Imax Jones And The Theater Of Lost Arts...

IDa da da da, da da da...











If big films have a name, it must be IMAX...

And next month to celebrate the release of all the Indiana Jones films on Blu-Ray, Lucasfilm is going to have a one week release in IMAX theaters of the greatest movie of all time. At least, according to me. It's my favorite film and the most out of body experience I ever had while watching a film. Now Lucasfilm and IMAX have released a trailer for the film.

From September 7th to September 13th you'll be able to experience Henry Jones Jr.'s first adventure like never before. IMAX 70 mm is a beautiful experience and if you've never seen it, this is a great way to experience it. Click here if you'd like to see it when the limited release happens.

Man in the Hat on the Big Screen...

Hat Tip to /Film.

UPDATE:

A poster for the IMAX showing has been released.

Inside The Universe...

Coolness never seemed needed...





If you've seen the list/photos of Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One, then you know how cool it is...

Now, Marvel Studios/Disney's home entertainment division even got a trailer for it. Yes, that's right. A Trailer for a Blu-Ray box set.

But to be fair, it's a really, really cool box set...

Straight Jackets...

Now this is supercool...







The new box set of the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One is pretty sweet...

Even sweeter are the individual jacket sleeves that hold each Blu-Ray disc. Take a look at the fantastic artwork you get inside this uber-cool S.H.I.E.L.D. briefcase.
































And now we have to wait five years to get to Phase Two...

What's Left Behind...

Hopefully it has a charger...








Even Marvel Shorts are getting posters it seems...

The new short, "Item 47" that is included in "The Avengers" Blu-Ray/DVD happens to have a poster. And it looks pretty swank. Also, Marvel released a micro-clip to help set up the story. Basically, it's a modern day Bonnie & Clyde that come across alien technology set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

I guess the G-Men that get them in this version come from the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier...

New Bat-Time, New Bat-Channel...

Na, na, na, na, na, na, Batman...





I remember as a small boy, rushing home from school to watch reruns of the 60's "Batman" tv show...

I was obsessed with it. I even went to get Burt Ward's autograph at a local car dealership when he stopped by my town. I have autographs of various stars, but still haven't gotten one by Adam West yet. I remember always wanting to have a DVD copy of the series, but realized that there were rights issues between 20th Century Fox and Warner that weren't resolved. I have a copy of the series on disc from when it was on TV Land, but it's not the greatest quality. So I've waited. And waited. And waited...

Until today.

Variety announced that as of now, the rights issues have been resolved and a whole slew of merchandise, and presumably the series itself will become available over the next few years. So now I can look forward to a Blu-Ray copy of the series to have along with my Nolan trilogy. I think my autographed copy of Frank Gorshin as the Riddler just gave me the thumbs up.


Holy happy day, Batman...

Blu-American...

The first on the twenty-fifth...







You can always tell if I liked a film based on if I'll get the Blu-Ray...

And as many of you know, I absolutely loved "Captain America" when it came out. So there should be no doubt that when October 25th. It was a great adaption with depth and heart that should show any studio how to faithfully take a comic and create something everyone can have accessibility to. The Blu-Ray also features a ton of extras:

• 00:03:44:01 MARVEL ONE-SHOT: A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THOR’S HAMMER
• 00:01:08:17 THE AVENGERS – EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES!
• 00:03:40:16 (CAPTAIN AMERICA’S ORIGIN)
• 00:10:20:20 (OUTFITTING A HERO)
• 00:05:47:02 (HOWLING COMMANDOS)
• 00:11:41:07 (HEIGHTENED TECHNOLOGY)
• 00:09:53:15 (BEHIND THE SKULL)
• 00:08:23:13 (THE TRANSFORMATION)
• 00:02:13:15 CAPTAIN AMERICA – SUPER SOLDIER
• 00:01:37:13 THE AVENGERS
• 00:00:38:06 (DELETED SCENES: NORWAY TANK ATTACK)
• 00:01:29:22 (DELETED SCENES: BUCKY’S BATTLE)
• 00:00:57:23 (DELETED SCENES: YOU DESERVE A MEDAL)
• 00:02:02:22 (DELETED SCENES: THERE’S A PLACE FOR YOU HERE)
• 00:00:39:08 (DELETED SCENES: NORWAY TANK ATTACK W/COMMENTARY) 00:01:29:24 (DELETED SCENES: BUCKY’S BATTLE W/COMMENTARY)
• 00:00:57:23 (DELETED SCENES: YOU DESERVE A MEDAL W/COMMENTARY) 00:02:18:05 CAPTAIN AMERICA – THE FIRST AVENGER (THEATRICAL TRAILER #1) 00:02:17:19 CAPTAIN AMERICA – THE FIRST AVENGER (THEATRICAL TRAILER #2)

Come October, I am there...

Rocketeering Back...

You look like a hood ornament...







So September begins and the Mouse announces holiday gifts...

After much anticipation about when they would finally release a Blu-Ray of the classic film, "The Rocketeer" would be announced, the details are out.

December 13.

That's when you can get your copy of the film. Who knows, if enough people buy it we might even see the Suits in Burbank think of a sequel, reboot or even an animated series on Disney XD?

Hey, I'm a dreamer...

Return Of The Jedis...

In a galaxy May, May Away...






George Lucas' epic six part space opera finally comes to Blu-Ray...

And at least half of them I'll watch. Lucasfilm announced today the special features as well as the cover art for Episodes I-III, Episodes IV-V and the Complete Collection.

The official press release:

Bring home the adventure and share Star Wars™ with your whole family – when STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA comes to Blu-ray Disc from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment! To be released beginning on September 12 internationally and on September 16 in North America, the nine-disc collection brings the wonder of the entire Saga direct to your living room, where you can revisit all of your favorite Star Wars moments – in gorgeous high definition and with pristine, 6.1 DTS Surround Sound. Dive deeper into the universe with an unprecedented 40+ hours of special features, highlighted by never-before-seen content sourced from the Lucasfilm archives.

Special Features:

STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA ON BLU-RAY is presented in widescreen with 6.1 DTS Surround Sound. Special features include:

* DISC ONE – STAR WARS: EPISODE I THE PHANTOM MENACE
o Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Rob Coleman, John Knoll, Dennis Muren and Scott Squires
o Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

* DISC TWO – STAR WARS: EPISODE II ATTACK OF THE CLONES
o Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Rob Coleman, Pablo Helman, John Knoll and Ben Snow
o Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

* DISC THREE – STAR WARS: EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH
o Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Rob Coleman, John Knoll and Roger Guyett
o Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

* DISC FOUR – STAR WARS: EPISODE IV A NEW HOPE
o Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
o Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

* DISC FIVE – STAR WARS: EPISODE V THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
o Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
o Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

* DISC SIX – STAR WARS: EPISODE VI RETURN OF THE JEDI
o Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
o Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

* DISC SEVEN – NEW! STAR WARS ARCHIVES: EPISODES I-III
o Including: deleted, extended and alternate scenes; prop, maquette and costume turnarounds; matte paintings and concept art; supplementary interviews with cast and crew; a flythrough of the Lucasfilm Archives and more.

* DISC EIGHT – NEW! STAR WARS ARCHIVES: EPISODES IV-VI
o Including: deleted, extended and alternate scenes; prop, maquette and costume turnarounds; matte paintings and concept art; supplementary interviews with cast and crew; and more.

* DISC NINE – THE STAR WARS DOCUMENTARIES
o NEW! Star Warriors (2007, Color, Apx. 84 Minutes) – Some Star Wars fans want to collect action figures…these fans want to be action figures! A tribute to the 501st Legion, a global organization of Star Wars costume enthusiasts, this insightful documentary shows how the super-fan club promotes interest in the films through charity and volunteer work at fundraisers and high-profile special events around the world.

* NEW! A Conversation with the Masters: The Empire Strikes Back 30 Years Later (2010, Color, Apx. 25 Minutes) – George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Lawrence Kasdan and John Williams look back on the making of The Empire Strikes Back in this in-depth retrospective from Lucasfilm created to help commemorate the 30th anniversary of the movie. The masters discuss and reminisce about one of the most beloved films of all time.

* NEW! Star Wars Spoofs (2011, Color, Apx. 91 Minutes) – The farce is strong with this one! Enjoy a hilarious collection of Star Wars spoofs and parodies that have been created over the years, including outrageous clips from Family Guy, The Simpsons, How I Met Your Mother and more — and don’t miss “Weird Al” Yankovic’s one-of-a-kind music video tribute to The Phantom Menace!

* The Making of Star Wars (1977, Color, Apx. 49 Minutes) – Learn the incredible behind-the-scenes story of how the original Star Wars movie was brought to the big screen in this fascinating documentary hosted by C-3PO and R2-D2. Includes interviews with George Lucas and appearances by Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher.

* The Empire Strikes Back: SPFX (1980, Color, Apx. 48 Minutes) – Learn the secrets of making movies in a galaxy far, far away. Hosted by Mark Hamill, this revealing documentary offers behind-the-scenes glimpses into the amazing special effects that transformed George Lucas’ vision for Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back into reality!

* Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi (1983, Color, Apx. 48 Minutes) – Go behind the scenes — and into the costumes — as production footage from Return of the Jedi is interspersed with vintage monster movie clips in this in-depth exploration of the painstaking techniques utilized by George Lucas to create the classic creatures and characters seen in the film. Hosted and narrated by Carrie Fisher and Billie Dee Williams.

* Anatomy of a Dewback (1997, Color, Apx. 26 Minutes) – See how some of the special effects in Star Wars became even more special two decades later! George Lucas explains and demonstrates how his team transformed the original dewback creatures from immovable rubber puppets (in the original 1977 release) to seemingly living, breathing creatures for the Star Wars 1997 Special Edition update.

* Star Wars Tech (2007, Color, Apx. 46 Minutes) – Exploring the technical aspects of Star Wars vehicles, weapons and gadgetry, Star Wars Tech consults leading scientists in the fields of physics, prosthetics, lasers, engineering and astronomy to examine the plausibility of Star Wars technology based on science as we know it today.

Quite a lot of Star Wars to love, right? My biggest complaint is there is no copy of the original, untouched series to go with these. That would be a nice cherry on the top and a nod of respect to the fans that won't forgive George for what he's done with the Prequels. That said, it should be interesting to watch and will obviously sell billions more for the Lucas Empire.

Now, if he'd only edited some of that sappy dialogue out for we in the Rebellion...

Good News From The Grid...

Number Three could possibly be...





It appears that you Programs got some great news this week...

The Blu-Ray/DVD for "Tron Legacy" was a big winner. The sales were good enough to make Disney Suits take notice. Now of course, they're going to have to continue to be good, but so far it's impressive.

The sequel to "Tron" was number one, but it was so with a huge 68% of sales and outsold the DVD two-to-one. The third film in the series hasn't been green lit no matter what anyone has told you, but business like this makes it more likely. If you haven't yet got a copy and plan on it, may I suggest you depart with some green. It may make the difference between a two and a three.

As in TR3N...

OpTRONs...

Can't tell a play without a program...







So today is a day all you programs have waited for...



There is still no green light for the sequel, but plans are cautiously moving forward. If you know anything about Hollywood then you'll understand that this is not a ringing signal that the project is a go. But if you want to help tip the scales then today is the day to do that.



While the film will finish with over $400 million dollars at the box office, it doesn't mean we'll see TR3N anytime soon. But Suits are going to be watching the sales figures from the release of DVD's/Blu-Ray's and the various film incarnations that are available as of today.



From what I'm hearing, a definite go for the threequel will only come if financial figures from the film's home release are high enough to justify the cost of a third film. So if you want it to happen it's partially within your power. Buy one, buy two and give it to a friend.



Press play and watch what will happen...






Deposit another quarter please...

A Tangled Alternative...

Purty...


The Blu-Ray/DVD of "Tangled" will be coming out shortly and gems will be found inside...

When a film is made, it goes through endless changes before its final form. Animation evolves much more than any other form of film, especially during development or production. Sometimes they overlap.

Here is a clip of one of the bonus features from the Walt Disney Pictures film that shows an earlier, alternative opening. One that has the seed of what we saw on the screen, but hasn't been fully developed yet.

Enjoy...

Blu-Steel...

I fight for the Blu-Ray and DVD Users...

I want this SteelBook...

And I may even purchase that Ultimate Tron Experience.  Maybe that's what the Mouse has been wanting all along?

Now if I could just build me an IMAX theater in my back yard to show it in...

ObservaTRONs...

Game over, man...

Or not...



A lot of news/rumors about Walt Disney Pictures' "Tron Legacy" have circulated over the past few days...

Just wanted to chime in on it with a combination of opinion and knowledge from Blue Sky's unique perspective. I know Harry from Ain't It Cool News has been quite vocal in his support of the film as well as his reporting on the green lighting of TR3N/inclusion of a trailer for it on the upcoming DVD/Blu-Ray release. While I don't have his contacts, my own Bothans haven't given me any news about that, but I do have my own musings.

There was an initial belief that for the film to be a worthy success that it would have to gross $200 mil domestic/$200 mil international, but at the certain studios that logic could fly out the window. The film is on track to top out around $175 million domestic and around $190 million more internationally. That puts the film on track to come in somewhere around $365/$375 million total. Not chump change, but not a picture that turned in "Avatar" numbers of course. Still, it will come pretty close to the that $400 million mark that studios tend to use as a guide for judging if a film could/should have a sequel.

But as in the case of a film like "Cars," box office isn't the only factor in such a matter. That little film grossed only $461 million during its run in theaters. While not a small amount, it was far less than other Pixar films had or have made during their runs. Still, we look forward to a sequel to that film to come out this summer. That's what happens when a film has merchandising levels of 2 billion dollars a year. And that's why with all the marketing power of Disney behind it and five years of building that brand with new, young males it has the potential to do far more at the box office than the original film.

Tron merchandise hasn't quite reached that level, but it is selling remarkably well. Enough so that they have had trouble keeping stock of specific items in the theme parks. The Disney rave known as "ElecTRONica" has been an unprecedented success that has been extended till April. And as a brand factory, the Mouse is looking for properties that it can take and exploit. Tron could be one of those properties. While a movie like "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" has made a slightly similar box office take ($335 million), it hasn't produced nearly the benefit of expanding beyond people actually going to see it in a theater. Translation: Not enough shirts, toys and games were sold to justify any sequel.

And for those that think studios won't make a sequel to this because of the box office, remember a little film called "G.I. Joe" that came out in 2009? It had a worldwide gross of $302 million dollars. And if anyone has been paying attention, Paramount is moving ahead with a sequel, albeit without original director Stephen Sommers. And for those that think it cost less than Legacy; it cost more (Joe: $175 mil/TL: $170). The Studio suits saw the potential for merchandising and it was justified to make another one. I'm sure Disney Suits are taking note of all the people that have seen this film 2,3, and some up 7 or 8 times in a theater. That kind of brand loyalty is very difficult to find.

So a sequel to the sequel to the original isn't dead and doomsayers and haters should caution their tantrums and insults. Tron Fans should also take a note of caution as well, there is no green light yet. Those plans for a trailer of TR3N could turn out to be just extra scenes for the Blu-Ray/DVD or maybe even just a teaser for "Tron Uprising."

But either way, the last line of code has yet to be written on the Grid...

Tron Blu-s...

Someone doesn't have a Clu...





Earlier this year, Steven Lisberger, the Father of Tron, mentioned that a new high definition remaster of Tron was currently in the works to be released by the end of the year to coincide with Disney's theatrical release of Tron Legacy. Since then there has oddly been no official announcement and with just over 8 weeks to go no pre-release date in sight it's beginning to look like Tron will be MIA on blu-ray this year.

Word has it that earlier this summer the original Tron was screened at one of the theme parks and was laughed at by people who had not seen the original film and mocked it for its now-outdated effects and silly attire of leotards and hockey helmets parodied by the infamous "Tron Guy." Rumor has it that some Disney execs witnessed their reactions and it made them very, very nervous.

Understandable since they've spent millions marketing their "new and improved" Tron Legacy which they hope will be embraced by a new generation of fans. Since then plans to release the original Tron on blu-ray to generate interest in the sequel seem to have been scrapped out of fear that this product of a by-gone era would backfire and turn off their vital demographic from flocking to theaters to see Tron Legacy in December.

Word has it the original Tron will not be released now until sometime next year around the time Legacy is released on DVD and Blu-ray, long after all the box office grosses for Legacy are in. Normally, studios will strategically time the release of catalog DVD and Blu-ray sales to generate hype for a franchise installment and reciprocally to give home video sales a push but this seems to mark the beginning of what could become a counter-trend for studios looking to capture a new fanbase without any expectations or preconceptions.

Could the same fear and paranoia apply to Disney's marketing plans for their eminent remake of The Black Hole? As a fan of both of these classic Disney films I am disappointed that I will not be able to enjoy seeing Tron remastered in glorious high definition before going to see Legacy but I am deeply concerned by how this could impact reception of it my millions of people who have not even seen the original film and how they could potentially regard Legacy as the defacto Tron film and shrug off the original 28 year-old film as a relic of the Atari age.

Tron was cutting-edge for its day and decades ahead of its time but like all films in retrospect is a product of the period in which it was made and should be appreciated as such for what it is and its rightful place in cinematic history. Is Disney deliberately trying to sweep memories of it under the rug to be forgotten so that Legacy will be received as the definitive start of a new franchise? The very thought of it gives me pause and sends a shudder of discomfort up my spine. It almost seems like they are trying to re-write the program.

End of Line.

Believing In Fairies...

More Pixie Dust...



Pixie dust is still popular, apparently...

Last week when the details came out about the top selling DVDs of the week, it was no surprise that "Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue," the latest Disney Fairies film was number one right after its debut. Now, it's not the kind of film that I would normally watch, but I have seen these films and they're far more engaging as well as being remarkably higher quality than you would expect coming from a straight-to-DVD background. While they're aimed at girls, the tales have been far richer and the animation more detailed than I would have imagined from such a product.

And there is one reason for this: John Lasseter.

When he came to head animation at the Mouse he was handed the job of shoring up the division known (at least right now) as Disney Toon Studios. They're the division that put out all those Cheapquels that most Disney fans came to despise. Lasseter was responsible for putting a stop to milking all these franchises that had been going on since the late Eighties. There were still a couple in the production pipeline that had to be finished, but he made it clear that all new product would have to focus on a different direction. The Disney Fairies were just starting out and the plan was to focus on these as the next major DVD franchise. All this was started before the Pixar purchase and before he was put in charge and when he finally got a look at the first film in the series, John was clearly not happy with the direction of the story. Within a matter of months the film was delayed till the following year, the Suits in charge were gone and the division would report directly to John and Ed Catmull. These two guys are essentially in charge of all Disney animation with the exception of Walt Disney Television Animation, which should not be confused with DTS. Lasseter set about fixing the story of the first film and setting up a chronology for the entire series. There are still two more films to go in the series (Tinker Bell and the Mysterious Winter Woods and Tinker Bell: Race Through the Seasons) and no decision has been finalized as to if the series will continue after 2012. That will ultimately be determined by the sales/merchandising of the next two films. But as the Fairy series moves toward an eventual end, another series will start to take the place it had in the production pipeline: "Planes."

I've heard a lot of people venting about this series and many have felt as this as something along the lines of a desecration of the Lamp's label. But this series is something that has been in the planning for a couple years. As the Tink series was in full production, the powers that be realized that they had to address a couple of things. First, the focus on characters and issues that play primarily to girls/women. Second, the missed opportunity to maximize boys obsession with the "Cars" franchise. This gave John and the crew over at the Toon Studios the opportunity to work more in the world of Cars and focus on that male demographic. Unlike the Disney Fairies, this is a series that has had Lasseter's blessing from the get go. Tink was a series that he was given with the expectation of delivering, which he has in spades. This series, which storyboard artists will begin working on a second draft of the film in November after John's note are analyzed, will have even more focus than Fairies. The film is currently set for a late 2011/early 2012 release if everything continues running smoothly. Should this film be successful, the crew has plans to work on many of the other humanized vehicles of this world: Trains, Boats, ect. He's done a great job of turning the DVD series into a credible and profitable franchise, now he's got the opportunity to focus on expanding and growing the offerings of this division.

Which, judging by the sales figures of the latest film should make Suits quite happy...

The Ultimate Toy Box...

You've got a friend in Blu...






Wow, that looks pretty swank...

So, the details have been released for the Blu-Ray trilogy box set of the Toy Story franchise. Man, that's a mouthful. Take the time to click over and see all this baby is packed with. Perhaps it's time you pre-ordered the best trilogy of films? Yeah, I believe that.

Best eva...

Blu Fantasia...

I know that sounds like an adult night club, but I'm really looking forward to getting this...

Finally, the Blu-Ray Special Edition of "Fantasia/Fantasia 2000" will be released on November 30th in a 4 disc collection that fans like myself will be able to enjoy in all its amazing detail. If you want to know what all these discs include, the Mouse has put out a detailed press release:

Releasing for the First Time in Over a Decade
To Astound the Eyes and Ears of a New Generation!

Highly-Anticipated Hi-Def Debut of Disney's Acclaimed Masterwork and the Modern Magnum Opus it Inspired

Fantasia & Fantasia 2000: 2-Movie Collection Special Edition
On 4-Disc Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and 2-Disc DVD
November 30, 2010

BURBANK, Calif., September 2010 -- Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 -- the magical, animated musical masterpiece and the contemporary classic inspired by it -- debut in highly anticipated Blu-ray High Definition and DVD 2-Movie Collection Special Editions on November 30. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is opening the Disney vault to be able to present these two films that broke the boundaries of imagination in the highest quality possible.

The Fantasia and Fantasia 2000: 2-Movie Collection Special Edition will be available in a 4-disc Blu-ray Combo Pack ($45.99 SRP) and a 2-Disc DVD ($39.99 SRP) for a very limited time only. The Blu-ray transformation of Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 will reveal the magic, music and majesty of both films as never before experienced, with state-of-the-art picture restoration of the original Fantasia and pristine 7.1 Digital Theater System Hi-Def Surround Sound. The Blu-ray combo pack is a tremendous value featuring, in addition to the two films in two different formats, a wealth of bonus features.

Among those Blu-ray special features is the highly requested Academy Award® nominated short Destino. Available for the first time ever on Blu-ray, the seven minute film is the result of a unique collaboration between Walt Disney and Salvador Dali begun in 1946, but put on hold due to studio financial concerns. In 2003, Roy E. Disney worked with a team of modern day animators to complete the film as a tribute to Walt's pioneering artistic vision. Accompanying the highly anticipated short is an all-new feature length documentary entitled Dali & Disney: A Date With Destino, which explores the origins of the relationship between Disney and Dali, their collaboration on Destino, and ultimately how the film came to fruition so many years after its inception.

Fantasia, an unprecedented and magnificent feast of music and animated images, was initially released by the Studio in 1940 as a "road show" release. The following year, at the 14th Annual Academy Awards, Fantasia earned two Special Awards. The first was given to Walt Disney and associates for their outstanding contribution to the advancement of the use of sound in motion pictures, being the first commercial film released in multi-channel sound using a process called Fantasound, and the second to conductor Leopold Stokowski and his associates "for... unique achievement in the creation of a new form of visualized music... thereby widening the scope of the motion picture as entertainment and as an art form."

Considered avant-garde during its time, Fantasia has gone on to become one of the most popular movies of all time and today is considered a classic. In 1990, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Featuring the Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Stokowski, this groundbreaking film, which consists of animation set to eight musical pieces, is narrated by Deems Taylor and includes an appearance by Mickey Mouse (voiced by Disney himself).

Equally impressive is Fantasia 2000, the awe-inspiring extravaganza of sight and sound, executive produced by the late Roy E. Disney. Featuring an array of celebrity hosts including Steve Martin, Bette Midler, James Earl Jones, Penn and Teller, Angela Lansbury, Itzhak Perlman and Quincy Jones, the film, like its predecessor, expertly visualizes classical music compositions with various forms of animation and live-action introductions. Fantasia 2000 is primarily performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and conducted by James Levine.

Synopsis: The dreams and visions of Walt Disney come to life in Fantasia, which blends music and film magic into an exhilarating movie-going experience. Unforgettable images are brought to life by some of the world's best music, and highlighted by the comedy of Mickey Mouse as a troublemaking sorcerer's apprentice, along with the beauty of winged fairies and cascading snowflakes, the majesty of Noah's ark and even plump hippos performing ballet in tutus.

Motivated by his uncle's foresight, Roy Disney continued the magic with Fantasia 2000 which begins where its predecessor left off. There are seven completely new segments, and viewers watch a bustling Depression-era metropolis in the style of Al Hirschfeld's famous cartoons, a flock of flamingos with slapstick yo-yo talents, an ark full of animals gathered by Donald Duck as Noah's first mate, and musical life breathed into a family of flying humpback whales.

Fantasia DVD Bonus Features:

-New Audio Commentary with Disney historian Brian Sibley

-Disney Family Museum (running time: approx. 5 minutes) - Walt's daughter Diane Disney-Miller takes viewers on a tour of the new Disney Family Museum in San Francisco, California featuring a very large exhibit on Fantasia and most importantly, the Schultheis notebook with long lost Fantasia production notes found in more recent years in the walls of a convent.

Fantasia Blu-ray Bonus Features:

Everything on the DVD plus:

-Disney View - This viewing mode maximizes the Blu-ray viewing experience with a 16 x 9 aspect ratio. Original artwork created by a Disney artist, in a style that complements the beauty of the film.

-The Shultheis Notebook: A Disney Treasure (running time: approx. 14 minutes) - An in depth look at the recently discovered Schultheis Notebook. The detailed log was created by Herman Schultheis, an effects man on Fantasia, and intricately breaks down the film from a technical view. Many of the special effects used in Fantasia were a mystery to modern day animators until this notebook was recovered.

-Interactive Art Gallery and Screensavers - Viewers can explore the artwork of Fantasia as never before, in HD resolution with unique Blu-ray interactivity and programming.

-Audio Commentaries from Fantasia Legacy Collection: With executive producer Roy E. Disney, conductor James Levine, animation historian John Canemaker, and Scott McQueen, manager of film restoration. Audio commentary with interviews and story note recreations by Walt Disney, hosted by John Canemaker.

Fantasia 2000 DVD Bonus Features:

-Musicana: Walt's Inspiration for a Sequel (running time: approx. 10 minutes) - This documentary reveals rarely-seen art created for Musicana, a late 1970's project intended as a Fantasia sequel with a focus on exploring other cultures via their greatest musical compositions. Viewers are offered a look at the origins of pieces that were started by Walt, such as "The Emperor and the Nightingale" which was then taken over by a very young John Lasseter. Ultimately, Musicana was stopped to begin production on Mickey's Christmas Carol, but the memories of this piece still live on with the animators who conceived it.

Fantasia 2000 Blu-ray Bonus Features:

Everything on the DVD plus:

-Dali & Disney: A Date With Destino (running time: 82 minutes) - This feature length documentary explores the collaborative relationship between Walt Disney and Salvador Dali, revealing how and why the Destino short came to fruition under the lead of Roy E. Disney in 2003 so many years after its inception in 1946.

-Destino (running time: approx. 7 minutes) - The legacy of Walt Disney and Salvador Dali lives on in this highly anticipated short film.

-Disney's Virtual Vault -- BD-Live Feature

-Original DVD Bonus Features from Legacy Collection

-Audio Commentaries from Fantasia Legacy Collection (total running time: 84 minutes): With executive producer Roy E. Disney, conductor James Levine, and producer Don Ernst. Audio commentary with the directors and art directors for each segment.

About Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Combo Packs (Blu-ray + DVD in a single package): To provide consumers with unprecedented quality, value and portability of their favorite Disney classics, in 2008 WDSHE pioneered the Combo Pack - Blu-ray Disc(s) plus a DVD in a single package. Classic Disney titles released as Combo Packs include Sleeping Beauty, Pinocchio and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

The Fantasia and Fantasia 2000: 2-Movie Collection Special Edition Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack is priced at $45.99 SRP and the 2-Disc DVD set is priced at $39.99 SRP.

I'm there because my HDTV and Blu-Ray were expecting this baby the day they were born...

Cloning Available...

And so marches on the ever growing Lucas empire...

Lucasfilm is releasing the DVD/Blu-Ray of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" Season 2. While it is imperfect and uneven, the series is far better than the prequels that began/disappointed fans a decade ago. It has steadily improved and could offer a new hope that there is a positive future for that galaxy a long, long time ago. I'm sure Decadent Dave and THX-1138 will be first in line.

The Star Wars universe grows and grows...

Welcome A Princess In March...

On March 16th, "The Princess and the Frog" Blu-Ray/DVD will be released...

If you haven't seen it yet (shame on you!), then this is your chance to take a look at a beautiful little fairytale that audiences loved... at least those that showed up to see it. The film got great reviews, but the audiences to needed to make it a hit didn't materialize. Partially due to the release schedule with all those large films around it and somewhat due to the term "Princess" most likely. But it's a very good film, one that you will enjoy and one that you should and will want to own.

Reserve yours today...

White On Blue...

Next month we'll see Walt Disney's first animated classic released on Blu-Ray...

If you would like to see the trailer for it, then click here.

Mirror, mirror on the wall...