4K Digital Review of Snow White (live-action)

 

This live-action Snow White was called by many as a disaster. Most of the internet buzz was highly negative and definitely from more people that clearly did not see the movie than by those that actually watched it. There are some story changes that might be deemed as "Disneyfied" modern approaches here. There is a large multi-ethnic cast. There are also several new songs that have more of a contemporary feel. Rachel Zegler as Snow White was delightful and her songs were perfect for her. 

I guess it could be argued that the story changed made this more of a Cinderella story than a Snow White story but for me they fit the modern approach to telling this tale. All in all, a good effort that sadly got more slack than it deserved. 

Video:

The 4K streaming video is stunningly gorgeous. Here the CG elements almost flawlessly combine with the practical elements. The colors literally explode off the screen. Take time to enjoy the highlights of Snow White's color palette or the darker tones of the Evil Queen's palette of teal and jade. This is a masterclass in digital transfers.

Audio:

The Atmos audio track matches the video quality note for note. Dialogue is crisp and clear. The score feels like it is floating around you through the surround channels. The environmental sounds, especially those of the forest, are noticeable throughout the movie. Scenes with the Magic Mirror and the wild mine car sequence make the most of creating an immersive audio experience. 

Bonus Features:

·       Sing Along with the Movie: Sing along with your favorite songs while watching the movie with onscreen lyrics.

 

·       Deleted Scenes:

o   Anguish and Opportunity

o   Danger in the Woods

o   Hunt for Snow White

 

·       Fearless, Fair, Brave, and True: Making Snow White – Take a look behind the scenes with director Marc Webb, cast and crew as they share their vision for this live-action reimagining of Snow White, highlighting how they honor the legacy of the original story, including the characters, set design and more.

 

·       Merry Tunes – Go behind the songs with filmmakers and songwriting duo, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Hear about their new songs and how they beautifully intertwine with the classics.

 

·       Fairy Tale Fashion – Get an in-depth look at the fashion and costuming for the film, featuring legendary costume designer Sandy Powell. Along with filmmakers and cast, Sandy provides insight into how she brought iconic looks to life for Snow White, the Evil Queen and more.

 

·       Bloopers – Discover all the fun and laugh along with the cast as they have the time of their lives making Snow White.

Conclusion:

This version of Snow White has very impressive visuals and fun, new songs. Zegler is great as Snow White. The technical aspects of the film are stellar. The bonus materials are few but enjoyable. A welcomed addition to your library.

Snow White is available on digital now. 

*This film was given to me by Walt Disney Home Entertainment solely for the purpose of this review. The review is strictly my opinion.*

DISNEY, ESPN AND THE NBA TEAM UP TO PRESENT DUNK THE HALLS – THE FIRST REAL-TIME, ANIMATED NBA GAME: SPURS VS. KNICKS ON CHRISTMAS

 

Disney, ESPN and the NBA are teaming up to present Dunk the Halls – the first real-time animated NBA game using Sony’s Beyond Sports technology – on Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25, at noon ET when the New York Knicks – led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns – host the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul. Dunk the Halls will be presented on ESPN2, Disney+ and ESPN+. The special alt-cast marks the first animated presentation of an NBA game and the first NBA game to stream on Disney+.

 

The setting

The virtual, live re-creation of the Spurs vs. Knicks game will be set on iconic “Main Street, USA” in Magic Kingdom® Park as the teams play while Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, Goofy and Chip and Dale cheer them on. Shots of “Main Street, USA” and other famous landmarks within Magic Kingdom® Park will be regularly shown, including Cinderella’s Castle.

 

The story

The storyline behind the Dunk the Halls presentation begins with Mickey’s Christmas wish to Santa Claus to bring the NBA players to “Main Street, USA” at Magic Kingdom® Park at Walt Disney World Resort to play the first animated NBA game on Christmas Day.

 

The first-of-its-kind technology

Each Spurs and Knicks player will appear as a motion-enabled, animated player for the special Christmas matchup. Through state-of-the-art real-time visualization technology enabled by Sony’s Beyond Sports, combined with Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations’ optical tracking, fans watching Dunk the Halls will see every three-pointer, dunk, layup, pass and more from the real-life Spurs vs. Knicks game at Madison Square Garden in New York as it happens.  

More production highlights:

• At halftime of the Spurs vs. Knicks game, the Disney characters, led by Mickey Mouse, will compete in a special slam dunk contest;
• Santa’s Elves will operate the cameras for the game while Santa himself will operate ESPN’s “SkyCam” during the game;
• The Disney characters will deliver pregame and halftime speeches to the players and decorate a large Christmas tree during the game;
• Fans will also get to find out if it will snow on “Main Street, USA” and see how many churros Goofy can eat.

 

ESPN commentators

Drew Carter will serve as the play-by-play commentator alongside ESPN basketball analyst Monica McNutt. The duo will be joined by a very special guest – Daisy Duck – who will serve as the sideline reporter. Carter and McNutt will be animated in the style of the telecast and don ESPN Edge Innovation Partner’s Meta Quest Pro headsets to experience the game from “Main Street, USA” thanks to VR technology and Sony’s Beyond Sports’ Virtual Commentator Technology.  

 

All five NBA Christmas games on December 25 will be available on ABC, ESPN, Disney+ and ESPN+. The traditional broadcast of the Spurs vs. Knicks game will be called by Ryan Ruocco, analyst Cory Alexander, and reporter Cassidy Hubbarth. For more details on the schedule, visit ESPNPressRoom.com. 

 

Dunk the Halls continues ESPN and the NBA’s well-documented history innovation, including alt-cast executions that utilize the unmatched depth and scope of The Walt Disney Company.

New Verse to “It’s a Small World” Featured in New Disney Short Paying Tribute to the Sherman Brothers

 

The Walt Disney Company premiered a poignant short film debuting a new verse to the iconic song, “It’s a Small World,” written by Richard Sherman before his passing in May of 2024. Sherman, who along with his late brother Robert wrote the song’s original verses from 1964 and many other timeless classics from some of Disney’s most celebrated films, shared the new verse with The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger in the summer of 2023 as his final gift to the studio that he so deeply cherished. The three-minute and 30-second short film, The Last Verse, premiered Wednesday as part of an ABC News Studios' two-hour documentary event, The Untold Story of Mary Poppins: A Special Edition of 20/20, which commemorates the 60th anniversary of Walt Disney Studios’ Mary Poppins (1964), for which the Sherman Brothers earned Academy Awards® for Best Original Song and Best Original Score.

 

"As the legendary creators of some of the most cherished music of the past century, the Sherman brothers will be remembered for their profound impact on our global culture,” said Bob Iger. “Hearing Richard Sherman recite the final verse to ‘It’s a Small World’ before he died will be a moment I will carry with me forever. This beautiful short film is our tribute to their immeasurable musical contributions, their memory, and to the countless memories they helped create for generations of people around the world.” 

The Last Verse serves as a tribute to the remarkable impact of the Sherman Brothers during their decades-long musical collaboration with Disney, ranging from “It’s a Small World,” to the timeless songs and scores from enduring Disney classics like, Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book (1976), Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971), and many more.

 

“It's a Small World” was written for the attraction of the same name, which was created for the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair. Personally overseen by Walt Disney in support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the attraction was a major success and after two seasons, it was moved to Disneyland Park, where it opened on May 28, 1966. Today, the attraction and the Sherman Brothers’ original song are part of five Disney Parks around the world, including Disneyland Park, the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World® Resort, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland.

 

This touching short film takes viewers on a journey through the past 60 years of the song's history, showcasing its impact on global pop culture. Renowned director Henry Alex Rubin, best known for his award-winning documentary Murderball, helmed the project for Disney and creative partner adam&eveDDB.

 

Richard Brim, Global Chief Creative Officer for adam&eveDDB said, “It’s hard to truly capture the influence and impact that Disney has had on our lives over the past century. With this film, we wanted tap into those feelings of nostalgia that are so often associated with the iconic brand, whilst paying homage to the legends that are the Sherman brothers.”

4K Digital Review: The Little Mermaid (2023)

 

In 1989, the animated film, The Little Mermaid, began the Disney Renaissance. Disney returned to its storytelling roots and used Broadway-style music to propel the story forward. Now in 2023, Disney has brought the film into live-action. Is it one of the best remakes to date? Let's take a look.

The Little Mermaid centers around a young and spirited mermaid named Ariel (Halle Bailey) who is fascinated by the human world and falls for a young prince that she saves from a shipwreck. While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel disobeys her father King Triton's (Javier Bardem) orders and makes a deal with sea witch Ursula (Melissa McCarthy) to allow Ariel to walk on land for three days in exchange for her voice. Ariel must share true-loves kiss with Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) within those three days if she wants to remain a human or transform back into a mermaid and belong to Ursula forever.

Melissa and Javier are fantastic in their roles. Melissa clearly had a great time being Ursula. Jonah did a great job in the expanded role of Prince Eric. He is a fully realized character with dreams and goals and gets his own song too. His chemistry with Halle is a strong point here as well. But the star here is Halle. Her performance is every bit of worthy of being a Disney Princess. Her vocals and emotional range make you truly understand what Ariel is going through.

Video:

The 4K HDR Dolby Vision video is prestine. There are times the CG looks too CG but the underwater scenes are magical. The details are all sharp and clean. The skin tones, hair, clothing material details, rockwork, shipwreck details and more are all beautiful and bring both land and sea to life. Another excellent transfer by Disney. 

Audio:

The 5.1 Dolby Atmos soundtrack is wonderful though the audio levels are very much on the quieter end of the scale. Dialogue is front and center while environmental effects fill the surround channels. The score and the songs really shine and surround you. 

Bonus Features*

• Sing Along Version – Sing along with your favorite songs while watching the movie with on-screen lyrics.

• Hotter Under The Water – Discover how director Rob Marshall and his team brought the story of The Little Mermaid to life with this documentary in five chapters:
• A Tale Of The Bottomless Blue - Join Rob Marshall on the set of one of the most ambitious and challenging films he's ever directed.
• I Know Something’s Starting Right Now - Join cast members Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, Jonah Hauer-King and more and learn how they were cast in the film and what it was like to bring director Rob Marshall's vision to life.
• Down Where It’s Wetter - Dip your toes into the virtual ocean and learn about how the breathtaking underwater world was created with visual effects, imagination and a lot of talented artists.
• Explore That Shore Up Above - From Prince Eric’s castle to the beach, explore the above-the-sea locations and the elaborate production design behind them.
• Do What The Music Say - Discover how legendary composer Alan Menken teamed up with Lin- Manuel Miranda to write new songs to accompany the original classics

 

• Song Breakdowns
• Wild Unchartered Waters - Prince Eric, played by Jonah Hauer-King, gets his own song, written by Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Go behind the song, from the writing to the recording, to the filming on a practical ship.
• Under the Sea - Get a first-hand look at how professional dancers helped bring director Rob Marshall's vision to life as they stood in for the various animated sea creatures that sing and dance in this showstopping number.
• Kiss The Girl - Float along and get a frog's-eye view of the beautiful set built to film the live-action version of this classic song.
• Poor Unfortunate Souls - Join Melissa McCarthy (Ursula) as she takes us on the journey of making her character's signature song.

• Featurettes
• The Scuttlebutt On Sidekicks – Dive in and meet Sebastian, Flounder and Scuttle, who not only have their own song, "The Scuttlebutt," but also fresh looks as they work hard to make sure Ariel and Eric kiss before Ursula's deadline.
• Passing The Dinglehopper – Ariel met Ariel when Halle Bailey worked with Jodi Benson — the voice of Ariel in the original animated movie — who appears in a clever cameo in the live-action film..
• Bloopers - Laugh along with the cast as they have the time of their lives making The Little Mermaid.

Conclusion:

The Little Mermaid retains the heart and soul of the animated original. The video and audio are wonderful to make you feel as if you are part of this world. The bonus features are also wonderful and help to understand this take on the animated film. A definite addition to your collection. The digital version is available now. The 4K UHD, Blu-Ray and DVD version will be available on September 19th.

*This movie was provided by Walt Disney Home Entertainment for the sole purpose of review. The review is entirely my opinion.*

Four Posters + Featurette for Disney and Pixar’s “Elemental”

Four fun posters are now available for Disney and Pixar’s “Elemental,” which opened in theaters on June 16. Also available is a new featurette introducing moviegoers to the film’s key characters and the voice talent helping to bring them to life. Included in the featurette are Leah Lewis, who voices the fiery Ember, Mamoudou Athie as the Water-guy Wade; Wendi McLendon-Covey as Wade’s stormy Air-Ball-loving boss, Gale; and Catherine O’Hara as Wade’s funny-but-tearful mom, Brook—plus insight from director Peter Sohn. Feel free to check it out and share with your readers. 

 

“Elemental” is an all-new, original feature film set in Element City, where Fire-, Water-, Earth- and Air-residents live together. The story introduces Ember, a tough, quick-witted and fiery young woman, whose friendship with a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow guy named Wade challenges her beliefs about the world they live in. Directed by Peter Sohn, produced by Denise Ream, p.g.a., and executive produced by Pete Docter, “Elemental” features a screenplay by John Hoberg & Kat Likkel and Brenda Hsueh with story by Sohn, Hoberg & Likkel and Hsueh. The film’s original score was composed and conducted by Thomas Newman. 

DISNEY+ DEBUTS FIRST LOOKS, EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE, AND NEW TRAILERS IN CELEBRATION OF DISNEY+ DAY

 DISNEY+ DEBUTS FIRST LOOKS, EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE, AND NEW TRAILERS IN CELEBRATION OF DISNEY+ DAY

 

BURBANK, Calif. (November 12, 2021) – In celebration of Disney+ Day, the second anniversary of the streaming platform, Disney+ not only premiered more than 25 new pieces of content, but also debuted dozens of first looks, new trailers, and exclusive clips from The Walt Disney Company’s world-class studios that showcase the incredible breadth of content coming to the service in the years ahead. Additionally, Disney+ subscribers were treated to a slate of all new content from each of its marquee brands, Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and in international markets, Star.

 

Today’s announcements featuring Originals coming from the Company’s content studios to Disney+ include:

 

Disney

 

Cheaper by the Dozen: Gabrielle Union and Zach Braff announce that their reimagining of the hit family comedy “Cheaper by the Dozen” will be coming to Disney+ in March 2022. 

 

Disenchanted: Stars Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey share that “Disenchanted,” the sequel to the hit film “Enchanted,” will stream exclusively on Disney+ in Fall 2022. 

 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Writer and producer Jeff Kinney reveals all-new key art for “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.” The animated adventure starts streaming December 3, 2021 on Disney+. 

 

Rodrick Rules: Jeff Kinney announces that a second animated film from the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book series will be coming to Disney+. “Rodrick Rules” will premiere on Disney+ in 2022. 

Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers: John Mulaney and Andy Samberg, stars of the upcoming hybrid live-action/CG animated feature based on everyone’s favorite animated chipmunks, unveil teaser art for the new movie streaming on Disney+ in Spring 2022. 

 

The Beatles: Get Back: Watch a new clip from Peter Jackson’s upcoming docuseries, “The Beatles: Get Back,” showing the legendary band performing “I’ve Got a Feeling.” The three-night event starts streaming on Disney+ on November 25, 2021.   

 

Better Nate Than Ever: Based on the book by Tim Federle, “Better Nate Than Ever” will premiere on Disney+ in Spring 2022. The comedy adventure stars Aria Brooks, Joshua Bassett, Michelle Federer and introduces Rueby Wood as Nate, with Norbert Leo Butz and Lisa Kudrow. 

 

Hocus Pocus 2: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy will run amok again as The Sanderson Sisters in “Hocus Pocus 2,” the sequel to Disney’s Halloween cult classic, premiering Fall 2022 exclusively on Disney+. 

 

Pinocchio: Inspired by Disney’s animated classic, this retelling, directed by Robert Zemeckis, combines live action and visual effects and stars Tom Hanks, Cynthia Erivo, Luke Evans and the voices of Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Keegan-Michael Key and Lorraine Bracco. “Pinocchio” premieres on Disney+ in Fall 2022. 

 

The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild: Simon Pegg is back as Buck in “The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild,” an all-new movie, premiering January 28, 2022 on Disney+. 

 

Sneakerella: Lace up and dream big with the new trailer for the Disney+ Original Movie “Sneakerella.” Set in the avant-garde street-sneaker subculture of New York City, the high-energy, music-driven movie puts a gender-flipped twist on the “Cinderella” fairy tale. “Sneakerella” premieres exclusively on Disney+ on February 18, 2022. 

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder: It’s time to get loud with the Prouds in the trailer debut for “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.” The new series, based on the Disney Channel series from the 2000s, starts streaming February 2022.   

 

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: Love is an open door outside the halls of East High. Season three of the show will follow its characters to sleepaway camp for a summer of campfires, romances, and curfew-free nights. 

 

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Disney+ announced a new live-action series, "The Spiderwick Chronicles," a modern coming-of-age story combined with fantasy adventure from Paramount Television Studios and 20th Television, one of the Disney Television Studios. The series, based on the beloved, best-selling books, follows the Grace Family—twin brothers Jared and Simon, their sister Mallory and mother Helen—as they move into their dilapidated ancestral home. They begin to unravel a dark mystery about their great-great Uncle who once discovered the secret and sometimes dangerous faerie world.

 

Baymax: Check in with everyone’s favorite healthcare companion in a trailer for his new Disney+ Original Series. “Baymax,” Walt Disney Animation Studios’ first-ever animated series, starts streaming exclusively on Disney+ in Summer 2022. 

 

Zootopia+: Go back to the fast-paced mammal metropolis of Zootopia with new art from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia+,” a new short-form series coming to Disney+ in 2022. 

 

Tiana: Walt Disney Animation Studios announced that Stella Meghie (“The Photograph”) will be director and writer of the new long-form musical series, “Tiana,” coming to Disney+ in 2023. In the series, Tiana sets off for a grand new adventure as the newly crowned Princess of Maldonia, but a calling to her New Orleans past isn’t far behind. 

 

Disney Intertwined (Entrelazados): “Disney Intertwined” (“Entrelazados”), the first Disney+ Original Series produced in Latin America, is now available on the streaming service. In the series, Allegra is ready to change the past in order to reach her dream. 

Pixar

 

Watch the “Pixar 2021 Disney+ Day Special” on Disney+ to see Pete Docter take fans behind the scenes of Pixar Animation Studios to look at some of their upcoming projects for Disney+.

 

Cars on the Road: Larry the Cable Guy reveals the title of Pixar’s upcoming “Cars” series: “Cars on the Road.” Join Mater and Lightning McQueen in this fun-filled cross-country road trip streaming in 2022. 

 

Pete Docter announces an exclusive peek behind the curtains of Pixar in two brand-new documentaries coming to Disney+ in 2022 that explore the making of “Turning Red” and “Lightyear.”

 

Win or Lose: Directors Michael Yates and Carrie Hobson reveal concept art for Pixar’s first-ever original long-form animated series “Win or Lose,” coming to Disney+ in 2023. Each 20-minute episode of “Win or Lose” highlights the perspective of a different character as a middle school coed softball team prepares for their championship game.  

 

Marvel

 

As a celebration of the MCU on Disney+, “Marvel Studios' 2021 Disney+ Day Special” is now streaming on Disney+, where subscribers can see sneak peeks of the next Marvel Studios series coming to the service, including:

 

Hawkeye is set in post-blip New York City where Clint Barton aka Hawkeye has a seemingly simple mission: get back to his family for Christmas. But when a threat from his past shows up, Hawkeye reluctantly teams up with 22-year-old skilled archer Kate Bishop to unravel a criminal conspiracy. The series stars Jeremy Renner, Hailee Steinfeld, Vera Farmiga, Fra Fee, Tony Dalton and newcomer Alaqua Cox. Episodes are directed by executive producer Rhys Thomas and directing duo Bert & Bertie; executive producer Jonathan Igla is head writer.  The series premieres November 24, 2021. Enjoy an action-packed look in the Marvel Studios special on Disney+.

Moon Knight: Get a first look at “Moon Knight,” a new globetrotting action-adventure series featuring a complex vigilante who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. The multiple identities who live inside him find themselves thrust into a deadly war of the gods against the backdrop of modern and ancient Egypt. “Moon Knight” is directed by executive producer Mohamed Diab; Jeremy Slater is head writer. The series is coming to Disney+ in 2022.

 

She-Hulk: See Tatiana Maslany as She-Hulk/Jennifer Walters, a lawyer who specializes in superhuman-oriented legal cases. “She-Hulk” will welcome a host of Marvel characters to the series, including the Hulk, played by Mark Ruffalo, and the Abomination, played by Tim Roth. The new comedy series coming to Disney+ in 2022 is directed by executive producer Kat Coiro with Anu Valia also directing. Executive producer Jessica Gao serves as head writer.

 

Ms. Marvel introduces Kamala Khan—a 16-year-old Pakistani American from Jersey City.  An aspiring artist, an avid gamer and a voracious fan-fiction scribe, she is a huge fan of the Avengers—and one in particular, Captain Marvel.  But Kamala has always struggled to find her place in the world—that is, until she gets super powers like the heroes she’s always looked up to. Iman Vellani stars as Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel. The series is directed by executive producers Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fallah, Meera Menon and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, with executive producer Bisha K. Ali serving as head writer. “Ms. Marvel” premieres on Disney+ in Summer 2022.

 

Additionally, Marvel Studios announced new projects for its future series including:

• Echo: a series starring Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez, who will be introduced in “Hawkeye”
• Ironheart: a series starring Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, a genius inventor who creates the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man
• Agatha: House of Harkness: a series starring Kathryn Hahn as her character from “WandaVision.”  Jac Schaefer returns as executive producer and head writer.
• Secret Invasion: a series starring Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn as the Skrull Talos—characters who first met in “Captain Marvel.” The crossover comic event series showcases a faction of shape-shifting Skrulls who have been infiltrating Earth for years.
• The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special: a special written and directed by “Guardians of the Galaxy” veteran James Gunn
• X-MEN ‘97: an animated series from Marvel Studios that explores new stories in the iconic ‘90s timeline of the original series. Beau DeMayo is executive producer and head writer.
• What If…? (Season 2): the second season of the fan-favorite animated series. After enlisting the Guardians of the Multiverse to stop Infinity Ultron, The Watcher returns in Season 2 of “What If...?” to meet new heroes and explore more strange new worlds in the MCU’s ever-expanding Multiverse. Directed by executive producer Bryan Andrews with executive producer AC Bradley serving as head writer.
• Spider-Man: Freshman Year: an animated series that follows Peter Parker on his way to becoming Spider-Man in the MCU, with a journey unlike we've ever seen and a style that celebrates the character’s early comic book roots. Executive producer Jeff Trammel serves as head writer.
• I Am Groot: a series of original shorts exploring Baby Groot’s glory days growing up, and getting into trouble, among the stars. Directed by executive producer Kirsten Lepore.
• Marvel Zombies: an animated series from Marvel Studios that reimagines the Marvel Universe as a new generation of heroes battle against an ever-spreading zombie scourge. Directed by executive producer Bryan Andrews.

 

Lucasfilm

 

Willow: From the set of the upcoming Lucasfilm series “Willow,” Warwick Davis introduces the supporting cast, including Ruby Cruz (“Mare of Easttown”), Erin Kellyman (“The Falcon and The Winter Soldier”), Ellie Bamber (“The Serpent”), Tony Revolori (“Spider-Man: No Way Home”), Amar Chadha Patel (“The Third Day”) and Dempsey Bryk (“The Birch”). “Willow” premieres exclusively on Disney+ in 2022. 

 

Obi-Wan Kenobi: Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi) and director Deborah Chow share an exclusive look at the series with behind-the-scenes footage and concept art. The Disney+ Original Series “Obi-Wan Kenobi” premieres on Disney+ in 2022. View the exclusive look on Disney+.

 

Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett: Celebrate the origins and legacy of Star Wars’ legendary bounty hunter, Boba Fett, in a special look for “Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett,” now streaming on Disney+. 

 

National Geographic

 

Welcome to Earth: Explore Earth’s greatest wonders with Will Smith on an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime adventure around the world in the new trailer for “Welcome to Earth,” the six-part original series from National Geographic streaming December 8, 2021. 

 

America The Beautiful: Visit the spacious skies, the amber waves of grain, and the purple mountain majesties in the new trailer for “America The Beautiful,” a new six-part series streaming on Disney+ in 2022. 

 

Limitless with Chris Hemsworth: See Chris Hemsworth discover the full potential of the human body in the trailer debut for “Limitless with Chris Hemsworth.” The six-part Disney+ Original Series from National Geographic starts streaming in 2022. 

Disney's Jungle Cruise Digital Review

 

Jungle Cruise takes its inspiration from the beloved attraction of the same name and combines it with elements of several hit films to create a fun adventure for the entire family. Without going into spoilers you will get hints of The African Queen (ironically which the attraction was inspired by), The Mummy and Pirates of The Caribbean. 

Searching for the Tears of the Moon, an ancient tree with mythical healing abilities, we find Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) and her brother (Jack Whitehall) in need of a skipper. They find their man in Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson), a man who is full of surprises. Right behind this trio is German aristocrat Prince Joachim (Jesse Plemons) who wants the tree and it's healing properties for his own sinister plans. 

As we head down the Amazon, we learn through a series of flashbacks about the history of the tree and get some insight about Franks past. We become more attached to Frank and see how Frank and Lily grow closer together. There is slapstick comedy as well as ample references to the attraction itself. Wait until you hear how many great one liners that the skippers actually use on the attraction are in the film! The chemistry of the actors works really well together and comes across the screen in the best of ways. 

Video Quality:

The 4K Dolby Vision video is pristine. The blacks are rich and inky, the details on clothing are well defined and the jungle looks as if you can reach out and touch it. Another excellent digital transfer from Disney. 

Audio Quality:

The 5.1 Dolby Atmos audio is solid with dialogue that is not drowned out by the score or sound effects. The sound effects such as the sounds of the jungle immerse you into the movie as you hear the sounds  of birds behind you.  James Newton Howard's score comes across brilliantly and becomes a character itself. 

Bonus Features

There is a wealth of bonus features here! Starting with the Jungle Cruise Expedition Mode which is as close to an audio commentary that you will get. You get a lot of fun information about the history of the Jungle Cruise attraction as well as some great behind the scenes details about the making of the movie. The Once A Skip, Always A Skip featurette is another favorite as it features a few former and current Jungle Cruise skippers at Disneyland including a friend of mine that I had no idea was making an appearance. Then the deleted scenes are all great and add some further insight into the storyline. 

• Jungle Cruise Expedition Mode – Climb aboard a ramshackle tramp steamer (or your own couch) to learn fun facts, discover Easter eggs and catch some pop-up trivia throughout the movie.
• It’s A Jungle Out There: Making Jungle Cruise – Director Jaume Collet-Serra, the cast and crew discuss the importance of the film’s elements, from casting to makeup to the use of an ancient indigenous language, in creating the world that honors one of Disneyland’s most beloved rides.
• Dwayne And Emily: Undoubtedly Funny – Go on-set with the two stars, whose newfound friendship helped them project a natural onscreen chemistry. Although their characters challenge each other throughout the film, the actors make each other laugh. A lot!
• Creating The Amazon – Explore the cinematic artistry involved in creating the world of “Jungle Cruise,” including how Frank’s boat coursed “dangerous” water in a tank in Atlanta, how a town was built in Kauai, and how a ferocious jaguar came to life, among other amazing effects.
• Once A Skip, Always A Skip – Join a panel of “Skippers” at the Disneyland Resort as they reminisce about the rewards, challenges and surprises they’ve experienced while helming the world-famous “Jungle Cruise” attraction, and hear their advice to aspiring skippers everywhere!
• Outtakes – Step behind the scenes of the production to catch the cast in a series of flubs, falls, foibles — and a whole lot of laughter.
• Deleted Scenes
  • MacGregor Drives The Boat
  • MacGregor Water Skis
  • Joachim And Nilo On The Dock
  • Frank Talks To Proxima & Lily’s Nightmares
  • Sub Gets Stuck
  • Proxima Surprises MacGregor
  • Frank Gets The Cold Shoulder
  • Trader Sam And Lily Walk In The Jungle
  • MacGregor And Trader Sam Say Goodbye
  • Frank Makes Tea For Lily

Final Thoughts:

Jungle Cruise is a solid summer movie full of action, adventure, comedy and heart. It's a fun ride and filled with great extras! Highly recommended! 

Jungle Cruise is now available to purchase on Digital and will be released on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD November 16.

Disclosure:

I was provided a free digital copy of Jungle Cruise for this review. All of the opinions are my own. No other compensation was received. 

WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS’ “ENCANTO” GORGEOUS NEW TRAILER & POSTER

 

Walt Disney Animation Studios shared a new trailer and poster this morning showcasing its upcoming feature film “Encanto.” The film tells the tale of the Madrigals, an extraordinary family who live in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto. Each child has been blessed with a magic gift unique to them—each child except Mirabel. But when the family’s home is threatened, Mirabel may be their only hope. 

 

Also revealed this morning—actor John Leguizamo (“Critical Thinking,” “Ice Age”) joins the voice cast. “I was so pumped to be asked to the party,” said Leguizamo. “Lin-Manuel [Miranda] wrote me a rap, and I flipped out! Plus, this is such a beautiful story set in Colombia. It's a first in so many ways. The magic is enchanting, the comedy is so sharp, and the world created is irresistible.”

 

Leguizamo lends his voice to Bruno, Mirabel’s uncle who’s gifted with the ability to see the future. Bruno’s honest, often doomsaying predictions aren’t always well received by the rest of the family, so he disappeared long ago, becoming the uncle no one talks about. “Bruno is so compelling because he is that guy that never quite fits in,” said Leguizamo. “He's an outsider, but he also understands the world better because he's always wanted to belong to it.”

 

The voice cast also includes Stephanie Beatriz as Mirabel; María Cecilia Botero as Mirabel’s grandmother Alma aka Abuela; Angie Cepeda and Wilmer Valderrama as Mirabel’s parents, Julieta and Agustín;  and Diane Guererro and Jessica Darrow as Mirabel’s sisters, Isabela and Luisa. Also lending their voices are Carolina Gaitán and Mauro Castillo as Mirabel’s aunt and uncle, Pepa and Félix; and Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz and Ravi Cabot-Conyers as Mirabel’s cousins Dolores, Camilo and Antonio, respectively. 

 

The film features all-new songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton,” “Moana”) and is directed by Byron Howard (“Zootopia,” “Tangled”) and Jared Bush (co-director “Zootopia”), co-directed by Charise Castro Smith (writer “The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez”) and produced by Clark Spencer and Yvett Merino. Bush and Castro Smith are screenwriters on the film. The filmmakers were deeply inspired by their research trip to Colombia during early development of “Encanto,” as well as their continuous work with a group of expert consultants assembled through the course of the film’s production. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto” opens in theaters November 24, 2021.