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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bonus Features: 2.5 out of 5 stars

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

Overall Rating: 3.86 out of 5 stars

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bonus Features: 4 out of 5 stars

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

Overall Rating: 3.86 out of 5 stars

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bonus Features: 5 out of 5 stars

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

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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

See Jonas brothers like never before in 3-D in your living room

Jonas Brothers: The Concert Experience Deluxe Extended Movie in 3-D On 3-Disc Blu-ray™/DVD Combo-Pack June 30 For a Limited Time With 4 Songs Not Seen in Theatres

On June 30, the world’s three favorite brothers rock out in 3-D only on Blu-ray in their first motion picture, Jonas Brothers: The Concert Experience – Deluxe Extended Movie from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. Included are 4 songs that were never seen when the movie played in theatres, including two integrated into the film itself, extending the experience.

Available for a limited time only, Jonas Brothers: The Concert Experience – Deluxe Extended Movie comes in a 3-Disc Combo Pack, which, in addition to the 3-D and 2-D versions of the movie on Blu-ray, contains a standard definition DVD (the extended film in 2-D ); and a DisneyFile (a digital copy of the 2-D extended movie viewers can enjoy.) Bonus features include Get Up Close and Personal, an intimate look at the brothers; 2 Additional Bonus Songs, “Love Bug” and “Shelf”; and 4 free pairs of 3-D glasses.

Jonas Brothers: The Concert Experience – Deluxe Extended Movie, in 3-D, makes the event so real, viewers can virtually reach out and touch the brothers. Up Close and Personal brings fans closer than ever to Kevin, Joe and Nick’s world as they and their band prepare for their live sold-out concerts all over the world. The movie also includes outstanding guest appearances by chart-topping artists Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift.

The Concert Experience: Deluxe Extended Movie (3-Disc Combo Pack) includes:

Disc One—Blu-ray
3-D and 2-D Extended Version of the Movie with 2 performances not seen in theaters — “Can’t Have You” and “A Little Bit Longer”
2 Additional Bonus Songs – “Love Bug” and “Shelf”
Up Close & Personal — Go behind the scenes with the ‘Jo-Bros’ and learn what this tour means to them.
4 free pairs of 3-D glasses

Disc Two–DVD
2-D Extended Version of the movie with 2 performances not seen in theaters – “Can’t Have You” and “A Little Bit Longer” plus bonus features listed above.

Disc Three
DisneyFile – Digital Copy of extended movie in 2-D

The Concert Experience: Extended Movie (2-Disc Standard Def DVD) includes:

Disc One
2-D Extended Movie with 2 Additional Performances – “Can’t Have You” and “A Little Bit Longer”
2 Additional Bonus Songs – “Love Bug” and “Shelf”
Up Close & Personal – Go behind the scenes with the ‘Jo-Bros’ and learn what this tour means to them.

Disc Two
DisneyFile Digital Copy of extended movie in 2-D.
The Concert Experience (Single Standard Def DVD Disc) features:
The theatrical version of the film (2D)

Technorati Tags: Jonas Brothers, The Concert Experience, DVD, Blu-ray, Disney, Film, Boy Band, Music

Movie Info:

Release Info:
Television Release: April-October 2008
DVD Release Date: February 10, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $14.99

Of all the shows on the Disney Channel The Wizards of Waverly Place has to be my favorite. I started watching it with my son after Zack and Cody. I have tried watching other shows, too, especially since my young nephew’s favorite channel is Disney. I just can’t get into Hannah Montana or any of the other shows of this caliber. The gem of the station has to be Wizards.

I’ve written about this show before, when I wrote about the DVD release of Wizard’s School. My opinion of the show hasn’t changed all that much from that review to this one. The show is still fun to watch. It makes me laugh. The actors give solid performances and the cast has a lot of chemistry with one another.

The show has reportedly been slated for a third season, after rapping up its second sometime next month. The cast is making a movie about the show, but that shouldn’t have any bearing on the third season. At one point, many fans thought the movie meant the end of the series, but Nick did announce the show would be having a third season. We’ll have to see how that unfolds as information about the filming of season three becomes available.

The biggest problem with this DVD is the fact that there are only four episodes included on it. Disney Channel is notorious for releasing it’s television series’ in volumes before compiling them into seasons. If you or your kids love this series so much you want to watch it whenever you feel like it, then you may want to go ahead and pick this DVD up. Otherwise, it may be wise to wait until a Wizards season one or two DVD is released. Let’s just hope Disney does release season DVDs for this series, because it’s a lot easier to buy a box set than 10 or 12 volume DVDs!

The Wizards of Waverly Place, Vol. 2: Supernaturally Stylin’ Plot
The show The Wizards of Waverly Place, Vol. 2: Supernaturally Stylin’ is a Disney Channel original series. I liken it to Harry Potter meets Disney-style comedy. The show follows the lives of the three Russo children, Justin (David Henrie), Alex (Selena Gomez), and Max (Jake T. Austin).

The Russos have discovered they are wizards, something they have to hide from the real world. Their dad, Jerry (David DeLuise), grew up in a wizard family. Their mom, Theresa (Maria Canals-Barrera), is a mortal. The family lives on Waverly Place, where they run a deli and where Jerry teaches the kids their wizard powers.

The Wizards of Waverly Place, Vol. 2: Supernaturally Stylin’ DVD is the second DVD release for this series. There are four episodes included on this DVD. A list of those episodes plus a brief synopsis are listed below:

Episode #1.18 – “Credit Check” – When Alex is hired to work at a high class fashion magazine, she’s absolutely thrilled. She seems to be coming up with great ideas and things appear to be going well, but when the manager takes credit for Alex’s ideas, problems arise. In the meantime, Justin struggles as he tries to ask out a waitress who is working at the deli.

Episode #2.1 – “Smarty Pants – Afraid to fail a test, Alex uses magic to correct all her answers. When the results for the test come back, Alex scores the highest. Suddenly, she’s being deemed a nerd, just like Justin and is asked to join the school brain bowl, with her friend, Harper. The key to being smart is a pair of pants she wears, and so long as she has the pants on, she’s a smarty pants. Meanwhile, Max is selling bottled water, only it turns out to be from the school’s fountain!

Episode #2.2 – “Beware Wolf” – While surfing the World Wide Wiz-Web, Justin meets a girl. The two agree to go on a blind date. Of course, the girl is hiding the fact that she’s actually a werewolf. Max is on a mission in this episode. He needs to save money so he can purchase some pre-teen style sippy cups.

Episode #2.3 – “Graphic Novel” – Justin and Max think they are real smart when they steal Alex’s diary, full of her make believe thoughts, dreams, and all her hidden secrets. Unfortunately, the diary is stolen from them by Gigi, Alex’s nemesis. As they try to get the book back their magical powers send Gigi into the book and she’s transported into the magical world of Alex. It’s up to Alex to go in after her before Gigi discovers all of Alex’s secrets from her diary.

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

Audio/Visual:
Wizards of Waverly Place includes an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. This isn’t the best quality, but it’s not the worst I have seen better. Compared to the last Wizards DVD, the quality seems to be a little less, but it’s not horrible enough to distract the main audience. Kids will enjoy the colors used here, which are bright and airy for the most part. It would have been nice to see more detail used, but as I said, this isn’t the worst I have seen. This is one of the better shows Disney has offered lately, so hopefully the production value and the level of detail will continue to get better with future DVDs.

Dolby Digital 5.1 sets the stage where sound is concerned. It’s not overly dramatic. The sound is pretty front heavy, which is slightly disappointing, though this is not a track that needs a variety of channels used. It’s a kids show and it has basic audio for a show like it is. The dialogue is easy to hear and there should not be any problems with that and the other musical variations on the DVD. No foreign language options or subtitles of any kind have been included.

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

Bonus Features:
There is only one real bonus feature available on this Wizards DVD. This is not a big surprise because the last DVD had the same amount of supplements. “Fashionista Presto Chango” is the supplement this time around. Basically, the young leads of the show get to show off the clothing that they like the most in the wardrobe department. These items are shown and then the young adults talk about their own personal fashion tastes. Costume designer, Julie Rhine also makes an appearance and talks about the importance of blending character with style. It’s not bad the first time you watch, but it’s not worth watching more than once.

The only other thing here is previews that start prior to the episodes. This time around the previews are for High School Musical 3, Schoolhouse Rock, Pinocchio Platinum Edition, and Earth.

Bonus Features: 2 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
While I’m not a big fan of volume releases, I am a fan of this show. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or you know kids who like this series, you should consider purchasing this DVD. The Wizards of Waverly Place is a fun, engaging, safe show that you don’t have to worry about your children watching. This show has one of the most diverse audiences for a Disney Channel show. I know kids as young as 3 and 4 who love it, teens who think its hilarious and all the way up to the grandparents who think the show is wholesome enough to enjoy with the grandkids. For all those people who love Wizards, this DVD might be worth the purchase.

Overall Rating: 3.79 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Disney, Wizards of Waverly Place, Selena Gomez, David Henrie, Jake T. Austin, television show, TV, kids, family, wizards, magic

Movie Info:

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: October 10, 2008
DVD Release Date: January 20, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $19.99

There have been quite a few sci-fi/fantasy movies out for kids in the past few years. From Eragon to the The Seeker most of these movies have been miss rather than hit. I didn’t know anything about the latest Sci-Fi offering for a family friendly audience, City of Ember, so I wasn’t sure if the movie would join the later titles as being movies with promise, all of which didn’t come through for the audience in the end. Luckily, this movie was more enjoyable than both of the previously mentioned films.

That being said, City of Ember isn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination. The movie has an excellent cast, which includes Tim Robbins, Bill Murray, Martin Landau and Mary Kay Place. The children who play the leads are actually quite good in their respective roles (one of whom happens to be Oscar nominated teen star Saoirse Ronan). There is an intriguing story and though the film isn’t as action packed as this over-hyperized, younger audience is used to, there is enough adventure to hold their interest. This film was enjoyed by my teen and my young nephew. It’s recommended for most kids, though you may want to watch this first if your child is sensitive or under the age of 5, just to make sure it is appropriate.

Where many fantasies movies falter this one actually succeeds. The plot follows the book this movie was based on for the most part. Fans of the book should enjoy the movie. Of course, The Seeker was universally panned, mostly due to the fact that the book audience hated how much it differed from the story of the book. Luckily, the fundamentals of this story remain the same from book to screen and I think that fans of the book should enjoy its telling in movie form.

I happen to like the Sci Fi/Fantasy genres. I am glad that I can share these types of movies with the kids. This story is not only somewhat magical, it’s also hopeful and inspiring. I saw many similarities to the world in one of my favorite childhood books, “The Giver.” I am wondering if the author of “City of Ember” was inspired by the work of Lois Lowry. When you are watching this, if you are familiar with this book you’ll easily be able to note the similarities from job assignment to a citizen’s inability to leave beyond the city limits.

The City of Ember Plot
In the beginning of the movie, it is explained why the City of Ember had to be created. The people of the planet, those in charge, must protect humanity from some cataclysmic disaster. To do so they build the City of Ember. The city is built completely underground. Everything from water flow to electricity has been taken care of for these folks, by the mythical city creators who are later known as the builders.

The City of Ember is only meant to last for 200 years underground. Each of the mayors passes down instructions not to be opened until the 200 year mark has been hit. These instructions will show that current mayor how to get the citizens back to the surface. If the citizens don’t return to the surface, the food supply will dwindle and disappear, the power won’t last and the city has the potential to fall apart. Unfortunately, as the years pass the mayors misplace the instructions and they are all but forgotten. By the time the story actually begins, the current mayor has no idea he needs to find the instructions in order to save himself and the rest of the citizens from the city’s destruction.

At this time, Ember has a number of blackouts. The hydroelectric generator is falling apart. The citizens do not know how to fix it. The citizens (the majority of them) are fairly ignorant about their fate. The potential for this entire world to collapse upon them and kill them all is pretty much a certainty. The story revolves around young Lina Mayfleet (Saoirse Ronan) and her best friend, Doon Harrow (Harry Treadaway), who are both 12 years old. At the beginning of the movie the two of them have graduated from school.

When citizens of the City of Ember graduate from school they are placed on job assignment. Doon is given the job of messenger, which he switches with Lina, who is supposed to work as a Pipeworks technician. The messenger system was developed when the telephone system collapsed. Lina runs around the city delivering messages to people in lieu of phone service. As Lina travels the city, she has a first hand look at how the city is falling apart. Doon learns that the hydroelectric generator is on its last leg. It’s held together by constantly repaired pipes, which are deteriorating daily.

Lina and Doon are the witnesses to the city’s problems, which could lead to the death of all of them. A descendant of one of the city’s past mayors, Lina discovers the instructions left by the builders to get the city to the surface. She must use these instructions to help save the City of Ember.

Unfortunately, it’s been chewed in part by her little sister, Poppy (Catherine & Amy Quinn), so Lina and Doon must piece the instructions together and try to read them. With a corrupt mayor, Mayor Cole (Bill Murray), only looking out for himself and the adults clueless to what’s going on, it’s up to these two kids to save the world. The only problem is that those attempting to leave the city risk death, something Doon’s father, Loris Harrow (Tim Robbins) knows about personally.

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

Audio/Visual:
I wish I could tell you how fabulous City of Ember looked in its DVD transfer. What I saw looked fair for a screener, but being that was all I received and it was obvious that it wasn’t the final quality, I can only offer you basic specs and say that I hope it looks good, because the film was well worth watching. The visual specs for City of Ember include a widescreen 2.35:1 transfer and a standard fullscreen transfer. Just based on experience I would recommend the widescreen, but that’s just me.

The audio options include English Dolby Digital 5.1 with Closed Captioning, Spanish Dolby Digital Surround, and French Dolby Digital Surround. Subtitles will be available in both English and Spanish.

Bonus Features:
Sadly, I do not think any special features will be included with City of Ember. I cannot say for sure, as we only received the screener copy, but normally if special features are going to be added they are on the disc. This time around nothing was included, not even the movie trailer for the film.

Bottom Line:
City of Ember is better than I thought. It’s a fun film I was easily able to enjoy with my family. Older kids and teens are going to be better suited for this movie than little ones, but depending on your child’s age and maturity level even those as young as four can enjoy this story. A movie with a good message, great acting and a lot to offer its audience, City of Ember is recommended.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: City of Ember, Family Movie, Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, DVD Review, 20th Century Fox

This list is all about the family-friendly cartoons and live-action comedy shows that we know kids and families will be able to enjoy throughout the New Year. Kids should love each of these sets and many adults will enjoy them, too.

We offered a nice mix of some new, popular shows alongside a number of timeless classics that the whole family can enjoy. So, if you’re still on the hunt for some gifts and you don’t know what to buy, sit back and check out our family friendly TV guide. You might just find the perfect gift right under your nose.

1. The Flintstones – The Complete Series: The great thing about The Flintstones is that no matter how old you are you can enjoy this show. This is perfect for kids and adults and would be a fabulous family gift. This amazing set features all of the episodes of the show plus tons of special extras and perks that make it worthwhile.

Classic cartoons do not get much better than this and this new set will be sure to make any cartoon lover happy! At this point most everyone is familiar with Fred and the gang, but on the off chance your little ones are new to the show, this will be the perfect set for them, because once they see an episode they will definitely want to see more!

The Box Set for The Flintstones: The Complete Series can be purchased at Amazon for under $90!

2. Avatar – The Last Airbender: The Complete Book 3 Collection: This is by far one of the best cartoons (geared towards older kids and teens) to be released in recent years. Not only is it well written, it’s always entertaining, and it comes with a message. It was a sad day when Avatar: The Last Airbender was cancelled and the final episode was aired. Still, this final Book 3 Collection would be a perfect addition to any fan’s DVD library.

This offers the closing of the show and would be a great way to revisit the series, so your kids can remain interested while waiting for the upcoming live action movie. If you know someone is a fan, but doesn’t have all of the sets you might want to seek out a bundle pack or pair this with the first and/or second season of the show.

The Avatar: The Last Airbender – Complete Book Three Collection is available for less than $45 through Amazon.

Also, feel free to check out our Avatar – The Last Airbender: The Complete Book 3 Collection DVD Review.

3. Speed Racer: The Complete Classic Series Collection: The majority of fans that love Speed Racer are probably older, but thanks to the influx of movies and newer shows that has been changing lately. If you have a fan in your house that hasn’t seen the Classic Series then you definitely need to pick up this set. Not only is the case shaped like the awesome Mach 5, it’s got all of the original episodes, tons of special features, and it will be fun for the entire family.

The kids are bound to love this fast paced thrill ride. The show is completely entertaining and actually much better than I anticipated. It would work well for both younger and older children without a problem. This would go great paired with the Speed Racer live action film if given to an older child or an adult.

Check out our Speed Racer: The Complete Classic Series Collection DVD Review.

You can pick up your Speed Racer: The Complete Classic Series Collection Box Set for just over $35 at Amazon.

4. Hannah Montana: The Complete First Season: Despite the fact that I am not and never will be a Hannah Montana fan, I recognize that the majority of younger children love the show and have a great time watching it. If you have one of these kids, they will probably go wild for this set.

For those of you that have not seen the show, it’s all about a girl living a double life between a normal girl and a super cool rock star! Released by Disney this set includes all of the first season episodes with some added extras that your child will be sure to love.

This would be a great addition to other Hannah Montana themed presents, such as Rico’s Surf Shop or the Summertime Fun Dolls.

Check out some Hannah Montana: The Complete First Season Clips and pick up your copy of this DVD at Amazon for just over $25!

5. The Smurfs: Season One, Vol. Two: As an 80s child, there wasn’t much of anything that was better than my favorite little blue people, The Smurfs. I have heard some parents say that they were too violent, but I don’t remember taking any of that from the show that I watched as a kid. Having watched them again, as Smurfs DVDs have been recently released and reviewed on LI Kids, I have to say that I don’t see the reason for worry.

The Smurfs are good, environmentally friendly, caring, and smart creatures. Sure, they get chased by a crazed old man and an occasionally vicious cat, but good always prevails so there isn’t anything to worry about.

Check out our The Smurfs Season One, Vol. One and Vol. 2 DVD Reviews. You can purchase The Smurfs: Volume One, Season Two for Under $20 at Amazon.

Head to Page Two for More Hot TV on DVD for Kids Picks by LI Kids

Release Info:
DVD Release Date: September 9, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon

From all I have seen, parents have either a love or hate relationship with the Doodlebops. I have heard complaints that one of the characters is a homosexual in real life. I have also heard complaints that the show does not offer real educational value. However, despite these claims, which I will address in a moment, small children absolutely adore this show and with good reason!

It is true that Chad McNamara is a homosexual. However, in this instance he is not playing one on television. McNamara plays the role of Rooney Doodle and he does a good job. It should not matter that he identifies as homosexual in his personal life no more than it should matter than Anne Heche kissed Harrison Ford in a movie when she was claiming to be a lesbian. It’s acting. He acts like a character that probably has little to do with his real life. Furthermore, most kids don’t even understand what homosexuality is and even less of them can spot it in a children’s show character that is playing a part, like McNamara is here.

It’s also true that the academic value of Doodlebops is low. However, the creativity value is high. Not only that, but with all the singing and dancing kids are encouraged to get on their feet, which will be good for their health. Kids also learn some type of lesson, a la Barney that may not be educational, but is still important to learn. These lessons vary depending on the episode and range from things like sharing and being a good friend to the importance of being truthful.

I wouldn’t end up watching this all on my own, but with young children it’s an incredibly fun experience. The kids adore the show and dance and sing along with the television. The characters are harmless and good natured, not to mention amusing in many different ways. It makes for a great show for young children.

The Doodlebops: We Love our Friends Plot
There are four episodes on Doodlebops: We Love our Friends . These episodes are all listed below with brief descriptions about each one.

“All By Myself”: Jazzmin has a hard time handling her too long to-do list so she enlists Audio Murphy to help her out. Unlike Jazzmin, Audio Murphy thinks that he can get the list done all alone. It doesn’t take long for him to learn it’s better to ask for help than it is to try and tough it out alone.

“Bring-A-Sound-Arounder”: Rooney invents the Bring-a-Sound-Arounder and it’s a hit. The invention gives you the opportunity to listen to sounds that occur far away. While this invention is great, Rooney isn’t able to hear his friends that are close to him, wishing that he had time to spend with them again.

“The Chicken and the Egg”: Much to the shock of the Doodlebops they learn that the resident chicken is able to answer yes or no questions based on the color of eggs that she lays. This obviously means that the chicken is a genius so they begin to look to her for answers to every question.

“Rhymes with Orange”: Jazzmin is challenged by the Doodlebops to create rhymes for a variety of words. Everyone has a great time until Moe stumps her with the word, orange. When that happens Jazzmin is unable to rhyme anything at all! Everyone has to work together to help Jazzmin get her rhyming skills back.

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

Audio/Visual:
Doodlebops is available at a standard 1.33:1 aspect ratio and is viewable in fullscreen mode. This is about average for a children’s show, so it’s not a problem. There are minor instances of fuzz, and slight compression errors but nothing much that the kids noticed and nothing that made viewing a problem. Overall, this was a fair visual presentation. The colors were bright and the kids loved watching it.

The audio is available in Dolby Digital Stereo with Closed Captioning. The songs are vibrant and exciting and the dialogue comes through clear and easy to hear. The levels are well balanced so volume toggling was not necessary. This was a good presentation for both audio and visual presences.

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

Bonus Features:
Doodlebops: We Love our Friends offers a couple of bonus features, which is nice because so many children’s DVDs leave bonuses behind. This DVD offers Direct-Play, which is similar to Disney’s Fast Play. Parents can put this DVD into the player and not have to worry about hitting play when the time comes. The DVD will start on its own. So if you happen to be in the other room you won’t have anything to worry about and the kids won’t have to fiddle with the remote.

The other special features aren’t incredibly intensive, but the kids will be sure to love them. Included in the bonuses section are four songs that the kids can sing along with and two dance along songs. These provide plenty of fun and activity for the kids after the episodes are over. While these may not be the kids of bonus features you would expect to see on a standard DVD for young kids they are absolutely perfect.

Bonus Features: 4 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Doodlebops: We Love our Friends may not be the most educational show out there, but there tends to be a lesson learned regardless of whether or not it’s an academic one. Young children love the show because it’s high energy and there is plenty of music and dancing to enjoy. The characters may be live action, but they are certainly colorful and animated. This DVD only features four episodes, but would make for a great filler for children that can’t get enough of the show when it’s on television or for parents that want to introduce their children to the show. I wouldn’t recommend this for kids over six, but the small children really do love it.

Overall Rating: 4.14 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: DVD Review, Lionsgate, Doodlebops, All by Myself, Bring-A-Sound-Arounder, The Chicken and the Egg, Rhymes and Orange, Jazzmin, Audio Murphy, Rooney, Kids, Music, Dancing

Release Info:
Original Air Dates: November 22, 2000
DVD Release Date: September 16, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $21.99

One of my favorite Disney movies when I was growing up was 101 Dalmatians. I wasn’t sure how much I would like the live action film when it came out, but it wasn’t the worst movie I had seen. Then the second one came out. I was shocked that Disney allowed it to be made and was in disbelief about how bad it was. I don’t know if Glenn Close was going through a bad patch, because she’s definitely showing her talent off these days in her new show, Damages, but this movie definitely didn’t do much to highlight her talent any.

Generally it’s easy to find one bad thing and work from there to explain why something didn’t work. You can’t really do that with 102 Dalmatians because none of it worked. The writing was poor. The acting wasn’t particularly good. The direction was lacking in more ways than I can count. In short, this movie never had a chance.

I hate to say it, but maybe everyone took some drugs together and had a mass delusion that this movie would be good. Glenn Close normally isn’t bad, but not even her best work (this wasn’t it) could have saved this. Likewise, Kevin Lima has directed such films as A Goofy Movie and last year’s smash hit Enchanted. How do you direct good things and then assume something like this is any good? Maybe it was just a bad patch for him too. Apparently there were a lot of those going around.

The 102 Dalmatians Plot
Chloe Simon (Alice Evans) is a nice probation officer that predictably enough is also a Dalmatian owner. Surprisingly, she doesn’t believe that Cruella (Glenn Close) has changed her spots (so to speak) so she objects to the fur coat lover’s choice of community service. You see, Cruella wants to save the 2nd Chance dog shelter and stop them from getting evicted. Kevin Shepherd (Ioan Gruffudd) can use all the help he can get so he welcomes Cruella’s presence and her community service is granted with court-imposed terms.

As you can guess, love will be in the air between Kevin and Chloe. Chloe’s dog, Dipstick also finds love with some of Kevin’s assorted dogs of various breeds. With the amount of dogs there are, not too many stand out from the crowd. Eric Idle does voice an amusing parrot though that swears he’s a Rottweiler.

Like in all other Dalmatian films, there is a kidnapping plot by the bad haired psycho herself, along with her merry band of dimwits. Essentially, this movie is like the other movies, but well…worse. It doesn’t take long for Cruella’s hair to go mad, which signifies her Darth Vader-esque transformation. Soon after that she is joined by her entourage, Alonzo (Tim McInnerny) and fashion expert, Jean-Pierre Le Pelt (Gerard Depardieu).

There isn’t much else to say without giving the plot you already know exists, away. This just doesn’t work and there was no point to it. Sadly, it was made anyway. Now we should just all close our eyes to it and try as best as we can to forget it.

Storyline/Plot: 0.5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 0 out of 5 stars
Acting: 0.5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 0.5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
Neither transfer, be it audio or video wowed me much, but they are acceptable with easy to see picture quality and standard audio. The video is transferred at a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. This transfer features fair colors and is generally free from grain or dirt. It’s not too bright or exciting, but it gets the job done for a standard DVD like this. With the movie being what it is, I might have liked it better if it were harder to see.

There are four audio tracks on this disc. You can choose from English in either Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS 5.1 with Closed Captioning, French Dolby Digital 5.1 or Spanish 5.1 sound. Also included are English and Spanish subtitles. The French viewers will have to hope that they can hear because they don’t get Closed Captioning or subtitles. The sound is not majorly dynamic but things are easy to hear and it works for what it is.

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

Bonus Features:
It seems odd that there would be as many bonus features here as there are. The reason I say that is because the original live action 101 Dalmatians had barely any and was a substantially better movie. Things get rolling with a full audio commentary from the director and some animal trainers and coordinators. The commentary isn’t all that exciting so I suppose it fits well with the movie. However, it also means it’s not worth listening to. You can add all the bonuses in the world, but if they are dull it’s rather pointless.

There is a block of featurettes including “Creating Cruella,” “Animal Actors,” “Designing Dalmatians,” and “Visual Effects 102.” The Cruella feature looks at what it takes to turn the villain of the story into a live action villain when she started as an animation. “Animal Actors” is pretty obvious, focusing on the canines in the movie. “Designing Dalmatians” looks at the set design and costumes. Meanwhile, “Visual Effects” has Eric Idle discussing and showing some of the CG movie tricks that happened in the movie.

One rather pathetic deleted scene is included though I will admit it made me chuckle. The reason I wanted to laugh when seeing it is because the thought crossed my mind that the entire movie should have been a deleted scene. Promos for other Disney titles are included for both new movies and ones that have recently been released. Among the previews are The Little Mermaid II, Phineas and Ferb, and Beverly Hills Chihuahua.