Top notch visuals and stellar sound accompany the Blu-Ray Combo, lead the way through the film and continue as fans are taken through a variety of supplemental bonus features with Director Shawn Levy on the making of the film. Exclusive features include a bare-knuckled exposé of the life story of Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman), deleted and extended scenes that go deeper into the film and storylines, and a riveting profile with legendary boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard. Plus, the revolutionary Real Steel Second Screen app lets viewers sync their iPad™* or computer with the Blu-ray movie to peel back layers of effects with progression reels, check out 360-degree turnarounds of the robots, explore seamless branching pods that delve into the cutting-edge technology used to create the fights, and much more.

Bonus Features for the set include:

3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (1 Blu-ray Disc + 1 DVD + 1 Digital Copy)
All 2-Disc Blu-ray Bonus Features
All DVD Bonus Features

2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (1 Blu-ray Disc + 1 DVD)
REAL STEEL SECOND SCREEN
Countdown to the Fight—The Charlie Kenton Story
Sugar Ray Leonard: Cornerman’s Champ
Deleted and Extended Scenes with introductions by Shawn Levy
—Extended “Meet Ambush”
—Deleted “Butterfly” Storyline
PLUS All DVD Bonus Features

1-Disc DVD (1 DVD)
Making of Metal Valley
Building the Bots
Bloopers

HIGH-DEFINITION & STANDARD DEFINITION DIGITAL
Sugar Ray Leonard: Cornerman’s Champ
PLUS All DVD Bonus Features

REAL STEEL was ranked as #1 at the box office for two weeks during its run. The film is directed by Shawn Levy (Night At the Museum franchise, Date Night and What Happens in Vegas), produced by Steven Spielberg (Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List), with a screenplay by John Gatins (Coach Carter, Summer Catch). The film has a host of well known stars including Hugh Jackman (X-Men franchise, Australia) as Charlie Kenton, Evangeline Lilly (TV’s Lost, The Hurt Locker) as Bailey Tallet, Dakota Goyo (Thor) as Max Kenton, Kevin Durand (I Am Number Four, X-Men Origins: Wolverine) as Ricky, and Anthony Mackie (The Adjustment Bureau, The Hurt Locker) as Finn.

Here are the specs for REAL STEEL:

STREET DATE: January 24, 2012
Direct Pre-book: November 29, 2011
Distributor Pre-book: December 13, 2011

Release Formats & 3-Disc Blu-ray = $44.99 U.S./$51.99 Canada
Suggested Retail 2-Disc Blu-ray = $39.99 U.S./ $46.99 Canada
Pricing: 1-Disc DVD = $29.99 U.S./$35.99 Canada
HD Digital = $39.99 U.S./$46.99 Canada
SD Digital = $29.99 U.S./$35.99 Canada
On-Demand = check with your television provider or favorite digital retailer for pricing

Feature Run Time: 127 Minutes
Ratings: U.S.: PG-13 / CANADA: PG (bonus not rated)
Aspect Ratio: Blu-ray: 1.85:1
DVD: 1.85:1
Audio: Blu-ray: 5.1 DTS HD-MA; 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital
DVD: 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital

For fans of the film, stay connected and find out more about this release as the release date approaches through Social Media!

“Like” the Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/RealSteelMovie
Follow us on Twitter at @realsteelmovie
Visit the website at www.steelgetsreal.com
View videos at www.YouTube.com/RealSteelMovie
Connect with Facebook and Twitter via Real Steel Second Screen

Technorati Tags: Real Steel, Hugh Jackman, Dreamworks, Family Film, BLu-Ray, Combo Pack, Release, Trailer, Video, Future, Drama, Action

Release Info:
Original Air Date: July 28 1951
DVD Release Date:
Online Availability: Amazon for $

Alice in Wonderland is one of those rare children’s movies that is going to be relevant whether you watch it as a kid or you’re watching it with your grandkids 60 years later. While this fun film was already well over 25 years old when I was born it was something that I loved watching growing up. If you would have asked me when it was made when I was a child, I probably would have said it was made a few years before I first saw it. I would have never guessed that it was as old as it was. The entire idea would have been inconceivable to me, because the core of the film is about a young girl and her thirst for imagination. As a child I could relate to daydreaming and going to another realm of existence. Sure, I never fell down a rabbit hole, but honestly, how many of us get that chance? One of the best things about Alice in Wonderland is how relevant it remains to this day. It’s a great story not just because it was written that way, but also because children really tend to get it.

After the live action Alice in Wonderland with Johnny Depp was released a few months ago, it seemed only right to celebrate Alice’s birthday with this new release to go with it. This is a perfect chance for parents to reacquaint themselves with this film and to share it with their young children. I think one of the reasons I love Alice as much as I do, especially now that I’m older is that it won’t ever go out of style. While kids won’t appreciate this as much as older people will, the film uses such voice talents as Kathryn Beaumont (the voice of Wendy Darling in Peter Pan) and Ed Wynn (Mary Poppins, The Diary of Anne Frank) who had the distinguished role of the Mad Hatter.

As most people reading this are already likely well versed in Alice and all her charms there isn’t a lot to say here. This is a classic and it’s worth purchasing on that issue alone. I am happy to say that Disney went out of their way to make sure that this feature was as close to perfection from beginning to end and they succeeded. If you had never watched it as a child and didn’t know if the long history of Alice you would think this is a newer film. You certainly wouldn’t guess 60 years old. This version looks far too good to be that old!

The Alice in Wonderland Plot
While Alice rests along the river listening to her sister read from a history book, her mind begins to wander. She tries to focus, especially when her sister scolds her, but she just can’t do it. Instead of focusing, Alice sits and imagines about dream worlds and a White Rabbit, which looks anything but typical arrives to capture her attention. As Alice runs after the rabbit, she falls down a rabbit hole and disappears.

Alice is truly in for all her imagination her can take, and possibly more, when she hits the bottom of the hole and watches the rabbit escape her through a tiny door. Now Alice has to rely on potions to make her bigger or smaller so she can travel through a maze of this incredible world to find her precious White Rabbit.

As she travels the land Alice meets several characters that are meant to help her find the White Rabbit. She comes across Tweedledum and Tweedledee, the Dodo bird, and eventually makes her way to the White Rabbit. Things do not go as planned though, as she helps herself to a cookie, which makes her so big that the rabbit thinks she is a monster! Luckily, for everything that makes her big, there seems to be something to reverse the spell so she soon becomes tiny again and continues her pursuit.

Alice comes along the Chershire Cat and that leds her to the Unbirthday Party that the March Hare and the Mad Hatter are celebrating. Alice can’t take much of these crazy characters and instead she decides to head home. After the Chershire Cat is found, he leads her to the garden of the Queen of Hearts in order to help her. Of course, we all know the favorite words commonly said by the Queen of Hearts, so Alice might have a bigger struggle than she realizes when she meets the Queen and makes a less than appropriate introduction.

Storyline/Plot: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
This was one of those movies that I was not worried about viewing on Blu-ray at all. Disney has always seemed to do Bluray right, so I wasn’t expecting to find anything different or out of the ordinary here. Not surprisingly, I was extremely happy with the results of Alice in Wonderland on Blu-ray. The transfer includes a 1080p, AVC MPEG-4 encode with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The entire thing is beautifully clear. I did not notice a single instance of aging, dirt, or other unsightly artifacts. You will notice a blank space on the sides of the screen so that the movie doesn’t take up your entire television.

If you want to have a full screen image, I suggest you try out Disney-View, which offers some pretty cool themed artwork that actually matches the scenes in the film as to not distract from the movie. I would be shocked to find that anyone had a problem with this transfer. If anything you will likely be shocked that its 60 years old. The colors shine magnificently with the yellows and reds popping brightly on the screen and the other colors standing out gorgeously, also. There isn’t anything to say here that would be considered negative. This is a fabulous transfer!

Like the visual qualities of Alice in Wonderland, the audio performance is quite spectacular. The audio comes to you in a 5.1 DTS HD-MA soundtrack, though if you’d prefer something simpler you can opt to use the original 2.0 Theatrical mix. There isn’t a lot of special effects going on here, it’s mainly music, music sound effects, and dialogue. The sounds and music certainly shine thanks to the surround sound. The dialogue comes through loud and clear and there is never any problems hearing it. Again, with this track you’re going to have a hard time believing that the source is 60 years old. English, Spanish and French subtitles are also included.

Visual: 5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
There are plenty of special features available with this re-packing of Alice in Wonderland. While most of them are standard, DVD are offerings, there is a couple (the Pencil Test) that are in high definition. In any case, these are some great things and there is enough here for a wide variety of both Alice in Wonderland and Disney fans alike. In addition to the plethora of features, which are listed below, you start the movie out with a variety of trailers (more are available via the menu). While I am not going to list them all, I will tell you to be on the lookout for a super adorable, Winnie the Pooh trailer for the upcoming movie. You won’t want to miss it!

Pencil Test: Alice Shrinks: At only about a minute long, this goes way to fast. The test only lasts less than 30 seconds, but it is pretty cool while it lasts.

Reflections on Alice: This is pretty self-explanatory. The feature considers Alice and talks about what was done when attempting to originally make this film.

Operation Wonderland: At eleven minutes, you receive a black and white film that lets you check out the Disney lot and catch some behind-the-scenes action that occurred when making the movie.

“I’m Odd” (Newly Discovered Cheshire Cat Song): This isn’t as new as it was when it was on the previous DVD release, but it’s still amusing to some. This song was originally cut from the film, so it’s nice to see it here with all of the other special movie moments.

“Thru the Mirror”: In this Disney short, Mickey takes a crack at the looking glass. As you can probably tell this is pre-Alice, but it ends up being an interesting nine minutes overall.

One Hour in Wonderland: This is a mix of shorts that aren’t necessarily all Alice related. They all appeared on a holiday special and since there was some reference to Alice it only made sense to throw it in here. Among the characters and shorts are Mickey, Donald, and Goofy in “Clock Cleaners” and Pluto in “Bone Trouble”. Additional clips from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Song of the South are also included.

An Alice Comedy: “Alice’s Wonderland”: This is a silent short that will truly appeal to fans of the beginning of animation and to silent film buffs. The kids might not be able to appreciate this as much, but many of the adults and parents in the room will truly enjoy it.

Original Theatrical Trailers: The trailers for both the 1951 (the original) release and the 1974 re-up are included here.

Walt Disney Introductions: There are two introductions here that both come to you courtesy of Walt Disney. They are similar to the other introductions that you’ve seen on other Disney movies. They aren’t anything special and probably something you won’t watch more than once, if you watch them at all.

Fred Waring Show Excerpt: This is a fun excerpt from an old television show. It includes Disney introducing a clip of one of the scenes in the movie and the voice of the Cheshire cat acting out a scene. There is a musical number or two included here, as well.

Deleted Scenes: In this section you get a chance to check out four specific scenes that were never placed in the film. There is some music and songs that were not in the film included here, as well. One of the song demos you here was actually for a character that did not make the cut into the film. This is a pretty interesting section to take a look at as you get to see plenty of different film aspects beyond just your typical deleted scene.

Art Gallery: Like most art galleries, this is just a selection of stills.

Through the Keyhole: A Companion’s Guide to Wonderland: This feature lasts for over an hour and includes experts on Lewis Carroll and a selection of Disney Historians. The two groups get together in a picture-in-picture format to add information about the men that made this movie happen. You get a chance to see plenty of footage from the archives and hear about a wide selection of things that you might not have known. This was by far one of my favorite features in the film.

Painting The Red Roses Interactive Game: This puzzle game gives away the objective in the title. It’s your goal to paint the Queen’s roses red.

The other included features include Disney-View, a Color TV Introduction by Walt Disney, and some Reference Footage known as Alice and the Doorknob.

Bonus Features: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Alice in Wonderland has had multiple adaptations over the years, but this will always be one of my favorites. The story that I grew up watching has received a makeover that in no way compromises its beauty, but ensures that it is touched up enough for modern audiences to appreciate. This bluray presentation is near flawless considering the age of the original film. This combo pack offers too much to ignore with a DVD and additional disc options and more special features than I can list! If you are a fan of Alice or want to introduce the cartoon version of the tale to your kids, this is a great excuse to do it. We highly recommend picking up a copy.

Overall Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Alice in Wonderland, Bluray, DVD, Combo Pack, Movie Review, Walt Disney Home Entertainment, Animation, Cheshire Cat, Fantasy, Rabbit Hole, Children, Cartoon

If you went through the pictures make sure to leave us a comment letting us know which one you liked the best!

Technorati Tags: Alice in Wonderland, Stills, Photos, Behind the Scenes, Pictures, Slide Show, Disney Home Entertainment

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: April 12, 1996
DVD Release Date: August 3, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $$24.99

Roald Dahl was a staple of my childhood. I loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Witches, The Bfg and Matilda. One book of Dahl’s that I never read was James and the Giant Peach. I am not exactly sure why I avoided this title, but it just wasn’t a Dahl book I was particularly interested in reading. Apparently, other children knew something I didn’t. It is one of Dahl’s most popular books, and it is also one of his most censored.

Since I never read the book, and my son was only a toddler when the film came out, I fully admit I never saw James and the Giant Peach when it hit theaters in 1996. I did not have any reason to see it. I had no attachment to the story. It was not a childhood favorite. The entire story seemed rather silly to me. I mean, I knew the gist of the story. It was about a boy who went on an adventure inside a giant peach. I guess that is why kids like it so much. Make believe is so much more entertaining to their whimsical minds. I guess I didn’t understand the appeal of James and his peach, until I saw my nephew watching the movie.

When you are six, everything is magical! James and the Giant Peach captivated the mind of Lil B. He didn’t move a muscle as he sat there, watching the orphaned James, travel by peach to New York City. He delighted in the relationship between James and the anthropomorphic bugs within it. He related to James on some level that I, as an adult could no longer relate. His imagination was swimming with ideas and possibilities that watching James and the Giant Peach can provide a child. It was then that I saw the true power of the story of James and the Giant Peach.

Roald Dahl stories are so successful at entertaining children. Part of this is because his protagonists are relatable. Kids understand the yearning of a Charlie Bucket. They feel James’ sadness and isolation, as he tries to find a place to belong and friends of his own. Every kid wants to fit in. Dahl’s gift is in his ability to make these characters appeal to kids while sparking their imagination and sense of adventure. That is what Dahl has been able to share with generations of children.

The James and the Giant Peach Plot
James Henry Trotter is an orphan. When his parents are killed, they have been eaten by an escaped rhinoceros, the boy is forced to live with his two, very mean aunts, Spiker and Sponge. James is abused by his aunts and lives a very hard, sad existence. He dreams of a better life and place. If only he could get to New York City from England. His parents spoke of the magnificence of the city and he sees it as the perfect place to go to make his life better.

When James is approached by a mysterious stranger, he is given crocodile tongues. These are said to improve James’ life if he uses them, though how to use them is not made clear. On his way home, James loses the crocodile tongues inside the root of a peach tree. The tree is home to a plethora of bugs who can talk, which James soon discovers, as the tongues change the peach tree in amazing ways.

When James returns to the tree he discovers a peach growing on it. The peach has grown to colossal proportions. When James enters the peach, he meets a group of bugs whom he befriends. The group set off on an adventure, in the peach, that will take them across the Atlantic, on a quest to find New York City and a better life for James.

Storyline/Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 4 out of 5 stars
Acting: 4 out of 5 stars
Directing: 4 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
James and the Giant Peach is presented in an AVC encoded, 1080p, anamorphic widescreen, high-def transfer at a 1.66 aspect ratio. The picture for this does not look brand new. The film is over 10 years old, so the quality is to be expected for the time period in which it was filmed. However, Disney did try to clean it up some, and the picture manages to look pretty good, despite its age. The biggest issue is a reoccurring instance of grain. The colors for James and the Giant Peach are fairly vibrant and black levels are solid with a decent level of depth. While the quality for James and the Giant Peach isn’t perfect, it is vastly improved from the quality of the standard DVD, so Disney did a nice job upgrading for Blu-Ray here.

The sound for James and the Giant Peach is a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track in English. This is a great track, with dynamic sounds through all of the audio channels. It is easy to hear the dialogue. It is crisp and clear with no need to volume toggle, since it is spoken on a consistent level. James and the Giant Peach offers a beautiful score that bursts from the speakers with melodic perfection and fits the story well. The sound effects have the right amount of balance, and make good use of both the front and back speakers.

There are Dolby Digital 5.1 surround tracks in French and Spanish. Subtitles are included in English SDH, French and Spanish.

Visual: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
Where James and the Giant Peach is lacking the most is in the bonuses. Most are ported over, with just one, new feature. The new feature is disappointing, as it is a DVD game. DVD games are notoriously bad, and this one is no different. The kids might like it for a short period, but a feature like this has no longevity. The game is called “Spike the Aunts” and ants are hit with a rhino horn, which gathers points. It is rather morbid, if you think about it, actually.

The previous release of James and the Giant Peach on DVD had features ported over that include a five minute production featurette, a trailer for James and the Giant Peach, a music video by Randy Newman for ‘Good News’, and some still galleries for the movie. This standard definition DVD is also included in this set. We use this when we go in the car, since we have a DVD player, and leave the Blu-Ray at home. This is no different than the previous DVD release of James and the Giant Peach, so if you already own it, you’re going to have a second copy.

Bonus Features: 1 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
This was my first experience seeing James and the Giant Peach. I found it surprisingly good. Seeing how the kids reacted to the movie made it all the more enjoyable. If you have kids, especially in the 5-9 age range, James and the Giant Peach is going to entertain them. That’s not to say older kids and adults won’t enjoy this as much, but younger kids can appreciate the imaginative nature of the film much better. While James and the Giant Peach looks pretty good and sounds amazing, it would be nice if their were more bonuses. Otherwise, this is a decent release.

Overall Rating: 3.57 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Blu-Ray Review, James and the Giant Peach, Special Edition, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, Blu-ray, Movie, Roald Dahl, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

Disney’s Academy Award®-Winning Animated Classic Beauty and the Beast: Diamond Edition

On Blu-ray™+ DVD Combo Pack – October 5, 2010 And Standard Definition DVD – November 23, 2010

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE) proudly announces the Blu-ray high-definition debut of Disney’s animated masterpiece, Beauty and the Beast on October 5, 2010.

Disney’s most requested film, Beauty and the Beast, arrives for the first time on Blu-ray Hi-Def as the second installment to the company’s new Diamond Collection. The Blu-ray transformation reveals the magic, music and majesty of the film as never before experienced with state-of-the-art picture restoration, pristine 7.1 Digital Surround Sound and hours of additional viewing experiences that include behind the scenes features, deleted scenes, enhanced music tracks, immersive games and more.

The first of only two animated films ever to be nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Picture (the second is 2009’s Up), Beauty and the Beast earned six Academy Award® nominations and won two Oscars® in 1992 for Best Original Song (“Beauty and the Beast”) and Best Original Score.

Unavailable in any form since 2003, Beauty and the Beast will be released from the Disney vault for a limited time only, arriving on a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack (2 Blu-ray Discs + DVD) October 5, followed seven weeks later with the release of a 2-Disc standard definition DVD on November 23.

The Beauty and the Beast Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack has a U.S. suggested retail price of $39.99 and the 2-Disc DVD set has a U.S. suggested retail price of $29.99.

Film Synopsis:
Set in and around a quaint French village during the late 18th century, Beauty and the Beast follows the fantastic adventures of Belle, a bright and beautiful young woman who finds escape from her ordinary life, and the advances of a boorish suitor, Gaston, by reading books. Meanwhile, off in a castle in the distance, a cruel young prince is cast under the spell of an enchantress who turns him into a tormented beast, while transforming his servants into animated household objects. In order to remove the curse, the Beast must discover a true love who will return his affection before the last petal falls from an enchanted rose. When Belle’s inventor father stumbles upon the Beast’s castle and is taken prisoner, Belle comes to the rescue and agrees to take her father’s place. With the help of the castle’s enchanted staff, she sees beneath the Beast’s exterior and discovers the heart and soul of a human prince.

Film Accolades:
Beauty and the Beast received two Academy Awards® for music in 1992, three Golden Globes® for Best Motion Picture, Best Original Score and Best Original Song in 1992, and two Grammy Awards in 1993. Listed as number seven on the American Film Institute’s Top 100 Animated Films, Beauty and the Beast helped define Disney animation for a new generation as the second film in the “Disney Animation Renaissance” (1989-1999) which launched with The Little Mermaid and revitalized animated features by captivating mature audiences while still delighting young viewers.

Beauty and the Beast features a cast of top vocal talent. Veteran stage actress and singer Paige O’Hara is the voice of Belle, one of Disney’s most beloved and independent heroines, and Robby Benson (TV’s “American Dreams”) delivers a powerful portrayal of the Beast. Three-time Oscar®-nominated screen star (The Manchurian Candidate in 1963, The Picture of Dorian Grey in 1946, and Gaslight in 1945) and six-time Golden Globe® award winner (TV’s “Murder, She Wrote” in 1992, 1990, 1987 and 1985, The Manchurian Candidate in 1963, and The Picture of Dorian Grey in 1946), Angela Lansbury gives a bubbly performance as Mrs. Potts. The late Jerry Orbach (TV’s “Law and Order,” “House of Mouse”) shines as the voice of Lumiere, the passionate candelabra, and David Ogden-Stiers (TV’s “M*A*S*H,” Lilo & Stitch) is Cogsworth, the tightly-wound mantel clock who functions as the head of the household.

Beauty and the Beast was also the first Disney animated film to inspire a Broadway stage production by the same name. Highlighting the film’s music by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, seven new songs were written for the stage musical. Beauty… was nominated for nine Tony Awards in 1994 and ran on Broadway for 5,464 performances until 2007, becoming Broadway’s sixth-longest running production in history.

Remember, the Blu-ray combo pack will be available nearly 6 weeks before the DVD comes out so if you have a Blu-ray it’s worth splurging for both copies rather than just one!

Technorati Tags: Disney, Diamond Collection, Beauty and the Beast, Upcoming Releases, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: December 13, 1971
DVD Release Date: September 8, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $19.99

I am a Disney kid. I was raised on both the live action and cartoon movies. Disney was innovative when I was a child. When it comes to animation, they still are. Prior to my birth, the Walt Disney Company experimented with combining live action with cartoon. One of those movies was Mary Poppins, one of my all time favorite live action, Disney films. Another was the less popular Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

Don’t get me wrong, I like this movie a lot. It’s just not nearly as good as Mary Poppins. That’s just a personal opinion, of course. I have spoken with a few people who think that the entire mixing of live action with cartoon is sacrilegious. I can see how they would feel this way, but honestly, this doesn’t bother me. I think it’s actually kind of funny to watch. I like how the penguins serve Mary in Mary Poppins. It’s just plain funny. Bedknobs and Broomsticks has less time spent in the animated world. It was as though Disney did this just to say, “Ha! Look how good it looks when we combine live action with cartoon.” Still, I don’t fault the film for that, much.

The story behind Bedknobs and Broomsticks is similar enough to Mary Poppins to get fans of this film into Bedknobs and Broomsticks, but original and unique enough to not be a Mary Poppins clone. I like the way they incorporated World War II into the story. It gave the movie a purpose. It wasn’t just a story about a witch. The characters had a very important reason to want to find the spell, which fuels their entire trip on the bed.

Regardless of it’s similarities to Mary Poppins, I still recommend that parents pick this movie up to watch with their children. You cannot beat the stories told by old Disney. Bedknobs and Broomsticks is a classic from the Disney vault. It has every element of a great Disney film. There are kids in it that children can relate to, there are catch tunes to sing along with, and the story isn’t too cerebral little ones will have to miss out on it, but also isn’t so childish that adults and older children will be bored to tears while watching the film. Essentially, Bedknobs and Broomsticks is a film everyone can enjoy, regardless of age.

The Bedknobs and Broomsticks Plot
With London full of uncertainty and bombings, three Cockney orphans, Charlie (Ian Weighill), Carrie (Cindy O’Callaghan) and Paul Rawlins (Roy Snart), are sent to the English countryside. The government hooks up children from London with families who have the room to take care of them. Eglantine Price (Angela Lansbury), a spinster with a large home, is left with the children, against her wishes. With no choice but to take them in, she attempts to make the best of it.

While Miss Price isn’t heartless, she doesn’t want the children to find out her secret. She’s been enrolled in a witchcraft class. She’s hoping her new witch powers will help her to aid the British war effort. When the children discover this, Charlie tries to use it to his advantage, but Miss Price realizes that the children can help her out. She ends up giving Paul a magical Bedknob that can transport them, on a bed, to any location they want to visit.

When Miss Price discovers her classes have been canceled, due to the war, without finding out how to do the last spell, the spell she needs to help her country, she uses the bedknob to transport herself, and the children, to London, to find her teacher, Emelius Browne (David Tomlinson). Brown, who has been sending the lessons to Miss Price, turns out to be a swindler and illusionist. The spells were all from an old book he found. When Miss Price informs him that his spells work, he decides to keep her around, hoping to convince her to swindle with him.

When Miss Price discovers part of the book missing, the part that explains how to do the spell she needs, Mr. Browne and the three children must accompany her on a musical adventure that takes them to the lost island of Naboombu and beyond. The hope of finding the spell, and using it to help their country, lies solely in their hands. If only they can use a little magic to find the spell they need, before the Nazis attack a little too close to home.

Storyline/Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 4 out of 5 stars
Acting: 5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 4 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
The DVD claims that Bedknobs is remastered and in some ways I am pretty sure that they are right, it does appear to offer significant differences than a standard movie made in the 70s and transferred to DVD. The only problem is that this was released previously, a few years back, and it does not appear to offer a hugely different look from that DVD. Like the former DVD, Bedknobs is presented with a 1.66:1 aspect ratio in anamorphic widescreen. In a general sense there isn’t too much to complain about. Things look much better than what you might expect from a older movie. The biggest problems that I noticed had to do with the scenes on Portobello Road and with scenes dealing with the transporting on the bed. Many of the problems in these areas deal with shoddy special effects and with bad coloring. These area seemed to be filled with more noise and dirt than the other areas. Other than that, things look good. It’s not a bad transfer, it’s just not as cleaned up as they might want you to believe.

When it comes to the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, it’s a bump up. They obviously didn’t stick to the mono sound, but it doesn’t sound like a hugely different undertaking either. The music is done well, the dialogue is always easy to hear and understand, and the sound effects are dated, but work for this particular feature. In addition to the English track, there is a French Dolby Digital 5.1 track that is also available. Subtitles are available in English for the Hearing Impaired, Spanish, and French.

Visual: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 4 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
There is a small selection of DVD special features available here. Some of the previous features have been dumped in favor of others and depending on your feelings about the classics, you will either love the changes or hate them. I don’t think kids will notice either way, unless you count the loss of a few cartoon shorts. Things begin with previews that include Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Princess and the Frog, Santa Buddies, Up, Like Stars on Earth, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, Disney Blu-ray, Disney Movie Rewards, and D23. All of these are accessible through the Sneak Peeks section and the first three are shown before the movie actually begins.

Next up, Ms. Stone from from Wizards of Waverly Place arrives to talk about the differences in special effects from then to now. In her seven minute feature she talks about how the sodium vapor screen differs from the green screen. It’s not anything that is overly interesting or incredibly worth watching. In some ways I am not sure why they would bother to add this at all, unless they were just trying to add in something from one of the Disney shows in hopes to bump up the audience.

Next up is “Music Magic: The Sherman Brothers”: This is one of the recycled extras on the disc. Basically, what you have here is a talk with the songwriters, Richard and Robert Sherman. They talk about a lot of things, including how the project got started and various songs in the Bedknobs arsenal. There is some behind the scenes footage that has been included, as well.

“A Step in the Right Direction” is presented while showing a slideshow of photographs to show the gist of how the footage would have looked if it had been available. I am not sure why “Portobello Road” was even included here because it’s not much at all. David Tomlinson sings a brief bit of the song and there isn’t much else there.

Four trailers are available that last between just over a minute to around four minutes. Three of them are older and the last looks like it could be from the re-release of the DVD.

Things are wrapped up with one of the dumbest and most pointless features on the disc. In fact, this is worse than the Wizards feature. Here you have Dylan and Cole Sprouse with their mom talking about Blu-ray and how it is “Suite.” This lasts longer than most of the Bedknob specific features and is nothing more than a fluff-induced infomercial. Both this and the Wizards feature were in poor taste considering the useless and overly promotional nature of them.

Bonus Features: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
If you do not own a copy of Bedknobs and Broomsticks already, I recommend you purchase one. This Enchanted Musical Edition is a great version to purchase. However, if you already own the last, remastered copy of Bedknobs and Broomsticks, you may want to consider whether the few bonuses are worth the upgrade. The quality for this release looks nearly the same as its predecessor. As a movie, I highly recommend, Bedknobs and Broomsticks. I’m just not sure if this version is worth the upgrade.

Overall Rating: 3.86 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Movie, DVD, DVD Review, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Disney, Angela Lansbury, Childrens Movie, Family Entertainment, Disney Home Entertainment

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: November 3, 1977
DVD Release Date: August 18, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $21.49

Wow. Disney has changed! In the 70s, darker topics weren’t taboo. In my plot outline you might do a double take if you read it and haven’t seen the film. Yes, I do discuss not one, but two, drunk characters. How often would you expect to see THAT in a Disney classic? Well, here it is. These two drunk characters act…well…drunk. It’s hard to take them seriously because of this, but that’s the point!

Also, how many Disney stories deal with abuse? The old Disney movies addressed a lot less fluffy topics. Maybe that’s why my generation grew up to think today’s Disney is full of fluffy, marshmallow-y, not so yummy goodness. With the dark stuff, some parents who get into the Hannah Montana, bubblegum-ness might dislike it, but truthfully, it is not really all that dark. In truth, I like these kind of movies more. I wish Disney wouldn’t have gone soft.

I remember watching Pete’s Dragon as a kid. Unlike Ash, we didn’t have HBO. Instead, we had the Disney Channel. I was exposed to all of the 1960s and 1970s Disney movies because of this. I remember liking this movie, but I don’t recall it ever being my favorite Disney film. I liked Disney animation a lot, and for live action I preferred Freaky Friday, North Avenue Irregulars and Escape to Witch Mountain. Like Mary Poppins, another Disney favorite of mine, Pete’s Dragon combines live action with animation. I don’t really mind this myself, but I can see how some people wouldn’t be fans of this.

Overall, Pete’s Dragon is a fun, Disney-filled, adventure film. Don’t take it too seriously and don’t be offended by the drunk characters. If you are then I have to say you stink. Old Disney, even with all its flaws by today’s standards, will always be better than new (today’s) Disney. That’s a fact, and it’s why it is easy to overlook what today’s audiences would consider inappropriate for a child audience. Lighten up and like this film for what it is!

The Pete’s Dragon Plot
It’s hard to be an orphan. Pete isn’t just an orphan, he’s treated worse than Oliver Twist ever was. His adopted family, the Grogans, abuses him and treat him like a slave. The only comfort Pete has is his animated, dragon friend, Elliott. With Elliott’s help, Pete runs away from the Grogans.

Everything seems to be going smoothly on their journey, but when the two travel to Passamaquoddy, Elliott accidentally gets into a huge spat of trouble. Since Elliott can make himself invisible, and usually only shows himself to Pete, the result of the chaos Elliott creates is thrust upon Pete’s small shoulders. Of course, it doesn’t help when Elliott is accidentally visible to Lampie, the drunk lighthouse keeper, who can’t keep his mouth shut. That just makes matters worse!

Lampie’s daughter, Nora, takes Pete (and by default, Elliott) in. She lives at the lighthouse at Passamaquoddy Point. Around the same time, a con-artist pretending to be a medical practitioner, Dr. Terminus, returns to Passamaquoddy. Joining him is Hoagy, his crazy, drunken, mentally ill assistant. When Lampie starts spreading rumors about a dragon in the town, Dr. Tereminus sets out to find out the truth, because he wants Elliott for his body parts, which he can use to make medicine.

With the Grogans after Pete, the doctor after Elliott and a romance brewing when Elliott finds Paul, Nora’s long lost love, there is seldom a boring moment in Pete’s Dragon. It’s up to Pete to keep himself and Elliott safe and reunite Paul and Nora, if he can. If only, then perhaps they can all have the happy ending they desire.

Storyline/Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 4 out of 5 stars
Acting: 5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 4 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
Pete’s Dragon is available in anamorphic widescreen with a 1.66:1 aspect ratio. If you’ve seen the 2001 remastered version you might not notice a lot of differences between this DVD and that one. The 2001 version looked amazing back then, and today it still looks pretty good. It’s not as amazing as it could look, given the changes in DVD that have been made in recent years, but it still looks good.

When you consider that the film was made in the 70s, it looks even better. The level of detail is fairly high and the detail (especially during the live action scenes) is close to exceptional. There is some dirt and the occasional spot of grime or noise. Some blurry moments are here, as well. These things are noticeable and it would have been nice to see this classic cleaned up, but all things considered this is an acceptable transfer.

Like the video transfer, the audio transfer doesn’t appear to have been updated from the previous DVD. The Dolby Digital English 5.1 transfer has aged worse than the video. While the sound isn’t horrible, it does sound like an older track. The updated track breathes a little bit of life into the musical renditions, which is nice. The dialogue is easy to hear. The biggest problem seems that the audio is inconsistent in how good it sounds. Subtitles include English for the Hearing Impaired and Closed Captioning.

Visual: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
Pete’s Dragon fans should be thrilled by this lineup. Generally, older movies like this are recycled every so often. While one might think that has happened here, especially when looking at the audio/video transfer, that actually isn’t the case. The bonus features tell another story. There is a nice selection of previously ported and new bonuses available in this set. Like most Disney DVD’s these days, Pete’s Dragon is enabled with Disney Fast Play. Parent’s that are putting this on for their kids will like that it immediately starts playing without any prompting. Of course, if you’re watching this with the family you can easily bypass Fast Play.

Previews are accessible before the movie and through a previews section in the bonus area. Previews include Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Princess and the Frog, Hannah Montana: The Movie, Earth, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, Up, Disney Blu-ray, Disney Movie Rewards, and D23.

“Brazzle Dazzle Effects: Behind Disney’s Movie Magic”: In this 25 minute featurette, you get a combination of two features. The first part includes Disney’s history of mixing live action with animation. You get to see some clips from the 20s and later. It’s interesting to see how the quality gets better as time moves on. Meanwhile, the second half looks at this movie specifically. Narrator, Sean Marshall, talks about his experiences and what technical advances were used in Pete’s Dragon.

“Terminus & Hoagy Hunt Elliott”: This is a deleted storyboard sequence. It’s a small scene, lasting just over two minutes in length. Thanks to the rough pencil art and the incredibly basic video it’s hard to appreciate it for what it’s worth. Still fans might enjoy seeing this.

“Boo Bop Bopbop Bop (I Love You, Too)”: This short feature gives you a chance to hear another rendition of this song along with some concept sketches of one of the scenes in the film.

“Original Demo Recordings”: This offers fans a new (or at least different) look at “Brazzle Dazzle Day”, “Every Little Piece”, and “The Greatest Star of All.” The final musical scene here is labeled as a “Comic Opera.” This is performed by Ferdinand with an audience of Dr. Terminus. In the case of the comic opera, this is something that didn’t make the cut into the final film.

“Promotional Record” is a twelve minute look at four songs in the film. The four songs include “It’s Not Easy,” “Brazzle Dazzle Day,” “There’s Room for Everyone,” and “Candle on the Water.” I really enjoyed these and found them to be quite amusing. The 70s vibe make these worth watching.

“Where’s Elliott?: The Disappearing Dragon Game”: Kids might enjoy this hide and seek type game. The narrator is on hand to give out some cheesy clues that are supposed to help you get through the game. DVDs shouldn’t have games, so don’t expect anything amazing. If you do, you will surely be disappointed.

“Disney Family Album”: This serves as part of the documentary series and includes a couple of smaller bonuses. There is a two minute clip on the animator, Ken Anderson. In this, Anderson talks about what he brought to the characters and his feelings on his work in Pete’s Dragon. Up next is “The Plausible Impossible,” a slightly longer feature that is available, which looks at a 1956 Halloween episode of Disneyland. This is small, but Disney fans are going to enjoy seeing it again.

“Lighthouse Keeping”: This serves as your cartoon feature. It’s a short from 1946, in which Donald Duck goes head to head with a pelican that wants to sleep. This is ported from the previous release and does not appear to have been changed in any way.

Also included are a series of art galleries. stills of Elliott and Pete (17), Behind the Scenes (26), and Publicity (14). The pictures here are worth checking out once but other than that they will probably be ignored. Two trailers (domestic and international) are included, along with “About Pete’s Dragon,” a text feature that looks at the movie and various aspects of the production.

Bonus Features: 4 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Pete’s Dragon has that happily ever after, maybe, kind of feeling most of the Disney movies of the 70s seemed to have. While there may be some things you wouldn’t expect in today’s Disney movies (drunkenness anyone?) this is still a Disney classic and it’s one you might remember growing up with, like I did. I don’t see anything wrong with this movie. It’s fun, hopeful, and somewhat magical. I recommend watching this one with your kids, together.

Overall Rating: 3.86 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Pete’s Dragon, Disney, Family Entertainment, High Flying Edition, DVD Review, Animation, Family Movie

Release Info:
DVD Release Date: June 30, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $22.99

As a parent to a young daughter and fan of the Jonas Brothers, I was excited to carry out this review. My main concern when I received the Jonas Brothers: Concert Experience Extended Movie was how the program would be complied. I knew Disney would do a reputable job, but I was concerned with the flow of the DVD content. I mean this program is a compilation of concerts, so how could Disney make it flow together? Well, I still don’t know the technicalities of it all, but I do know that there wasn’t a single awkward pause from concert to concert, making the movie seamless.

In this Extended Movie set, there were not only many concerts to tickle your fancy, but you get to enjoy an inside look at the lives of Kevin, Joe and Nick. You can experience the tour and the adventure with them. There are also special guest appearances from Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift, as well as, two songs not heard or seen when this debuted in theaters.

Personally, I think Disney did an excellent job of taking us on tour with the Jonas Brothers and giving us an inside look at what this dynamic trio does. As for Eliana my six-year-old daughter who loves the Jo Bros, this program did nothing for her. The movie just could not hold her attention. When it came to the concerts she enjoyed them, but everything else was just filler and ‘boring’ for her. On the other hand, her ten-year-old girlfriend was glued! Having all that said, I believe that this is a program for huge Jonas Brothers fans and is more geared for the tween to teen crowd.

The Jonas Brothers: The Concert Experience Extended Edition Plot
In the Jonas Brothers’ movie debut, Disney gives you a front row seat and a behind the scenes pass to the entire concert experience with Kevin, Joe and Nick. The Jonas Brothers: Concert Experience Extended Edition lets you look into what goes on before and after the concerts. This exclusive movie includes, bonus features like two songs that were not heard or seen on the big screen and never before seen performances.

What a treat! And if that wasn’t enough, there are special guest appearances by Taylor Swift and Demi Lovato. The meat and potatoes of the DVD is mainly made up of singing and dancing. That’s why this is the Jonas Brothers’ concert experience. I would expect nothing less. While the behind the scenes moments are a nice touch, it is nice to see that the Jo Bros stuck with what they do best, on stage.

Some of the excerpts are from the Jonas Brothers’ Burning Up concert tour, which happened in 2008. Over 1 million fans experienced this concert first hand, and now they will have the chance to re-experience the adventure. For those of us who never had the chance to attend this concert (especially those young girls who so badly wanted to go), this is our way to experience what was deemed one of the hottest concerts of 2008!

The never before seen song performances are for “Love Is On Its Way” and “Live To Party.”

Storyline/Plot: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 3 out of 5 stars
Acting: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 4 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
The Jonas Brothers: Concert Experience Extended Edition was filmed in HD with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The concert scenes were fantastic! You truly felt the concert experience right in your living room. As for some of the other scenes, like before or after the concert, they were somewhat hard to watch. The camera was up, down and moving around quite a bit. But other than that, there was nothing to complain about. The picture was clean without errors or dirt.

The audio for the movie was in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and was crisp and clear. The concert sounded wonderful and the dialogue was consistently clear. In addition to the standard audio options you can see this movie with French or Spanish subtitles.

Visual: 4 out of 5 stars
Audio: 5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
In this movie there are three main bonus features. They include two songs in concert and two featurettes. First, the two never before heard songs in concert are “Love Bug” and “Shelf.” Both are great new Jo Bros songs that my daughter and her friend enjoyed.

The second set of bonus features includes the featurettes. The first featurette is the Up Close and Personal With the Jonas Brothers. Here is where the Jonas Brothers share their love for their fans and take you on their “Burning Up Tour.” You definitely have the premium back stage pass on this segment. You get to see everything from the stage rehearsals to the day the tour begins in Toronto, Canada. This was a really cool inside look at what goes on before the Jonas Brothers shows!

And finally, the last featurette is Dylan and Cole Sprouse Blu-Ray is Suite. Here the twins from The Suite Life on Deck talk about the advantages of Blu-Ray discs and Blu-Ray players. I found this segment to be very informative, especially since I do not yet own a Blu-Ray player or any discs. I just might have to convince my husband to get one. With the Extended Movie Edition you will also receive a digital copy. This digital copy allows you to watch the movie anywhere, anytime and on almost any potable device.

Last but not least, there are several sneak peaks for other hot Disney programs. These programs include Race To Witch Mountain, Hannah Montana: The Movie, Tinkerbell The Lost Treasure, Earth, Burning Up, Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, G-Force, Jonas, Disney Blu-Ray Magic in High-Def and Disney Movie Rewards.

Bonus Features: 5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
If you have or know a diehard Jonas fan, this is the movie for them! What more could a Jo Bros fan want? This DVD has everything from live concerts to the inside lives of the brothers and it also has awesome bonus features. Just make sure your child is old enough to actually benefit from watching this concert. My daughter is six and at times, she found that the lack of action on screen led to boredom. This is highly recommended for hardcore Jonas fans, most of all.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: DVD, DVD Review, Movie Review, Jonas Brothers, Disney

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: June 26, 2009
DVD Release Date: June 30, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $17.49

The writers at Disney never cease to amaze me. I love their programs; everything from the classics to their new movies. When I had the opportunity to review the Princess Protection Program I knew it was going to be a great family film. The Disney programs never disappointment me with the characters, plot and the lessons shown in their films. My daughter and I sat and enjoyed the movie and Bonus Features together. What a treat for the both of us!

As a parent, and avid Disney Channel watcher, Princess Protection Program had everything I needed to keep me engaged throughout the entire movie. Demi Lavato as Princess Rosalinda/Rosie and Selena Gomez as an everyday girl and tomboy Carter Mason was a perfect pairing, especially for fans of Hannah Montana and Camp Rock.

I feel this is a fantastic film to teach young girls and boys that just because you are from one side of the world or the other you may still have things in common. Just because you come from different backgrounds doesn’t mean you cannot become great friends. Also, another lesson can be found by not judging a book by its cover. I love this lesson, any which way it’s written and Disney did a bang-up job of presenting it.

My daughter, Eliana, is a big fan of Wizards Of Waverly Place and to see Selena Gomez in a different production was really exciting for her. Of course, seeing Demi Lavato as a princess was the icing on the cake. Even though Eliana is only six years old, she totally understood the message Disney was trying to deliver. She enjoyed every part of the movie and the Bonus Features, too. This is a movie that we will watch over and over, and it’s sure to be a hit at our future slumber parties.

The Princess Protection Program Plot
Princess Protection Program is a wildly exciting reality check for two teenage girls whose lives are turned upside due to unforeseen circumstances. This Disney Channel Original Movie stars Selena Gomez (Wizards Of Waverly Place) as Carter Mason and Demi Lavato (Sonny With A Chance) as Princess Rosalinda Maria Montoya Fioré/Rosie.

Carter’s father, an agent in the covert international Princess Protection Program, brings home Rosie to live as Carter’s “cousin” until it is safe for her to return to her home in Costa Luna. The fact that this is a measure of protection that is necessary for the girl doesn’t matter much to her or the tomboy she is forced to become a “relative” to.

The girls are from two entirely different worlds and in the beginning all they notice is the differences of the other girl. It doesn’t change the fact that these two girls have to learn to get along. Of course, it doesn’t take long for them to learn that they have more in common than meets the eye.

Rosie might not seem like the kind of princess that would be a good fit for Louisiana, but with Carter at her side (like it or not) she soon learns to adapt. Rosie finds herself roughing-it and learns to act like an everyday girl. Meanwhile Carter, with the help of Rosie, finds her inner princess.

Storyline/Plot: 5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 5 out of 5 stars
Acting: 5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
The video and audio for the Princess Protection Program was across the board incredible. The picture was crisp, clean and clear throughout the movie. The aspect ratio is 1.78:1 and looks great. There were spots in the movie where I felt as though I was right there. In some movies I have noticed that the scenes seem to be on a green screen or just man made, but this was not the case for this film.

The audio for the movie is in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound with tracks in French and Spanish. The main tracks are in English and sound superb. I cannot comment on the French or Spanish tracks, but I am led to believe they would be just as favorable. There wasn’t a time that I had to adjust the volume or color for this movie.

Visual: 5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
There are a couple of bonus features for Princess Protection Program. The thing I liked most about these bonuses is that they should be fun for kids that liked the movie. A lot of times, kids are left out of the bonus features, but these ones are enjoyable to the young girls that will make up the core audience for this DVD.

There are three main features for this film. Included are two featurettes and a music video. The music video, “One And the Same” stars both Gomez and Lavato who sing together. Their fans should enjoy this quite a bit. I know that we did!

The featurettes included are “Royal & Loyal BFF’s” and “A Royal Reality”. Both of these are quite entertaining, though I think seeing and hearing from the real life princess was the most exciting option, causing “A Royal Reality” to be the real winner. In “Royal & Loyal” we get a chance to see what real life good friends Lavato and Gomez are. They dish about their friendship and it’s great for their fans to see how much they truly seem to like one another. In “A Royal Reality” kids get a chance to see and hear from a real life princess. While she cannot tell too much about her background, kids get a chance to see that she’s just like most other girls even though she comes from a completely different world. It’s definitely enlightening!

Other than that the only thing that qualifies as special features are the previews. This disk includes previews for Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Princess and the Frog, Hannah Montana: The Movie, Race to Witch Mountain, Sonny with a Chance, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, Earth, and Hatching Pete/Dadnapped Double Feature.

Bonus Features: 5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Disney has created yet another fantastic family movie. The Princess Protection Program will be played over and over again at my house if my daughter has anything to say about it.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: DVD, DVD Review, Movie Review, Disney, Family, Princess Protection Program

Throwdown a Hoedown with Disney Channel Phenomenon Miley Cyrus in her First Feature Film!

Hannah Montana The Movie Available in a Three-Disc Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def Combo Pack, Two-Disc DVD Set and Single-Disc DVD on August 18, 2009

Teen superstar Miley Cyrus brings her wildly popular Disney Channel alter ego down home when Hannah Montana The Movie comes to Blu-ray™ Hi-Def and DVD on August 18, 2009 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. The first- ever full-length Hannah Montana theatrical movie is available for a limited time only in a Three-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack that includes the film in both Blu-ray and DVD formats, as well as Two-Disc and Single-Disc DVD editions. Both the Blu-ray Combo Pack and Two-Disc DVD include DisneyFile, a digital copy of the movie that can be viewed on an array of electronic devices.

In an industry first for Blu-ray technology, Walt Disney Studios’ Hannah Montana The Movie Blu-ray Disc release will feature an interactive experience that allows viewers to create a wish list of items displayed in the film and move desired items onto the internet via BD-Live capabilities. Through “Hannah’s Country Store” viewers will be able to click on the products in the movie, obtain information about the product, and purchase the merchandise. Also available is BD Radio Disney where fans can stream live Radio Disney audio through their home entertainment system, complete with artist and song information and lyrics! Users can also quickly link to site offering their favorite songs for purchase.

Being a superstar as well as a normal teenager is getting even more complicated for Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus). Her crazy double life as pop sensation Hannah Montana is taking its toll on the teen and her family. So Miley’s dad, Robby Ray Stewart (Miley’s real-life father, Billy Ray Cyrus) decides a visit to the family farm in Tennessee to celebrate Grandma Ruby’s (Margo Martindale) birthday will bring his little girl back down to earth. Far away from the bright lights and the big city, Miley reconnects with childhood friend Travis (Lucas Till).

Their budding romance, along with the love of her family and friends, gives Miley some much-needed perspective on life. But when her pushy publicist (Vanessa Williams) comes calling and a smarmy reporter (Peter Gunn) tries to dig up the dirt on Hannah, Miley is forced to make the hardest decision of her life.

Hannah Montana The Movie stars Miley Cyrus as everyday high school girl Miley Stewart and her rock star alter ego Hannah Montana. Cyrus is joined in the film by her stellar cast mates from the hit Disney Channel series including Emily Osment, Moises Arias, Mitchel Musso, Billy Ray Cyrus and Jason Earles. In addition, fans will enjoy special appearances by Lucas Till (Walk the Line), Vanessa Williams (“Ugly Betty”), Tyra Banks (“America’s Next Top Model”), Barry Bostwick (“Nancy Drew”), Melora Hardin (17 Again), and hit recording artists Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts.

ROCKIN’ BONUS FEATURES

The Three-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack includes these exclusive bonus features:
The HoeDown ThrowDown Home Experience – everyone in the movie has to learn to do it, and now you can too. Famed choreographer Jamal Sims and some of our cast members will show us all step by step how to do the dance everyone is talking about.
The Hannah Montana Store – an interactive experience that allows viewers to create a wish list of items displayed in the film and move desired items onto the internet via BD-Live capabilities. Through “Hannah’s Country Store” viewers will be able to click on the products in the movie, obtain information about the product, and purchase the merchandise.
7 Music Videos
Find Your Way Back Home – Miley, Emily, Billy Ray, and other cast members share with us “THEIR” hometowns: the people, places & things that make ‘em special. We’ll go to a pottery class with Miley & her sister, visit their favorite ice cream shop, and other haunts around the Franklin Tennessee Town Square. Billy Ray saddles up his iron horse to show us home viewers a firsthand account of the beauty a country town like Thompson’s Station Tennessee has to offer. But not everyone is from a small country town. Emily will show us what it’s like to grow up in the entertainment Mecca we like to call Hollywood. Perhaps it will inspire us all to find a little reason to brag of our own hailing?

Production 101: Jackson Style – Jason Earles is more than Miley’s big brother on TV. He is quite the accomplished actor. Here he will put his talents to use by interviewing cast & crew and giving us a true behind the scenes look at how this movie was made. He’ll cover the fashion, the music, the stars, lights, camera…action!
Bloopers
Deleted Scenes with Director Commentary
BD Radio Disney – Fans can stream live Radio Disney audio through their home entertainment system, complete with artist and song information and lyrics! Users can also quickly link to site offering their favorite songs for purchase.

Both the Three-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack and Two-Disc DVD include the following bonus features:
New Music Video
Find Your Way Back Home
Production 101: Jackson Style
Bloopers
Deleted Scenes with Director Commentary

Hannah Montana The Movie has a suggested retail price of $29.99 SRP (US) or $35.99 SRP
(Canada) for the 1-Disc DVD, $39.99 SRP (US) or $44.99 SRP (Canada) for the 2-Disc DVD,
and $44.99 (US) or $51.99 SRP (Canada) for the 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo pack.

About Disney’s ComboPack (Blu-ray + DVD + DisneyFile in a single package):
To provide consumers with unprecedented quality, value and portability of their favorite Disney
movies, in 2008 Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE) pioneered the Combo Pack –
a Blu-ray DiscTM plus a DVD and a DisneyFile digital copy of the film in a single package. Current
WDSHE branded titles available as Combo Packs include High School Musical 3, Beverly Hills
Chihuahua, Bolt and Bedtime Stories with future plans for Race to Witch Mountain.

STREET DATE: August 18, 2009
Direct prebook: June 23, 2009
Pricing: 1-Disc DVD: $29.99 SRP (US); $35.99 SRP (Canada)
2-Disc DVD: $39.99 SRP (US); $44.99 SRP (Canada)
3-Disc BD Combo Pack: $44.99 SRP (US); $51.99 SRP
(Canada)

Technorati Tags: Hannah Montana The Movie, Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus, Disney, August 18, Blu-ray, DVD, Upcoming Releases, Bonus Features