Fantastic Mr. Fox is Fantastic!

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Academy Award-winning Hollywood heavyweights George Clooney (Up In The Air) and Meryl Streep (It’s Complicated) lend their voices to the hilarious, heartwarming and dazzling stop-motion animated adventure from visionary director Wes Anderson (The Royal Tenebaums)Fantastic Mr. Fox. In the re-imagined classic family tale, Mr. and Mrs. Fox (Clooney and Streep) live a happy home life with their eccentric son Ash (Jason Schwartzman: The Darjeeling Limited) and visiting nephew Kristopherson. That is until Mr. Fox slips into his sneaky, old ways and plots the greatest heist the animal world has ever seen. When mean old farmers Boggis, Bunce and Bean join forces to surround Mr. Fox and his family, they don’t realize they are not dealing with any old fox – it’s Fantastic Mr. Fox and he has a fantastic master plan to save the day! Based on the beloved best-selling book by Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Fantastic Mr. Fox is family fun at its finest. Anderson employs a colorful supporting cast to bring his eccentric characters to life including Bill Murray (Lost In Translation), Owen Wilson (Marley & Me) and Willem Dafoe (Spiderman triology). The DVD and Blu-ray Disc/DVD Combo Pack are packed with behind-the-scenes bonus features, including a special inside look at how stop-motion animation really works and much more.

This movie came out on DVD on March 23rd, 2010 so it is available in a store near you. Our family loved it. George Clooney and Meryl Streep make the perfect Mr. Fox and Mrs. Fox.

Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack Special Features:

• Making Mr. Fox Fantastic
• The Look Of Fantastic Mr. Fox
• From Script To Screen
• The Puppet Makers
• Still Life (Puppet Animation)
• The Cast
• Bill And His Badger
• A Beginner’s Guide To Whack-Bat
• Fantastic Mr. Fox: The World Of Roald Dahl
• Fantastic Mr. Fox widescreen feature film (16×9 1.85:1)
• From Script to Screen
• Still Life (Puppet Animation)
• A Beginner’s Guide to Whack-Bat
• Digital Copy of Fantastic Mr. Fox (Blu-ray Disc exclusive)

Single Disc DVD Special Features:

• Fantastic Mr. Fox widescreen feature film
• From Script to Screen
• Still Life (Puppet Animation)
• A Beginner’s Guide to Whack-Bat

Discloser: We were compensated for our honest review of this movie

Princess Tiana Joins Disney Royal Court

Today is the big day for the Disney DVD release of Princess and the Frog! Disney sent us a copy last week of the Blu-Ray combo pack and I loved watching this weekend. Tiana is most definitely a modern day princess with the message that Prince Charming doesn’t always have to save the girl, some girls are more than capable of saving Prince Charming. Loved the movie and Tiana as role model.

This Sunday a magical ceremony took place in the Grand Ballroom at the historic New York Palace in Manhattan. As the newest Disney Princess, Tiana will forever be celebrated and recognized as a Disney Princess across all divisions of the Walt Disney Company and will be included in all Disney Princess merchandise featuring multiple Disney Princess characters.

Just like the Old Dogs Blu-Ray combo pack I told you about, I am loving the three discs that come in this combo. We can watch the Blu-Ray in our home theater, watch the DVD in the car and transfer the digital copy to our iPhones. Thank goodness Disney gets this from parents!

Have fun watching it everyone and congrats to Princess Tiana!

A timeless heroine in the tradition of Snow White, Ariel, Jasmine and the rest of the beloved royal sisterhood, Tiana comes to life with classic hand-drawn Disney animation from the revered team of John Musker and Ron Clements (Aladdin, The Little Mermaid) and a jazz-infused musical score from Academy Award® winning composer Randy Newman (Best Original Song, Monsters, Inc., 2001). A royal procession of exclusive bonus features, including games and specially created featurettes, take viewers on a once-in-a-lifetime tour of the storied French Quarter of New Orleans and into the magic-steeped bayou for hours of can’t-miss family entertainment.

The Blu-ray Combo Pack edition comes with additional bonus features, including: Backstage Disney

• Magic In The Bayou: The Making of A Princess — Co-writers and directors John Musker and Ron Clements take a freewheeling, behind-the-scenes look at the making of Disney’s newest animated film as it grows from an initial concept to a lavish animated film set in the enchanting world of New Orleans and the surrounding bayous.
• The Return To Hand Drawn Animation
• The Disney Legacy
• Disney’s Newest Princess
• The Princess and the Animator
• Conjuring The Villain
• A Return To The Animated Musical
• Bringing Life to Animation with an introduction by John Musker and RonClements.
• Deleted Scenes introduced by the filmmakers
• Art Galleries — A collection of storyboard art traces the visual development of The Princess and the Frog’s rich gallery of characters and settings.

The Princess and the Frog on Blu-ray is priced at $39.99SRP (US), and $44.99 (Canada) and on Blu-ray Combo Pack is priced at $44.99 SRP (US) and $51.99SRP (Canada), and the Single Disc DVD is priced at $29.99 SRP (US) and $35.99 SRP (Canada).

Old Dogs is a Great Family Movie

We are big Robin Williams fans in this house and we were excited to see him and John Travolta team up in the movie Old Dogs. It is a really cute family movie with just enough injury to private parts to keep the older boys laughing and engaged.

What I was really most impressed with though is the Blu-Ray/DVD pack. As a mom of kids who have routinely scratched dvds in one way or another I think these new packs are awesome. You get the Blu-Ray disc, a DVD disc AND a digital disk to transfer the movie to your computer or iPhone. It is about time that companies got on board with the realities that our kiddos watch tv in a big variety of ways and instead of up charging us for that, just include it! YAY for Disney.

Here was one of our favorite scenes from the movie:

The Blu-Ray pack comes out next Tuesday so plan to pick one up!

*Betweentalk.com staff was compensated for our honest review of this product.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie’s Bow-tique

This DVD takes kids on an educational and entertaining journey. In these episodes Minnie leads the gang on a series of problem solving adventures that can keep anyone entertained. As a parent of three girls it is great to see a compilation of episodes centered on their favorite character, Minnie Mouse. What is great about this show is that Mickey and the gang want you the viewer to get involved and help them solve their problems. Disney has a way of making education part of their shows and once again this is a great example.

AIR BUD: GOLDEN RECEIVER Special Edition

Got football fever? Or are you bored while your parents watch the Super Bowl? I have just the movie for you! We watched this the other day and it is so cute. Got to love Air Bud. We even have a golden retriever named Buddy after this series.

Here are some cute scenes to hold you over until you can pick this up at the store!

Story from Disney:

Now you can kick off all-star family fun with the heartwarming Air Bud: Golden Receiver Special Edition, featuring exclusive all-new bonus action: Sports Channel play-by-play quarterbacked by the Buddies! This time out, Buddy, the hoop-shooting, hotshot canine, tackles a new sport—football. When his teenage owner reluctantly becomes the chool’s new quarterback, Buddy catches the spirit and joins the team. Soon, the two find themselves leading the Timberwolves to the state championship. But victory hopes are sidelined when two sinister Russian circus owners take a bite out of everyone’s plans and dognap Buddy for their star attraction. Give three cheers for Disney’s hilarious hit that goes the whole nine yards for outrageous fun and adventure.

Bonus Features

• The Buddies Sports Channel – Join Budderball in the broadcasting booth as he and the rest of

the Buddies, B-Dawg, Mudbud, Buddha and Rosebud, review the instant replay on the amazing

football career of their dad, Air Bud.

• Air Bud Sport Whistle Necklace – Exclusive on-pack while supplies last.

BUY IT: February 2, 2010

Suggested retail price: $29.99 US

Rated: ‘G’ (US)

Run time: Approx. 90 minutes

I ♥ JONAS

To start off I was pleasantly surprised by the new I Heart Jonas DVD. I have three daughters and there was something for all of them on this DVD. My oldest of course loves the boys and my youngest rocked out to the music. Even I enjoyed watching the show. This DVD is wholesome entertainment for the whole family. Nick, Kevin and Joe are good role models for small children and young adults. Episode after episode there is great plot lines and hilarious jokes. I would recommend this DVD to all my friends and family, young or old male or female.

This comes out on DVD on Jan 26th!

Story:
Fans will get a kick out of the lovable antics of three of the world’s most famous musicians with 7 specially selected episodes of the hit Disney Channel Original Series in I ♥ JONAS. Viewers will see how Joe reacts when he discovers that Stella has a date with another guy, and what happens when the tables are turned and a struggling young actress makes a play for Joe. Plus, with the never-before-seen
bonus feature, “You’ve Just Been Jo Bro’d—Surprising Jordin Sparks,” I ♥ JONAS is a must-have for any Jonas Brothers fan!
Bonus Features
• You’ve Just Been Jo Bro’d – Surprising Jordin Sparks – Jordin thinks she is participating in a radio interview with the Jonas Brothers. But confusion and mayhem soon follow as the interview quickly takes on a life of its own with crazy questions and odd callouts. Then the Jo Bros get in on the action by pretending to be “callers!”
• Exclusive Premium Magnets Featuring Each Of The Jonas Brothers on the package (while supplies last)

Disclaimer: Compensation was provided for this honest review.

Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie Extended Edition

Did you see this movie when it aired on Disney a few months ago? We did and loved it. That is why we were so excited to have it be released on DVD! This DVD edition comes with a color-changing wishing stone and a bonus DVD full of behind the scenes interviews explaining how they do some of the magical scenes special effects.

This is a great DVD to get during the holiday break. It will keep you entertained for hours

If you have not seen it, here is what the story is about!

The most magical event of the year is now even bigger, with more thrilling adventure! Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie Extended Edition features exclusive footage, behind-the-scenes bonus and awesome extras that take you deeper into the mysterious world of wizardry! Embark on a supernaturally exciting adventure as the Russos, your favorite family of wizards-in-training, join together on a quest full of heart-stopping action and hilarious magical mishaps! While on vacation, Alex (Selena Gomez) accidentally casts a spell that threatens her family’s existence! Max (Jake T. Austin) tries to keep his parents together while Alex and Justin (David Henrie) use every trick they know as they search for the “Stone of Dreams” to reverse the spell and save their family. You won’t want to miss one extraordinary moment of this extended, magic-filled and action-packed movie!

Disclosure: We were sent a free copy of this movie to review. Our opinions are our own and were not influenced by the review copy provided.

Disney Haunted Holidays

Looking for something unusual to do during this holiday break? Head over to Disney’s Haunted Holidays page for some unique activities. There are some very cool things to do, especially the Pirates of the Caribbean page!

“Haunted Holidays” brings together scary attractions like the Haunted Mansion, notorious villains from classic films like “Snow White,” and then embraces the holiday “spirit” literally with special features on the upcoming “Christmas Carol” film from Walt Disney Studios.

From Pirates to Muppets, from London to New Orleans, “Haunted Holidays” on Disney.com brings together an array of exclusive and never before seen features from some of Disney’s most popular films and characters. Highlights include:

The Haunted Mansion

Often picked as a favorite attraction by Disney Parks guests around the world, the Haunted Mansion is celebrating its 40^th anniversary this year, and on Disney.com you can watch exclusive behind-the-scenes videos that look at the history and Imagineering that went into creating the spookiest place at Disneyland. The Haunted Mansion Chapter features:

• “Choose your Demise” game, in the “spirit” of the real Haunted Mansion elevator portraits the portraits featured in this game may not be as they appear.
• Exclusive flip book of Haunted Mansion images and artwork
• Exclusive, behind-the-scenes videos and fan videos at Disneyland Resort

The Muppets

The Muppets have “dug up” their favorite spooky jokes in honor of Halloween – check out all-new videos and shorts, you don’t have to be a werewolf to howl at these jokes, even our mummy likes them. Chapter features are:

• Hidden “pop-up” Halloween jokes
• Original Halloween-themed videos
• Fan-favorite Muppet sketches

Nightmare Before Christmas

What holiday is complete without a visit to Halloweentown with Jack Skellington?  Continuing a Disney Halloween tradition, the “Nightmare Before Christmas” Chapter features:

• Video of Rise Against’s music video “Making Christmas”
• Links to Disney.com Create portal photo mash-up featuring “Nightmare” characters

Disclosure: We were compensated for this review. Our opinions are our own and were not influenced by compensation provided.

Review: SpongeBob SquarePants: Season 6

So excited to tell you about SpongeBob SquarePants: Season 6, Volume 1 available on DVD December 8^th! The DVD includes a 2-Disc set that features 24 Spongy Stories, the exclusive SpongeBob history song, and more!

Truth or Square was the favorite episode of this DVD for us. Here is a list of all the episodes:

SpongeBob SquarePants: Season 6 Volume 1

2 Discs – Total Runtime: 324 MIN.

Street date: 12/7/09

Episode Descriptions:

Disc 1:

• Spongicus
  • Plankton turns the Chum Bucket into a realistic replica of the Colosseum, complete with a man-eating lionfish!
• Suction Cup Symphony
  • Squidward’s inspiration for his musical entry in the Bikini Bottom Symphony Orchestra competition…SpongeBob and Patrick!
• House Fancy
  • Jealous that Squilliam’s on House Fancy, Squidward lures the show’s producers to his fancier house. Desperate to make his home presentable, Squidward lets SpongeBob help.
• Krabby Road
  • Plankton forms a band that includes SpongeBob, hoping SpongeBob will write a song revealing the Krabby Patty ingredients.
• Penny Foolish
  • Mr. Krabs thinks he sees SpongeBob pick up a penny from the ground – a penny that should be HIS!
• Nautical Novice
  • Before a class trip to the Nautical Museum, SpongeBob memorizes the entire history of boating. Isn’t that reason enough for Mrs. Puff to give him his license?
• Not Normal
  • SpongeBob becomes “normal.” And boy, is it boring!
• Gone
  • It’s the strangest thing. SpongeBob’s awakened to find everyone in Bikini Bottom is gone!
• SpongeBob SquarePants vs. The Big One
  • Swept out to sea by a giant wave, SpongeBob and pals must learn to surf, or be stranded on a remote island forever!
• A Life in a Day
  • SpongeBob and Patrick add adventure to their dull lives by “livin’ like Larry.” And boy does it hurt!
• Sun Bleached
  • SpongeBob and Patrick can’t attend the biggest party on Goo Lagoon because they aren’t tan…yet!
• Giant Squidward
  • Squidward’s Kelp Grow garden spray makes everything it touches HUGE!
• No Nose Knows
  • Patrick returns from the surgeon with a nose and experiences the smell of stink.
• Patty Caper
  • SpongeBob and Patrick are on the case when the Krabby Patty secret ingredient goes missing!

Disc 2:

• Plankton’s Regular
• To SquarePants or Not to SquarePants
• Squid’s Visit
• The Splinter
• Slide Whistle Stooges
• Boating Buddies
• The Krabby Kronicle
• The Slumber Party
• Grooming Gary
• Truth or Square

• • Plankton has his first regular customer, but Mr. Krabs wants him at the Krusty Krab!

• • Can it be?! SpongeBob’s shrunk his last pair of square pants, only to find no store has any others! And without his square pants, will anyone recognize him?

• • Squidward says he wouldn’t leave the comfort of his home to visit SpongeBob. So SpongeBob redecorates the pineapple to look just like Squiddy’s place!

• • When SpongeBob gets a stubborn splinter, Squidward threatens him with being…sent home!

• • Patrick and SpongeBob use their new slide whistles to add sound effects to Squidward’s every move!

• • To regain his impeccable driving record, Squidward has to attend boating school…with SpongeBob!

• • Mr. Krabs creates a tabloid with SpongeBob as ace reporter. While SpongeBob wants to write the truth, Mr. Krabs wants “wild and juicy” – true or not!

• • Pearl asks Mr. Krabs to leave the house so he doesn’t ruin her party. To keep an eye on things, Mr. Krabs sends SpongeBob to crash the bash!

• • SpongeBob gives Gary a makeover to compete in a pet show, and Gary can’t stand the primping. As it turns out, neither can any of the competition.

• • On the Krusty Krabs’ Eleventy Seventh anniversary, the entire crew finds themselves locked in the restaurant’s freezer! It’s going to be a really cold trip down memory lane. Featuring hilarious never-before-seen flashbacks!

Special Features:

• The SpongeBob History Song
• 7 Shorts

Disclosure: We were sent a free copy of this movie to review. Our opinions are our own and were not influenced by the review copy provided.