If you happened to have seen the 1980 motion picture of the same name, you may be a little surprised to see that this disastrous film has made it to Broadway and is now touring across the nation.This wasn’t a heavily backed production from any conglomerate or large veteran production companies.Instead Xanadu was formed by a handful of inspired young writers and producers to create something completely fresh and different from your typical high-class Broadway musical.
The film is a major cult-classic, which is different from favorites like Gone with the Wind. Xanadu is quite frankly so horrible it’s good.Now why would anyone with the right sense of mind think producing an on-stage musical of this terribly silly film be a good idea, let alone profitable?It’s simple really.Xanadu is self-aware and pokes fun of itself of all the glorious cheesiness that has made the movie such a cult-classic.
Xanadu is 110 percent over the top and absolutely ridiculous.However, once the audience realizes the tone of the show it’s actually incredibly hilarious and wildly entertaining.It’s glitzy and a little campy, but remains solid as that’s really the point of the whole production.Little did I know going into this that the Broadway musical is just a down-right comedy.It took me a little while to realize the tone of the show and whether or not it was making fun of itself entirely or trying to be semi-serious.It turns out that the whole show is all about laughing at the outrageous story line and the stereotyped characters of motion picture.
The story follows a ‘Keanu Reeves-like’ surfer dude, Sonny, living in Venice, California when a Greek muse, Clio, descends from a painted mural on a brick wall that ends up helping Sonny bring to life his dream of… you guessed it, owning a roller disco!Clio, whose secret alias on Earth is an Australian 80’s roller skater named Kira, breaks the rules set by Zeus and ends up in the middle of a forbidden love story with a mortal.Kira’s muse sisters try to take advantage of this for their own profit in a story about following what you believe in.
With a cast of only 9, plus two skaters, Xanadu is put on by an astonishing small group with most doubling as multiple characters.The play even poke fun at the fact that one cast member couldn’t be there for a scene because of cast doubling issues.If done too much, this style of comedy can become tiresome and annoying. Xanadu however stays strong and uses the right balance between sincerity and breaking down the 4th wall with the audience keeping the humor fresh.
Nonetheless, the cast wasn’t phenomenal.Each member definitely had their own originality with many stand-out comedic lines, but I really wasn’t too impressed with the overdone stereotypes of “ghetto sista” type jokes.The leading lady, Elizabeth Stanley, was quite hysterical though.Every moment of her performance had great physical comedy and over-the-top extremities that had the whole audience cracking up.An old love interest of Clio played by Larry Marshall was also a wonderful character and an excellent casting choice.Marshall had a strong voice and was very charismatic.He pretty much stole the show.
Being a set loving person, it’sa little disappointing that it’s essentially the same set the entire show, but there are some nice effects and some quite cheesy effects put into place for the purpose of comedy.Strangely enough, a select few actually sit on stage during the entire show where the cast actually interacts and with them throughout the show.Fortunately, the set still gets the job done and I was over it quickly. However be forewarned, there is no intermission in this musical.
Xanadu is 90 minutes of refreshing entertainment that is unlike any other Broadway musical.This is an upbeat youthful show with spunk that’s good for the whole family!It’s great for a fun night out and is extremely light hearted.This is not a perfect musical and probably not one of the best, but at the moment, it’s probably the best thing going on in Orange County.Xanadu is now playing at the Orange County Performing Arts Center until December 27th. Just in time for the Holidays.
Tickets are now on sale starting at $20 and are available at OCPAC.org, the Center’s Box Office or by calling (714) 556-2787.
Once Upon A Time in Nazi-Occupied France…With these words, Quentin Tarantino begins an amazing fairytale of WWII revisionism. Told in five parts, Inglorious Basterds is the story of a squad of “Nazi hunters” calling themselves the basterds and a cinema owner named Shosanna Dreyfus. Together, they attempt a plan to take out Hitler himself. In getting to this point of the story, Tarantino puts together a series of seemingly unrelated sequences and characters, weaving them into a brilliant tapestry of storytelling with one of the best payoffs in a film all year.
Alternating between unbelievable suspense, laugh-out-loud humor (mostly provided by Brad Pitt’s over-the-top portrayal of Basterd leader Lt. Aldo Raine), and over-the-top action, Inglorious Basterds is moviemaking at it’s best, and nothing short of a masterpiece. Much of the story takes place in Dreyfus’ cinema, and as I was watching, I began to realize just how much the story was influenced by Tarantino’s own love of film. It’s unusual to see the work of a filmmaker with such passion for what they do.
Although the film runs over two and half hours, I never found myself losing interest. This is one of the rare films I could watch again and again just the artistry on display. The way the story builds to its genius finale is a real treat to watch, and all the performances are brilliant. In fact, Christoph Waltz gives the best performance of the year as Col. Hans Landa, “The Jew Hunter.” Calm and methodical, this is one of those performances that you just can’t get out of your head. It’s a subtle performance, and it’s terrifying.
With a film as good as this, I’d be recommending the new Blu-Ray release even without any extras. However, there are a few reasonably entertaining features. By far, the best of these is a round-table discussion with Brad Pitt, Quentin Tarantino, and journalist Elvis Mitchell. It’s a very informal discussion where several aspects of the production are discussed, ranging from casting to Pitt’s ridiculous accent. Watching Tarantino discuss the concept of film provides a great reminder that there are people out there making movies for the love of it, and not just as a business.
While this is the most interesting extra on the set, the most entertaining is a brief making-of the Nazi propaganda film within the film, Nation’s Pride. Directed by Eli Roth (who also stars as one of the Basterds), we only get glimpses of Nation’s Pride in the actual movie, but that doesn’t stop them from including a hilarious behind-the-scenes look. This segment serves as a brilliant spoof on everything that I hate about making-of features on a DVD. They treat the short as a real film, and the pretentiousness and self-congratulatory praise with which they discuss their work provides as sharp a satire as I’ve seen in a long time. Also included is the entire six-minute film, which is actually a fascinating companion piece to the real movie.
Unfortunately, the rest of the extras are pretty forgettable. There are the usual extended and alternate scenes, although I found the film perfect as is, and wouldn’t want any additional scenes added. Also included is a segment on the original Inglorious Basterds; a film with nothing but the title and a very clever cameo in common. The star of the original appears briefly in Tarantino’s film, and there is a short segment touching upon this. The set is rounded out with a couple of interviews with Rod Taylor, who played Winston Churchill, and an exploration of the use of film posters within the movie. Normally, I would be interested in a segment like that, but this documentary proved unusually dull.
I have always been a fan of Tarantino, and it really feels as if every one of his movies is better than the one before. He is a highly unusual filmmaker, and one gets a sense that he really doesn’t care about the business side of the industry. Watching one of his films is a reminder of what movies are capable of. As we’re heading into award season, I truly hope that this film gets the recognition it deserves. While there have been some great movies this year, I can’t think of anything else that has proved as memorable or as entertaining.
Charging home on December 15th comes Walt Disney Pictures’ actionpacked comedy-adventure G-Force. Packaged as an exciting Disney “Combo Pack” (a Blu-ray™ + DVD + DisneyFile Digital Copy of the movie in a single package), families can finally look forward to enjoying this thrilling story about a covert group of feisty furball Guinea Pigs anytime, anywhere and on a compatible format of their choice –Blu-ray player, car, PC and/or portable device. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer (National Treasure, Pirates of the Caribbean), G-Force takes audiences on a deliriously entertaining thrill ride with a whole new breed of hero, featuring a stellar cast including Nicolas Cage (National Treasure), Sam Rockwell (Moon), Jon Favreau (I Love You, Man), Penelope Cruz (Vicky Christina Barcelona), Tracy Morgan (“30 Rock”), and Steve Buscemi (Charlotte’s Web), with live performances by Bill Nighy (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End), Will Arnett (Ratatouille) and Zak Galifianakis (The Hangover). Academy Award®-winning visual effects master Hoyt H. Yeatman, Jr. (1989 winner for Best Effects; Visual Effects, The Abyss) makes his directing debut. Destined to be the family comedy hit of the season, and released just in time for the holidays, G-Force includes a fascinating line-up of behind-the-scenes features, hilarious deleted movie scenes and a collection of music videos featuring songs from the film. And exclusively for Blu-ray owners, there are three CGI effect bonus features that will satisfy their quest to join the rodent spy world.
In case you haven’t figured it out by now, parents aren’t going to get much from G-Force. Almost every joke has been told before, every moment of dramatic tension culled from another film, every slapstick pratfall telegraphed, every heartstring pluck orchestrated by the genre gods themselves. In fact, the only area in which G-Force readily excels is its action sequences, and that’s only because director Hoyt Yateman transforms each set piece into an epic, madcap spectacle brimming with squealing wheels and high-flying rodents. Otherwise, the script is fairly uninspired and the characters, though sharp-tongued and light-footed, suffer from bland voice acting and slightly cartoonish CG. I know, I know… kids aren’t going to notice or care about such shortcomings, but that doesn’t mean every children’s film should automatically get a pass.
No surprises here: G-Force is the talking-guinea-pig-super-spies flick of the year. Adults will grit their teeth and wait for it all to be over, kids will giggle with delight at everything that graces the screen. The Blu-ray edition features a striking video transfer, a solid DTS-HD Master Audio track, and a decent, family-oriented supplemental package with a number of exclusives. In short, G-Force represents yet another reliable children’s release from Disney that packs ample kid appeal. On a positive note the digital animation is stellar. The rodents are amazingly rendered and seamlessly inserted into the film. The voice cast is solid as well and director Hoyt Yeatman did a fine job of bringing these super rodents to life.
And since this is a Disney production there are a few moral messages woven neatly into the plot of the flick. The first one is of course drives home the fact that family is extremely important. With family on your side anything is possible. The second message is that everyone, no matter how small, is special in their own way.
Bonus Materials are presented in High Definition 1080i video, using Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround for the Theatrical Trailer).
Cine-Explore with Darwin, Blaster & Their Creator: This is a behind-the-scenes picture-in-picture that runs along side the film.
Bruckheimer Animated: A Look Back at his CG Work: This runs 3min12sec and has Bruckheimer speak on the film’s visual effects.
Access Granted: This runs 7min52sec and has director Yeatman give us a behind-the-scenes tour into the labs that helped create the film.
G-Farce: This is a series of bloopers and flubs that run a total of 1min49sec.
Deleted Scenes: Here we get a series of deleted scenes that, surprisingly, aren’t that bad.
Music Videos: 3 Music Videos for different songs are included here. “Jump” by Flo-Rida ft. Nelly Furtado, “Ready to Rock” by Steve Rushton and “Go G-Force“.
Blaster’s Boot Camp: This runs 4min41sec and gives a glance into what it takes to become a member of G-Force.
G-Force Mastermind: This runs 4min13sec and shows us how the film’s original concept was developed thanks in part to Yeatman’s son.
DVD of the Film: Here, on the 2nd disc, is a DVD copy of the film.
Digital Copy: Found on the 3rd disc is a Digital Copy of the film that is playable on PC, iPod, etc.
Five seasons down. One to go. Less than two months away from the premiere of the sixth and final year, the fifth season arrives on Blu-Ray early enough for anyone out of the loop to catch up on one of the greatest television shows of all time. This is the epitome of water-cooler television. Featuring one of the most compelling ensembles in recent memory, Lost consistently evolves its fantastical story while always remaining intriguing. And it does so while providing a steady stream of action, comedy, drama, romance, and basically everything that makes good television. Revisiting the fifth season only reinforces just how consistently strong this show has been.
As any Lost fan knows, every season has had a specific thematic component that drove the story. Whether it’s the Hatch, the Others, the Flash-Forwards, etc., there is always a central component to the story. Season 5’s theme was time travel. While watching Season 1, I would never have guessed that that is where the show was going. Yet somehow, it felt completely natural when it got there.
As a concept, time travel can be very tricky. Many movies, shows, books, etc. have had great success with it, and many have crashed and burned. The Lost writers have thoroughly thought out the concepts, and while the story does feel convoluted on occasion, this is only because they are seriously mapping out the ramifications of every move through time. It can be confusing, but it makes sense.
In introducing time travel, the writers brilliantly devised a way to bring our cast of characters into the situations often discussed but never seen. It turned out that events previously alluded to ended up playing a much more direct and pivotal role in the character’s stories. Locations and characters were presented that brought the whole story into focus.
One of the many extras on the Blu-Ray is a feature demonstrating the cast and crew’s attempts at keeping track of all the time travel in the story. While the core writers obviously had a grasp on everything, not everyone involved in the production understood exactly what they were filming. It’s a fun feature, but like most of the extras, not incredibly substantial. With a show like Lost, it would be nice to have extras that explored the more story-based aspects of the show.
Unfortunately, most of the extras are of the standard making-of variety. That’s not entirely a bad thing. It’s always interesting to see a film or show in production. Particular highlights are seven features in a section called “Lost on Location.” These run 5 to 7 minutes each, and show a specific sequence being filmed from 7 different episodes. There’s some great stunt work and some fascinating set pieces in the show, and it’s a lot of fun to see the work that goes into creating these individual moments.
There’s also a feature where Michael Emerson, who plays Ben Linus, tours the offices of the writing staff as well as the post-production team. While there is absolutely no insight into the show itself, it’s pretty neat to see the Lost staff in their work enviornments. Other extras include deleted scenes, a lame gag reel (almost exactly the same as every other gag reel), and a faux 70’s documentary called “Mysteries of the Universe” that focuses on the Dharma Initiative.
If you’ve never seen the show, you’re coming up on your last chance to watch the story as it unfolds on a week-by-week basis. The Blu-Ray looks and sounds incredible, and is a fantastic way to catch up before the show returns. While the extras could have been better, the set is worth getting just for the episodes. I go into the last season with a mixture of excitement and sadness, but if this last year is anything like what came before, then we’re in for an amazing season.
Coming directly off the heels of “Sorcerer’s Stone,” “Chamber of Secrets” ups the ante across all areas – the production design is richer and more intricate, the cinematography more deeply dramatic, and the script more focused (despite the film being the longest so far). The three principal actors also seem to be growing more comfortable with their characters and with the work in general. Though not the best film of the series, like the novel on which it’s based, it is surprisingly good when it probably could have gotten away with just doing more of the same. The Ultimate Edition includes the theatrical and an extended version of the film. The latter adds 13 minutes to the run time, reinstating the scenes that were first made available on the DVD release (and which are available for viewing in two locations in this edition’s extras). The additional footage doesn’t add much to the film as a whole (and in some cases seems redundant), but those wanting more of the Harry Potter universe actualized on screen will probably be pleased. The In-Movie Experience is engaging, the second part of the documentary is entertaining, the book and trading cards are nice, and the construction and design of the packaging is first rate. The Ultimate Edition makes for a nice package, but individuals will have to figure out for themselves how much more they are willing to pay for it. Currently, the Ultimate Edition is priced about $15 more than the standard single-disc BD. Probably worth it if the extras will be revisited, but if not, that $15 can buy a whole other BD title that is certain to be watched again. Given the choice, I imagine many will opt for the standard BD edition, making this Ultimate Edition only for the most ultimate of Potter fans.
Keep an eye out for Years 3-7 — if my guess is right 3 and 4 will come out around the time part 1 of Deathly Hallows hits theaters, 5 and 6, around the same time in 2010, and 7 about a year later.
Disc-Based Extras
Disc One
In-Movie Experience: The picture-in-picture video commentary feature incorporates still image galleries, storyboard comparisons, behind-the-scenes footage, and director Chris Columbus explaining technical and logistical challenges of numerous scenes. Though there is not a separate way to access the storyboards and image galleries, it does allow the viewer to skip to the next commentary segment without having to sit through the entirety of the film. It’s an improvement to the accessibility issues but still not a perfect solution.
BD-Live: Includes a streaming trailer and information about two BD-Live events on December 7th and December 12th. December 7th is a preview of the upcoming “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” and December 12th is a live community screening of “Half Blood Prince” with Daniel Radcliffe and David Yates. Go to www.harrypotter.com/blu-ray for more information.
Disc Two
Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 2: Characters (1:20:03, HD): The second installment begins and ends with the experience and development of the three main actors, from their total lack of experience when the franchise began to where they are now as seasoned professionals. In between these topical bookends, the documentary addresses practically every character from the first six films, usually with recollections and analysis from the actors who played them. Though the piece uses a fair amount of previously produced material, a nice organic flow to the narrative and enough recent interview footage keeps it from feeling like just a re-purposed set of clips. Though there aren’t necessarily any fresh insights, it makes a pretty familiar topic feel surprisingly unexplored.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Revealed (13:02, SD): The HBO “First Look” promotional special from 2002 hits the requisite topics of story and characters.
Teaser Trailer (2:06, SD)
Theatrical Trailer (2:11, HD)
TV Spots (9:01, SD): Seventeen commercials made for television.
Screen Tests of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson (11:53, HD): First screen tests of the actors, as featured in Part One of the “Creating the World…” documentary. Radcliffe’s solo test runs 7:57 and the test with the trio runs 3:55.
Deleted Scenes (17:02, HD): Nineteen scenes, the same as those found on Disc Three.
Spellcaster Knowledge: Answer trivia about the various spells cast in the film.
Lockhart’s Classroom (1:28, SD): A guided tour of various items in Lockhart’s classroom, including his photos, awards and certificates, and his collected works.
A Conversation with J.K. Rowling and Steve Kloves (16:09, SD): Rowling and Kloves talk about adapting the novels to film, differences between the two mediums and their feelings about how “Chamber of Secrets” turned out.
Dumbledore’s Office: Take a walk-around tour of the office set or “build a scene,” which leads to a documentary (17:20, SD) that gives an overview of film production, including production design, set decoration, props, visual effects, cinematography, wardrobe, hair and makeup, and post-production.
Interviews with Students (8:43, SD): The child actors answer various questions, including the evolution of their characters, how they’ve developed as actors and experiences on set.
Interviews with Professors and More (10:35, SD): The adult actors talk about their respective characters.
Gallery of Production Sketches: Eighteen sets of sketches showing various treatments of the characters and scenes.
Activities (SD): Includes the Chamber Challenge (answer trivia), the Forbidden Forest Challenge (test your reflexes), Colin’s Darkroom (create a photo slideshow), and a walk-around tour of Diagon Alley.
Game Preview: Watch various clips from the “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” video game from Electronic Arts.
Disc Four
Digital Copy: Download a digital file of the theatrical version for playback on a computer or portable device. Compatible with Mac and Windows.
In the aftermath of Judgment Day and the machine takeover, resistance leader John Connor (Christian Bale) must counter Skynet’s plan to terminate mankind. Rallying his underground street fighters for a last, desperate battle, he realizes that to save the future he must rescue his own father Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin). But the most shocking discovery comes with the arrival of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a mysterious loner from the past who challenges Connor with an impossible choice and leads them both on a brutal journey into the heart of the enemy.
Witness the battle between man and machine in the gritty action epic as TERMINATOR SALVATION blasts its way onto Blu-ray and DVD on December 1st from Warner Home Video. The newest installment in the adrenaline-fueled hit Terminator franchise stars Christian Bale (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight) as John Connor, leader of the human resistance in a post-Judgment Day world ravaged by deadly Terminators.
The TERMINATOR SALVATION 2-Disc Blu-ray includes both the theatrical version (PG-13) and the Director’s Cut (Rated R) with explosive additional footage not shown in theaters. Packed with over 2 hours of spectacular bonus, the Blu-ray version features the immersive Maximum Movie Mode, an interactive viewer experience where the entire film is examined using “Walk-On” technology that enables viewers to see Director McG deconstruct key moments from the film. Also included is over 40 minutes of Picture In Picture (PiP) commentary with cast and crew, 11 mini featurette focus points, storyboard comparisons, still galleries, and a Terminator mythology timeline. Additionally, the Blu-ray contains Re-Forging the Future, a behind-the-scenes look at the film’s production, and The Moto-Terminator, a featurette revealing how the film’s visual effects crew and motorcycle manufacturer Ducati partnered to create the slick and deadly Moto-Terminators. The Blu-ray will also include a theatrical version of the film available on a Digital Copy disc.
Additional content available via BD-Live includes a compilation of 10 viral videos from the alternate reality game “Resist or Be Terminated” revealing SKYNET’s secret plans, the first episode of Terminator Salvation Machinima Series, and a digital version of Issue #1 of the Terminator Salvation official movie prequel comic. Plus, viewers can organize Live Community Screenings, and record their own commentaries using the “My Commentary” BD-Live feature.
Terminator Salvation is not only a loud, action-packed, and special effects-heavy summer extravaganza, but also a pitch-perfect extension to the series while also offering a somewhat meaningful look at what it means to be human and man’s superiority to machine. Terminator Salvation also introduces new characters and technologies but never leaves the confines of established franchise lore, and the result is an exciting visual spectacle that also carries on the series’ legacy while simultaneously creating its own identity within the Terminator universe. Warner Brothers’ Blu-ray release of Terminator Salvation delivers a stunning 1080p transfer and a deafening reference-quality soundtrack that’s among the very best Blu-ray has to offer. TERMINATOR SALVATION BLU-RAY AND DVD ELEMENTS SD Content: • Theatrical Version of the Film:
Exclusive to Blu-ray™ Content: • Two Versions of the Film: o Theatrical Cut (Rated PG-13) o Director’s Cut (Rated R) – Includes explosive new footage not seen in theaters. • Maximum Movie Mode featuring Director McG deconstructing the film’s key moments, 11 mini featurette focus points, over 40 minutes of Picture (PiP) commentary with cast and crew interviews, storyboard comparisons, still galleries, Terminator mythology timeline and more. • “The Moto-Terminator” – See how the Terminator Salvation visual effects crew and Ducati partnered to create the slick and deadly Moto-Terminator! • “Re-Forging the Future” – Go behind the scenes of Terminator Salvation with an exclusive set tour.
BD LIVE Content Includes: • Compilation of 10 viral videos from the “Resist or Be Terminated” alternate reality game revealing SKYNET’s secret plans. • The first episode of Terminator Salvation Machinima Series • Digital version of Issue #1 of the Terminator Salvation official movie prequel comic.
Digital Copy on Disc • Theatrical version of the film
While the first Night at the Museum was an enjoyable enough piece of escapism, I never felt the need for a sequel. I loved the setup, and yet by film’s end was pretty much ready to move on. Everybody had learned a valuable lesson, as per tradition in these type of films, and I didn’t really think there was a lot left to do with the premise. Because of this, I began watching Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian, newly released on Blu-Ray, with a decided lack of excitement. And yet I ended up loving it.
Both films revolve around Ben Stiller’s character of Larry Daley, and what happens to him over the course of a single evening in a museum where the exhibits come to life. The first film took place at the Museum of Natural History, and as indicated in the title, the sequel takes place in the Smithsonian. In typical sequel fashion, this means that everything is bigger, better, and with a lot more of it.
But instead of just throwing more stuff at us and seeing what sticks, the filmmakers actually manage to utilize the expanded world. Part of what makes this work so well is the interaction between the exhibits that would serve no logical purpose being together. By placing the action in the Smithsonian there is a great deal of variety between the exhibits, and seeing them come together in such a way is a great deal of fun.
Being able to actually enter the paintings and interact with the sculptures brings a whole new level to this museum. And when Daley takes a chase sequence into a classic WWII photograph, everything about this movie begins to click. The creativity on display is way beyond anything in the first film. Helping fuel this creativity is an amazing cast of new actors including Hank Azaria, Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, and on and on.
Everybody from the first film returns as well, but the absolute highlight is one of the new additions. Amy Adams is brilliant in the role of Amelia Earhart (or at least a wax replica of her). Playing a caricatured version of Earhart, Adams fast-talks her way through every scene leaving Stiller’s character desperate to keep up. When he tells her that one of her exclamations sounds made up even for her, she replies “it’s how I speak.” She then gives a normal line of dialogue as comparison and questions “where’s the fun in that?”
That brief exchange encapsulates everything that works about this film. Everybody seems to be having fun. There is not one weak link in the cast and everybody gets a moment to shine. On top of this, the special effects are a blast to watch. There is nothing revolutionary about them, but they are perfect for this type of film. By manipulating real art and exhibits we are all familiar with and putting them in the context of this story, the effects begin to actually feel special.
There are several features on the Blu-Ray that showcase these effects, as well as demonstrating the genuine excitement the cast and crew seem to have for the material. Not all of the extra features are winners, but there are some surprisingly interesting segments demonstrating what goes into creating a film of this scope. Director Shawn Levy’s enthusiasm frequently comes through in these segments as he demonstrates how they filmed the WWII sequence, the Air and Space sequence, etc. One of the best features on the set is a segment that follows Levy around for an entire day of filming. I love watching filmmakers at work, and this feature provides a great insight into the several aspects of being a director.
Unfortunately, not all of the extras are quite as interesting as this one. There are a lot of generic behind-the-scenes features, including a couple of Fox Movie Channel segments, a gag reel that consists of everybody laughing at themselves, and three (!) features on the monkey from the film. Overall, it’s a pretty uneven set of extras, alternating between the terrific and the bland.
But the features that do work, as well as the film itself, make this a Blu-Ray worth purchasing. Despite all odds, this ended up a thoroughly entertaining movie. Unlike after the first film, I will keep an open mind when they announce the inevitable Part III, and I might find myself actually looking forward to seeing the further museum-based adventures of Larry Daley and friends. Especially if Amelia Earhart is going with him.
It was announced by former Disney CEO Michael Eisner that Disney’s Home on the Range would be the companies last hand-drawn animated feature film due to the rise of CGI animated movies. It was inevitable the end was coming with such flops as Brother Bear and Treasure Planet and such CGI blockbusters as Disney / Pixar’s Finding Nemo and Monsters Inc. along with other hits as Dreamworks Shrek. Thankfully a very dedicated and true Disney spirit that stood for quality (John Lasseter) was promoted to chief creative officer of both Pixar and Walt Disney Animated Studios. Lasseter pushes for great stories told with heart and standards Disney has been held up to for so many years allowing for a return toward traditional 2D animation. Finally, after many revisions, Disney has gallantly restored its rightful place as a king in animation. December 11th, 2009 marks the revival of Disney animation with the opening of Walt Disney Animation Studios 46th traditional animated feature The Princess and the Frog.
I’m sure most of you don’t really care. What you probably care about is whether or not The Princess and the Frog holds up to the Disney classics everyone has grown up to love. The Princess and the Frog is held up to every standard created with past Disney classic animated features and shall hold up to the testament of time.
I was extremely cautious going into this film believing there is no chance Disney will be able to live up to such wonderful films like The Lion King or Beauty and the Beast. Everything about this film screams disaster with stereotypical sounding voice work and a story told differently with gimmicky twists. However, the movie is actually based off a novel called “The Princess Frog” and The Grimm brothers’ “The Frog Prince”, but the title was changed to The Princess and the Frog due to ‘The Frog Princess’ being an old racial slur. This is a story that’s a tad satirical toward past classic tales similar to the movie Enchanted yet finds it own original place that should help make it an instant classic.
From directors John Musker and Ron Clements (Aladdin, Little Mermaid and Hercules), The Princess and the Frog tells the story of a lovely teenage girl Tiana (ANIKA NONI ROSE) living in New Orleans of the early 1920’s with a dream of someday owning her very own restaurant, Tiana’s Place. After the passing of her father, yes another Disney story with only one parent, Tiana’s dream seems unreachable without having enough money to fix up an old falling apart building. Tiana is still determined and hopes that her obnoxiously spoiled diva yet hysterically funny of a best friend Charlotte le Bouff (JENNIFER CODY) will marry Prince Naveen of Maldonia (BRUCE CAMPOS) to help pay to fix up the old hole in the wall.
The prince is however in town to strike a deal with a shady voodoo doctor, our villain of the story, voiced by KEITH DAVID. When the deal goes wrong, the prince is turned into a frog. The prince attempts to become human again by a kiss on the lips with Tiana due to some confusion with a promise to her that he will pay for her restaurant. That kiss takes an unexpected turn causing Tiana to turn into a frog herself where the insane adventures begin on their quest to become human again.
The two frog’s wild and sometimes ludicrous journey is filled with many outrageous obstacles to get where they are headed. Okay, this is something seen in countless movies time and time again, but it doesn’t matter how many movies this takes place in as long as the journey justifies the outcome and we found the characters progressing in the story. Fortunately, The Princess and the Frog manages to pull it off. Their adventure will take them through the mystical bayous of Louisiana to the banks of the Mississippi and back to the French Quarter for Mardi Gras with a little bit of ageless humor and buoyantly cheerful music. Along their journey the Prince and Tiana learn about one another as they get help by a 197-year-old priestess, a hopeless romantic Cajun firefly cleverly named Ray, and a trumpet-playing alligator to help their coming of age story teaching them what they want isn’t what they need.
This is a very charming tale with fantastic music that’s actually a nice change from the typical Disney cheesy sing-a-longs from the past. Instead, the audience is treated to high-energy original themed music very fitting to the time period and setting of the film. It’s very jazzy and upbeat with a sense of soul and gospel; never too much of one way or another allowing the music to appeal to a broader audience. There are the traditional and needed slower songs to share emotion from Tiana’s character and dark somewhat scary music, yet strangely more comically big band jazz music to accompany the villains twisted moments.
The entire film is absolutely gorgeous, just magnificent; truly whimsical when appropriate and lush and colorful at other times. The opening sequence has the great multipane camera shots allowing for multiple background layers and shots zooming in and through trees. The rays of sun sparkle to an almost gold shine lighting up the trees in each shot. Music quickly begins with a musical score by Randy Newman giving it a warm feel to the movie similar to Toy Story or Monsters Inc. which is fine except I have watched too many satires making fun of how he sings ruining it for me a little. Nonetheless, the majority of the time his music is faintly in the background and doesn’t interfere.
I was also nervous about Tiana’s and many other characters stereotypical dialect or accent. From the previews I was a little annoyed by the typical southern black person accent but luckily after a couple minutes of dialogue it begins to mesh well with setting not feeling pushed. Along with an excellent choice for Tiana and Bruce Campos for Prince Naveen, the rest of the voice cast was seemless. There was nothing remarkable, but such characters like Tiana’s friend Charlotte add a great deal to the movie with a very memorable character and several laugh-out-loud “physical” animated comedy moments.
Her rich father who owns sugar mills is voiced by the talented JOHN GOODMAN and actually applies an accent to his voice that tricked me at first into believing it may have been someone else. Goodman has a powerful voice and always brings an excellent addition to a film. All the characters seemed unique and refreshing for a Disney film. I enjoyed all of them including Ray, a redneck like firefly with two remaining teeth. He has some great lines and I hope he’s a character that doesn’t get lost in the Disney archive.
The Princess and the Frog brings a new level to an animated Disney film. It follows more along the lines of Pixar with story and heart and has the charm of the Disney films of the 50’s and early 90’s. It’s finally a film that has an organic feel to it making everything seem natural and not contemporary like most new CGI films of the 2000’s. The film still follows a classic formula set by Disney. Toward the beginning is a Shag styling scene in much remembrance of scenes like “Just Want to be King” in The Lion King or the simplistic less realistic stylized song numbers like “You Got A Friend In Me” in Aladdin or “Be Our Guest” in Beauty and the Beast. There always seem to be one or two of these abstract scenes in almost every one of Disney new animated musicals. This keeps the audience realizing you are watching a dream or an outlandish production number that wouldn’t be realistic in the setting or tone of the rest of the film.
This is a momentous occasion of Disney with the introduction of their first African-American princess that will sure to bring a great new character and role model for young African-American girls to look up to. I’m sure the merchandise will fly off the shelves!
You can argue the Americanization of Disney stories and other factors that have been argued about Disney films for the past 50 to 60 decades, but the point is that this movie has everything the classics have had that lead them to such success. It will surly bring joy to children in theaters across the nation. It’s a throwback to old fairytales the parents grew up with giving plenty enjoyment and new memories for families. I anticipate this to be highly successful not just now, but over the course of the future too. Princess Tiana is now in the Disney Princess line up and I doubt she’s going anywhere.
There really wasn’t anything that let me down with this film except for the lack of reason for the love story to really exist. I say this often, but there was no justification for our leading characters to fall in LOVE so quick. I would have liked to see more in this department as it is a vital part of the moral of the story. Then again, don’t all Disney stories have flaws in them? No excuses though. I just know that everyone in the theater really appeared to enjoy themselves and the children were laughing and paying attention. I welcome The Princess and the Frog to the Disney family.
Disney’s irresistible talking pups are back in SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS, a heartwarming, all-new holiday adventure coming to Blu-ray combo pack and DVD on November 24, 2009 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. The beloved pups take a fantastic journey to the North Pole in an exciting new escapade featuring more new friends, fun, and teamwork than ever before unleashing a stocking full of holiday cheer with a fun-filled film and plenty of never-before-seen bonus material. Perfectly timed for holiday gift giving, SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS is sure to be at the top of everyone’s wish list!
Few things are more appealing, adorable and elicit bigger enthusiasm than man’s best friend. From classic Old Yeller to classy Beverly Hills Chihuahua to animated Bolt, one of Hollywood’s surest ways to delight audiences of all ages lies firmly at the feet of our four-legged friends. Since the 1997 big-screen debut of the sports-minded Golden Retriever star “Buddy,” audiences have thrilled to the high-stakes antics in the AIR BUD movie series with its fantastic sports-themed adventures including basketball, football, soccer, volleyball and even America’s national pastime – baseball!
A quintet of adorable talking puppies followed the “Bud” movies in 2006, with the highly-anticipated launch of the BUDDIES series – and a puppy craze began as AIR BUDDIES became the biggest live-action Direct-To-DVD movie of the year!
Following in those triumphant paw prints, the wise-cracking pups went North to Alaska to compete in a daring dogsled adventure, barking up yet another #1 for 2008, as SNOW BUDDIES crossed the finish line as the best-selling live-action Direct-to-DVD of all time*! Released to Disney DVD in February 2009, SPACE BUDDIES sent the puppies where no dog has gone before, and rocketed another hit into the homes of millions. Now comes SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS, arriving this holiday season on Disney Blu-Ray hi-def and DVD, and sure to be their greatest and most heart warming adventure yet.
“The overwhelming success of each of our ‘Buddies’ adventures really highlights how irresistible Disney Dog movies are and what great family entertainment can be,” said Bob Chapek, President, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. “SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS is destined to become a new holiday classic, securing the Buddies’ place in the long lineage of Disney Dogs.”
In SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS, the lovable “Buddies,” B-Dawg, Budderball, Buddha, Mudbud, and Rosebud embark on a thrilling journey to the magical world of Santa’s Workshop. When Puppy Paws, the fun-loving son of Santa Paws, gets tired of the North Pole, he checks out Santa’s “naughty” list and finds Budderball’s name right on top. Puppy Paws heads south to meet the Buddies and find out how “ordinary” pups spend their days. But when the world begins to forget the true meaning of the holidays and the magic of the season begins to literally melt away, it’s up to Puppy Paws and his newfound Buddies to save the day in another epic adventure. Their extraordinary exploits highlight the importance of collaboration, courage and tradition in a joyous celebration of life and friendship. Sure to be a family favorite for years to come, SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS delivers enough holiday cheer to last a whole year! It’s Buddy-loving fun the whole family will enjoy again and again.
Santa Buddies will entrance young, patient pre-schoolers, but leave most other kids in the cold. Meanwhile, parents will be left suppressing laughs, hiding critical glances, and containing their cynicism. Ah well, at least its Blu-ray release has some value. While its supplemental package is nearly non-existent, it features a decent video transfer and a commendable DTS-HD Master Audio track.
Running just 88 minutes (including credits), Four Christmases feels like little more than an extended sitcom with a movie-star cast. The concept involves a couple, Brad and Kate (Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon), both of whom have divorced parents, who opt to sneak away on vacation every Christmas rather than spend time with their extended families. Through a contrived series of events, their families end up discovering the deception, and they are forced to spend Christmas going from one set of parents to the next, experiencing a total of “Four Christmases.”
By the very nature of the premise, this is an extremely episodic movie. As Brad and Kate go from one household to the next, they are placed in simplistically comical situations. As I said, it feels like a series of sitcom plots; that is, entertaining, but completely devoid of substance. The filmmakers attempt to shoehorn in valuable life-lessons about family, and of course, Brad and Kate evolve as a couple thanks to their experiences. However, none of this really matters in the end. This isn’t a movie you watch in order to learn anything. You watch to laugh, and I have to admit, it does get kind of funny on occasion.
The first Christmas involves Brad’s father and brothers. They are a poor, redneck family, and the dichotomy of this family with the upper-class couple of Brad and Kate ended up being very funny. The gift exchange in this sequence was a comedic high-point for the film, and I loved watching the tension escalate throughout the sequence. Jon Favreau really stands out as Brad’s brother, a tattooed cage-fighter all too eager to violently demonstrate his career.
Lending credibility to this sequence is Robert Duvall as their father. One of many unexpected big names to make an appearance, he is very funny as he watches Brad inadvertently destroy his home. I was really surprised to discover how many big names they were actually able to get. Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon already seem too good for this material, but as the film progressed, I was shocked to see actors such as Jon Voight, Sissy Spacek, etc. begin making appearances. It really is a great cast for such a small, forgettable film.
As Brad and Kate went from one Christmas to the next, I found the formula frustrating. As they go from house to house, they find themselves forced to evaluate their relationship, but I just didn’t believe that the situations they endured would lead to the transformations they end up going through. It all felt very forced and structured in order to lead to an inevitable happy ending. My problem is that they were happy right from the beginning. The problems they discover in their relationship are manufactured by the contrivance of their situation. By the end of the day, when they are essentially different people, it doesn’t feel necessary.
However, none of this should really matter if the movie is entertaining. And it is. It’s a very slight film, instantly forgettable, but kind of fun while watching. This is the kind of movie you would rent when bored, and it would entertain you. However, you would forget you ever saw it ten minutes later. Just as forgettable are the Blu-Ray extras. There is a ten-minute segment that briefly covers the making of only two sequences, and neither segment is all that insightful. There is the HBO First Look that was made for the film. I’ve always disliked these segments, as they never provide any insight into the film, but rather serve as an extended commercial. Another extra is a really lame fake cooking special with celebrity cook Paula Deen. She teams up with one of the redneck characters and they show how to make a “seven layer holiday meal” that is an extension on a joke from the film. It isn’t funny at all. Then there is the usual gag reel, which consists of nothing but people laughing at themselves, and around 7-8 minutes of deleted scenes. I didn’t laugh at a single one, and none of them do anything to enhance the story.
Overall, this movie is nothing but a time-filler. I had a moderately good time, but I would definitely not recommend purchasing the film. If you’ve seen everything else, and you’re really bored, you could do worse. There are occasional laughs, and it can be fun to watch some well-known actors just having a good time. But overall, nobody is going to remember that this ever existed. It will come and go, and be simply a footnote on the careers of everyone involved.
In January of 2011 a new ship will set sail in the Disney fleet. The Dream is a new 1,114 ft behemoth featuring 14 Guest floors adorned with an Art Deco style. This ship is 50 percent longer than any other Disney ship with 1,250 staterooms.
This ship features an on-board water coaster unavailable on any other ship in the cruise industry. Stretching 765 feet and spanning 4 decks the AquaDuck Experience extends over the ship’s edge, 150 feet above water. High powered water jets will accelerate guests up to 20 ft. per second. The AquaDuck also features 335 ft. of river rapids. Guests are whisked through an enclosed tunnel of specialized lighting and magical effects – which can be seen through portholes in the tween club. The majority of the water coaters design is made from a clear acrylic allowing riders a stunning panoramic view. Once night falls, the AquaDuck immerses guests in a unique nighttime experience combining the water coaster with customized lighting.
Other unique family offerings include a higher capacity Walt Disney Theater featuring a new stage show along with the other classic Disney Cruise Line shows. The new Buena Vista Theater will span two decks and offer first-run movies and offers easier access for guests with disabilities. The family pool and Mickey children pool returns along with a 1,022 sq. ft. Arr-cade.
Disney Cruise Line is also offering other brand-new family-friendly innovations aboard the Disney Dream. Around the atrium lobby and throughout the ship, Enchanted Art will surprise guests as seemingly normal paintings come to life before your very eyes. Paintings appearing to be animation cells from classic animated Disney films will appear to be just another photo, but what the guest won’t notice is that it may actually be a framed LCD screen with motion sensing technology that will cause the animation to be activated when a guest stops to look. Scenes will change from day-to-day causing guests to see different animation the next time they see the Enchanted Art.
The Virtual Porthole featured in all the 150 inside staterooms brings another cruise industry first to the Disney Dream. Each Virtual Porthole offers a real-time view via cameras from around the ships exterior. Now all rooms have a “view” with several equipped with magical surprises throughout the day. Guests may see Peach the starfish from Disney/Pixar film Finding Nemo crawl across the “porthole” or even a haunted pirate ghost ship.
For the young ones, there are now five new youth areas divided up for toddlers, children, tweens and teenagers.
It’s a Small World Nursery offers an inviting comfortable space for infants and toddlers ages three months to three years. Parents and children can interact with counselors upon entering creating a relationship from the start.
Disney’s Oceaneer Club, is a 7,610 sq. ft. child-friendly oasis that immerses kids to different magical lands including Andy’s Room, Monster’s Academy, Pixie Hollow and Explorer Pod (inspired by Finding Nemo). The central rotunda with a Never Land theme is the main gathering place and hub. Constellations of Disney characters created with fiber optics light up the ceiling. The focal point is a stage where children can create and star in their own performances or interact with Finding Nemo star Crush, the animated sea turtle, via a 103-inch plasma screen. This living character technology has hit all the Disney resort destinations with attractions like “Turtle Talk”, “Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor” at the Magic Kingdom in Florida, and similar interactive shows featuring Stitch in other locations.
Disney’s Oceaneer Lab will feature more fun adventures for children with Animator’s Studio where children can use their own imagination to create original hand-drawn art or a computer-animated character with help of their counselors. The Sound Studio allows children who dream to be a rock star to create their own music and lyrics, and record it. The Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab are open for 3-to-10-year-old children.
Teens familiar with the Disney Magic or Wonder will be impressed with this 9,000 sq. ft. teen club, Vibe. For ages 14 to 17, this teen-only club allows for a relaxing parentless atmosphere for teens to interact with one another or play some video games, watch movies, or download new music in the media room. Teens will be able to edit videos using the latest programs or just lounge and surf the net via their own WiFi-enabled laptop. Outside, teens have their own private deck equipped with their very own pool and sun bathing area. At night, teens can dance the night away in the club area or take part in talent shows, karaoke contests and dance competitions.
Tween Club, Edge, allows tweens ages 11 to 13 to enjoy a lofty-style space with tons of hi-tech entertainment. There’s a game wall, notebook computers, a lighted dance floor, and photo postcard/video karaoke station for them to take part in.
How about the adults? Where along with great shopping, an adult pool and great family entertainment available in the two theaters, there is also The District. This night time “Pleasure Island” aboard a ship is an adult-exclusive nighttime entertainment space on the Disney Dream. Each venue has its own unique design, look, feel and sound.
The adult venue includes:
District Lounge – sophisticated, yet relaxed area featuring live piano music and entertainment
Metro Pub – warm, welcoming and casual – a modern interpretation of a traditional pub
Pink – an elegant and upscale cocktail lounge serving champagne and top-shelf libations
Skyline – a chic, metropolitan “sky bar” with ever-changing views of stunning city skylines
Evolution – inspired by the evolution of the butterfly, a dynamic, contemporary nightclub
Also available just for adults is the Senses Spa & Salon offering adult’s serenity with 17 private rooms, spa villas with indoor treatment rooms and private outdoor verandahs along with Rainforest, a special section to relax the mind and body.
Palo returns with a new unique design. This adult only restaurant offers beautiful ocean vistas while a pianist serenades guests in this romantic getaway.
Rotational dining remains on this new ship with two new restaurant concepts along with the return of Animator’s Palate.
The rotational dining restaurants include:
Animator’s Palate, a signature Disney Cruise Line restaurant that brings the magic of Disney animation into the dining room for a unique experience that will captivate the entire family.
Royal Palace, an elegant restaurant inspired by the classic Disney films “Cinderella,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Sleeping Beauty.”
Enchanted Garden, a whimsical, casual restaurant inspired by the gardens of Versailles and featuring a dining environment that magically transforms from day to night.
There are quite a few new features and offerings that will be available on the Disney Dream, but to be honest, there are 13 press releases for this new ship and there is no possible way for everything to be put in one article… well at least in one article that someone would want to read all the way through. The Dream is definitely promising to be the competition to beat and with a 4th ship on its way shortly after The Dream debuts, Disney will have one wonderful fleet of ships with more options and itineraries available to cater everyone’s needs.
The Disney Dream will offer three, four, and five-night cruises to the Bahamas and Disney’s private island Castaway Cay, which will also be expanding to accommodate the larger crowds. For more information, check out DisneyCruise.com.
Itineraries Three-, four- and five-night Bahamian itineraries departing from Port Canaveral, Fla.
Main Public Areas Atrium Lobby – Deck 3 Walt Disney Theatre (1,340 capacity, 8,708 sf) – Decks 3 and 4 Buena Vista Theatre (399 capacity, 5,188 sf) – Decks 4 and 5 Broadway Treats / Hollywood & Wine concessions – Deck 3 Bon Voyage atrium lobby bar – Deck 3 Vista Café – Deck 4 Shutters (Capturing Memories) – Deck 4 Vista Gallery art gallery – Deck 4 Guest Services – Deck 3 Port Adventures – Deck 5
Family Areas D Lounge – Deck 4 AquaDuck water coaster Donald Pool family pool – Deck 11 Mickey Pool children’s pool – Deck 11 Arr-cade (1,022 sf) – Deck 11 Mickey’s Mainsail, Sea Treasures, Whitecaps retail shops – Deck 3 Whozits & Whatzits retail shop – Deck 11
Last November, I wrote a pretty scathing review of the seventh season of Scrubs. It pained me to watch one of my favorite comedies devolve into the mess it had become, but I tried to remain positive. I ended my review with the hope that the writers would find a “new level of creativity that has been long missing,” and that they “remember to be funny while they are doing it.” Well, I am thrilled to say that they succeeded on both counts.
A large part of this improvement can be attributed to all the new characters. This season found a new group of interns joining the Sacred Heart staff, and in a perfect example of a show coming full circle, the characters that began the show as interns eight years ago must now train the new batch. As well as providing a thematically perfect season, these new additions also proved to be a hilarious group of comic foils for the leads to play off. All the interns were cliched stereotypes on the surface (the tough one, the peppy one, etc.), but there was a depth to them that was unexpected and thoroughly entertaining. As the season went along, they became real characters, and I found myself just as involved in their stories as those of the leads.
Now don’t get me wrong, this season isn’t perfect. Every year, Scrubs has a gimmick episode (the musical, the sitcom, the fantasy, etc.) and this season found the gang in the Bahamas. This two-part episode was painfully unfunny, and although it tried to acknowledge the ridiculousness of the situation with several references to a similarly themed Brady Bunch episode, the whole thing fell flat. Coming right in the middle of the season, it didn’t fit with the rest of the year.
One of the longest extras on the newly released Season 8 Blu-Ray is a documentary about the filming of this “very special episode” in the Bahamas. They acknowledge the ridiculousness of the whole premise, but seemed to genuinely think they were making a hilarious episode. They weren’t. Interestingly, the biggest feature on the Season 7 release was also a documentary about their gimmick episode (a Monty Python-esque fantasy), and it too was pretty bland. While I love the show, the Blu-Ray extras could definitely be more compelling.
Having said that, I did enjoy the Webisodes included on the disc. They feature the interns (in case you can’t tell, I really like this group), and while they do include cameos from the principal cast, they also showcase the ability of these characters to carry their own show. There are rumors about a possible spin-off, and I really hope we get that show someday.
The Blu-Ray also includes some mildly funny bloopers, deleted scenes, etc. Overall, it’s a solid set, but I thought this great season deserved a better release. I should also note that the Season (series?) finale is one of the most perfect endings to a sitcom I have ever seen. I don’t want to give anything away, but it is a beautiful ending; artistic and emotionally satisfying. It gives closure to all of the main characters in an incredibly moving way. Any desire I had for another season was immediately removed after this, and I really hope that we get to remember seeing these characters for the last time in this perfect ending.
