American Teen takes the reality-TV craze to the big screen. Director Nanette Burstein premise was that all the oddball teen comedies and dramas we’ve grown up watching (like Breakfast Club or Animal House) are based on some shared reality that all high school student face. After searching a number of towns, she settled on a small town in Indiana and followed five students around every day for their whole senior year. The film invites us to enter the lives of these strangers, people we probably wouldn’t normally meet or care about, to see how their experience is similar or different from our own.
Surprisingly (or maybe not), the lives of these students reflect the same type of stereotyped characters we’ve seen in cinema for years. There is Colin Clemens, the jock, who is the star of the town’s basketball team and is relying on a basketball scholarship to avoid his only alternative—the army. We also meet Megan Krizmanich, the popular girl who is wealthy, beautiful, and feeling lots of family pressure to get accepted to Notre Dame where her father and siblings went for college. There is also Hannah Bailey, the artsy girl who is a beautiful misfit with her liberal atheist views in this conservative Christian town. She dreams of moving to San Francisco to study film, but first she needs to not get expelled from school. There is Mitch Reinholt, the school heartthrob who is interested in Hannah, but worries about how she will click with his group of friends. Finally, there is Jake Tusing, the shy loner with a greasy face who is socially awkward with everyone, not just girls.
Since every day of their senior year was filmed, one can only imagine how difficult is must have been for the director to make choices on what to keep and lose (though lots of deleted scenes exist on the DVD). The heavily edited narrative does a good job keeping the story interesting with the constant drama of high school relationships and pressures, but we also unfortunately fail to learn anything new about today’s generation of youth.
The national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s popular musical, Cats, is back for another visit to the Orange County Performing Arts Center.Having never seen the show, I wasn’t sure what to expect upon entering the theater.The place looked like a dump.Literally.The stage was creatively themed with oversized trash like old rusted washing machines, tires, and other items like giant Christmas tree lights flowed from the stage out into the theater.Turns out the story takes place in a junkyard and the human audience gets to see everything from the perspective of a cat.
The plot is suppose to be based on the poems in T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, but anything resembling a traditional plot of beginning, middle and end was never found.I spent most of Act I trying to figure out what the heck the musical was about.This surely doesn’t mean what I was seeing wasn’t enjoyable.We are introduced to the Jellicle tribe of cats and each cat sings a song to introduce them, giving us a glimpse into their personality.I’ve never owned a cat, but the cat lovers in the audience seemed to shake their heads in agreement that cats behave this way.The last cat to be introduced is Old Deuteronomy, the old patriarch of the group who will get to choose which cat gets to go up to the Heaviside Layer (whatever that is).The highlight of Act I is the last song called “The Jellicle Ball” in which all the cats sing, dance and display their powers.Gillian Lynne expertly choreographs this number as these fit dancers move with precision and in unison on the stage.
A resemblance of a traditional plot finally appears in Act II, which introduces a few more cats including the evil villain known as Macavity.This cat captures Old Deuteronomy and takes him away.The cats then introduce us to the magical cat known as Mr. Mistoffelees, who succeeds in bringing back Old Deuteronomy.Finally, as the musical comes to a close, Old Deuteronomy must make his selection as to which cat gets to go up to the Heaviside Layer.A cat named Grizabella appears and sings the famous song “Memory,” which secures her selection as the chosen cat.In what was one of many impressive special effects throughout this production, Grizabella sings while riding on a magically floating tire up into the sky.The final, humorous number called “The Ad-dressing of Cats” gives the human audience some advice on how to speak and interact with cats in the future using what they learned that evening at the show.
Overall, the plot was difficult to follow, but who really cares.Where the production lacks in story, it exceeds in music, costumes, lighting, and effects.The cast was dressed and transformed into human-sized cats using some of the most stunningly beautiful costumes seen on the stage.The lighting design was innovative and eye pleasing.It’s not surprising that this twenty-five year old Broadway hit won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Lighting and Best Costumes.This really is a family spectacle that adults and kids alike should not miss.
Cats is playing December 16-21, 2008 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.
Based on the book by John Krakauer, Into The Wild is director Sean Penn’s drama about the real life travels of Christopher McCandless (an amazing performance by Emile Hirsch). We follow him as he shuns a privileged life for one of adventure, struggle and danger out in the wild. The film is visually incredible and a good reason for fans to own it on Blu Ray, but the story does ramble on a little too long and fails in its attempt to portray this kid as a hero, when he is more likely a loon. Still, nature lovers will enjoy the journey.
COACH CARTER
This is another inspirational sports flick along the lines of Hoosiers or Remember The Titans to add to your collection. It tells the true story of former basketball hot-shot Ken Carter who returns to coach at his lower-class high school. He tries to teach the team respect for the sport as well as themselves by drawing up a contract that requires them to maintain a 2.3 GPA, sit in the front of class and wear a tie on game day. As the season goes on the team starts a winning streak, but their grades also begin to slide. Maintaining that education is the highest priority, Coach Carter holds his end of the bargain by locking up the gym and cancelling practice and games until the students raise their grades. This causes a media frenzy with students, parents and the school board getting upset. Will they force Coach Carter to allow the games or will the students take it upon themselves to get their grades up? Despite the predictable ending, Samuel L. Jackson gives a strong performance and the message is a good one. The Blu Ray looks good (the print had some artifacts on it), but the sound mix is great. A particularly interesting special feature besides a music video and deleted scenes is the documentary “The Man behind the Movie” about the real life Ken Carter. Sports fans may want to own this, but most people should at least give it a look as a rental.
OLD SCHOOL (UNRATED)
The 1978 teen comedy Animal House sparked a wave of low-budget college comedies about drugs, sex and rebellion against authority. Most of the copycats failed because they lacked characters college kids could somewhat relate to, but Old School at least comes close. The story is about a guy named Mitch (Luke Wilson) who just lost his girlfriend and is about to lose his house, so his married friends (Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn) have the idea of turning the house into a fraternity to relive their college glory days before the house is gone. All three actors manage to create some likable (though pathetic) three-dimensional characters that provide us with a lot of humor. Will Ferrel’s portrayal of the aging Frank offers some interesting insight, while also offering some go-for-broke zaniness that had me rolling with laughter. The picture looks good on Blu Ray and the audio is basically the typical stereo mix found in most comedies (rear speakers rarely used), and the special features (while good) are what we’ve seen before on the DVD release. There is an audio commentary with director Todd Phillips and the star-studded cast. There is also Will Ferrel’s “Inside The Actor’s Studio” spoof as well as some funny deleted scenes and bloopers. Overall, this is a tastelessly fun comedy that college students (and those who wish they still were) will enjoy.
THE HEARTBREAK KID
The Farrelly Brothers are the masters of gross-out comedy. In this film they re-teamed with their There’s Something About Mary star Ben Stiller to deliver another twisted tail of a character struggling in love. After years of sitting at the single’s table at weddings, he finally meets a girl named Lila (played by the beautiful and quirky Malin Akerman) who seems too-good-to-be-true. It’s only after they marry, while on their honeymoon, that her true colors come through. She actually volunteers for her job, is in debt, and has a problem with her nose that causes severe nosebleeds. This leads Ben Stiller’s character Eddie to reconsider things with Lila and start pursuing another woman named Miranda he meets while on his honeymoon. Unfortunately, the laughs aren’t any funnier in high definition. A few scenes will have you rolling, but ultimately the story’s gross-out, but predictable humor may only justify a rental rather than owning for repeat viewing.
TOMMY BOY
I miss the late Chris Farley. This was essentially his first lead role in a film (after many smaller film roles and success on Saturday Night Live) and he is in top form. This story follows daddy’s boy Tommy and his smarmy friend Richard in their road trip across the USA as they try to sell enough break pads to keep his now deceased father’s company in operation. The interaction between Chris Farley and co-star David Spade ranks up there with other comedy duos like Laurel & Hardy. Every scene has at least one nugget of hilarious dialogue such as “Fat guy in a little coat” or “shut up Richard!” For a comedy, there is also a lot of heart about this kid who misses his dad and his friend Richard who doesn’t know how to be a good friend. The Blu Ray contains an audio commentary from director Peter Segal along with four featurettes. An enjoyable piece was “Growing Up Farley” that has his two brothers sharing childhood stories about Chris. Also, there are deleted and extended scenes that show Chris Farley’s improv skill. This movie was a favorite of mine in high school and is still memorable today.
HOT ROD
Saturday Night Live actor Andy Samberg stars as Rod Kimble, an aspiring stuntman trying to emulate and live up to the reputation of his father, who was the hidden genius behind Evel Knievel. To make his father issues worse, he is constantly getting beat up by his stepfather who refuses to respect him until he can fight back. When the stepfather Frank discovers he is suffering from a life-threatening illness, Rod hatches a plan to sell tickets to a death-defying hot rod stunt in order to raise money to provide an operation that would save his stepfather, all so he can have one last chance to beat him up and earn his respect. Unfortunately, at 87 minutes, this film feels very long. The opening scene has Rod falling off a moped and running his face into the ground. A variation on this unfunny joke is repeated numerous times in the film. The transfer to Blu Ray looks average. Special features include an audio commentary with the director as well as deleted scenes and outtakes. There is little reason to suggest you buy this “comedy” that fails to produce any real laughs.
While 2005’s The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe was a magical treat for young children, Prince Caspian appeals to slightly older children and manages to exceed the first film, surpassing it in every conceivable way.
The story find the Pevensie kids returning to Narnia 1300 years after they last left it.The once great kingdom has been conquered by humans known as the Telmarines and Aslan the Lion is nowhere to be found. When Prince Caspian’s life is threatened by his power-hungry uncle Miraz, he flees to the forest and is given an instrument that summons the kings and queens of old…the Pevensie kids.
They must work together and with the animals of Narnia to fight back against his uncle’s army.In the story we see Peter become a stronger leader, Susan start to show an interest in love, Edmund actually acting unselfish and discerning, and Lucy having the faith needed to finally summon Aslan to the rescue.
The special effects, while impressive, have been seen before in other fantasy films like Lord of the Rings.The fight sequence between Peter and the evil King Miraz is rough and fun to watch.There is plenty of humor, sometimes among the children, but mostly among the animals like the proud mouse Reepicheep.
On Blu Ray, this movie is technically near flawless.The forest looks so clear that I could pause the screen and think it was a window to my backyard.The sound design makes great use of surround sound, especially during the epic battle sequences and the train that transports the crashes through the subway station to take the kids to Narnia.
Bonus features on the DVD include the following:
Creating The Castle Raid has director Andrew Adamson prefacing this interactive feature by showing how the sets were built, how the action scene was filmed and how the digital effects were added.You are then given the option to watch the action sequence repeatedly with your choice of ten different audio commentaries that each give a unique perspective on how the scene was accomplished, from make-up to lighting to stunt work.
Audio Commentary with director Andrew Adamson and the five main kid actors.
Inside Narnia: The Adventure Begins contains 35 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage with the crew.
Sets of Narnia contains 20 minutes explaining how difficult it was to design the sets when the book barely mentions what the world looks like.
Big Movie Comes to a Small Town contains 20 minutes of hilarious interviews and behind-the-scenes footage with the people of Bovec, Slovania where interior sets were filmed.
Becoming Trumpkin contains five minutes with the veteran little people actor Peter Dinklage cracking one joke after another while discussing his role in the film.
There are more special features, including a third disc that contains a standard definition version of the film that people can load on their computers on iPod.
After critics and fans maligned the sixth season of 24, which was full of recycled clichés such as Beltway power players pulling the strings of the terrorists and moles inside CTU, some people wondered if the show had lost its creative edge.Due to the Hollywood writer’s strike, we haven’t heard from Jack Bauer since May 2007.The TV execs knew that Jack had a lot more riding on his shoulder with this TV movie than just the normal terrorist threat—he must prove that this great show still had fresh ideas.
24: Redemption is a two-hour, real-time telemovie.One of the best and most shocking changes in the 24 storytelling is the shift from Los Angeles (I guess the terrorists have finally learned to steer clear of CTU in this area) to Africa, which will prepare viewers for another shift as the upcoming seventh season takes places in Washing DC.
In the movie, Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) has tried to escape his past by running away to the fictional country of Sangala in Africa.He is staying low and escaping USA subpoenas by helping out at an orphanage for Sangala boys founded by his old special forces pal Carl Benton (Robert Carlyle).Turns out Sangala is a politically unstable place.A warlord has secretly been kidnapping and brainwashing boys into warriors for his army.24 never shys away from brutal violence and one scene has a boy using a long knife to kill an adult as part of his training.In order to prevent the orphanage boys from being forced into the army, Jack and Carl must get them to the American embassy.
Back in the states, the recently ousted President Noah Daniels (Powers Boothe) is trying to manage the Sangala crisis while also working on a peaceful transition with the President-elect Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones) who has different ideas on how the situation should be handled despite not yet having the authority to implement them.It is interesting to note that the first few seasons of 24 was ahead of the curve in portraying an African-American as President of the United States and now they will have a female President for the upcoming season.
The action sequences are on par with what we’ve come to expect.The humor is also there, with a hilarious scene having Jack Bauer tell the useless United Nations peace worker “why don’t you go hide in the shelter with the rest of the children?”It is also full of emotion, as Jack tries to help his close friend and the African children he has come to love.Consider the series 24 completely redeemed.
I’ve been a fan of Stephen Colbert for a long time, so I may be biased, but this DVD was really funny.Stephen has made a career out of lampooning people and things.Every weeknight on Comedy Central he poses as a mock-conservative commentator (like Bill O’Reilly) and bloviates to America by using his gut, not by using facts.He has made fun of the book publishers and a host of other issues with his successful book I Am America: And So Can You.Now he has chosen to tackle the traditional network TV show holiday special.
The plot is that while heading to his New York film studio to shoot his Christmas special with Elvis Costello, he becomes trapped in cabin located in “bear country” (and if you watch his TV show, you’ll know how much he hates bears).Even though he can’t seem to get out of his cabin, a number of his friends are able to stop by and visit him.
Country music star Toby Keith stops by and sings a song called “Have I Got A Present For You.”Willie Nelson appears in a hullucination as a character next to baby Jesus in the manger and sings a song called “The Little Dealer Boy.”Colbert’s former boss Jon Stewart from The Daily Show stops by to try and persuade Colbert to become Jewish with the song “Can I Interest You In Hanukkah?”The American soul singer John Legend sings a duet with Colbert about “Nutmeg.” The Canadian singer Feist sings “Please Be Patient.”The whole gang together sings “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding.”Finally, Colbert sings “There Are Much Worse Things To Believe In.”
A running gag is that every time the mostly male guests drops in for a visit Colbert points out “Oh look, we’re under the Mistletoe. Well, this is awkward.”The songs are clever, though they are filmed in front of a cheesy green screen, which actually may add to the hilarity of it all.Overall, this Christmas parody was a good effort by the Colbert team, though it did struggle to entertain for a full hour, but isn’t that the case with most network Christmas specials?
The DVD is a great stocking stuffer for a fan of Colbert.Highlights include some funny alternate endings (including an encounter with a bear), a video of a book burning Yule log that viewers can use on TV sets in their home in place of a real fire, and a video Advent calendar containing shorts videos that you can watch every day to prepare your hearts along with Stephen Colbert for the coming of Jesus on Christmas Day.
The interior of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, long closed to guests, will “reawaken” in time for Thanksgiving. A vibrant new version of the classic walkthrough attraction features colorful scenes of Aurora, her gallant prince, the evil Maleficent and other characters from the beloved fairy tale film. This revived Sleeping Beauty Castle “show” differs from the window-display dioramas which could be seen in the castle during the 1980s and ’90s. It takes its inspiration from the unique style of the original Disneyland castle walkthrough attraction of 1957, co-designed by animation art director and color stylist Eyvind Earle, who was credited with giving the motion picture “Sleeping Beauty” its distinctive and colorful look of storybook illustrations in medieval style.
Enhanced with new scenes and special-effects magic, the re-Imagineered attraction employs technology not available in the 1950s to tell the story of Sleeping Beauty, including the magic of good fairies Flora, Fauna and Merryweather, and the more sinister spells of the evil Maleficent.
For the first time, guests who are unable to climb stairs or navigate the passageways of the Castle will be able to experience the walkthrough “virtually” in a special room on the ground floor of the Castle.
As the 2008 holiday season approaches, Disneyland Resort offers magical gift ideas for all ages. The Resort gift list includes toys, dolls, collectible art and unique items such as personalized mouse ears and toy light sabers. Shoppers can find everything from stocking stuffers to the ultimate gift for a Disneyland fan: the Disneyland Resort Annual Passport.
The Annual Passport is an ideal and practical gift for anyone who visits the Resort more than two or three times per year … or would like to! The gift of a Disneyland Resort Annual Passport will enable the recipients – family members, friends and Disney fans in general – to celebrate throughout the year with the magic of Disneyland Resort.
Along with admission to Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure, the gift of an Annual Passport entitles the Passholder to attend special Annual Passholder events, enjoy discounts at many Resort food locations and Downtown Disney vendors, take advantage of special rates at Disneyland Resort hotels, and receive regular updates on new events and Annual Passholder benefits through the exclusive Annual Passholder Web site, the collectible “Backstage Pass” newsletter and e-mail. In 2008, Annual Passholder benefits included exclusive opportunities to preview the new Toy Story Mania and Innoventions Dream Home attractions, the Pixar Play Parade and the one-of-a-kind Disneyland Dream Suite.
Disneyland Resort offers an Annual Pass option for every lifestyle and budget. The Premium Annual Passport is valid every day of the year. Other Annual Passports have “blockout dates” but entitle the bearer to purchase discounted “blockout day” tickets.
• The $134 Southern California Select Annual Passport (for California residents living in zip codes 90000-93599) offers 170 pre-selected days of admission to Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure. • The $174 Southern California Annual Passport (for California residents living in zip codes 90000-93599) offers 215 pre-selected days of admission. • The $269 Deluxe Annual Passport offers 315 pre-selected days of admission. • The $389 Premium Annual Passport offers daily admission to both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure and includes parking in the Mickey & Friends parking structure off Disneyland Drive. Premium Annual Passholders also enjoy special discounts at many Resort food and merchandise locations. (Passholders of the Southern California Select, Southern California and Deluxe Annual Passports may purchase a $59 annual parking pass for Mickey & Friends.)
Disneyland Resort Annual Passports may be purchased at Disneyland Resort ticket booths or online at www.disneyland.com.
More Gift Ideas – Shopping at Disneyland Resort
From the long-established Disneyland Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A., to the numerous specialty shops in Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure, Downtown Disney and the Resort hotels, Disneyland Resort offers many options for the holiday shopper.
Personalized Mouse Ears and Tomorrowland Light Sabers can be fashioned especially for that Disneyland or Star Wars fan. Design your own Light Saber grip and select the color of your energy beam! Limited-edition holiday plush toys and bean bag toys will be available for holiday gift-giving, including Mickey and Minnie beanies in holiday attire embroidered with holiday messages. An all-new line of Princesses and their pets premiers in November, featuring plush versions of Cinderella with her dog Bruno, Jasmine with her tiger Rajah, etc. Specially designed pens, PokitPals (to carry pills and other small objects), collectible pins and Disney’s Wild Racers (“Cars With Character”) will make ideal stocking-stuffers.
For the serious Disney fan and collector, there are limited-edition holiday art works, the annual holiday edition Marie Osmond doll, and Vinylmation “mystery pins,” available only at Disney theme parks in a variety of offbeat character designs.
Each of the shops at Downtown Disney will have its own holiday offerings. As usual, Disney Vault 28 will be on the cutting edge with apparel and accessories by jewelry designer Tarina Tarantino, Billy Martin (guitarist for Good Charlotte) and others.
Holiday season 2008 is just one of many highlights at Disneyland Resort as it nears the conclusion of the Year of a Million Dreams. The Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney’s California Adventure park – plus the Downtown Disney District comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort’s three guest-welcoming hotels are the luxurious 745-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the magical 988-room Disneyland Hotel and the “day-at-the-beach” fun of the 489-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. For further information on attractions, events and vacations at Disneyland Resort, visit www.disneyland.com, call (866) 60-DISNEY or contact local travel agents.
In many Christian films Jesus is the answer to life’s problems and the latest film by Sherwood Baptist Church is no different to the genre. They exploded on the theater screens and surprised Hollywood with their 2006 hit Facing The Giants about a Christian high school football team who learns to succeed by giving God their very best both on and off the field. This time around they tackle the subject of marriage.
In Fireproof, Firefighter Caleb Colt (played by Kirk Cameron) and his wife Catherine of seven years are contemplating divorce. Caleb’s father gives him a book called “The Love Dare,” which challenges him to show love for his wife with his actions even when her actions don’t deserve it. Not quite ready to throw in the towel, Caleb takes on the forty-day challenge. Some dares are easy (and should be intuitive) like fixing your wife breakfast, calling her at work to check-in, and sending her flowers. Some dares aren’t so easy, such as the dare to give up additions to anything drawing attention from your wife, which for Caleb is a battle with pornography. While most Christian films show a conversion moment of a character accepting Jesus as the climax and happy ending of the story, the conversion moment for Caleb comes early in the film, which allows the audience to see how his life and actions change as a result of Christ. In one powerful example, he takes out the computer, beats it to pieces with a bat, and leaves a note for his wife in its place that reads “I love you more” (than my addition to pornography). He also becomes slower to anger, a generous giver, and ultimately a better husband to Catherine.
Fireproof was written and directed by two pastors from Sherwood Baptist Church and stars an entire cast from its own church membership, excluding star Kirk Cameron who volunteered his time after being approached for the project in a chance encounter at the airport. Only a handful of experienced Hollywood workers served on the crew, with church volunteers helping with catering, lighting, grip work, etc. to help lower the budget.
This film is more entertaining than Kirk Cameron’s previous Christian project Left Behind. While that 2000 film cost nearly $17 million to make, Fireproof cost a mere $500,000 and is surprisingly a more engaging film with better production values. There are two action sequences in the film. One has firefighters moving a stuck car out of the way of an oncoming train and another has Caleb rescuing a young girl from a burning home. Both are portrayed with realism and intensity that surpasses the average Christian film standards. There is also a good deal of humor in the film, especially between the firefighters who come across as a mini-fraternity with similar joking around and pranks between each other that is fairly amusing.
It should provoke good conversation and will be an encouragement in today’s society for any couple striving to keep their vows…
While the film was made by Christians and will be embraced largely by Christians, it is a worthy piece of work for any married couple to see. The central characters manage to present a strong, conservative faith without coming across as crazy. Many of the marriage tips will benefit any couple, whether or not they believe the God element of the equation. Fireproof should provoke good conversation and will be an encouragement in today’s society for any couple striving to keep their vows to love their spouse “in good times and bad…till death do us part.”
High School Musical was spawned by producer Bill Borden who said “I wanted to make a musical that I could sit down and watch with my kids.”This creative phenomenon now lays claim to cable television’s highest-ever-rated telecast, the two highest-ever-rated Disney Channel movies, two multi-platinum soundtracks, a concert tour, an ice show, numerous awards and accolades, and a source of inspiration to teens worldwide.Now, it is an official theatrical release with High School Music 3: Senior Year.
Each new class year is a new start and Senior Year finds these characters facing typical teen issues about prom, finals, graduation and going away.Gabriella has always been ruled by her head, but now is being torn by her heart.She must make tough decisions regarding friends, family, relationships and school after being accepted to an early study program at Stanford that may require her to miss the school musical and prom.Troy must choose between attending the college basketball program his father always pushed for or playing ball at the school of his choice that also offers a theater major.The film finds balance being both a musical comedy that is grounded in some emotional reality.Troy and Gabriella vow to make every moment last as their lifelong college dreams put the future of their relationship in question.
The school year also introduces us to some new characters.Jimmie is a Sophomore on the basketball team who idolizes Troy, but is also a little too cocky.Tiara transfers to East High from England and agrees to be Sharpay’s personal assistant.She helps sort out her diva demands, but secretly, is just as conniving.
Some characters never change.Sharpay is still the diva that you love to hate.Sharpay’s the one who stirs the pot, but deep down – really, really, really, really, really deep down – she’s probably really sweet. Probably.She has some fun numbers in the musical including the song “I Want It All.”It contains a wink and homage to Gene Kelly, Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins, and Michael Kidd with large dance numbers that include a classic Radio City Music Hall kick line with 24 pink-haired kitty cat Rockettes. The whole number is seen through the eyes of this teenage girl who wants it all: fame, fortune, and more.
The movie explores friendship and camaraderie, the bond that’s been build between Troy and Chad and how it’s changing.It’s the joy in seeing a friend move on and do what he wants to do, and at the same time the sadness of losing a partner.One of the best dances in the film is a number called “The Boys Are Back.”This sequence is all about giving Troy and Chad a history.The number features the pair rolling a giant tire, sword fighting, break-dancing, teeter-tottering, and dancing on cars in a used car lot that includes flashbacks to their time there dancing on cars as a child.
Throughout the whole franchise a big lesson from the film is to break stereotypes.The power forward wants to be a pastry chef.The star basketball player wants to be a thespian.The message to children is to be whatever you want to be.Writer Peter Barsocchini shared that the character of Troy Bolton was inspired by his childhood friendship with future Pittsburgh Steeler football player Lynn Swan.“One day we were riding on the bus to a game and he said ‘You know, I’d really like to try ballet.’ Sometimes there is so much pressure on kids to be cool that it’s tough to do something different.”HSM3 manages to make East High the most homogenous, multiracial school in America that is promoting individual diversity.
The film features ten all-new songs penned by several of the hit songwriters from past HSM smash records that take maximum advantage of the big screen.HSM3 features bigger musical numbers with more difficult choreography and more dancers, more elaborate sets with more complicated lighting and sound, and more detailed and fabulous costumes.The fans will love it!
Suit up for action with Robert Downey Jr. in the ultimate adventure movie you’ve been waiting for, Iron Man! When jet-setting genius-industrialist Tony Stark is captured in enemy territory, he builds a high-tech suit of armor to escape. Now, he’s on a mission to save the world as a hero who’s built, not born, to be unlike any other. Co-starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard and Jeff Bridges, it’s a fantastic, high-flying journey that is “hugely entertaining” (Joe Morgenstern, The Wall Street Journal).
DVD Features:
• Additional Scenes: Convoy Ambush
• Featurette: The Journey Begins
• Featurette: The Suit that Makes The Iron Man
• Additional Scenes: Craps Table with Tony & Rhodey
• Additional Scenes: Tony & Rhodey on Stark Jet and Military Ceremony
• Featurette: Walk of Destruction
• Additional Scenes: Rhodey and General Gabriel
• Featurette: Grounded In Reality
• Additional Scenes: Tony Comes Home
• Featurette: Beneath the Armor
• Featurette: It’s All In The Details
• Additional Scenes: Tony Begins Mark II
• Additional Scenes: Dubai Party
• Featurette: A Good Story, Well Told
• Additional Scenes: Pepper Discovers Tony as Iron Man
• Featurette: Origins
• Additional Scenes: Obadiah Addresses Scientists
• Featurette: Friends & Foe
• Featurette: The Definitive Iron Man
• Additional Scenes: Rhodey Saves Iron Man on Freeway
• Additional Scenes: Rooftop Battle
• Featurette: Demon in a Bottle
• Featurette: Extremis and Beyond
• Trailers: Iron Man: Armored Adventures
• Featurette: Ultimate Iron Man
• Easter Eggs: Easter Egg Stan Lee
• Featurette: Wired: The Visual Effects of Iron Man
• Other: Robert Downey Jr. Screen Test
• Featurette: The Actor’s Process
• Trailers: The Onion “Wildly Popular Iron Man Trailer to be Adapted into Full Length Film”
In 1959, Walt Disney continued to evolve the medium of animation by releasing Sleeping Beauty, one of the most technologically sophisticated animated features to date. For the first time ever, he was making a cartoon for the 70mm format instead of the usual 35mm. Walt dubbed the process Technorama70. The film itself was bigger, which meant that the animation had to be bigger. There was more detail and more depth within every single frame and the results were amazing. Costing six millions dollars and taking six years to complete, audiences were treated to something truly special. Finally, almost fifty years later, the Walt Disney Studios has released a version of the film encompassing the scope of that original release.
Unless you saw that original theatrical release, you have never seen Sleeping Beauty like this. They have transferred every detail from every frame of that 70mm print, enabling us to see the full picture as originally intended. When making the movie, Walt envisioned a “moving illustration.” He wanted every individual frame to be a perfect image worthy of hanging on the wall.
There are several documentaries on this DVD providing fascinating insight into how Walt achieved this. These include a look into a brilliant color stylist named Eyvind Earle who provided the elaborate backgrounds for the film. There is also a 43 minute documentary that covers all aspects of the production. Combining current interviews with footage shot back in the fifties, this is a must-see for animation buffs. Other documentaries include a look into the year-long creation of the forest sequence which they dubbed “Sequence 8.” Also included is a virtual tour of the original Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough Attraction at Disneyland, a nostalgic thrill for Disneyland junkies like myself.
Just as compelling are the programs included from back during Sleeping Beauty’s initial release. These include an episode of the Disneyland television program entitled “The Peter Tchaikovsky Story.” Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty was inspired by the score from Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty ballet, and this episode of Disneyland recreates the life of Tchaikovsky and how he ended up writing this masterpiece. Walt himself hosts the show, and when it ends he gives audiences the first ever look at Widescreen in their own homes. From a historical perspective, it is a fascinating program.
Also included are several deleted songs, the Academy Award winning short Grand Canyon, Storyboards, Art Galleries, and much more. Whether picking up the DVD for the movie or the bonus features, this is a must-own for any fan of Disney animation.
