Oceans

Blu-ray Review: Disney Returns to Nature with Hit ‘Chimpanzee’

BrianTT — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 19:29:26 -0400

CHICAGO – “Chimpanzee” is a good-natured, fun movie for the entire family, especially the young ones interested in primates. Every year on Earth Day for the last four years, the DisneyNature brand of the Mouse House has been releasing a G-rated documentary, starting with the most-successful “Earth” in 2009. This Tim Allen-narrated affair was the highest-grossing DisneyNature film since “Earth” and it’s arguably the best of the four so far. You won’t soon forget the lovable Oscar.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

If you ever wonder how few people see documentaries, “Chimpanzee” is the 5th highest grossing documentary of all time at $29 million domestically. ALL TIME. People just don’t see docs unless they’re nature movies, concert films, or political screeds. “Chimpanzee” somehow drew people in on good reviews, a slow marketplace, and our general love for chimps. I wish the movie was a little deeper and a little less eager to point out what makes chimps like humans instead of just illustrating their own habits but this is a well-made doc, certainly more entertaining than the last couple of DisneyNature flicks (“African Cats” & “Oceans”). It may not be that deep but it’s a great starting point for young people just getting interested in nature. And the Blu-ray/DVD release features a nice array of special features. Kids are just now getting ready to go back to school. With “Chimpanzee,” you can give them a lesson they won’t mind sitting through.

Chimpanzee was released on Blu-ray and DVD on August 21, 2012
Photo credit: DisneyNature

Synopsis:
From Disneynature, the studio that brought you Earths, Oceans and African Cats, comes Chimpanzee - a remarkable story of individual triumph and family bonds. Journey deep into the African rainforest and meet Oscar, an adorable young chimp with an entertaining approach to life. The world is a playground for little Oscar and his fellow young chimps who love creating mayhem. Full of curiosity, a zest for discovery, joy and a love for mimicking others, they are some of the most extraordinary personalities in the animal kingdom. Stunning high-definition images bring you up close and personal as Oscar and his family navigate the complex territory of the forest. It’s an inspiring and life-changing adventure that overflows with courage and charm. And it will capture your heart.

Click here to buy “Chimpanzee”

See Chimpanzee, Save Chimpanzees
Disney’s Friends For Change
Disney’s Conservation Legacy
On Location: The Making Of Chimpanzee
“Rise” Music Video By McClain Sisters
Behind The Scenes Of “Rise”

“Chimpanzee” was released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 21, 2012. It is rated G.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 25 Pairs of Chicago Passes to Tim Allen’s ‘Chimpanzee’ From Disneynature

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:29:59 -0400

CHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 25 admit-two movie passes up for grabs to the advance screening of the new true-life film “Chimpanzee”! This Disneynature film is narrated by Tim Allen.

“Chimpanzee” is directed by Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield. The film marks the fourth release for Disneynature, which is the first new Disney-branded film label from The Walt Disney Studios in more than 60 years. The film opens on April 20, 2012.

To win your free passes to the advance Chicago screening of “Chimpanzee” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, get interactive with our unique Hookup technology directly below. That’s it! This advance screening is on Monday, April 16, 2012 at 7 p.m. in Chicago. The more social actions you complete below, the higher yours odds of winning!

Before entering, make sure you allow pop-ups.
If viewing this on your phone, click “Go to Full Site” at the bottom of the page to enter.
Deadline: Entries can continue being submitted through Saturday, April 14, 2012
at 5 p.m. CST. These Hookup winners will be awarded via e-mail that night.
If necessary: To see your entry count on a repeat visit, submit your name and e-mail again.

Here is the synopsis for “Chimpanzee”:

Disneynature takes moviegoers deep into the forests of Africa with “Chimpanzee”: a new true-life adventure introducing an adorable young chimpanzee named Oscar and his entertaining approach to life in a remarkable story of family bonds and individual triumph. Oscar’s playful curiosity and zest for discovery showcase the intelligence and ingenuity of some of the most extraordinary personalities in the animal kingdom.

Working together, Oscar’s chimpanzee family – including his mom, Isha, and the group’s savvy leader, Freddy – navigates the complex territory of the forest. The world is a playground for little Oscar and his fellow young chimpanzees who’d rather make mayhem than join their parents for an afternoon nap. But when Oscar’s family is confronted by a rival band of chimpanzees, he is left to fend for himself until a surprising ally steps in and changes his life forever.

Directed by Alastair Fothergill (“African Cats” and “Earth”) and Mark Linfield (“Earth”) and narrated by Tim Allen (ABC’s “Last Man Standing”), “Chimpanzee” swings into theaters on April 20, 2012, which is just in time for Earth Day. Disneynature was launched in April 2008 to bring the world’s top nature filmmakers together to capture a variety of wildlife subjects and stories. The first three releases under the Disneynature label – “Earth,” “Oceans” and “African Cats” – are among the top four highest-grossing, feature-length nature films of all time.

Disneynature joined forces with the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) for a special “See ‘Chimpanzee,’ Save Chimpanzees” program. For every moviegoer who sees “Chimpanzee” during the film’s opening week (April 20 to 26, 2012), Disneynature will make a donation to JGI through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund in order to protect chimpanzees and their habitats.

The movie poster for “Chimpanzee,” which is narrated by Tim Allen.
Image credit: Disneynature

The movie trailer for “Chimpanzee” can be watched now below.

This HollywoodChicago.com Hookup is simple! Just get interactive in our unique Hookup technology above. We will award 25 admit-two tickets based on social entry numbers and/or randomly via e-mail for our “Chimpanzee” Hookup. Good luck!

Disclaimer
Winners need to arrive early as seats are consumed on a first-come, first-served basis. Since advance screenings are overbooked to ensure a full house, winners are not guaranteed entrance and must arrive early. We recommend arriving 45 minutes before the screening’s scheduled start time. Winners are typically e-mailed our advance-screening passes two days before the screening date. HollywoodChicago.com LLC is a promotional partner with the studio and its partners and doesn’t assume any liability for this giveaway. Note: Comments are closed in this Hookup.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Publisher
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: Disney Nature’s ‘Oceans,’ ‘The Crimson Wing’

BrianTT — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 12:11:18 -0400

CHICAGO – Nature films used to be much more common in the days before basic cable. Believe it or not young ones, there was a time before the interwebs and Discover Health when you couldn’t see nature at work outside of museums or a trip to the Antarctic. Rebooting the genre has been a remarkably profitable endeavor for Disney Nature as 2009’s “Earth” made $107 million worldwide and 2010’s “Oceans,” recently released on Blu-ray and DVD followed with $68 million.

Blu-Ray Rating: 3.0/5.0

Money aside, are movies like “Oceans,” and “The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos,” which was released on the home market on the same day as its theatrical companion, worth your time? Yes and no. There is something marvelous about seeing footage that looks like CGI-created special effects even though it is purely a product of mother nature and Pierce Brosnan has a soothing narrative voice but one wishes “Oceans” would strive for something a bit greater than the sum its notable parts.

Oceans was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 26th, 2010
Photo credit: Disney

The footage is cool to watch and I understand the need to “dumb it down” for kids to not feel like they’re watching a video in a school classroom but “Oceans” never finds an educational rhythm. Almost all of the footage either falls into the “weird” (strange looking fish), “deadly” (Disney has always loved their circle of life), or “awe-inspiring” categories but the film rarely forms a cohesive whole. There’s a difference between impressive footage and an actual movie and “Oceans” fall too much into the former.

The Crimson Wing was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 26th, 2010
Photo credit: Disney

Having said that, the footage should definitely be seen in HD. “Planet Earth” can be a bit much for some people, especially the youth and family market targeted by Disney Nature, so “Oceans” should be seen as a healthy alternative: The “light” version of the full meal that is “Planet Earth.” And it has moments of jaw-dropping beauty, especially in HD.

There have been so many wonderful nature-based HD releases (most of them from BBC) that it can be difficult to determine on which scale to judge “Oceans.” I would never choose it over “Planet Earth” but perhaps that shouldn’t be the bar of judgment. When one considers all the brain-dead options for children, it seems counter-productive to get down on a Disney Nature offering like “Oceans.”

Disney Nature also chose to release a 2-disc combo back of “The Crimson Wing,” the story of a Lake in Tanzania and the miracle of nature caught on film. A million flamingos arrive at this lake to continue the circle of life and the filmmakers focus on the journey of one new chick. In many ways, “The Crimson Wing” is more accomplished than “Oceans” because it’s more focused (although the latter features more remarkable footage, having a wider canvas with which to work.)

Is the Disney Nature trend here to stay? With more and more technologically impressive ways to both capture and display the power of nature, it makes sense that we’re seeing more and more Blu-ray releases like “Oceans” and “The Crimson Wing.” They may not be the complete experiences one hopes they would be, but as purely visual marvels, they are both something to behold.

“Oceans” Special Features:
o Living Menus — A Fully Interactive Experience
o Filmmaker Annotations
o “Make a Wave” — Disney’s Friends For Change Music Video Featuring Joe Jonas & Demi Lovato
o Disney & Nature: Preserving the World We Share
o “Deeper in the Ocean” — Select Bonus Videos

“The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos” Special Features
o “Lake Natron Diaries: Behind The Crimson Wing”
o Living Planet: Explore the Earth In A Fully Interactive Experience!
o Filmmaker Annotations
o “The Crimson Wing” Screensaver

“Oceans” and “The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos” were released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 19th, 2010.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

2010 Walt Disney Pictures Preview: ‘Toy Story 3,’ ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ ‘Prince of Persia’

BrianTT — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:35:42 -0500

CHICAGO – Walt Disney Pictures has released a slate of images from their 2010 films including “Alice in Wonderland,” “Prince of Persia,” “Toy Story 3,” “The Last Song,” “Tron: Legacy,” “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” “Oceans,” “When in Rome,” and “Step Up 3D”.

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. Specific photographer credits where noted.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com