Note: While LI Kids does not normally post faith-based products or posts, we couldn’t pass this one up because these Little Angels were just too cute!

I hope you enjoy the activity sheets and the kids enjoy themselves when using them. Check back soon as we will be running a contest for a chance to win one of three Little Angels DVDs.

Technorati Tags: Activity Sheets, Little Angels, Printables, Fox Home Entertainment, Kids, Cartoon, Pre-School

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

Participants must be at least 18 years old to enter the “Super 8: Watch It &
Walk-On” sweepstakes and will be allowed one entry per day during the sweepstakes period. Two winners will be randomly chosen in December from among all the entries and will receive travel to the filming city, as well as accommodation for two nights for a non-speaking walk-on role. For complete rules and terms, please visit www.Super8Sweeps.com.

The SUPER 8 Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack with Digital Copy debuts on November 22nd and boasts more than two hours of enthralling special features including eight behind-the-scenes featurettes, an in-depth deconstruction of the breathtaking train crash, interviews with cast and crew including J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg and more.

For more information follow @Super8Movie on Twitter!

Rules to Enter the Sweepstakes
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING. INTERNET ACCESS REQUIRED. Void where prohibited. Open to permanent legal residents of the 48 contiguous U.S. and D.C. (excludes AK, HI, Guam, Puerto Rico, & all other U.S. territories and possessions and military installations overseas) not convicted of a felony. Must be age of majority & 18 years or older as of date of entry. Starts 11/20/11 at 12:01 am PST & ends 12/4/11 at 11:59 pm PST. There will be 2 winners. ARV of each prize: $1100. Total ARV of all of the prizes: $2,200. Actual prizes may vary. Prize restrictions apply. Subject to Official Rules. For Official Rules and details about the sweepstakes, go to www.super8sweeps.com. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Must be able to travel on Sponsor-selected dates to participate in prize events and travel. Sponsor: Paramount Home Entertainment Inc., 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, California 90038. TM, ® & © 2011 by Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Technorati Tags: Super 8 Sweepstakes, Super 8 Film, Film Release, Paramount Pictures, J.J. Abrahms, Star Trek, Frontier, Motion Picture, Walk-On, Role

Riders dressed as the film’s iconic red and blue feuding gnome families raced for the right to be crowned the winner and present The Berrien County Michigan Farm Bureau Young Farmers with a donation earmarked for agricultural education in Berrien County schools.

The world of lawn mower racing gathers new mowmentum as this high octane sport continues its complete season of lawnmower races across the country with 140 sanctioned races in 37 states. Featuring seven classes of mowers, participants will compete against one another for the right to be named turf titan!

From a director of Shrek 2 comes your chance to step into the secret world of garden gnomes — Gnomeo & Juliet. Perfect for the whole family, this fresh and funny makeover of one of the world’s most timeless stories features music from Sir Elton John, and the voice talents of Emily Blunt, James McAvoy and Sir Michael Caine. Caught up in a feud between neighbors, Gnomeo and Juliet must overcome as many obstacles as their namesakes. But with flamboyant pink flamingos and epic lawnmower races, can this young couple find lasting happiness?

Complete with hilarious never-before-seen bonus features, Gnomeo & Juliet is an out-of-the-ordinary animated comedy the entire family will love — we just gnome it!

Technorati Tags: Gnomeo and Juliet, Video, Lawnmower Mowdown Showdown, Lawnmower Race, Disney, animated feature, upcoming DVD

This set offers a selection of special features such as audio commentaries with the film creators, a “making-of” featurette plus a bonus TV episode of “The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” Thor: Tales of Asgard will be available in a Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD.

SYNOPSIS
Before he ever lifted his mighty hammer, there was the sword. Fantastic journeys beckon from the mysterious nine realms. Places of dark mists and fiery voids. Of winged creatures and giants in the ice. And the most alluring quest of all – the search for the legendary Lost Sword of Surtur. Hungry for adventure, Thor secretly embarks on the journey of a lifetime, joined by his loyal brother Loki, whose budding sorcery equips him with just enough magic to conjure up trouble, along with the Warriors Three – a band of boastful travelers reluctant to set sail on any adventure that might actually be dangerous. But what starts out as a harmless treasure hunt quickly turns deadly, and Thor must now prove himself worthy of the destiny he covets by saving Asgard itself.

BLU-RAY COMBO PACK & DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
-Audio commentary with Supervising Producer Craig Kyle and Screenwriter Greg Johnson
-Audio commentary with Supervising Director Gary Hartle, Animation Director Sam Liu and Character Designer Phil Bourassa
-Worthy: The Making of Thor: Tales of Asgard” featurette
-The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes Bonus Episode from the new hit TV series

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Year of Production: 2009
Title Copyright: Marvel, Thor, all related trademarks, service marks, character names and the distinctive likenesses thereof are proprietary to Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries and are used with permission. “THOR: TALES OF ASGARD” COPYRIGHT © 2009 Marvel Entertainment. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Type: Home Entertainment Premiere
Rating: Not Rated
Genre: Television, Animation, Action, Adventure, Children
Closed Captioned: DVD – English; Blu-Ray – English SDH
Subtitles: English
DVD Format: 16×9 Widescreen (1.78:1)
Blu-ray Format: 1080P High Definition 16×9 Widescreen (1.78:1)
Feature Run Time: 77 minutes
DVD Audio Status: 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 2.0 Dolby Digital
Blu-ray Audio Status: English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
Website: http://www.marvel.com

Technorati Tags: Thor: Tales of Asgard, Marvel Comics, Lionsgate Home Entertainment, Thor, Comic Book, Comic Book Character, Blu-Ray, DVD, cartoon, animated feature, animation

To celebrate the release of the film we’ve gathered plenty of the special features, available stills, and even the trailer for your viewing pleasure. Check them out and if you love the movie as much as we think we will, make sure to pick it up on May 24. Make sure to come back and check out our upcoming review, as well, so you can let us know what you thought of the movie!

Still Slideshow

Trailer

Conditioning (Bonus)

Trying to Connect- Deleted Scene (Bonus)

Sam’s Mom- Deleted Scene (Bonus)

Number 6 Hallway Fight (Film)

Testing the Legacies (Film)

Technorati Tags: I Am Number Four, Movie, Action, Michael Bay, DJ Caruso, Dianna Agron, Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Disney Home Entertainment, Bluray, DVD, On Demand, May 24

Release Info:
Original Release Dates: July 9, 1982 and December 17, 2010
DVD Release Date: April 5, 2011
Online Availability: Amazon for $49.99

I am a child of the 80s. I also had the opportunity to meet actor, Bruce Boxleitner, when I was a child. I have a progressive muscle disease, so when I went to Hollywood for my Make-a-Wish, Bruce was one of the people I met. He was great, very courteous and happy to meet me. This was back in 1990, with Tron still a remembered and watched movie. Over time, the film had the chance to fall by the wayside. As other, 80s classics were reintroduced to the newer generations, and as technology progressed to become amazing, Tron seemed to become virtually obsolete. I have to admit I had all but forgotten about the film, since I had not seen it nor heard about it in years.

Then, along comes a new set of writers and a new director, and Tron reemerged from the place where it had been buried for years. Thanks to the sequel, Tron: Legacy, a new generation has been able to embrace a concept that started with technology way before its time. Who knew how popular and necessary computers and their programs would become? We certainly had no idea in 1982. Yes, computers were emerging as important in the business world, but the creators of Tron had the ability to think outside the box. Now, more than ever, Tron seems relevant. Due to our knowledge of how far technology can go and has been going, it is easy to see this film as a predecessor to what really happened, technologically speaking, to our world.

When Tron: Legacy was being developed, the creative team behind it obviously realized, and took advantage of, the fact that the technological world of today could expand to make sense within the world of Tron. This is part of what I believe made the film a successful sequel. I liked it. Sure, it received mixed reviews, but I wonder how many of those critics actually got the film. How Tron: Legacy evolves is perfect, in relation to how Tron ended. The most intriguing part of all of this was the character played by Olivia Wilde, Quorra. What a great idea for a concept, and it was definitely the most unexpected part of the film.

While I enjoyed the storyline of the original Tron, the story for Tron: Legacy was pretty good. The visuals for the second film are downright stunning. Both films are visual masterpieces of their time, though the sequel is a visual wonder for today. The soundtracks, especially the one for Tron: Legacy, by Daft Punk, add to the technological feel and suits the film well. My big complaint is with the dialogue in Tron: Legacy. Some of it is downright hokey. The cheese factor distracts from the realization that the story behind the film is a pretty good concept and makes it seem almost like a joke. Of course, the entire dialogue isn’t like this, so the cheesiness can be ignored, by concentrating on how excellent the visuals are.

The nice thing about this five-disc collection is the fact that both movies, Tron and Tron: Legacy are included in it. Those who never had the chance to see the original can check it out in Blu-Ray. The sequel is available in Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray 3D, DVD and Digital Copy. With so many different formats, no matter where you are, you can bring the Tron franchise with you. While I am not sure about a third title being added to this series, I do enjoy both Tron and Tron: Legacy, and will explain why I believe purchasing this Collection is worth it, throughout my review.

The Tron and Tron: Legacy Plots
In the original film, Tron, software engineer/computer genius, Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), is using a program he developed, Clu, to hack into the mainframe computer of his former employer, ENCOM. When Clu disappears, Flynn realizes something fishy is going on at the company. Ed Dillinger, the senior executive who saw to the firing of Flynn, since he stole Flynn’s ideas and passed them off as his own, is informed by the Master Control Program of Flynn’s attempted entry, so he shuts out all of his other programmers from the system, until things are under control.

When programmer, Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner), is shut out of the system, he questions Dillinger’s judgment. His girlfriend, another ENCOM employee, Lora Baines (Cindy Morgan), who has been working on a laser project with ENCOM founder, Dr. Walter Gibbs (Barnard Hughes), goes with Alan to warn Flynn about the crackdown, since Dillinger assumes Flynn is the one breaking in and creating the security conflicts. Lora is Flynn’s ex, and the tension is high between the three, but they soon bring Flynn from the arcade he runs to ENCOM headquarters, to help him get the proof he seeks, concerning Dillinger stealing his concepts/work.

As Alan attempts to find his program, Tron, which can shut down the Master Control Program so Flynn can find his evidence, Lora leaves Flynn at her workstation. With a laser right behind him, Master Control Program zaps Flynn into the world of computers, where he must fight for his life and find his way out of the intricate, interweb universe. Of course, Master Control Program has taken over, and Clu, Tron and many other programs have been kept under his control or worse, destroyed. It is up to Flynn, the only User in a world of programs, to find a way to override Master Control Program and get himself back into the real world unharmed.

The following plot outline contains spoilers that may ruin your viewing experience with the original Tron film. If you have not seen it, read with caution.

Some years after Tron ends, Kevin Flynn disappears. The year is 1989 and he leaves behind a young son, who he has been raising since his mother’s death. Young Sam Flynn is heartbroken at his father’s disappearance, though he continues to hold out hope he will return. With Flynn’s disappearance, Sam has become the leading shareholder of ENCOM, though he is too young to show much interest in the company his father took over as CEO of, at the end of the first film.

Twenty years pass and Sam (Garrett Hedlund), a brilliant computer mind, is content pranking the company he has control over. Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner), continues to serve on the board, though he is much older and is not as hip as the lead software developer Ed Dillinger Jr. (Cillian Murphy). After a massive prank that makes the board of ENCOM look like asshats, and gets Sam arrested, Alan goes to see him. He informs him that he received a page from Kevin Flynn’s arcade store phone, a number that has been disconnected since Kevin disappeared. He advises Sam to check it out.

Sam heads to the arcade, where he discovers a hidden room and a the secret project his father was working on when he disappeared. He also finds a way into the computer world his father entered in the first film. There, the world is cold, calculating and run by Clu, who has turned evil. Tron has disappeared and is considered dead, and Kevin Flynn has been living out in the fringes of the world. As Sam tries to escape from Clu, who has him participate in the games’, Flynn’s protegee, Quorra (Olivia Wilde) rescues Sam and reunites him with his father.

Sam is shocked to learn his father has not been fighting Clu, even though Flynn believes he can’t. Flynn explains how he was able to create a new breed through developing this world with Clu and Tron. The breed, the ISOs, have all been wiped out, except for one, whom Flynn believes can help cure diseases in the real world. Sam soon realizes he will be trapped in the world unless he finds the escape portal. With Quorra’s help he sets out to make it home, knowing once he is there, he and Alan can shut Clu down.

Storyline/Plot: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 4 out of 5 stars
Acting: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
I already mentioned that Tron: Legacy is a visual masterpiece. It is eye candy above all else. However, longtime Tron fans, like myself, have hit pay dirt as the original classic, Tron, has been remastered, in Blu-Ray. The good news is that the remastered film looks downright exceptional. While the film is nearly as old as I am, this fixed up version does not look like it is that old. The only thing to give away it’s age is Bruce Boxleitner’s early 80s clothes and dreadful glasses. Of course, the world outside the GRID looks far better than the world inside it.

The GRID looks great, but the effects look like 80s effects that just happen to be really pretty! Today, our effects are high tech, with less pixelation and 3D coloring and shading. The GRID helps to date the film, though even these sequences look amazing for what they are. Honestly, I believe that this adds charm to the film and those who are old fans will appreciate Disney did not give it the 2011 treatment.

There are instances of grain, especially during the CG GRID sequences. Colors are robust and pop off the screen while black levels remain consistent. The film is presented at a 2.20:1 aspect ratio with an image that is letterboxed. Overall, this transfer is downright amazing and worth every penny you will pay to upgrade from the previously released DVD.

I cannot review the quality of the Blu-Ray 3D because I do not have a television capable of 3D. However, those that do will get to take advantage of this new, at home technology. You will need a TV capable of showing 3D, 3D glasses to use this disc, but I’ve heard the 3D version that played in theaters is pretty good.

Tron: Legacy is the type of film that Blu-Ray 2D technology was made for, and it shows in this release. Every image in and out of the GRID is stunning. You will see every single nuance and detail through the visual quality of this feature. The entire film features crystal clear picture, with rich, engaging colors. Strong black levels accompany a new perfect picture. The image is free of typical visual errors like aliasing, grain, and an out of focus lack of sharpness. The vibrant colors are highlighted by the glowing within the GRID, which pops the colors off the screen and dazzles the eyes.

Unlike most Blu-Ray releases, Tron: Legacy has a unique visual feature. The film adapts to the scene that it is playing. The majority of the film is in 2.35:1 and it changes to 1.78:1 randomly. I didn’t really notice the changes, as I was immersed in the other visual pleasures that were a sight to behold. This is to try to replicate the IMAX experience, which was such a potent part of the film’s in theater promotion. The film looks worthy of IMAX and nearly as great as it does in theaters, especially if you have a big screen television.

The audio for both Tron and Tron: Legacy feature lossless DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks. Tron is remixed into a Dolby 5.1 track, while the DTS-HD audio for the sequel is relegated to eight different, monstrous sound channels. Both films feature English subtitles, though you shouldn’t need to rely on them too much as the audio sounds crisp, concise and no sound overpowers another. The most amazing part is that the remastered audio for the original film does not sound like it was recorded close to 30 years ago. It sounds as good as the sequel. As far as aesthetics go, this set is superb. You can’t ask for much more than what was offered in this set.

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

Bonus Features:
When it comes to bonus features, this set is chock full of them. First, I need to say some were ported over from the Tron DVD release that came out previously. Others are too short and leave fans wanting more. While this is, by no means, a truly comprehensive set of bonuses, there is quite a bit here. This could have been a bare bones release, but Disney does try to bring on the bonuses, and though better features are needed, what is here is also pretty cool, too.

Starting with the original classic, Tron, here is a list of the bonus features included with the Blu-Ray and a short description of each:

The Tron Phenomenon: Featured in HD, this feature lasts around 10 minutes. This is one of the brand new features developed with this release, which make this set worth having. The cast of the sequel discuss how groundbreaking this original film was and though it has a hint of promotional in it, it is still fun to hear their thoughts.

Photo Tronology: Another, brand new, HD feature, this time just shy of 20 minutes, is an extra with Steven Lisberger, the writer and director of the original film. Lisberger is allowed to view the Disney archives for Tron. He brings along his son and the two go through photos, strips of film, and other pieces of making of memorabilia. Lisberger’s son is the age he was when he first started making Tron. It is touching to see just what kind of stories he shares with his younger generation of family. This is, easily, the most amazing feature in the set.

The Making of Tron: Ported over to the Blu-Ray, this documentary was released in 2002. It is around 90 minutes in length and is quite comprehensive. This has to be one of the best making ofs I’ve ever seen. There is a lot of detail into the complex processes used to create CG effects never before attempted, and how impossible they seemed at the time of filming. Every aspect of the filmmaking process is explored in this feature, and then some.

Audio Commentary: Another ported over feature, this commentary is with writer/director Steven Lisberger, producer Donald Kushner, associate producer/visual effects supervisor Harrison Ellenshaw, and visual effects supervisor Richard Taylor. This is a feature that is over 10 years old. If you like learning about the technical aspects of filmmaking, this is a great commentary, otherwise, you might find this a bit bland and somewhat confusing.

Deleted Scenes: There is six minutes worth of deleted footage with explanations by Steven Lisberger on why some scenes got chopped.

Development: This is a grouping of ported over features from previous releases of Tron. This set of features runs for around eight minutes in length. These features look at the visual effects for the film.

Digital Imagery: Another grouping of ported bonuses comes in at around 12 minutes in length. The featurettes in this set explore the extensive work done through the backlit animation for the film.

Music: This eight minutes of feature looks at the lightcycle chase with a full score by Wendy Carlos.

Publicity: As this section implies, it is filled with promotional material for Tron. There is 13 minutes of material here. There is a promotional reel sent to theaters when Tron was trying to find places to be released. There are also a selection of trailers, including a mock trailer.

Design: This is a selection of design mini-features. There is four minutes of footage. Steven Lisberger introduces the section. There are animation tests for the lightcycle sequences, a look at the original concept for the lightcycles, and a peek into the Recognizer in “Space Paranoids”.

Storyboarding: For this set of features, there is nine minutes offered. The storyboards are compared to the on screen lightcycles chase, and there are storyboards for the title shot, CG sequences, and more.

Finally, there is a selection of galleries. These include galleries for Design, Early Concept Art, Publicity and Production Photos, and Storyboard Art.

Finally, there is a selection of extras for Tron: Legacy. Sadly, what is here isn’t as good as what is available for the original. Here is a list with descriptions of the features for the sequel:

Second Screen: I LOVED this. You can download an app on your iPad or laptop and sync it up with the movie. You can do this through a network that connects, and as the film plays, your laptop or iPad offers a view of concept art, visual effects progression reels, and rotating 3D models. It occurred at key moments. If you have a desktop, this feature is going to suck, but otherwise it is tres cool!

The Next Day: Flynn Revealed: This HD feature was added specifically for the Blu-Ray release of Tron: Legacy. This is a feature that looks into what happened at ENCOM after Flynn left, and what happens the day after Sam returns at the end of the film. There are some really cool moments in this and it certainly makes the prospect of a Part Three that much more appealing.

Launching the Legacy: This is an HD feature that comes in at around 10 minutes in length. It serves as a pseudo-making of for Tron: Legacy. You’ll get the chance to check out test footage, how the screenplay came to be and how it was made to stay true to the original, storyboards, and more. Though it should have been longer, I liked what was here.

Visualizing Tron: So many of the features on both films explore the visual world of Tron and this is no exception. This feature is around 12 minutes. It looks into how the visual effects came to be (including de-aging Jeff Bridges), looks at the geography within The Grid, costume design, and the link visually between the two films.

Installing the Cast: This is pretty robust for a cast featurette. It explores the actors and their roles in the film.

Disc Roars: It’s just three minutes in length but it lets you know exactly how the crowd scenes at the gladiatorial games were created.

First Look at Tron: Uprising: If you are excited about the Disney XD series coming, this just over a minute sneek peek is going to make you want more.

Music Video: The final feature is three minutes of HD music video for Daft Punk’s “Derezzed”.

Bonus Features: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
One of the greatest parts of growing up in the 80s was watching Science Fiction films with cheesy, 80s graphics and great storylines. Tron was one of those films. It is great to have this old classic back on my shelf, and to have the sequel along with it. There are many great bonuses, and every format of Tron: Legacy you want is included in this set. If you like fast-paced Sci Fi adventure films, especially ones the majority of the family can enjoy together, this is the set for you. Tron: Legacy / Tron: The Original Classic Five-Disc Combo Set comes highly recommended.

Overall Rating: 4.29 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Tron, Tron Legacy, The original classic, film, Blu-Ray, DVD Combo Pack, Blu-Ray 3D, Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, Disney, Computers, Video Games, review

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

What can you tell us about Flynn’s past?
During the movie, we discover that Flynn had a crap childhood. He changed his name and he was driven towards a very selfish life because he didn’t have much fun as a child. However, he starts to change when he discovers Rapunzel. Here is a girl who has been cooped up in a tower for 18 years. She has never seen the outside world and yet she is still very loving. She’s not jaded at all.

How similar are Rapunzel and Flynn?
These are two very different characters that end up learning a lot from each other on a rather crazy adventure. In fact, I like to think of Tangled as an animated, family-friendly Romancing The Stone. In my eyes, that’s exactly what the movie is like to watch.

How did you get involved with the movie?
I got a call inviting me to audition for Disney’s new animated musical – and I was immediately sold. I am a huge fan of Disney. I have been a fan ever since I was a little kid. In fact, I’ve always dreamed of being a voice in a Disney animation and I’ve always wanted to sing for Disney, so this opportunity was a dream come true.

Did you have to sing for your Tangled audition?
I was told to prepare a singer-songwriter song for the audition and the first thing that came to my mind was a James Taylor track called “Sweet Baby James.” If somebody says ‘pop’ to me, I think of Michael Jackson or Justin Timberlake. If somebody says ‘singer-songwriter’, the first person I think of is James Taylor. There are plenty of modern singer-songwriters, but there is something about James Taylor that has always resonated with me.

How worried were you about the singing aspect of the audition?
I’ve sung my whole life, so I wasn’t too worried. My singing has mostly been for fun but I’ve also done a lot of musical theater, so I have booked jobs based on my voice before. It wasn’t like I was walking into the room and talking to Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson about a potential musical career.

You sound pretty confident about your singing voice…
Well, I know what I sound like when I sing. It wasn’t like I have parents that have told me my whole life, “Honey, you sing amazingly.” And then I get into sing for an audition and people scream, “Boo! You’re rubbish. Find another vocation.” I certainly felt comfortable enough in the audition room.

If you enjoy singing, does this mean you enjoy karaoke, too?
Karaoke is interesting because I think there is a method to the madness. I believe in choosing songs that have audience participation where everyone claps or sings along with the chorus. You’ve got to get everybody on your side and it’s easy to do that if you choose something with a great deal of audience participation.

Can you give us some examples?
Songs like “Sweet Caroline” feature a good amount of audience participation. It’s cheesy, but if it hasn’t been done all night, somebody has got to do it. I also love singing Journey, but it’s out of my key. Unless they have some kind of a key changer, I can’t really do it.

What about a classic like “Ice Ice Baby”?
This is the problem… You don’t want to be too ironic. If you get too ironic and everyone thinks you’re trying too hard, then you fail at karaoke. Nobody does “Ice Ice Baby” right now. Leave it two more years and “Ice Ice Baby” will be back on top. Not yet, though. Leave it for now.

You mentioned earlier than Flynn changed his name as a child. Did you ever consider changing your name when you were younger?
No, not really. I don’t think things like that ever crossed my mind.

You never wanted to call yourself Han Solo or anything like that?
Oh, I wish I had. Can you imagine how amazing that would’ve been? I want to be the coolest parent ever and name my son Han Solo. At first, my son would think, ‘I have the most stupid name in the world.’ And then he would slowly realize over time, ‘No, I was wrong… Han Solo is the coolest name ever. I could have been Chewbacca!’

Is Zachary Levi your real name?
My last name is Pugh. My middle name is Levi. The only name change I’ve gone through is dropping the Pugh and sticking with the Levi – but that’s it. It was very subtle.

Flynn Ryder is a bandit in the movie. What is your most roguish quality?
Wow, that’s a tough question to answer. Well, I guess I’m a wicked video game player. When it comes to video games, I show no mercy! I can also wear the same clothes for a week straight. That’s probably the most offensive thing that I do.

Did you enjoy working in the sound booth for Tangled?
It was a great experience. However, I found it a little strange because I was alone in the sound booth. I thought I might record some of the dialogue with Mandy Moore (who voices Rapunzel), but that didn’t happen. Everyone records the dialogue separately.

How did you come up with the voice of Flynn?
I wanted Flynn to be different to my normal voice. I think that was appropriate given that it’s a fantasy world set in a medieval, renaissance-style era. If the movie was set in modern times, I’d use my regular voice – but I wanted him to sound different to my regular cadence.

Were you excited to discover that your character in Tangled provides much of the comedy of the movie?
I was incredibly happy, but I have to admit that the animals steal the show. When it comes to the comedy of Tangled, the gecko and the horse are outstanding. W.C. Fields said never work with kids or animals, but the gecko and the horse end up stealing my thunder.

What makes you laugh?
Every Pixar movie makes me laugh uncontrollably. My friends are all starting to have little kids, so we all end up watching Pixar movies a lot. I can sit and watch Pixar movies over and over again. They never get boring.

What’s your favorite Pixar movie?
I’ve seen all of the Pixar movies – Cars, Finding Nemo, A Bug’s Life, Ratatouille, WALL-E, Toy Story – and they all make me laugh, but Nemo is definitely the best in my book. Ellen DeGeneres is hysterical as Dory, although I think Tangled is certainly up there with the comedy, too. It certainly made me laugh out loud on numerous occasions!

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

Technorati Tags: Tangled, Zachary Levi, Interview, Flynn Rider, Videos, Movie Clips, DVD Release, Blu-Ray Release, Disney, Pixar, Animated Film

I just happen to have some of the Concept Art, in celebration of the impending release:

…and here’s an interview with John Lasseter. It’s bound to get you in the mood to want to pick up a copy of this, when it is released next week!

What makes the newest Disney animation, Tangled, so special?
This movie is special because it’s the 50th animated motion picture from the Walt Disney Animation Studios. This is the studio that started it all with Snow White And The Seven Dwarves many years ago. This is the studio that has never stopped making animated films. It’s never closed its doors. I’m so proud that Tangled is the 50th feature in our history. It’s a very fresh-looking movie, it’s very funny and the characters are great. The story is emotional and the songs are fantastic. I’m incredibly proud of it.

How would you describe the story of Tangled?
The story is based upon the well-loved tale of Rapunzel, but this has a fresh, modern and contemporary feel to it. The characters and the humor are very modern – but it is also a story with a heart. The hallmark of every Disney film is its heart. That’s what Disney animation is all about. Walt Disney always said, “For every laughter, there should be a tear.” And that’s something we truly believe in.

How do you add the ‘heart’ to your movies?
We always strive to create movies that are funny and entertaining. We want characters that are so engaging and appealing that you want to be with them – but it’s that heart of the movie that stands out for me. It’s the heart of the movie that makes audiences remember how a film made them feel. We can all sit around and talk forever about our favorite movies and why they are our favorites – but the thing that always drives me is that emotion is a key part of storytelling. The heart is not something you can add at the end of the movie.

How do you ensure that all your movies have heart and emotion?
I insist that we have internal screenings of every story reel every three to four months. No matter whether the filmmakers want to show their work or not, they have to show it internally; it’s not their choice. We all watch the work as a group and we get together afterwards to talk about it. We talk honestly and what’s nice is that it’s a peer-to-peer discussion. That’s how we see how movies are progressing. We can make sure it has heart and emotion at this early stage before we progress any further.

What is the secret to great storytelling?
We’ve always lived by three rules. Firstly, you have to tell a compelling story that keeps people on the edge of their seat. Secondly, you populate that story with memorable and appealing characters. Thirdly, you put those stories and characters in a believable world. It doesn’t have to be a realistic world – that’s for the live action folks – but it has to be a believable world.

What challenges did you face when you were coming up with the story of Rapunzel?
When it comes to well-loved tales from the past, logic wasn’t necessarily part of the original storytelling. You’re constantly thinking, ‘Wait a minute… Why do they do that?’ We had to do a lot of work on the story of Rapunzel to make everything logical and believable – but I think that’s something that the story team did really well.

What other challenges did you face?
This was a very, very challenging and complex film – and we held the bar extremely high, especially with the animation, the character design and the modeling of the characters. It’s very, very difficult to animate human characters and make them believable because everyone in the audience looks at a human in the mirror every day. You see humans everywhere you go, whether it’s a family member over the dinner table or a stranger commuting to work. And so, in order to make a believable human, you have to do it really well. You have a lot more leeway with a talking horse or a talking toy because you’re making it up – but a human is different. A human is much more challenging. We wanted these characters to become some of the best human characters ever animated in computer animation – and I think we’ve achieved that. It’s terrific.

What challenges did you face when it came to Rapunzel’s hair?
I think the technical group did an amazing job with the hair in Tangled. We knew all along that there was going to be lots and lots of hair in this movie, but it was a real challenge because it had to look perfectly natural. One of the difficulties in creating a film is that people put an immense amount of time and effort into things that never get noticed. If they don’t do a good job, the audience notices it – but you don’t want them to notice things like this. We needed to make this hair believable. No one has ever done anything quite like this before, but we really pulled it off. This studio has invented a lot of new technology for this movie. Artistically, we’ve raised the bar.

What’s your favorite scene in Tangled?
One of my favorite sequences in the movie is the one we developed with the floating lanterns. Personally, these sequences are very special to me. Why? Well, let me tell you a little story… My wife and I headed to Bora Bora, Tahiti, for our 20th wedding anniversary. The Head Of Food Service at the resort we were staying at was an Italian guy, but he married an Indonesian woman and he had lived in Indonesia for years. He said to us, “I have something special for you.” And on our 20th anniversary, he brought out a lantern. He had us sign a little note to each other, which we taped to the top of the lantern, and then he lit it. It was dusk, we were on the beach and it was very romantic. The guy then said, “Kiss and let it go.” So we let it go and that beautiful lantern floated up into the Tahitian sky and drifted off into the distance.

That sounds incredibly romantic…
It was beautiful. We had dinner on the beach that night and we watched the lantern float away for about two hours until it was a tiny, little speck in the sky. It looked like a star up there. It was one of the most magical things that has ever happened to me, so when we started talking about doing something special for Tangled, I mentioned this story to the team. We got on the internet and we discovered that there are festivals in Southeast Asia where thousands of these lanterns light up the sky. We’d never seen anything quite like it, so it became an inspiration for the movie.

How would you describe Rapunzel?
Rapunzel is one of the most special characters we’ve ever created. She’s so beautiful, but more importantly, she’s empowered and talented. She really drives the story of Tangled. She wants to get outside and she wants to head off on an exciting adventure – and that’s exactly what she gets.

TANGLED is Available on 3D Blu-ray, 2D Blu-ray, DVD & Movie Download formats March 29th!

Technorati Tags: Tangled, Walt Disney Studios, DVD, Blu-Ray, Inteview, Rapunzel, John Lasseter, Concept Art, Images, Animation, Feature Film