 in the US and $44.99 in Canada, a Standard Definition Movie Download for $29.99 in the US and $35.99 in Canada and High-Definition Movie Download for $39.99 in the US and $44.99 in Canada.

The new ALICE IN WONDERLAND 60th Anniversary Special Edition takes viewers on magical adventure like never before with a fantastically odd and fun-filled world of colorful characters in brilliant high-definition and crystal clearsound. Additionally, the disc comes specially-packed with never-before-seen footage hosted by Kathryn Beaumont, an all-new interactive game and more.

In the film, viewers can look forward to following Alice’s adventures as she chases the White Rabbit on a magical journey into the fantastical world of Wonderland. It’s a topsy-turvy place that gets “curiouser and curiouser” as Alice’s madcap adventures introduce her to some truly unforgettable characters – the Mad Hatter, March Hare, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts and more. It’s a great animated story that has pleased the eyes and ears of old and new generations alike.

The animated version of ALICE IN WONDERLAND still remains an all-time American-favorite to this day. Produced by Walt Disney himself and based primarily on Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland with a few additional elements from Through the Looking-Glass, the film was made complete with help from filmmakers Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson and Hamilton Luske (Cinderella, Peter Pan) and the voices of Kathryn Beaumont as Alice (also the voice of Wendy Darling in Peter Pan), Ed Wynn (Mary Poppin; Cinderella) as the Mad Hatter, J. Pat O’Malley (One Hundred and One Dalmatians; The Jungle Book) as Tweedledee and Tweeledum, Verna Felton (Cinderella; Sleeping Beauty; The Jungle Book) as Queen of Hearts, Sterling Holloway (The Jungle Book; Sleeping Bueaty; The Aristocats) as the Cheshire Cat , Richard Haydn (The Sound of Music; Young Frankenstein) as Caterpillar and Bill Thompson (Lady and the Tramp, Peter Pan; Sleeping Beauty) as the White Rabbit.

Walt Disney first created the idea of creating Lewis Carroll’s ALICE IN WONDERLAND book into a full-length animated movie back in 1923 when he was just a young twenty-one year filmmaker trying to make a name for himself. After more than 30-years in the making, and after four successful animated releases under his belt (i.e., Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Fantasia and Bambi), Walt finally released his true vision for the animated film Alice in Wonderland.

This 60th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray release of ALICE IN WONDERLAND celebrates many of Walt’s accomplishments with this film showcasing its amazing artwork,spectacular songs and dazzling animation. And be sure to dive deeper into the rabbit hole and check-out all of its unique bonus features.

Film Synopsis:
ALICE IN WONDERLAND is a story about a young girl who grows bored listening to her older sister read aloud from a history book about William I of England. While dozing off, she dreams about falling down a rabbit hole (“Wonderland”) that is populated by a peculiar series of misadventures. The always sensible Alice whirls through a world of contradictions, imagination and surprises where she encounters amazing creatures – including a pocket watch-toting White Rabbit, the imperious Queen of Hearts and her army of playing cards, a Cheshire Cat with a lingering smile in an unforgettable fantasy, and the off-kilter Madhatter – and tests her sensibility and courage. In the end it’s all a dream, she is awakened by her sister’s voice, and as the two of them return home for teatime where she realizes that perhaps logic and reason exist for purpose. And in return, her sister realizes affectionatelythat Alice is still young, but will grow-up in time.

Blu-ray Disc Bonus Features:

Brand-New Blu-ray Features:

§ Through the Keyhole: A Companion’s Guide to Wonderland – View the movie in this special mode and discover references to the original Lewis Carroll classic. Kathryn Beaumont introduces.

§ Disney View – Watch the movie in this expanded viewing experience with new Disney art in the wings of the screen.

§ Painting the Roses Red Game – Help paint the roses red in the Queen’s garden. Careful, or someone could lose their head.

§ Walt Disney Color TV Introduction (1959) – A never-before-seen color TV intro by Walt.

§ Reference Footage: Alice and the Doorknob – Kathryn Beaumont, the voice of Alice, provides an introduction to this newly discovered reference footage of Alice talking to the doorknob.

§ Pencil Test: Alice Shrinks – Kathryn Beaumont introduces a newly discovered pencil test of Alice shrinking.

Plus, Classic Features:

§ “I’m Odd” Newly Discovered Cheshire Cat Song + Intro

§ Thru the Mirror Mickey Mouse Animated Short (Now in Hi-Def)

§ Art Gallery (with new design and new images)

§ Reflections on Alice

§ Operation Wonderland (Now in Hi-Def)

§ One Hour in Wonderland

§ An Alice Comedy: Alice’s Wonderland

§ Original Theatrical Trailers (1951 & 1974)

§ Walt Disney TV Introduction (1954 & 1964)

§ The Fred Waring Show (Excerpt)

§ Deleted Materials:

Ø Deleted Scene: Pig and Pepper

Ø From Wonderland to Neverland: The Evolution of a Song – An entertaining look at how a song originally written for Alice in Wonderland, finally found its home in another Disney favorite, Peter Pan.

Ø Deleted Storyboard Concept: Alice Daydreams in the Park – Deleted storyboard sequence set to music.

Ø Original Song Demos: “Beware The Jabberwock”; “Everything Has A Useness”; “So They Say”; “Beautiful Soup”; “Dream Caravan”; “If You’ll Believe In Me”

Movie Download Bonus Features (SD & HD):
§ Pencil Test: Alice Shrinks
§ Thru The Mirror Mickey Mouse Animated Short
§ Reflections on Alice

DISC SPECIFICATIONS:

Street Date: February 1 2011
Direct Prebook: December 7, 2010
Distributor Prebook: December 21, 2010
Suggested Retail Price: Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) $39.99 U.S./ $44.99 Canada
Standard Definition Movie Download $29.99 U.S./$35.99 Canada
High-Definition Movie Download $39.99 U.S./$44.99 Canada
Feature Run Time: Approximately 75 minutes
Rated: G
Aspect Ratio: 1:33:1; Adjusted to fit 16×9 Television
Sound: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound, DisneyEnhanced Home Theater Mix, Original Theatrical Sound Track
Languages: English, French & Spanish
Subtitles: French & Spanish

About The Walt Disney Studios:
For more than 85 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company (DIS: NYSE) was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under four banners: Walt Disney Pictures, which includes Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios, Disneynature, Touchstone Pictures and Marvel. Through the Home Entertainment division, innovative distribution methods provide access to creative content across multiple platforms. Original music and motion picture soundtracks are produced under Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records, while Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Broadway theatrical productions, Disney on Ice and Disney LIVE!. For more information, please visit www.disney.com .

BAMBI ON BLU-RAY- March 1st, 2011!

Burbank, Calif., December, 2010 – The Walt Disney Studios proudly announces the addition of BAMBI to its coveted, cutting-edge Blu-ray™ Diamond Collection line-up of Disney’s greatest animated-classics. Released from the Disney vault for a limited time only, BAMBI Diamond Edition features the loveable and adorable wide-eyed fawn and his forest friends in Blu-ray high-definition on March 1, 2011.

The Diamond Edition debut of BAMBI, Walt’s fifth full-length animated classic, is an endearing tale about a young prince of the forest who learns valuable life-lessons about friendship, love, and the miracle of life. The movie is a must-own coming-of-age story that Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has especially packaged with families in mind – providing the ultimate, interactive hi-def home entertainment experience with a newly enhanced digital restoration, enhanced picture and sound, games, activities and more.

The new BAMBI Diamond Edition will be available as a 2-Disc Disney Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) for the suggested retail price of $39.99 US/$46.99 Canada, a High Definition Movie Download for the suggested retail price of $19.99 US/$39.99 Canada, and/or a Standard Definition Movie Download for the suggested retail price of $14.99 US/$24.99 Canada. Those who wish to own the standard definition DVD version of BAMBI will need to wait seven additional weeks – until April 19, 2011.
Disney’s new “Second Screen” technology, which is being introduced for the very first time on the BAMBI Diamond Edition release, will further transform the at-home movie watching experience by empowering viewers with the ability to engage with film content on multiple media platforms and bring them to life in their own hands at the touch of a button. By simply downloading the new Disney Second Screen App onto an internet-connected computer or iPad™* and synching it to the movie, consumers will instantly be able to dive deeper into the film by engaging with fun interactive elements like animated flipbooks, galleries, photos, trivia and more.
Film Synopsis:

As morning light breaks across the meadow, a young deer named Bambi is born and hailed as ‘Prince of the Forest.’ Soon Bambi emerges from the thicket on wobbly legs, much to the delight of his new friends, Thumper, the playful rabbit, and Flower, the bashful yet lovable skunk. But the fun of nibbling on fresh blossoms and frolicking through the woods is only the beginning. Exploring his new world, and guided by the wisdom of Friend Owl,Bambi learns valuable life lessons with every adventure – experiencing the power of friendship, family, and love along the away.
The Making of the Film:

BAMBI was Walt Disney’s fifth animated full-length feature film which released in 1942 during World War II and took approximately five years in the making due to the exquisite artwork and attention to detail of each and every scene, character and figure.  The artwork itself was created by some of the legendary “nine old men,” including Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Marc Davis, Milt Kahl and Eric Larson and in order to achieve the film’s unprecedented level of realism, animators modeled anatomical studies using live animals (including a pair of fawns named Bambi and Faline) and imbued each with a uniquely endearing personality. Bambi’s delightful forest home received the same painstaking attention to detail, as background artists painted hundreds of landscapes based on extensive field research and nature photographs.

Walt Disney broke the longstanding animation tradition by casting child actors in the roles of Bambi’s young animals, including Bobby Stewart as Baby Bambi, Donnie Dunagan as Young Bambi, Hardie Albright as Adolescent Bambi and Peter Behn as Young Thumper. The cast also includes Sam Edwards as Adult Thumper, John Sutherland as Adult Bambi, Paula Winslowe as Bambi’s Mother and Sterling Holloway (the voice of Winnie the Pooh and The Jungle Book’s Kaa, the snake) as Adult Flower.

Film Accolades:
BAMBI was nominated for three Academy Awards® for Best Song (“Love Is a Song,”), Best Sound Recording, and Best Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture. To date, BAMBI is No. 3 on the list of American Film Institute’s Top 10 Animated Films of All Times. And in 2004, the movie was commemorated with a first-class U.S. postage stamp and in the 1990’s the film inspired astronomers to name a pair of asteroids after the adorable characters – Thumper (April 20, 1993) and Bambi (October 17, 1995).

Bonus Features:

Backstage Disney:

·      Inside Walt’s Story Meetings-Enhanced Edition – A fascinating, multi-tiered, interactive story-telling experience. Go    back in time with dramatic voice re-enactments of the moments with Walt that led to the creation of this classic film.

·       2 Never Before Seen Deleted Scenes
·       Deleted Song: “Twitterpated”
·       Blu-ray Galleries—A collection of the extraordinary images originally created as part of the design process for BAMBI.

Family Play: Games & Activities:
·       Disney’s Big Book of Knowledge: BAMBI Edition— An interactive educational gaming experience that uses the film as a learning tool. Players can customize their own Big Book of Knowledge and learn all about forest creatures, seasons andmore! Each time a player completes a task, they are rewarded with new stickers to decorate their Big Book of Knowledge.

Digital Exclusive:
·       The Golden Age

Classic DVD Bonus Features:
·       The Making Of BAMBI: A Prince Is Born—A comprehensive look at the making of BAMBI covers the story, the characters, the actors, the art design, the music and the history of Walt Disney’s classic film using behind the scenes footage, production stills, animation, artwork and multiple interviews withperformers and behind the scenes participants.
·       Tricks of the Trade (excerpt)—In an episode from the 1957 Disneyland TV show, Walt narrates the story of the multiplane camera, an animation innovation crucial to the production of BAMBI.
·       Inside the Disney Archives—Disney Supervising Animator Andreas Deja guides viewers through Disney’s Animation Research Library, where artwork from past Disney animated feature films is stored, including early story sketches of Bobo the rabbit,” (who became Thumper),  glass paintings made for the multiplane camera and more.
·       The Old Mill—Winner of the 1937 Academy Award® for Best Short Subject/Cartoon, The Old Mill was a testing ground for several techniques critical to Walt’s artistic vision for BAMBI, including the multiplane camera, animating realistic animals and experimenting with such natural occurrences such as wind, rain and lightning.
·       DisneyPedia: Bambi’s Forest Friends

The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story (a J!-ENT DVD Review)

Robert and Richard Sherman are one of America’s greatest songwriting duo’s of all time.  From countless hits for “Mary Poppins”, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” to creating the “It’s a Small World” song at Disneyland and Disney World to the recognizable “Winnie-the-Pooh” theme song, the Sherman Brothers receive the greatest tribute courtesy of their sons who directed the film.  But this fascinating documentary also shows us a side of the brothers that many people never knew.  If you are a Sherman Brothers fan, “The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story” is highly recommended!

Images courtesy of © Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. All Rights Reserved

DVD TITLE: The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story

DOCUMENTARY RELEASE DATE: 2009

DURATION: 102 minutes

DVD INFORMATION: Widescreen (1:78:1) – Enhanced for 16×9 Televisions, English 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 2.0 Dolby Digital, English SDH and Spanish Subtitles

COMPANY: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

RATED: PG (For Mild Thematic Elements, Smoking Images and Brief Language)

RELEASE DATE: November 30, 2010

Directed by Gregory V. Sherman and Jeff Sherman

Executive Producer: Stephen Buchsbaum, Morgan Sackett

Producer: David Permut, Gregory V. Sherman, Jeff Sherman, Ben Stiller

Co-Producer: Jeff Kurtti, Patrick O’Grady

Music by Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman

Cinematography by Terence Chu, Sam Montague, Richard Numeroff

Edited by Martin Apelbaum, Rich Evirs

Starring:

Julie Andrews

Jim Dale

Roy Edward Disney

Micky Dolenz

Karen Dotrice

Sam Goldwyn Jr.

Bruce Gordon

Sheldon Harnick

James Jensen

Jeff Kurtti

John Landis

Angela Lansbury

John Lasseter

Gavin Lee

Wendy Liebman

William Link

Kenny Loggins

Cameron Mackintosh

Leonard Maltin

Alan Menken

Hayley Mills

Chris Montan

Randy Newman

Robert Osborne

Debbie Reynolds

Ron Sadoff

Thomas Schumacher

Stephen Schwartz

Richard M. Sherman

Robert B. Sherman

Tracy Sherman

Ben Stiller

Jon Turteltaub

Dick Van Dyke

Tony Walton

Lesley Ann Warren

Johnny Whitaker

John Williams

Maury Yeston

During The Sherman Brothers’ 13-year career at Disney (1960-1973), they received four Oscar® nominations for more than 200 songs written for 27 films and two dozen television productions. Their most beloved scores include Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the entire Winnie the Pooh series. With such unforgettable tunes as “Chim Chim Cher-ee” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” from Mary Poppins, “I Wanna Be Like You” from The Jungle Book, and the most translated song ever written, “It’s a Small World (After All)” from the popular Disneyland attraction, to name just a few, brothers Bob Sherman and Dick Sherman celebrated family entertainment and happy endings for generations of movie goers, but their personal life together was anything but harmonious. The film gives an enticing glimpse into how Walt Disney used the language of music to bring the brothers together, creating a cinematic legacy like no other.

The Sherman Brothers… the American songwriting duo consisting of Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman, both known for their musical song scores for films such as “Mary Poppins”, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, “Bedknobs and Broomsticks”, “Charlotte’s Web”, “The Jungle Book” and “The Aristocrats”.  Creating music for many hit films from 1961 starting with “The Parent Trap” up to “The Tigger Movie” in 2000, the duo are probably known to many who have went to a Disneyland or Disneyworld and heard their song “It’s a Small World” and for children, they will also be known for the creation of the “Winnie the Pooh” theme.  The duo has created many classic songs but behind-the-scenes, not everything was as happy as they seemed.

In the documentary “The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story” directed by Jeffrey C. Sherman and Gregory V. Sherman, their songs created a documentary to celebrate the career of Robert and Richard but also to uncover something nagging them for all these years.  How come the two musical brothers drifted away and why did both brothers and their families have never met for many decades after crafting so many wonderful hits?

For Richard Sherman’s son Gregory and Robert Sherman’s son Jeffrey, the two met each other in 2002 for the anniversary for “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and both were sitting in opposite sides.  The children knew that their was animosity between the two brothers, none of them knew why but through this documentary, the two relatives can learn about the Sherman brothers, their history and uncover the problems that has existed between the two that the public were not aware of.

The film begins with showcasing the the history of the Sherman brothers but starting with their father Al Sherman, an American Tin Pan Alley songwriter  and eventually making music for silent film stars during the 1920′s and also appearing in silent films as an actor.  In 1921, Al Sherman would marry silent film actress Rosa Dancis and together they would have two boys, Robert and Richard Sherman.

On the outside and to the media, the two put on a facade that they were very close but the truth was…they weren’t.  As the documentary progresses, we get to see how both brothers had a different interpretation of their relationship.  Robert felt that the two were never that close, while Richard said he adored his older brother and were close.   The fact was the two were different individuals that lived different lives and nothing in common but music.  They were very different, their wives were very different and the fact is, the two didn’t like spending time with each other despite being brothers.

But it’s their passion of music, thanks to their father Al, who help guide them, helped them craft their music and eventually won the heart of Walt Disney.  As the two would become the only songwriters on contract with Walt Disney and were treated quite well and was supported by Disney.

The documentary would explore the fantastic career of the Sherman Brothers from working at Walt Disney, to their final days with Walt and working at Disney to working on “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” but also would touch upon how the relationship between both men would eventually grow distant as priorities in life changed which would eventually split them apart.

“The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story” gives us the true story of the Sherman Brothers that no one would probably have never imagined was happening behind-the-scenes during their involvement in the entertainment industry but also a documentary that celebrates Robert and Richard Sherman’s musical career.

VIDEO, AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

“The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story” is presented in widescreen (1:78:1) – Enhanced for 16×9 television.  It’s important to note that footage from the documentary varies as there are footage from various decades that the Sherman Brothers have worked for Disney but also photographic images to recent interviews conducted by the son’s with their father to talk about their past.  But overall, the quality varies but by no means is it bad as it is expected for documentaries with many archived footage from the past to vary in colors and overall quality.

As for audio, audio is presented in English 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 2.0 Dolby Digital.  Dialogue is quick and understandable.

Subtitles are in English SDH and Spanish.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story” comes with the following special feature:

• Why They’re “The Boys” - (2:37) Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke and other family and friends discuss how the Sherman brothers were known as “The Boys”.
• Disney Studios in the ’60s – (3:34) The Sherman Bros. talk about how Disney studios was back in the ’60s.  Leonard Maltin and others talk about what the Sherman Bros. done for Disney during those years.
• Casting Mary Poppins – (3:40) Richard Sherman talks about the casting of Julie Andrews and Julie Andrews talks about her audition.  Also, featuring Dick Van Dyke remembering the casting for Julie Andrews.
• The Process – (4:19) Robert and Richard Sherman talks about the process of coming up with music for a song.    Composer Allan Menken, Tommy Schumaker and others also talks about the process and others talk about how special the Sherman Brothers songs are.
• Theme Parks – (9:04) Richard Sherman talks about writing for a theme park song and remembering when they first wrote for the enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland and how they created “It’s a Small World” song and more.
• Roy Williams – (3:23) The Sherman Bros. remembers Roy Williams who was an illustrator at Disney and showing the various cartoon sketches that he would create and give to the brothers.
• Bob’s Art – (2:17) Robert Sherman talks about his paintings and how he had been painting even before he was a songwriter.
• Celebration – (3:54) Many well-known historians, songwriters and those in the entertainment business talk about the achievements made by the Sherman Brothers and why they should be celebrated.
• Sherman Brothers’ Jukebox – Archived interviews featuring the Sherman Bros. talking about how they came up with the songs: “Tall Paul” (:46), “Chim Chim Cher-ee” (3:10), “Feed the Birds” (2:48), “Gold Can Buy Anything (But Love)” (:41), “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” (1:35), “Jolly Holiday” (1:51), (sound test) “Oh, Gee, Georgie!” (performed by Eddie Cantor – 1924) (1:22), “Up, Down and Touch the Ground” (1:23), “A Spoonful of Sugar” (performed on guitar by Laurence Juber) (3:00), “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” (3:34), “Ugly Bug Ball” (:47) and “Der Wienerschnitzel Commercial” (:31).

EXTRAS:

“The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story” comes with a slip cover case and comes with a copy of the original song sheet for “Tuppence a Bag”.

These last two years, in many ways, it has been somewhat of a revival for the work by the Sherman Brothers.  With the release of “Mary Poppins” and “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” on DVD and the recent release of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” on Blu-ray and you recognize their amazing music but also watching these featurettes on the Sherman Brothers and personally, it was one thing to know about their amazing career together as songwriters but it was surprising once I saw the trailer that these brothers didn’t really get along and the happy times between these two was just a facade.

Needless to say, if you have grown up with the music by the Sherman Brothers, curiosity is surely going to kick in and find out, what happened?

I realize that these two were brothers and like all siblings, there are always going to be instances where they don’t get along.  In the case of Robert and Richard Sherman, they were so different from each other that the only thread holding them together was music.  The truth is that Robert Sherman was more conservative, he loved painting and he was a family man.  He wrote songs but it was work to make a living, while Richard Sherman loved the fun and the life around the entertainment industry that he enjoyed himself.

So, “The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story” was probably an interesting journey for their sons, Robert’s son Jeffrey C. Sherman and Richard’s son Gregory V. Sherman as they worked together on a documentary to learn about their father’s past, their career but ultimately learn why the two drifted apart.

As mentioned, the two had different lives but watching this documentary, you can’t help but feel sympathetic towards Robert because this is a man who kept his emotions inside.  He went to war and saw the worst in the prison camps and never really spoke of it, but many who knew him pretty much knew the war had a toll on him.  But it’s that musical bond that helped lift him out of the darkness.  But at the same time, Robert was a family man and losing his parents in the ’70s and then losing his loving wife, the woman he fell in love with at day one and proposed to her that same day… you can tell that losing his partner in life devastated him.  That music was no longer his passion.  As Walt Disney was the glue that kept the Sherman Brothers together for music projects at the studio, Robert’s wife was instrumental in supporting him and literally keeping the Sherman Brothers together.

As for Richard, he was the younger brother who enjoyed the life of the entertainment industry and embraced it.  But you can also tell he cared for his brother but because they were never social and only discussed work, you can tell that both men adapted to personal life much differently.  Richard who was more upbeat and handled the industry and making music quite well, while Robert was depressed and knowing more and more that he didn’t want to write music anymore especially with his brother.  And with Richard, as the youngest brother, who often disagreed with him, you know he had love for his brother.  It’s just the two had different ways of expressing their emotions and unfortunately, despite being brothers and being together for all those years, they really didn’t know each other all that well nor did they care to know each other.

If anything, as much as I enjoyed the documentary for celebrating the career of the Sherman Brothers, I have to admit that part of me was rooting for these brothers to finally let bygones be bygones and meet up with each other.  The two together have made the greatest and happiest music of American film that is heavily ingrained to American pop culture.  And together, Robert and Richard Sherman will forever be known for their tremendous work.   This is will not be forgotten.  But now that this documentary has given us a chance to peer into the dysfunctional relationship that these two brothers have had, one can only hope that the two can meet on better terms other than events and at least communicate.

But I suppose that these two are just too different and too much time has passed.  Each brother has moved on forward and are doing their own thing that makes them happy.  If anything, I do admire both sons, Jeffrey and Gregory working on this documentary because you can tell the siblings wanted to celebrate their father’s music career, to give them recognition for their work but most of all, hope two tear down this wall that the Sherman Brothers have put between them.  Whether or not that wall will be broken, one can only hope so.

But as for this documentary, “The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story” is a fascinating and intriguing documentary that really gets into the heart of the Sherman Brothers and giving us a chance to explore a side to them that we never had seen before. The documentary was well-crafted with interviews with family members, co-workers, friends and those who really knew them and can talk about their tremendous career, their employment at Disney or working on a certain film but also discuss tough situations that the brothers had with each other.

But one of the touching moments of the documentary was also to learn about how the brothers meeting with Walt Disney for the last time and their thoughts on his death to also them leaving Disney and working on “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and then many years later, returning once again to work at Disney for “Winnie the Pooh” with Kenny Loggins.  And of course, the two working on “Mary Poppins” and “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” were further explored as well.  There is a good amount of focus on their musical achievements and fans should be happy to see those interviews.

Overall, “The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story” is a touching documentary that was put together quite well by Jeff C. Sherman and Gregory V. Sherman.  A wonderful tribute to the Sherman Brothers and a documentary that is definitely recommended!

Fantasia/Fantasia 2000: 4-Disc Special Edition (a J!-ENT Blu-ray Disc Review)

Words can not describe how fantastic this Blu-ray release is.  “Fantasia” and “Fantasia 2000″ come alive with this Blu-ray release especially with the lossless 7.1 soundtrack but possibly one of the biggest additions to this 4-disc special edition was the inclusion of “Destino” and the documentary.  Another five star Blu-ray release from Disney!

Images courtesy of © Disney.  All Rights Reserved.

TITLE: Fantasia/Fantasia 2000: 4-Disc Special Edition

YEAR OF FILM: (Fantasia) 1940, (Fantasia 2000) 2000, Destino (animated short) 2003

DURATION: Fantasia (125 Minutes), Fantasia 2000 (75 Minutes), Destino (7 minutes)

BLU-RAY DISC INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition (1:33:1 for Fantasia), (1:78:1 Aspect Ratio for Fantasia 2000), English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio (48 kHz/24-bit), 5.1 DEHT French and Spanish Language Tracks, English SDH, French and Spanish Subtitles

COMPANY: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

RATED: PG (All Ages Admitted)

Release Date: November 30, 2010

Fantasia

Directed by

James Algar  (segment “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”)

Samuel Armstrong  (segments “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” and “The Nutcracker Suite”)

Ford Beebe (segment “The Pastoral Symphony”)

Norman Ferguson  (segment “Dance of the Hours”) (as Norm Ferguson)

Jim Handley  (segment “The Pastoral Symphony”)

T. Hee  (segment “Dance of the Hours”)

Wilfred Jackson  (segment “Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria”)

Hamilton Luske  (segment “The Pastoral Symphony”)

Bill Roberts  (segment “Rite of Spring”)

Paul Satterfield   (segment “Rite of Spring”)

Written by Joe Grant and Dick Huemer (story and direction)

Written by

Lee Blair   (story development) (segment “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor”) &
Elmer Plummer  (story development) (segment “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor”) &
Phil Dike  (story development) (segment “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor”)

Sylvia Moberly-Holland  (story development) (segment “The Nutcracker Suite”) &
Norman Wright   (story development) (segment “The Nutcracker Suite”) &
Albert Heath  (story development) (segment “The Nutcracker Suite”) &
Bianca Majolie   (story development) (segment “The Nutcracker Suite”) &
Graham Heid  (story development) (segment “The Nutcracker Suite”)

Perce Pearce   (story development) (segment “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”) &
Carl Fallberg   (story development) (segment “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”)

William Martin  (story development and research) (segment “Rite of Spring”) &
Leo Thiele  (story development and research) (segment “Rite of Spring”) &
Robert Sterner (story development and research) (segment “Rite of Spring”) &
John McLeish    (story development and research) (segment “Rite of Spring”) (as John Fraser McLeish)

Otto Englander   (story development) (segment “The Pastoral Symphony”) &
Webb Smith  (story development) (segment “The Pastoral Symphony”) &
Erdman Penner   (story development) (segment “The Pastoral Symphony”) &
Joseph Sabo   (story development) (segment “The Pastoral Symphony”) &
Bill Peet   (story development) (segment “The Pastoral Symphony”) (as Bill Peed) &
Vernon Stallings    (story development) (segment “The Pastoral Symphony”) (as George Stallings)

Campbell Grant   (story development) (segment “Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria”) &
Arthur Heinemann    (story development) (segment “Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria”) &
Phil Dike (story development) (segment “Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria”)

Edited by John Carnochan (1990 Restoration)

Fantasia 2000:

James Algar (segment “Sorcerer’s Apprentice, The”)

Gaëtan Brizzi (segment “Firebird Suite, The”)

Paul Brizzi  (segment “Firebird Suite, The”)

Hendel Butoy (segments “Pines of Rome” and “Piano Concerto No.2″)

Francis Glebas  (segment “Pomp and Circumstance”)

Eric Goldberg  (segments “Rhapsody in Blue” and “Carnival of the Animals, The”)

Don Hahn (host sequences)

Pixote Hunt   (segment “Symphony No. 5″)

Executive Producer: Roy Edward Disney

Producer: Donald W. Ernst

Associate Producer: Lisa C. Cook

Co-Producer: Patricia Hicks

Cinematography by Tim Suhrstedt

Edited by Jessica Ambinder-Rojas, Lois Freeman-Fox, Julia Gray, Craig Paulsen, Gregory F. Plotts

Casting by Mary Hidalgo, Ruth Lambert

Production Design by Pixote Hunt

Destino

Directed by Dominique Monfery

Written by Salvador Dali and John Hench

Story Supervisor: Donald W. Ernst

Produced by Baker Bloodworth

Executive Producer: Roy Edward Disney

Associate Producer: Dave Bossert

Edited by Jessica Ambinder-Rojas

Production Design by Thierry Fournier

Starring :

Leopold Stokowski – Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra

Deems Taylor – Narrative Introductions

Corey Burton – Narrative Introductions

Walt Disney for the voice of Mickey Mouse in “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”

“Fantasia 2000″ starring:

Leopold Stokowski

Ralph Grierson

Kathleen Battle

Steve Martin

Ktzhak Perlman

Quincy Jones

Bette Midler

James Earl Jones

Penn Jillette

Teller

James Levine

Angela Lansbury

Wayne Allwine

Tony Anselmo

Russi Taylor

Eric Goldberg

Benee Leavy

Deems Taylor

Deborah Vukovitz

Fantasia, an unprecedented and magnificent feast of music and animated images, was initially released by the Studio in 1940 as a “road show” release. The following year, at the 14th Annual Academy Awards, Fantasia earned two Special Awards. The first was given to Walt Disney and associates for their outstanding contribution to the advancement of the use of sound in motion pictures, being the first commercial film released in multi-channel sound using a process called Fantasound, and the second to conductor Leopold Stokowski and his associates “for…unique achievement in the creation of a new form of visualized music…thereby widening the scope of the motion picture as entertainment and as an art form.”

Considered avant-garde during its time, Fantasia has gone on to become one of the most popular movies of all time and today is considered a classic. In 1990, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Featuring the Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Stokowski, this groundbreaking film, which consists of animation set to eight musical pieces, is narrated by Deems Taylor and includes an appearance by Mickey Mouse (voiced by Disney himself).

Equally impressive is Fantasia 2000, the awe-inspiring extravaganza of sight and sound, executive produced by the late Roy E. Disney. Featuring an array of celebrity hosts including Steve Martin, Bette Midler, James Earl Jones, Penn and Teller, Angela Lansbury, Itzhak Perlman and Quincy Jones, the film, like its predecessor, expertly visualizes classical music compositions with various forms of animation and live-action introductions. Fantasia 2000 is primarily performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and conducted by James Levine.

With the success of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Pinocchio”, Walt Disney Studios began working on a new animated feature length film titled “Fantasia”.

Unlike the previous two films, “Fantasia” would incorporate live action segments hosted by host Deems Taylor (an American composer and music critic) but with the studio wanting to raise the bar even higher, the animators wanted to try more experimental styles of animation that has never done before and then time it to go with the music directed by Leopold Stokowski and performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Because the film is more of a musical extravaganza, Walt Disney wanted the premiere to be a special event where there was reserved seating and it was a formal occasion in which people would get special program books.  So, in many ways, the film was like visiting a classic music concert versus a film.

“Fantasia” would feature the following soundtrack:

• Tocatta and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565 (Johann Sebastian Bach)
• The Nutcracker Suite OP. 71a (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky) which includes “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”, “Chinese Dance”, “Dance of the Reed Fluets”, “Arabian Dance”, “Russian Dance”, “Waltz of the Fowers”.
• The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (Paul Dukas)
• Symphony No. 6 (“Pastroal”) Op. 68 (Ludwig van Beethoven) which includes I. Allegro ma non troppo, II. Andante molto mosso, III. Allegro,  IV. Allegro, V. Allegretto
• Rite of Spring (Igor Stravinsky)
• Dance of the Hours from the opera “La Gioconda” (Amilcare Ponchielli)
• A Night on Bald Mountain (Modeste Moussorgsky)
• Ave Maria, OP. 52 No. 6 (Franz Schubert)

While the majority of the animation has no actual plot, among the most well-known animated segments include Mickey Mouse in “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”.  Mickey plays the assistant who takes his wizard’s hat and by looking at his spell book, tries to make the brooms come to life and clean the castle (so he doesn’t have to) but by creating so many brooms, the basin continues to fill up until a flood is created and causing damage.   While “A Night on Bald Mountain” is about the nocturnal Chernabog trying to summon souls from their graves as well as other evil entities.  Until the Angelus Bell sends them all back into hiding and transitions to “Ave Maria”.

The film has received positive reviews since it’s release in 1940 and even today as many are in awe of what was created at that time.  But because “World War II” was around the corner and Disney’s success was due to worldwide release and the film being shown in many countries outside of the U.S., the theatrical version (which cost a lot to make back in 1940) and only shown in 12 theaters was not a financial success.  Re-released in 1942 and receiving a hack and slash edit from 125-minutes to 81-minutes, it was a commercial failure as the public were not used to accepting a Disney animated film as a classical music animated concert.

Fortunately in 1946, the film restored the “Toccata and Fugue” animation.  In 1960′s, “Fantasia” would finally make a profit but because of the sign of the times, the film would become even more popular but that is because of the rampant drug use at that time and even Disney itself would release a psychedelic poster to promote the film.  The film would be edited once again for its 1969 release to remove the character of Sunflower, the centaur that was an African-American girl during the “Pastoral Symphony” and a racial stereotype that many praised for its removal but also annoying those who wanted an unedited, uncut version of the film.

The film would go through a major change in 1982 as the original sound negatives back in the ’30s were deteriorated and unusable, a magnetic recording was done in for its 1956 release.  Unfortunately, the master was unusable in 1982 and thus Disney re-recorded the film’s soundtrack digitally by an arrangement conducted by Irwin Kostal.  Deem’s Taylors original narration was replaced with voice artist Hugh Douglas and also removing most of the live action pieces of the film.  Once again, sending fans of the film in an uproar, while audiophiles who enjoyed the digital recording by Irwin Kostal over the original audio enjoying the audio change/upgrade.

With technology changes in 1990, for the 50th anniversary of “Fantasia”, Disney went back to the original Stokowski recording as they were able to digitally use the 1941 soundtrack to resemble the 1946 general release version.  Everything was restored with the exception of the 1969 racial stereotype removal.  In 2000, for the 60th Anniversary of the film, Disney also brought back the Deems Taylor visual elements and the intermission with the exception of the 1969 edit.

And here we are in 2010, for the 70th Anniversary of the film and for its Blu-ray release, receives a 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio treatment, keeping with the most faithful version of “Fantasia” since its 1946 release with the exception of the 1969 racial stereotype edit.

“Fantasia” was and still is considered “Avant-garde” and creatively artistic as the animators sought after experimental ways to raise the bar of animation.  It continues to be praised by critics and those who have watched the film and for nearly half a decade, remained a mystery on how the animation was created until a notebook created by Herman Schultheis (who worked for Disney’s camera effects department) was found and is now currently featured in the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco (note: A documentary on the finding of Schultheis’ notebook is included on this Blu-ray release).

The film was never meant to have an ending and thus for the film’s 60th Anniversary, the 38th animated feature “Fantasia 2000″ would be created.  Although shorter in duration than the original, the film would stay within the same context as the original by visualizing classical music compositions with live-action introductions.  For this 1999 release, the introductions would feature celebrities Steve Martin, Quincy Jones, Bette Midler, James Earl Jones, Angela Lansbury, Penn and Teller and Itzhak Perlman.

The new music would featuring James Levine conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with the exception of “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” which would feature the original recording by Leopold Stokowski.

The biggest difference with this latest version of “Fantasia” would be the inclusion of modern animating techniques (CG) and trying to incorporate the classic style the original was known for.

Included in “Fantasia 2000″ are the following songs:

• Symphony No. 5 in C minor-1. Allegro con brio (Ludwig van Beethoven)
• Pines of Rome (Ottorino Respighi)
• Rhapsody in Blue (George Gerswhwin)
• Piano Concert No. 2 in F Major-i. Allegro (Dmitri Shostakovich)
• The Carnival of Animals, Finale (Camille Saint-Saens)
• The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (Paul Dukas)
• Pomp and Circumstance – Marches 1,2,3 and4 (Edward Elgar)
• Firebird Suite -1919 version (Igor Stravinsky)

A major difference between “Fantasia 2000″ and “Fantasia” is the inclusion of animation with a storyline.  In “Pines of Rome”, a whale who is trapped in an iceberg tries to find a way out of it with the help of its parents, in “Pomps and Circumstance – Marches 1,2,3 and 4″, Donald Duck and Daisy escort animals to Noah’s ark but when the flood comes, both Donald and Daisy are separated and both fear that the other must have died in sea.  For the final dramatic piece, a spring Sprite tries to return the land back with plants and vegetation after winter but a volcano erupts with a Phoenix breathing ash and fire to destroy any living thing around it.  Will the spring Sprite and her companion, an elk, survive?

With ten years having passed since the theatrical release of “Fantasia 2000″ and 70-years since the original “Fantasia” film, Walt Disney Studios are releasing a special 4-disc combo pack which includes a Blu-ray of both films, plus two DVD’s of each film.

Also, as an added bonus, the Academy Award winning animated short “Destino” (2003) which was originally created by Walt Disney and Salvadori Dali and storyboarded alongside with John Hench back in 1946 and shelved for over half a decade and brought to life in 2003 by Roy E. Disney and director Domonique Monfery with the help of John Hench is included on this Blu-ray release along with the fantastic documentary on the making of the short.

VIDEO:

“Fantasia” and “Fantasia 2000″ are both presented in 1080p High Definition with the former at 1:33:1 and the latter at 1:78:1.  First, the original 1940 film “Fantasia”…  Having owned this film on VHS and then DVD, the only thing I can tell you is how awesome the film looks in HD.   The colors are absolutely vibrant and once again, you can watch this film over and over and still be in awe of what was created back at that time, it’s amazing!  The contrast is very good, the blacks are nice and deep.  I did see some minor banding but considering the age of this film, by no means does it ruin your viewing of this animated classic. This is easily the best version of “Fantasia” thus far.

Now, of course, with “Fantasia 2000″, 60-years-later and the animators were able to combine newer CG animation with classic animation and thus with newer film elements compared to the original film, “Fantasia 2000″ obviously looks much better in HD.  The CG still holds up ten years later but if this film was created in 2010, who knows how much more detailed this whole film would have looked.

But both films look absolutely fantastic!  I didn’t see any artifacting, nor did I see any major blemishes towards picture quality.  Fans of “Fantasia” and “Fantasia 2000″ should be quite happy with this release!

As for “Destino”, Destino looks absolutely wonderful in HD.  Salvador Dali and Walt Disney’s creative and scrapped collaboration comes alive.  Colors are vibrant, blacks are nice and deep but it’s very important to note that this film does showcase Dali’s experimental style and although there is no nudity, there is a animated woman naked and unusual but creative artwork that some parents may find objectionable.  So, parents be warned.  But otherwise, a wonderful inclusion to this Blu-ray release!

As for the two included DVD’s, the film is presented in 1:33:1 aspect ratio (Fantasia) and 1:78:1 aspect ration (Fantasia 2000).

AUDIO:

This is where “Fantasia” and “Fantasia 2000″ comes alive on Blu-ray.  Presented in English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, I was absolutely floored.  Reason being is that I have owned several versions of the “Fantasia” soundtrack.  Listening it on cassette and CD and typically, “Fantasia” was my meditation music throughout the ’90s.  I’ve had this soundtrack play when I was working on my college notes, when I needed to just meditate and collect my thoughts and even to sleep, I absolutely love the soundtrack for this album.

But watching it on Blu-ray, I have never experienced “Fantasia” in this way ever!  Instruments separated on each of the seven channels, hearing audio going from left to right and right to left and hearing it so crystal clear and yet coming alive on a 7.1 system, I was literally amazed!

Both soundtracks with the Philadelphia and Chicago Orchestra just come alive in your soundscape with instruments being hear from all over.  If you have ever wondered how proper utilization of a concert or even audio Blu-ray using all channels would sound if properly done?  “Fantasia” and “Fantasia 2000″ is it!  Every instrument comes alive in each of the musical segments and simply, this is the best I have heard of “Fantasia” and “Fantasia 2000″.  I know there are some people who are still stuck on the digital recording of the 1982 version by Irwin Kostal but if you have a 7.1 setup, you may just want to come back and listen to Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra come alive in his HD release of “Fantasia”.  Once again, both soundtracks are fantastic!

As for “Destino”, the soundtrack utilizes the original song from 1941.  You can hear that record player needle touch upon the vinyl and that vinyl coming alive in HD.  It absolutely works with this film and I’m so happy that they used that soundtrack and not clean it up.  The audio is properly integrated to that classic song that Salvador Dali was inspired by.

As for subtitles, the film is presented in English SDH, French and Spanish.

As for the DVD release of “Fantasia”, the film comes with a 5.1DEHT English, French and Spanish language track.  Subtitles in English SDH, French and Spanish.

SPECIAL FEATURES

“Fantasia” comes with the following special features in HD:

• Audio Commentaries - Included with the Blu-ray release of “Fantasia” are three audio commentaries.  The first is with Disney Historian Brian Sibley who goes into everything from the development of the film to going through every detail about the film.  A fantastic audio commentary!  The second commentary features Roy E. Disney and historian John Canemaker and would feature archived interviews and recordings and also includes transcript readings and story note recreations.  The third audio commentary features Roy E. Disney, conductor James Levine, animation historian John Canemaker and film restoration manager Scott Macqueen.   This pretty much features commentary additional commentary by conductor Levine on the music of the film and Macqueen on the restoration done for the film.
• Fantasia Disney View Presentation – While watching “Fantasia”, you can watch it with an optional Disney View which fills the black bars ont eh sides with paintings by visual effect artist and designer Harrison Ellenshaw.
• Disney Family Museum - (4:05) Diane Disney Miller introduces us to the Disney Family Museum in Presidio, California.
• The Schultheis Notebook: A Disney Treasure – (13:51) A wonderful featurette by Diane Disney Miller talking about how the Schultheis Notebook was found and how it was incorporated to the Disney Family Museum using hi-tech technology.  We hear from various people of the importance of Schultheis notebook, pictures from the notebook and more!  A fantastic featurette!
• Interactive Galleries – With your remote, you can view , zoom and select favorites from the many concept art, illustration from “Fantasia” to the music from the film.

“Fantasia 2000″ comes with the following special features in HD and Standard Definition:

• Musicana – (9:19) A look at the development of a potential Fantasia Sequel titled “Musicana” which would never come to be.  We learn how Walt Disney’s original idea was to have “Fantasia” as a continual piece and how the artists in the ’70s tried to get “Musicana” off the ground.  Featuring images, conceptual art and sketches for “Musicana”.
• Audio Commentaries - The directors and art directors discuss each of the animated segments they worked on and how they feel about being part of a special occasion on working on the sequel.  The second commentary features Roy E. Disney, James Levine and producer Donald W. Ernst providing commentary of the entire film, how the film came about, and differences and similarities between the two films.
• Destino – (6:31) The Academy Award winning 2003 animated short.  A wonderful inclusion to this Blu-ray release!
• Dali & Disney: A Date with Destino – (1:22:18) A documentary on how Salvador Dali and Walt Disney would became friends, eventually working together on “Destino” and how the project was shelved but only discovered when the sketches were being moved to the newly built Disney Archives and thus learning how Roy E. Disney would go on to spearhead the project and make Dali/Disney’s project to become a reality.
• Disney’s Virtual Vault – The following features are provided via BD-Live.  You must have a Blu-ray profile 2.0 player that is connected to the Internet to access:

FANTASIA

- The Interstials

• Introduction (1:48)

- Tocata in Fuge in D-Minor

• Introduction (1:12)
• Alternate Concept (3:30)

- The Nutcracker Suite

• Excerpt from “The Story of the Animated Drawing” Layering and Painting (1:11)

- The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

• Introduction (1:00)
• Deleted Animation with the Broom (1:06)
• Story Reel (4:27)

- The Rite of Spring

• Introduction (:49)
• Excerpt from “Tricks of Our Trade” Effects Demonstration (7:34)

- The Pastoral Symphony

• Introduction (1:03)

- Dance of the Hours

• Introduction (:59)
• Excerpt from “Tricks of Our Trade” – Live Action Model Reference (6:30)
• Unused Rough Animation (1:03)

- Night on Bald Mountain

• Introduction (:46)
• Excerpt from “The Plausible Impossible” Managing Music and Visuals (3:51)

- Ave Maria

• Introduction (2:03)

- The Making of Fantasia (48:01)

- The Fantasia That Never Was

• Introduction (3:18)
• Clair de line (7:40)
• The Ride of the Valkyrie Story Reel (2:57)
• The Swan of Tumelsa Story Reel (4:07)
• Invitation t0 the Dance Story Reel (2:54)
• Adventure is a Perambulator Story Reel (2:23)

- Special Effects of Fantasia (4:02)

- Publicity (1940 Trailer) – (2:10)

- Publicity (1990 Trailer) – (1:27)

FANTASIA 2000

- The Interstitials

• Creating the Interstitials (5:08)
• Early Concept Reel (2:00)
• Proof of Concept Test (2:55)
• Micky Meets the Maestro (3:06)

- Symphony No. 5

• Creating Symphony No. 5 (4:32)
• Early Concept Reel #1, May 1993 (3:06)
• Early Cncept #2, Sept. 1993 (3:12)
• CGI Test of Early Concept #2 (1:13)
• Early Concept #3 (1:09)
• Proof of Concert Reel, June 1998 (2:53)

- Pines of Rome

• Creating Pines of Rome (4:31)
• Abandoned Concepts – Penguin Subplot (3:23), 0riginal ending (1:08
• Storyboard to Film Comparison (3:21)

- Rhapsody in Blue

• Creating Rhapsody in Blue (6:30)
• The Stages of Animation (2:54)

- Piano Concerto #2, Allegro, Opus, 102

• Creating Piano Concerto #2, Allegro, Opus 102 (4:43)
• Abandoned Concept – Alternate Rat Sequence (1:41), Original Ending (:26)
• Production Progression Demonstration: Tin Stoldier Story Reel (:39), Tin Soldier Rough Animation (:39), Tin Soldier, Clean Up and Effects Animation (:39), Tin Soldier Final Color (:39)

- Carnival of Animals (Les Carnival Des Animaux) FINALE

• Creating Carnival of Animals (Les Carnival des Animaux) FINALE (3:24)
• Early Story Reel, September 1954 (:59)
• Original Ending (:29)

- The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

• Deleted Animatic: Mickey with the Broom (1:06)
• Story Reel (4:27)

- Pomp and Circumstance – Marches 1,2,3 and 4

• Creating Pomp and Circumstance – Marches 1,2,3 and 4 (4:33)
• Abandoned Concepts: Noah’s Dove (5:41)

- Firebird Suite – 1999 Version

• Creating Firebird Suite – 199 Version  (6:07)
• Story Reel (2:44)
• Effects Animation: Firebird Eruption (3:11)
• Original Ending (1:30)
• Production, Progression, Demonstration: Sprite Awakens Story Reel (:50), Sprite Awakens: Rough Animation (:50), Sprite Awakens: Cleanup and Effects Animation (1:50), Sprite Awakens: Final Color (:30)

- Trailers, TV Spots: Trailer, Trailer 2 (IMax Experience), TV Spots #1-#4

- Roy Disney Introduction (3:31)

- The Making of Fantasia 2000 (48:42)

- Adventures in Music Melody (10:10)

- Adventures in Music: Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Bloom (10:20)

• Interactive Galleries – With your remote, you can view , zoom and select favorites from the many concept art, illustration from “Fantasia” to the music from the film.

EXTRAS:

“Fantasia/Fantasia 2000: 4-Disc Special Edition” comes with a slip cover case.

I loved “Fantasia” and since the 1990 release, the music of the film really got me through college and throughout that ten years before the DVD release in 2000, I would watch the film over and over and just be in awe of how this timeless classic continues to surprise me on how it was created and how beautiful the film is and how the marriage between animation and music just came alive. Experimental animation at its very best.

One does not have to be a Disney aesthete to watch this film and just be appreciative of the details of how the animation is and how well-timed it was for the big screen.  It’s an amazing testament to artists who wanted to push the envelope, raise the bar of animation to sights never seen before.  And this was in 1937-1940 and the results were fantastic.

Here we are in 2010 and if you thought you have seen or heard “Fantasia” in the best way possible, all I can say is prepare yourself until you watch and listen to this film on Blu-ray.  Audio-wise, this has to be one of the most incredible demonstrations of how audio and music can be used effectively with a 7.1 system.  As mentioned earlier in my review, I have had various versions of the “Fantasia” soundtrack which I have listened to in the past 20-years and until this Blu-ray release, I was literally shocked of how crystal clear and how effective the audio was utilized through the various channels.  Each instrument was given its own prominence on each channel and the results were incredible.

But granted, “Fantasia” is not the usual animated Disney film and also, it’s not a film that is loved by everyone because it’s not a story-based film.  As Walt Disney saw it in 1940 as an event to get people to sit and watching as if they are watching an actual concert, it all comes down to one’s appreciation to classical music and in this case, classic Disney animation.

For the first disc alone, I could see this as an easy must-buy because of the audio upgrade, especially audio commentary tracks and the Schultheis feature but Walt Disney also gives you “Fantasia 2000″ and “Destino” in this 4-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray release.

“Fantasia 2000″ is a combination of CG-animation with classic hand-drawn animation that Roy E. Disney and company have done a fantastic job in paying tribute to the the original and continuing Walt Disney’s goal of continuing the series.

“Fantasia 2000″ still manages to hold up well despite the 2000 CG but I enjoy the animation segments even more because they are story-driven and also sync up quite well to the music.  But when it comes to the music, both animated feature films are awesome in their own way.  The music selection for “Fantasia 2000″ was a bolder selection with the inclusion of Gershwin, but for the most part, I am happy that it doesn’t try to copy the original but mostly pays homage by maintaining the soul of “Fantasia” but presented differently with the inclusion of the celebrity introductions, story-based segments and more.

And as I enjoyed both films, the cherry on the cake for me was the inclusion of “Destino”.  As I am a fan of Salvador Dali’s work especially familiar with his work with Luis Bunuel, I did not know how close of a collaboration he had with Walt Disney until I saw the documentary “Dali & Disney: A Date with Destino”.  What a fantastic documentary and just the fact that it’s included in this Blu-ray is fantastic because we are getting three films showing us the experimental, the creative, the avante-garde side of Walt Disney Studios”within the last 60-years.

And just when you think that you are getting the best HD presentation of these films on Blu-ray and getting the best audio presentation of the soundtrack for both “Fantasia” and “Fantasia 2000″ films, you also get a lot of special features.

At first, I was looking at the back cover of this release and it appeared that this Blu-ray release of “Fantasia/Fantasia 2000″ would have very little special features but in fact, Disney decide to focus more on packing each disc with commentary on the first disc, and the “Destino” and its documentary on the second disc, that they saved all the special features for the BD-Live portion of this release.  And if you have a BD-Live enabled Blu-ray player and it’s connected to the Internet, then you can access the documentaries, story reels and more for both “Fantasia” and “Fantasia 2000″.  I know those with older Blu-ray profile 1.0 or 1.1 players will be disappointed by this and would have hoped for a third Blu-ray disc with bonus features but the fact that you get four discs in this release (including the DVD versions of both films), I can see why Disney decided to add the special features to BD-Live, especially utilizing the technology more with this release than they have in the past.

Overall, “Fantasia/Fantasia 2000: 4-Disc Special Edition” is a fantastic release and if you are a fan of either “Fantasia” films or a Disney fan at heart, this release is highly recommended!

Waking Sleeping Beauty (a J!-ENT DVD Review)

A fantastic documentary for those who want to learn what took place during the volatile years of Disney from the 1980′s through the mid-90′s and what transpired between Roy E. Disney, Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg.  Featuring archived footage and just a magnificent documentary showing how Disney and circumstances would change the faces of animation forever.  This DVD is highly recommended!

Images courtesy of © WDSHE. All Rights Reserved

DVD TITLE: Waking Sleeping Beauty

DOCUMENTARY RELEASE DATE: 2009

DURATION: 86 minutes

DVD INFORMATION: Widescreen (1:78:1) – Enhanced for 16×9 Televisions, English 5.1 Dolby Digital, English SDH

COMPANY: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

RATED: PG (For Some Thematic Elements and Brief Mild Language)

RELEASE DATE: November 30, 2010

Directed by Don Hahn

Screenplay by Patrick Pacheco

Producer: Don Hahn, Peter Schneider

Associate Producer: Connie Nartonis Thompson

Music by Chris Bacon

Edited by Ellen Keneshea, Vartan Nazarian, John Damien Ryan

Starring:

Tim Burton

John Lasseter

Don Bluth

Jeffrey Katzenberg

Rob Minkoff

Ron Clements

Howard Ashman

Michael Eisner

Roger Allers

Glen Keane

Gary Trousdale

John Musker

Kirk Wise

Roy Edward Disney

Don Hahn

Christopher Emerson

Dick Cook

Mike Gabriel

Peter Schneider

Thomas Schumacher

Randy Cartwright

George Scribner

David Pruiksma

Lisa Keene

After Walt’s death, without his hands-on supervision, by the mid-1980’s the Disney animation division had fallen on hard times. The artists were polarized between newcomers hungry to innovate and old timers not yet ready to relinquish control. These conditions produced a series of box-office flops and pessimistic forecasts that led everyone to wonder if the best days of animation were over. Hahn and Schneider provide a fascinating and candid perspective of what happened in the creative ranks as Michael Eisner, Jeffrey Katzenberg and the late Roy E. Disney (Walt’s nephew) worked to breathe new life into the company. Hahn and Schneider bring insider knowledge, and offer refreshing candor and humorous anecdotes in describing ego battles, cost overruns and failed experiments, set against dynamic tensions with top leadership.

Walt Disney Studios, the name is well-known around the world for creating the best animation for decades and would have become one of the most dominant entertainment empires in the globe.

But in the ’70s, the studio would begin to enter a massive decline in popularity.  It was so bad that during a poll of younger viewers, many said they would not be caught dead watching a Disney animated film.  With morale so low at Disney and even their theme park Disneyland and Disney World also facing years of decreased revenue, it appeared that the only thing keeping Disney afloat was its live action films.  With Disney animators hoping to make a comeback with “The Fox and the Hound”,  because morale at Disney was so low, the worst would come in 1979 when Don Bluth, who was seen as a leader for the animators at Walt Disney and was working on “The Fox and the Hound”, would desert the Disney camp alongside fellow animators Gary Oldman and John Pomeroy to form their own animation studio, Don Bluth Productions.

Also, to add further problems for Disney, many corporations wanted to buy out Disney and sell it in pieces.  Many shareholders were critical of what was going on with Disney corporate that many were losing faith in the current president Ron W. Miller.  With Roy Disney stepping down for the Board of Directors at Disney, he had and other shareholders ousted Miller and brought in Michael Eisner to become CEO and former Warner Bros. chief Frank Wells to become Disney’s president and Chief Operating Officer in 1984 to strengthen the company.  Eisner would bring in Jeffrey Katzenberg from Paramount Pictures to take in charge of Disney’s motion pictures divisions, especially depending on him to turn around Disney’s ailing animation department.  And with these men, Disney would embark on the biggest comeback they have ever seen, but at the same time, the power of these men and the ego’s behind-the-scene would lead to distrust among those ranks and it would became evident as there was a power struggle within the company.

“Waking Sleeping Beauty” is a documentary about that struggle that Disney faced from the 1970′s through the early 1990′s.

Documenting with archived footage and interviews with those involved in Disney’s animation studio department to the major ranks who worked during he toughest time in Disney’s history and what led to the company’s amazing comeback.

The film is directed and produced by Don Hahn (producer of “Beauty and the Beast”, “The Lion King”, “The Nightmare Before Christmas”) and produced by Peter Schneider (former president of Walt Disney Feature Animation from 1985-1999).  Both men worked at Disney during those turbulent years and also saw the power struggle and tension that would erupt between the leadership led by Michael Eisner, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Roy E. Disney.

“Waking Sleeping Beauty” is unusual for a documentary that there are no new on-camera interviews but relies on vintage interviews, press kit footage, in-progress and completed footage of films being covered and personal film and videos shot by employees (against company policy) and brought together in one documentary.

The film is narrated by Don Hahn and interviews featuring Michael Eisner, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Roy E. Disney plus employees from the animation studio department at the time are featured.  The film would also feature personal film footage from Disney animator Randy Cartwright.  As the film would show what happened during that troubled time, “Waking Sleeping Beauty” also pays its respect to the Disney talent who have passed away: Roy E. Disney, Frank Wells, Joe Ranft and Howard Ashman.

VIDEO, AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

“Waking Sleeping Beauty” is presented in widescreen (1:78:1) – enhanced for 16×9 televisions. Because the film uses archived footage from video cameras from the ’80s and ’90s, there will be shifts of differing picture quality throughout the film.  But for the most part, as a documentary on DVD, it’s expected.  But for the most part, this is a documentary that was well-edited.

Audio is presented in English 5.1 Dolby Digital.  Audio-wise, dialogue from the various footage is clearly understandable.

Subtitles are in English SDH.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Waking Sleeping Beauty” comes with the following special features:

• Why Wake Sleeping Beauty? – (8:54) Don Hahn (director/producer) and Peter Schneider (producer) talk about working on “Waking Sleeping Beauty” and what happened behind-the-scenes during the good and bad times while working at Walt Disney.  The two discuss the challenges they faced in working on this documentary and what they wanted to accomplish.
• Deleted Scenes – (4:41) Featuring six deleted scenes: Black Friday, Howard’s Lecture, Losing Howard, Recording “Part of Your World”, “Research Trips” and “To Sir With Love”.
• The Sailor, The Mountain Climber, The Artist and the Poet – (15:26) Don Hahn (director/producer), Peter Schneider (producer), Patrick Pacheco (writer), Kirk Wise (director of “Beauty and the Beast”) and Rob Minkoff (Director of “The Lion King”) paying their respects to those on the documentary who have passed away.  Roy E. Disney and why they respect him.  Hahn and Schneider talk about why the documentary is dedicated to him and how he watched the documentary before Roy E. Disney passed away and how he wanted this film to be told  The group also talk about Frank Wells and working with him and how he was very important in holding everything together but how big a loss it was to lose him.  The group pay their respects to the artist and writer Joe Ranft for all his wonderful contributions to Disney films, and last but not least, playwright and lyricist Howard Ashman and how he was instrumental in bringing Disney back to prominence.
• Studio Tours -  Featuring animator Randy Cartwright who shot people with a camera at the Walt Disney Studios and captured people at work at Disney Studio in 1980 (4:56), 1983 (4:17) and 1990 (4:28).
• A Reunion – (2:14) Featuring a reunion of high school friends Kirk Wise (director of “The Beauty and the Beast”) and Rob Minkoff (director of “The Lion King”) and how the two went to the same school and ended up working at Disney.
• Walt – (6:02) Don Hahn (director/producer), Peter Schneider (producer), Patrick Pacheco (writer), Kirk Wise (director of “Beauty and the Beast”) and Rob Minkoff (Director of “The Lion King”) pay their respects to Walt Disney.
• Audio Commentary – Featuring audio commentary by Don Hahn (director/producer) and Peter Schneider (producer) talk about the various scenes from the film and the footage shown on the film.

EXTRAS:

“Waking Sleeping Beauty” comes with a slip cover case and a post card featuring an illlustration of Howard Ashman after giving Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale a mouthful at a story meeting for “Beauty and the Beast”.

“Waking Sleeping Beauty” is a wonderful documentary for those who want to know what took place during the time of Disney’s downfall in the ’70s and early ’80s and how the Disney empire would mark its comeback.

Looking back, the ’80s were my teenage life and like many young teenagers at the time, Disney animated films were considered “childish” and I will admit, I did not watch any Disney animated film during the ’80s until the release of “The Little Mermaid” in 1989.

So, I found it very interesting when I watched this documentary would point out that many young people were polled and said they would not be caught dead watching a Disney film back in the early ’80s and to also find out that things were so bad that even the Care Bears movie defeated “The Black Cauldron” in box office ratings.   I was unaware about how hurt Disney animators felt when Don Bluth and others deserted the company to form their own animation studio but to also find out that Bluth’s film “The American Tail” (which he paired up with Steven Spielberg) would beat out Disney’s “The Great Mouse Detective” in 1986.

For me, just seeing the context of what took place behind-the-scenes when they created “The Black Cauldron”, “The Great Mouse Detective”, “Oliver & Company” was really informative because for many of us, when you think about that time, you realize, Disney was not known for their animated films.  They were beginning to be known more for their live action films.

But even more interesting was to watch and see how “The Little Mermaid” would be the animated film that would turn Disney around.  And when I think back at 1989, I can agree with that because not only did I love the film (as did my girlfriend at the time) loved the film so much that we bought the soundtrack.  And back then, aside from “Fantasia”, I did not purchase any Disney soundtracks, so there was something magical and special about “The Little Mermaid” and its well-documented on “Waking Sleeping Beauty” how even those behind-the-scenes also saw the magic of that film, through its animation and also its music.  It was a new beginning for Disney and I can easily say that my interested in Disney once again would be re-started thanks in part to that film and since then, I have not missed any Disney animated film since “The Little Mermaid”.  Interesting enough, Disney would make over $100 million in the box office that year with “The Little Mermaid”.

Interesting enough, you would have thought Disney would follow the success of what “The Little Mermaid” brought to the company but instead they would follow up with “The Rescuers Down Under” which visually was amazing for 1990 but would not feature any music and similar to “The Black Cauldron” was too dark and it was the lowest earning animated film for Disney.  We learn through “Waking Sleeping Beauty” that because they didn’t make much money during the first weekend, the company refused to do any more advertisement and promotions for the film and moved on.   I definitely did not know this and was amazed to see what took place during that time.

But of course, the most tremendous achievement for Disney would be the release of “Beauty and the Beast” in 1991 and “The Lion King” in 1994, while their animator John Lasseter would work on the company’s first Disney/Pixar film which would be known as “Toy Story”.

But as we watch and see how these films would turn Disney around and would become profitable for the company, “Waking Sleeping Beauty” also shows us the power struggles that took place within the company.  The big financial decisions that took place and obviously seeing the deteriorating relationship between Roy E. Disney and Michael Eisner with Jeffrey Katzenberg (who was credited by media for turning Disney around and would play into the power and ego struggle amongst the three Disney leaders).

“Waking Sleeping Beauty” is not just about the problems of Disney and its comeback, director Don Hahn and producer Peter Schneider also pays their respect by showing us footage of how people reacted to the death of Disney president Frank Wells and the death of playwright and lyricist Howard Ashman, both men who are also responsible helping turn Disney around (the DVD release would also pay respect to Roy E. Disney and Joe Ranft).

There is so much included in this documentary that I found impressive.  From Katzenberg coming to the animators and hearing about their problems of being overworked (it was so bad that many would develop carpal tunnel syndrome and wouldn’t be able to spend time with their family) and how Katzenberg was in tears to hear from the animators of their plight but to find out that nothing was done after the talk.  Why?  Who knows.

But the film is special that it actually gives us insight to the life of the animators at Disney during those troubled times but also to see how things would rebound.  How they kept sane when times were tough, how they kept resilient in their hopes to have an animated hit…this film is not only a documentary, it’s a tribute to the many nameless animators who never received much recognition for their work and what a great tribute by Don Hahn and Peter Schneider to do so.

“Waking Sleeping Beauty” is a magnificent documentary and the DVD release is fantastic.  If you are a Disney fan, this is one documentary that is highly recommended!

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (a J!-ENT Blu-ray Disc Review)

Everything you come to expect from a Jerry Bruckheimer produced film and Blu-ray release…  Magnificent PQ, AQ and numerous special features.  But with that being said, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” film is not meant to be taken seriously.  It is purely an visual effects and action-driven popcorn flick that doesn’t aspire to be anything deep.  Just sit back, watch and enjoy!

Images courtesy of © Disney. All Rights Reserved.

TITLE: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

DURATION: 109 Minutes

BLU-RAY DISC INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition (2:40:1), English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio (48 kHz/240bit), English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish

COMPANY: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

RATED: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested – For Fantasy, Action, Violence, Some Mild Rude Humor and Brief Language)

Release Date: November 30, 2010

Directed by Jon Turteltaub

Screen Story by Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal, Matt Lopez

Screenplay by Matt Lopez, Doug Miro, Carlo Bernard

Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer

Executive Producer: Nicolas Cage, Todd Garner, Norman Golightly, Chad Oman, Mike Stenson, Barry H. Waldman

Production Executive: Ben Haber

Development Executive: Brigham Taylor

Music by Trevor Rabin

Cinematography by Bojan Bazzeli

Edited by William Goldenberg

Casting by Ronna Kress

Production Design by Naomi Shohan

Art Direction by David Lazan, David Swayze

Set Decoration by George DeTitta, Jr.

Costume Design by Michael Kaplan

Starring:

Nicolas Cage as Balthazar Blake

Jay Baruchel as Dave

Alfred Molina as Maxim Horvath

Teresa Palmer as Becky Barnes

Toby Kebbell as Drake Stone

Omar Benson Miller as Bennet

Monica Belluci as Veronica

Alice Krige as Morgana le Fay

Jake Cherry as Young Dave

James A. Stephens as Merlin

Gregory Woo as Sun-Lok

Peyton List as Young Becky

A fun, modern-day adventure follows Dave (JAY BARUCHEL), just an average college student, or so it appears, until the sorcerer Balthazar Blake (NICOLAS CAGE) recruits him as his reluctant protégé and gives him a crash course in the art and science of magic. As he prepares for a battle against the forces of darkness in modern-day Manhattan, Dave finds it is going to take all of the courage he can muster to survive his training, save the city and get the girl as he becomes THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE.

Sharpening the Magic

Car Chase

Becky Finds Out

“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” was originally a poem by Goeth known as “Der Zauberlehrling” written back in 1797 and was popularized in 1940 courtesy of Walt Disney via the animated film “Fantasia”.

Flashforward 60-years later and producer Jerry Bruckheimer (“National Treasure” films, “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, “The Pirates of the Caribbean” films), executive producer/actor Nicolas Cage (“National Treasure” films, “Con Air”, “The Rock”) and director Jon Turteltaub (“National Treasure” films, “The Kid”, “While You Were Sleeping”) have taken on the project of remaking “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” for the modern age, with incredible visual effects and an action-paced storyline.

The film features a screenplay by Matt Lopez (“Race to Witch Mountain”, “Bedtime Stories”, “The Wild”), Doug Miro (“Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time”, “The Uninvited”) and Carlo Bernard (“Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time”, “The Uninvited”), cinematography by Bojan Bazelli (“Mr. & Mrs. Smith”, “The Ring”, “Burlesque”) and music composed by Trevor Rabin *”The Guardian”, “Get Smart”, “G-Force”, “Race to Witch Mountain”).  The film would be budgeted at $150 million and would earn $215 million in the box office and will now be released on Blu-ray (Blu-ray+DVD and Blu-ray+DVD+Digital Copy) and DVD.

“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” begins in 740 AD.  The sorcerer Merlin had three apprentices: Maxim Horvath (played by Alfred Molina, “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, “Spider-Man 2″, “Chocolat”), Balthazar Blake (played by Nicolas Cage) and Veronica Gorloisen (played by Monica Belluci, “The Matrix” films, “Shoot ‘em Up”) to take on the evil sorceress Morgana le Fay (played by Alice Krige).   Morgana wants to destroy the world by resurrecting the dead under her power but as Merlin the Apprentices are about to stop her, one of their own, Horvath betrays Merlin by allowing Morgana to mortally wound Merlin.

As Balthazar battles his former friend, Veronica stops Morgan by absorbing her into her own body.  While Morgana tries to destroy Veronica from within, Balthazar quickly imprisons both women into a Grimhold (a nesting doll) which will keep Veronica alive but also prevent Morgana from causing any harm. He also imprisons Horvath as well.

Before Merlin dies, he tells Balthazar that the remaining apprentice (from his bloodline) will need to be found and that a Dragon ring will lead him to the next apprentice, the Prime Merlinian who will become his successor.  Only the Prime Merlinian can defeat Morgana.

So, for the next 1,000 years, Balthazar imprisons Morganians into the Grimhold while trying to search for his successor.

In 2000, a young 10-year-old named Dave Stutler (young version played by Jake Cherry, older version played by Jay Baruchel, “Knocked Up”, “Tropic Thunder”, “Million Dollar Baby”) a boy who has fallen in love for the young Becky (young version played by Peyton List, older version by Teresa Palmer, “Bedtime Stories”, “The Grudge 2″).  He gives her a note for her to mark if she would be his friend or boyfriend.  She marks the note but somehow the note starts flying around and as Dave tries to get the catch the note, it flies into a shop which is owned by Balthazar.

When Balthazar realizes the coincidence of the boy coming to his store, he tests the dragon ring which automatically responds to Dave.  Balthazar tells him that he has been looking for him for over a 1,000 years.  Of course, Dave doesn’t understand what’s going on.  But when Balthazar tells him to wait and not touch anything, Dave realizes that each time he moves his hand (with the ring) he causes damage in the store and accidentally releases Horvath from the nesting doll.  Now Horvath wants the Grimhold to release Morgana.

Balthazar and Horvath battle but in order to protect the young Dave, Balthazar ends up sealing himself and Horvath in a large vase.   Shocked by what has transpired, Dave takes the Grimhold, runs out of the store and throws it out into the street.  Meanwhile, his classmates see him scared and his pants are wet and assume Dave has peed in his pants. Unfortunately, for him…Becky, the girl he likes also sees this and for the next teen years of his life, Dave would be ridiculed, become an outcast, has to transfer to another school because of being picked on and even go through psychiatric evaluations because no one believes him of what he had seen inside the store.

Fastforward to 2010, Dave is now a student at NYU who studies physics and a science geek.  While collecting papers, he manages to run into Becky who he has not seen for many years.  Becky is also a student at NYU who is struggling in her class and is a DJ on campus.  Excited to see her again, Dave volunteers to tutor her in her studies.

Meanwhile, Balthazar and Horvath manage to escape from the vase and immediately Horvath goes to look for the Grimhold, while Balthazar looks for Dave.

To Dave’s shock, when he returns home, he sees Horvath and realizes that what he saw at the age of 10 was real and now this evil sorcerer is trying to kill him, but Balthazar ends up saving him.   Unfortunately, Horvath finds the Grimhold and now he plans to release Morgana and have her destroy the world.

Balthazar knows he can’t defeat Morgana and Horvath on his own and needs the help of Dave but he must be trained first.

Balthazar explains to Dave that he is a sorcerer and that with his ring, he can create magic and fight against the evils and defend himself from the Morganians, but in order to learn, he must be his apprentice and do what he says.  Dave realizes the truth of what Balthazar says, although he is not ready to dedicate all his time to learning sorcery because he has fallen for Becky, but yet, he will do what it takes to become the sorcerer’s apprentice.

VIDEO:

“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” is presented in 1080p High Definition (2:40:1 aspect ratio). As I expect audio to be wonderful from a Jerry Bruckheimer-related film, I also expect incredible visuals and in this case, the picture quality of this film is fantastic!  There is a lot of vibrant colors going around everywhere in this film.  These colors pop and not only are they dazzling and just wonderful to watch and see, I found no problems with the video whatsoever.  No artifactgs, no dust, scratches or anything negative.  Blacks were nice and deep, skin tones were natural, you can see the scraggly hair of Balthazar, the fur on Alfred Molina’s jacket, the detail of the set also come to life.  Just take a look at the scenes in China Town or Dave’s lab.  There is just detail and colors that just come alive on Blu-ray.

In fact, the film sports a lot of red and amber colors and typically, I would see some banding during those scenes, pause and watch it slowly frame-by-frame and saw none of that.  I saw no crush, I saw nothing that I perceive as negative for the entire film.  Visual effects by Method, One of Us, Double Negative and Asylum for this film were wonderful and the production design by Naomi Shohan (I loved what she did in “I Am Legend”) looks fantastic in “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”.

But once again, similar to Bruckheimer’s “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” on Blu-ray, once again, another film on Blu-ray that achieves perfect marks for PQ.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” is presented in English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio (48 kHz/24-bit), English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital.

And what would a Jerry Bruckheimer film be without upfront, stomach churning, room shaking lossless audio.  “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” is fantastic.  Dialogue and music is crystal clear from the center and front channels but with so much action, the surround channels are constantly being used.  But most of all, for those who simply want more LFE in films, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” delivers!

From the battles between Balthzar and Dave versus Horvath and Morganians, fireballs, electricity, explosions, damage to surroundings, you’re going to hear it from all over, you’re going to hear the audio pan from left to right and right to left and you’re going to be moved by it (literally, moved by it courtesy of that LFE).  Audio for “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” is magnificent and audiophiles will love this aspect of the film.

As for subtitles, the film is presented in English SDH, French and Spanish.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” comes with the following special features presented in HD:

• Magic In The City – (12:53)  Shooting in New York City, shooting in China Town and the challenges shooting around the city and the challenge of building the dragon and coordinating the green screen with the people running from it.  As well as incorporating the visual effects.
• The Science Of Sorcery – (10:15)  The cast and crew talk about the science discussion used in the film.
• Making Magic Real – (11:46)  Creating the effects in real time and not via visual effects.  So, the fire effects shown in the lab was real-time and not added in post-production.  As well, as another numerous scenes that were done real-time.
• Fantasia: Reinventing a Classic – (10:13) Bruckheimer, Turteltaub and Cage talk about the animated classic “Fantastia” and reinventing it.
• The Fashionable Drake Stone – (2:09) Bruckheimer and costume designer Michael Kaplan talk about creating the magician Drake Stone and the fashion around him.
• The Grimhold: An Evil Work Of Art – (3:45) The cast talk about the Grimhold, the Russian nesting doll and the artwork painted on it.
• The Encantus – (2:23) Director Jon Turteltaub and talent talk about “The Encantus” and the creation of making the actual compiled book and art design involved.
• Wolves & Puppies – (3:07) Jerry Bruckheimer, director Jon Turteltaub and casts talk about working with wolves.
• The World’s Coolest Car – (1:30) Director Jon Turteltaub talks about using Nicolas Cage’s 1935 Rolls Royce used for the film and the special care it took to make it and a replica made for it.
• 5 Deleted Scenes – (7:46) Five deleted scenes cut from the film.
• Outtakes – (3:14) Bloopers from “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”.

EXTRAS:

“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” comes with a slip-over case.

When it comes to action films, especially from producer Jerry Bruckheimer, there are things that you come to expect, heavy action and a film that utilizes incredible visual effects and very awesome set design.  But when it comes to storyline, you never expect anything too deep, in fact, you just sit back and enjoy.

“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” is similar to Bruckheimer’s last big-budget produced film “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time”, both are visual effects heavy, plenty of action and very good talent behind-the-film but a storyline that could have been further explored and made deeper but instead, a film that tends to showcase the latest in visual effects and action.

Film critics will often not be supportive of these type of films but for audiences looking to be entertained and audiophiles and videophiles looking for reference titles to show off their system, Bruckheimer films typically score quite high for these audiences.

“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” is definitely a film that looks absolutely fantastic on Blu-ray and the audio is also magnificent but coming into this film, I didn’t have high expectations.  I knew what to expect from a Bruckheimer film and its consistent with his other films in being audio and visual eye candy.  Would I have liked a more deeper film in which we see Dave learning how to become an apprentice and focus on the actual training and see him developing as a sorcerer-in-training.  Yes, that would be great but a Bruckheimer film is not so much about the character development, it’s about in your face action that keeps coming and coming and with the director Jon Turteltaub and the screenwriter to continue to top these action sequences as much as they can.  Visual eye candy…yes, this is how Bruckheimer action films are.  Anyone expecting more than that, shouldn’t.

Don’t expect the greatest acting, don’t expect deep character development, it’s literally a kitschy film that happens to be fun and visual effects heavy.

I grew up watching these type of films as a child and always been mesmerized by visual effects-driven type of films.  Personally, I don’t mind having eye-candy driven films once in awhile and in some way, I have a soft spot for enjoying films about nerds becoming heroes and I know many audiences share the same sentiment as well.

So, If you are looking for an action-driven film with plenty of awesome visual effects, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” well serve you well.  If you are a videophile or audiophile looking for awesome visuals and with that stomach churning, room shaking LFE, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” will definitely entertain you.

But in the end, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” is a fun, family popcorn action flick.  Don’t expect too much from this film.  Just watch and enjoy.

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