Movie Reviews

Guest Post: Kingdom of Courage

12 October 2011 by Ryan P. Wilson Leave a Comment

On Earth Day in 2010, after seeing the trailer for Disneynature: African Cats

for the first time, I tweeted out something to the effect that followers should be marking their calendars as the return of True-Life Adventures would begin on 22 April 2011. Today, having viewed the movie in theaters and now in my home, I stand by that unsubstantiated assertion that I felt down in my gut.It isn’t that the creatures featured have been given names to make them more relatable, you find the true depth to the film in its natural narrative of life. The joys of children, the heartache of loss, the thrills of success, and the agony of defeat at the hands of a rival are all present within African Cats, and they are captured without the meddling hands of man. This can cause many stomach churning dilemmas, such as when a cub is lost and the immediate thought is to swoop in and keep a toddling cheetah cub to its safe when hyenas are on the prowl or when one of our heroines is continually injured and seeks a quiet place in the field to move on peacefully when all you want is for someone to give the graceful creature the medical attention she so desperately needs. In a reserve, the rules is no interference, if simply for the fact that once you begin intruding how do you decide where to stop, what is the line you won’t cross.

The entire feature was shot in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, which borders the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. One of the best preserved savanna systems in the world, Masai Mara provided stunning backdrops and gorgeous vistas which are dropped in throughout the movie. Even with an abundance of animal life and fantastic scenery, it took the filmmakers two years and hundreds of hours of filming to craft the story of African Cats.

A little humor here, there were two scenes in the movie that, whether intentional or not, reminded me of counterparts in Walt Disney World. First, the ever-present Thomson’s Gazelles immediately made me shout out, “Tommies!” Secondly, a scene where the lions have hunted a zebra and are standing around the carcass was eerily reminiscent of the Jungle Cruise scene where the pack of lions take care to watch over the sleeping zebra.The bonus features of African Cats are, in a word, lackluster and, if given a second and third word, too brief. One focuses on the Save the Savanna initiative tied to the film’s theatrical and home theater releases. A second gives an introduction to the ties between Disney and the wild corners of the world. Lastly, there is the requisite music video, Jordan Sparks’ “The World I Knew” in this instance.

The true hidden gem of the film’s extras, however, comes in the form of the commentary viewing option. This presentation included pop-up informational tidbits, picture-in-picture interviews with the filmmakers, and breakaway featurettes which could be viewed or passed on by the viewer. These breakout videos include a wealth of information on the Masai Mara, slow motion filmmaking, aerial filming, cinematographers, elephants, flimmakers’ camp, vehicles, rain, filming with Cineflex camera, field assistants and tracking the animals, life in the field, and the musical score.

African Cats originally came with the subtitle, Kingdom of Courage, a title befitting the experience of the filmmakers capturing these tales on film and the cats struggling to raise their precious families. The ability to see and explore these wild arenas, where animal families interact in ways that are similar and strikingly different to our own family groups, is remarkable. African Cats will stun you with its beauty and stories that hit remarkably close to home. The filmmakers have done their job well, you will feel for the cheetahs and lions and, if we’re very lucky, this new True-Life Adventure is only just the tip of the iceberg that will renew our, and our children’s, interest in preserve the wild places left in the world.

It’s the Circle of Life. And it Moves Us All. Lion King Review and Giveaway

3 October 2011 by Suzannah Otis 20 Comments

I think part of what makes Disney animated films so memorable is how they reach in to the core of life’s lessons and messages and give back, through songs, laughter and amazing visuals. The Lion King is no exception to this rule. I remember when it first came out back in 1994, I was finishing up college and I bought the soundtrack on cassette and listened to it in my car, in between Liz Phair and Julianna Hatfield. The songs were so moving and catchy that I had no embarrassment rolling up to class with “Hakuna Matata” blasting in my speakers. Trust me, I was cool^*.
^*not in any way 😉

Being a huge Howard Ashman/Alan Menken fan, I was one of those skeptical about this new collaboration between Tim Rice and Elton John. Just one listen to the soundtrack made me a believer, however. The “Circle of Life” is poetry and truth in song:

From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There’s more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
There’s far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round

It’s the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life

It’s hard to imagine the task of putting the very definition of life on the planet into song, but there it is. Add to that the beautiful landscapes, skies and animal interactions unfolding before us, and you have a recipe for yet another tear-inducing scene in a Disney film.

While my family had The Lion King on vhs, it had been quite some time, with my oldest cubs at 11 and 12 and nary a VCR in the house. When Disney sent me the new Diamond Edition Blu-ray+DVD combo pack, I was excited to share it with my littlest guy, almost 3. My oldest children and I had just seen The Lion King in 3-D and I was blown away by the animation yet again, and it was as if my kids were seeing it for the first time. I loved hearing them say “Oh yeah, I remember this song!” and of course, checking to see if I was crying at certain parts of the movie. (I did.)

Even I had forgotten the hysterical jokes and one-liners in this film. The Lion King is a classic which could have been released today just as well as nearly 20 years ago.”What’s a motto?” “Nothing, whats a motto with you?” never fails to make me giggle. The life-lessons of not running away from your past or your problems and rising to both a challenge and doing what’s right are still powerful today. The themes of the loss of a loved one may go over the heads of some little fans, but older kids and adults can see how those who have passed are always with us, no matter how far away they may seem.

The DVD bonus feature is a fun behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the film, hosted by Don Hahn, producer of The Lion King, many other Disney animation productions and the DisneyNature films, including the upcoming Chimpanzee, due out in 2012. The Blu-ray bonus features offer a look at deleted scenes, and songs, as well as “bloopers,” a gallery, sing-a-long and more. Check out this trailer below:

The Lion King Diamond Edition hits the savanna tomorrow- 10/4 and one lucky winner could win a Blu-ray+DVD Combo Pack here on Zannaland. Just enter below by commenting with your favorite memory of The Lion King – it could be a song, a character, a joke, whatever made you love the film. Contest ends October 7, winner randomly drawn and announced October 8. Good luck – it is time! Contest has ended.

Congrats to Adam Goldman for having comment #5 – he is the winner of the Lion King Blu-ray+DVD Combo pack! Thanks to everyone for sharing your wonderful Lion King memories, I really enjoyed reading them.

Dumbo 70th Anniversary Edition-Classic Lessons For All

22 September 2011 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

“The very things that held you down, are gonna carry you up and up and up!” ~Timothy Q. Mouse

Dumbo has always held a special place in my heart, I think for its quiet simplicity and life-lessons. Unlike the previous Disney animated films of Snow White and Pinocchio, there were no real “scary” parts for me as a child, so it was therefore a safe movie to see again and again. Of course I wasn’t around when it first premiered in 1941, but I do remember being slightly scared by the evil Queen and the Pleasure Island scenes in Pinocchio and relieved by the lack of those elements in Dumbo. While we did own Dumbo on VHS, it had been quite some time since I’d viewed this classic and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed seeing it again.

This 70th Anniversary edition DVD and Blu-ray combo pack are impeccably restored and you’d think the film was just released with its crisp, clean animation. Dumbo is notably one of only two Disney animated feature films to use watercolor backgrounds. Lilo and Stitch animators used some watercolor backgrounds as a nod to this classic style. The result in the film is a beautiful environment that just draws you right in.

Things I never really paid attention to before this viewing of Dumbo are how the elephants are the only animals which speak (aside from Timothy, the Stork and the crows of course). All the other circus animals are much less detailed, letting the audience know that our story lies here, with Mrs. Jumbo and her precious baby and not with other popular animals like lions and tigers. The elephant ladies are given human-like characteristics of being proud and gossipy, and showing emotion in the case of Mrs. Jumbo. What mama doesn’t feel the same sense of pride and need to defend one’s child if attacked? We instantly feel for Dumbo and his mom, knowing they are different than the other, rude and shallow elephants that rely on appearances and worrying ‘what the neighbors will think’. At the same time, we see Dumbo jump right into the action and be ready to pull his weight, help out, and be a part of the circus family.

Dumbo and Timothy — Timothy keeps Dumbo motivated

The circus scenes, and in fact the entire movie, do not feature much in the way of human interaction. The faceless roundabouts setting up the circus tents sing a song as they work, the clowns grouse about wanting more money, and the Ringmaster worries only about entertaining the crowds and making money. This is truly an animal’s tale, but a reflection on all of us as well. The result is a captivating tale for little ones, as my almost-3-year-old has been entranced by it ever since I opened the case. It is rare he’ll sit through an entire film of any sort, animated or otherwise. Dumbo has held his attention and been on repeat for the last 4 days! The dialogue is scarce, and as a result, has much more meaning when it is spoken.

Some history about Dumbo of interest, it was actually produced in the midst of the Disney animator’s strike, which resulted in several strikers receiving caricatured appearances as the clowns, complaining of wanting more money. In addition, Dumbo was created in an attempt to recoup financial losses from Pinocchio and Fantasia, which is why the film is so stark and plain in detail, compared to the first two films. I think this is exactly what makes the film so heartwarming, as you focus more on the characters and Dumbo’s story than on other details. Dumbo does not utter a word, but captures our heart completely. Each song is memorable and singable and the hi-jinx from Sterling Holloway as the Stork leave you smiling.

An exception to this simplicity is, of course, the Pink Elephants on Parade scene, which comes to pass as Dumbo and Timothy accidentally imbibe water laced with Champagne. After viewing this fantastical segment multiple times over the past week, this has become one of my favorite animated sequences ever. I’m no Disney historian, but I think you can definitely feel the Fantasia vibe here, as well as some foreshadowing of the upcoming Three Caballeros South American influence. Truly a unique and masterful spotlight on Disney animation. And Technicolor pachyderms.

Now you’ve made it through the entire review and I didn’t even mention Baby Mine. You didn’t think I’d forget, did you? Of course this heartfelt, tear-inducing song is one of the most tender moments of the film and certainly part of what makes it a classic in every sense of the word. I sung it to all of my babies and it still brings a tear to my eye today. Motherly love at its finest.

Back to Timothy’s quote – the life lessons within Dumbo hold true and are relatable to by every generation since its release. You may not be what society expects you to be, but being yourself and owning your individuality can lead to great success. And despite thinking you have something holding you back, it just might lift you up. Magic feather or no, you truly can fly in life, if you believe in yourself.

Dumbo dvd Blu-ray — Click to purchase the combo-pack

So whether you are just a Disney fan picking this up for your collection, or a family looking to entertain your little ones, or a Disneyphile looking for a snapshot into Disney history, this is a must-have for you. There aren’t too many DVD bonus features, but the Blu-ray definitely offers more, so I highly recommend the combo pack for the most options. The Blu-ray has additional animated shorts, art galleries and games in addition to deleted scenes and songs, as well as expanded viewing experience and Cine-explore experience. The DVD also features the deleted scenes, making-of, and some behind-the-scenes featurettes. The deleted scene shows Timothy Mouse’s explanation of why elephants are afraid of mice, saying how millions and millions of years ago in “pre-hysterical times” giant mice 100 times as big as a circus tent roamed the earth, with “tails as long and fat as a sewer pipe”. A fun, if unrealized little scene.

Be sure to check out the Backstage at Disney scenes in the Bonus Features. This showcases the the sound effects created for the black and white Casey Jr. train scene in The Reluctant Dragon and it is, in a word, amazing. What a treat to see the original voice and sound actors creating movie magic. Did you know Casey Jr. was “voiced” by a woman? You can see the Sonovox technology used to create Casey Jr.’s signature train-whistle style of sound. This also held my littlest guy’s attention, assuring me that he’s got the Disney gene.

Winnie the Pooh Movie Strikes a Balance With Classic Characters

11 July 2011 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

*spoilers may be contained within the review below, so please read at your own risk!

Tonight my daughter and I were treated to a screening of Winnie the Pooh, which opens nationwide this Friday, July 15th. Competing with the final installment of the Harry Potter series sets the bar high for expectations but I think with the older age range for Harry Potter, Winnie the Pooh is a great alternative for younger families or those with little siblings.

The film opens with a live-action view of Christopher Robin’s home – the hallway leading up to his room as the narrator (John Cleese) tells us all about Christopher Robin’s collections, including his favorites, his stuffed animals. The narrator lets us know that all of their adventures take place right here, in the 100 Acre Wood, as the classic Winnie the Pooh book opens up and we are taken inside. The film continues in this informal manner, with the narrator conversing with Pooh and Pooh and the other characters using the letters and words as props within the movie. In this way, fans of the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction at Walt Disney World will feel an instant connection between the movie and the child-friendly ride. In the way that so many musicals become movies or movies become musicals, I felt like the ride had become a movie in a way. Of course both take their content from the classic A.A. Milne stories and this new take on Winnie the Pooh was definitely a proper treatment and handling.

I felt as though Tigger’s voice and character got a bit of ‘updating’ and was a bit Jim Carey-ish, which appealed to the youngest audience members. Piglet, always my favorite, was definitely not as main a character, nor was Rabbit, compared to the attention spent on Owl, Eeyore, Pooh and to a lesser extent, Tigger. Pooh was definitely the main attraction with his hour-long quest for “hunny” and the lesson he learns about friendship along the way. Another ‘character’ within the story is actually the “rumbly in Pooh’s tumbly” which sort of takes on its own personality throughout the film and kept the laughs going.

I won’t give too much of the storyline away but I will say that it was short and sweet and full of physical gags and hi-jinx that kept every child in attendance entertained. Older fans that were lured in by the Zooey Deschannel and Keane music used in the ad campaigns may be a little disappointed in the lack of real emotional pull. I was going in fully expecting to be tearing up at one if not several points in the film, based on the teasers I’d seen. The story was nice and sweet, but not sad or overly sentimental.

Two of my favorite aspects of the film were the way Tigger was drawn and Kanga’s personality. Tigger was very sketch-like, where you could see his little shaded in stripes. It didn’t really look like any of the other characters were drawn in that manner, but I really liked Tigger’s look and it seemed to mesh with the letters/pages that we kept seeing as the movie progressed.

Up to now Kanga has been the ever-perfect mother in the 100 Acre Wood, who takes care of not only little Roo but everyone else as well. There are a few jokes in this story that let you know the writers understand a mother’s/parent’s plight and understand parents are who will be in the audience with their little Roos. In particular, there is a song all the characters sing when each person ‘wins’ the contest to find Eeyore a new tail. When Kanga finally finds a tail, they all start to sing and she says, “No, no, no singing, thank you!” which is certainly an emotion parents know all too well, when the best reward to a parent is sometimes just silence.

Also shown with feature is the short film The Ballad of Nessie. In discussing the short with friends after the show, we all seemed to have different opinions of it, but I loved it. It reminded me in style and design of the classic Disney shorts from the Tall Tales – Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed, even Pecos Bill and Slue-foot Sue from Melody Time. Narrated by Billy Connolly (which works nicely as a segue to the upcoming Disney Pixar film Brave), Nessie herself does not speak. The theme of the short also reminded me of the Pixar short Boundin’, my favorite of the Pixar shorts.

Nessie’s happy home is taken away when a greedy golfer decides to make it into a course for his own personal use. The villain is not the real antagonist of the short, however. Rather it’s Nessie’s fruitless struggle to find a home and her being told at every turn to keep her chin up and not to cry, which plague Nessie as she deals with no one wanting her around. After holding in her tears for so long, Nessie finally cannot contain her sadness and cries and cries until she forms the entire Loch Ness – her new home. The lesson the narrator leaves us with is that it’s okay to cry and sometimes tears allow the best of us to shine through. And yes, I *did* tear up at that!

If you are a Winnie the Pooh fan or have little ones, you will not be disappointed with Disney’s newest treatment. The Zooey Deschannel songs sound like they came right out of the original time period of the very first Disney film featuring our favorite stuffed friends, and the sight gags and short length (right about an hour) will ensure happy faces on all family members. For those who think it’s not worth it, all I am saying, is give Pooh a chance.

REVIEW: Cars 2 – Lessons for All Ages

20 June 2011 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

Cars 2 Promo — Cars 2 starts its engine June 24, 2011

*This review may contain spoilers, so please proceed in reading at your own risk, thanks!

This past Saturday I was treated to a review of Disney • Pixar‘s latest film, Cars 2 in 3D. There has been a lot of hype leading up to this movie and I was starting to wonder if the film would live up to all of it. Disney has a history of giving everything a sequel (or two) and I worried that the classic story and beautiful animation we all loved in the original Cars would somehow be compromised. It wasn’t going to be like Toy Story 3, where everything was based on tying up story lines and tugging at our heartstrings.

Cars 2 really achieved a balance of a dual kid-friendly story wrapped within a more adult theme, blanketed in absolutely breathtaking visuals and detail. The main theme of the movie is of course Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) venturing out beyond the States and its familiar “Piston Cup” to compete with international vehicles in the World Grand Prix. The adult story comes in when the organizer of this World Grand Prix, Sir Miles Axlerod (Eddie Izzard) is attempting to highlight the importance of alternative fuels. This is where the espionage, fuel debate and James Bond-like action come in. Most of this will go over younger kids heads and their focus will be on the real story, that of friendship and loyalty.

Since his regular pit crew is off for the season, Lightning McQueen, in accepting this challenge to compete in the World Grand Prix, must bring his Radiator Springs pals along to Tokyo, Japan, the fictional Porto Corsa, Italy, and London, England. Tow Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) acts the part of the stereotypical “ugly American” and gets caught up in a secret spy mission, where he is mistaken for a secret agent by British Intelligence cars Finn McMissile (Michael Caine) and Holley Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer).

The story here is really Mater-centric and therefore chock-full of gags and visuals that keep the kids (and adults) giggling. Being a lover of all things Japanese, one of my favorite parts was Mater’s visit to a Japanese bathroom with its interactive and full-service toilet!

As the World Grand Prix and the story races on, we are treated to stunning visuals of Tokyo’s Ginza district pulsating with lights and advertisements, London and Paris with it’s beautiful architecture, and Porto Corsa, a coastal city created for the film and combining elements of Monte Carlo and the Amalfi Coast which will make you wish you could plan a vacation there as soon as you leave the theater. Amid all of these true-to-life visuals, the Pixar team has created Car-i-fied versions of landmarks and monuments, so detailed, you will question whether they really belong on the original. As I said on twitter after seeing the film, the kids will love the story (as mine did) but I want to watch the movie 20 times just to drink in all of the amazing backgrounds.

This Triptych poster shows some of the amazing detail you'll find in Cars 2

In truth, I’d watch the film multiple times just to get all the cute car jokes as well. Almost every car on screen has a name with a nod to some human counterpart. I think my favorite may be Brent Mustangburger. Disney • Pixar are known for impeccable detail and story, and Cars 2 is no exception. The soundtrack was a perfect fit as well. I feel confident in recommending it to all ages and can’t wait to enjoy it again. Be sure to get there for the previews to enjoy the short Toy Story Toon: Hawaiian Vacation, which was wonderful. We also enjoyed previews for the upcoming Muppet Movie and Disney • Pixar‘s Brave, which I am so, so excited about.

Disney • Pixar’s Cars 2 presented in Disney Digital 3D opens in theaters June 24. You can find more information, activities and fun at Disney.com/cars and become a fan on Facebook by liking DisneyPixarCars.

Lemonade Mouth Extended Edition DVD-Summertime Fun for All

3 June 2011 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

When I received a review copy of the Lemonade Mouth Extended Edition DVD in the mail, my 10 year-old daughter had already watched it a few times on the Disney Channel. That didn’t stop her excitement when she saw the DVD and when I asked her if she wanted to watch it, she shouted “UH, YEAH!!!”. So we did just that.

Be Heard. Be Strong. Be Proud

It’s time to turn up the music and have some fun with an all-new Disney Original Movie, starring Bridget Mendler and Adam Hicks and introducing ten awesome new songs.

When five ragtag freshmen first meet in detention, it seems they have nothing in common. But, through music, they form an unbreakable bond and discover they have the makings of the greatest high school garage band in history! In the face of incredible odds, Olivia, Stella, Wen, Mohini, and Charlie find they can make a real difference when they learn to lean on each other and let go of everything holding back their dreams.

That’s the synopsis of the movie, so I wasn’t sure what I was in for, having grown up with now-classic John Hughes films. Buuut…I actually liked it too! It’s easy to want to rally against a character as evil as Principal Brenigen, who, in his quest to bring in more money for the school has focused all of his efforts and funding on sports, banishes all other extra-curricular activities to the basement.

On the first day of school, Stella gets detention for standing up for her own creativity and gains entrance into this underground lair of frustrated kids. Stella plays guitar and, after bonding over the organic lemonade sold in a vending machine outside the detention room, connects with other musician-outcasts to form the band Lemonade Mouth.

lemonade mouth cast — The cast of Lemonade Mouth with the other star - Mel's Lemonade!

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows from that point on. The kids must then battle their way to the top against the “cool kids” band, Mudslide Crush. I won’t give away the ending, but it didn’t really end in the predictable way, another thing that made me appreciate the movie. By the last song, I was dancing around the living room with my daughter (sorry, no pics of that) and was genuinely glad we’d watched it together. The message here is one of determination, individuality and strength, without being sickeningly sweet. These kids have real problems and real family issues, which makes them much more identifiable to the average tween or teen watching.

Just like my daughter’s favorite song below, “More Than a Band” – Lemonade Mouth is more than just another Disney Channel musical movie.

As school is getting out for the summer, this DVD is a great choice to keep kids entertained and motivated – maybe even start a band! 😉

The highly-anticipated 2-Disc DVD + Digitial Copy features an exclusive extended music scene that you can only get on the extended edition DVD release. Check out the DVD and Soundtrack on mp3 below:

REVIEW: Gnomeo & Juliet on DVD+Blu-Ray-Surprisingly Good!

25 May 2011 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

So I have to admit, when Gnomeo & Juliet came out in theaters, I wasn’t jumping at the chance to see it. The Elton John soundtrack intrigued me, however. When I was sent a DVD+Blu-ray combo pack to review, I thought I’d give it a shot. To be completely honest, it surprised me!

Sure, it’s a pretty predictable storyline, and not the most compelling of characters, but there were enough little in-jokes and funny moments that actually made it enjoyable. Plus it features Ozzy Osbourne as a ceramic fawn. What more could you ask for?

Disney fans will enjoy the Tiki Room song that shows up and a nod to Bambi during a particularly poignant moment in the film. It also entertained both my ten year-old and my almost 3 year-old, an all-important test! I really did love the soundtrack as well. Being an Elton John fan, it was fun to hear different variations of his classic songs.

In addition, the animation is actually really wonderful. There is lots of attention to detail and I loved little things like the clanking noise the gnomes made as the moved. The realistic human household items, at times, made me forget it was animated.

Gnomeo & Juliet is out now on DVD and Blu-ray and for a limited time, you can even get $5 off the DVD+Blu-ray combo pack. Just click the image below:

Here are more details about Gnomeo & Juliet and the bonus features available —

From a director of Shrek 2, and featuring fun, all-new music by Sir Elton John, the hilarious twist on William Shakespeare’s legendary tale Romeo & Juliet as you’ve never seen it before, perfect for the whole family. Enter the secret world of garden gnomes and meet two adorable gnomes from completely different worlds who fight the odds to be together.

Bonus Features:

DVD & Movie Download:

• Elton Builds a Garden

• Frog Talk with Ashley Jensen

• “Crocodile Rock” Music Video, featuring Elton John and Nelly Furtado

Blu-ray:

• DVD Bonus plus:

• 2 Alternate Endings with Filmmaker Introductions

• Deleted & Alternate Scenes with Filmmaker Introductions, including:

o 1 Alternate Opening

o 1 Alternate Scene

o 6 Deleted Scenes

• The Fawn of Darkness, featuring Ozzy Osbourne

Check it out today!

Get Your PINK on with Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure on DVD

18 April 2011 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Everyone’s favorite diva from Disney’s High School Musical series is back in her very own adventure in New York City. Just how fabulous do you have to be to make it big in the Big Apple? One aspiring diva is about to find out…the hard way! Ashley Tisdale shines in this totally captivating comedy.

After a talent scout spots her performing with her dog Boi at a charity gala, Sharpay Evans (Tisdale) sets off for the bright lights of NYC, convinced instant fame and fortune are in the bag (designer, that is). But the theatre is a dog-eat-dog world, as she and Boi discover when they encounter the devious owner of a pampered Pooch named “Countess” and a scheming Broadway starlet who will do anything to crush the competition. Fortunately, Sharpay also meets Peyton (Austin Butler), a handsome student filmmaker who finds Sharpay nearly as fascinating as she finds herself.

Sharpay finds out that sometimes dogs are not allowed…

We were recently sent an advanced copy of the dvd/Blu-ray combo pack and I can tell you it passed the 10-year old Tween girl approval test with flying colors!! It’s been on repeat in my house since its arrived (in between repeat showings of the Disney Channel’s Lemonade Mouth!). My daughter isn’t even a fan of pink (altho she’s all about sparkles!) and she loved it.

Ashley Tisdale shares her own thoughts on Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure in this recent interview:

How would you describe Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure?
Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure is a fun, energetic new adventure for Sharpay. We get to step into Sharpay’s world in the new movie and we see her at home with her parents – but then she heads off to New York City to follow her dreams!

How would you describe Sharpay?
Sharpay is a fun-loving, pink diva. She has always had everything she ever wanted, but that soon changes in the new movie. She goes to New York to fulfill her dream of being on Broadway, but it’s not as easy as she thought it was going to be.

What was life like on the set of the movie?
Life was great! It was a big job and we didn’t have loads of time to shoot it, so I worked six-day weeks to get everything done. I was in every single scene, so it was the biggest role I’ve ever taken. It was crazy, but it was cool.

What can you tell us about your new co-stars?
The cast was really fun! We all had a great time and it was really cool hanging out with them. Austin Butler plays my love interest in the movie and he’s an old friend of mine, so I knew I was going to have a laugh with him. And then there was Bradley Steven Perry and Cameron Goodman… I love them all.

What did you get up to when the cameras stopped rolling?
I didn’t have too much time off, but I’m very social, so I’d always hang out with the cast. I’d go shopping or I’d head to the pool with my mom. We’d all go to dinners together and things like that. It was fun.

What’s your most embarrassing memory from the film shoot?
I celebrated my birthday on the set of Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure and something really funny happened that day. Austin Butler wasn’t supposed to work, but he turned up on set at midnight and I thought he’d come to wish me a happy birthday.

What happened?
I made such a big deal about Austin’s arrival on set. I was screaming, “Oh, wow! Look everybody: it’s Austin. I can’t believe you’re here for my birthday!” I stopped everything, but he just smiled at me. It turned out that he got called into work on a scene, so he wasn’t there for my birthday at all!

Eek! How embarrassing…
I know! It was so funny. At first, he just smiled – but he eventually told me the truth. He said, “I’m actually here to work, but I did come in extra early to see you.” I felt so embarrassed because I made such a big deal about it in front of the crew. It was really funny!

How does it feel to be the star of your own movie?
It feels great! It was really strange not having Zac, Vanessa, Corbin and Lucas around me because they were my comfort zone on High School Musical. It was easy to play Sharpay when they were around, but now she’s a little different and I’m a little different, too. For starters, I am an Executive Producer on the movie. That was definitely different to anything I’d ever done before!

Did you enjoy being an Executive Producer?
It was really exciting because I got to learn a whole new side to movies, but it was also a challenge to juggle being an actress and an Executive Producer. Whenever I needed to executive produce, I’d put on my Executive Producer hat and I’d be the boss. But when I needed to be the lead actress, I just put on the diva hat!

Which job do you prefer?
I love them both. Acting is a huge passion of mine, but it was fun to learn something new by being an Executive Producer. I got to be creative and I got to have a say in the movie.

And finally… Why should we go and buy the DVD?
I think you should go and buy the DVD because it’s a really fun movie! It’s the perfect ending to a character that everybody enjoyed watching in the High School Musical series and you’re going to love watching her again. I think you’ll be shocked and surprised by the new movie because you’ve never seen Sharpay like this before. Trust me, you’re in for a real treat!

SHARPAY’S FABULOUS ADVENTURE FROM WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT AVAILABLE ON DVD & BLU-RAY APRIL 19TH!

Check out these FASHION TIPS from Sharpay herself – (Click to enlarge)

Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure is available April 19, 2011!

EDIT: This just in! Here’s a coupon code for $8 off the Combo Pack and a bonus clip from the dvd!

sharpay coupon — Click for your $8 coupon!

Tangled DVD+Prize Pack GIVEAWAY!

28 March 2011 by Suzannah Otis 107 Comments

I recently received the Tangled DVD/Blu-Ray combo pack and I can tell you it’s been playing non-stop in ZannaLand ever since it arrived! I’d forgotten how simply beautiful the animation was in this film, not to mention the wonderful songs and funny lines. It is quickly becoming one of my favorite Disney films, if not the favorite. I know it’s my 10 year old daughter’s fav! (In fact, it’s playing right now as I write this!!)

We’ve been enjoying the bonus features as well, seeing the deleted scenes in a sketched animation format is really cool. Finding out that “The Snuggly Duckling” was almost “The Jaunty Moose” was great! There are some wonderful commentaries as well, so even if by chance you get tired of playing on repeat in your home, you can switch it up and find out some great behind-the-scenes facts about the process.

And who can forget faithful sidekicks Maximus and Pascal??

Tangled is now available on DVD, Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack AND 3D Blu-Ray/Blu-Ray/DVD and Digital Copy 4 disc set —

Thanks to the Tangled promotional team, I can offer a giveaway of a Tangled dvd and a surprise bonus gift (one of the following: a Pascal Beanie Baby, Flynn Ryder or Rapunzel T-Shirts, or Official Disney Paper Lanterns) to one lucky reader!

Here’s how to enter:

1. Rapunzel discovers that she is a strong woman and can take care of herself outside of the tower. Check out the Tangled Widget below and explore your family’s hidden talents. What are your hidden strengths? Comment below sharing your strengths or talents.

Contest now over, thanks to all who entered and spread the word!!

CONGRATULATIONS to Tony Mendyk who was picked from random.org as the winner!

Additional entries:

2. “Like” ZannaLand on facebook. Leave a separate comment letting me know.
3. Follow @zannaland on twitter and tweet the following:

“I just entered to win #Disney’s #Tangled on dvd from @zannaland and you can too! http://bit.ly/tangledgiveaway #giveaway #contest“

Leave a separate comment letting me know. You can tweet as many times as you like, but don’t spam your twitter friends!) 😉
4. Subscribe to ZannaLand posts via email or RSS feed (email box is to the right) and comment letting me know.
5. Share this this contest link on facebook, stumble it, or share it any other way you’d like and comment letting me know. (there are buttons to share on popular sites below this post)

Each entry must be in a separate comment. Winner will be chosen on Friday, April 1 (no April Fool’s joke, I promise!) using random.org and announced on this entry. Item will be mailed directly from the Tangled team. Good luck!!

Minnie’s Masquerade on DVD With Mickey Mote & Extras-Plus $5 Off!

8 February 2011 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Minnies Masquerade Plus Mickey Mote — Minnie's Masquerade with Mickey Mote out today-February 8, 2011

This latest release features four playful Minnie-themed adventures previously seen on the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse TV show, a never-before-seen episode, and a free paper mask with festive embellishments that kids can personalize. And as a special option for consumers, Disney has packaged a version of the DVD to include the exclusive Mickey Mote – a child-friendly handheld remote control, shaped like Mickey ears, that takes children’s viewing experience to a whole new level of play. The DVD + Mickey Mote Play Set is the ultimate value for moms and equally fun and engaging for kids! The Mickey Mote uses infrared wireless technology and may not be compatible with all devices.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie’s Masquerade starring Disney’s Fab Five — Minnie, Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Daisy – takes viewers on an all new adventure as they dress-up in their favorite costumes for Minnie’s Masquerade Ball. In this episode, Minnie needs some help getting everything ready for her party including making royal crowns for their costumes, searching for Sir Goofalot’s lost shoe, stringing up paper lanterns and much, much more. At the ball, Professor Von Drake hosts the great Clubhouse Costume Show and gives out prize ribbons to all the friends who have dressed up in some funny and fancy costumes. All it takes is a heaping helping of imagination…and the right Mouseketools.

About Disney’s Exclusive Mickey Mote:
Disney’s Mickey Mote works with any Disney Preschool DVD that includes the Discovery ModeTM feature – an interactive “Watch & Play” feature on the DVD. All parents have to do is program the remote control – there’s an easy and quick set-up guide in each DVD- and select the Discovery Mode feature on the menu screen. Within minutes, kids will be easily responding to questions, throughout the story, about scenes they just watched by pressing one of four color-coded buttons on the device — a yellow star, green circle, orange triangle or blue square – to click in their responses. Discovery Mode features include two levels of play, which provides more challenging questions as the child grows.
The Mickey Mote can be used with any Disney Preschool DVD that includes the Discovery Mode feature. To date there are more than 11 titles that can be used with the remote control, just take a look at the back of the package to make sure. The Mickey Mote really was easy to program and my little guy loved being able to play along and interact!

Check out a clip of the all-new episode on Minnie’s Masquerade DVD:

Even though I have a little Prince and not a Princess, he absolutely loved this DVD. It totally captured his attention and he wanted to wear a crown and be a Prince, so his big sister made him one out of construction paper to wear. This is a great addition to our family’s collection and toddler-preschool entertainment!

Minnie's Masquerade dvd coupon — Click for a $5 coupon on the DVD playset!