How did you get involved with the project?
I auditioned. It was a funny process because I nearly didn’t go into the audition. I knew it was a Disney film and I thought that everyone and their mother would be auditioning for the role. I thought to myself, ‘Why am I going to set myself up for this disappointment?’ But then I realized that I might as well throw my name into the hat. There aren’t many auditions in the world where you get to sing a song and read a scene, so I went for it. I still can’t believe that I got a callback and ended up with the job. It’s crazy.

How would you describe the audition process?
I auditioned a few times at Disney. I had to read a couple of scenes and I had to sing something for the audition, so I brought a Joni Mitchell song along with me.

Which Joni Mitchell song did you choose?
I sang “Help Me,” which is a song I love to sing. It was fun, but I didn’t really think much of the audition because I heard there were so many people going for the role. I kept thinking to myself, ‘What are the chances of me getting this role? It’s very slim.’

How nervous were you at the audition?
To be honest, it wasn’t too nerve wracking. It was actually pretty fun because you never get to sing in auditions and I love to sing. I just went in there and did my best.

How did you react when you were told you’d won the role?
I was so excited when I found out I was going to be the voice of Rapunzel. I remember the moment clearly. I was working in New York at the time. I was with some friends and my husband – and I screamed as soon as I found out the news. I was over the moon.

How is Rapunzel different to the other Disney princesses?
Rapunzel is a bit more relatable than the other princesses, especially because she doesn’t even know that she’s a princess until the very end of the movie. I like to think of her as the bohemian Disney princess. She’s barefoot and living in a tower. She paints and reads… She’s a Renaissance woman.

Does Rapunzel look like you?
I like to say that we look like one another, but the character was developed way before I had anything to do with it. In that respect, I think that any similarities are probably coincidental, although I’m very happy with how she looks.

What went through your mind the first time you saw Rapunzel animated?
It took my breath away. I couldn’t believe how much of a sweetheart she looked. The detail on her face was mind-boggling and her hair was insane. You can see each individual strand. That’s pretty intense.

What’s your favorite memory from working on the animation?
Recording the music was one of the biggest highlights for me. I’d never experienced working on a sound stage with a 65-piece orchestra before. I remember sitting there with (composer) Alan Menken and Zach Levi (who voices Flynn Rider in Tangled). I was thinking to myself, ‘Wow… Remember this experience, Mandy. This is a special, once-in-a-lifetime moment.’

Can you take us through the recording process for the music of the movie?
Sure. First of all, Zach and I sang in the middle of the sound stage along with the orchestra so that everybody could get a feel for the music and the singing. As soon as everyone had a feel for the vibe, Zach and I went into isolation booths and sung there instead. It was such an unreal process. It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done in my life. To know that I was one little piece of this huge wall of sound was beautiful.

Did you enjoy recording the dialogue for the movie, too?
That was a lot of fun, but it was also a lot of hard work because I didn’t have any of the animation to look at. All I had to work off were a few sketches. I was standing in a recording booth and it can get pretty lonely in there, but it was also fun because it allows you to go into the depths of your imagination. You have to draw a picture in your head as to what this world looks like. You have to imagine where your character is going and what she is doing. It felt like I was a little girl playing pretend all on my own.

How did you come up with the voice of Rapunzel?
I don’t know. I just walked into the sound booth and I let myself go. I had to be as unguarded as possible and I had to explore the character, even though it sometimes felt totally goofy and weird.

How did you prepare for the sound booth? Did you do any vocal warm-ups before you entered the room?
No, I didn’t do anything like that. If I was singing in the sound booth, then I would do some vocal warm-ups, but that was it. I didn’t do anything different if I was just recording regular dialogue.

What are your favorite Disney movies?
Growing up, I was obsessed with Disney movies like The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Beauty And The Beast. I was always singing the songs from these movies, so to find myself in the studio with Alan Menken was an amazing experience. In fact, it was a dream come true. I couldn’t believe it. I was standing next to the man who created all these iconic songs as I was trying to encompass Rapunzel. It was a very special moment in my life.

And finally… Why should we buy Tangled on DVD?
Because it’s the perfect combination of quintessential Disney fairytale storytelling with a wonderful contemporary edge. There is lots of humor, music and adventure in the movie. There’s something for everyone in Tangled.

TANGLED is Available on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD & Movie Download March 29th!

Technorati Tags: Tangled, Mandy Moore, Interview, Rapunzel, Videos, Movie Clips, DVD Release, Blu-Ray Release, Disney, Pixar, Animated Film

Release Info:
Original Air Date: August 21, 1942
DVD Release Date: March 1, 2011
Online Availability: Amazon for $26.99

Disney has the distinguished ability to say that they have made movies that children will never forget. With each Diamond Edition film that comes out, I become giddy, remembering watching the film as a child. One of my favorite films growing up, especially by Disney, was Bambi. Luckily for me, I was born a female, because for years I hated boys that enjoyed hunting season just because of this one film. That’s one of the many beautiful parts of Bambi. It teaches children the importance of the forest and all of the lives living in it. I wouldn’t go as far as saying it made me a vegetarian (because it didn’t), though I know some that went that route, but I will say that I have yet to eat venison and I’m not looking to try it anytime soon.

Now that I have children of my own I love being able to watch these movies with my kids and my nephew. The movies are still as important and exciting to me as they were when I was a child. Of course, they are even more exciting now because I can see the excitement the kids are experiencing and that makes it so much better. Knowing how my mom felt when she watched these movies with me, is an interesting, and exciting thing. It’s also nice to be able to put in a film that the whole family can enjoy. This isn’t one of those films that you can stomach for the sake of the kids. You end up actually enjoying it, which can be rare with some children’s films.

Bambi receives a top quality treatment with a beautifully restored audio and visual rendering, a plethora of bonus features, and a plot as timeless as the day it was written. I rarely say that any movie is must own, but this is a must own release. If you own the DVD I recommend selling it on Amazon and buying this combo pack. With this you will receive both the DVD and Blu-ray in a stellar set. Don’t let this one pass you buy because it will be great for the kids and when they have kids you will be pulling it out to experience the enjoyment with a new generation when the time comes.

The Bambi Plot
Bambi is a story of life, love, and loss. A doe gives birth to a young fawn that is known as Bambi. The young fawn is shown learning to become an adult. we are with him through his first steps and the first words that he speaks. We also have a chance to meet some of his friends, Thumper, a young rabbit, and Flower, a skunk that Bambi picks a name for, much to Flowers delight.

As Bambi gets older, his mother takes him into the meadow to show him the beauty of the open forest, but also to explain to him the danger that exists in the meadow. With nowhere to hide, she explains that deers in the meadow are in danger so they need to do what is necessary to protect themselves. Bambi has a chance to meet Faline, a female fawn, and his father while he is in the meadow. His father saves him from danger and explains that “man” was in the forest, which is why they had to retreat for their lives.

The complete life cycle of the seasons is shown, with the playful young animals enjoying the winter as they slide around on the ice and play in the snow. This leads to the melting of the snow, and the rebirth of Spring, though it does not come without some loss. As Bambi gets older and grows into an adult he learns that life can be hard, but it is also filled with amazing moments and beautiful, loving relationships.

Despite being a young deer, Bambi is put in a position where he has to save the love of his life, from other male suitors and eventually from man, who only sees the animals in the forest as food or a prize in a sport. As the meadow lights up in fire set by man, it is up to Bambi to save Faline so that they can live happily ever after.

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

Audio/Visual:
I am so happy that Disney was the studio to release Bambi. The reason for that is that Disney is notoriously known for providing flawless restorations for their older movies. Bambi is no exception. This movie looks absolutely gorgeous. I am not sure how they managed to take a film as old as this one and make it look brand new, but that is exactly what they did. The colors are lavish and actually pop on the screen with beautiful, rich greens in the forrest, bright flowers, and a natural earthy look where it fits in the picture. The black levels are also amazing. The detail is comparable to a movie just made, with a strong background presence and crisp lines on every element of the film. It appears that everything that the animators attempted to portray is alive and well in this feature. Also worth noting is the fact that Bambi is free of any annoying factors. You will not spot dirt, noise, or any compression problems. The only thing to see here is a beautifully restored classic animated film.

Bambi offers a DTS-HD 7.1 sound mix that delivers everything you need to enjoy this movie and more. The background sound is heard clearly and will allow you to experience the sounds of the forrest as you laugh with the main characters in the forrest. The dialogue remains clear throughout the film and the musical segments sound slightly aged, but amazing regardless of age. Other audio tracks included are the original Dolby 2.0 track and 5.1 tracks in French and Spanish. Subtitles are also available in all three languages.

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

Bonus Features:
While many special releases like this will overload you with special features, Bambi does just the opposite. Most of the special features here are worth watching and some of them are worth watching more than once. This will be a great offering for Disney lovers and huge Bambi fans alike.

Bambi: Inside Walt’s Story Meetings – For me, this stands out as one of the coolest special features in the Bambi lineup. Using the Picture-in-Picture format, you have a chance to see a recreation of the story and the meetings that Walt Disney had with his team during the production process. This featurette was made using transcripts that the filmmakers kept of the meetings. While I am not a fan of commentaries for the most part, something like this is similar, but ends up offering plenty of information you wouldn’t have received in a commentary. Included here is a selected amount of archival footage, photographs from the production, sketches and concept art, and even color tests. If you want to up the ante you can press the enter button when you are prompted and you receive a plethora of additional information. Among the more notable points of this area are classic animated shorts, anecdotes, and secret featurettes that are only found in this area.

The Making of Bambi: A Prince is Born: This six part documentary lasts for around an hour. It includes the areas of Story, Characters, Actors, Art Design, Music, and History. If there was any questions you had or things you wanted to know about Bambi chances are you will find that information here.

If you’re a fan of Interactive Galleries you will find hundreds of pictures in various sections. Included are character design sketches, production photos, visual development shots, storyboards, and background paintings.

Eight minutes of Deleted Scenes offer four deleted shots. Two of the scenes, “Two Leaves” and ” Bambi Stuck on a Reed” have not been available in any other releases. Along with the two new scenes, are two scenes that have been available on various Bambi DVD releases. Those two scenes are “Winter Grass” and “Bambi’s First Snow.”

“Twitterpated” is a song that never made it in the movie. This two minute deleted song is included along with the other special features.

Inside the Disney Archives: This nine minute segment gives you a chance to experience some of the original Bambi artwork in the Disney Vault with one of the studio animators.

Disney Second Screen: Second Screen is a new feature that allows viewers to synch up their computers or iPads to receive additional downloadable content

Disney’s Big Book of Knowledge: This one is perfect for the kids. This gives them a chance to check out the forest in more detail. The kids have a chance to meet Bambi and his friends. Some games are also available in this section.

Tricks of the Trade: This seven minute section has Walt Disney showing off the multi-plane camera and various animation techniques of the Disney animators.

The Old Mill lasts for nine minutes and includes the 1937 Academy Award winning animated short “Silly Symphony”

Also included are the original theatrical trailer, Disney View (this allows you to fill the black spaces on your television screen with artwork) and a variety of sneak peeks for such movies as Winnie the Pooh, Bambi 2, Tangled, The Lion King, and Tinker Bell and the Mysterious Winter Woods.

Bonus Features: 5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Classic Disney movies are considered must own films. This is what it really comes down to. They are must own because the films are generally fabulous and the modern treatment that Disney gives them is nothing short of fabulous. Bambi looks and sounds amazing. This is as close to a modern-looking movie as something can be that was made decades ago. Most importantly, Bambi is one of those ageless tales that breeze through the generational gaps. Parents will enjoy this with their children and in many cases this will be a movie that grandkids could enjoy with their grandparents. While you likely own Bambi in other formats, you owe it to yourself to pick this up in Bluray. It will be well worth the money spent.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Blu-Ray Review, Bambi, Two-Disc, Diamond Edition, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, Disney, Classic, Animation, Disney Movie, Thumper, Flower

Release Info:
Theatrical Release Dates: January 6, 1942 and December 31, 1999
DVD Release Date: November 30, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $27.99

I grew up loving the sounds of classical music. Not many parents introduce their children to vibrant, concert quality music these days. I saw Fantasia many times when I was a kid. I owned the VHS of it in the clam-shell case. I now own the Blu-Ray and DVD thanks to this review. When we typically think of Disney movies, Fantasia is usually not the first movie that comes to mind. These days, it seems to be one of the under-appreciated gems that Walt Disney held near and dear to his own heart. People are not used to animation with no sound. There are no sound effects or dialogue. There is only music, and that is the way this film was intended to be. As an audience member, the goal is to sit back and enjoy the beautiful, harmonic melodies, as you watch the stories each piece is telling unfold before your very eyes.

Ashtyn, my girlfriend, had never seen Fantasia. Like most people she dismissed it as a silly, frivolous piece of Disney art. Oh, she had no doubt it was good, but she was certain it was not exactly her cup of tea. Things changed after she watched it. The film is framed around Mickey Mouse’s comeback in “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”, which has to be the highlight of the film. Though filmmakers, and Disney himself, used the same tender, loving care to make all the other Fantasia segments, this one stands out, as it is the very best. Mickey Mouse shines as only he can and oh what a comeback he made! Ash was surprised by how much she truly ended up liking Fantasia far more than she thought she would. There is something endearing about this film, and the music, under the direction of Leopold Stokowski, is absolutely brilliant.

I had never seen Fantasia 2000 before receiving it for review. I believe it is a worthy sequel to Fantasia. It follows the same kind of formula with animated features set to classical music. It also has introductions by famous people. I really enjoyed seeing the amazing violinist, Itzhak Perlman, as well as musical legends like Quincy Jones and Bette Midler in this. These are true music enthusiasts, who have the chance to share their love of music through these orchestrations by James Levine and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

I implore parents to give these two films a chance and to introduce their children to classical music, through Fantasia and Fantasia 2000. There is nothing like enjoying the sweet sound of music as performed by an orchestra, and these films present such music in a fun and imaginative way. Walt Disney wanted to breathe new life into his beloved Mickey Mouse. As new characters developed, Mickey was pushed to the side, but Walt had faith his little mouse would find a way to reconnect with his audience. As Mickey brought life into Fantasia, all of the characters of these two films bring fantastical interpretations to both new orchestrations and old ones that had been around for years. While this may not be the Disney film you watch over and over with your kids, it needs to be the one you DO watch with them to inspire them to be creative, open and imaginative.

The Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 Plots
The original film was shown back in the 1940s. At that time, the Philadelphia Orchestra performed the pieces, as they were conducted by Leopold Stokowski. Fantasia is set up to feature nine different animation segments interspersed with live-action introductions and visions of an orchestra playing. The orchestra on screen is not the one actually making the lovely music, though. It is made up of local musicians from the L.A. area and those involved with this film project in other ways. Stokowski does serve as the conductor and can be seen on screen, especially during the melodic opening of the film.

The segments for Fantasia include “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”, “Night on Bald Mountain”/”Ave Maria”, “Nutcracker Suite”, “The Rite of Spring”, “Intermission”/”Meet the Soundtrack”, “The Pastoral Symphony” and “Dance of the Hours”. The film features music from composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach (his “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” was adapted for a complete orchestra), Tchaikovsky (“Nutcracker Suite”), Igor Stravinsky (“The Rite of Spring”), Ludwig van Beethoven (“The Pastoral Symphony”) and Franz Schubert (“Ave Maria”), amongst others.

Each musical sequence tells its own animated story. For example, “Dance of the Hours” by Amilcare Ponchielli features Madame Upanova and her dancing ostriches in the morning, Hyacinth Hippo and her dancing servants for the daytime, Elephanchine and her bubble-blowing elephant troupe for the evening and Ben Ali Gator and his troop of dancing alligators for the night. When all of the characters meet, chaos ensues until they realize they all have the same goal. Together they dance, though there is definitely a surprise ending.

The most famous piece in Fantasia is “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”. Set to the music of Paul Dukas, and based on the poem “Der Zauberlehrling” by Goethe, it tells the story of a lazy sorcerer’s apprentice, as portrayed by Mickey Mouse. He is the apprentice of Yen Sid, and as he is taking a rest, the apprentice uses a magical hat he saw Yen Sid use previously, to attempt to get his chores done more quickly (and without him having to do the work). Unfortunately, the apprentice does not yet have his powers under control, so he ends up making a bigger mess. As he floods the tower, each effort to get it under control causes more damage. Finally, Yen Sid must discover what his young apprentice has been up to, and qualm the rushing waters, before more damage occurs. This is the hallmark of Fantasia and it also appears in Fantasia 2000 due to its popularity and recognizability.

Speaking of Fantasia 2000, this sequel features celebrities in the live-action sequences. The aforementioned stars are joined by the likes of Penn and Teller, Angela Lansbury and Steve Martin. The music that is featured in Fantasia 2000 includes “Symphony No. 5 in C minor-I. Allegro con brio” by Ludwig Von Beethoven, “Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin, “Pines of Rome” by Ottorino Respighi, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” by Paul Dukas, “Pomp and Circumstance – Marches 1, 2, 3 and 4″ by Edward Elgars, “Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major-I. Allegro” by Dmitri Shostakovich and “Firebird Suite” by Igor Stravinsky. The animations for these segments offer animated, flying humpback whales, people in Depression-Era New York City, the story of a soldier, a flock of flamingos doing slapstick comedy, Donald Duck on Noah’s Ark, and a forest sprite and elk.

Fantasia 2000 features an animation style incredibly similar to that in Fantasia. You can tell the artists took care in making the two films look like they were sequels. From the opening sequences, which feature splashes of liquid color reminiscent of the water splashing around during “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” to the anthropomorphic nature of the animals that pepper throughout the various segments, these movies are interlinked by more than just their lack of dialogue and classical music motifs.

Both of these films contain segments with abstract art and animation. In Fantasia, the opening sequence features various degrees of light and darkness that play with the shadows that are created by the conductor and members of the symphony orchestra, due to changes in lighting. In Fantasia 2000, the opening sequence features abstract patterns. The patterns play with the ideas of light and darkness, and feature shapes within the patterns that resemble bats and butterflies within the light and dark. These shapes change, though they resemble various kinds of butterflies and bats, depending on the scene, with the first appearing as splashes along the sky and clouds.

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

Audio/Visual:
These newly restored films look brilliant in Blu-Ray. First, let’s start with Fantasia. The Fantasia Blu-Ray is really what matters in this set, though there is a DVD in it, which is of decent quality. The Blu-Ray features 1080p, HD video at a 1.33:1 aspect ratio. it looks absolutely amazing. For its age, you’d be hard-pressed to find a quality as good as this one. I did not notice any major visual errors that would denigrate my viewing pleasure. Likewise, the more modern Fantasia 2000 looks exceptionally good. Since it is newer, more could be done to make this film explode from the screen in an array of colors. It is presented at a 1.78:1 aspect ratio in 1080p HD. Disney does wonders when it comes to film restoration and you can truly see the care put into restoring these two films for Blu-Ray.

The audio for the Fantasia Blu-Ray is as awesome as the video quality. The prime track is English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. Everything sounds amazing. The restoration of this track has brought Fantasia to life in new and astounding ways. This truly sounds like a party in your ears. With a soundtrack driven film like Fantasia, a strong audio track is a necessity and this one succeeds on all levels. The disc also features 5.1 DEHT French and Spanish language tracks and English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. Fantasia 2000 features an English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track. I did not think a track could get any better than the one in Fantasia, but this one does. This Blu-Ray also features 5.1 DEHT French and Spanish language tracks and English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. Both tracks are explosive, vibrant, and all-encompassing in their sound.

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

Bonus Features:
In true Disney fashion, this four-disc set for Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 are full of bonus features. We’ll get started right away and list what is offered for each film.

Fantasia

On the DVD

Audio Commentary: There is a commentary with Brian Sibley, who is a Disney Historian. I found this commentary to be absolutely fascinating.

Disney Family Museum: This is a five minute mini-feature where Diane Disney-Miller, the daughter of Walt, shows viewers around the new Disney Family Museum, which is located in San Francisco. The reason this is included is because the museum features an extensive Fantasia exhibit. Within this museum is the famed Schultheis notebook, which contains production notes for the film. It was found recently in the walls of a convent.

On the Blu-Ray

The aforementioned features are also included on the Blu-Ray version of Fantasia. There are also the following, additional features.

Disney View: This is really another visual mode for the film. It is presented at a 16×9 aspect ratio and features original artwork by a Disney artist to accompany this new design mode.

The Shultheis Notebook: A Disney Treasure: This is an actual feature that is just shy of 15 minutes in length. It explores, more in depth, the infamous Shultheis Notebook. The notebook was created by one of Fantasia‘s special effects crew members, Herman Schultheis. It offers extensive production notes that reveal many of the special effects secrets used in the film. This is significant because many of these effects had baffled animators when trying to replicate their creation, in modern day animation features until finding Schultheis’ technical guide.

Audio Commentaries: There is a commentary with executive producer Roy E. Disney, conductor James Levine, animation historian, John Canemaker, and the film restoration manager Scott McQueen and one hosted by John Canemaker, which features interviews and story note recreations by Walt Disney.

Finally, there are a selection of Art Galleries and Screensavers that feature pictures in HD and Blu-Ray interactivity.

Fantasia 2000

On the DVD

‘Musicana’ – Walt’s Inspiration for a Sequel: This featurette is ten minutes in length. Walt always intended to have a Fantasia sequel. This looks at the artwork created for that, which was to be named Musicana. The goal for this project from the 70s was to explore different cultures using classical music. John Lasseter was even working on a feature with Walt called “The Emperor and the Nightingale”. This featurette explores why this sequel never was made.

On The Blu-Ray

Besides the feature on the DVD, the Blu-Ray contains:

‘Dali & Disney: A Date With Destino’: This is an extensive featurette that is over 80 minutes in length. It is a documentary that looks at the relationship Walt Disney had with Salvador Dali. It also looks at why it took so long for the Destino short to see the light of day. This featurette is chock full of Disney-fun and information.

Destino: The highly-anticipated short that is around seven minutes in length. This is the legacy of Walt Disney and Salvador Dali.

Disney’s Virtual Vault A feature of BD-Live that offers original DVD Bonus Features that were a part of the Legacy Collection.

Audio Commentaries: There is a commentary with executive producer Roy E. Disney, conductor James Levine, and producer Don Ernst and one with the directors and art directors of the various segments.

Bonus Features: 5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Now is the time to teach your children about the joys of classical music. The colorful, artistic nature of Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 makes these movies stand out amongst a plethora of standard animation features produced by Disney. Walt Disney and the artists behind these films believed they had attained artistic achievements for the development of the Fantasia films and I tend to agree. These will probably not be films you and your children watch daily, but they are must-haves to add to your Disney collection. You need to own these films because they are truly artistic masterpieces you and your family will cherish for decades to come.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Fantasia, Fantasia 2000, Blu-Ray DVD Combo, Blu-Ray Review, Disney, Mickey Mouse, Classic Disney, Family movie, animated

How would you describe Hamm?
Hamm is a wise guy. He throws his opinion out regardless of whether anyone’s listening or not, which is what makes him so much fun. He’s a smart Alec and he’s not so offensive that people shun him, but he makes sure his comments are heard.

What do you bring to the role?
I bring whatever I have in my bag of tricks. They let me play around with the script at times, so there are a lot of my own words are in the movie. That’s the nice thing about Pixar: they let the actors experiment.

How much fun did you have in the recording booth for the movie?
Recording the voice of Hamm is always a great experience, but all of the heavy lifting has already been done because the guys at Pixar spend four years working on the story before I’m called in. All I have to do is give them five different readings of the same line so that they’ve got a variety to choose from. That way, they’ve got a great potpourri of lines to choose from.

How much do you improvise in the sound booth?
I tend to stick to the script, although I let loose every now and then. There’s a line in the movie where Hamm says, “Holy moly, guacamole!” That was my creation. There are quite a few in Toy Story 3.

It’s human nature to become lazy. Why is Pixar an anomaly?
Because they are the originators. This is John Lasseter’s world and he’s a pioneer. It’s as simple as that. Pixar thinks of every single film they create as though it was their very first movie. Every time they start work on a new film, they try to improve themselves. It’s extraordinary.

How much do you relate to the character of Hamm?
Hamm loves trivia and irrelevant facts – and that’s something I’m very fond of. When I was 14 years old, I decided I wanted to learn how to build a house and everything inside it, so that’s what I did. I pick up facts and knowledge about things that people don’t normally cross in their day-to-day life. I’ve always been fascinated by stuff like that. There’s no such thing as useless knowledge to me. It doesn’t exist. You’re going to use it somewhere, sometime, and at some point.

Were you interested in acting from a young age?
I didn’t act until I got to college and that was because they were having more fun than anyone else. But I didn’t even act then really. I was the understudy for the lead role and I thought to myself, ‘This is great. I can go to all of the parties, but I don’t have to do a thing.’ Then the lead actor quit the night before opening night and I hadn’t even read the play.

What was the play?
The play was called Summer And Smoke by Tennessee Williams and I had the lead role, Dr. John. I ended improvising the entire second half of the show because the first act didn’t go very well at all. I tried to perform the play word-for-word with the help of a script girl hidden behind the stage curtain, but it was painful for the audience. I didn’t know any of the lines, so I had to keep walking off stage. You could hear the audience groaning, so I decided to improvise for the second act.

The success of Toy Story 3 means you’ve got the chance to be the number one most successful actor of all time…
Well, you never know. It might be a nice thing to put on my business card. ‘John Ratzenberger: number one box office star of all time.’ There won’t be any phone number or anything else. Just that. I’ll let you know if it happens.

Why have we seen you in so many blockbusters?
I don’t think there is a solid explanation; I was just in the right place at the right time. During The Empire Strikes Back, I was living in an abandoned building in London. I was so poor that the green grocer used to save his rotten vegetables for me. I’d carve out the rotten bits and put everything in a pot to make a stew or a soup. I was having a tough time and I wasn’t making any money. I spent my time throwing rocks at rats in an abandoned building and that was it. But then I got a job on The Empire Strikes Back, but I had no idea if the movie was going to be a success or not. To me, I was just happy to have a job.

What’s your favorite movie from all of the early blockbusters you worked on?
I have always enjoyed traveling, so I guess Gandhi is my favorite because I got to go to India to shoot that movie. I also enjoyed working on a movie called Warlords Of Atlantis, but nobody has ever heard of that one. I went to Malta to shoot Warlords, so that was a great job. I’m not taking anything away from Pixar and Toy Story 3, though. I have had a great time working on every single Pixar movie. Toy Story 3 is one of the greats.

TOY STORY 3 is Available on Blu-ray & DVD November 2nd!

Technorati Tags: Toy Story 3, John Ratzenberger, Interview, November 2 Release, Hamm the Pig, Animation

Allen’s other credits include the Sony Picture Classics’ drama “Redbelt,” the Touchstone Pictures’ hit comedy “Wild Hogs,” the Revolution Studios’ comedy “Christmas with the Kranks,”the DreamWorks sci-fi comedy “Galaxy Quest,” 20th Century Fox’s “Joe Somebody,” the Touchstone Pictures’ ensemble “Big Trouble,” the Paramount Classics film “Who Is Cletis Tout?” and Disney’s update of the family classic “The Shaggy Dog.”

Allen honed his talents as a stand-up comic throughout the 1980s, providing the perfect lead-in to his highly successful ABC television series “Home Improvement,” where he garnered a Golden Globe® Award, an Emmy® nomination, and was honored with the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Male Performer in a Television Series for an unprecedented eight years in a row. In 1999, during the final season of “Home Improvement,” the actor was honored with the TV Guide Award for Favorite Actor in a Comedy Series. Despite a hectic film and TV career, Allen has found time to pen two books. The first book, “Don’t Stand Too Close to a Naked Man,” topped the New York Times Bestseller List. This was followed by his second bestseller “I’m Not Really Here,” which focused on midlife, family and quantum physics.

Tim Allen has signed up for his third mission, once again lending his voice to the heroic space ranger Buzz Lightyear in the new DisneyPixar 3D comedy adventure “Toy Story 3.”

Q: This is the 11th full-length animated film from Disney-Pixar. What makes audiences worldwide embrace Pixar films?
A: The people at Pixar are great storytellers and great movies start with a great story.

Q: What can audiences expect from “Toy Story 3”?
A: “Toy Story 3” is a remarkable achievement with a story that is so good they could have marketed the storyboard version. Even though I knew the story and had read the ending, it grabbed me in the best possible way. I know audiences are going to have the same reaction. There are great action sequences, but the beauty of the movie is the evolution of the subtleties in the shot selection and how it is directed. Pixar just keeps getting better and better. This is a very simple story about friendships and staying together. I love that the ending is really a new beginning. You realize that one door shuts and another one opens. It’s very, very emotional.

Q: What are some of the obstacles that the toys face as Andy prepares to leave for college?
A: In “Toy Story 3,” it is all about second chances. The toys are thrown away by mistake and end up in a daycare center. At first it looks like heaven for these guys, but they are placed with a group of kids that don’t know how to respect toys and they break them. It becomes an absolute purgatory for these toys. So they have to find a way to get themselves back home.

Q: What adventures does Buzz encounter in “Toy Story 3”?
A: In this third film, Buzz gets to expand his role. When he accidentally gets reset, he speaks perfect Spanish. He’s a conquistador and a bull fighter. It’s pretty hysterical. I really do like being Buzz. He’s a lot of fun to play.

Q: Can you give us a sneak peak at some of the new characters and voices in “Toy Story 3”?
A: I like the new toys. Jeff Garlin does a great job with the unicorn, Buttercup. Timothy Dalton plays Mr. Pricklepants who is a theatre-loving hedgehog who takes the craft of acting very seriously. He is just wonderful. And Michael Keaton brings alive the character of the Ken doll. I laughed so hard at the scene where Ken does a fashion show for Barbie. It was hilarious.

Q: What other character would you like to play if you could not be Buzz?
A: I like Mr. Potato Head quite a bit and I am beginning to really like the new hedgehog character, Mr. Pricklepants. Ken is very interesting and he is real super deluded. However, in the end, Buzz is really who I like to be. It’s a character I developed with John Lasseter.

Q: Friendship is a major theme in the “Toy Story” films. What makes the relationship between Buzz and Woody work?
A: I think their relationship works because they accept each other’s limitations. Woody is honest and he wants to do everything for the group; it’s always about other people. Buzz is a doer and a fixer. Give a job to Buzz and he will get it done. There is an overall respect for each other and this makes for a great relationship.

Q: The original “Toy Story” was released in 1995. Over the course of that 15-year span, what would you say is the best thing about playing the role of Buzz Lightyear?
A: The great thing for me about working on the “Toy Story” films is the great friendships I’ve made with all the people at Pixar and with Tom Hanks. Tom and I really like working together and being around each other. I totally respect his talent and I think he feels the same about me. We really do enjoy each other’s company and I value that.

Q: Can you talk a little bit about the process of voicing an animated character?
A: Being in an animated movie is much more difficult than you might imagine, especially for a live performer. As a comedian, I tend to run on and ad-lib because I get bored very quickly. So it can be long sessions in the recording booth. There are also whole days that you just do grunting and panting and breathing just so the animators can match it to the characters. It’s an incredibly complex mechanical process that ends up on screen as an amazing, fun experience. It’s like watching magic.

Q: In “Toy Story 3,” Andy is going off to college. Could you relate to Andy’s dilemma of having to leave behind his treasured childhood toys?
A: I did have a box of stuff with toys that I played with in my formative ages. My parents went through a flood and some of it got destroyed, but my best stuff was always protected. I still have the box and now it’s down to six things. This is what the movie is about; a kid is going off to college and what is he going to keep? Now if I were the kid, I would pick a Buzz Lightyear doll because you could say that you collect classic toys and no one would laugh at you. They would think that a spaceman is cool, but if you have a stuffed cowboy…come on! [LAUGHS]

TOY STORY 3 is Available on Blu-ray & DVD November 2nd!

Technorati Tags: Toy Story 3, Tim Allen Interview, Animation, Buzz Lightyear, Disney, Pixar

In 1995, he gave his voice to the lovable and loyal cowboy sheriff Woody in the computer animated smash hit, “Toy Story.” Hanks reprised his role in the 1999 Disney sequel, “Toy Story 2,” which proved to be a huge hit at the global box office. In 1998, Hanks starred in Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan,” for which he received his fourth Oscar® nomination. Hanks reteamed with Spielberg in 2002, appearing opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in “Catch Me If You Can,” and in 2004 he starred along side of Catherine Zeta-Jones in “The Terminal.” In 2000, Hanks reunited with “Forrest Gump” director Robert Zemeckis and screenwriter William Broyles Jr. in “Cast Away,” for which he received yet another Oscar® nomination. Zemeckis and Hanks worked together again in November 2004 when Hanks starred in the film adaptation of the Caldecott Medal–winning children’s book “The Polar Express.”

Hanks’ other credits include “That Thing You Do,” which he also wrote and directed; “The Green Mile,” written and directed by Frank Darabont; “The Road to Perdition,” featuring Paul Newman and Jude Law and directed by Sam Mendes; the Coen Brothers’ dark comedy “The Ladykillers”; and Mike Nichols’ film “Charlie Wilson’s War,” opposite Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Next up, Tom stars opposite Julia Roberts in “Larry Crowne,” which he wrote with Nia Vardalos, directs and is executive producing.

Tom Hanks is back in the saddle again, lending his voice to the popular pull-string cowboy Woody in the new DisneyPixar 3D comedy adventure “Toy Story 3.”

Q: The “Toy Story” films are beloved by audiences worldwide. What makes these films classics?
A: The “Toy Story” films accomplish what timeless classics aim for – innocent characters who face an endless trail of adventures. We all know the likes of Woody and Buzz. We wonder who we would be if we were toys. There’s this great logic that John Lasseter and Lee [Unkrich] and Darla [K. Anderson], and all the writers adhere to that makes moviegoers just kind of relax and let themselves be transported to this magical place and time. When you can do that with a movie, it’s amazing. With ‘Toy Story 3,’ you come back to a lovely, familiar and happy place.

Q: Disney-Pixar is renowned for creating story-driven films with a heart. What can audiences expect from “Toy Story 3”?
A: “Toy Story 3” is a big massive adventure that has you constantly on the edge of your seat. It’s part “Great Escape,” with the same kind of excitement as Dorothy escaping from the Wicked Witch of the West. And yet they take those elements and turn them into something that is very emotional. We’re talking about toy dinosaurs and Mr. Potato Head, and yet you feel for them and don’t want them to get recycled or stuck with the bratty kids. You want them to be together and played with at the end of the movie. You’re worried for their essence. The filmmakers at Pixar always manage to get you right in the heart. The story is as simple as growing up and having a guy go off to college, but it is so profoundly emotional that you can’t help but have tears in your eyes.

Q: This will be your third time playing the pull-string cowboy sheriff Woody. After all these years, how would you describe Woody’s character and what makes him so lovable?
A: Woody is a passionate guy who throws himself into every action. As soon as he has an instinctive thought like “I have to help them,” or “I have to run away,” he does it with 100-percent commitment. You gotta love that about anybody. What’s great is that I get credit for the way the character and the humor come off. I have kids that are now in college come up to me and say, “when you told that neighbor kid to play nice, that really meant a lot to me.”

Q: How has Woody’s relationship with Buzz evolved over the course of these three films?
A: I love the way the relationship between Woody and Buzz has grown. They started off as pure adversaries and learned how to accept each other’s strengths, forgive each other’s failures, and respect each other as individuals. Opposites definitely attract in this case.

Q: What are some of the obstacles that Woody must face in “Toy Story 3”?
A: There is a huge ground shift in the lives of these toys. In one scene, Woody must watch his buddies get inadvertently thrown in the garbage. It is heart-wrenching for him. Another challenge he must face is when he chooses to walk away from his toy friends because of a temporary difference of perceptions. It is a big, tough decision for him. Without giving too much away, there is this tremendous life-shattering and life-saving adventure.

Q: What other character would you like to play if you could not be Woody?
A: Wow, that’s a very, very good question. Quite frankly, I am of the Slinky dog persuasion. I think Slinky can go places other toys can’t go and he can do things other toys can’t do because of his ability to stretch. I think that would be fun.

Q: “Toy Story” was released in 1995. What are some changes to the animation process that you have experienced over the years?
A: For the first one, we were shown the movie through storyboards mounted on walls. So you walked into a building and about a quarter mile later you understood the movie because they literally walked you through every sequence. This time they did this brilliant thing where they just showed us the entire animatic. An animatic is a process where every voice and every sound effect is added to rough animated drawings and it lasts exactly as long as the final movie. So you actually get to go into a screening room with the rest of the cast and you get to see it all at the same time.

Q: Describe the process of working on animated films.
A: I have been working on a Pixar movie on and off for a long time. It astounds me every time that it takes about four years to create these films. It seems like every two weeks they call you in to record, but it turns out to be about every six months. When I started doing the first “Toy Story” film, I had two kids; I now have four kids. [LAUGHS]

Q: Disney-Pixar has an amazing track record of creating animated films that achieve critical acclaim. What is the secret to Pixar’s success?
A: The Pixar people continuously amaze me. They come up with something that actually looks as though it takes place in this happy, real-world. Every plot line is not just plausible, but oddly authentic. The stories are full of adventure, humor and love. The characters are written with great human dimension. I don’t know how they do it but they astound me.

Q: What do you think of the technological advances in live-action and animated filmmaking?
A: Motion pictures are just beginning to live up to their true potential of being this immersive experience—going from beyond black and white flickering images to fully immersive 3D color high-definition. You don’t even know where the real world starts and the fake world begins. And yet, none of that’s going to matter unless the story and the emotions that they allow us to become invested in are something that we can recognize. Pixar is able to do this in ways that almost defies speculation. And isn’t it grand that the “Toy Story” films are such a great example of this power to deeply connect with an audience?

TOY STORY 3 is Available on Blu-ray & DVD November 2nd!

Technorati Tags: Toy Story 3, Interview, Tom Hanks, Woody, Dancing with the Stars, Pixar, Disney

Release Info:
Theatrical Release Date: November 22, 1991
DVD Release Date: October 5, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $24.99

You might be surprised to know that I never saw Beauty and the Beast before watching it for this review. In the last week, I’ve watched it in both Blu-Ray and DVD. There wasn’t anything personal against Beauty and the Beast. I just did not see it because it came out in 1991, when I was 13 years old. Yeah, I am a girl and girls tend to be more sensitive to the Disney stuff, but I think I was going through that Disney is for babies phase we all seem to go through. Sadly, it was Beauty and the Beast that was the casualty. It is a good thing that I came to my senses and got over it, because what a gem of a movie to miss out on viewing.

Beauty and the Beast was really entertaining. Dom and I watched the DVD once we received it from Disney, but he had seen it before. Apparently, being 10 (for him) meant that he wasn’t too old to enjoy a Disney movie. He had yet to reach the Disney is for babies stage. In fact, he even confesses to owning the VHS of Beauty and the Beast. Truthfully, this film really is a timeless classic. Girls, boys, it doesn’t matter. Like the other Disney classics, everyone should own a copy of Beauty and the Beast. This version is a Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack and everything is exceptionally bright and sharp visually, so owning this specific release is recommended.

This weekend, our friends Tiff and Karen came over with Tiff’s daughter, Jasmyn. Jasmyn will be 3 next week and she LOVES the Disney princesses. When she was here, she found our copy of Beauty and the Beast and insisted we watch it. So, we popped in the Blu-Ray. The animation visually POPS of the screen with insanely amazing clarity. Jasmyn had never seen Beauty and the Beast before. Though she was squeamish during Gaston’s song, she calmed down once Belle came back on screen. Watching Beauty and the Beast was indeed a success.

The plot of Beauty and the Beast is what makes it so successful. It is a simple story. A love story that will enchant people of all generations. We all kind of have an idea of the story of the beauty and the beast, but Disney’s version is far superior to others. This simple story is not dumbed down for children nor is it too intelligent for them. There are plenty of elements that adults will enjoy, and that is why Disney has remained so successful at making animated stories that appeal to all generations. This is why Beauty and the Beast is such a great film.

The Beauty and the Beast Plot
Many moons ago, an arrogant prince is inhospitable to an old woman. When she reveals she is a beautiful sorcerer, she curses him to a live as a beast, and puts a curse on the entire castle. He is left with only a reminder of a red rose, which petals start to fall after he has turned 21. The beast has until the last petals to fall to find true love, since he only ever loved himself, or he and his castle will remain as they are, forever.

In a small, French village, the smart, beautiful, bookworm daughter of an inventor, Belle, seems out of place. Though the villagers think she is odd, her beauty has ensured she has caught the eye of Gaston. A large, brawny, arrogant, hunter who is the fancy of every girl in town, Gaston sets out to woo Belle. He intends to marry her, but Belle wants so much more than to be a trophy wife, left to raise a bunch of babies while her burly man goes out to work. Her father, Maurice, a crazy inventor who sometimes seems more crackpot than genius worries about Belle, but realizes she is a smart girl and can find her own way.

When Maurice takes his latest invention to a fair, he gets turned around and ends up at the Beast’s castle. Seeking shelter from a storm, he is imprisoned. When his horse returns home without him, Belle searches for her father. When she finds him, she realizes he is sick and agrees to exchange her freedom for her fathers. The Beast has a horrible temper, but his staff, a candle stick, Lumiere, a clock, Cogsworth, a Tea Pot, Mrs. Potts, and her young cup/son Chip hope that maybe Belle is the girl to thaw his heart and break the curse. With the petals already falling, they do not have much time to get the beauty to love the beast.

The last version of Beauty and the Beast to be released was a Platinum version. This version offered three different cuts of the movie. This version, the Diamond Edition, offers these three versions, as well, on both the Blu-Ray and the DVD. The Original Theatrical Version is not really the version from 1991. It is the version that was updated for IMAX re-release, and it offers a few changes to the original Original Theatrical Version. This is sad, because nobody seems to know what Disney has done with that original version, which is the film longtime fans have loved for so long.

The Special Extended Edition is the version created for a 2002 IMAX debut. This adds a new song, “Human Again” and changes to the background animation throughout. It is an interesting song addition, because it was supposed to be included in the film and wasn’t. The third version is called the Work-in-Progress Version. This is the screened version of Beauty and the Beast, which debuted at the New York Film Festival prior to its motion picture release. It uses pencil tests, concept art, finished scenes, and partially finished animation. This is a more artsy version of the film, and most kids won’t get why this is included, so it is definitely more for the adults watching Beauty and the Beast. On the Blu-Ray, this version is more of a storyboard sequences with picture in picture display.

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

Audio/Visual:
Since the film is displayed on Blu-Ray and DVD, let’s start with the Blu-Ray first. Beauty and the Beast is displayed at a 1.78:1 aspect ratio in anamorphic widescreen, which is closer to the original 1.66:1 display. This restoration was developed with the assistance of the original film animators. With a 1080p, AVC-encoded transfer you can bet Beauty and the Beast looks amazing. While the brilliant color palette used for the animation is breathtaking and there are no image or animation errors to note, one thing we all noticed was how clear Belle’s features were, and at times, the sharp, solidness of the black inking made her features stand out too much to the point of looking ugly. This just goes to show how much attention Disney paid to enhancing every minute detail. The image looks magnificent though, even if Belle occasionally looks goofy, and that is a testament to how good Disney is as an animation studio.

The DVD has also been enhances since the Platinum release. It is also boasting a 1.78:1, 16×9 display, anamorphic widescreen transfer. Essentially, the cleanup for the DVD release of Beauty and the Beast is identical to the Blu-Ray. There are vibrant colors and no animation or visual errors to be found. The main difference is Beauty and the Beast on DVD is presented in Standard Def, while the Blu-Ray is made for High Def. Both look amazing, and much better, quality wise than all past releases of Beauty and the Beast.

Everything I’ve said about the Blu-ray’s coloration applies to the DVD too, but the video quality is otherwise much less pleasing. With three versions of the movie crammed onto one single-sided, dual-layered disc, there’s not enough breathing room for stellar video quality. Of course, that’s all true of the Platinum transfer too. There is a noticeable (but just barely) level of grain that goes beyond what you find in the high-def presentation, creating a pervasive softness. Edge enhancement is also a recurring problem but it’s much less pronounced than on the Platinum.

The audio for the Blu-Ra is presented in English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio surround sound. This is one of the best audio transfers we’ve heard, for any Blu-Ray. With so much music and sound effects, this release needed an immersible soundtrack experience and the newly restored Beauty and the Beast offers that and more. The sound envelopes you in the delightful sounds of Disney, and the sounds are really good, with a delightful orchestra and amazing singing voices. Dialogue remains crisp and easy to hear and all the sounds are at a steady level with little to no need for volume toggling. For sound, it doesn’t get better than this.

The Beauty and the Beast DVD soundtrack is a Dolby Digital, Disney Enhanced Home Theater surround mix, While this sounds amazing and there is no need for volume toggling, levels are equalized, the music is robust, and dialogue is crisp, nothing can compare to what is available for Beauty and the Beast in Blu-Ray. Still, this DVD transfer gets the job done. Subtitles are available on the Blu-Ray (and we think the DVD, too) in English, English for the Hearing Impaired, French and Spanish.

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

Bonus Features:
Beauty and the Beast is filled to the BRIM with bonus features. Besides the three versions of the film you can choose from, you can also have access to a plethora of bonuses to delight both you and your children.

First, let’s start with the DVD release.

There is the Disney Backstage section.

“Beyond Beauty: The Untold Stories Behind Making Beauty and the Beast” – Close to four hours of documentary footage exploring everything from the creation of Beauty and the Beast to discussions on Walt Disney’s love for fairy tales (a big reason Disney has turned so many into animated features).

“Broadway Beginnings” – Since Beauty and the Beast was made into a musical, this section features interviews with past and present cast members of the show, including Donny Osmond, Deborah Gibson, and Jamie Lynn Sigler.

“Composing A Classic: A Musical Conversation with Alan Menken, Don Hahn and Richard Kraft” – The men responsible for the music of this great animated feature discuss making Beauty and the Beast and the music within it. Includes them singing!

After Disney Backstage, there is a large selection of Deleted Scenes and an alternative opening and ending.

There is also a new scene called “Belle In The Library”, where Belle meets some never before seen characters.

The DVD features a Music Section, too, which has a Sing-a-Long (kids love this), the New Jordin Sparks “Beauty and the Beast” Music Video and an Audio Commentary featuring Don Hahn (Producer), Kirk Wise (Director), Gary Trousdale (Director) and Alan Menken (Composer).

Finally, there is the Family Games and Activities section. This includes the game, Chip’s Musical Challenge and Mrs. Pott’s Personality Profile Game.

Moving on to the Blu-Ray…

The Blu-Ray features all of the bonuses on the DVD and additional BD exclusive features.

These bonuses include:

The Original Storyboard Version of the movie. This is the original theatrical version that has a picture in picture version of the storyboard that plays with the original film.

A Music Section which features:

The original “Beauty and the Beast” Music Video as it was performed By Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson.

Alternative version of the song:
“Be Our Guest”

Alternative score of the song:
“The Transformation”

Introduction to deleted song “Human Again” by Don Hahn and Alan Menken and the deleted song is performed.

The game, Bonjour, Who Is This? is available through BD-Live. This uses a telephone, requires an internet connection and access to BD-Live. There is also the game Enchanted Musical Challenge: A DisneyQuest Game.

Finally, there is a digital exclusive, featurette, “The Beauty of Voice Acting”, which looks at the voice actors that make Disney so awesome. Actors profiled include Walt Disney (Mickey Mouse), Cliff Edwards (Jiminy Cricket), Paige O’Hara (Belle), Robby Benson (Beast), Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Potts), Richard White (Gaston), Jerry Orbach (Lumiere) and David Ogden Stiers (Cogsworth). This exclusive is AWESOME!

Bonus Features: 4 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Beauty and the Beast is one of Disney’s best princess stories. This is from when Disney was still making excellent movies. The quality of this Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack is exceptional. Both transfers look flawless. However, the Blu-Ray almost goes too far in how good things look and sometimes the drawings look goofy. The kids enjoyed watching Beauty and the Beast as much as Dom and I did. This is a true Disney Classic, one to share with the entire family, and one you should pick up if you do not own a previous version.

Overall Rating: 4.79 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Beauty and the Beast, Diamond Edition, Blu-Ray DVD Combo, Blu-Ray Review, Disney, Walt Disney Studios, Disney Princess, Belle, Family movie, animated

Release Info:
DVD Release Date: June 22, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $24.49

I like cartoons, but I’m not in love with most of the Warner Bros. cartoons. That probably sounds wrong, so let me clarify this statement a little bit. I enjoy watching WB, old school cartoons like Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, but I don’t go ga-ga for them like some people I know. Watching these cartoons is a fun way to shoot the breeze, but I’m not going to freak out if I do not see another Tom and Jerry cartoon again. I will live and the world will go on turning.

In contrast, my kid is nutso for these old cartoons, especially Tom and Jerry. This dynamic, cat and mouse duo are his favorites next to the Chronological Donald cartoons. He is so in love with these cartoons that the minute we get the DVDs he wants to watch them. He will drop everything, especially his homework, to see the same hijinks Tom and Jerry have been pulling far before he or I were born. Thus, we own pretty much every Tom and Jerry DVD set Warner Bros. has put out. We have the Spotlight Collections, the Volume DVDs, the movies, the new incarnations of the cartoon…you name it.

You have to understand my son is a teen, but he also has Aspergers. He has a major problem with re-watching shows, cartoons or movies he has already seen, with a few exceptions. There are certain movies he will watch over and over to the point where his mother and I could go our entire lives without seeing these films again and be happy. He did this with Chicago (and he sang along – knowing every word of the movie and the songs). He did this with I Am Sam. As much as I’ve heard, “Why are we watching this? I’ve already seen it,” I must confess, he has never said this about Tom and Jerry. Like the aformentioned films, he could watch these cartoons over and over with nary a complaint.

What he does not realize, because he is oblivious to censorship, is that some of the shorts in this set have been altered for content. Kids need to understand, as much as adults, about the tawdry history of blackface and how prejudice was ever present in everything, back in the day, including cartoons. What better way to teach them then through cartoons? I watch television with the kids and if something like this comes on we discuss it with them. I do not think it is fair to try and erase this part of history. We can’t pretend everything was hunky-dory and let them think that racism did not exist in the land of imagination and animation. They will eventually grow up and learn the truth; the cartoons of their childhood were a lie.

WB saw the err of their ways in past releases when they reissued DVDs with the shorts in their original format. SO…it boggles the mind why they would turn around and release this set with the edited versions of “The Milky Waif” and “The Little Orphan” and the redubbed version of “The Lonesome Mouse.” It makes no sense. I know many adult fans will be disappointed that these shorts are not in their original form. Besides, my son is a teen. This set isn’t geared towards the little ones. If it was, then maybe the censorship was justified, but it’s not.

Tom and Jerry Deluxe Anniversary Collection Episode Synopsis’
The Tom and Jerry Deluxe Anniversary Collection set is spread across two discs. The first disc features 20 shorts, and the second features a hodge podge of Tom and Jerry memories throughout the years.

Here is a list of what is offered on each disc.

DISC ONE
Oscar Winners and Classics

“Puss Gets the Boot” – The very first short to feature Tom and Jerry. At this time, they were known as Jinx and Jasper. Jasper tries to eat Jinx, but only succeeds in making Mammy Two Shoes mad enough to evict him.

“The Midnight Snack” – Tom interrupts Jerry as he sneaks around the kitchen getting some cheese, his midnight snack. Luckily, Jerry has some tricks up his sleeve.

“Dog Trouble” – Tom antagonizes Jerry, causing him to run in his hole. Jerry escapes after thwarting Tom, but things get interesting when Spike, the bulldog, enters the picture.

“Fraidy Cat” – After listening to the “Witching Hour” on the radio, Tom is very scared by the story being told. Jerry uses this to his advantage to antagonize Tom.

“Puss ‘N Toots” – When Mammy Two Shoes gets a girl cat to watch after, Tom falls in love. He tries to impress her by doing magic tricks with Jerry as his pawn, but, as always, Jerry gets the best of him.

“The Lonesome Mouse” – Jerry gets rid of Tom by causing trouble that Mammy Two Shoes blames on the cat. After a few hours of peace, he realizes things aren’t fun with Tom not around, so he sets out on a quest to frighten Mammy into letting Tom back in.

“Yankee Doodle Mouse” – Jerry heads into his “Cat Raid Shelter” aka mouse hole, where he has plenty of ammunition to take on a pursuing Tom. The two go to “war” and Jerry is set to take on the cat.

“Mouse Trouble” – Frustrated in his failed quest to catch Jerry, Tom finds a book on how to catch mice. He follows the techniques in the book to attempt to catch Jerry and hilarity ensues.

“Mouse in Manhattan” – Jerry leaves the country to head off to live in New York City. However, city life is quite different than life in the country. He begins to realize he might not have it so bad, after all.

“Quiet Please!” – Spike wants to take a nap, but Tom chasing Jerry keeps him wide awake. While Tom is content to try to let him sleep while still pursuing Jerry, Jerry likes seeing Tom chased by Spike.

“The Milky Waif” – When baby Nibbles is left on Jerry’s door, he has no choice but to take care of the little mouse. However, Nibbles is always hungry, so Jerry must find a way to get him lots of milk and protect him from Tom.

“The Cat Concerto” – Tom is playing a piano concerto and he awakens Jerry, who is asleep inside the piano. Jerry sets out to have Tom make a fool of himself, as a result.

“The Little Orphan” – The always hungry Nibbles returns to celebrate Thanksgiving with Jerry. Again, Jerry must find him food, and avoid Tom while doing so. Of course, both are put out by Nibbles’ voracious appetite.

“Saturday Evening Puss” – When Mammy Two Shoes heads out to her Lucky Seven Saturday Night Bridge Club meeting, Tom invites Butch, Lightning and Topsy over for a party/jazz jam session. Unfortunately, Jerry is trying to sleep and he’s not very happy about this loud party.

“The Two Mouseketeers” – Jerry and Nibbles are the two mousketeers. They decide to swipe food from an extravagantly set table, for the King’s Mouseketeers banquet. When Tom has been ordered to guard the banquet food, the two must find a way to eat and run.

“Johann Mouse” – Jerry takes on the part of Johann Mouse, the mouse living in the house of Johann Strauss. Johann Mouse loves music so much and when he dances, he is chased by Johann Strauss’ cat, played by Tom.

“Touché, Pussy Cat” – Nibbles has been renamed Tuffy and all he wants to do is become a Mousketeer. It will take quite a bit for him to convince Jerry he deserves to be a mousketeer, especially since he is an excessive talker.

“That’s My Mommy” – When Quacker, a baby duck, wanders away from his mother’s nest, in his egg, and ends up beneath Tom before hatching, he believes Tom is his Mommy because he is the first thing Quacker sees.

“The Egg and Jerry” – Jerry becomes the Mommy this time, when a baby Woodpecker egg rolls into his mousehole after falling out of its nest. When the baby woodpecker hatches, it latches onto Jerry.

“Tops With Pops” – Spike is sleeping with his little son Tyke. When Tom keeps waking the little guy up as he chases Jerry, Spike takes out his anger on the cat.

DVD TWO
Through the Years

“Anchor’s Aweigh Excerpt” -Watch Jerry Dance with Gene Kelly

“Dangerous When Wet Excerpt” – Esther Williams takes a dip with Tom and Jerry

“Pent-house Mouse” – The first short by Chuck Jones, Tom is living it up in a penthouse. Jerry is starving. He is trying to find food at a construction site. When he is lifted up on a steel beam and is transported to Tom’s patio the chase ensues!

“The Cat Above and the Mouse Below” – Another Chuck Jones short where Jerry performs on stage as Signor Thomasino Catti-Cazzaza Baritone. He is singing “Figaro” and it awakens Jerry who is asleep beneath the stage of the opera house. Unable to doze with all the racket, he seeks revenge.

“The Cat’s Me-Ouch” – This is another cartoon by Chuck Jones. Jerry gets a big surprise when he orders a bulldog and it turns out to be smaller than him. The idea was to have the bulldog attack Tom for Jerry, but with him smaller than Jerry it seems impossible.

“Karate Guard” – This is the last Tom and Jerry short written and directed by Joseph Barbera. The short has Tom trying to sleep as Jerry practices karate loudly. Jerry must face his fear and take on Tom as a karate master, which Tom finds hilarious.

“Cosmic Cat and Meteor Mouse” – From the New Tom and Jerry Show, Tom and Jerry are trying to watch their favorite TV show, Cosmic Cat and Meteor Mouse. The noise from the television disturbs a sleeping Spike who is intent on turning off the set, while Tom and Jerry fight to watch their show.

“Jerry’s Country Cousin” – From The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show, Jerry has an identical cousin who comes from the country to stay with him. His cousin is a lot stronger, but Tom isn’t expecting to be outmaneuvered by Jerry’s country cousin.

“Flippin’ Fido” – From The Tom and Jerry Kids Show, Little Tom is chasing Little Jerry, who is, of course, antagonizing Tom. The chase is interrupted by Fido, who wants Tom, so Tom must find a way to distract Fido, with Frisbees!

“A Game of Mouse and Cat” – From Tom and Jerry Tales, this short features an alternative universe where the mice chase the cats. Jerry is ordered to get rid of Tom, when he has the chance to live out his fantasy.

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

Audio/Visual:
The quality changes from short to short. Obviously, cartoons from 2005 are going to look better than those from the 40s and 50s. This quality ranges from pretty good to wow this is old and looks like it. While most of the shorts are presented in standard format with a 1.33:1 aspect ratio, a few are widescreen at 1.85:1. This does not make them great though. Really, T&J need a good clean up job done to truly do these shorts justice and it’s just not here yet.

The audio is, as expected, a Dolby Digital mono track in English. A Spanish mono track is also included. These shorts sound good, but nothing like the 5.1 mixes we hear today. The audio isn’t horrible, but it isn’t spectacular either. There are no major audio flaws, but it isn’t as dynamic as it could be. Subtitles in English and French are also present.

Visual: 3 out of 5 stars
Audio: 3 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
The big bonus is a short documentary. It is not quite 20 minutes in length. Called “Much Ado About Tom and Jerry,” this feature goes over how Tom and Jerry got started, the history of the cartoon and how it has changed throughout the years. It contains interviews with Hanna and Barbera and is featured on Disc 1.

This is the only bonus save for some trailers for other cartoons.

Bonus Features: 2 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
The Tom and Jerry Deluxe Anniversary Collection is a great collection IF you do not already own any of the Tom and Jerry sets that Warner Bros has released, in the past. Some of these episodes are already included so it’s the same ol, same ol. That is not to say the shorts are bad, but who really wants more than one DVD with the same eps on them? Further, who wants episodes with these shorts that have been censored? If you own some of the T&J DVDs, you will want to compare them to the list of shorts in this set before buying this. If your kid goes bonkers for Tom and Jerry like mine does, Tom and Jerry Deluxe Anniversary Collection is a nice collection to own. I just recommend proceeding with caution before buying, because most of these episodes we’ve seen before in other Tom and Jerry DVD releases.

Overall Rating: 3.57 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: DVD Review, Tom and Jerry Deluxe Anniversary Collection, Cartoon, Warner Brothers, DVD, Tom and Jerry, cat and mouse, Kids, Family

DVD Available on July 13, 2010

New York, NY – June 18, 2010 – Get ready for the first day of school with your preschool pals from Nickelodeon! Dora the Explorer leads the way in this adventure-filled DVD, which also includes episodes from Go, Diego, Go!; Blue’s Clues; The Wonder Pets!; and Ni Hao, Kai-lan! Created by Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment, Nickelodeon: The First Day of School comes to DVD on July 13, 2010 and contains over two hours of educational entertainment for preschoolers.

Nickelodeon: First Day of School Synopses:

Dora the Explorer – First Day of School
Boots and Tico are really excited because it’s their first day of school and they’re going to learn in English and Spanish! Dora leads the way, teaching Boots Spanish and Tico English as they head out to school. At the river, their Guatemalan friend Camila shows them how to find turtles to ride across, then they go through the Forest where Swiper swipes Tico and Boots’ lunches and they have to find them.

Go, Diego, Go! –“ Linda the Librarian”
Alicia is opening a new library on the mountain top. Linda the Llama was supposed to bring the books for the library — but she’s late and it’s almost time to open the library. Diego finds Linda the Llama and they set off for the library. But first they’ve got to go up and down the rocky mountains by saying “arriba/abajo,” then a big wind blows away the library books and it’s up to the viewer to find them.

Blue’s Clues – “Blue Takes You To School”
It’s Periwinkle’s first day at preschool, and everyone needs to help Periwinkle make it through his first day. From finding his cubby and getting through circle time, to reading the job chart and understanding how to take turns and respect others, Periwinkle has a lot to learn.

The Wonder Pets! – “Off to School / Save the Pangaroo”
• Off to School — The Wonder Pets help our old friend the Baby Blowfish overcome her separation anxiety on her first day of Fish Preschool.
• Save the Pangaroo — The Wonder Pets help a kid-art Pangaroo, a fictional animal that is part kangaroo and part parrot, who has been thrown away in the trash.

Ni Hao, Kai-lan –“Lulu Day”
Today, Kai-lan is having a playdate with her best girl friend, Lulu the rhino. Kai-lan has all sorts of games to play with Lulu, but Lulu wants to play with different things than Kai-lan. Kai-lan and Lulu need the viewers’ help to figure out a way to compromise and play things that make them both happy.

Nickelodeon: The First Day of School Fast Facts:
Street Date: July 13, 2010
DVD SRP: $16.99
DVD Running Time: Approximately 122 Minutes

Technorati Tags: Nickelodeon, First Day of School, DVD, Blues Clues, Ni Hao Kai Lan, Go Diego Go, Dora the Explorer, Wonder Pets

About the Film:
What would you do if you met a fairy? Witness the historic moment when Tinker Bell first meets a human being, and it’s not who you think.

Years before meeting Wendy and the Lost Boys, Tinker Bell met Lizzy, a little girl with a steadfast belief in the power of pixie dust and the magic land of fairies. During the fairies’ summer visit to the flowering meadows of England, two very different worlds unite for the first time and Tink develops a special bond with a curious child in need of a friend. As her fellow fairies launch a daring rescue, Tinker Bell takes a huge risk, putting her own safety and the future of all fairykind in jeopardy.

Experience Disney’s astonishing all-new movie about the true power of faith and friendship. Bursting with excitement and imagination, Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue is magical entertainment for the whole family. You might even learn to fly.

Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue releases as a Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Movie Download on Tuesday, September 21. The film features the voices of Mae Whitman as Tinker Bell, Pamela Adlon as Vidia, Kristin Chenoweth as Rosetta, Lucy Liu as Silvermist, Raven Symone as Iridessa, Lauren Mote as Lizzy and Michael Sheen as Dr. Griffith (Lizzy’s Father).

Technorati Tags: DVD, Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue, Sneak Peek, Video, Upcoming Release, Mae Whitman, Kristin Chenoweth, Lucy Liu