dvd reviews

DVD Release Round Up! Iron Man, Gravity Falls and Little Mermaid Out Now

19 October 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

There have been quite a few Disney DVD’s out lately, and the latest three I’ve gotten offer something for every member of the family! Now out on DVD and Blu-ray is Iron Man 3, The Little Mermaid Diamond Edition, Gravity Falls: Six Strange Tales, and coming up soon, Monsters University, releasing on October 29. Here is a wrap-up of the extras and bonus features offered for each and why you should run out and add these to your Disney DVD (or Blu-ray) collection!

Iron Man 3 – I’m pretty sure Iron Man 3 is my favorite Iron Man movie of the series so far. I actually really like Tony Stark in Avengers, but in Iron Man 3 we really see what makes him tick (literally). I have a full review of Iron Man 3 here. But I was finally able to see the bonus features on the Blu-ray and was so entertained by all these extras. The “Agent Carter” one-shot was amazing. I loooved seeing more of Agent Carter – who you will immediately recognize as Peggy Carter, Steve Rogers (aka Captain America)’s long lost flame. As you will recall from the first Captain America movie, Peggy Carter can hold her own under any circumstance and when an emergency mission falls into her lap, she proves just this to the boys club who thinks of her as nothing more than a skirt with a typewriter. It was wonderful to see her in action again, and the ending makes me want an entire movie, or at the very least a TV series on the original members of S.H.I.E.L.D. A wonderful little treasure on the Iron Man 3 Blu-ray!

In addition, the bonus features like the gag reel with bloopers and flubs, and the deleted scenes make for hours of additional fun and information about the making of Iron Man 3. Seeing Ben Kingsley reel off every accent he can do as “The Mandarin” is hilarious and it’s really fun to see the filming bloopers before the special effects have been added. There’s also a ton of ‘making of Iron Man 3’ featurettes and audio commentary to keep you entertained and informed. Definitely a must-add to your collection!

Gravity Falls: Six Strange Tales was released on October 15 and offers over 2 hours of hilarious adventures, irreverent humor and unforgettable characters plus free exclusive Mystery Book: Journal #3. If you have anyone that loves the ridiculously crazy stories from Gravity Falls, they will love this DVD set. If by chance you haven’t seen this popular series on Disney XD, here is a synopsis of the animated series: In this animated adventure comedy riddled with mystery, twin brother and sister Dipper and Mabel are sent to spend their summer vacation with their great uncle. Upon arrival, their great uncle, also known as Grunkle Stan, enlists the siblings’ help in running The Mystery Shack, a fun tourist trap he owns that overcharges unsuspecting customers. While Dipper has a hard time getting used to his new surroundings, Mabel’s upbeat optimism comes in handy in her quest to find true love. When Dipper stumbles upon an elusive book, he discovers that it is the key to unlocking the town’s mysterious secrets, and the brother and sister duo soon realize they must rely on one another to navigate the unfamiliar place.

Six Strange Tales includes the following episodes:

1 – “Tourist Trapped”

2 – “The Legend of the Gobblewonker”

3 – “Headhunters”

4 – “The Hand That Rocks the Mabel”

5 – “The Inconveniencing”

6 – “Dipper vs. Manliness”

Lastly, a family favorite The Little Mermaid is finally out on Blu-ray! It was so wonderful to see this again and be reminded of the great songs and animation in this now classic. There are quite a few extras that will provide lots of mermaid-y fun for your little ones (or for you – you know you love this story too!) including the Crab-eoke, a fun sing-along to all your favorite songs, some wonderful behind-the-SEAnes features and audio commentary. Also included is this deleted scene for a character called Harold the Merman:

The scenes with Jodi Benson visiting Walt Disney World’s New Fantasyland with her two children totally made me tear up. It is pretty amazing to see the voice of Ariel riding Ariel’s Undersea Adventure in the Magic Kingdom. And she and her family look like huge Disney fans, which is wonderful to see. Other Blu-ray bonus features include:

All-New Music Video for Part of Your World by Carly Rae Jepsen

Behind the Scenes at Disney Animation Studios

Disney Intermission – press pause and see what happens

Deleted Character Harold the Merman

The Real Little Mermaid: Live Action Reference Model

Part of Her World: Jodi Benson’s Voyage To New Fantasyland

Howard’s Lecture – Music in the Movies

Classic DVD Bonus Features

This is another must-add to your collection, whether you are sharing it for the first time with your children, or reliving your childhood with an old favorite. The Little Mermaid Diamond Edition is available now.

Stay tuned for future releases and reviews – I’ll have one for Monsters Universityup soon! The next Disney animated classics to get the Diamond Edition Blu-ray treatment are THE JUNGLE BOOK and SLEEPING BEAUTY. Released from the Disney vault for a limited time only, THE JUNGLE BOOK opens to colorful new life on Blu-ray Diamond Edition in February 2014, while SLEEPING BEAUTY awakens on stunning Blu-ray Diamond Edition in October 2014. Can’t wait. I’m SO excited for Sleeping Beauty on Blu-ray!!

Disney’s Classic Peter Pan Flies onto Blu-ray

15 February 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Peter Pan has always been one of my absolute favorite Disney films. The scenes over London, the first time we see Tinker Bell, the second star to the right, and the mermaid lagoon, all stand out in my mind as wonderful memories of this classic tale.

Now the movie is available on Blu-ray in pristine condition, with some pretty fun bonus features as well. One of my favorite parts is when you press the pause button on the movie, it goes to a special screen and the a little mini-scene comes up to entertain whomever is left watching while the screen is on pause.

Who doesn’t love this classic Tink scene?

I’m also a huge fan of Mary Blair and her amazing artwork, and the Peter Pan disc offers a great gallery of some of the Mary Blair concept art for Peter Pan:

This disc is a must-own for any Disney fan and the bonus features make it a fun, interactive learning experience for the whole family. The Peter Pan Diamond Edition is out on DVD, Blu-ray and combo pack with digital download now. There is also a Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy + Storybook App version available as well. My son is addicted to Disney Storybook apps and Peter Pan is no exception. Bring Peter Pan and the whole Never Land gang home to your family today!

Tween Movie Must-Sees: Geek Charming and The Three Musketeers

26 March 2012 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

I love sharing movie reviews of films I love, such as Disney classics or newly released masterpieces. Sometimes there are a few that aren’t exactly Oscar-worthy, but are still fun DVDs to have in stock – especially if you have a tween or teen in the house and need to keep them and their friends entertained. Two such cases are the recent DVD releases of Geek Charming and The Three Musketeers. I thought I’d give you a quick review of each.

First let me say that I have a soft spot for all teen-angst/coming of age films, so I was actually excited to sit down and watch Geek Charming with my daughter. I also love the actress in the lead roll on Modern Family (Sarah Hyland), so I was looking forward to see her in a feature-length film. Geek Charming is the classic coming of age story of: girl has old friends, girl makes new popular friends, girl sees the error of her ways and it all works out in the end. Sort of a Clueless-meets-Mean Girls, with a Disney twist. My daughter loved it, I thought it was cute…if you have a tween girl, she’ll want it!

Check out a clip below:

Next up is The Three Musketeers. When I saw the trailers for this movie, I was super excited to see it. I’m a sucker for 17th century France, what can I say. I never did get around to seeing it in theatres, but was happy when the DVD arrived in the mail to review. When it did arrive, my daughter was the one who couldn’t wait, since it featured Logan Lerman from Percy Jackson. Orlando Bloom and Milla Jovovich didn’t hurt either. 😉

As predicted, she loved the film. I wasn’t really that impressed with the acting, but the special effects and costumes made it worth watching alone. You can tell by the ending of the film that they were probably hoping to capitalize off of this franchise into a series, but I’m not sure that the box office returns supported that hope. Either way, the two films together make for great must-watch films for a tween or teen sleepover or party and are great to have on hand for family-friendly viewing.

Here’s a clip with the lovely Milla Jovovich:

Both films are now available on DVD or Blu-Ray. Thank you to Disney, who provided me with DVDs to review.

REVIEW: Disney’s Classic Lady and The Tramp Returns to DVD and Blu-Ray

6 February 2012 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

Si and Am — Sketch from the Blu-ray of Lady and the Tramp

One winter day in late 1979, I was called out of my kindergarten classroom and to the office, where my father picked me up and took me to the car. When I got into the back seat, I noticed a basket with a blanket inside. Opening the blanket, I saw the tiniest two kittens. One was blueish grey with a dark tail and ears and the other was cream colored with a dark brown tail and ears. Both sets of eyes were blue. My mom told me they were Siamese cats (a blue point and a seal point), and I thought right then and there that they were the most beautiful cats in the world.

Despite attempts by my parents to go with more interesting names of Rhett and Scarlett, we ended up calling them Boy Kitty and Girl Kitty (we already had a Mr. Kitty) and they grew into gorgeous creatures. So when Lady and The Tramp was re-released in theatres in 1980 and featured Siamese cats, it became one of my favorite movies – even if those particular cats were very naughty. Boy Kitty lived a very long and happy life, staying with me until I was 22.

As an adult, I watched the film on video back when my first two children were little. Perhaps it was the turn-of-the-century time period, the Main Street, U.S.A. feel, or the snow falling on the peaceful lanes of Victorian homes that reminded me of my childhood in New England, – or maybe even remembering my sweet Siamese friends, but it reaffirmed its place in my heart. As Walt Disney knew, animals have a lifelong impact on children, which could be why this film, told from the perspective of man’s best friend, is such a revered classic.

Now, years later, I love the classic story and how, even if it were humans in a live-action movie, the film would be just as compelling, romantic and sweet. I won’t get into the actual movie too much, as it’s a tale we all know and love, but this Blu-ray version is impeccably restored and probably clearer than when it first came out in 1955. The iconic scenes of Lady in the pink striped hatbox, Lady and Tramp sharing spaghetti and meatballs, the pawprints in the cement; they all makes me want to jump right into the screen and move in next door to Jim Dear and Darling.

While the “We Are Siamese” song, with the cats I loved so much, isn’t exactly politically correct these days, it brings me back to 5 or 6 year-old me and how amazing I thought it was that a Disney movie was singing about MY cats. Just as I’m sure every child of a Springer Spaniel, Scotty dog, or even mutt, thought the film was about their pet. The fact that Diane Disney Miller introduces the film and lets us know if was one of her dad’s favorites, makes it all the more special.

Blu-ray Bonus Features:

In the special feature, “Remembering Dad” Diane Disney Miller shares some wonderful stories of Walt, Disneyland history and the wonderfully detailed family apartment above the firehouse. Truly a treasure.

The Making of Si and Am feature is chock full of wonderful drawings of my favorite characters. The original theatrical trailers are fun to watch and remember a time when a new Disney picture was an event presided over by Walt himself. And then interesting to see how those trailers changed over the years.

There are some great sketches of deleted scenes from the beginning of the film, where Lady actually has two neighbor dogs, Homer and Boris competing for her attention. Boris moves in with an elaborate Russian-style dog house and is the aristocrat to Homer’s “dog-next-door” persona. Boris makes a later appearance in the dog pound scene. I’m glad they decided to cut this scene, however, it seems a bit long and not in keeping with the character they decided to go with for Lady.

The next deleted scene is of Jim Dear pacing and imagining the future possibilities for his about-to-be-born son. It’s cute, ending with Jim Dear passing out as he learns he is, indeed, father to a bouncing baby boy.

The final deleted scene is another long one where Tramp and Lady get stuck in a theatre watching a performing dog show. It’s cute; something I could see the Disney of today turning into an animated short.

You’ll also find some nice looks at the Disneyland television show, including “The Story of Dogs”, released in color for the first time. Bottom line, for a fan of Disney history, or Walt Disney himself, this dvd+Blu-ray collection is a must-buy. It’s chock full of wonderful history, nostalgia, and of course, Disney animation and story we all know and love.

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!

Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 DVD Release, Twitter Party and Activity Sheets!

26 January 2011 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment proudly announces the return of the greatest Chihuahuas to walk on all fours in Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2! Chloe & Papi are back in an all new, ¡Ay yay yay! fun-filled adventure—and their family just got bigger. Meet their rambunctious, mischievous and hilarious litter on February 1, 2011 when Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 comes out on a Blu-ray™ combo pack (include Blu-ray and DVD of the movie), 1-disc DVD.

From the creators of Beverly Hills Chihuahua, everybody’s favorite talking Chihuahuas are back in a comedy that’s a pack of outrageous fun for the whole family. Puppy mayhem turns the lives of newlywed Chihuahua parents, Papi and Chloe, upside down when their playful puppies present one challenge after another. But, when their human owners find themselves in trouble, the tiny pups will stop at nothing to save them—because in good times and hard times, the family always sticks together. Papi, Chloe and the puppies embark on a heroic adventure, proving once again that big heroes come in small packages.

Featuring an all-star cast, including George Lopez (voice of Papi), and complete with a litter of bonus features, this heartwarming tale of the meaning of family, friendship and loyalty is a special breed of fun—times five.

My family was able to preview Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 and it was a big hit with my tweens. Who doesn’t love tons of puppies all dressed up? Favorite parts were the adorable fashion show and bedtime stories with Papi. I’m sure your little puppies will love it too!