Disney’s Latest Vintage Cartoon Collection Is A Slight Improvement Over Its Predecessor/Companion Collection

Posted on April 4, 2023 by philspicks

Roughly two months ago, Walt Disney Studios released a new collection of vintage Disney cartoons in the form of Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1. The single-disc compilation of classic Disney cartoons proved to be a bit of a mixed bag, primarily because of the shorts that made up its body. Almost half of its shorts had already been released as part of Disney’s 2018 collection, Celebrating Mickey. The other shorts were pulled from the studio’s Have A Laugh shorts that themselves were met with some criticism from audiences. On Tuesday, Disney followed up that collection’s release with the digital release of Mickey & Friends: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 2. That very title is somewhat problematic for this compilation. It will be discussed a little later. The shorts that make up the new collection are both positive and negative. They will be discussed shortly. The shorts’ overall production quality is another positive worth noting, so it will also be addressed later. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of the collection’s presentation. All things considered they make Mickey & Friends: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 2 a presentation that is at least a slight improvement over its predecessor worth watching at least once.

Walt Disney Studios’ latest collection of classic Disney shorts, Mickey & Friends: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 2 is a slight improvement over its predecessor/companion compilation, Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1. Released digitally Tuesday and set for physical release June 27, the new collection proves at least slightly better than its predecessor/companion compilation largely because of its featured shorts. As with that previous release, this compilation features 10 more vintage Disney shorts on a single disc. This time out, those responsible for deciding which shorts to include only pulled a pair of shorts from the studio’s 2018 collection, Celebrating Mickey. Of course it is tough to say that is really saying something considering that almost half of the shorts featured in Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1 came from that previously released collection. The remainder of the Mickey and Minnie collection were pulled from Disney’s Have A Laugh compilations. So really, Disney’s people had already used up almost the majority of the shorts featured in Celebrating Mickey, leaving so little to recycle again here anyway. To the positive, the shorts pulled from the studio’s Have a Laugh sets this time out are not recycled from Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1. Rather, four of the shorts were featured in Disney Channel’s 60-episode Have a Laugh series that ran from 2009-2012 but never included in the DVD presentations. The other four shorts were included in the Have a Laugh sets but not used in the previous 10-episode collection. So to that end, what audiences get in terms of the set’s shorts is material that at least from one volume to another hasn’t been recycled yet again.

Of course while the shorts that make up the collection’s main body is a positive, the bigger picture is somewhat problematic at the same time. That is because of how much of it was lifted from Disney Channel’s Have a Laugh TV series. Considering that series produced a total of 60 shorts (some new and some vintage) it would just seem to make more sense to release all of those episodes in one larger collection instead of continuing to spread them across various volumes, as was already done briefly in the studio’s four Have a Laugh single-disc compilations. Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1 is listed between $15 and $20 depending on the retailer (Best Buy most recently listed it at $15 and Walmart at $20). So odds are when this collection is released on DVD and Blu-ray, prices are likely to be in the same range. That means audiences are paying a lot of money for the content across the two volumes and will likely end up spending a lot more should Disney try to release any more collections from the Have a Laugh series. This is even more fuel for the argument to hold off on any more sets and instead release all of the shorts featured in the Have a Laugh series on one larger DVD and/or Blu-ray collection. Keeping all of this in mind, the content featured in this latest collection is a step up from its predecessor, but also leaves room for concern about any future collections.

Another concern that this collection brings comes in its very title. The title of this collection is Mickey & Friends: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 2. There was not a Mickey & Friends: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1 released ahead of this collection. The compilation that preceded it was, again, Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1. That collection focused on more than just Mickey and Minnie, adding in shorts that focused just as much on their friends, Donald and Goofy, and Mickey’s canine pal, Pluto. So to go from one title to the other while also trying to connect them with the “Volume 1” and “Volume 2” monikers shows a certain lack of attention to detail in the marketing. On a deeper level, that lack of attention to detail actually hurts the company’s reputation even more. That is because it makes it look even more like Disney’s staff cares more about the studio’s bottom line than actually honoring its history and its audiences. This lack of foresight on something as simple as the collection’s title is not enough to doom the presentation, but it certainly does not help the collection’s appeal. To that end, there is one more positive to note. It comes in the form of the collection’s production values.

The shorts featured in this collection originally premiered between 1935 and 1950, the audio and video has stood the test of time quite well. That is a testament to the time and effort put in by those charged with restoring the footage for its original presentation on Disney Channel for the Have a Laugh series. The color in the shorts is so rich and the audio still has that touch of static that is sure to create a welcome sense of nostalgia for audiences. The result there is a positive general effect for the overall presentation. Taking that into account along with the positive of the featured shorts, the end result is a presentation whose general presentation and aesthetics make for a presentation that is worth watching at least occasionally and that is at least a slight improvement over its predecessor/companion compilation.

Walt Disney Studios’ new vintage cartoon collection, Mickey & Friends: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 2 is a slight improvement over its predecessor/companion collection, Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1. The improvement is shown primarily through its featured shorts. The shorts featured here thankfully are not just more recycling of shorts featured in previous collections. Yes, there is some recycling, but it is far less prominent than in the aforementioned collection. That makes for at least some reason to give this collection a chance. At the same time that the featured shorts do help the presentation here, the collection’s title detracts slightly from its appeal. That is because it clearly was not thought through before being used for the set’s marketing. It makes it look like those responsible for marketing the set cared more about Disney’s bottom line than actually making sure every minor detail lined up. Thankfully the impact of this issue is not enough to doom the presentation. To that end, the shorts’ production works with the shorts themselves to add slightly more appeal. Considering the age of the shorts, the footage has been restored with a certain level of heart. That is evident in the quality of the film and its sound. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of Mickey & Friends: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1. All things considered they make this latest compilation from Walt Disney Studios a slight improvement from its predecessor/companion collection that is worth watching at least occasionally.

Mickey & Friends: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 2 is available now on digital platforms and is scheduled for home physical release June 27 through Walt Disney Studios. More information on this and other titles from Walt Disney Studios is available at:

Website: https://waltdisneystudios.com

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Disney’s Latest Vintage Cartoon Collection Is A Mostly Successful Presentation

Posted on February 5, 2023 by philspicks

Walt Disney Studios has come a long way today from where it started out roughly a century ago in terms of its cinematic and television offerings. Sadly for the most part, that change has been anything but positive, though there have been some positives thanks to the studio’s partnership with the likes of Pixar Studios, and four years ago, fans of the classic days of Disney got a special treat with the release of the Blu-ray/DVD collection titled, Celebrating Mickey. The collection culled 13 vintage shorts that all celebrated Mickey Mouse’s legacy. Now Tuesday, fans of vintage Disney will get another treat in the form of another 10-short collection titled Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1 in a new Blu-ray/DVD set. The collection is a bit of a mixed bag presentation. That is due in large part to its features shorts, which will be discussed shortly. While the collection’s title is focused on Mickey and Minnie, audiences get more than just the pair throughout the shorts. This will be discussed a little later. It is another positive. The general presentation, in terms of the video and audio is one more positive to note here. It will also be addressed later. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of this collection. All things considered Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1 proves a mostly positive tribute to the legacy of Walt Disney Studios’ animation history.

Walt Disney Studios’ new vintage animation collection, Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1 is an intriguing new presentation from the company. It is a presentation that is something of a mixed bag. That is due in large part to its features shorts. Almost half of the shorts featured in this 10-cartoon collection are already presented in the company’s 2018 BD/DVD release, Celebrating Mickey. They are: “Steamboat Willie,” “The Brave Little Tailor,” “The Little Whirlwind” and “Thru The Mirror.” The other six shorts featured here are new to this collection but not to previous Disney collections. Audiences might find some of the shorts here familiar because they were previously released in Disney’s Have a Laugh sets. That is actually a good thing because it brings some of those shorts together in one setting here. Of course, not all of the shorts from those sets are featured here. Odds are the ones not featured here will end up on the next collection, if another one does happen. Keeping all of this in mind, bringing these shorts together here is both good and bad all at the same time.

One of the best of the “new” shorts featured here is “Mickey’s Delayed Date.” This situation presents a fun story that finds Mickey forgetting about his date with Minnie for a costume party. The things he goes through as he realizes he overslept and tries to make his way to the party will ensure plenty of laughs from audiences of all ages. What’s more (not to give away too much), but the fact that he was trying to stay dressed formally against the realization of the situation makes for its own laughs. “Mr. Mouse Takes A Trip” is another memorable new addition to this collection. It finds Mickey and Pluto taking a train trip to the redwoods forest. The duo has to outsmart one of Mickey’s old foes in Pete as he takes on the role of the train conductor. Pete knows Mickey is trying to hide Pluto and has to try to bust him. The physical comedy that plays out is timeless. “Hawaiian Holiday” is yet another fun addition to the collection, even though Mickey and Minnie only play supporting roles in this short. Audiences will love to watch Goofy get bested by a wave as he tries to surf while Pluto finds himself at odds with first a starfish and then a crab. It’s just one more of a number of memorable moments exhibited here that makes the shorts collectively at least somewhat worth watching.

Staying on the note of Mickey and Minnie not being the leads in “Hawaiian Holiday,” that is just one of the shorts featured here in which the duo are not the leads. In total, only four of the shorts featured in this set – “On Ice,” “Hawaiian Holiday,” “Figaro and Frankie” and “Bath Day” – do not feature Mickey and Minnie as the leads. “Figaro and Frankie” and “Bath Day” are both focused on Minnie’s beloved feline friend, Figaro. “Figaro and Frankie” immediately lends itself to comparison to Warner Brothers’ Sylvester and Tweety cartoons, just not as edgy in the general approach, while “Bath Day” finds Figaro trying to avoid having to take a bath. What cat likes water, after all. “On Ice” focuses more on Mickey and Minnie’s pals, Donald, Pluto, and Goofy. Goofy gets harassed by some fish while Donald plays a not so nice prank on Pluto. Of course, Donald’s actions come back to bite him in the end. That resolution will be left for audiences to discover for themselves, so they can fully enjoy the outcome. Simply put, while the set’s title (and most of the shorts) focus on Mickey and Minnie, audiences get more than just the duo. Rather, viewers get some shorts that play tribute to their friends, too, so really it is the best of both worlds considering – again – the majority of the shorts are focused on Mickey and Minnie. That is actually quite a positive in its own right.

While the general content featured in this content offers some entertainment and concern, one thing that everyone can agree upon with the shorts is their general presentation. Considering that these shorts reach as far back as Disney’s formative days and just after those days, the footage has clearly stood the test of time. The audio and video sound and look impressive. The colors are rich, even with the one that started it all, “Steamboat Willie.” The sound ensures audiences won’t have to adjust the volume at any point in the presentation. The result is a largely positive general effect. That positive general effect works with the positives of the shorts noted to make the whole a largely successful presentation despite its few shortcomings.

Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume I is an interesting new presentation of vintage cartoons from Walt Disney Studios. It is not perfect but is still enjoyable. That is due in part to its featured shorts. Half of the shorts here were already presented in the company’s most recent release, Celebrating Disney in 2018. The other shorts were already presented in previous Disney’s previously released Have A Laugh cartoon collections. Having some of those set’s shorts culled together in one setting here is a positive, meaning audiences can watch them in one setting instead of having to switch between sets. Adding to the positives is that while the majority of the shorts featured here focus on Mickey and Minnie, audiences also get some treats with shorts that focus on their pals, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto. Even Pete, one of Mickey’s foes, gets a moment to shine in one of the shorts. To that end, there is some variety in these shorts. The production values in these shorts is just as important to the set’s presentation as the shorts themselves. That is because the sound and video is impressive in each short. They come together to give the presentation a positive general effect. When this is considered along with the shorts themselves, the whole makes Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1 a mostly successful offering from Walt Disney Studios, despite its shortcomings.

Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1 is scheduled for release Tuesday through Walt Disney Studios. More information on this and other titles from Walt Disney Studios is available at:

Website: https://waltdisneystudios.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaltDisneyStudios

Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneystudios

Story Pacing, Bonus Content Are The Only Saving Graces For Walt Disney Studios Animation’s Latest CG Feature, ‘Strange World’

Posted on January 2, 2023 by philspicks

The new year has barely begun, but even with that being the case, Walt Disney Studios has already announced its first new home release for 2023. The company announced late last month it will release its latest CG feature, Strange World Feb. 14 on DVD and Blu-ray. The movie is the first full CG feature (and first full theatrical CG feature) from the company’s animations branch since the release of Encanto in November 2021. The company partnered with Bardel Entertainment in December 2021 for the CG adaptation of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, so technically, while it is a CG movie (which was released exclusively through Disney’s streaming service, Disney+), it is not a solo release from Disney. That movie has yet to see a home release date, too. Strange World does little if anything to improve the track record for Disney’s animation unit, considering the fact that Encanto was so forgettable. Strange World suffers largely because of its story, which will be discussed a little later. The story’s pacing is the movie’s main saving grace. It will be discussed shortly. The movie’s bonus content is also of note to the positive. It will be discussed later, too. When it and the pacing are considered together, they make Strange World worth watching once, but sadly no more than that one time.

Walt Disney Studios Animation’s latest new CG offering Strange World is a disappointing new presentation from the animation arm of Walt Disney Studios. Much like its most recent predecessor, Encanto, it offers audiences little to make it memorable, other than maybe the fact that it is not a musical. One of the only other positives to this movie is the pacing of its story. From beginning to end of its roughly 90-minute run time, the story wastes little time getting things moving. That is proven right from the movie’s outset, which is a brief back story on the Cade family (the movie’s central stars). In that introduction, it is revealed that the elder member of the Clade family, Jaeger (Dennis Quaid – Innerspace, The Day After Tomorrow, Frquency) essentially abandoned his family while on a mission in the mountains of the family’s homeland, Avalonia. Of course, there is more to that story that is revealed as the story progresses. Not to give away too much, but it is ironic (or maybe not) that Quaid has also worked on Innerspace and The Day After Tomorrow considering the content in this movie’s story, not to give away too much. Getting back on track, that initial opening setup is very brief, but makes sense as soon as the story fast forwards more than 20 years in the future. The story that follows is set up very quickly and in clear fashion. From there, the adventure into the “subterranean” world of Avalonia moves steadily right up to its final act and resolution. Even the moments in which Searcher (Jake Gyllenhaal – Donnie Darko, Brokeback Mountain, Nightcrawler) and Jaeger have to come to terms with their relationship do not manage to slow the movie down too much. That is a good thing, too, considering how that secondary story of the father and son’s relationship (and Searcher’s own relationship with his son, Cade (Jabouki Young-White – Rough Night, Set It Up, C’mon C’mon)) plays into the bigger story. That secondary story actually weaves seamlessly into the overall story, allowing for the story to not get bogged down in itself and in turn keep moving fluidly from beginning to end.

As much as the pacing of Strange World’s story does for its appeal, the overall story presented herein detracts greatly from that appeal. That is because in hindsight, the story is really anything but original. Not to give away too much for those who have yet to watch it, but this movie proves ultimately to be little more than a reimagining of 20^th Century Fox’s timeless 1977 science fiction classic, Fantastic Voyage. That is recognized when Ethan Clade (Young-White) finally realizes the reality of where the family really is in its journey. Keeping that in mind, the movie’s writing team is to be commended at least to a point, in keeping that realization a surprise not only for the Clade family but also for audiences in the process. Again though, the realization almost immediately lends itself to comparison to Fantastic Voyage and in turn reduces that engagement and entertainment.

This is just one of the problematic aspects of the story. The preachy message about finding a renewable source of energy through the setup of pando’s problematic nature is clearly an allegory of how we as humans must find an alternative to fossil fuels. Yes, we need to get off of fossil fuels, and those efforts to find something else are already there. To that end, audiences do not need this message continually shoved down their throats. The purpose of movies is supposed to be an escape everything, not to have preachy messages and agendas pushed.

As if all of this is not problem enough, — again not to give away too much – the ultimate final revelation at the story’s end makes a direct reference to the idiot theory by so many that Earth is flat. Of course, a flat earth is not shown, but a round one, yet to even suggest we are living on something else that is living – an actual living organism – is laughable and leaves one wondering why this was even incorporated into the movie, unless some nutjob flat earther was part of the writing team.

This still is not the end of the issues posed by the story. The whole matter of the father and son dynamic between Jaeger, Searcher, and Ethan (Ethan is gay, by the way, and that is shamelessly right out in front of audience, so some parents might want to be aware of this) thankfully does not overwhelm the bigger story of the family’s journey through Avalonia’s “subterranean” world. At the same time though, it doesn’t really add much, if anything, to the story. The whole thing of each son trying to make his own path and identity despite his father’s own history is preachy in its own right, and nothing new to the movie industry, too. Thankfully though, this subplot thankfully does not manage to overpower the overall story even as it doesn’t help the story, either.

Looking back at all of this, there are lots of problems with the story at the center of Strange World. From its overall lack of originality to its preachy nature, it is just anything but memorable. It is at least engaging for the one watch. To that end, the multiple problems featured in this movie’s story are not enough to completely doom Strange World, and leave room for one more positive, that being the movie’s bonus content.

The bonus content that accompanies the movie in its home release is at least somewhat enjoyable, even despite some preachiness from Young-White in the “Strange Science” bonus feature. He goes off about the need to care more for the planet, etc. in the end of the 13-minute bonus, which features the movie’s creative heads talking about the story and the work that went into its creation. The very brief creature feature at least offers some entertainment as it gives names to each of the creatures encountered throughout the Cades’ journey. The 23-minute “Anatomy of a Scene” featurette is for lack of better wording, the standard “making of” featurette that comes with so many movies, regardless of studio. Audiences learn how much time and work went into the CG that made the movie, with so much detail given from one subtopic to another. It and the other bonuses are collectively all that really makes the overall viewing experience here worthwhile, that is other than the pacing of the story. To that end, the pacing of Strange World’s story and the bonus content featured with the movie’s home release are its saving graces. Without them, this movie would not be worth watching even once.

Strange World, the latest CG feature from Walt Disney Studios Animation, is sadly another disappointing offering from the animation arm of Walt Disney Studios. Its story is anything but original, though at least the execution thereof makes for some appeal. The story’s pacing works to help with that execution, thankfully. The bonus content that accompanies the movie in its coming home release is also of note, though not very much. Keeping all of this in mind, Strange World proves ultimately to be another forgettable offering from Walt Disney Studios Animation.

Strange World is available now digitally. It is scheduled for release on DVD and Blu-ray Feb. 14.

More information on this and other movies from Walt Disney Studios is available at:

Website: https://waltdisneystudios.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaltDisneyStudios

Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneystudios

Disney’s ‘Encanto’ Home Release Does Little To Make The Movie An “Anniversary” Worth Celebrating

Posted on December 26, 2021 by philspicks

For some reason, humans have a fixation on numbers ending in the numbers five and zero. They seem to make a big deal on this numbers, whether in the case of anniversaries or in general. To that end, one would think that when Disney released its 60^th animated feature, Encanto, late this year, it would have been a hugely memorable work from the studio. Sadly that did not prove to be the case. Now Disney is hoping to give the movie a new life with its upcoming home release Dec. 24 on digital and Jan. 26. The movie’s home release on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, and 4K UHD/BD combo pack) adds slightly to its appeal, but only slightly. That is due in large part to its featured bonus content, which will be discussed shortly. The bonus content is in fact both a positive and a negative, leading into the movie’s one major unavoidable negative, its story, which will be addressed a little later. The musical numbers and cast’s voice work comes together to make things even more concerning for the movie. Sadly when these items are considered collectively, they make Disney’s Encanto just as forgettable in its home release as in its recent theatrical run.

Walt Disney Studios’ Encanto is an anniversary mark for the studio that could have been so much better. That was already proven in the movie’s theatrical run. The movie’s forthcoming home release further supports that statement. That is proven in part through the bonus content featured in said presentation. The bonus content is expansive to say the least. There is lots of background in the way of explaining the story’s focus on family. The is also plenty of focus on Disney’s continued drive to make one of its movies as true to the culture that it represents as possible. That bonus content that centers of mirroring the people and culture of Colombia is engaging and entertaining. The content that centers on family is where the problems start to appear. In watching this content (which is extensive in itself) the movie’s creative heads talk plenty about the noted focus. If in fact the story is all about family, then one cannot help but wonder why so much of the story is spent focused on the Madrigal family’s “ugly duckling,” Mirabel. Not to get too far off track here, but the story spends quite a bit of time on her and making her extended family more background dressing than actually important cast.

On another note, the bonus content spends what feels like an inordinate amount of time focusing on the movie’s musical content. Now for those who have not already seen Encanto, Lin Manuel Miranda (who had his stamp on Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns as well as the uber popular Hamilton and In The Heights among many other stories) plays a big role in this movie’s musical content. As a matter of fact, one cannot help but wonder how much creative control he had in the movie’s musical side, since it gets more time than the movie’s story, getting back on the subject at hand. So much of the movie’s bonus content centers on the movie’s musical side, that viewers cannot help but feel like Disney and all involved were just trying to distract viewers from all of the plot holes and other problems posed throughout the story. This shows in its own way how the bonus content does offer some engagement, but is also just as problematic as it is positive.

Encanto’s trailers made it seem like the movie was going to be some big adventure for its lead character, Mirabel. The reality is that the story is anything but. Rather, the story is in question more a coming-of-age piece than action. Mirabel has to figure out why on the night that the youngest member of the Madrigal family receives his magical gift, the magic in the family’s candle starts to fade. No one believes what she tells them at first, leading her to go on her mission of sorts. As it turns out (no to give away too much), the reason for the fade is linked back to the clan in general. Again not to give away too much here, but audiences realize that perhaps the reality is that the Madrigals who had magical gifts were taking their gifts for granted and just had to come to that realization in the end.

This is where things get problematic. In setting up the story, the movie’s writers fail to really fully explain how the candle got its magic. Audiences know that the candle came into being after Abuela Alma’s (Maria Cecilia Botero) husband was killed by some not so nice people. From there though, there is no explanation of the magic’s candle. Was it something tied to the culture of Colombia? We do not know. What’s more, the identities of the men who killed Abuela Alma’s husband is never fully revealed, either. As if this is not problem enough, the whole issue of Bruno and his psychic gift playing into the story just seems so random in itself. It is as if the writers were just putting all of this together as they went along and hoped that it would stick, which sadly it did not.

Adding even more to the problems is what happens in the story’s end. The candle is not there, but the magic is back, as are the magical powers of the Madrigal clan. So then was the candle never magic to begin with? Again, those who have praised this movie either ignored this and so many other problems, or they were paid for positive reviews. Yes, this critic went there.

If all of this is not enough, the semi-climactic moment when Maribel and Abuela Alma confront one another, and then later share their feelings, leading to the final act, just seems so contrived. Maribel stood up to Alma and told her that everything that happened was her (Alma’s) fault. Alma then later tells Maribel that she was right, to which Maribel – after hearing Alma’s sob story – backed down and said she was in the wrong. This is just so contrived. The young woman had become empowered, only to stand down from the family’s matriarch. This is just not believable nor realistic. Between this and everything else noted here, it should be crystal clear why this movie’s story is in itself just so much a failure. There is little if anything to like other than the subtle, nearly hidden messages about appreciating ourselves and others regardless of who we are and what are our “gifts.” Of course for all of the problems that the story poses in itself, things only get worse from here.

Looking at all of this, it should be clear why the story featured in Encanto is just as problematic as the bonus content that accompanies it in its home release. The story centers on one character even though in the bonus content, the movie’s creative heads reiterate time and again that the story is all about family. Add in all the musical cues tossed in (again they are the central focus among the bonus content) and the story’s plot holes and problems become even more concerning, as do the bonus features themselves. All of this in mind, it is still only a part of the trouble with the movie’s presentation. The noted musical cues and the cast’s voice work are also problematic.

As noted, the musical numbers featured throughout the movie are everywhere. Sometimes they show up at such random times, as if Miranda and the movie’s crew and creative heads just decided to throw them in for what they thought was “good measure” since they didn’t have any other ideas to flesh out the story.

The voice cast’s work is troubling in that none of the cast’s work does anything to make any of the characters memorable. Yes, Maribel is supposed to be the story’s lead. Yes, voice actress Stephanie Beatriz deserves applause for her work as she makes Maribel a strong lead. Other than that though, she doesn’t do much to make her memorable. Though, that circles back to the writing. The script does not really give Maribel much to develop as a character. Even the work of John Leguizamo (the Ice Age franchise, Spawn, Moulin Rouge) here when he is finally introduced does little to help the story. Though, again, that is because he is brought in so late and is given so little screen time from there on. It is like the Madrigal family is there, but that is about it. None of the voice cast really brings anything major and memorable to the table, but again that is because the story does not really provide much if any opportunity for character development. So once again we see the problems with the story. It is all tied in together, and in considering this along with the movie’s other problems and the problems, the whole makes the movie overall such a disappointment in comparison to much of what Disney has released in recent years.

Walt Disney Studios’ forthcoming home release of Encanto does little to improve on the movie from its recent, brief theatrical run. The improvement is minimal, with the movie’s bonus content proving only slightly engaging and entertaining. At the same time, they prove problematic because it seems like the extensive focus on the movie’s musical content is an attempt by all involved to distract audiences from all of the plot holes and problems in the story. Speaking of those problems and plot holes, they are everywhere throughout this story. The noted musical content and the issues raised through the cast’s voice work add their own problems. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of the movie’s presentation. All things considered, they make the movie a work that sadly is not the “anniversary” presentation that it could have been for Walt Disney Studios.

More information on this and other movies from Walt Disney Studios is available at:

Website: https://waltdisneystudios.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaltDisneyStudios

Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneystudios

Walt Disney Studios’ ‘Encanto’ Is A Weak Finale For The Studio In 2021

Posted on November 26, 2021 by philspicks

Walt Disney Studios debuted its latest CG flick this weekend in theaters nationwide in the form of Encanto. While the weekend is all about being thankful, this movie sadly gives audiences little for which to be thankful. This is despite all the praise that so many have given the movie. One cannot The reality of Encanto is that it gets everything wrong that its predecessors Coco (2017) and Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) got right beginning with the story, which will be discussed shortly. The various musical cues thrown into the story add to the story’s problems and will be examined a little later. Last but hardly least of import here is work of the voice cast. All three items noted are key in their own way to the whole of the movie’s presentation. All things considered, they make the movie a forgettable offering from Disney.

Walt Disney Studios’ brand new CG movie, Encanto is a disappointing new offering from the once fabled (no pun intended) studio. The movie is rife with problems, beginning with its story. The movie’s trailers made it seem like the movie was going to be some big adventure for its lead character, Mirabel. The reality is that the story is anything but. Rather, the story is in question more a coming-of-age piece than action. Mirabel has to figure out in this story, why on the night that the youngest member of the Madrigal family receives his magical gift, the magic in the family’s candle starts to fade. No one believes what she tells them at first, leading her to go on her mission of sorts. As it turns out (no to give away too much), the reason for the fade is linked back to the clan in general. Again not to give away too much here, but audiences realize that perhaps the reality is that the Madrigals who had magical gifts were taking their gifts for granted and just had to come to that realization in the end.

The musical cues that are thrown into the story make matters even worse for the presentation. The musical cues in question are handled in this movie by none other than Lin Manuel Miranda. His trademark influence on the music that is so familiar in other movies on which he has worked is just as evident here. There are musical numbers that blend elements of hip-hop and singing. There are also moments in which they also exhibit such clear similarity to works from Moana (another Disney movie on which Miranda worked and did much better, too). The thing here is that at some points, the musical numbers are just so random in their placement. As if the lack of fluidity in the story was not enough, those often random cues throw things off even more. What’s more, they just pale in comparison stylistically to the song cues crafted by the famed Sherman brothers – Robert and Richard – who crafted songs for some of Disney’s greatest classic movies. Making things even more problematic here is that the cues are so many that they make the movie’s one hour, 49 minute run time seem even longer. This is nothing new for Miranda, either. His equally multitudinous song cues in another Disney movie, Mary Poppins Returns (2018) bogged that movie down, too and caused it to drag so much. So again, the musical content featured in this movie do more to hurt its presentation just as much as the story itself. It still is not the last of the movie’s problems, either. The work of the voice cast is problematic in its own right to the story.

The voice cast’s work is troubling in that none of the cast’s work does anything to make any of the characters memorable. Yes, Maribel is supposed to be the story’s lead. Yes, voice actress Stephanie Beatriz deserves applause for her work as she makes Maribel a strong lead. Other than that though, she doesn’t do much to make her memorable. Though, that circles back to the writing. The script does not really give Maribel much to develop as a character. Even the work of John Leguizamo (the Ice Age franchise, Spawn, Moulin Rouge) here when he is finally introduced does little to help the story. Though, again, that is because he is brought in so late and is given so little screen time from there on. It is like the Madrigal family is there, but that is about it. None of the voice cast really brings anything major and memorable to the table, but again that is because the story does not really provide much if any opportunity for character development. So once again we see the problems with the story. It is all tied in together, and in considering this along with the story’s other problems and the problems posed by the story’s musical numbers, the whole makes the movie overall such a disappointment in comparison to much of what Disney has released in recent years.

Walt Disney Studios’ new CG family flick Encanto has had a lot of hype behind it ahead of its debut this weekend. Sadly though, the movie does not live up to the hype even though so many critics out there have lauded it so much. Either those who have lauded ignored all of its problems, or they were paid to provide positive reviews. The movie fails in large part because of its story. The story is just all over the place and is rife with plot holes. It is like the writers just threw the story together and hoped people would overlook everything that went wrong therein. The movie’s musical numbers make for even more problems for its presentation. That is because they bog down the movie and leave it feeling longer than it is, which again is nothing new for a movie in which Lin Manuel Miranda is involved. The work of the movie’s voice cast puts the final nail in the coffin so to speak. While the cast does a good job in its respective roles, no one actor’s part really stands out. The thing is that is also because the script does not really do anything to allow for any real character development among the Madrigal family. Each item examined here is important in its own way to the whole of the movie. All things considered, they leave the movie a disappointment in comparison to much of what Disney has produced by itself in recent years.

More information on this and other movies from Walt Disney Studios is available at:

Website: https://waltdisneystudios.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaltDisneyStudios

Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneystudios

‘Raya And The Last Dragon’ Is A Surprisingly Positive Presentation From Disney

Posted on May 25, 2021 by philspicks

Audiences looking for a worthwhile movie to watch last year had a hard time of things as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic forced the shutdown of countless movies in production around the world, and delayed the release of others that were already completed. That extensive list of movies delayed due to the pandemic’s impact includes Walt Disney Studios’ latest CG-flick, Raya and the Last Dragon. The movie was originally planned for release Nov. 25, 2020 (the week of Thanksgiving), but ended up making its theatrical debut months later, March 12, 2021. More than two months later – May 18 to be exact — the movie has made its way to home audiences on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD/BD combo pack. The movie itself is just as enjoyable in its home release as in its theatrical release. Its bonus content adds to that appeal. Though at the same time, it also raises at least one concern that deserves some attention. That concern will be addressed later. The pacing of the story featured here works with the story itself to make for even more appeal It will be discussed later, too. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of the movie and its presentation in its new home presentation. All things considered, they make Raya and the Last Dragon a surprisingly welcome new offering from Disney.

Raya and the Last Dragon is a surprisingly welcome new offering from Walt Disney Studios. The enjoyment comes in the fact that it is an original story. It is not based on some book and is not yet another of the countless reboots that Disney has churned out in the past couple of years or so. The story featured here centers on a young woman – Raya – who sets out on a quest to reassemble the “Dragon Gem” years after representatives of the nations of Kumandra fought over the gem and cracked it into multiple pieces, unwittingly freeing a group of evil beings known as the Druun. The Druun turn everything they touch into stone, including Raya’s father. That set-up leads to Raya’s quest, which is in her mind, solely focused on bringing her father back to life so to speak. In the process, Raya meets Sisu, the last dragon, and a motley crew of friends from the nations of Kumandra. Her new friends’ own strife, which was also caused by the Druun, leads her to increasingly realize the need to trust and to trust in the good in people. While this (and the message of the need for unity and peace) is at the heart of the story, the movie’s creative heads do not allow any of that content to overpower the enjoyable action and adventure that makes up the rest of the story. What’s more, the story does well in avoiding being just another coming-of-age tale (which is what Moana, Disney’s most recent “princess” movie, was). Rather, it just culminates in Raya’s own personal realization and acceptance that she was limiting herself. Given, that self realization is a familiar plot element that is used in other movies from other studios, but it is presented in a unique, fresh fashion here. Keeping everything noted here in mind, the story featured in Raya and the Last Dragon serves as a strong starting point for the movie’s presentation. It is just one part of what makes the movie so surprisingly positive. The bonus content that accompanies the movie in its new home release enhances the viewing experience even more.

The bonus content featured in the home release of Raya and the Last Dragon is important to its new presentation because of the background that it provides to the story. The background in question is largely the story of how the movie’s creative heads and cast overcame limitations brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic to make the movie still happen. The cast and crew discuss working from home in the feature “Raya” Bringing It Home.” They talk about the difficulties of trying to balance their work and home life as a result of being forced to work on the movie from home. From the issue of everyone trying to log onto one of Disney’s systems all at once so as to work on the movie (risking bogging down the system), to dealing with the presence of family while working, to the very mental impact of having to stare at a computer screen for eight (and sometimes more) hours a day just to make the movie happen, the group addresses here, a variety of obstacles that it faced in bringing the story to life. That alone makes for even more appreciation for the end product.

The noted bonus feature is just one of the key extras featured in the movie’s home release. “We Are Kumandra” and “Martial Artists” serve to show the dedication that all involved had to making the story true to its source material so to speak. Viewers learn through “We Are Kumandra” that the movie’s creative heads and voice cast traveled to Southeast Asia pre-pandemic as part of the movie’s pre-production to lean about the culture of the region so as to properly and accurately display it on screen. “Martial Artists” meanwhile profiles the martial arts expert who displayed the martial arts used across Southeast Asia for the fight scenes. Again, here is an example of the movie’s creative heads making sure the region, its people, and culture were honestly and honorably displayed. This is hardly the first time that a Disney movie and its staff have gone to such lengths to make one of its movies as accurate as possible. It just shows even more, that continued dedication. That, in turn, leads to even more appreciation for the movie.

On yet another note, the deleted scenes bonus are important to the overall presentation, too. They are important because in watching them, viewers will agree that they are scenes that were not needed considering what made the final cut versus that content. What’s more, that the deleted scenes show the Druun as some kind of supernatural entity type creature that can inhabit suits of armor and become evil warriors is also troubling. It creates the sense of some kind of anime type presentation, especially as Raya uses her sword (which is also part axe in the deleted scenes) to break through the Druun’s armor and “kill” them. The more subdued use of the Druun in the final product is so much better by comparison. So here again is more proof of the positive impact of the bonus content.

As a final touch, the “Taste of Raya” virtual dinner adds its own touch to the bonus content. The cast and creative heads enjoy a virtual dinner via Zoom as they talk about the work that went into the movie’s creation. The dinner in question features real Southeast Asian dishes as part of the event. Learning about those dishes and the importance of the representation of Asian culture and peoples in the movie industry adds its own touch to the presentation. All things considered, the bonus content featured in this movie adds quite a bit of engagement and entertainment to the movie and the viewing experience.

While the bonus content featured with the movie’s home release is its own overall positive, there is a concern tied to the bonus content. That concern comes in the reality that it is not featured in the movie’s DVD presentation. That is the only platform on which it is not presented. This leads one to feel that this is Disney trying to force viewers who want to watch the bonus content to have to pay even more mainly for that content. This is hardly the first time that Disney has gone this route, either. Keeping that in mind, it makes for even more frustration toward Disney on top of the frustration already caused by the company basically double charging viewers to watch certain movies on its streaming service, Disney+. It paints Disney even more as a company that cares more about money than the audiences. Maybe one day, Disney’s officials will come to their senses about all of this. In the meantime, audiences who want to watch the movie’s bonus content will have to pay anywhere from $25-$30 (and more counting sales tax). Even with that in mind, it thankfully is not enough to make the movie’s home presentation a failure. It is just something that really needs to be addressed by Disney. The pacing of the movie’s story rounds out its most important elements.

Raya and the Last Dragon clocks in at one hour, 47 minutes. That is just under the two hour mark. For families with young children, that is important to note because of the attention span of those younger viewers. Thankfully, the movie’s creative heads must have taken that into consideration. That is because even at that run time, the story moves along at a relatively stable pace. Even in the “slower” moments in which Raya and her growing group are on board Boun’s boat, the story manages to make the dialogue engaging and entertaining. The result of that solid pacing is that audiences of all ages will remain engaged and entertained throughout. That maintained engagement and entertainment results in that much more enjoyment in and appreciation for the original, action-filled story. That, coupled with the engagement and entertainment ensured through the movie’s bonus content, makes the overall presentation a rare positive presentation from Disney that actually deserves a spot among this year’s best new movies.

Walt Disney Studios’ movie Raya and the Last Dragon is a surprisingly enjoyable offering from the studio. That is due in part to its featured story. The story is an original work that follows a young woman’s quest to bring her father back to life. In the process, she learns a valuable lesson about trust and trusting in the good in people. The story also incorporates an equally important message about the need for peace and unity. This is all done without either aspect becoming preachy, and overpowering the rest of the story. What’s more, the story does not just rehash Moana’s whole coming-of-age story. All things considered here, the story proves to be a solid starting point for the movie. The bonus content that accompanies the movie in its home release adds its own enjoyment to the viewing experience. That is because of the background that it offers audiences. The story’s pacing rounds out the most important of its elements. It ensures that even though the movie runs almost two hours, even young audiences will remain engaged and entertained throughout. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of this movie in its home release. All things considered, they make the movie a surprisingly enjoyable offering from Disney. Raya and the Last Dragon is available now on DVD, Blu-ray/DVD/Digital combo pack, and 4K UHD/BD/Digital combo pack.

More information on this and other titles from Disney is available online at:

Website: https://waltdisneystudios.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaltDisneyStudios

Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneystudios

Walt Disney Studios’ ‘Maleficent’ Sequel Saved By Its Visual Effects

Posted on January 11, 2020 by philspicks

Courtesy: Walt Disney Studios

Walt Disney Studios’ latest entry in its Maleficent movie franchise Tuesday. The property’s second (and hopefully last) entry in the property, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, is a visually impressive work. This is the most notable reason for audiences to view the movie. While the movie’s visual effects are impressive, the movie’s story does quite a bit to detract from its overall presentation, sadly. The bonus content adds a little (and only a little) appeal to the presentation of the movie’s home release and is worth at least one watch, too. Each item noted is important in its own right to the whole of the movie in its home release. All things considered, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil falls just as short of expectations as its predecessor.

Walt Disney Studios’ Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is a work that is worth at least one watch, but sadly little more than that. It is not a total loss. That is due in large part to its visual effects. The special effects and visuals in general make the movie the proverbial “feast for the eyes.” The rich, lush landscapes that are presented throughout the movie, and their bright colors give this otherwise brooding story a mood that will, in itself, ensure viewers’ engagement if not entertainment. Even the scenes involving the dungeon laboratory have their own brightness so as to not make those scenes too foreboding for audiences. Add to that the fact that many of the special effects used throughout were handled expertly. It is known that the effects in question were computer generated. However, even with that in mind, there was a certain balance in the live action and computer generated elements. That attention to detail made a moment such as the movie’s epic final battle fully engaging. It makes suspension of disbelief easier. Even in a moment, such as when Maleficent is in the cave with the other Fae, there are clearly some CG elements set along with the live action elements. Again, attention to detail here blurred the line between the computer and live action. Even in the moment when Maleficent is making her way across the river, the creation of the bridge is clearly computer generated, but it never looks so computer generated that it looks cheesy. Those behind the movie’s visual effects are to be commended for that attention to detail. This is just one more of many examples of what makes the movie’s visual effects noteworthy. All things considered, the visual effects overall go a long way toward making Maleficent: Mistress of Evil worth at least one watch.

While the visual effects featured in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil do their own share to make the movie worth at least one watch, the movie’s story detracts just as much from the movie’s presentation. The story this time out finds Maleficent going toe –to-toe with an evil queen instead of an evil king. This time the evil ruler happens to be the mother of Princess Aurora’s love interest, King Philip. Right off the bat, the story is contrived. Audiences are presented with two women who hate each other and are completely against their children marrying. Of course with that in mind, the two mothers maintain a certain hatred towards one another. Who hasn’t seen this plot line done dozens of times already in other movies from other studios? It doesn’t take long for things to take a new course from there, with the evil queen (Ingrith) – Michelle Pfeiffer (Batman Returns, Dangerous Minds, What Lies Beneath) – tries to frame Maleficent for the attempted murder of her (Ingrith’s) own husband. As it is later revealed by Ingrith in her monologue (yes, there is even a standard bad guy monologue here even though it’s not a superhero movie), she just has a deep seated hatred of the fae and all of the creatures of the moors. It doesn’t take long for the story to take on a decidedly overly activist statement at this point. Maleficent and the creatures of the moor essentially take on the underdog role – the victims – while Ingrith represents the evil imperialist ruler. The underdog creatures take on the evil imperialists and end up winning. Yes, the wedding between Aurora and Philip takes place in the end, and Maleficent even comes to terms with the fact that Aurora has grown up and become her own person. While the story does have its happy ending, the original story of Sleeping Beauty certainly did not imagine any of what was in this story or even its predecessor. What’s more, there were so many moments when unnecessary dialoguing could have been ended with immediate action by Aurora and/or Maleficent. Sadly, that didn’t happen. At least in the final battle scene, there wasn’t a bunch of unnecessary monologuing. Rather, those behind the lens allowed the action to do the talking. To that end, at least there was that for the story. Other than that element, the seeming social statement about the indigenous people taking on the imperialist invaders (which has been done how many times throughout Hollywood’s history?) and the element of the two queens fighting over their children marrying proves anything but original. Rather, it makes the movie’s story quite boring and unoriginal. Keeping that in mind, it becomes clear how this movie’s story detracts from its presentation and just how much it does just that.

The damage that Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’s story does to its presentation is fully evident from start to end. It is undeniable. Even with that in mind, it is not the last of the elements that is worth addressing. The bonus content featured with the movie’s home release plays into its presentation, too. It makes up – though only slightly at best – for the problems caused by the movie’s extremely porous story. Audiences will enjoy the very brief behind-the-scenes look at how star Angelina Jolie’s flight scenes were created sing CG technology. The extended scenes, of which there are only two, do create at least a slight appreciation for the content that was not featured in the movie’s final cut. It is clear in watching those scenes that they were justifiably removed. The scene in which Philip and Aurora dance prior to the dinner adds nothing to the overall story. All it does is show another way in which the queen is trying to control everything. The moment when the queen “comforts” Aurora and decides to approve of the wedding does just as little as the dance sequence to add to the story. All audiences get is another view of the queen’s controlling nature and her distaste for Aurora. To that end, it is clear why these two scenes were cut from the final product.

The bonus “Origins of the Fey” doesn’t actually explain the Fey’s origins, ironically. Jolie talks about the Fey that inhabit the different parts of the world, but does not actually explain their origins. All she does is explain that they exist everywhere in that magical world. On a side note, the story never explains away why all the Fey stayed hidden and allowed Maleficent to get shot early on, nor does it explain the full link between her and the Phoenix. Getting back on track, that brief extra actually does more bad than good as a bonus, keeping all of this in mind.

The movie’s bonus VFX Reel takes audiences behind the scenes of hwo the movie’s visual effect were created. On the surface, this seems like something positive. The reality though, is that the bonus is in fact extremely brief. All it does is use a wipe effect to show how the scenes were shot against blue screens and the final product of that shooting. Yes, there are some commentaries included with that presentation, but the bonus overall lasts only perhaps two minutes at the very best. To that end, yes it is insightful, but only slightly at best. Between that brief bonus and the other brief extras, the bonus content overall presents a little (emphasis on little) to appreciate. There is some positive to the bonus content, but little at best. When it is set alongside the movie’s visual effects, the combination of the two is just enough to make this movie worth at least one watch, but little more.

Walt Disney Studios’ latest entry in its Maleficent franchise is just as much of a disappointment as its predecessor. That is due in large part to its story, which presents plot elements that have been used countless times prior in other movies from other studios. The multitudinous plot holes that pock mark the story make it even more problematic. Thankfully for all of the damage that the story does to Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, its visual effects and its bonus content combine to make it worth at least one watch. All things considered, one can only hope that Walt Disney Studios will let this franchise die mercifully, and make it the last of the property’s entries. More information on Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is available online at:

Website: http://movies.disney.com/malefficent-mistress-of-evil

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DisneyMaleficent

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Maleficent

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Disney Announces ‘Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil’ Release Date, Specs

Posted on December 8, 2019 by philspicks

Courtesy: Walt Disney Studios

Walt Disney Studios’ Maleficent: Mistress of Evil next month.

The follow-up to the studio’s 2014 movie Maleficent, it is scheduled for release on Jan. 14. It will be available online Dec. 31.

This time, Maleficent and her Goddaughter Aurora find themselves navigating difficult family waters as Aurora is set to marry Prince Phillip. After years of growing together, the pair’s relationship starts to strain. Making things even more difficult is the ongoing strain between humans and fairies.

Courtesy: Walt Disney Studios

The upcoming home release of Maleficent: Mistress of Evil features a variety of bonuses, such as behind the scenes interviews with the cast and crew, visual effects profile and extended scenes. The full list of bonus features is noted below.

DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE:

Lickspittle – Fantasy-film veteran Warwick Davis considers how every aspect of the film’s design inspired his tragic character.

BLU-RAY & DIGITAL BONUS:

Extended Scenes
- The Queen Comforts Aurora – Queen Ingrith takes advantage of Aurora’s fragile state to gain her confidence and accelerate the wedding plans.
- Philip and Aurora Dance – Aurora struggles to gain Queen Ingrith’s approval when she realizes how she is viewed among aristocracy.
Featurettes
- Origins of the Fey – Angelina Jolie discusses Maleficent’s lore, her newly discovered origins, and the diversity of the cast who portray the Fey.
- Aurora’s Wedding – Elle Fanning gushes over Aurora’s fairytale wedding; plus, hear from some special guests as they give their best to the bride and groom.
- If You Had Wings – Get a glimpse of the elaborate visual effects that allow the Fey to take to the skies.
- “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” VFX Reel – Discover how a perfect blend of practical and visual effects were used to create the stunning landscapes in “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.”
Outtakes – Uncooperative cats, a serious case of the giggles and even the “floss dance” found their way into Ulstead.
“You Can’t Stop The Girl” – Music video performed by Bebe Rexha

More information on Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is available online now at:

Website: http://movies.disney.com/maleficent-mistress-of-evil

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DisneyMaleficent

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Maleficent

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

‘Aladdin’ Reboot Home Release Is A Wish Fulfilled For Disney’s, Movie’s Most Devoted Fans

Posted on August 31, 2019 by philspicks

Courtesy: Walt Disney Studios

Fans of Disney’s Aladdin will get their wishes granted very soon with the home release of the movie in two formats. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment will release the live action reboot of the classic 1992 movie on DVD/Blu-ray combo pack on Sept. 10 alongside a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack re-issue of the noted modern animated classic. The live action/CG reboot was originally planned for an Aug. 27 release, but that date was later pushed back to Sept. 10 to coincide with the re-issue of the animated feature instead of separating the pair into two separate release dates. The upcoming home release of the reboot is a presentation that will appeal to the most devoted fans of the original offering. That is due in part to its story, which will be addressed shortly. The bonus content featured with the movie’s home release also plays into that appeal and will be addressed a little later. The movie’s average price point, considering the story and bonus content plays its own part in the whole of the movie’s home release and will be addressed later, too. When it is considered along with the noted content, the whole of said content and pricing makes the new live action/CG reboot of Aladdin a presentation that while maybe not totally magical, still a wish fulfillment for the most devoted fans of the movie.

Walt Disney Studios’ upcoming home release of its live action/CG Aladdin reboot is a presentation that is not as magical as its source material. It is however, a wish fulfillment for the most devoted fans of that property. That is due in part to the story at the center of the movie. The story does keep some of the elements of the 1992 animated feature from Disney, but it also features a number of changes from that source material. Whereas the ’92 version offers plenty of back story and development early on in its 90-minute run, this story ignores all of that background, opting instead to open in the market scene in which Aladdin and Jasmine first meet. On one hand, it detracts from the story significantly in that it gives the story a decidedly abrupt feeling. At the same time, Director Guy Ritchie and co-writer John August – the pair wrote the movie’s screenplay — somehow manage to make the situation work despite the abrupt feeling. Another notable change to the story finds Aladdin going to the cave of wonders with Jafar out of costume. Unlike the case in the 1992 movie, Jafar does not try to hide his identity in this story. He instead opts to try to seduce Aladdin with promises of power if he helps him. Why Ritchie and August chose this route is anyone’s guess. There is no discussion on this choice in the movie’s bonus content, which does not even feature any bonus commentary. Oddly enough, despite being so clearly different, the change does still manage somehow to work in its own right. These are just a couple of the changes that are evident throughout the course of this reboot. There are lots of others that viewers will find themselves. For all of the changes that fill the story, there are some moments that remain mostly the same. The moment when Aladdin reveals to the sultan that Jafar has been controlling his mind is still there, albeit in a slightly different way the famed cave of wonders sequence finds some slight variances, but is still largely the same, as is the market scene. To that end, the story does present a variety of changes, but for all the changes, they are balanced out with elements from the ’92 Aladdin’s story, making the movie worth at least the occasional watch. The balance of the original story elements and the altered elements is just one element that will appeal to the most devoted fans of Aladdin. The bonus content that is featured with the movie’s forthcoming home release plays into the movie’s presentation just as much as the story.

The bonus content featured with the movie’s upcoming home release are the standard behind-the-scenes making of featurette, a discussion with Ritchie about the movie’s genesis and creation, a discussion with Will Smith about taking on the iconic role of the genie, a collection of bloopers and deleted scenes, and a song that was cut from the movie. The making-of featurette gives the relatively commonplace element — that is included in almost every movie ever released – a new twist by presenting it through the use of a smart phone. That approach doesn’t really do much to add to the feature’s appeal, but the revelations of how each of the movie’s key sequences were made will interest viewers. Case in point is the carpet ride sequence. Viewers learn how it was made using a hydraulic rig, blue screen and video screens so that stars Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott would be able to coordinate the song’s verses and choruses with the different scenes within the sequences. Audiences also learn about Massoud’s Jordanian heritage as the post-Cave of Wonders scene is shot in the Wadi Rum valley in Jordan. Massoud openly talks about the emotional impact that shooting in the valley had on him. It is an interesting aspect that is certain to engage viewers. There is also a light hearted discussion in this featurette about the making of the Prince Ali introduction sequence that features comments from Scott and Massoud’s co-star Will Smith.

Ritchie’s discussion about the movie’s genesis and creation is even more certain to engage and entertain viewers than the “making of” featurette because it offers comment from Ritchie himself about his role in the movie. He states in his interview that he decided to join on the movie because he is a family man, saying, “I live within a world of children. I want to make films my family can see. So I was driven to remake this movie. Creatively most engaging is that it is a musical within this fantastical world.” Smith adds his own comments, noting, “Once I heard how he [Ritchie] was going to shoot some of these sequences, I said ‘Yes, ok, I’m in.” The movie’s musical creative heads add their own comments to the segment, as do Scott and Massoud. All things considered here, the whole of this segment proves to be one of the movie’s most notable bonuses.

Another of the most notable bonuses is the discussion on Smith’s role as the genie. One of the movie’s most important roles, Smith talks here about his trepidation about taking on a role that – as he said himself – Robin Williams made so iconic. It shows that Smith knew it would be difficult to live up to Williams’ legacy as the beloved character, but still tried to do just that while also honoring the work that Williams did in the role. Given, Smith does not live up to that legacy, but knowing that he wanted to pay tribute to Williams and his work while also doing his own thing does create a new respect for Smith in this aspect.

The collective bonus gag reel and deleted scenes are interesting additions to the whole of the movie’s presentation. The gag reel is brief, but will put a smile on viewers’ faces. The deleted scenes are important because audiences see for themselves that some scenes were wisely cut while others, such as Aladdin and genie’s talk immediately after Prince Ali’s introduction should have been included in the movie. It is a great, light hearted moment that while brief, would have added more enjoyment to the movie. Keeping this in mind along with everything else noted, it becomes clear that the bonus content featured in Aladdin’s home release plays its own key part in the movie’s overall presentation. When it is considered along with the balance of the movie’s new and old story elements, the two together make the movie worth the cost for the movie’s most devoted fans and the most devoted Disney fans.

The average price point of Aladdin is $27.05. That price is obtained by averaging prices at Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Books-A-Million. Amazon had the movie listed at the time of this review’s posting, but the listing did not feature prices for any of the movie’s platforms. Disney’s shop links back to Walmart, Target and Best Buy. Barnes & Noble Booksellers’ price of $30.32 is well above the average, while Best Buy is, in this case, the best buy with a price listing of $24.99 along with Target, which lists the same price. Books-A-Million’s price listing of $22.99 is just below that of Barnes & Noble, but is still well above the average. Walmart lists the movie at $24.96, so is it below the average, just like Target and Best Buy. Keeping in mind so many of Disney’s movies tend to list in store in the area of $24.95 – and very close to that number – the noted prices are right on par with those other noted Disney flicks. To that end, consumers won’t feel that they are getting ripped off when they purchase this movie, especially considering the balance of the story’s old and new content and the bonus content. All things considered, those elements and the pricing make this presentation of Aladdin one that the most devoted Disney and Aladdin fans will appreciate.

The upcoming home of Disney’s new Aladdin reboot is an interesting work. It is certainly a work that will appeal to a very target audience. It is not for everybody. That is due in part to a story, which presents a variety of changes to the story presented in the movie’s 1992 presentation. That alone has made it a very divisive presentation. That being the case, it will appeal largely to those most devoted fans of the movie and of Disney. Those same viewers will appreciate the bonus content featured in the movie. The movie’s average price point and separate price listings are in range with those of other previous releases from Disney. Keeping all of this in mind, the movie’s upcoming home release gives the most devoted Disney and Aladdin fans something in this presentation to enjoy at least occasionally. More information on Aladdin is available online now at:

Website: http://Movies.Disney.com/Aladdin-2019

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DisneyAladdin

Twitter: http://twitter.com/DisneyAladdin

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Disney Announces Release, Re-Issue Dates, Specs For ‘Aladdin’ 2019 and 1992 Presentations

Posted on July 26, 2019 by philspicks

Courtesy: Walt Disney Studios

Fans of Disney’s Aladdin are getting their wishes granted next month with new releases of the movie.

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is scheduled to release the recent live action/CG reboot of its classic animated movie on Aug. 27 on DVD/Blu-ray combo pack. The movie stars megastar Will Smith as the Genie, Mena Massoud as the movie’s titular character and Naomi Scott as Princess Jasmine.

Disney’s updated take on the modern classic makes some changes to that movie, including new story elements and musical numbers, along with lots of computer generated elements.

Among the extras featured in the forthcoming home release of Aladdin, are featurettes examining Aladdin’s first meeting with the genie, Jasmine’s new pro-feminist song and director Guy Ritchie. There are also deleted scenes and the inclusion of the deleted song, “Desert Moon.”

The full list of bonus content is noted below.

DIGITAL PRESELL BONUS:

MAKE WAY FOR PRINCE ALI – Take a look at the gigantic design extravaganza that came together for this scene of Genie-sized proportions.

DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE BONUS:

“SPEECHLESS”: CREATING A NEW SONG FOR JASMINE – Follow the story of Jasmine’s inspirational song “Speechless,” written by Alan Menken, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul especially for this version of “Aladdin.”

BLU-RAY & DIGITAL BONUS:

ALADDIN’S VIDEO JOURNAL: A NEW FANTASTIC POINT OF VIEW – Watch behind-the-scenes moments captured by Mena Massoud (Aladdin) in this fun, fast-paced look at his personal journey.
DELETED SONG: “DESERT MOON” – Experience a moving duet performed by Jasmine and Aladdin, fully shot and edited, with an introduction by Alan Menken.
GUY RITCHIE: A CINEMATIC GENIE – Discover why director Guy Ritchie was the perfect filmmaker to tackle this exhilarating reimagining of a beloved classic.
A FRIEND LIKE GENIE – Discover how Will Smith brings talent, experience and his own personal magic to the iconic role of Genie.
DELETED SCENES
- Falling Petals Into OJ
- Jafar’s Magic Orrery
- Anders’ Gift
- Wrong Wishes
- Silly Old Fool
- Post Yam Jam Debrief
BLOOPERS – Laugh along with the cast and crew in this lighthearted collection of outtakes from the set.
MUSIC VIDEOS
- “Speechless” – Music video performed by Naomi Scott
- “A Whole New World” – Music video performed by ZAYN and Zhavia Ward
- “ A Whole New World” (“Un Mundo Ideal”) – Music video performed by ZAYN and Becky G.

*Bonus features may vary by retailer

More information on the upcoming home release of Aladdin is available online now at:

Website: http://Movies.Disney.com/Aladdin-2019

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DisneyAladdin

Twitter: http://twitter.com/DisneyAladdin

Courtesy: Disney/Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment/ Walt Disney Studios

The same day, the 1992 animated take of the movie will be released on 4K Ultra HD/BD combo pack. Two weeks later — Sept. 10 — the movie will be re-issued on BD/DVD combo pack for the most devoted fans of the movie. The upcoming re-issue of the movie’s 1992 edition is the newest addition to Disney’s Signature Collection — the 10th movie to join the studio’s Signature Collection.

The upcoming 4k combo pack re-issue of Aladdin will feature a handful of new bonus content, such as a new sing-along version that includes on-screen lyrics, an interview with Aladdin’s original voice actor Scott Weinger (Full House) and a series of alternate endings.

The full list of the movie’s extras is noted below.

BONUS FEATURES ON BLU-RAY & DIGITAL: *

NEW BONUS

Sing Along With The Movie – Sing along to your favorite tunes as you watch the film. With magical on-screen lyrics.
Aladdin on Aladdin – Join the speaking voice of Aladdin, Scott Weinger (“Fuller House”), as he reflects on almost 30 years of being Aladdin.
“Let’s Not Be Too Hasty”: The Voices of “Aladdin” – Take your seat in the recording booth and watch as the voice actors of “Aladdin” work their microphone magic.
Alternate Endings – Enter the realm of “what if” and see just how differently the movie could have ended.

DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE

Drawing Genie – Join prolific animator Eric Goldberg as he draws and reminices about the Genie.

CLASSIC BONUS – Revisit over 40 exciting bonus features from previous releases including:

The Genie Outtakes
“Aladdin”: Creating Broadway Magic
Unboxing “Aladdin”

*Bonus features may vary by retailer

Courtesy: Walt Disney Studios/Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

More information on the upcoming re-issue of Aladdin (1992) is available online at:

Website: http://Movies.Disney.com/Aladdin

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DisneyAladdin

Twitter: http://twitter.com/DisneyAladdin

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

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Disney Announces Release, Re-Issue Dates, Specs For ‘Aladdin’ 2019 and 1992 Presentations