Disney

Slideshow: Oscar-Winning Chicago Director Robert Zemeckis For ‘A Christmas Carol’

HollywoodChicago.com — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:51:53 -0600

CHICAGO – This three-image slideshow contains our ribbon-cutting photography for Disney’s “A Christmas Carol” train tour at Chicago’s Union Station with Oscar-winning Chicago director Robert Zemeckis.

Robert Zemeckis has directed “Romancing the Stone,” “Back to the Future,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” “Back to the Future Part II,” “Back to the Future Part III,” “Death Becomes Her,” “Forrest Gump,” “Contact,” “What Lies Beneath,” “Cast Away,” “The Polar Express,” “Beowulf” and “A Christmas Carol”.

“A Christmas Carol” opens everywhere on Nov. 6, 2009. You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos are credited to Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto and HollywoodChicago.com. All rights reserved.

robertzemeckis1: Chicago’s own Academy Award-winning director Robert Zemeckis smiles for the HollywoodChicago.com lens at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Disney’s “A Christmas Carol” train tour at Chicago’s Union Station on July 24, 2009.
robertzemeckis2: Former Walt Disney Studios Chairman Dick Cook strikes a casual pose for the HollywoodChicago.com camera at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Disney’s “A Christmas Carol” train tour at Chicago’s Union Station on July 24, 2009.
robertzemeckis3: Left to right: Amtrak chief marketing officer David Lim, “A Christmas Carol” director Robert Zemeckis and former Walt Disney Studios Chairman Dick Cook cut the ribbon to officialy open Disney’s “A Christmas Carol” train tour to the public at Chicago’s Union Station on July 24, 2009.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief/Publisher
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Continues Disney HD Standard

BrianTT — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:03:54 -0600

CHICAGO – Every Disney catalog Blu-Ray that has been released to date has been a must-own HD title. “Sleeping Beauty” may still be the most complete and beautifully designed Blu-Ray ever and “Pinocchio” is not too far behind. To no one’s surprise, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” doesn’t break the pattern, even if it’s not quite the ‘game-changing’ release that its Disney HD predecessors arguably were.

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

The Blu-Ray/DVD combo release may not be a game-changer but the film itself undeniably was. Any list of the most influential films of all time that doesn’t include “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” is simply incomplete. “Snow White” was the first feature-length animated film ever made and it launched the Disney brand. If it had failed, as most insiders thought it would, there probably would be no Disney. Imagine a world without the films that the Mouse House made after “Snow White”. It’s nearly impossible to do so, although I imagine that world would be a little darker.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released on DVD/Blu-Ray on October 6th, 2009.
Photo credit: Walt Disney Home Video

“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” became not just a hit - it was the most profitable film ever made and hailed as an instant masterpiece by critics - but a phenomenon. The history of the film that realized both the potential of animated storytelling but also fairy tales that could appeal to adults is clearly the focus of the special features on the new Blu-Ray/DVD.

The extras on “Snow White” will be of most interest to Disney and film historians. The great Andrew Stanton (“WALL-E”) introduces the viewer to the world of Hyperion Studios, the real place where “Snow White” was made, and viewers can virtually travel the building, watching mini-featurettes on every element of the production that are mostly built around audio clips of interviews with the team that made the movie. It gets a bit repetitive and most of it is expertly covered in the 17-minute “The One That Started It All,” but this is great archival material for Disney buffs.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released on DVD/Blu-Ray on October 6th, 2009.
Photo credit: Walt Disney Home Video

Of course, most viewers, especially the young ones, will be most interested in the film itself, available in a set that includes both a standard DVD and Blu-Ray version. The HD transfer is, once again, a jaw-dropper. I’m generally a purist when it comes to classic films and think that too many of them have already been over-polished to the point that they look plastic, but, unlike some critics, I don’t see that in the Disney releases. They just look beautiful. The gorgeous colors of “Snow White” have been perfectly remastered, without losing any of the sense that the film was hand-drawn. The line detail is immaculate but not overdone. The audio, mixed in 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio is similarly spectacular.

Back in 2001, Disney knocked it out of the park with the standard DVD catalog release of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” the inaugural release of their Platinum series of DVDs, and most of the material from that acclaimed and beloved edition has made the journey to Blu-Ray (although a surprising amount of footage, including storyboard comparisons, deleted scenes, and even a deleted song have disappointingly not made the trip).

The film itself includes an audio commentary by animator John Canemaker and other bonus material includes a fascinating featurette on newly-discovered storyboards that suggests that Walt was planning a sequel, two deleted scenes, a sneak peek of the upcoming “The Princess and the Frog,” a music video for “Some Day My Prince Will Come,” and some games for the little ones.

“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” changed the way people viewed the entire form of animated entertainment. It’s comforting to this diehard Disney fanatic that so many decades later, the Disney machine is still working to deliver product above the bare minimum. People love “Snow White” and would have bought it in any form with minimal technical specs and special features. But Disney treats fans the way all studios should with amazing picture and fascinating bonus material for all ages. All catalog Disney titles yet released on Blu-Ray have been the kind that prospective buyers should pick up the first day they have a Blu-Ray player hooked up to their TV. Just add “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” to the shopping list.

‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ is released by Walt Disney Home Video. The film was released in a DVD/Blu-Ray combo set on October 6th, 2009. It is rated G.

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

DVD Review: Delightful ‘Bedknobs and Broomsticks’ is Timeless

BrianTT — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:33:43 -0600

CHICAGO – When it was announced that Disney would be releasing a new special edition of “Bedknobs and Broomsticks,” the little kid in me woke up and started pounding on my memory banks. I have such vivid memories of watching the film as a child, mouth agape, eyes wide, and falling in love with the blend of animation and live-action that looked so revolutionary to this future critic’s young mind. Pick up the DVD and inspire a child you know.

DVD Rating: 3.5/5.0

“Bedknobs and Broomsticks” is a film so ingrained in the memory of my childhood that I can’t really approach it critically. It’s difficult to separate the personal meaning the film has for me on rainy Sundays around the VCR with my mother and sister and look at it without bias. But I bet I’m not alone. And if you remember “Bedknobs” with the same fondness, there’s a DVD you need to buy.

Bedknobs and Broomsticks: Enchanted Musical Edition was released on DVD on September 8th, 2009.
Photo credit: Walt Disney Home Video

Sadly, it’s just a DVD and the special features are mediocre at best. I still hold out hope of one day showing my son a Blu-Ray version of “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” complete with spectacular bonus features but that’s probably not going to happen anytime soon and this release certainly isn’t a “bad” one, just not the amazing one a fan might hope for.

The Oscar-winner for special effects, “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” tells the story of Charlie, Carrie, and Paul. The youngsters move to a small village during World War II and discover that their host, Miss Price (Angela Lansbury), is actually an apprentice witch. She may not be very good at it yet, but she does cast a spell on an ordinary bedknob that sends the children off to the animated isle of Naboombu to find a powerful spell that will save England.

With elements of “Mary Poppins” and “Peter Pan,” “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” certainly isn’t the most original Disney film you’ll have in your collection but there’s a joyful spirit to the film, buoyed by the always-great Lansbury, and the blend of animation and live-action is incredibly enjoyable. It’s a heartwarming adventure that the whole family can enjoy.

The main draw of the new DVD is a fully restored and remastered edition of the film, which undeniably looks great in 1.66:1 widescreen and accompanied by a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound track.

Special features include an all-new featurette hosted by Jennifer Stone of “Wizards of Waverly Place” called “The Wizards of Special Effects,” “A Step in the Right Direction” Reconstruction, “Music Magic - The Sherman Brothers,” “David Tomlinson “Portobello Road” Recording Sessions,” and Theatrical Trailers.

‘Bedknobs and Broomsticks: Enchanted Musical Edition’ is released by Disney Home Video and stars Angela Lansbury, David Tomlinson, Roddy McDowall, Sam Jaffe, and John Ericson. It was written by Bill Walsh and Don DaGradi and directed by Robert Stevenson. It was released on September 8th, 2009. It is rated G.

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

Disney Teaming Up With Guillermo del Toro For New Disney Double Dare You Label

BrianTT — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:04:09 -0600

CHICAGO – The Walt Disney Studios is teaming up with acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (“Pan’s Labyrinth,” “The Hobbit”) to launch a new production label called Disney Double Dare You. With the new production company they will create new animated movies that are full of “chills and thrills” for people of all ages, announced at D23 Expo last week by Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios.

Guillermo Del Toro.
Photo credit: New Line

Del Toro who originated the concept of the new production company will produce the movies. “Trollhunters,” which is an original story from del Toro is the first film in development.

Cook had this to say about the announcement, “Guillermo is a brilliant and visionary filmmaker, and we’re excited to be launching this new label with him. His knowledge and appreciation for Disney films, along with his penchant for creating worlds of fantasy, presented a great opportunity for us to explore a whole new genre of filmmaking for moviegoers of all ages. We have admired Guillermo’s imaginative approach to filmmaking for some time, and now we’re proud to be working with him to create films full of imaginative delights and lots of thrills at the same time.”

Del Toro went on to add that, “As a director, I love to take audiences into fantastic new worlds and provide them with some anxious moments in the process. It is part of the Disney canon to create thrilling, unforgettable moments and villains in all their classic films. It is my privilege for DDY to continue in this tradition. To partner up with The Walt Disney Studios, with the support of Dick Cook and John Lasseter, is to belong to a storytelling partnership that I admire deeply. It is a true honor. I look forward to coming up with fresh and original stories that will take Disney films in a whole new direction. The emphasis is on fun, and we have some great ideas already on the storyboards.”

In 2007, Del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth” received six Academy Award nominations, including one for original screenplay. The film went on to win three awards. “Labyrinth” also went on to win a BAFTA Award for Best Film not in the English language. Del Toro is currently directing back-to-back film adaptations of the Tolkien cult classic, “The Hobbit,” which is set for a 2011 and 2012 release.

By ANGIE RENTMEESTER
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: Disney’s ‘Earth’ Highlights Beauty of Mother Nature

BrianTT — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:54:52 -0600

CHICAGO – Writing about Disney’s nature documentary “Earth,” now available on Blu-Ray and DVD, is complicated because the movie itself contains undeniably beautiful imagery but, for a lot of people, it’s footage that they’ve seen before and the film never really registers as a complete experience. It’s a slice of nature mostly meant for children and, if you keep that in mind, it’s sometimes effective.

Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0

For years, the words Disney and nature were closely associated. The house that Walt built won several Oscars for films that captured animals and their habitats in glorious detail. Keep in mind, that there was a time before the Discovery Channel when people could only see footage of the glory of our natural planet in theaters.

The legacy of Disney’s documentary branch is being rebooted by the newly restarted Disneynature company. Their first entry is the appropriately-titled “Earth,” a collection of footage of animals in their natural habitats narrated by James Earl Jones and loosely connected into a story about the seasons and heartwarming information about how animal parents take care of their young.

Earth was released on DVD and Blu-Ray on September 1st, 2009.
Photo credit: Walt Disney Home Video

There is undeniably beautiful, mesmerizing footage in “Earth” but anyone who has seen the incredibly popular “Planet Earth” has seen it before. Sometimes billed as a “companion piece” to “Planet Earth,” it’s hard to deny that Disneynature is pretty much just offering an edited version of the more complete experience. If you’ve seen “Planet Earth,” it’s hard to recommend “Earth”.

And if you haven’t seen “Planet Earth,” you really, really should. Both titles serve as evidence in the case that mother nature is still the best special effects house out there. Gorgeous waterfalls, stunningly large flocks of birds, and gigantic icebergs - the imagery is spectacular and tailor-made for HD.

If you can’t commit to the much-longer “Planet Earth” or have children that you’d like to introduce to the circle of life and the food chain of the natural world, then “Earth” is the right choice. Presented in 1080p High Definition with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio, “Earth” looks stunning. Most of the imagery in “Earth” is breathtaking enough to see it again even if you saw it already in “Planet Earth”.

“Earth” is presented in one package containing the Blu-Ray and DVD version. The technical quality of the Blu-Ray release is nearly flawless. Special features include a picture-in-picture functionality that allows for information about the making of the movie and trivia to play without interrupting the film itself.

“Earth” is like hearing a few of the best songs from a more complete box set. The full experience is more rewarding but the songs can’t be criticized.

‘Earth’ is released by Walt Disney Home Video and features narration by James Earl Jones. It was directed by Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield. The Blu-Ray and DVD were released on September 1st, 2009. It is rated G.

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

Blu-Ray Review: ‘Race to Witch Mountain’ With Dwayne Johnson a Waste of Energy

BrianTT — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:04:45 -0600

CHICAGO – “Race to Witch Mountain,” now on Blu-Ray and DVD, is a head-scratcher, a movie with more than enough individual elements that should work but proof that a film is not just the sum of its parts. Dwayne Johnson is charismatic, AnnaSophia Robb is one of the better young actresses working today, Carla Gugino is always good, and the source material is beloved, but “Race to Witch Mountain” is a mess that never connects with its target audience or their parents.

Blu-Ray Rating: 2.0/5.0

The plot of “Race to Witch Mountain” is simple. A pair of aliens who look like teenagers (AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig) crash land near Las Vegas. While they’re being chased by an alien bounty hunter and a group of human men in black (including Ciaran Hinds, Chris Marquette, and Tom Everett Scott), they stumble into the life of a cab driver (Johnson) and a scientist (Gugino), the only two people who can help them save planet Earth from destruction.

Race to Witch Mountain was released on Blu-Ray on August 4th, 2009.
Photo credit: Buena Vista Home Video

The big problem with “Witch Mountain” is a breakneck pace that doesn’t allow the audience to latch on to anything worth caring about. Johnson is reduced to nothing more than a series of shocked expressions and scenes of running. Robb, so great in “Bridge to Terabithia,” is allowed to show none of her range, merely explaining the plot whenever she has time to catch her breath. And even the lovely Gugino is purely a plot device.

Race to Witch Mountain was released on Blu-Ray on August 4th, 2009.
Photo credit: Buena Vista Home Video

Director Andy Fickman (who also worked with the actor formerly known as The Rock on “The Game Plan”) takes the first word of his title way too seriously, forgetting that a movie needs ups AND downs to really work. Watching characters we don’t care about run from point A to point B gets numbingly dull, even for kids.

Disney is wisely releasing all family films in gorgeous 3-disc packs that include a Blu-Ray copy, standard DVD copy, and digital copy of the movie. Kids like to watch movies anywhere from the family room to their bedroom to the car to their iPod and this new “all options” delivery system is really the way to go.

Both the standard DVD and Blu-Ray release of “Race to Witch Mountain” include deleted scenes, bloopers, and promotional bits for Blu-Ray (with Dylan & Cole Sprause) and digital copy. The Blu-Ray combo pack includes “Which Mountain?,” a bit in which Fickman reveals the film’s hidden reference to the original movies, “Escape to Witch Mountain” and “Return From Witch Mountain”. The Blu-Ray version is also D-Box enabled.

All versions feature a surprising lack of behind-the-scenes material and no commentary track, adding to the feeling that “Witch Mountain” is a bit of a disappointment all-around, as a film and a home release.

‘Race to Witch Mountain’ is released by Buena Vista Home Video and stars Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Carla Gugino, Ciaran Hinds, Tom Everett Scott, and Chris Marquette. It was written by Matt Lopez and Mark Bomback and directed by Andy Fickman. The Blu-Ray and DVD were released on August 4th, 2009. It is rated PG.

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

Moving on ‘Up’: Disney, Pixar Score Another Masterpiece in 3-D

Ebeth — Fri, 29 May 2009 00:08:52 -0600

CHICAGO – There is an art to music. There is an art to writing a story and an art to telling that story. There is art in a great drawing, a great painting and a great photograph. There is an art to communication. And it may only be a matter of time before museums expand to include a whole new category of modern art: the animated film from Disney and Pixar.

Rating: 4.5/5.0

For what the studio duo accomplished in 2008 with its “WALL-E,” which is known for its groundbreaking achievements in many of the above-listed categories, their newest film, “Up,” has also managed to ace much of the same. Though two very different films both strong for different reasons, the two establish the Disney and Pixar revolution of the animated genre.

A symphonic balance of captivating silence and clever dialogue, belly-laugh humor and tear-in-the-eye despair, fast-paced action scenes and scenes slowed for their precious detail, “Up” orchestrates the talents of the directors (Pete Docter, who wrote “WALL-E,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “Toy Story 2” and “Toy Story,” and Bob Peterson, who wrote “Up,” “Ratatouille” and “Finding Nemo”), the artists (Scott Clark, Dave Mullins, Shawn Krause, Mike Venturini, Thomas Jordan and a team of nearly 70 animators) and the composer (Michael Giacchino) into one truly unforgettable piece.

Read Elizabeth Oppriecht’s full review of “Up” in our reviews section.

The result: a simple smile as one strides from the theatre knowing this is life, there are versions of our dreams we can’t imagine and even the most unfortunate or insignificant interactions can lead to great things.

“Up” tells the story of Carl Fredricksen (voice of Ed Asner): a 78-year-old retired balloon salesman who – after the loss of his wife – is left agitated by the world around him and regretful of desires unfulfilled. An unfortunate altercation pushes Carl to escape society and finally chase after the couple’s lifelong dream.

Carl quickly realizes he’s not alone in this adventure as 8-year-old wilderness explorer Russell (voice of Jordan Nagai) has secretly stowed away for the ride.

“Up,” which comes from director Pete Docter and co-director and writer Bob Peterson, features the voices of Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson, Delroy Lindo, Jerome Ranft, John Ratzenberger, David Kaye and Elie Docter. The film opened everywhere on May 29, 2009. “Up” is rated “PG” for some peril and action.

Read Elizabeth Oppriecht’s full review of “Up” in our reviews section.

Carl Fredricksen in “Up” is voiced by Edward Asner.
Image credit: Disney, Pixar

Read Elizabeth Oppriecht’s full review of “Up” in our reviews section.

DVD Round Up, Mar. 23, 2009: ‘Lilo & Stitch,’ ‘The Odd Couple,’ ‘To Catch a Thief’

BrianTT — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:02:59 -0600

CHICAGO – A Disney movie and two all-time classics being inducted in Paramount’s “Centennial Collection” make up this week’s version of the “DVD Round-Up,” your safety net for titles that may have slipped by your home entertainment radar.

The Round-Up, HollywoodChicago.com’s famous recurring column about lesser Blu-Ray and DVD titles that may have slipped through your fingers at the store recently, brings you three catalog titles being reissued for DVD in new two-disc editions.

“Lilo & Stitch: 2-Disc Big Wave Edition,” “The Centennial Collection: The Odd Couple,” and “The Centennial Collection: To Catch a Thief” will all be released on March 24th, 2009.

“Lilo & Stitch: 2-Disc Big Wave Edition”

Photo credit: Disney

Piggy-backing on the more awesome and high-profile Blu-Ray release for “Bolt,” Disney is giving fans a chance to catch up on one of their bigger titles from the early part of the decade, 2002’s “Lilo & Stitch,” now available in a two-disc DVD version called the “Big Wave Edition”.

“Lilo & Stitch” features voice work by Daveigh Chase, Chris Sanders, Tia Carrere, David Ogden Stiers, Kevin McDonald, Ving Rhames, and Jason Scott Lee. It was written and directed by Chris Sanders & Dean Deblois. The film is rated PG.

“Get ready for the wildly original story about an independent little girl named Lilo and her adopted alien “puppy,” the mischievous Stitch, a runaway genetic experiment from a faraway planet. After crash-landing on Earth, Stitch wreaks havoc on the Hawaiian Islands, but he also learns about loyalty, friendship and ‘ohana, the Hawaiian tradition of family.”

“Lilo & Stitch: 2-Disc Big Wave Edition” is presented in 1.66:1 widescreen with a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound track. Special features include deleted scenes, “Your ‘Ohana” music video featuring The Hawaiian Chorus, “The Story Room: An Interactive Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Making of the Film,” Lilo & Stitch Island Adventure Games, “A Stitch in Time: Follow Stitch Through the Disney Years,” “I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You” music video performed by A-Teen, “DisneyPedia: Hawaii - The Islands of Aloha: Explore the Hawaiian Islands,” and much, much more.

“The Centennial Collection: The Odd Couple”

Photo credit: Paramount

Neil Simon & Gene Saks’ “The Odd Couple” is one of my favorite comedies of all time and there’s no better version that the new Centennial Collection release for this classic. The two-disc Centennial Collection releases are becoming one of the more notable series of classic movies on the market. The first five movies in the series were “Roman Holiday,” “Sabrina,” and “Sunset Boulevard” from last November and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “Funny Face” in January.

“The Odd Couple” stars Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon. It was written by Neil Simon and directed by Gene Saks. The film is rated G.

“Bogart & Bacall…Tracy & Hepburn…but Lemmon & Matthau?? There’s nothing really odd about it - the pairing of Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau is a perfect fit in this enduring and endearing comedy romp from writer Neil Simon. The premise - two divorced men decide to share a New York apartment - is simple. The result is fall-on-the-floor hilarity. Lemmon plays the fussy and fastidious Felix Ungar, who proves that cleanliness is next to insanity. Matthau is Oscar Madison, slovenly and sloppy, who can wreak havoc on a tidy room with the speed and thoroughness of a tornado. Sure, they can live together…but can they live together without killing each other?”

“The Odd Couple” is presented in a widescreen version enhanced for 16x9 TVs and accompanied by a Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround Sound track. Special features include a commentary by Charlie Matthau and Chris Lemmon, “In the Beginning…,” “Matthau & Lemmon,” “Memories From the Set,” “Inside The Odd Couple,” “The Odd Couple: A Classic,” two galleries, and the theatrical trailer.

“The Centennial Collection: To Catch a Thief”

Photo credit: Paramount

Two of the first names that come to mind when I hear the words “classic movie icons” are Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. Their “To Catch a Thief” may not get the buzz as some other Alfred Hitchcock films, but it has really stood the test of time. If you caught “Duplicity” in theaters, check out “To Catch a Thief,” a clear inspiration for Tony Gilroy’s romantic thriller.

“To Catch a Thief” stars Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Jessie Royce Landis, and John Williams. It was written by John Michael Hayes and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The film is not rated.

“The French Riviera…two luminous stars…and the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, behind the camera. They all add up to one romantic, dazzling screen thriller in the Paramount Centennial Collection. Grant plays John Robie, a retired jewel thief once known as “The Cat,” who catches the eye of Frances Stevens (Kelly), a pampered, vacationing heiress. But when a rash of gem thefts occurs amongst the luxury hotels of the spectacular French playground, it appears that “The Cat” is on the prowl once again. Is Robie truly reformed? Or is he deviously using Frances to gain access to the tempting collection of fabulous jewelry belonging to her mother? Romantic sparks fly as the suspense builds in this glittering Hitchcock classic that nabbed an Oscar for Best Cinematography.”

“To Catch a Thief” is presented in a widescreen version enhanced for 16x9 TVs and accompanied by a Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Sound track. Special features include a commentary by Dr. Drew Casper (Hitchcock Film Historian), “A Night with the Hitchcocks,” “Unacceptable Under the Code: Film Censorship in America,” “Writing and Casting To Catch a Thief,” “The Making of To Catch a Thief,” “Behind the Gates: Cary Grant and Grace Kelly,” “Alfred Hitchcock and To Catch a Thief: An Appreciation,” “Edith Head: The Paramount Years,” “If You Love To Catch a Thief, You’ll Love This Interactive Travelogue,” the original theatrical trailer, and galleries.

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

Blu-Ray Review: Disney Delivers Another Great Release For Super-Cute ‘Bolt’ With Miley Cyrus

BrianTT — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:33:49 -0600

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.5/5.0

CHICAGO – The first word I think of when I read or hear about Disney’s “Bolt” is cute. The movie is just cute, cute, cute. If your threshold for adorable cartoon characters and heartwarming messages is low, stay away, but if you’re looking for a bright smile to break the darkness of daily life, you could do a lot worse than this clever canine, now the subject of yet another nearly-perfect Disney Blu-Ray release.

The Blu-Ray release of the year is still Disney’s “Pinocchio,” but the mouse house makes a strong bid for runner-up position with the gorgeous video transfer for “Bolt” and an entertaining and informative collection of special features.

Bolt will be released on Blu-Ray on March 22nd, 2009.
Photo credit: Walt Disney Home Entertainment

“Bolt” is a bizarre hybrid of “The Incredibles,” “The Adventures of Milo and Otis,” and “The Truman Show” but it really, truly works. This is not game-changing cinema like “WALL-E” or “Waltz With Bashir,” but it’s not trying to be either. It’s just trying to be cute, clever, and fun. “Bolt” is all three.

The title character (John Travolta) is the star of a hit network series about a super dog. On the show, Bolt always saves his faithful owner Penny (Miley Cyrus) from the clutches of the evil Dr. Calico (Malcolm McDowell) with his super speed and powerful bark.

Bolt will be released on Blu-Ray on March 22nd, 2009.
Photo credit: Walt Disney Home Entertainment

Bolt doesn’t know it’s just a show or that his super bark is just an effect. He thinks he’s a real superhero and that Penny will fall into the clutches of evil without him. When the producers make the mistake of having an episode end with a cliffhanger, Bolt escapes his confines to come to the rescue.

Our canine crusader ends up all the way across the country in New York City where he crosses paths with Mittens (Susie Essman) and the two begin a cross-country road trip back to L.A. Bolt slowly comes to terms with the fact that he’s an ordinary dog. The montage where Mittens teaches Bolt about the wonders of just being a pooch is spectacular.

“Bolt” is yet-another “be who you are” and “everyone’s a hero” tale but it’s much smarter than most of its animated brethren. Pixar’s John Lasseter executive produced and you can feel his subtle, clever fingerprints all over “Bolt”.

“Bolt” could have been a bit more unpredictable and could have relied less on modern slang, but it’s a simple, enjoyable ride that works more often than it falters and is likely to put a smile on the face of viewers of any age. It’s just damn cute.

And it’s downright breathtaking in 1080P. I marveled at Bolt’s hair design in theaters and the detail is even more noticable in HD Blu-Ray. The depth, color levels, and line detail is amazing. This is one of the best-looking animated movies yet to hit Blu-Ray. It’s a beauty. There’s an HD TV store using it to sell a four-figure product right now.

Bolt will be released on Blu-Ray on March 22nd, 2009.
Photo credit: Walt Disney Home Entertainment

The audio is just as remarkable. Audio is bigger part of “Bolt” than your average animated fare because of the action-movie plotline. The opening scenes of the show-within-in-a-movie sound as good as any action Blu-Ray I’ve watched lately with perfectly mixed score, effects, and dialogue.

Before we get to the details on the special features, “Bolt” continues Disney’s brilliant plan to allow fans to watch their films whenever and wherever by putting a Blu-Ray, standard DVD, and digital copy in one set. Kids don’t just watch movies in one room and Disney continues to play to this fact with some of the smartest releases on the market.

Special features in the order they’re presented on the disc:

Bonus Short: “Super Rhino” (4:27)

A new short film with everyone’s favorite supporting hamster that can only be found on the Blu-Ray release of “Bolt”. Featuring the voice talent from the film, “Super Rhino” involves the comic relief from “Bolt” being turned into a superhero himself (or at least dreaming about it). It looks (but doesn’t quite sound) as amazing as the movie itself and features the same clever wit and smile-inducing action. Fun stuff. Kids who loved Rhino in the movie will adore it.

Deleted Scenes With Introductions by the Directors (6:37)

Just two moments in “story reel” form (hand-drawn animation like storyboards). In the first, Bolt gets into a fight in an alley in Las Vegas and learns that he’s not a superhero earlier than he does in the final film. As they say, it didn’t work structurally. They’re right. The second is another version of the moment when Bolt realizes that he doesn’t have superpowers.

“In Session: With John Travolta and Miley Cyrus” (0:59)

Less than a minute of footage with Miley and John singing “I Thought I Lost You” in the recording studio. For hardcore Miley fans only. Seriously.

Bolt will be released on Blu-Ray on March 22nd, 2009.
Photo credit: Walt Disney Home Entertainment

“I Thought I Lost You” Music Video (1:47)

The former should have just been an introduction to this video which includes a lot of the same footage with clips from the movie. It would still be for hardcore Miley Cyrus fans only. I’m not kidding. The sugar shock could be deadly if you’re not prepared for it.

“Bolt’s Be-Awesome Mission”

Help Bolt defeat the green-eyed man in a Blu-Ray game.

“A New Breed of Directors: The Filmmakers’ Journey” (4:34)

The rookie filmmakers - Chris Williams and Byron Howard - discuss their process and history.

“Act, Speak! The Voices of Bolt” (9:48)

John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman, and more offer insight into the voice work process with a lot of behind-the-scenes footage. It’s actually a good featurette that could introduce young fans into the challenge of vocal work on animation because of the star power of Miley Cyrus.

“Creating the World of Bolt” (6:45)

The directors and their team discuss the backgrounds and art direction for the film, which is actually quite good. They gave the film a warm, comfortable look that’s harder to pull off and more effective in the final product than you might think.

“Bolt Art Galleries”

Design material and storyboards from the film.

The lack of a commentary and generally too-brief running time of the featurettes hold “Bolt” back from the pantheon of Disney Blu-Ray releases like “Pinocchio” or “Sleeping Beauty,” but the film itself and the gorgeous transfer make this a good title to include in your collection not just rent.

‘Bolt’ is released by Walt Disney Home Entertainment and features vocal work by John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, and Susie Essman. It was written by Dan Fogelman and Chris Williams and directed by Byron Howard and Williams. It will be released on March 22nd, 2009. It is rated PG.

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

Blu-Ray Review: ‘High School Musical 3: Senior Year’ Shines on 3-Disc Deluxe Extended Edition

BrianTT — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:46:43 -0700

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” certainly won’t stand among the best song-n-dance films of all time, but it delivers a jolt of escapist entertainment to its target audience and the expertly remastered, three-disc Disney Blu-Ray release should be a smash hit for everyone eager to buy it.

After shattering records with the Disney Channel broadcasts of “High School Musical” and “High School Musical 2,” the house that Walt built realized the logic of releasing the third film in the franchise in theaters and “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” brought the phenomenon to the big screen to the tune of $250 million in receipts worldwide. “HSM 3” is one of the top ten grossing musicals of all time, above “Moulin Rouge!,” “Annie,” and “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”.

(L to R) Vanessa Hudgens, Zac Efron
Photo credit: Fred Hayes/Disney.

There are two ways to look at the “High School Musical” franchise. At first, the fact that all of the characters in “HSM 3,” from the leads to the chorus players, are the kind of genetically gifted people that would win Homecoming King and Queen at nearly any high school in America got on my nerves.

In the world of “High School Musical,” no one has acne, bad teeth, weight issues, or the desire to swear and everyone is so clean, well-dressed, perfect-looking people who can sing, dance, and make their eyes twinkle. This is the actual high school experience of absolutely no one on Earth. If you can’t get past that, the perfect people of East High will drive you nuts.

Photo credit: Disney

Having said that, I did get past the perfection pretty quickly. This is a fantasy world like any other Disney movie. The fact that even the dorkiest kid at East High would win a beauty contest fits into both the musical and Disney mold perfectly.

The cynical teen in me finds it funny that tweens who idolize “HSM” are going to realize just how fake the movies are when they hit the harsh reality of high school, but the musical lover in me knows that there would be no other successful way to make these flicks. No one wants to see real teenagers singing and dancing. That would be terrifying.

The film follows a relatively archetypal series of teenagers led by the gifted Troy (Zac Efron) and the gorgeous Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens). Troy is the basketball star at East High in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but he can also sing and dance enough that Juilliard is interested in him after graduation. He’s torn by a father and friend Chad (Corbin Bleu) who want him to play ball at the University of Albuquerque and the fact that his girlfriend Gabriella will be at Stanford, thousands of miles away.

Meanwhile, the egotistical Sharpay Evans (Ashley Tisdale) is in competition with a few classmates for the Juilliard scholarship, including Ryan (Lucas Grabeel) and Troy. The gang comes together for one final musical show, detailing their lives at East High and the decisions that face them on their way out into the real world.

The cast of “High School Musical 3” is almost overwhelmingly charming and charismatic. In particular, Efron and Tisdale can carry a tune and hold a screen as well anyone from recent genre offerings. And Kenny Ortega directs the film better than I expected. It feels like a big-screen production instead of just a blown-up TV movie. “High School Musical 3” is energetic, well-choreographed, and confident.

What holds “High School Musical 3” back is the songwriting. Are kids really humming these tunes on the way out of the theater? I doubt it. Almost all of them are the kind of generic pop junk that wouldn’t be a hit on the radio if beautiful people like Efron and Hudgens weren’t singing them in a Disney movie.

Corbin Bleu (center), principal dancers
Photo credit: Fred Hayes/Disney.

Someone get the kids who think these are great musical tunes a copy of “Grease” or “Singin’ in the Rain”. Heck, get them “Little Shop of Horrors” for that matter. The final number is impressively toe-tapping, but the rest are surprisingly forgettable. Even after a reprise.

But it’s a minor complaint about a musical that if I found satisfying, the target audience is going to be overwhelmingly happy about having on Blu-Ray.

It’s not just the kids of East High that look perfect. Disney has done an amazing job with the three-disc Blu-Ray release of “High School Musical 3”. The set includes a Blu-Ray copy, DVD copy, and digital copy, making sure the “HSM” fan can enjoy the film anywhere. Why more studios aren’t following this lead - providing multiple formats in one set - is beyond me. It’s brilliant.

The video and audio on “High School Musical 3,” presented in 1080p with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track are nearly perfect. The picture is vibrant and deep, helping the impression that “Senior Year” is a lot more than just another TV movie. The sound isn’t quite as good. I wasn’t blown away. But when I did focus on it, I noticed no problems. The music and lyrics are well-mixed, which is the most important part of audio for a musical.

The special features for “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” are a model of what to do with a release like this one - not too much to overwhelm with useless clips but not too little to leave fans wanting more. “HSM 3” comes with 8 minutes of deleted scenes, the ability to sing-along with subtitled lyrics to the songs, bloopers, behind-the-scenes information, and interesting featurettes. The only thing missing is a commentary, but I’m not sure “HSM 3” fans would really want that anyway.

For most people over the age of twenty, “High School Musical 3” would be more accurately placed in the horror genre than the musical one, but there’s something undeniable about this release - it completely satisfies its target audience. Put your hatred for musicals and Disney movies aside for one second non-believers and ask yourself how many releases you can say that about in a season?

Note: The first “High School Musical” has also been released on Blu-Ray this week in a “Remix” edition with new picture, sound, and special features. “High School Musical 2” came out on the format last year. Now, you can have the entire holy tween trilogy in HD.

Check out behind the scenes clips of “High School Musical 3”.

‘High School Musical 3’ is released by Walt Disney Home Video and stars Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, and Monique Coleman. It was written by Peter Barsocchini and directed by Kenny Ortega. It was released on February 17th, 2009. It is rated G.

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