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Movies & Books

New DVD Releases: Muppets, Bears, and the Winter Soldier

18 August 2014 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

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DisneynatureBearsBluray Three very different movies have just been released (or are about to be) on Disney DVD and they are all must-adds to your home movie library! Check out the bonus features for each title below and decide which format you’re going to bring these fun films into your home.

You can read my review of Disney Nature: Bears but the DVD and Blu-ray, out 8/12, also offer some fun Bonus Materials:

  • Welcome To Alaska – Journey with the filmmakers into the Alaskan wilds to film Sky and her cubs. 
  • The Future For The Bears – Experience the thrill of living with the bears during production, and the importance of protecting the wilderness to ensure their survival…and our own. 
  • A Guide To Living With Bears – Learn how the team interacts safely with these magnificent creatures. 
  • How Did They Film That? – Get an inside look on some of the extreme filmmaking that went into getting shots high in the mountains and under frigid cold water. 
  • “Carry On” Music Video By Olivia Holt

This was a wonderful movie that is a great way to educate your family about our beautiful country and its wildlife.

 

…

 MuppetsMostWantedBlurayCombo

Muppets Most Wanted, released on 8/12,  was not my favorite of the two new Muppet films, but it was full of fun new songs and of course laughs. My favorite new song is the one below:


And here are some Tina Fey bloopers! –

The Bonus Materials for Muppets Most Wanted Blu-ray Combo Pack Unnecessarily Extended Cut Includes:

  • The Statler and Waldorf Cut
  • The Longer Longest Blooper Reel in Muppets History 
  • Rizzo’s Biggest Fan
  • “I’ll Get You What You Want” Music Video Performed by Bret McKenzie

…

CaptainAmericaWinterSoldierBluray Captain America: The Winter Soldier  will be out on DVD and Blu-ray on September 9th. I was given an advance copy of this title as well and am happy to be able to share the bonus features with you:

Bonus Materials Overview for These Products:

Includes:

  • Making-of Featurettes
  • Audio Commentary
  • Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes
  • Bloopers
  • And More…

I loved this movie in the theatres and think it was a great addition to the Marvel Universe story being told in all of the Avengers movies. Pick it up on September 9!

 

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews Tagged With: Captain America, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Disney Blu-ray, Disney dvd, Disney Nature Bears, Muppets Most Wanted

First Look: Into the Woods Trailer and Preview Images

31 July 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Into The Woods I fondly remember when “Into the Woods” came out on Broadway, and though I’ve never seen it, it was always a favorite among my theatre-nerd pals and it does contain one of my very favorite songs, “Children Will Listen”. Now Disney is making it into a full-length feature film and from the looks of the trailer below, it will be epic-ly beautiful. I can’t wait for Christmas to see the whole movie!

Some notes about Into the Woods:

  • “Into the Woods” premiered on Broadway on Nov. 5, 1987, at the Martin Beck Theatre. The production, which ran for 764 performances, won Tony® Awards for best score, best book and best actress in a musical. Among other awards, the musical received five Drama Desk awards, including best musical. “Into the Woods” has been produced around the world, including a 1988 U.S. tour, a 1990 West End production, Broadway and London revivals, in addition to a television production, DVD recording and a 10-year-anniversary concert.
  • The big-screen adaptation welcomes songs from the stage musical, including “Children Will Listen,” “Giants in the Sky,” “On the Steps of the Palace,” “No One Is Alone” and “Agony,” among others.
  • The award-winning production team includes Dion Beebe (“Collateral,” “Chicago,” “Nine”), Oscar® winner for the Marshall-helmed “Memoirs of a Geisha,” as director of photography. Dennis Gassner (“Skyfall,” “Quantum of Solace”), who won his own Oscar for “Bugsy,” serves as production designer, and three-time Oscar winner Colleen Atwood (“Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Chicago,” “Alice In Wonderland”) is costume designer.

Official trailer for Into the Woods:

 

For those unfamiliar, here is the official info about the story:

“Into the Woods” is a modern twist on several of the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales, intertwining the plots of a few choice stories and exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests. This humorous and heartfelt musical follows the classic tales of Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), Jack and the Beanstalk (Daniel Huttlestone), and Rapunzel (MacKenzie Mauzy)—all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife (James Corden & Emily Blunt), their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch (Meryl Streep) who has put a curse on them.

Rob Marshall, the acclaimed filmmaker behind the Academy Award®-winning musical “Chicago” and Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” directs the film, which is based on the Tony®-winning original musical by James Lapine, who also penned the screenplay, and legendary composer Stephen Sondheim, who provides the music and lyrics. Produced by Marshall, John DeLuca, “Wicked” producer Marc Platt and Callum McDougall, “Into the Woods” will be released in theaters Dec. 25, 2014.

Into The Woods
Here are more images from the filming (click to enlarge to a slideshow):

 

Into The Woods
Into The Woods
Into The Woods
Into The Woods
Into The Woods
Into The Woods
Into The Woods
Into The Woods
Into The Woods
Into The Woods
Into The Woods
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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Disney News, Movies & Books, Official Disney, Top Stories Tagged With: Disney movies, Into the Woods, Into the Woods film, Into the Woods images, Into the Woods movie, Into the Woods trailer

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy’s Surprising Fit in the Marvel Universe

31 July 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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guardians of the galaxy I had avoided most of the previews and trailers of Guardians of the Galaxy, other than a short trailer at last year’s D23 Expo out in Anaheim. Basically, what that trailer told me was that it was sci-fi, not your average superhero movie, and there was a raccoon and a tree involved. So walking into the theatre last night, that’s pretty much all I knew, other than it had been getting great buzz online from those who had seen screenings. And rightly so, as I found myself loving it from frame one.

I don’t want to give away too much from the film, as I like to think of the Marvel Universe as a giant puzzle, so when you get these little pieces from the various films or after-the-credits tags, it’s quite satisfying (for me anyway) to be able to say “ohhhh, that’s what that means.” or “that’s who that is!” I am certainly no comic book expert, other than reading Donald Duck, Casper, Richie Rich, and Archie comics on summer vacations in Maine. But Guardians of the Galaxy made me want to read Marvel comics. And I really think that is a testament to the storyline and fun of this movie. It was not so much about any one character like Iron Man and his anxiety issues or Captain America trying to fit in to today’s society, it was more about a group of unlikely friends and heroes who did great things despite their background and issues. And can’t we all relate to that in some way?

The movie was filled with amazing visuals, music and special effects that are everything you want in a summer action film. I really loved the various costumes and color choices throughout the movie. The space flight and fight scenes are enough to keep any Marvel fan happy too. I started out worrying that I wouldn’t be able to keep all of these new characters and their place in the Marvel world straight, but by the end, it all made sense and of course, made me wanting more and I can’t wait to see where the story takes us next. Best of all, at the end of the film, we are promised that “The Guardians of the Galaxy Will Return” which is a win win for everyone!

The special effects were spot on…I never thought “Oh, that’s just computer animation” and it was totally believable that there was a talking raccoon and a walking and sort-of-talking tree on screen. Everything just fit seamlessly and I loved every minute of it.

Parents Guide: Parents should be aware that there are a lot of non G-rated words in this movie, some crass humor and lots and lots of space fighting and real fighting. But nothing too graphic or gory. If your little person enjoys the other Marvel films or Star Wars movies, you should be fine.

guardians of the galaxy

Run, don’t walk to the theatre to see Guardians of the Galaxy, you won’t regret it! It opens today in many theatres and everywhere on August 1.

Like GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY on Facebook: www.facebook.com/guardiansofthegalaxy

Follow GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Guardians

 

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews, Top Stories Tagged With: Groot, Guardians, Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy review, I am Groot, Marvel, marvel movies, marvel universe, movie review, Rocket Raccoon, Star Lord

Disney’s Maleficent Offers a Twist on Sleeping Beauty

30 May 2014 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

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Maleficent Like many others, I was completely on board and excited for Disney’s live-action Maleficent, a new look at the “real story” of the dark fairy who we first meet in the classic Sleeping Beauty tale. I had previously fallen in love with the Wicked book series by Gregory Maguire, and thought the way in which it totally turned our thoughts and ideas of “good” and “evil” upside-down and gave us a whole new anti-hero to love. I had high hopes that Maleficent would do something similar and we would find a new appreciation and understanding of this mistress of evil. Unfortunately this was not exactly the case.

As a way of warning, I will note that while I usually keep my movie reviews spoiler-free or with a huge warning ahead of the spoiler parts, I am going to forego that this time, in favor of informing everyone exactly what to expect. If you’d prefer a spoiler-free review, I will not be offended if you leave now and find your information elsewhere. That said, there be spoilers ahead!

To summarize Maleficent, it is the tale of two lands, one is ruled by kings and men and we can understand it instantly as a generic European kingdom. The other is the Moor, a marshy forest full of magical and fantastical creatures of varying size and ability. Maleficent has sort of made herself the protector of the Moor and all who dwell within, who only want peace and to be undisturbed by humans. But a small boy appears, trying to steal a jewel. In pardoning him, Maleficent and the boy, Stephan, form a friendship that grows over the years until, on Maleficent’s 16th birthday, it blossoms into love in the form of a kiss. After that, Stephan disappears and is left to the kingdom of men and its corruption. What follows then is the familiar story with a few twists thrown in. She saves a raven, by transforming him into a man, who then becomes her servant as he owes her a life debt. It isn’t until after Maleficent’s spell is cast on the baby Aurora that the story begins to change and Maleficent’s hardened and betrayed heart soon grows again as she watches over Aurora. I’ll leave it at that, saying that it may not end the way you are expecting and it will certainly challenge your views of good and evil. And now on to my thoughts on Maleficent…

First, the Pros:

Angelina Jolie. She is a perfect, perfect choice for this role, as if she were born to play it, and I’d be happy if she walked around the rest of her life in her Maleficent attire saying “Well, well” whenever it seems to fit. I think, given the story she had to work with, she brought Maleficent to life in a charming, beguiling way and she truly makes the movie worth seeing, if nothing else.

The Special Effects. They are top notch, and definitely fun to watch…they don’t necessarily always make sense or get explained and sometimes seem to be used just for the sake of “look at this cool creature we can make!” but they should be appreciated nonetheless.

Maleficent’s Redemption. I’m all about redemption and second chances and understanding the misunderstood. I love that Maleficent is redeemed and isn’t labeled a villain and evil by movie’s end. I think the audience will be able to identify with most of her story and feel for her.

The Cons:

Character Development. This saddens me the most about this film, and is what dashed my hopes more than anything else. There was such an amazing chance to retell this story well, giving each character a solid backstory and enough development to be understood and appreciated. That simply didn’t happen. We get brief glimpses of a young Maleficent as well as a young Stephan, but there are still so many questions left unanswered. What happened to Maleficent’s parents? What happened to Stephan’s? Why is Maleficent the only fairy of her kind? What are the other kinds of creatures in the Moor all about? Why is Stephan so easily swayed to betray Maleficent and forget about their childhood experiences?

In addition, I think the use of Diavel as the raven we all know from Sleeping Beauty as Diablo, was almost a crutch to allow Maleficent to do anything she needed to do. If she had infinite magic, she could’ve done anything, but instead she used Diavle almost to the point of him wanting to leave. That said, I almost feel as though his character is the most solid. He has the conscience and keeps Maleficent in check when her anger or irresponsibility goes too far, before she sees the error of her ways.

The Special Effects. I know, I just put them in the “pros” section. But really, there are so many cool effects and creatures created for this film that we just can’t appreciate because we know nothing about them. I was reminded of Oz the Great and Powerful and the random creatures that first appear when Oz lands. I was definitely left with a “what was the point of that?” with many of the effects, both Maleficent’s powers and the creatures we see. I’m not saying taking the time to explain each creature and give it a backstory would’ve been the answer, but perhaps most of them just weren’t even necessary…focus on the characters and let the power of the story carry the film.

The Story. I could lump this together with character development but I think it needs its own section. I loved Maleficent’s story. I even loved Aurora’s story, though she doesn’t have much to do with it herself. But everything else happening around it, just left me disappointed. The three fairies who “care” for Aurora are so unlikable and annoying, I began to cringe every time they came on screen. The same with King Stephan. We don’t know enough about him to warrant his decent into a mad king who will stop at nothing to “protect” his daughter, though when confronted with her toward the end, shows absolutely no fatherly love whatsoever. Everyone but Maleficent was very frustrating to watch, and even then, there are many unanswered questions with her as well.

Maleficent dragon

 

PARENTS GUIDE: In my opinion, this is NOT a young-family-friendly Disney film. It is not bloody or full of gore, but as a mom of a pretty tough 5 year-old, I know I’d be dealing with nightmares from the tree and root creatures alone, not to mention some pretty tough scenes to watch like Maleficent waking up to discover her wings gone and the various fight scenes. It is definitely not a film for younger fans of Sleeping Beauty. I would place it on par with Lord of the Rings-type of action minus the gore. I’d compare it to Harry Potter, but the focus is not on children and their experiences, so I can’t say it would be received the same way to kids as the first few Potter films. Obviously each parent knows their kids the best and can decide with their children what they can handle, but I think some research should be done before blindly going in because it is based on a Disney princess movie.

 

 

 

 

So overall, I was sadly disappointed with Maleficent. I wish it could’ve been done better and been a film which would stand the test of time and offer a new sort of fairy tale and inspire kids and adults alike to look at things from a different point of view. As it stands, I can’t in good conscience recommend the film. Even if I’d read this review myself before seeing the film, I would’ve still seen it because I am a fan of Angelina Jolie and I would’ve wanted to see the story myself, but keep your expectations low if you choose to go to Maleficent this summer.

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews, Top Stories Tagged With: Angelina Jolie, Disney Maleficent, Disney movie reviews, Disney movies, Disney's Maleficent, Maleficent, Maleficent review, Walt Disney Pictures

Disney’s Cinderella Live Action Movie Poster and Teaser

15 May 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Cinderella live action poster This image and teaser was just released today and has already caused quite a buzz. Originally announced at the D23 Expo last summer, the live-action film will give more insight into the backstory of Cinderella’s parents before dipping in to the familiar tale. The official synopsis below:

The story of “Cinderella” follows the fortunes of young Ella (Lily James) whose merchant father remarries following the death of her mother. Eager to support her loving father, Ella welcomes her new stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and her daughters Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drisella (Sophie McShera) into the family home. But, when Ella’s father unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new family. Finally relegated to nothing more than a servant girl covered in ashes, and spitefully renamed Cinderella, Ella could easily begin to lose hope. Yet, despite the cruelty inflicted upon her, Ella is determined to honor her mother’s dying words and to “have courage and be kind.” She will not give in to despair nor despise those who mistreat her. And then there is the dashing stranger she meets in the woods. Unaware that he is really a prince, not merely an apprentice at the Palace, Ella finally feels she has met a kindred soul. It appears her fortunes may be about to change when the Palace sends out an open invitation for all maidens to attend a ball, raising Ella’s hopes of once again encountering the charming Kit (Richard Madden). Alas, her stepmother forbids her to attend and callously rips apart her dress. But, as in all good fairy tales, help is at hand, and a kindly beggar woman (Helena Bonham-Carter) steps forward and – armed with a pumpkin and a few mice – changes Cinderella’s life forever.

 

A live-action feature inspired by the classic fairy tale, “Cinderella” brings to life the timeless images from Disney’s 1950 animated masterpiece as fully-realized characters in a visually dazzling spectacle for a whole new generation.

 

What do you think? “Cinderella” will be released through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on March 13, 2015.

Like CINDERELLA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cinderella

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Disney News, Movies & Books, Top Stories Tagged With: Cinderella, Cinderella live action movie, Cinderella movie, Cinderella movie poster, Cinderella teaser trailer

First Look: Disney Animation’s Next Short – “Feast”

24 April 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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The tradition of opening an animated feature film with a short, adopted from the Pixar films, is continuing with the next full-length animated film – Big Hero 6, opening on November 7, 2014. The newest short will be called “Feast” and comes to us from first-time director Patrick Osborne, who was the head of animation in the now beloved, “Paperman” and Walt Disney Animation Studios. “Feast” tells the story of one man’s love life as seen through the eyes of his best friend, his dog Winston. The story we share is shown to us bite by bite through the meals they share together. “Feast” will make its world premier at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival on June 10, 2014.

Here is the first image from the short, revealed today:

FEAST first look

 

We’ll bring you more images, info and trailers on Feast and Big Hero 6 as they become available!

FEAST title logo

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Filed Under: Disney News, Movies & Books, Top Stories Tagged With: Big Hero 6, Disney animated Shorts, Disney Animation Studios, Disney Feast, Disney short Feast, Disney shorts, Feast, Walt Disney Animation, Walt Disney Animation Studios

Disneynature Bears: A Must-See Visual Treasure

17 April 2014 by Suzannah Otis 3 Comments

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Disney Bears I make it no secret that I am not a fan of animal movies. That’s not to say I don’t love movies with animals or nature in them, rather, I am not a fan of watching the “circle of life” in action. I can barely handle eliminating the errant spider that may enter my abode, much less watch a fierce lion take down a gazelle or a chimpanzee mom abandon her  baby (no clue if that’s a plot line of Chimpanzee, I still never saw it!). My tender heart just can’t take that much pulling on its strings. Call me a softy, call me a dreamer that can’t handle reality, but I kind of just like happy bunnies and rainbows in my animal films. So I managed to avoid each Disneynature film thus far, which I know, sounds like a crime as both a Disney and, well, nature fan. I can assure you, I love nature, I love the outdoors, beautiful scenery, the mysterious beauty that is the animal kingdom and all its inhabitants. I just can’t handle them getting eaten or abandoned. I made it through, I think, 2 episodes of Meerkat Manor before I wanted to fly to wherever that was happening and hug them all. I once saw a special on Japanese Snow Monkeys and their babies that pretty much traumatized me for life. Anyway, you get my drift, I don’t want to see animals in peril.

Cut to Disneynature Bears. For some reason, I really wanted to see it. As I watched the previews, the bears kind of spoke to me, even more than chimps, who we are supposed to be so close to genetically, and cats, who I love as a rule. Bears seemed, somehow, like us. Maybe it’s the eyes, or the eyebrows, or maybe I could relate to the volumes they seemed to speak, without saying a word. Plus, baby bears are pretty darn cute.

In addition, this particular film has a portion of the proceeds going to support our National Parks, a cause with which I feel a great kinship. Even before dating a man who is capital O Obsessed with National Parks, I always had a great love for them. Growing up, I had calendars of some of these beautiful locations. I did not grow up close to any National Parks, and in fact, I’ve only visited one, Acadia, briefly. However, I have always felt connected to nature, instantly rejuvenated by it, and consider it, in a way, my church. How better to get close to God than to be in a place inexplicable and ungoverned by man, where things grow and live and thrive and survive – or don’t – whether we are paying attention or not. So, to put my silly avoidance of the reality of animals lives in the wilderness aside, and to support our National Parks, and in turn, the great work that Disneynature does, it seemed like a simple decision. One which I am very glad I made.

Disney Bears

Bears is a wonderful film, simply put. Taking place along the mountain ranges and coast of the Alaskan peninsula, the beauty of the surroundings is just breathtaking. Add to that the wonderful insider’s view at just what these bears go through over the course of a year, and it’s a powerful combination. We follow a mother bear, Sky, and her two cubs, Amber and Scout. Of course, giving names to the animals in Disneynature films instantly gives you a connection and a bond with them. You aren’t just watching a bear on a screen, you’re watching Sky, as she struggles to figure out motherhood, solely on her own, amid the countless perils which lurk in the Alaskan wilderness.

The story was quite interesting, as I really had no idea of bear’s habits, nor the dangers they faced. To see them emerge from hibernation, trek across frozen, snow-covered mountains, through avalanche areas, just to wait for salmon season, is mind-boggling. When you add two newly-born cubs on that same journey, it’s even more amazing. I won’t give everything away, but I will say that I only cried once. So I consider that a victory as far as me and nature films go.

Disney Bears

I did have a couple of issues with the movie, but more the narration and ‘story’ than anything else. I get that the filmmakers want these films to be accessible to everyone (and in fact, at my screening, there were more than a few small children in attendance). I also get that they want there to be a story and not just random footage of bears. But, I wasn’t a huge fan of the narration trying to turn the bear family into a very human one, with talk of “mother-daughter sushi lunches’ and other silliness like that. That could just be me though. I just thought the story of the bears themselves and certainly their surroundings stood tall on their own, without the need of making it ‘cute’ for us as the audience.

There was an implied story with a raven, which sort of led the bears we were watching to various locations. I’m not sure if this was coincidence, or genuinely how things happened, or contrived by the filmmakers. I actually did enjoy that element, but me wondering if it was ‘real’ or not took away from my appreciation of it. If it was real, though, it’s pretty amazing how animals work together like that. One of my favorite scenes was toward the end, right before the salmon began to spawn. There were at one point 13 bears on the screen, all standing, staring at the water below them. It was visually stunning to see these immense creatures, all seemingly frozen in place, waiting for the culmination of their year-long journey. Quite awe-inspiring to see.

Together, the scenery, the music, and the bears themselves lend to a cinematically beautiful film, which I am very happy to have seen, and recommend. I left knowing more, and wanting to learn more about animals and visit more of our great country.

Bears opens tomorrow, April 18. For every ticket sold in the opening week, Disneynature will make a donation to the National Park Foundation, so please go this week and help keep America’s Greatest Idea well cared for. Here’s more about the movie’s conservation efforts:

 

 

You can share your thoughts on Disneynature Bears on social media with the hashtags  #MeetTheCubs and #DisneynatureBears,  “Like” Disneynature on Facebook: Facebook.com/Disneynature and follow Disneynature on Twitter: Twitter.com/Disneynature.

 

Disclosure: I attended a free media screening of Disneynature Bears but my review and my opinions are my own. Go see it! 🙂 

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews, Top Stories Tagged With: Alaska, America's Greatest Idea, Bears, Bears movie, Disney Bears, Disneynature, Disneynature films, Earth Day, Jane Goodall, john c reilly, Meet The Cubs, National Parks, nature films, The National Park Foundation

From Arrrr to Zarina, The Pirate Fairy Is Packed With Pixie Dust!

31 March 2014 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

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THE PIRATE FAIRY I first heard about The Pirate Fairy at Disney’s D23 Expo back in August, and was treated to an appearance by stars Tom Hiddleston and Christina Hendricks. I really liked the premise, and looked forward to seeing it. So I was very excited to receive this dvd/BluRay to review. It did not let me down, and my family and I loved this film, perhaps best of all the Disney Fairy movies.

The backstory is really interesting, and we learn about a Dust Keeper, Zarina (Christina Hendricks), who is always looking for new ways of using pixie dust and figuring out how to harness its power. Unfortunately, Fairy Gary, the keeper of the dust, does not approve of these experiments, which leads Zarina to try things on her own and that in turn has some disastrous consequences. Zarina is ousted and a year passes. A fairy celebration takes place and we learn that Zarina is now a pirate with sinister intent…

What follows next is a fun, colorful series of events which will leave you singing and cheering. The amount of pixie dust and sparkles and colorful visuals in this movie is almost overwhelming – it’s just so pretty! And cute – we get to see a baby Tic Toc Crock, and of course, cabin boy James (Tom Hiddleston) turns out to be a young Captain Hook. Here are some of my favorite parts of the movie, plus the full trailer:

 


Experimenting – The Pirate Fairy on Disney Video
 


Baby Croc – The Pirate Fairy – Scene on Disney Video
 


Trailer – The Pirate Fairy on Disney Video
 It’s definitely a new favorite around here, with the whole family. During one part of the movie, Zarina mixes up the fairies talents, causing them to have new outfits. As soon as that happened, I thought – they will probably have
dolls with those new outfits
– and they do!
Disney Fairies Doll Set - The Pirate Fairy
Also, they have an irresistible Baby Croc Plush which I am definitely picking up…for my 5 year-old…yeah, that’s it.
Baby Croc Plush - 13''

THE PIRATE FAIRY

They also have a 14″ Zarina Doll which I am totally getting – she’s a redheaded pirate who’s name starts with a Z – I have to! “The Pirate Fairy” sets sail April 1, 2014 – hopefully you’ll enjoy it as much as we did!

*Disclosure: I was provided with a complimentary dvd to review, but my opinions are my own. Product links are affiliate links, taking you to the same websites, but if you make a purchase, a small portion goes back to help with the costs of running zannaland.com. Thank you for your support!

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews, Top Stories Tagged With: Baby Croc, Christina Hendricks, Crocky, disney fairies, Pirate Fairy dolls, Pirate Fairy merchandise, Pirate Fairy review, Plus Baby Croc, The Pirate Fairy, Tink movies, tinker bell, Tom Hiddleston, Zarina

Saving Mr. Banks Comes to Blu Ray and DVD

25 March 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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saving-mr-banks-first-look Saving Mr. Banks has warmed the hearts of most who have seen it in theatres, and now it’s available on Blu Ray and DVD. I had not previously written about Saving Mr. Banks, mostly because I had very mixed feelings about it. Taking away the idea that this was “based on facts” or historically true, it was a beautiful movie. The problems come in when you think Tom Hanks on screen is Walt Disney…and that’s simply not the case.

There are certainly parts of the movie based on ideas or issues encountered during the acquisition and screenwriting process, but many of the things portrayed tend to twist the truth for the story that Saving Mr. Banks wants to tell. If you go into the film thinking it’s just an interesting story, funny in parts, then it is enjoyable.

The music, the Richard Sherman parts, and even most of the flashback scenes, were lovely. Emma Thompson’s acting was very fun to watch, even if what little I know about the real P.L. Travers made it seem completely unbelievable. Paul Giamatti as the limo driver was another fun subplot, completely made up for the film, but well done nonetheless. Thinking about Walt Disney saying “Get on the damn horse, Pam!” makes a Walt Disney fan’s skin crawl…and that’s one of several moments where I just have to think it’s a fictional film about people that sometimes resemble Walt Disney and those who made Mary Poppins come to life on film. And again, it was enjoyable for me, but I don’t look at it as factual or the way things happened. That said, I’m happy to own it on dvd and be able to watch it again because the music alone and funny parts are great. Here are the bonus features you’ll find on the Blu-ray:

·       The Walt Disney Studios: From Poppins to Present (Blu-ray & Digital HD) – Join Director John Lee Hancock on a tour of the Disney Studios lot, reflect on studio life during the making ofMary Poppins, and discover how Walt’s creative spirit still flourishes today.

·       Let’s Go Fly a Kite (Blu-ray & Digital HD) – Cast and crew sing break out in a rousing, heartfelt tribute to Composer Richard Sherman on the last day of filming.

·       Deleted Scenes                                                                                                                  

  • Stargaze (Blu-ray & Digital HD) – A picture on Walt’s desk leads to a flashback of Pamela’s childhood.
  • Nanny Song (Blu-ray, DVD & Digital HD) – The Sherman Brothers perform a song for Pamela that she is less than thrilled with.
  • Pam Leaves (Blu-ray & Digital HD) – After yet another disagreement with Walt, Pamela leaves his office and heads for the airport.

*Digital HD bonus offerings vary by digital retailer

Disclaimer: I was sent a complimentary copy of Saving Mr. Banks for the purposes of review. My opinions are my own. Retail link is an affiliate link, which takes you to Amazon.com but any purchases send a small amount back to Zannaland. Thanks for reading!

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews Tagged With: emma thompson, Heeyahh, Mary Poppins, Saving Mr. Banks, Saving Mr. Banks blu-ray, Saving Mr. Banks dvd, Saving Mr. Banks review, tom hanks

Frozen on Blu Ray and DVD March 18

20 March 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Frozen DVD release There isn’t much to be said about Disney’s latest animated feature, Frozen that hasn’t already been said…except that you need to get it on Blu-Ray and DVD. Oh, wait, that’s probably already been said too! Well, if you are on the fence for some unknown reason, or for some other unknown reason haven’t seen it in theatres yet either, get thee to a retailer of some sort and bring Frozen home!

You can read my previous review of Frozen if you’d like, and check out the bonus features below:

The Making Of Frozen (Blu-ray, Digital)

·       D’frosted: Disney’s Journey From Hans Christian Anderson to Frozen (Blu-ray, Digital)

·       Breaking The Ice – The Real Making Of Frozen (Blu-ray, Digital)

·       4 Deleted Scenes with introduction by Directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee

·       Original Theatrical Short – “Get A Horse” (Blu-ray, Digital & DVD)

·       “Let It Go” Music Videos by Demi Lovato, Martina Stoessel & Marsha Milan Londoh (Blu-ray, Digital & DVD)

·       Frozen Teaser Trailer (Blu-ray, Digital & DVD)

*Digital bonus offerings will vary per retailer
Click below to purchase Frozen right now!


Disclaimer: I was sent a complimentary copy of Frozen for the purposes of review. My opinions are my own. Retail link is an affiliate link, which takes you to Amazon.com but any purchases send a small amount back to Zannaland. Thanks for reading!

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews Tagged With: Disney dvd, Disney Frozen, DVD review, Frozen, Frozen Blu Ray, Frozen DVD

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