Awards season sure was kind to Walt Disney’s Frozen and that’s because it is so deserving of all the praise. This clever and hilarious throwback to the princess films of the past was a huge hit in theaters but it also managed to snag some praiseworthy Oscars for “Best Animated Film” but also “Best Original Song” at the 86th Annual Academy Awards. Chris Buck’s endlessly delightful film really helps carry the torch for the studio’s new direction while staying true to the Disney legacy. Tangled and Wreck-It Ralph, even Bolt to some degree, were solid attempts at Disney getting into the CG game but Frozen has shown the world that…
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Off the Shelf…’The Jungle Book’
If you were to peek into the famous “Disney Vault” you might be overwhelmed with the plethora of titles the Mouse House has to its name. Moreover, a cross-section of the legendary studio reveals a myriad of success and skill at spinning and reworking all manner of titles ranging from Shakespeare to Hans Christian Andersen to The Brothers Grimm. With more than 50 features (more if you count their various labels and distribution arms) The Walt Disney Company, simply put, is king of animated interpretations and adaptations. 1967’s The Jungle Book is a feature inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s book of the same name. It is one of their older titles,…
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Off the Shelf…’The Fifth Estate’
Bill Condon’s first post-Twilight film bites off more than it can chew, but it’s difficult to say whether that’s because of the subject matter – being the origins and rise of both Wikileaks and its controversial founder, Julian Assange – or because of the production’s unavoidable biopic bent; even at the tender age of only seven (which amounts to light years on the web), Wikileaks can already claim a rich, storied, complex history, so much so that two hours feels scarcely enough to scratch the surface of its conception or paint more than a sketch of Assange. So where, then, does The Fifth Estate go wrong? Like so many biopics,…
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Off the Shelf…’Monsters University’
In the prequel to Pete Docter’s monster hit (yes, pun very much intended) Monsters, Inc. this new story takes us back to the beginning, to a time before Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan were the very best of friends. It’s an interesting decision to take to expand on the mythology of this world but also one of the smartest moves the studio could have made. Going the prequel route (the first for Pixar) allows them to expand on and explore more of the film’s most lovable characters. Now for a studio devoted to and known for innovation and originality to take a step back might seem odd or like they’ve…
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Off the Shelf…’The Little Mermaid’
Walt Disney Studios can stake their claim on a myriad of things, one of which is having some of the very best Blu-Ray transfers out there. Adding to their growing list of re-released classics getting the HD treatment is The Little Mermaid. This adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen‘s iconic and timeless story is one of the studio’s gems and nearly defines what it means to be Disney – it’s colorful, creative, engaging, emotional, funny, fanciful and perfect for fans of just about any age. Many times, Disney pics are near Herculean productions that necessitate the skill of not one but a duo of directors at the helm. Enter Ron Clements…
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Off the Shelf…’Oz the Great and Powerful’
In this prequel to the 1939 classic, Sam Raimi shows us how the “Wizard of Oz” became so Great and Powerful. This Blu-Ray release allows us to go much deeper into this so-called prequel than even the well-intentioned 3D transfer would allow. Thankfully a second helping of this saccharine world is a more enjoyable affair and and a slightly more exciting outing. Who wouldn’t want to travel to the wondrous and imaginative worlds we’ve seen grace the silver screen? Chief among the most magical candidates has to be the Land of Oz. Usually it’s with extreme hesitation that one would chose to add to the mythology of property as legendary as The Wizard of Oz. Others smartly…
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Off the Shelf…’Lincoln’
Abraham Lincoln is considered by historians to be one of the best, if not the best, President of the United States of America. It is only fitting that one of the best directors of our time takes the helm on Lincoln. Most audience members that wander into Lincoln will already be aware of the events that transpire throughout the course of the film. We know what the outcome of the movie will be, because it is history. However, the joy is in the journey as you are thrust back into an explosive time rife with turmoil and change. Lincoln is ripped from the pages of history, meticulously reenacted and then hurled onto the big screen…
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Off the Shelf…Walt Disney’s ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame I & II’
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, is a very different type of Disney film and further a bold step for Walt Disney Feature Animation. To some Hunchback can be considered a classic as well as a paradigm shift that marks a divergent tone in series of features previously found in the Disney catalog. For years Disney films were filled with a mix of fanciful characters and/or led solely by an assortment of cute and fuzzy (sometimes feathered) animals. But when, save for The Lion King, have we got a misunderstood male character that was actually a male (read: human, not animal)? The answer, we think, is never. Anyway this story, about…
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Off the Shelf…Walt Disney's 'Mulan I & II'
In their 36th animated feature, Walt Disney Feature Animation brings an ancient legend to life in this colorful tale about the brave Chinese warrior Mulan. The story of the titular heroine, Hua Mulan, follows the tomboyish girl who disguises herself as a young man so she can fight with the Imperial Chinese Army against the invading Huns. This rousing adventure, one that blends fact and fiction, is as exciting as it is fun and full of the familiar Disney mainstays; a trifecta of colorful characters, kooky sidekicks and an almost fantasy-based story line. Walt Disney Home Entertainment releases this underrated story, and its less than flattering sequel, in a glamorous Blu-Ray Collector’s…
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Off the Shelf…'Wreck-It Ralph'
Disney and director Rich Moore’s fantastic arcade themed adventure blazes to life on this solid 3D Blu-Ray release. Had you not seen this fun filled adventure in theaters, along with the now Oscar-winning short film Paperman, and manage to see Wreck-It Ralph blind and with no knowledge of its source of origination, you might be inclined to credit the film to Pixar. And while that wouldn’t be an unreasonable guess, you’d be wrong. Ralph has all the bearings of Pixar at its finest, yet Rich Moore’s first feature length effort comes to us from none other than the Mouse House itself. Arriving six months after the release of Brave, Ralph gives weight to the theory that both…
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Off the Shelf…’Peter Pan’
When it comes to classic Disney movies, usually, the older the title the more fascinating the film. Now that doesn’t have to do with the plot of story itself but rather the story behind the picture and how it all came to be. Back before computers, hand drawn animation was immensely challenging and time consuming to say the very least. But once completed, and exhibited on the silver screen, it soon became a feast for the eyes as well as the imagination. The result was something that would serve as inspiration to an entire generation of people both young and old. But like any great story there’s an even better back story. So…
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Off the Shelf…’Frankenweenie’
When Young Victor Frankenstein (voiced by Charlie Tahan) loses his beloved dog in a car accident he uses the lessons learned from his science class to bring Sparky back to life. It’s a success (to some degree) but his new experiment doesn’t stay secret for very long as Sparky’s revival brings the attention of his classmates eager to win the upcoming science fair. Similarly it raises awareness of the parents who deem the kid’s teacher a crackpot and while the parents are somewhat occupied ousting the foreigner, the kids are left to their own devices. The competing students take Victor’s experiment and recreate it to some adverse affects. With monster…
