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

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

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

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

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

Release Info:
Original Theatrical Release Date: July 24, 2009
DVD Release Date: December 15, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $

I knew, as soon as I saw the commercials for G-Force that it was going to be stupid. You see, Disney has a few different styles of animation. First, there is Pixar, with movies that are always excellent and instantly become animated classics. Then there are the cool animated features that Disney actually took quite a bit of time to make, like The Princess and the Frog. Then there are these CGI flicks that seem to be made just for the amusement of today’s children with very little substance to them. G-Force is one of those films.

Yes, I guess talking guinea pigs are kind of cute. Making them superheroes seems a little ridiculous and though the cast appears to be decent, not even Jon Favreau can save a movie about a bunch of crazy rodents. I was bored to tears while watching this movie…but, I admit it. The kids loved this mindless, crazy little film. Have no doubts, your little ones will love it, but sadly I don’t think that Walt Disney had this drivel in mind when he was building his animated empire.

The thing I always liked about Disney was how family oriented their movies were. A mom could enjoy a Disney flick just as much as her kids. Heck, Dad and the Grandparents often were able to get in on the action, and enjoyed the film, as well. In the last decade or so, Disney has moved away from strictly family-friendly affairs and made movies that appeal more to kids, but make Mom and Dad want to slit their wrists if they have to watch these movies more than once. This makes me sad.

I grew up with Disney. I grew up watching Disney with my much older brother and my mom. It wasn’t a big deal that I was 5 and my brother was 14. He’d still watch it because he knew what a good movie was. Disney always had good movies back then. I don’t feel that way anymore. For example, my teenage son can only tolerate some of the Disney flicks that his five year old cousin wants to watch, but G-Force isn’t one of them. He was as bored as we were. Seriously, Jerry Bruckheimer. What were you thinking?

G-Force Plot
The FBI has trained an elite league of secret agents, all of which are animals. These animals have highly advanced weaponry and tools that allow them to perform their job well. One of the special forces is a group mainly made up of guinea pigs, that use a special earpiece, allowing them to speak to humans. The force is joined by a group of cockroaches who help them on their missions.

In the beginning of the film, we meet the team members. The team leader is Darwin (Sam Rockwell). Each of his crew has a specific specialty/function. The martial arts expert is Juarez (Penelope Cruz) and the weapons/transport guinea pig is Blaster (Tracy Morgan). Cyber technology is handled by Speckles (Nicolas Cage), and reconnaissance by a fly named Mooch (Dee Bradley Baker). Overseeing the team is Ben (Zach Galifinakis).

Ben decides to send them into Leonard Saber’s home. Saber is the owner of Saberling Technology and is an electronics mogul. He is also being watched by the FBI, and has been under their close supervision for several years. What they find is that Saber is up to no good and they have less than two days until his evil plan is set in motion. Unfortunately, Ben wasn’t supposed to send them on the mission and his boss is appalled that they went in without his permission or approval. This leads him to shut down the unit and order them all into a life of miserableness as animal experiment victims.

Luckily, they are all able to escape, intent on surviving and stopping Saber on their own. Along the way they meet additional animals including the piggy guinea pig, Hurley (Jon Favreau), a hamster, Bucky (Steve Buscemi), and three mice. With their new friends on their side, the team is sure they can stop Saber’s evil plan and get G-Force reinstated.

Storyline/Plot: 1.5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 2 out of 5 stars
Acting: 2 out of 5 stars
Directing: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
G-Force is a kid’s movie so you can expect some lively graphics all around. Disney normally does not disappoint, making sure to offer excellent special effects and a flashy picture that kids will love. The black levels are strong, the colors are delightful, and the picture is crisp. Everything on those little animals stands out whether you like them or not. It’s hard to deny the good job that was done by the studio on this one. The biggest problem here, if anything, is over-saturation. Still, it is a little complaint in the scheme of things. Overall, there is little to complain about here and kids will definitely be happy with the result.

The audio is presented in a DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix. The audio is exactly what you would expect from a children’s movie. It’s not amazing audio, but it gets the job done for a kid’s movie and it’s passable in a general sense. Kids won’t have anything to complain about and I doubt most adults will like it enough to pick out the follies that are present (or not) in the audio. The dialogue is crisp and clean and the surround sound is active with background sounds and special effects noises of all kinds. In addition to English audio there are Spanish and French Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks and subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.

Visual: 4 out of 5 stars
Audio: 3 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
There is a fair amount of content available in the special features. The extras are split down the middle as far as high definition content goes. Some of it is standard and then there are a few special features that will fit in exclusively on Blu-ray. None of these really stood out as being amazing, in my own mind. Kids might like some of these though and some adults may find a few of these more interesting than the movie.

“Cine-Explore with Darwin, Blaster & Their Creator” – Why this movie has a picture-in-picture I am not quite sure. I highly doubt that most kids are going to appreciate, much less care that this is even on here. Yeatman shows up on the PiP to talk about the wonder that is his work and how he does it with a straight face, we will never know. Otherwise, you have the inner workings of G-force and a few of the guinea pigs coming around to toss out lines and annoy you a little more than they already did.

“G-Farce Bloopers and Flubs” – These are a small set of outtakes from the film. The actors are all in the sound booth, of course. This has some funny parts, but nothing incredibly laughable.

“Blaster’s Boot Camp” – Blaster (Morgan) is on the set to give kids the low down on how they can become agents for G-Force and the tools of the trade.

“G-Force Mastermind” – This is all about the inspiration behind the movie. Yeatman’s son, also named Hoyt Yeatman was the inspiration for this movie. Once Bruckheimer heard about it, he loved it and the rest is history. Amazing, right?

“Bruckheimer Animated” – The name kind of explains it all. This gives you a look at the CGI work done by Bruckheimer. It’s rather backpatting or else the purpose is to reaffirm that Bruckheimer has done CGI and this wasn’t his first attempt.

“Access Granted” – This gives you a trip into the animation lab. You get a tour of the department. It’s pretty general, but it’s obvious that they want to show you that a huge amount of work went into creating G-Force.

Things wrap up with six deleted scenes and a selection of music videos. The videos include Flo Rida’s “Jump,” “Go G-Force,” and Steve Rushton’s “Ready to Rock.”

Bonus Features: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
The greatest part of G-Force is the excellent visual quality and the decent audio track. I only wish that Bruckheimer and crew would have spent more time developing a story that wasn’t stupid. If you have little kids, you may want to get this, because this is only good if you want them to pass a little time and lose a few brain cells in the process. Otherwise, I recommend you pass this one up. It isn’t even worth the rent…not even in Blu-Ray.

Overall Rating: 2.36 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: G-Force, Guinea Pig, Disney, Bruckheimer, Kids, Movie, CGI, Animation, Blu-ray Review, Movie Review

Release Info:
Original Theatrical Release Date: November 24, 2009
DVD Release Date: November 24, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $24.99

I might be a reviewer, but there are some movies that I just do not want to see. Some press releases get me nice and excited thinking about the great films that I will be able to review and others make me groan with the thought of upcoming boredom.

Santa Buddies was not one of the movies that I was excited to see. In fact, I only decided to review it because my nephew was dying to see it. He made me promise to get it for him, so I got it for review so that he could see it. I watched it with him and he liked it so much that I had to bring the DVD to his house, so that he could keep it and watch it with his friends. When he saw me walking out of the house with the case, he wanted to know where I was taking his DVD. He calmed down when he realized it was just the Blu-ray. If he had a Blu-ray player I would have let him keep it. Lord knows, I probably won’t get much use out of it unless he wants to watch it at my house.

When it comes to holiday movies this fails. There is nothing else to say about it. Santa Buddies is a movie that rides off of the success of a movie that came out a long time ago. That movie, Air Bud, was good, but it wasn’t good enough to spawn this many sequels. I mean seriously, what plans does Disney have in the future? Is this going to be a holiday tradition? Valentine’s Day spawns Cupid Buddies, Easter offers up Easter Buddies, and New Years Eve brings us Party Buddies?!?

It’s time to end the Bud-based movies. As I mentioned, this feels like it was created to make money and sadly, it will make at least a little bit. Still, this is no Christmas/holiday movie to be proud of. It’s enjoyable if the kids like it, because the excitement on their faces manages to make it at least somewhat fun. Otherwise, this movie ends up being a supreme failure.

Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws Plot
How did George Wendt get roped into doing this movie? He used to be such a good actor. Anyway, Wendt plays Santa Claus. Santa is at the North Pole with his dog, Santa Paws (Tom Bosley). Santas Paws and Claus are checking out the Christmas Icicle. This icicle is magic and it is melting because nobody believes in Santa Claus or Santa Paws. Christmas is in danger of being canceled forever unless something is done to make kids, parents, and dogs alike believing again.

Santa Paws has a son named Puppy Paws (Zachary Gordon). Puppy wants to leave the North Pole, for adventures as a normal puppy. Puppy goes on a quest to find Budderball (Josh Flitter), who is on Santa’s naughty list since he ate the Thanksgiving turkey. He thinks that Budderball can help him to become a normal puppy in no time.

Meanwhile, the Buddies, Buddha (Field Cate), Rosebud (Liliana Mumy), Budderball, B-Dawg (Skyler Gisondo) and Mudbud (Ty Panitz) are in Fernfield, though they aren’t very excited about Christmas. The buddies are sure Santa Paws is their dad, who invented the naughty list as a way to make his puppy children behave. Of course, Sniffer (Tim Conway) tries to teach them the true meaning of Christmas.

When Puppy Paws leaves the North Pole, he makes the Christmas Icicle crack so much the North Pole’s power is shut off and Santa’s reindeer can no longer fly. In Fernfield, he meets Budderball and he causes problems with all the buddies, though Budderball gets blamed for some his actions. Once they realize it is Puppy Paws, they want him to leave. Of course, the buddies realize they also have some changes to make to better themselves, too.

When Puppy Paws is kidnapped by Mr. Stan Cruge (Christopher Lloyd), a dogcatcher, he is taken to the pound. There he meets a dog looking for a Christmas miracle and I am sure you can guess where the story goes from there. Well it is not that predictable, but the story is too convoluted to continue telling as it involves elves and people who are mean who soften with the idea of having puppies.

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

Audio/Visual:
Whether you liked the actual movie, Santa Buddies or not has nothing to do with the quality. When it comes to the video you are going to end up receiving a top notch presentation. Things are presented with an AVC MPEG-4 encode and 1080p. The aspect ratio is 1.78:1. Kids will enjoy the strong and diverse color palette that is used in Santa Buddies. The colors are vibrant, whites and crisp, and the blacks are solid. While everything stands out beautifully, nothing is too bright.

The detail in the film is also gorgeous. The smallest detail is noticeable and they all blend together nicely to not cause too much of a stir. No major messups in the visual category can be reported. There are no issues with compression errors, noise, dirt, or fuss. This is a good representation of what a new movie should look like on Blu-ray. There are some CGI-effects that just appear to be ridiculous. That doesn’t rest solely on the visual quality, though. It is the fault of the makers of the film.

You have three options for audio depending on the language you prefer to hear Santa Buddies in. You can choose from the main, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix or you can opt for one of the Dolby Digital 5.1 mixes in either French or Spanish. This is one of those Blu-ray films that didn’t really need a HD mix. That isn’t saying the mix is bad. Instead, it is underutilized.

Most movies that are not musically based or action packed don’t make amazing use of their high def sound and Buddies is no different. The dialogue is crisp and easy to hear and the majority of everything you hear will be coming through the front channels. Don’t expect to be wowed by movie theater sound because you’re not going to find it here. As it is a kids movie, its passable, because kids won’t notice there is an issue as long as they can hear the dogs speaking. However, adults will not be wowed. Subtitles are available, as well.

Visual: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 3 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
People, or kids rather, looking for a ton of special features might feel a tad let down here. The majority of the features, with exception of the BD Live option is available on both the Blu-ray and the DVD. If you purchase the Blu-ray you will also receive the DVD as it comes in a combo pack. That being said, you receive four main special features that can be watched on either Blu-ray or DVD. The special features are as follows:

Previews: You receive a BD promo, a Disney parks promo, and something concerning Disney Movie Rewards. Previews included are G-Force, Beauty and the Beast: Diamond Collection, Toy Story 3, Ponyo, Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue, Dumbo: 70th Anniversary Edition, and The Princess and the Frog.

Sing Along Songs: Songs include Santa Paws is Comin’ to Town, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and Deck the Halls. Kids that loved the movie should enjoy getting a chance to sing with the dogs.

Music Video: The lone music video is for Santa Claus is Coming to Town and it’s sung by Steve Rushton. The video includes plenty of cips from the film.

Bonus Features: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Santa Buddies is not a movie for your average adult. If you like this movie it probably won’t be for the movie itself. Chances are, you’re more likely to enjoy it because your kids like it and seeing them like it makes it enjoyable to you, as well. That being said, it’s not going to be a movie that you want to sit down and watch alone. It’s also not going to hold a candle to any of your favorite Christmas flicks.

Younger kids will get the most enjoyment from this if they like it at all. That being said, save your money if you have the option between Blu-ray and DVD and just buy them the DVD. Otherwise, if you have to see it, I highly recommend renting it before making the decision to purchase this film.

Overall Rating: 3.86 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Santa Buddies, The Legend of Santa Paws, Blu-Ray, DVD Combo, Combo Pack, Disney Studios, Family, Dogs, Movie Review, Blu-Ray Review

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: September 13, 2005
DVD Release Date: September 8, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $16.99

Who doesn’t like Poohbear? I have yet to meet a person that doesn’t. Most of the kids in my generation grew up with him in some way or another and that is something that has traveled on to their children. He is not seen as much as he used to be, but he commonly shows up around holiday times for specials. We always see him around Christmas, occasionally for Easter or other holidays, and certainly around Halloween. It wouldn’t be a scary, fun holiday without a romp through the Hundred Acre Woods.

Kids will love Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie. It has fun frights (occasionally jumpy moments that aren’t all that scary) and plenty of cute moments to go along with them. All of the usual suspects have been included from Pooh to Roo along with Tigger, Eyeore, and Rabbit, too. There is a new addition that some might not be familiar with though and that is Lumpy. He is a Heffalump (looks sort of like a Elephant).

If you’re one of those families that pulls out all of the same Halloween DVDs every holiday then your kids may just appreciate this even more. Don’t get me wrong, we love Garfield, The Chipmunks, and Charlie Brown, but if you’re looking for something new Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie will make an excellent addition to your Halloween movie list. The funny thing is that Pooh doesn’t really feel like the star of this show. Roo and Lumpy take center stage and they are unique as leads for this because both of them are terribly easy to frighten. It makes the movie funnier than you can image, because both of them will jump and hide after seeing their own shadow.

I normally am not a fan of newer versions of older cartoons, but Pooh might be the exception. The reason for that is that the characters don’t seem to change. With other cartoons it’s almost as if they attempt to update both the look and the personalities of the characters and if you’ve been watching them since you were a kid it’s really sad to see that. With Pooh that doesn’t happen (ignoring the classic Pooh look – this is how Pooh has looked in all the movies). They might show up in a clearer format, but that’s the only real noteworthy change to speak about. It makes it well worth recommending, because parents know when they pick up this movie they will be getting the Pooh they know and love.

The Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie Plot
Pooh and the Hundred Acre Wood residents are celebrating a Spooktacular Halloween. The youngsters, Roo and his best friend, Lumpy the Huffalump, are going to be trick-or-treating. Lumpy doesn’t know about trick-or-treating or Halloween. It is going to be the younsters’ first time trick or treating, so Roo and the old folks (Pooh, Tigger and Eyeore) explain the joys of Halloween to Lumpy.

This just makes Roo and Lumpy more excited about trick-or-treating. Well, that is until Tigger starts talking about the Gobloon! The Gobloon is scary and frightening. If they are caught by the Gobloon then they will be turned into a Jaggedy Lantern. However, if they catch the Gobloon first, they can ask it for a wish! Poor Lumpy is so frightened by this story, he is no longer certain he wants to go trick-or-treating. Luckily, he has a good friend in Roo.

Roo convinces Lumpy that they are best friends and together they can do anything. Friends together and friends forever, not even a Gobloon can stop them! When Halloween comes and Pooh has eaten all the candy, the friends end up going out to get more. The only problem is Roo gets scared and the two get separated. Lumpy must face his fears, and Roo must face the fact that he let Lumpy down, but when he is certain he’s found that Gobloon, he realizes there is something more important to wish for than candy.

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

Audio/Visual:
Heffalump is shown in a 1.78:1 anamorphic transfer that is virtually free of flaws. There are a few moments where it is easy to see artifacts, noise, and dust, but that it is the older scenes that come from Pooh’s other Halloween haunt. While this area could use a little work, the majority of the material is clear, crisp, and clean. The level of detail is nice and the colors are certainly child friendly. It’s highly unlikely that kids will notice anything wrong with this transfer. As it is, most adults will have little to complain about either. All in all, things are more than fair for a family DVD.

The audio for Heffalump is handled in a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack that works perfectly from beginning to end. Everything is highlighted with little problems. The music is fun, the dialogue is easy to understand thanks to a high level of clarity and the sound effects get the job done nicely. Of the two, the audio is the better transfer. Along with the English audio there are tracks in French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, as well as subtitles in English for the Hearing Impaired.

Visual: 4 out of 5 stars
Audio: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
There are a number of small bonus features available for this cute Halloween flick. Before the movie begins there is a selection of previews that includes The Disney Princess Fantasy DVD Game, Bear in the Big Blue House DVDs, Kronk’s New Groove, Disney Learning Adventure DVDs (Winnie the Pooh Shapes & Sizes, Winnie the Pooh Wonderful Word Adventure), and a JoJo’s Circus Playhouse Disney ad.

Though not a special feature, it should be noted that like most kids DVDs by Disney, this comes with the Fast Play option. This means that if you don’t press any buttons the movie will begin right after the features. You can bypass this via the menu, but if you start the DVD and leave the room it will work all on its own.

Another thing worth noting is that the menu was incredibly hard to navigate. It took a couple of tries to get it to do what I wanted it to do. That’s not anything normal as far as DVD menus are concerned, so I thought it was worth mentioning. I don’t know if it sticks on all DVDs or just mine, but since it’s not something that normally happens it’s worth the mention.

There are three games included in the special feature section. Trick or Re-Treat includes Lumpy and Roo. It’s their job to go out to re-trick or treat because Roo’s bag had a hole in it. The game was a disaster. The main problem was that it kept sticking. The concept itself is adorable, but it sticks frequently and when you attempt to go back to the game you end up having to listen to the entire set of instructions again. That is probably the most frustrating thing of all.

Next up is Pass the Pumpkin. I wouldn’t call this a game as all it really does is explain the rules of an activity. The game is like musical chairs, but instead of sitting you pass a pumpkin. You can use the music provided to play the game. Unlike the other games you need more than two kids to play this.

Pooh’s Boo! Bingo is an interactive game. You need to print out the Bingo cards from the computer then you can use this game to play Pooh bingo. The numbers differ from game to game, so you can play this over and over without repeating the same digits. The Heffalump Halloween Party Planner is also included in the games section though this is really just a parent’s guide to plan a party. It includes party printables, when you insert this into the DVD-Rom.

Other than that you can opt to register your DVD or you can check out more sneak peeks.

Through the Sneak Peek section there are a number of previews including, Cinderella: Special Edition, Pooh’s Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin, Disney Princess: A Christmas of Enchantment, Disney Princess Fantasy DVD Game, Bear in the Big Blue House DVDs, Kronk’s New Groove, Disney Learning Adventure DVDs, and a Jojo’s Circus ad.

Note: The Limited Edition DVD we received comes with an adorable Baby Pooh dressed in a Tigger Halloween costume!

Bonus Features: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie is just adorable. I really enjoyed watching the primary story on the DVD. While the bonus features leave something to be desired, it’s the main movie that makes Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie worth owning. You and your little ones will love sharing a new adventure with all their favorite Winnie the Pooh characters, and they’ll just adore the Hundred Acre Woods’ latest addition, Lumpy. This DVD is recommended for those with children who love everything Pooh.

Overall Rating: 3.64 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie, DVD Review, Disney, Children, Movie, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Roo, Heffalump, Kids Movie

All you Hannah fans are going to love checking this video out below. Oh, and make sure to check out the commentary about making the movie, provided by Hannah Montana cast members, including Miley Cyrus, while you watch!

SWEET NIBLETS!
Get ready for a giggle-fest! Miley Cyrus and the cast of Hannah Montana The Movie reveal their biggest bloopers. Ooh, the shame…

BIRD BRAIN!
Miley Cyrus says: “The worst thing to happen to me on the set was when I accidentally ate some chicken feed. It was horrible! I was swinging around a barn filled with chickens and things were flying everywhere – which is when some of their food flew into my mouth. It tasted disgusting, but it was very funny!”

ICE ICE BABY!
Jason Earles says: “I have a scene in the movie with an ostrich – and it bit me on the face during our first take! It bit me just above my lip, so I had to put it on ice and then cover up the mark with make-up for the rest of the day. It was the one thing that I didn’t want to happen – and it was the very first thing the bird did. Typical!”

FOOT FUN!
Emily Osment says: “My favorite part of filming was a scene where I get my feet rubbed. It was really funny! I was under the covers giggling with joy because it felt so nice. The scene took three hours to film, but it wasn’t long enough. I was desperately trying not to laugh out loud!”

GOOF OFF!
Miley Cyrus says: “I had so much fun on the set of the movie. In fact, I’ve never laughed so hard before! As soon as the cameras stopped rolling, we’d start messing around and getting the giggles. There are probably loads of shots of me pulling some seriously goofy faces on camera or laughing way too hard. I don’t think I ever want to see them because they’re really embarrassing!”

CAKE CALAMITY!
Moises Arias says: “I wasn’t involved in any bloopers – but I had to spend two days covered in cake for the movie. It was pretty funny! The cake was made from real icing, but I don’t really like cake – so it wasn’t too nice to be stuck underneath gloopy, cakey mess for hours. I stank of cake for days afterwards, too!”

BUGGED OUT!
Jason Earles says: “There was a serious bug problem in Tennessee. They were always giant cicadas jumping around the place and freaking out people. It was really funny to watch the girls scream and run for it whenever the bugs flew in. Eeek!”

BUM DEAL!
Lucas Till says: “Miley is the biggest practical joker I know. I remember her doing a pretty serious scene, but she’d somehow got her hands on a fart machine. She would set off loads of fart sounds and pretend they were coming from her. She was rolling around screaming, ‘Oh, my stomach is going to explode!’ It was hilarious!”

SLEEP SHAME!
Emily Osment says: “This didn’t happen on the movie – but it’s a pretty embarrassing moment from my past. I was a sleepwalker when I was little. At one point, I sleepwalked into our kitchen and thought the refrigerator was the bathroom. I opened the door and tried to get in!”

FUNNY FACE!
Lucas Till Says: “When you watch the bloopers on the DVD, you’ll see me making a bunch of funny faces. I’m actually a really goofy guy and I made a lot of goofy faces on the set before they started filming. You can see a load of them in the DVD extras!”

FEATHERY FRIENDS!
Miley Cyrus says: “This isn’t a blooper, but I befriended some of the chickens on the set. I really wanted to take them home with me. Other stars walk around Hollywood with little dogs under their arms, but I want to walk around with my little chicken!”

Technorati Tags: Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana, Video, Screenshots, Bloopers, Images, Movie, Disney

ROUND ONE: MOVIE MANIA!
These questions are all about Miley’s mega musical movie. Ready, set, go…

QUESTION ONE
Who is the first Hannah Montana character to appear on screen at the start of the film?

QUESTION TWO
What’s the name of the first song Hannah sings at the opening concert?

QUESTION THREE
What’s the name of the British tabloid magazine trying to get a big scoop on Hannah?

QUESTION FOUR
Which famous TV star has a fight with Hannah over a pair of shoes?

QUESTION FIVE
What is written on the sign above the entrance to Lilly’s birthday party?

QUESTION SIX
On which pier is Lilly’s party held?

QUESTION SEVEN
What color is Lilly’s skateboarding helmet?

QUESTION EIGHT
What color is the top layer of Lilly’s birthday cake?

QUESTION NINE
True or False? The drums at Lilly’s party are pink.

QUESTION TEN
What song does Hannah sing at Lilly’s party?

QUESTION ELEVEN
What’s the name of the town where Miley grew up in the movie?

QUESTION TWELVE
What animal can be heard when Hannah touches down in Tennessee?

QUESTION THIRTEEN
What color are Hannah’s suitcases?

QUESTION FOURTEEN
What’s the name of Miley’s horse in the movie?

QUESTION FIFTEEN
What does Miley buy her grandma for her birthday?

QUESTION SIXTEEN
What pet does Miley’s cousin hold at her grandma’s house party?

QUESTION SEVENTEEN
What song does Taylor Swift sing during the fundraiser?

QUESTION EIGHTEEN
What animal turns up in Jackson’s pocket during the mayor’s meal?

QUESTION NINETEEN
What seafood is served during the mayor’s meal?

QUESTION TWENTY
What song does Miley sing with her dad during the film?

ROUND TWO: WORD UP!
Ready for round two? Of course you are! See if you can match each of these quotes to the character who says it in the movie…

QUOTE ONE
“You are the only pop star I know who can’t get into her own concert!”

QUOTE TWO
“Don’t forget! It’s your turn to wash the dishes tonight.”

QUOTE THREE
“See you around, Smiley Miley!”

QUOTE FOUR
“Did you do something to your tail?”

QUOTE FIVE
“I just blew out my candles and I’ve already got my birthday wish.”

ROUND THREE: THE NAME GAME!
Can you name these five Hannah Montana characters from the movie? Good luck…

QUESTION ONE
What’s the name of Hannah’s glamorous publicist?

QUESTION TWO
What’s the name of the sneaky tabloid journalist?

QUESTION THREE
What’s the name of the ostrich that bites Jackson?

QUESTION FOUR
What’s the name of Miley’s creepy cousin?

QUESTION FIVE
What’s the name of the country band who turn up in the movie?

THE ANSWERS [No cheating!]

ROUND ONE: MOVIE MANIA!

QUESTION ONE
Miley’s dad, Robby Ray Stewart

QUESTION TWO
The Best Of Both Worlds

QUESTION THREE
BonChic

QUESTION FOUR
Tyra Banks

QUESTION FIVE
Lilly’s Sweet 16

QUESTION SIX
Santa Monica Pier

QUESTION SEVEN
Pink

QUESTION EIGHT
Orange

QUESTION NINE
False

QUESTION TEN
Let’s Get Crazy

QUESTION ELEVEN
Crowley Corners

QUESTION TWELVE
A cow

QUESTION THIRTEEN
Pink

QUESTION FOURTEEN
Blue Jeans

QUESTION FIFTEEN
An Elvis plate

QUESTION SIXTEEN
A ferret

QUESTION SEVENTEEN
Crazier

QUESTION EIGHTEEN
A ferret

QUESTION NINETEEN
Lobster

QUESTION TWENTY
Butterfly Fly Away

ROUND TWO: WORD UP!

QUOTE ONE
Lilly

QUOTE TWO
Miley’s dad, Robby Ray

QUOTE THREE
Travis

QUOTE FOUR
Miley

QUOTE FIVE
Miley’s grandma, Ruby

ROUND THREE: THE NAME GAME

QUESTION ONE
Vita

QUESTION TWO
Oswald

QUESTION THREE
Tammy Wynette

QUESTION FOUR
Derek

QUESTION FIVE
Rascal Flatts

HOW DID YOU DO?
If you correctly answered 0-10 questions…
Uh-oh! You’re not the most sharp-eyed viewer of Hannah Montana: The Movie – but don’t let that put you off. Why don’t you watch the DVD a few more times and Start All Over? We’re sure you’ll beat your old score with ease! Better luck next time…

If you correctly answered 11-20 questions…
Well done! When it comes to Hannah Montana knowledge, you’re not quite top of the class – but you’re definitely on your way there. Don’t worry. Nobody’s Perfect. In fact, why not Get Crazy and have another crack at the quiz? Go on, you can do it…

If you correctly answered 21-30 questions…
Congratulations! Are you BFFs with Miley and Lilly? You should be with all your knowledge of the film and its stars! Reward yourself with a G.N.O. – or settle down for another viewing of your favorite film. What’s that? Hannah Montana: The Movie, of course! Enjoy…

Technorati Tags: Hannah Montana Movie Quiz, Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Movie, Trivia, Quiz, Knowledge, Fun

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bonus Features: 5 out of 5 stars

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

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bonus Features: 5 out of 5 stars

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

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ROCKIN’ BONUS FEATURES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The film shot inside of some of the most exclusive stores and boutiques in New York, including Barneys New York flagship store on Madison Avenue, Henri Bendel on Fifth Avenue, Scoop and Catherine Malandrino in the Meat Packing District, Alessi (upscale housewares) in Soho, and Kleinfeld (elaborate bridal shop) in Chelsea.

The film also shot inside some of the most historic buildings in the city, including legendary British architect Lord Norman Foster’s Hearst Tower (the only film to ever be allowed to shoot there) on 57th Street and 8th Avenue; 45 Rockefeller Center (the building that features the statue of Atlas holding up the world at its entrance); the Grand Salon inside of the 1931 Jumeirah Essex House hotel on Central Park South; inside and out of St. James Church (1884) on Madison Avenue between 71st and 72nd Streets; inside of the Beaux Arts and Art Nouveau styled Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank Building (1908-12) on Chambers Street in the Wall Street district; utilizing the exterior of St. Anthony of Padua on Sullivan Street at the intersection of Greenwich Village, Tribeca and Soho, founded in 1866.

The production spent two all-nighters dressing the beautiful atrium of Henri Bendel with a Midsummer Night’s Dream themed design, as well as the aviator-themed window displays. They also created window displays for the Hearst Tower with faux stores by Valentino, Anna Sui, Catherine Malandrino and Alberto Ferretti. Excited New Yorkers thought that actual stores had opened on the ground level of the Tower and were sorely disappointed to discover that they were only for the movie.

Across the street from St. James Church, windows were re-dressed in actual Yves St. Laurent, Asprey and Sonia Rykiel stores for the film’s climax.

In the film, costume designer Patricia Field selected clothing and accessories to adorn Isla Fisher’s Becky Bloomwood, including Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs, Christian Louboutin, Alexander McQueen, Zac Posen, Miu Miu, Salvatore Ferragamo, Prada, Christian Dior, Todd Oldham, Gucci and Matthew Williamson, among others.

To create a lavish display in Henri Bendel’s six-story atrium, as well as window decorations, production designer Kristi Zea and supervising art director Paul Kelly had to bring in a full complement of their department to pull an all-nighter with military precision, as they only had enough time between the store closing its doors to the public and reopening them again in the morning to pull off the impossible. Mission was accomplished, with legions of New Yorkers admiring the results before the cameras began rolling later that day.

Filming in New York City gave the filmmakers access to the pool of local actors perhaps better known for their work in the theatre than on film, including Christine Ebersole (Tony Award winner as Best Actress in a Musical for “Grey Gardens”), LaChanze (Tony Award winner as Best Actress in a Musical for “The Color Purple”) and Kaitlin Hopkins (star of the upcoming touring company of “Dirty Dancing: The Musical”).

Ed Helms of “The Office” is seen only on videotape in the movie as self-help money management guru Garrett E. Barton.

A bank loan officer is portrayed by Jonathan Tisch, Loews Hotel Chairman and CEO; and in a publishing reception scene filmed in Chicago, another banker is played by Andy Serwer, managing editor of Fortune Magazine.

Robert Stanton, who plays ruthless debt collector Derek Smeath, drew upon the only other job he ever had besides actor: a skip tracer for a student loan company, finding people who had defaulted on their debts. Stanton admits that he wasn’t good at harassing people, since he would always burst out in laughter instead.

Sophie Kinsella was on the “Confessions of a Shopaholic” set nearly every day as associate producer, consulting and watching her beloved creation of Rebecca Bloomwood come to life. Not so coincidentally considering the massive international sales of the “Shopaholic” novels, Kinsella was often approached by excited fans on New York, Connecticut and Miami locations as if she were more of a movie star than an author.

CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC is on Blu-ray and DVD June 23rd!

Technorati Tags: Confessions of a Shopaholic, Blu-ray, DVD, Fun Facts, June 23, Disney