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.
On November 17, Warner Home Video (WHV) will honor the romantic epic with a stunningly restored and remastered version, available for the first time on Blu-ray™. Gone with the Wind 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collectors Edition is sure to be a “must-have” for collectors of classic films, available both in Blu-ray as well as on DVD.
Gone with the Wind is the grandest, most ambitious and spectacular piece of filmmaking in cinematic history. With more than 50 speaking roles and 2400 extras, the film is the quintessential Hollywood epic – considered a “must have” for collectors, and one that can be watched again and again for generations to come.
Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard and Olivia de Havilland star in Gone with the Wind, which for more than a half century has thrilled audiences with its eternal love affair, set in the South against the backdrop of the Civil War, between handsome Rhett Butler (Gable) and his sassy, headstrong heroine Scarlett O’Hara (Leigh). With each new generation, Gone with the Wind continues to grow in popularity as new audiences discover and embrace the David O. Selznick production of Margaret Mitchell’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.
The movie is part of today’s pop culture. With memorable scenes and unforgettable dialogue, this movie is timeless. The burning of Atlanta, the long staircase in Scarlett O’Hara’s house, Tara, Scarlet wearing a dress made of draperies, and many more scenes are embedded in the minds of movie lovers.
Scarlett’s statements of “As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again,” “Fiddle-dee-dee,” “I’ll think about that tomorrow,” and “Tomorrow is another day” are engrained in the memories of fans. Prissy’s unforgettable utterance of “I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout birthin’ babies,” is a line which no on who has seen the film can forget. And finally, Rhett Butler had some treasured lines, including telling Scarlett, “You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how,” which melts the hearts of female viewers. But his most memorable line is part of movie history. “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” This one line caught the attention of moviegoers seventy years ago, when no swear words had been uttered on the big screen.
TWO DISC DVD SPECIAL FEATURES Disc 1 The Movie, Part 1
· Remastered feature with Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio
· Commentary by historian Rudy Behlmer
DISC 2 The Movie, Part 2
· Remastered feature
· Commentary by historian Rudy Behlmer
· Offer for a numbered Limited Edition copy of the Original 1939 Poste
Ho, ho, heyooo! Christmas is nearly here and the Paddy’s gang has got the spirit. Well, not really. For them, the holidays have always been a time of trickery, backstabbing, and disappointment. But this year things are going to be different as they are determined to rediscover the joy in Christmas. Join Mac, Charlie, Dennis, Dee and Frank as they embark on a holiday adventure filled with stolen toys, childhood videos, naked elves and a bloody run in with Santa Claus that is guaranteed to blast Christmas spirit all over!
‘Tis the season to be ill-suited. Pop open a bottle and toast to the most deviant, offensive and unwholesome bar owners in “Philly” as they celebrate the holidays in the raunchiest way possible when the never-before-seen It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas exclusively debuts on Blu-ray Disc and DVD November 17 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Compared to “Seinfeld” as one of the most obscene hilarious shows on television, “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” combines crude humor with brilliantly unwholesome commentary while touching on highly controversial topics such as politics, abortion and terrorism, in a way that gives “pushing the limits” a new meaning. In the first never-before-seen feature length comedy, follow Mac, Charlie, Dennis, Frank and Dee as they spread their Christmas spirit with inappropriate childhood videos, a bloody encounter with Santa Claus and all the over-the-top, twisted and politically incorrect behavior the city of brotherly love can handle.
With its fifth season set to premiere September 17, the unconventional original series produced by FX Productions, starring creators and writers Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day, as well as comedy legend Danny Devito (“Taxi”) and fan-favorite Kaitlin Olsen, has continued to gain a hardcore fan base with a strong cult following since the series premiere in 1995 and is now up 97% in ratings since its first season.
The special is very funny and even includes a “Rankin/Bass” type of sequence. Rankin/Bass Productions did the old Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman stop-motion animation specials of the 1960s and this sequence is an episode highlight.
The special runs 43 minutes so it’s basically a double length episode with a bigger budget, more profanity, and on the downside there’s Danny DeVito’s naked butt on the screen.
The extras include a few deleted scenes of young Mac and Charlie, an under 10-minute behind the scenes featurette which could have been a bit longer, and a sing-along. It would have been nice to have commentary since this episode is a bit different than anything the series has done before. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia: “A Very Sunny Christmas” is definitely worth your viewing time.
The It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas Blu-ray Disc and DVD include behind the scenes footage of the cast and crew as they transform Paddy’s Pub into a winter wonderland, home videos of the gang as children celebrating the holidays and a Christmas Carol “Sunny Sing-A-Long.”
Clerks, Chasing Amy and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back are all wildly different films thematically. And yet writer/director Kevin Smith has such a unique voice they all feel as if they belong together. They’re not just connected by recurring characters, but by his style of filmmaking and ear for dialogue. By releasing all three of these films together on Blu-Ray in the “Kevin Smith 3-Movie Collection,” Miramax has given fans the opportunity to revisit the world of these films, enhancing the connection between them while emphasizing the stylistic differences.
Fifteen years ago, Kevin Smith made his introduction into the world of pop-culture with Clerks, an extremely vulgar, low-budget black and white film. This was independent filmmaking at it’s best. Filled with memorable characters and quotable dialogue, Smith began developing a cult following.
As time went on, he became more and more mainstream. He still had the voice of an independent filmmaker, but he was branching out into the mainstream. Chasing Amy was given a huge release (compared to Clerks), and it felt more like a standard romantic comedy. Smith got Ben Affleck to star in this film of a comic-book artist that falls in love with a lesbian. Affleck tends to do some of his best work in Smith’s films, and this is no exception. Unlike Clerks’ tale of a day in the life of slackers, Chasing Amy attempted to push the audience emotionally. There was a heart to the film, and while it wasn’t any less vulgar than his previous work, it felt decidedly more adult.
Going in the opposite direction, he eventually went on to make his silliest film to date, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. While Smith’s films are all rooted in a solid understanding of pop-culture, this film has the highest degree of pop-culture satire. Smith uses these characters to have a lot of fun at Hollywood’s expense. As any Smith fan knows, Jay and Silent Bob are two recurring characters who show up in many of his films. Silent Bob is even played by Smith himself. Unlike Chasing Amy, this film is pure slapstick. It exists strictly to make you laugh, and at this he definitely succeeds. By far the most slapstick of the group, I personally think this is the most entertaining of the three. Featuring a ton of great cameos, including a fantastic turn by Will Ferrell, this movie is ridiculously stupid, but thoroughly entertaining.
This is really a great set for any fan of these films. The transfers look and sound terrific on Blu-Ray, and there are a ton of extras on each disc. While Clerks definitely has the most bonus material, followed by Chasing Amy, the least amount of extras is on Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. All that is included on this disc is a commentary track with Smith, producer/editor Scott Mosier and Jason Mewes (who plays Jay). However, there is a making of this film on the disc for Clerks. I don’t know why they didn’t put it on the actual film itself, but even with the feature on Clerks and the documentary on the actual disc, there still isn’t a lot of material.
On the other hand, Clerks has a lot of extra material. Unfortunately, most of this footage has been available on previous DVD releases of the film; however, if you don’t already own that DVD, it is a great collection of footage. There are various cuts of the film, as well as various commentary tracks. Other features include cut scenes, a Q&A session, short films, a music video, the trailer, original auditions, outtakes, etc. It really is a packed disc.
While the disc for Chasing Amy doesn’t have as much material as Clerks, it has the most new footage of the three. There is a new documentary called “Tracing Amy,” as well as a Q&A session with the cast 10 years after the release. There is also a newly recorded commentary track w/ Smith and producer Scott Mosier. However, some of the other extras have been released previously. These include deleted scenes, outtakes, and the trailer.
Overall, if you are a fan of Kevin Smith, and specifically these movies, than the box set is definitely worth picking up. This collection is the best these films have ever looked, and despite the fact that not all of the extras are new, it’s still a really strong batch of material. Going through all three of these films, you really get a sense of Smith as a filmmaker. While he’s always had a strong voice, it’s really developed since his debut. There are other great Kevin Smith movies out there (Dogma, for example), but this is still a terrific sampling, and a fantastic showcase of his growth over the years.
Sacha Baron Cohen (the creator and star of Borat) returns to the big screen in the hilarious adventures of Austria’s favorite fashionista, Brüno. In this gleefully anarchic mockumentary, the flamboyant television host loses his homeland talk show, “Funkyzeit,” and does what any self-respecting wannabe would do—he moves to Hollywood to pursue worldwide super-stardom. From worlds of fashion and entertainment to the military, Brüno puts his worst foot forward as Baron Cohen fearlessly tramples the boundaries of good taste in ways that confound celebrities and just plain folks alike. Fans of Baron Cohen’s gonzo comedy can look forward to an hour’s worth of hysterical scenes not shown in theaters on both the DVD and Blu-ray versions.
The inimitable prankster Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan) launches another inspired comedy offensive in the boisterous Brüno, coming to Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def and DVD on November 17, 2009 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.
As in the hugely popular Borat, Sacha Baron Cohen once again creates improvised pandemonium, this time as an Austrian TV host searching for fame and fortune in America, ensnaring everyone he meets in hilariously unpredictable, unscripted and unsuspecting ways.
There are a few moments in Bruno in which Cohen manages to recapture the psychological experimentation that made Borat work so well. He does a great gag with furniture that really makes you wonder what people are thinking but also reminds you of how easy it is to make people do things that are obviously wrong. Some of it is shock value or shock’s sake and the whole “OJ” bit doesn’t really work.
The DVD has a wealth of terrific extras. The commentary from director Larry Charles and Cohen is nothing short of astounding. The duo comment on all the scenes, pulling back the curtain to detail what is real and how the movie was shot. It’s easily the best commentary of the year. There are also close to an hour of deleted and extended scenes, many of them extremely funny.
Bitingly funny, sometimes cringe-inducing, and always amusing, Bruno’s the best comedy of the year so far, and the DVD is a must-have. It comes highly recommended.
BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TO BLU-RAY™ HI-DEF: Exclusive Video Commentary with Sacha Baron Cohen and Director Larry Charles BD-LIVE — Allows viewers to connect to the Internet and access new and exciting exclusive online and interactive features, including My Scenes Sharing and My Chat.
BONUS FEATURES (DVD AND BLU-RAY™ HI-DEF): An hour of Alternative, Deleted and Extended Scenes not shown in theaters Enhanced Commentary – Hear in depth stories for selected scenes from Sacha Baron Cohen and director Larry Charles. An Interview with Hollywood Agent Lloyd Robinson – Get the story behind Brüno’s real Hollywood agent.
It can be really difficult to identify that fine line in every film that separates earned emotion from simple manipulation. By it’s very nature, My Sister’s Keeper is designed as a tear-jerker. The premise alone is designed to provoke a reaction, and while director/co-writer Nick Cassavetes (The Notebook) successfully mines the material for all that it’s worth, I’m not entirely sure the film itself deserves the emotions that it is going for.
The setup is relatively intriguing. Kate Fitzgerald is dying of leukemia, so her parents have another child, genetically manipulated to be a perfect match for Kate. But what happens when this daughter, Anna, sues for medical emancipation, and in essence decides to let her sister die? And what exactly is Anna’s motivation? This is powerful material, and as the film got underway I found myself genuinely interested in the legal aspects of the case, and the way that the characters would undoubtedly unravel in this situation.
Unfortunately, Cassavetes lets the film run away from him, and tangles up what could have been a fascinating, albeit straightforward, narrative with clumsy flashbacks of the family and their struggles to deal with the cancer itself. I can appreciate his attempts to flesh out the dynamics of the family, and to give us the conflicting points of view, but this is where I felt the manipulation coming in. At any given moment, everybody is happy, then sad, then angry, etc. It all seems predetermined to the point of distraction, designed for maximum emotional reaction.
That being said, every single actor in this film shines. Cameron Diaz gives a career-best performance as the mother forced to deal with not only a dying daughter, but also a daughter that she feels is betraying her family. I’ve always admired Diaz, but I’ve never been this impressed with her. You can feel her character’s desperation as she struggles to retain control of her situation. Also impressive is Jason Patric, in a fantastically subtle performance as the father. And I can’t say enough good things about the performances from Abigail Breslin as Anna, and Sofia Vassilieva as Kate. Their characters go through so much in this film that it’s unbelievable when you realize these actors are just kids. I completely bought their performances; they made these characters real. Other standouts include Alec Baldwin as Anna’s attorney, and a fantastic performance from Joan Cusack as the judge dealing with the loss of her own daughter.
Cassavetes may have let the story run away from him, but he has a great eye for visuals. He knows how to frame and light a scene to visually convey the emotions he wants us to feel. Some of this work is very subtle, especially in regards to the background lighting. There are moments when you don’t even realize what he is doing, but when you pull yourself back and actually look at the scene, there is a lot of fantastic imagery occurring.
The newly released Blu-Ray is, as expected, the best way to view these images. While this isn’t the type of movie that needs to be seen with the best picture and sound, the disc still looks and sounds great. However, there aren’t a lot of extras in this set. This isn’t really the type of film that would need a lot of bonus features, so I didn’t really feel shortchanged with the limited material. There are over 15 minutes of deleted scenes, but beyond that, the only extra is a featurette on Jodi Picoult, the author of the book on which the film is based. It’s moderately interesting to see the author discuss her process and what it took to get her material adapted for the screen, but overall it’s a short little piece that isn’t really necessary viewing.
There was a lot of potential in this story. Everytime the story got away from the lawsuit, I found myself waiting for them to go back there. While the flashbacks do provide insight into these characters, I found most of these sequences excessive, and detracting from the actual focus of the film. I really did find myself drawn into the story and these characters. I just wish Cassavetes let us form our own emotions, and that he didn’t feel the need to essentially instruct the audience as to what to feel, and when to feel it. This is almost a great movie, but by not letting us feel for ourselves, it just misses the mark.
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. during a special panel at San Diego Comic-Con unveiled an all-new dynamic lineup inspired by iconic franchises including Super Mario, The...
