Showing posts with label Blu-ray. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blu-ray. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Massive Disney Blu-ray Release Song Clips!

With the five blu-ray releases this week, Disney is offering a few film clips of some of the songs.

Which one is your favorite?

Tarzan: Strangers Like Me


Tarzan: Son of Man


Hercules: Training


Bedknobs And Broomsticks: Substitutiary Locomotion


The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad: Merrily On Our Way


Don't forget that The Reluctant Dragon is part of the Ichabod and Mr. Toad blu-ray release. It's an incredible look at the Disney Studios in 1941 and worth the price of the blu-ray. alone!


Thursday, August 7, 2014

Upcoming Disney Blu-ray Film Clips

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has released teaser clips of a few of their upcoming Blu-ray releases: Tarzan, Hercules, Bedknobs And Broomsticks, Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers, & The Adventures Of Ichabod And Mr. Toad.

We watched the review copy of The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad and Fun and Fancy Free, and it is a definite purchase simply because it includes The Reluctant Dragon!

Hercules


Bedknobs and Broomsticks



The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad





Sunday, August 3, 2014

Tarzan, Hercules, Bedknobs And Broomsticks, Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers, & The Adventures Of Ichabod And Mr. Toad

A massive Blu-ray release from Walt Disney Studios is coming on August 12, 2014: Tarzan; Hercules; Bedknobs And Broomsticks; Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers; & The Adventures Of Ichabod And Mr. Toad. All five of these animated films are being released to Blu-ray for the first time.

Which one is your favorite?










Which one of these films is your favorite? Which is a must have?




Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Press Release: Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D – The Complete First Season

So, the first season of Agent's of S.H.I.E.L.D. totally surprised me and my family. Once the characters and the storyline got settled, the action was extremely well done for a television series and the line was blurred between a theatrical release and what you typically see on a television show. It took about half a season to become fully vested in the characters and that's when everything changed. With a direct tie-in to Captain America: Winter Soldier and the next Thor film, there are a lot of great moments on the series.

I can't wait for Season 2 and the further development of the Marvel Universe.



The Mind-Blowing Saga That Began in Marvel’s The Avengers Continues in
ABC’s Action-Packed Series


Relive All 22 Thrilling Episodes, Plus Get Level 7 Access with Newly De-Classified Bonus Features Available On Blu-ray and DVD.  In Stores September 9, 2014


Synopsis:   
The mind-blowing saga that began in Marvel’s The Avengers continues in ABC’s action-packed series, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. — The Complete First Season.

In the wake of The Battle of New York, the world has changed forever. An extraordinary landscape of wonders has been revealed! In response, mysteriously resurrected Agent Phil Coulson assembles an elite team of skilled agents and operatives: Melinda May, Grant Ward, Leo Fitz, Jemma Simmons and new recruit/computer hacker Skye. Together, they investigate the new, the strange, and the unknown across the globe, protecting the ordinary from the extraordinary. But every answer unearths even more tantalizing questions that reverberate across the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe: Who is "The Clairvoyant”? What is Hydra’s sinister master plan; what dark secret lies behind Skye’s puzzling origins, and most importantly of all, who can be trusted?



Cast: “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”  stars Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, Chloe Bennet as Skye, Ming-Na Wen as Agent Melinda MayBrett Dalton as Agent Grand Ward, Iain De Caestecker as Agent Leo Fitz and Elizabeth Henstridge as Agent Jemma Simmons.

Bonus Features:            Journey Into S.D.C.C. – Hop on the bus and share the thrill of a lifetime as the series makes its first ever appearance at San Diego Comic-Con, where the cast is welcomed with open arms by a sea of enthusiastic fans
                               Marvel Studios:  Assembling A Universe TV Special                                                                                   
5 Behind-The-Scenes Field Reports – Get exclusive access to the show’s classified sets for the making of some of your favorite episodes
·       “The Malibu Jump”
·       “The Bridge”
·       “Asgardian Bar Fight”
·       “Classified”
·       “Cello Duet”                                                            
VFX Breakdowns – Explore the layers of effects in sequences with split-frame comparisons to the final version
Audio Commentaries with Filmmakers & Cast    
Gag Reel 
Deleted Scenes
  
Writers:                                   Varies by Episodes

Executive Producers:      Joss Whedon (“Marvel’s The Avengers”, “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”), Maurissa                                                                                        Tancharoen (“Dollhouse”, “Spartacus”, “Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog”), Jed Whedon                                                                 (“Dollhouse”, Spartacus”, “Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog”), Jeffrey Bell (“Angel”, “X-                                                                       Files”, “Alias”) and Jeph Loeb (“Heroes”, “Lost”, “Smallville”)

Release Date:                       September 9, 2014

Rating:                                      TV PG
Run Time:                               Approx. 946 minutes; 22 episodes
Aspect Ratio:                        1.78:1, 16x9 Widescreen
Audio:                                       Blu-ray:  5.1 DTS-HDMA, DVD:  5.1 Dolby Digital
Languages:                             English Audio
Subtitles:                                English SDH, Spanish, French



Sunday, March 9, 2014

Press Release: Clip: Frozen's "Love is an Open Door" Performed by Kristen Bell & Santino Fontana

Disney has released a teaser clip of Kristen Bell and Santino Fontana singing the incredible song, "Love is an Open Door." It's hard to imagine anyone that hasn't seen Frozen, yet, but our review is coming to Mice Chat and Communicore Weekly.


Love Is An Open Door by Kristen Bell and Santino Fontana from Frozen - Disney Movies Anywhere - Disney Video

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Press Release: The Making of Frozen

Disney has released a bonus clip of one of the special features on the blu-ray of Frozen, called The Making of Frozen!


Go behind the scenes of Disney's Frozen with Josh Gad ('Olaf') and Jonathan Groff ('Kristoff')! These two have something to sing about in the bonus feature 'The Making of Frozen,' and we've got a sneak peek clip below!  

Disney's Frozen releases on Digital HD February 25th and Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD & On-Demand March 18th!

Making of Frozen - Frozen Behind the Scenes on Disney Video

I'm really excited about the blu-ray release of the film, especially after reading about the specials. And hearing these guys sing!

Blu-ray Features!
  • The Making Of Frozen (Blu-ray, Digital)
  • D’frosted: Disney’s Journey From Hans Christian Andersen to Frozen (Blu-ray, Digital)
  • Breaking The Ice - The Real Making Of Frozen (Blu-ray, Digital)
  • 4 Deleted Scenes with introduction by Directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee
  • Original Theatrical Short - “Get A Horse” (Blu-ray, Digital & DVD)
  • “Let It Go” Music Videos by Demi Lovato, Martina Stoessel & Marsha Milan Londoh (Blu-ray, Digital & DVD) • Frozen Teaser Trailer (Blu-ray, Digital & DVD)





Sunday, February 9, 2014

Concept Art from the Jungle Book

Disney is releasing the Jungle Book Diamond Edition on Blu-ray February 11, 2014.

Check out the concept art slideshow to get you excited about the disc!



Monday, May 20, 2013

My Neighbor Totoro and Howl's Moving Castle

My Neighbor Totoro and Howl's Moving Castle have just been released on Blu-ray.

Both films are fast-favorites at the Imaginerding household. Hands down, My Neighbor Totoro is one of our favorite films of all time and it's one we watch over and over. I was excited for the Blu-ray release of both films for the hi-definition transfer. What I wasn't prepared for was how good My Neighbor Totoro sounded. It was like watching a new film.

This is one of our favorite scenes:



Howl's Moving Castle is pretty spectacular, too!



Have you seen these two films? Are you going to add these Blu-ray to your collection?

Monday, February 25, 2013

Wreck-It-Ralph Blu-ray

Wreck-It Ralph is coming to Blu-ray on March 5, 2013! Disney has shared a clip from one of the bonus features about creating the 8-bit digital world.



Monday, August 20, 2012

New Disney Blu-ray Releases!

Disney has releases a slew of movies to Blu-ray! Some are pretty exciting and some are...well...some are not very exciting.


  • Pocahontas is reason enough to buy this Blu-ray set. The movie is gorgeous, the songs are fantastic and it is a fun film. Pocohantas II was a terrible film that should never have been made. I can't figure out why Disney included it. If nothing, it will only serve to hurt sales. Check out our review over at Mice Chat.

  • The Aristocats - This film has always been a favorite of my boys. I enjoy the broad humor, but the real enjoyment comes from the fantastic songs penned by the Sherman Brothers.

So, are you looking forward to any of these films?

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Hidden Mickey Watch in the Rescuers


In one of the opening scenes of the upcoming Blu-ray release of the 35th Anniversary Edition of The Rescuers, there is a Mickey Mouse watch hanging from the wall of the Rescue Aid Society.


Originally released in 1977, this animated classic is a great family film and was one of the last two films released before Eisner and Wells took over the reigns of the Company.



Monday, March 19, 2012

The Muppets Blu-ray Review


This is the movie that most Muppet fans have been waiting for and this is the Blu-ray title that my family has been waiting for since November 2011.

Growing up in the 1970s, I won't bore you with my love of the Muppet Show, the films or how Waldorf and Statler completely focused my adult sense of humor. But I will tell you how much I loved this movie. A lot!


The presentation and sound on Blu-ray was fantastic. The special features were well done and appropriate for a Muppet movie.

Here are the details on the extras:

  • The Longest Blooper Reel Ever Made (In Muppet History––We Think) - A laugh out loud look at the actors’ funny gaffs and gags from behind the scenes of making Disney’s “The Muppets.”
  • Disney Intermission - Groundbreaking Blu-ray feature. Pausing a movie will never be this much fun, as the Muppets take over the screen every time you stop the disc!
  • Scratching The Surface: A Hasty Examination of the Making of Disney’s “The Muppets.” Hosted by unit production manager monster J.G., the cast and crew take a behind the scenes look at making Muppet and movie history.
  • Explaining Evil: The Full Tex Richman Song. Rapping his way through the story of his miserable life, Tex tells audiences why he turned out to be such a rotten guy.
  • A Little Screen Test on the way to the Read Through. This hilarious footage follows the Muppet gang as they go to their first table reading of the script.
  • Eight Deleted Scenes
  • Audio Commentary with Jason Segel, James Bobin and Nicholas Stoller 3
  • The Combo Pack also comes with the popular theatrical spoof trailers
  • The Complete Soundtrack




By far, the best part of the Blu-ray beside the film is the Disney Intermission. Press pause at any point in the film and watch the Muppets take over the television with their antics and glimpses of the special features. The first time we paused the film, I was amazed. Probably one of the best ideas ever put forth for a home theater experience. Especially if someone in the family is gone for a few minutes.


It was great to see the Muppets on the big screen and to be able to spend some great family time with them on Blu-ray. Don't forget, if you buy the Wokka, Wokka, Wokka pack you get the soundtrack as a digital download. Then you can sing "Man or a Muppet" all of the time!




Enhanced by Zemanta

Friday, February 3, 2012

Lady and the Tramp Blu-ray Review


Fifty-seven years after its initial release, Lady and the Tramp makes it to Blu-ray as part of the Diamond Edition series. Most people have seen this classic Disney film during its previous theatrical, VHS and DVD releases, so you might wonder if the Blu-ray edition is worth it.

Extras on the Diamond Edition Blu-Ray
Surprisingly (or not based on recent releases), there have not been a lot of stunning extras on the Blu-ray releases. With this version of Lady and the Tramp, there are just a few new extras:
  • Disney Second Screen: Inside Walt’s Story Meetings
  • Audio Commentary: Inside Walt’s Story Meetings
  • Diane Disney Miller: Remembering Dad
  • Three Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes
  • Never Recorded Song: “I’m Free as the Breeze”
Sadly, if you don't own an iPad, then you can't take advantage of one of the biggest extras on the Blu-ray: Disney Second Screen. The Second Screen is an app that you run on your iPad that syncs with the film and offers behind-the-scenes information, concept art and sketches. Diane Disney Miller's segment about her father is charming. The never-before-seen segments were written so far before the film was actually in production that they are interesting historical pieces but don't add as much as I would like.



DVD Extras on the Diamond Blu-ray Edition
As with previous Blu-ray releases, Disney has included the segments from the prior DVD release in 2007 (which went into moratorium in 2007).
  • Lady’s Pedigree: The Making of Lady and the Tramp 
  • Finding Lady: The Art of the Storyboard 
  • Original 1943 Storyboard Version of the Film 
  • PuppyPedia: Going to the Dogs 
  • “The Siamese Cat Song,” Finding a Voice for the Cats 
  • “Bella Notte” Music Video 
  • Trailers 
  • Excerpts from “Disneyland” TV Shows
As with the other blu-ray releases of Disney animated films, the transfer to blu-ray is spectacular and worth the price. The sound is great and the animation is lush and vivid. Even if you own the DVD release from 2006, this is a great chance to own a hi-definition version of the film.



Enhanced by Zemanta

Friday, October 28, 2011

Disney's Cars 2 Blu-ray Review

Cars 2 debuts on Blu-ray just in time for the holiday season. Does it fare better on the home theater front than it did in its theatrical release?


Cars 2 (Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo in Blu-ray Packaging)
Cars 2 was the critics' whipping boy during its initial theatrical release. We saw it in the theater and enjoyed it, but the film couldn't hold a candle to Thor and Captain America for our family. Cars 2 has a lot of action and is a stunningly gorgeous film, but it seemed as formulaic as any fish-out-of-water story that we had seen before.

When we received our review copy, everyone was excited to watch it. The film was beautiful in the theaters, but seeing it in hi-definition with the blu-ray edition was even more dazzling. By far, the most enchanting parts of the film were the night races in Tokyo.

With a second film in a franchise, the filmmakers are able to let the characters stretch and put them in different situations. Mater really steps up and is the central character, yet it is just gag after gag about his lack of intelligence. The first Cars film was about Lightning McQueen discovering himself. Cars 2 is about McQueen discovering that he is alright with who Mater is.

My major gripe was the violence perpetrated on a few of the characters. We are introduced to a world where cars, boats and planes are living with human characteristics. One character is crushed by a compactor and another one is tortured. It was fairly off-putting to me, but my kids didn't seem to notice. I guess that is what they call desensitization.

Cars 2 is an action film, though and through. Boys are going to love it; spies, chases, explosions and humor round out most of the film. Although, I hear that the Good Ole Boy Network is contacting a lawyer about a defamation suit, or something. Apparently, Mater is not the best image of a Southern person.

It is still puzzling that Disney doesn't seem to offer a standard package with Blu-ray releases. The only extras included are the two short films and the director's commentary. With an initial release, there is probably no need to add anything extra, since the film should sell itself. I hope we have some good documentaries for the 45th Platinum, Smell-O-Vision version. "Hawaiian Vacation" was just as charming as it was in the theaters. The Pixar short film is still a fantastic medium. "Air Mater" was a typical Cars Toon short that follows a day in the life of Mater and the incredible adventure he falls into. As expected, it was a direct tie into the upcoming direct-to-video Planes film. There is some self-deprecating humor at the end of the short, though. My eight year-old has watch "Air Mater" countless times. Not sure what that means...

After viewing the movie on blu-ray, it is definitely one that I am glad to own and that will get repeated viewings in our household. It is obvious that Pixar is able to create gorgeous worlds and they are still the masters of digital animation. It is a compelling story; I just appreciate Pixar more when they are producing more original content and not working on sequels.




Enhanced by Zemanta

Friday, October 21, 2011

On Stranger Tide, A Pirates Review


Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo in Blu-ray Packaging)

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides returns to the roots of the series, so to speak. I have enjoyed the series but found the middle two films a little muddy and reaching. On Stranger Tides returns to the formula familiar from the Curse of the Black Pearl. Captain Jack Sparrow still takes center stage and we have a few returning favorites.

This ain't your daddy's little mermaid!
Captain Jack is dragged into a quest for a mystical object that he has no real need or interest. Of course, this leads you to question his motives during the entire movie. The filmmakers introduce some new characters, including a feisty female pirate, mermaids and...

...Blackbeard, otherwise known as Edward Teach! 


On Stranger Tides explores the mythos of Blackbeard and places him central to the story. It was a nice touch to see how frightened all of the pirates and sailors were of Blackbeard; especially having visited some of Blackbeard's haunts on the Crystal Coast. I loved the depiction of the Queen Anne's Revenge, as well.

In typical Pirates fashion, the film is full of intrigue, fantastic vistas, amazing stunts and witty repartee. Some might bemoan a fourth Pirates film, but it allows tremendous character development and opportunities for the characters to do what they do so well: be themselves! Even if you didn't enjoy the middle films, On Stranger Tides can be viewed without seeing Dead Man's Chest and At World's End.

As an oddity, another item that seems to be hit or miss with Disney Blu-ray releases concerns the addition of bonus features. With the two-disc Blu-ray combo, there are two short featurettes that are throwaways at best. A movie with such a brilliant cast and amazing technical features would benefit with some behind-the-scenes video. Of course, this is a Pirates film and, for the most part, it is like printing money for the Company.

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment provided a review copy of this film.

If you want to read a fantastic book about pirates, check out the Raiders of Castillo del Mar, an ebook written by Shane Lindsey (of Parkeology fame) and his brother Tristan.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Monday, August 8, 2011

Blu-ray Review: Mars Needs Moms

Mars Needs Moms (Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo). 2011

This film was routinely slammed by critics during its initial release. Due to the reviews, we decided to pass on the film in the theaters and wait for the home theater experience. When our review copy came in, I wasn't sure if I wanted to sit down and watch it. My youngest was pretty excited about it, so we all sat down to watch it.

Surprisingly, it was a fairly charming film about families, love and respecting each other. The film was produced by Robert Zemeckis, who also did Disney's A Christmas Carol (read my review, here). Both films are computer animated but were originally filmed using full motion capture technology. Zemeckis has always championed this as the future of animation, since any actor can portray a part and a digital image can be placed over the actor. Due to the lackluster response, it looks like this technique might not continue. There is a marked improvement between the two films, as far as the animation is concerned. The characters in Mars Needs Moms were not as lifeless as previous Mo-Cap films.

It is obvious that the film is geared towards a younger audience. The plot and characters are fairly oversimplified and the message is heavy-handed. Kids will enjoy the suspense and humor while parents will enjoy some quality time with their kids. It is also a film that you won't mind watching repeatedly.


This Fall, families will not want to miss the chance to own MARS NEEDS MOMS, the story of a young boy‘s intergalactic adventure to find his Martian-nabbed mother as it arrives into living rooms across the country in a Blu-ray™ Combo Pack with 3D, DVD, Movie Download and On-Demand August 9, 2011. From Disney and Academy Award®-winner Robert Zemeckis (Best Director, Forrest Gump, 1994), comes the craziest adventure in the galaxy— complete with out-of this world special effects and jam packed with bonus features, it‘s a thrilling journey that‘s pure fun.
Film Synopsis:
Take out the trash, eat your broccoli — who needs moms anyway? Nine-year-old Milo (Seth Green) finds out how much he needs his mom (Joan Cusack) when she's nabbed by Martians who plan to steal her mom-ness for their own young. In a race against time and oxygen, his quest to save her knows no bounds. And with some unexpected help, Milo just might find his way back to her — in more ways than one.




Sunday, April 10, 2011

Blu-ray Review: The Incredibles

The 2004 release of The Incredibles is my favorite Pixar-animated film.I say this without a moment of hesitation, even after seeing Pixar's more recent releases Wall-E and Ratatouille. The superhero mythos tied to the 60s-era ideal of the family unit is spellbinding and always draws me in, whether the kids pop in the DVD or it is being shown on the ABC Family channel. This is one of the first non-Studio Ghibli releases that I was truly excited to see on Blu-ray.



It is time to stand up and recite the Imaginerding Blu-ray mantra: Blu-ray and animation are a perfect match. My sentiment over Disney's recent spate of Blu-ray releases is that you need to own the high-definition version and this film is no different. The visuals and sound are stunning and unmatched outside of the theatrical viewing experience. And yes, the film score is pretty spectacular, as well. It always reminded me of some of those wonderful 60s-era spy movies.

As Jeff Pepper at 2719 Hyperion notes, the extras are quite surprising compared to the recent release of Tangled. For The Incredibles, Disney has included a second Blu-ray to hold the majority of the bonus features.

Let's take a look at the BONUS FEATURES: 

Blu-ray: Includes The Following All-New Bonus Features Plus All The Classic DVD Features:
  • The Incredibles Revisited – A roundtable discussion with Writer/Director Brad Bird, Producer John Walker, Story Supervisor Mark Andrews, Supervising Technical Director Rick Sayre, Production Designer Lou Romano, Character Designer Teddy Newton, and Supervising Animator Tony Fucile.
  • Paths To Pixar: Story Artists – Continuing the popular bonus feature series that viewers have seen on many other Disney•Pixar releases, this exciting new feature showcases multiple Pixar story artists giving viewers exciting insight into their work, their inspiration and the personal paths that eventually led them to a career at Pixar.
  • Studio Stories: Gary’s Birthday – Trying to make a movie when there are not enough work days and too many birthday parties? This feature showcases how The Incredibles crew solved that problem.
  • Ending With A Bang: Making The End Credits – Interview with Director of Photography Andy Jimenez and Character Designer Teddy Newton about the process of creating the end credits for the film.
  • “The New Nomanisan” Island Redevelopment Plan – A guided tour of Nomanisan Island, post-Syndrome, pitching the island as a vacation resort paradise. 
  • Classic DVD Features
  • The original short film Jack-Jack Attack
  • Pixar’s Academy Award®-nominated short film Boundin’ (2003 Best Animated Short)
So, do yourself a favor and pick up this fantastic Incredible family film that is full of action, comedy and a great musical score.







Enhanced by Zemanta