Homeward Bound (1993) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a Disney film based on Sheila Burford's book __The Incredible Journey__, about three household pets (specifically a bulldog named Chance, a Himalayan cat named Sassy, and a golden retriever named Shadow) who run away from a faraway ranch in order to find their way back to their home in San Francisco. Meanwhile, the owners (specifically 3 kids: a little brother named Jamie, a big brother named Peter, and a sister in the middle named Hope) call a search-and-rescue while at the same time trying to cope with a stepfather. As you may expect, this film eventually comes to a happy ending where everyone is reunited and all is well.
Now, I'm 15 years old and I have loved this film ever since I saw it in the theater at the age of 6. I had many reasons why I loved it at the time--I thought it was funny, I thought it was exciting, and the ending made me cry (hey, don't snicker, I was six years old back then). But now I have a reason why this film has stood the test of time against much flashier and less "cute" movies that I see nowadays, and that's simply because...well, because it's really a good movie!
Don't understand? Well, this film is so much more than just a movie with talking (sort of) animals that go on a journey in order to entertain little 6-year-olds. The pets aren't just animals; they exude the human personalities of their owners! Chance, owned by Jamie, is a mischievious pup who's always sticking his nose where it doesn't belong. Shadow, owned by Peter, is a wise old golden retriever who's always trying to keep Chance out of trouble. And Sassy, owned by Hope, is a fickle cat who always acts like she's sick of being stuck with her "brothers", if you know what I mean.
And then there's the fact that even though the pets start out acting like siblings who drive each other crazy, they wind up going through thick and thin and actually realizing that they really love each other. Also, this film also has a subplot that turns out happy too; Peter, Hope, and Jamie finally learn to love their stepfather and actually call him "Dad". When the pets are back home in the end (face it, you KNEW it was going to happen) and they see the happy faces of their ecstatic owners, and EVERYONE is actually LOVING each other like a REAL family, Chance thinks with pride, "For the first time in my life, I was HOME." Never before have I heard such a profound statement in a Disney movie.
Any idiot can entertain a 6-year-old by making him laugh, cry, and be excited. However, it takes the work of a genius to entertain a 6-year-old with a work that he will even love nine years later. See this film NOW!
P.S. Don't see the sequel--it's completely insipid, and the pets have totally lost their human personalities in it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Homeward Bound (1993)

Get 80% OFF

Click here for more information about Homeward Bound (1993)

Read More...

Animal Stories: Painted Hills/Poco-Little Dog Lost/Bill & Coo/The Return of Rin Tin Tin Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Fine movie choices. Not enough people know the unique viewing of Bill and Coo for both children and adults. Remember this movie from childhood and was soooooo pleased to share this and the other classics with my grandchildren.The Original Lassis and Rin Tin Tin was worth every penny. I Was looking desperately for Disney movie "Little Dog Lost" and thought this was on it. "Poco,Little Dog Lost" wasn't it. Can you find "Little Dog Lost" for me. A story about a Welsh corgi. Can anyone help me find it?

Click Here to see more reviews about: Animal Stories: Painted Hills/Poco-Little Dog Lost/Bill & Coo/The Return of Rin Tin Tin

Click here for more information about Animal Stories: Painted Hills/Poco-Little Dog Lost/Bill & Coo/The Return of Rin Tin Tin

Read More...

The Wonderful World of Disney - Run, Appaloosa, Run; The 101 Problems of Hercules Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This video has 2 separate adventure episodes from "The Wonderful World of Disney" television show that played on Sunday nights from 1953 to 1983. These are two of my favorite episodes, both are very thrilling adventure tales. The first is "Run, Appaloosa, Run", originally aired on the TV show in 1967 (season 14, episode 7) after serving as a theatrical featurette in July 29, 1966 along with the Main Feature at the time, "Lt Robin Crusoe". First release to video was in 1986. It's a story of Mary Blackfeather, a Native American girl of the Nez Pierce tribe who trains horses and performs as a trick rider. The Nez Perce are known for developing the spotted horses. Mary adopts a motherless colt that is rescued from a mountain lion by the family's herd dog "Silver", raises her and names her "Holy Smoke". Mary is eventually separated from her horse when she is forced to sell it at an auction to help her tribe raise money as horse sales are the basis of the tribe's economy in the film. The horse passes from one unworthy owner to another before he and Mary are reunited. They find each other again at a rodeo, and then land up joining in the historic annual "Suicide Relay Race", at Hells Mountain during the Omak Stampede. This is known as the roughest horse race in North America, dreamed up originally by the Nez Perce, consisting of a two horse per team relay of very rough terrain including jumping and swimming elements. Worse yet there are no rules and riders try to knock other riders off their horse. The herd dog "Silver" is amazing, and performs very well. This film is unique because it also features the famous rodeo clown Wilbur Plaugher playing himself, and many Native American actors. The movie was credited by Time Magazine at the time for a surge in popularity for Appaloosa horses. The Official Disney Encyclopedia Disney A to Z, on page 478 incorrectly lists the colt as "Sky Dancer", and in all fairness it is rare to see mistakes in that book.
The terrific cowboy singing and narration is by Rex Allen, and the title song he performs, "Ballad of Appaloosa" is written by Bobby Wayne. Fun and exciting adventure film for the whole family. Filmed in Technicolor and directed by Larry Lansburgh, who also wrote the original story, photographed and produced the film. Lansburgh had a long career of making Disney animal featurettes from the 1940's. Later he wrote and produced, a terrific theatrical feature film for Disney, "the Littlest Outlaw".
This next episode on this VHS is really a good one, first aired in October 10, 1966 and twice more in the next 10 years. Based on a true story, "101 Problems of Hercules" is about a sheepherder in the 1880's named Buckeye Jones (Harold Reynolds) in the old western frontier days. Buckeye and his 3 faithful dogs take great care of their herd, despite the fact that the dogs are an unusual mix of herding breeds. The dogs are Lady (a Collie), Boomer (English Sheepdog), & Hercules the lead dog (Hungarian Kuvasz). Buckeye is put out of action by some Indians, and the dogs attempt to get the sheep home without him through rain storms, duststorms, wolves and other predators, and thieves that are after the flock. Real exciting story and amazing what the dogs can do. I recommend this tape.


Click Here to see more reviews about: The Wonderful World of Disney - Run, Appaloosa, Run; The 101 Problems of Hercules

Click here for more information about The Wonderful World of Disney - Run, Appaloosa, Run; The 101 Problems of Hercules

Read More...

Mulan/Mulan II (3 Disc Collector's Set) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First of all, kudos to Disney for *finally* including a MANDARIN LANGUAGE AUDIO TRACK (the original DVD had French and Spanish- no Chinese). It's about time!!!
Next: I have to emphatically disagree with reviewer Bill Mydo below. -You will excuse me if I spend some little time defending this film against his critique; Mulan happens to be my favorite Disney animated movie, second only perhaps to Beauty and the Beast. Perhaps my being Chinese-American may have something to do with it, as does the fact that I strongly identify with the character's self-doubts. Still, I am fairly particular as to what I consider "good art"; and it boggles and confounds me that anyone would fail to see the difference between this movie and, for example, Hunchback or Hercules.
Yes, Disney's Mulan is very much a western/ American movie, made for western and American- not Asian- audiences. No, they "didn't get it right"; or, not exactly. But I never expected them to, and I give them a good deal of credit for trying. They came quite a bit closer that I ever thought that they would. Nor do I find this movie overly feminist (no more than Snow White or Cinderella are "chauvinist"). Mulan may be a strong female character, but she is not Aladdin's Princess Jasmine. Mulan is not defined by rebellion, nor by what she rejects. Instead she upholds her sense of honor as she struggles to find out who she is and where she fits in. Moreover, in a genre known for its blatant ad nauseum boy-meets-girl love themes, I truly appreciated the downplayed understatedness of the "interest" between Mulan and Captain Shang.
As to the "commercial" aspect of the film; yes, it had its tie-ins and its merchandising. What Disney movie doesn't? But the real issue is the worth of the film itself, and on this I take exception to the review below. I believe there is more in it than Mr. Mydo gives credit for.
The film does have its awkward moments. The scene with the match-maker and Mulan's first entrance into the army camp are both extremely painful to watch- I do not enjoy watching anyone be utterly humiliated- not even a cartoon character (and I do not believe that someone as bright as Mulan would fumble so badly over simply coming up with a new name). I also find it somewhat irksome that one minor character, Mushu the dragon, continually steals attention away from the movie's proper focus. And there are a number of jokes and visual gags that closely border on PG. I found this in somewhat poor taste in a kid's movie.
But these faults are counterbalanced, and more than compensated for, by the scenes that really work. The opening "brush painting" of the Great Wall; Mulan's song (Reflections) and the ensuing scene of loving encouragement from her father; the scene where she decides to leave home; her heart-to-heart talk with Mushu at the abandoned camp in the mountains; the Imperial Palace where she is honored by the Emperor before all China... the sheer artistry of these scenes is breathtaking.
When the Special Edition DVD is released, I intend to be first in line!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Mulan/Mulan II (3 Disc Collector's Set)

In Disney's lushly animated MULAN, the title feisty heroine doesn't quite fit in with her village's 'proper' Chinese girls. However, when the country is invaded by brutal Huns, the odd-duck maiden springs into action, disguising herself as a man and taking her ailing father's place in the army. Together with a tiny dragon sidekick, Mushu, Mulan fights to protect the homeland and save her family. This special double feature presents the original Academy-Award nominated film alongside its colorful 2004 sequel, MULAN II, which sees the girl warrior become a bride, and do battle once more with the vicious Hun forces.

Click here for more information about Mulan/Mulan II (3 Disc Collector's Set)

Read More...

Hercules: Zero to Hero (1998) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This video is not REALLY a sequel, it's not REALLY a new feature length movie. What this video REALLY is, is a compilation of 3 episodes of the very funny and entertaining Disney's Hercules animated TV series.
The video takes three episodes of the TV show and links them together with some rather badly done animation of Hercules and Megara moving into their new home together after their Honeymoon. Megara comes across Herc's High School Yearbook, er, scroll, and suddenly wants to know more about Herc's High School days. She rides on Pegasus to visit Phil, Herc's trainer/manager, and he gives her the whole story. This is where the episodes of the TV show take over. First we have Herc's First Day At (High) School. In the second story, a new student comes to Herc's school, who is actually a Batman type superhero, and the pair teams up to fight a menacing monster. In the third story, Herc's dad Zeus poses as a teenager to see what life is like for Herc. Meanwhile, his brother Hades plans a hostile takeover.
The video ends with Meg singing a pretty horrid song to the man of her dreams, but the heart of the video, the episodes of the wonderful TV show, earn it a five star rating from me, and I wish Disney would give us more episodes of their wonderful shows on video, preferably DVD. But I wish they knew that the wraparound stories are really unnecessary. Hercules: Zero To Hero, is a great buy for anyone who enjoyed the TV show, but remember that this IS a TV show. Don't expect spectacular animation. At least most of the original voice actors reprised their roles for this TV series, and James Woods always rocks as Hades!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hercules: Zero to Hero (1998)

Get 64% OFF

Click here for more information about Hercules: Zero to Hero (1998)

Read More...

The Pagemaster (1994) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is the first movie I remember seeing as a kid. I LOVED it. It was my favorite. Then, I didn't get to see it again for several years (stupid Blockbuster!) When I finally saw it again, I STILL liked it. I like it as I write this very day. The music is good (the background music behind the movie that nobody really conciously listens to, but helps the mood anyway). The animation's good, too. And I ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! (How often does that happen?) See, what happens a lot of the time, is that people blame colors they don't like, or designs that are annoying, or WHATEVER on the animation. But it isn't the animation's fault! The way the thing on-screen MOVES is the only thing the animators do, mostly. So, if you really want to criticize the animation, look at how they MOVE, not what they look like. Do you see?
I think that, really, most of the reason that this is one of my favorite movies is that it is about BOOKS. When I was little, my dad read me "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" and "The Hobbit"; things like that. So, naturally, I loved books and stories. This is practically the only movie I've seen that encourages reading so much while still being sincere. It's obvious that the filmmakers themselves (or at least, a lot of the people working on it) actually like to read. THAT'S really why I like the Pagemaster.
So, if you like to read, watch this movie. If you don't (you utter nincompoop), stay away, and don't criticize what you have no comprehension of.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Pagemaster (1994)

A delightful children's tale about magic!

Click here for more information about The Pagemaster (1994)

Read More...

101 Dalmatians (1996) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Disney remade their classic animated film of the same name 35 years after the original, as a live-action movie in 1996. The tale is familiar to most: two Dalmatians, Pongo & Perdy, bring their owners together. Roger (Jeff Daniels) and Anita (Joely Richardson) fall in love almost at first site when they meet in the park. They get married and their Dalmatians have puppies. Sounds like a lovely romantic tale, right? It would be if it weren't for Anita's boss, the evil Cruella de Vil (Glenn Close). Cruella is a fashionista who loves fur...and her latest desire is to own a coat made of Dalmatian fur. When she learns that Anita's dog has had a litter of 15, she sets her sites on them to make her desire come true. Anita & Roger turn down her offer, so she sends her bumbling minions Jasper & Horace (Hugh Laurie & Mark Williams respectively) to steal them for her.
Does it equal the original? No, not really...but this is not a surprise. How could you top Marc Davis' animation of Cruella, one of the most memorable characters in animation history? Still, you have to give Glenn Close much credit for making Cruella her own...remove her and you have little reason to watch this film. With her fright wig and amazingly over the top costumes, Close truly comes close...she is an evil delight to watch as she barks orders (pun intended) and does everything in her power to make the fur coat a reality. Laurie (now starring in the hit series "House") and Williams are excellent as her bumbling henchman. The animals are also lots of fun to watch, as they often show that they are much smarter than their human counterparts.
Note to parents: this movie is somewhat darker than the animated versions, with a few creepy scenes with the taxidermist. Nothing major, but still parents might want to be careful as Glenn Close's characterization is more frightening and nightmare inducing than her animated namesake.
Sadly and surprisingly, there are no extras on this DVD other than a theatrical trailer. The widescreen (2:35:1) picture is excellent (enhanced for 16x9 TVs), and there is a wonderful Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround mix.
Overall, an enjoyable film that is bumped up a few notches thanks to Glenn Close's performance.

Click Here to see more reviews about: 101 Dalmatians (1996)

Click here for more information about 101 Dalmatians (1996)

Read More...

Gordy (1995) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Having been subjected to multiple viewings of Gordy during rainy days at a beach vacation, I now consider myself an expert on the movie. The main problem with the movie is the human acting, which is abysmal. Even the relatively highly touted Kristy Young seems to have serious problems with remembering and delivering her lines. The logic of talking animal movies is always suspect, but in this case there are serious problems. Why, for example, does a patriarch name the titular piglet to administer a company until the grandson reaches the age of majority? Even in pig years Gordy is a child too! The motivation of the movie seems not to be to discourage eating pigs but to promote the values embodied in the Branson brand of country music - relatively bland and harmless, to be sure, but not too well thought out. What do you do with the farm when the animals reproduce out of control? So while the movie doesn't make too much sense, and the actors don't help convince you further, there is some amusement for children that are too young to think this through. My children were delighted by the mild dramatic tension and funny animal sounds and voices. I think this means that producers have free rein to create similar low-budget talking animal vehicles and they will be guaranteed an income, certainly from the video sales. Although thankfully there isn't a Gordy II!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Gordy (1995)

Bring home the lovable talking pig who waddled off the farm and into our hearts -- and the movie everyone's gone hog-wild over! It's Gordy! The world's cutest piglet whose kindness and bravery lead him and the children he loves on one big adventure after another! The fun begins the moment you enter Meadowbrook Farm, a magical world where real live animals can talk! When Gordy's family is trucked "up north," a mysterious place from which no pig has ever returned, Gordy runs off to find them. He soon befriends two equally adorable children -- the only humans who can hear him because they are "pure of heart. "Together, they teach the adult world the true meaning of friendship and the value of family. Now you can own this heartwarming piggy tale full of charm, laughter, and toe-tapping music from the biggest names in country music -- and "overflowing with good will and genuine affection." (Seattle Weekly)

Get 70% OFF

Click here for more information about Gordy (1995)

Read More...

Dumbo: 70 Aniversario (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)`Dumbo' is one of those Disney films I grew up on and I still have fond memories of putting this on on VHS and enjoying every minute of the story. I was obviously looking forward to this Blu-Ray reissue and although it lives up to my expectations in some respects, it also misses the mark in others. The re-mastering is pretty decent and the sound quality is much improved, but I feel the animal rendering is too polished now. The nuance and style of the classic animation is lost and you can obviously tell this has been retouched. Re-mastering should be unobtrusive and add to the end product and sadly here it detracts from the original animation. Thankfully the scenery is still beautiful and many small touches that make this film remain. This film has great music that brought many memories flooding back and the now famous psychedelic pink elephant scene is just as impressive as ever. This has a nice mix of cute, funny and sad scenes and the sad ones made me choke up as a kid and still had the power to put a lump in my throat as an adult. This package features an array of extras, most of which are of more interest to a child audience, but there area also some bits of interest to adults too. Overall this is a fine example of classic Disney animation and although I feel the re-mastering may have taken a step too far this time, this is still a film that should be owned by all fans of animation. This is heart warming film making at it's best.
Feel free to check out my blog which can be found on my profile page.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Dumbo: 70 Aniversario (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Import Blu-Ray/Region A pressing. Includes a bonus DVD (NTSC/Region 1) of the film. The film has been granted a fantastic Lowry Digital frame-by-frame restoration, resulting in a 1080p/AVC- encoded transfer that s absolutely pristine. The grain has been almost completely removed for this new 2010 pressing. Includes a number of special features

Click here for more information about Dumbo: 70 Aniversario (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Read More...

Mighty Joe Young (1998) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Jill Young's mother is killed by a poacher while trying to protect a baby Gorilla named Joe who is rather big for his age. Jill grows up with the giant Gorilla and takes care of him in honor of her mother. Unfortunately poachers are always on the lookout for the giant gorilla, and so Jill and Joe have to relocate to a mini-preserve in California. Unfortunately the poacher that killed Jill's mother is out for revenge since Joe bit off his finger during the original encounter, and now it seems nowhere is safe for Joe.
What a beautiful movie! Charlize Theron brings real heart to her character and it is her love for Joe as part of her family that makes this a movie to believe in. Bill Paxton does a fine job as the male lead, and they are well supported by great characters and actors (Regina King among them). Also watch out for Naveen Andrews who currently appears in the television series "Lost". The movie is extremely well directed by Ron Underwood, and the beautiful score by James Horner adds the movie's soul to Charlize Theron's heart.
The picture quality on the DVD is good, thanks in part to the amazing cinematography, and the film is in a nicely balanced Dolby Digital 5.1. This movie is a rare gem. So yes it is a remake to the original Mighty Joe Young, and yes we have a new King Kong movie coming up, thus making this a bit of a middle child. Still, once you've seen it, you'll see how wonderful it is. Who needs King Kong? Who needs the original Mighty Joe Young? Hell, who needs Planet Of The Apes? This movie has real heart and soul, once more I credit Charlize Theron and James Horner for that. It won me over. I hope it does you too.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Mighty Joe Young (1998)

A heroic Disney movie.

Get 81% OFF

Click here for more information about Mighty Joe Young (1998)

Read More...

Wow Wow Wubbzy: Wubbzy's Egg-Cellent Easter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)We love Wubbzy to begin with and I think it is great that they put out an Easter DVD! "Wubbzy's Egg-Cellent Easter" DVD is just over an hour with six full episodes. The episodes all carry the great Wubbzy lessons like working together, good friends, even exercising! My sons favorite episode involves the Easter Bunny getting back into shape! I watched this DVD with both boys and explained about the Easter Bunny, eggs, and springtime. It was a perfect introduction to springtime and April and of course fun to watch!
Episodes:
* Eggs Over Easy
* Big Bunny Blues
* Flower Day Parade
* Watch The Birdie
* Wubbzy Bounces Back
* The Flight Of The Flutterfly
Bonus Features:
* Coloring and Activity Sheets
* Music Video
* Sneak Peeks


Click Here to see more reviews about: Wow Wow Wubbzy: Wubbzy's Egg-Cellent Easter

Get 15% OFF

Click here for more information about Wow Wow Wubbzy: Wubbzy's Egg-Cellent Easter

Read More...

Oliver & Company (Special Edition) (1988) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)During the 80's, the studio hit an artistic, creative, and commercial slump. However, I still find that I quite enjoy Disney's 80's films, many of which experimented with computer animation, non-musical storylines, and different source materials. One of my favorite pre-Little Mermaid 80's Disney films is Oliver and Company. Boasting a soundtrack filled with great songs and a wonderful cast of characters, Oliver and Company finally gets the DVD treatment, albeit a less-than-stellar one.
For one, the transfer is good, but it could be much better and it has a fair amount of grain.
The bonus features could have been much better as well. A few fluff EPK-type featurettes, which are nice, but still fluffy, are sadly enough the meat of the bonuses. Also included, fortunately, are the original trailer, original TV spot, and the 1995 re-release trailer. Two sing-alongs are included as well as two classic Disney short cartoons.
Overall, it's nice to see Oliver and Company on DVD at last. This is probably the best DVD edition Disney will give it for at least a while, so if you're considering picking it up, go for it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Oliver & Company (Special Edition) (1988)

A timeless classic inspired by Charles Dickens' novel "Oliver Twist," OLIVER & COMPANY is a fun-filled, action-packed musical adventure voiced and sung by one of the most talented casts in Disney history! And now you can own this Disney masterpiece on DVD! The film artfully blends lovable characters, cool songs, and action-packed adventure into a contemporary classic that's "charming, funny, musical, and thrilling!" (ABC-TV) Disney's hip, high-energy tale begins in the concrete canyons of New York City, where Oliver, an adorable orphaned kitten, is befriended by Dodger, a carefree mutt with a certain street savoir faire. The mischievous little cat is welcomed by Dodger's pack of pickpocket pooches, including dim-witted Einstein, ravishing Rita, and live-wire Tito. This ragtag family of misfits runs into trouble when the evil mastermind Sykes -- aided by his two daunting dobermans -- schemes to kidnap the lonely little rich girl who just adopted Oliver! It's up to the brave kitten and his newfound friends to race to the rescue in an electrifying chase through the city's subway system. Boasting five outstanding original songs and the musical talents of Billy Joel, Bette Midler, and Huey Lewis -- and overflowing with brilliant animation, OLIVER & COMPANY is a modern masterpiece.

Click here for more information about Oliver & Company (Special Edition) (1988)

Read More...

102 Dalmatians (Full Screen Edition) (2000) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My Grandma gave this movie to me and I really wanted to see it. I watched it and it was great. Cruella just gets released from jail and she tries to be nice because she dosen't want to go to jail again. Eventually she becomes mean and tries to kills the puppies once again. They end up at a cake factory and they cook Cruella. I enjoyed watching this movie. I think anyone should get it. A great film!

Click Here to see more reviews about: 102 Dalmatians (Full Screen Edition) (2000)

Get ready for outrageous fun in Disney's 102 DALMATIANS. It's a brand-new hilarious adventure, starring the audacious Oddball, the spotless Dalmatian puppy on a search for her rightful spots, and Waddlesworth, the wisecracking, delusional macaw who thinks he's a Rottweiler. Barking mad, this unlikely duo leads a posse of puppies on a mission to outfox the wildly wicked, ever-scheming Cruella De Vil (Glenn Close). Filled with chases, close calls, hilarious antics, and thrilling escapes all the way from London through the streets of Paris -- and a Parisian bakery -- this adventure-packed tale is wacky good fun your entire family will want to howl over again and again.

Click here for more information about 102 Dalmatians (Full Screen Edition) (2000)

Read More...

Alice in Wonderland (Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection) (1951) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Because of critics' reaction to Alice in Wonderland in 1951, it is written, Walt Disney actually apologized for the movie and soon after his television show became a hit a few years later, he showed it in its entirety on TV, thus relegating it to his "minor film" category. The movie has never been able to shake this image, and that is a shame. We should remember that "Wizard of Oz" wasn't a giant box office hit in 1939, and only after it was made an annual event on television did it become a classic in the eyes of the public. "Alice in Wonderland" deserves far more attention than it has ever received. The characters are wonderful. The music is humable, even singable. It's a short film that takes the viewer into a dreamland, and Disney's animated version stands up against any of the other live versions that have popped up over the years. It's time to give this movie the credit it deserves as a classic in animation. Watch it from a child's point of view, with the amazing images of a cat that disappears, talking cards, and Alice constantly growing and shrinking. And then enjoy it as an adult for the dream world into which we are all swept. And furthermore, the DVD transfer is fantastic, with as many extras as one will find on a Disney non-special edition disc. Take another look at this one and be swept away.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Alice in Wonderland (Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection) (1951)

Get 83% OFF

Click here for more information about Alice in Wonderland (Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection) (1951)

Read More...

Pete's Dragon (Disney Gold Classic Collection) (1977) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)"Pete's Dragon" (1977) has become a somewhat forgotten Disney movie that was originally inspired by the success of Mary Poppins (45th Anniversary Special Edition) as a live-action/animation musical. The story finally got the green-light in 1975; songs were by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn, and an all-star cast was assembled: singer Helen Reddy in her first film role, Broadway's Jim Dale, Shelley Winters, Red Buttons, Jim Backus, and Mickey Rooney. Sean Marshall, in his first acting job, portrayed the title character of Pete.
Pete is a young orphan who has escaped the abusive family that adopted him: a dirty bunch of hillbillies known as The Gogans (Jeff Conaway, Kenickie from Grease (Rockin' Rydell Edition) [Blu-ray] plays one of The Gogans). They adopted Pete to use him as a slave. Elliott, a large green dragon who can become invisible at will, helps Pete escape, and acts as his friend and protector. Pete ends up in the small village of Passamaquoddy, where he is taken in by kindly Nora (Reddy) and her father Lampie (Rooney). The two own the lighthouse in town, where Nora waits for her boyfriend Paul to return, even though he was lost at sea years before. The Gogans find Pete and attempt to steal him back, with the aid of Doc Terminus (Dale), a medicine showman, and his shill, Hoagy (Buttons). Although fairly predictable, it is a heartwarming story with an excellent cast and music that is light and breezy. Definitely good fare for the young!
Nominated for Best Original Score and Best Original Song ("Candle in the Water"), pleasantly sung by Reddy.
When watching today, the animation looks a little antiquated, as digital animation and the ability to combine live-action with cartoons has obviously improved since 1977. Still, with the limitations of the day, what the Disney team was able to create is still quite impressive. The entire town of Passamaquoddy was built on the Disney backlot, with a functioning lighthouse built above Morro Bay, California. The US Coast Guard had to give permission to Disney to actually light it so as not to confuse real ships in the water. Disney's Golden Oak Ranch in Santa Clarita was also used for a number of outdoor shots.
SPECS:
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound * Widescreen (1.66:1)--Enhanced for 16x9 TVs. This was the first Disney film recorded in the Dolby Stereo sound system. The clarity and color of the image of the DVD are excellent; sound is good too, but nothing that will really blow your speakers away. Running time of approximately 129 minutes, which is just about 5 minutes short of the original roadshow version.
BONUS FEATURES:
Sneak Peeks: Snow White on Blu-ray, The Prince & The Frog (theatrical), Disney Blu-ray, Hannah Montana the Movie, Up, D23, Earth, and Tinkerbell: The Lost Treasure.
Brazzle Dazzle Effects (25:23): Narrated by Sean Marshall (Pete) who is heard present day, but never seen! Sean takes us on a journey telling the history of live-action/animation in Disney films, beginning the Alice Comedies. Virginia Davis (Alice) recalls pantomiming to invisible animals. "Children love to pretend. I loved to pretend, too." Disney thought that by putting a live girl in an animated setting he could get a leg-up on the competition. Ub Iwerks joined the Disney team early, left, and then returned in the 1940's. Many of the special effect processes that have made Disney film magic possible were a result of his genius. "The Three Caballeros" was a milestone in 1945 in combining color live-action film with animation. Using rear-screen projection and special process-lab effects, Iwerks helped the film accomplish many things never seen before. The real jump came in 1959 with "Ten Who Dared," a film that used the Sodium Vapor Process Screen. Using yellow lights/filters, filmmakers were able to block out backgrounds that made it easier to combine the animation. Without this process, "The Parent Trap" and "Mary Poppins" would never have been possible. Marshall recalls filming "Pete's Dragon" in the summer of 1976. He loved the entire process: special effects, acting, dancing, makeup. "The only thing I didn't like was the fame!" He recalls Red Buttons and Mickey Rooney attempting to upstage each other, and how choreographer Onna White's instruction helped prepare him to be a college pole-vaulter. In this featurette, you will see the original live-action film and learn how it was combined with the animation. Very interesting to watch documentary.
Deleted Storyboard Sequence: "Terminus & Hoagy Hunt Elliott" (2:25)--Nothing really missed here!
Original Song Concept: "Boo Bop BopBop Bop (I Love You Too)" (2:35): Very pop-sounding; almost a little out of place. Not missed from the storyline, it featured both Pete & Elliott.
Original Demo Recordings (all from February 11, 1976):
Brazzle Dazzle Day: Alternate song, first attempt. The song was liked by re-written.
Every Little Piece: Alternate melody. Thought to be too somber, the lyrics were kept, but the melody was rewritten.
The Greatest Star of All: Deleted song for a deleted character. Artist Ken Anderson thought 2 villains were not needed, so both song and character were cut.
Promotional Record:
Pop versions of songs from the movie released on a 7" Vista record are presented here: It's Not Easy, Brazzle Dazzle Day, There's Room For Everyone, Candle on the Water.
Art Galleries: Concept Art, Behind-the-scenes, and publicity galleries. Varying quality, but still very cool to see, especially the behind-the-scenes shots.
Trailers: International & Theatrical Trailers
"About Pete's Dragon": 5 screens with production notes about the movie.
"Disney Family Album" (excerpt, 2:20): About artist Ken Anderson. He describes how he based Elliott on Wallace Beery - large, bumbling, but loveable. He also is seen at the Disney ranch, which he describes as his Laughing Place.
"The Plausible Impossible" (excerpt, 3:36): From the Disneyland TV show, October 31, 1956. Shows the Disney Art of Animation book, with chapter 5 about the Plausible Impossible--using animation to make the unreal look real. Clips from Fantasia shown.
"Lighthouse Keeping" (1956, 6:45): Donald Duck cartoon
Includes a game for the very young, where you must find Elliott.
Overall, a really great DVD with enjoyable extras.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pete's Dragon (Disney Gold Classic Collection) (1977)

Pete, a young orphan, runs away to a Maine fishing town with his best friend--a lovable, sometimes invisible dragon named Elliott! When they are taken in by a kind lighthouse keeper, Nora (Helen Reddy), and her father (Mickey Rooney), Elliott's prank playing lands them in big trouble. Then, when crooked salesmen try to capture Elliott for their own gain, Pete must attempt a daring rescue.

Click here for more information about Pete's Dragon (Disney Gold Classic Collection) (1977)

Read More...

Frank and Ollie (Special Edition) (1995) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a wonderful tale of 2 of Walt Disney's "nine old men". I had no idea that the two of them were as close as they were. Shot in a documentary-style, so the viewer has a sense of being their houseguest. Lifelong friends, who shared the same career, and very similar, and disimilar life experiences. This film is for anyone who truly appreciates classic animation. By the end of the film, I understood their artistic motivations, as well as their struggles and triumphs. I also got some insight into their relationship with Walt(Disney), and how his death affected them. A truly wonderful film. I own a copy, and highly recommend it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Frank and Ollie (Special Edition) (1995)

Before computer graphics, special effects wizardry, and out-of-this world technology, the magic of animation flowed from the pencils of two of the greatest animators The Walt Disney Company ever produced -- Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston. Frank and Ollie, the talent behind BAMBI, PINOCCHIO, LADY AND THE TRAMP, THE JUNGLE BOOK, and others, set the standard for such modern-day hits as THE LION KING. It was their creative genius that helped make Disney synonymous with brilliant animation, magnificent music, and emotional storytelling. Take a journey with these extraordinary artists as they share secrets, insights, and the inspiration behind some of the greatest animated movies the world has ever known!

Get 20% OFF

Click here for more information about Frank and Ollie (Special Edition) (1995)

Read More...

Robin Hood (Disney Gold Classic Collection) (1973) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Previous to this 'Most Wanted Edition' release, Disney had released a Gold Collection version. Having seen the two head to head, the Most Wanted is definitely a worthwhile purchase, though purists may wish to hang onto their Gold Collection Edition.
For those interested in the movie's plot (though if you don't know it by now), this 1973 Disney film follows the adventures of the classic Robin Hood story (though all the characters have been replaced by Disney animal versions), where he and his pal Little John are constantly thwarting the plans of Prince John, his servant Sir Hiss, and the rotten Sheriff of Nottingham. It doesn't follow the original legend too closely, but then, Robin Hood is a walking, talking fox, so don't expect historical accuracy. Made during Disney's less 'talked about' era (the void between Disney's untimely death and the song stylings of Elton John), the film is still a delight for adults and children. At least, I like it, but critics and animation buffs seem to have some issues with it (not the least of which is a segment where several sequences reuse animation from other Disney films). It's not as plot intensive and tightly told as Disney's later films, but it has quite a few memorable sequences and some great one-liners ("Oo-de-lally! A CROWN!").
But onto the DVD and its features.
VIDEO: The film is presented in a 1.75:1 aspect ratio, making it widescreen. However, (and this is where the purists may take offense), the film was initially created in 1.37:1 aspect, thus making the fullscreen version available on the previous Gold Collection release the 'correct' video standard (a viewing of the widescreen next to the fullscreen does, in fact, show cropping at the top and bottom). However, this does not mean that the widescreen is automatically a problem. Not only is the transfer noticeably clearer and more detailed, but the film was animated to take both fullscreen and widescreen into respect (theatres at the time were capable of displaying one or the other), so technically both aspect ratios can be termed 'the original theatrical.' Because of this, no significant portion of the picture at the top and bottom is lost (though like I said, purists should hang onto their Gold Collections for this reason only). Perhaps a choice of viewing options should have been made available because of this issue, but unfortunately only the widescreen is included on this DVD.
AUDIO: Sound is noticeably better, especially the music (at least, on the sound system I compared them). The 5.1 transfer, while not causing the sound to do miraculous things, does sound more dynamic and sharper. A definite improvement here.
SPECIAl FEATURES: This release includes all the features from the Gold Collection release, with the notable exception of the Read-Along Storybook (a DVD version of the printed storybook released alongside the original movie) and switching out a trivia game for...another trivia game. Interesting. However, everything else is there, along with some additional features (including a storyboarded alternate ending) not previously available.
So, what's my pick? I say, especially if you don't own the film, this is the best version of the two to get. The picture's better, sound's better, and the special features overall are better (and since the previous release, Disney invented its 'Fastplay' feature, which is nice to have compared to the Gold Collection's 'fast forward through the trailers'-only option). But, this is mainly a caution to those looking for the 'Ultimate, Never Have to Buy It Again' edition: the fullscreen, uncropped version is not here. Perhaps in a future two-disc release, though it is doubtful Disney cares enough about this film and its era to do that.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Robin Hood (Disney Gold Classic Collection) (1973)

Swashbuckling adventure and unforgettable characters make the story of ROBIN HOOD an all-time favorite! The animal kingdom serves up a feast of bowmanship, swordplay, and daring deeds in Disney's classic version of this timeless medieval tale. England is at war and ruled by a phony king! Greedy Prince John and his slithering sidekick, Sir Hiss, are taxing Nottingham's residents to the limit. But roguish Robin Hood, along with his trusted companion Little John and his devoted band of merry men, hatch one exciting adventure after another to outfox the prince. Robin won't rest until he wins the hand of fair Maid Marian and King Richard is restored to the throne! Superb storytelling, wonderful animation, and sensational songs make ROBIN HOOD a magical movie for kids of all ages!

Click here for more information about Robin Hood (Disney Gold Classic Collection) (1973)

Read More...