Author: Robert Greenberger

Disney Explores its Rich History in 3 Documentaries

  • News
  • October 11, 2010

Walt Disney is one of the first entertainment companies to carefully archive its creative works. As a result, as the films were retired and then re-released to the next generation of children, they had a plethora of material to work with in order to freshen the content and marketing. This has led to quite a number of wonderful books exploring the rich corporate history.

Now, three documentaries are being released on DVD next month, adding a new dimension to exploring the stories behind the magic. Waking Sleeping Beauty, The Boys and Walt & El Grupo are now available for pre-order at www.DisneyMovieCollections.com.

Far from a fairytale, Waking Sleeping Beauty is an unprecedented eye-opening look at the conflict, drama and tension that ushered in the second chapter of Disney’s animation legacy – a decade of unparalleled creativity that included The Little Mermaid, Beauty And The Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King, told by the people who were actually there.

The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story is an intimate journey through the lives of Robert and Richard Sherman, the astoundingly prolific Academy Award®-winning songwriting team. While their songs – “A Spoonful Of Sugar (Mary Poppins)” and “I Want To Be Like You (Jungle Book),” to name a few – celebrated family entertainment and happy endings, their life together was not as harmonious. Go behind the scenes, including interviews with Dick Van Dyke, Angela Lansbury, Roy E. Disney and many more, for a fascinating glimpse into how Walt Disney used the language of music to bring the brothers together, creating a cinematic legacy like no other.

When the U.S. Government asked Disney to be a cultural ambassador to South America, the stage was set for Walt’s very own real-life adventure. With a group of handpicked artists, later called “El Grupo,” Disney’s WWII road trip achieved the impossible – goodwill – and in the process paved the way for two classic Disney films, Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros.  Brought to life through rare footage and enriched with never-before-seen bonus features, Walt & El Grupo is a story of inspiration, joy and hope you won’t soon forget.

Each DVD Includes:

An exceptional look at Walt Disney and the studio from yesteryear
Rare footage and interviews from Walt Disney insiders
A unique, collectible piece of Disney history
Extensive Bonus Material, taking you deep into the stories .
 
When you buy all three DVDs before November 29th, you’ll also receive three collectible 8×10 lithographs free. We strongly suggest you consider these when you begin your holiday shopping.

Building Beauty’s Beast

  • News
  • October 10, 2010

Glen Keane, one of Disney’s current Nine Old Men and a master animator, spoke with the press on Tuesday, the day Beauty and the Beast made its debut on Blu-ray. Walt Disney Home Entertainment provided ComicMix a transcript of the discussion, moderated by Mindy Johnson,  and below are excerpts from that discussion.

Mindy Johnson: Ttoday we’re going to get a rare opportunity to take a look at the building of Beauty’s Beast, one of the most iconic characters today.  And here we are with Glen Keane, who is just freshly back from Paris, and you spent several weeks there, Glen, preparing for an upcoming show.  Is that correct?

Glen Keane:  Yes.   Yes.  I’m actually having a – my first art show, where I’ll be showing a little bit of a retrospective of my animation drawings, my rough drawings, some from Beauty and the Beast, as well as the rest of my career.  And then, that’s a third of the show.  The other two-thirds are actually drawings from my sketchbook, speaker drawings, things that I’m going to actually be selling. 

But the idea is to give an insight into what goes on in the life of an artist who is an animator and where do you get your inspiration.  And actually, those are a lot of the things that we’ll be talking about today specifically about the character of the Beast.

But this show is at the (Arloudic) Gallery on the Ile Sainte Marie in Paris on November ninth, yes, so I’m excited about it.  If you’re there, you’re welcome to come to the (Vernusage) and it will be there for, I don’t know, a good month.

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Review: ‘He’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown’

1000116765dvdlef-2839417When Charles Schulz created [[[Peanuts]]] sixty years ago, he never imagined that Snoopy, Charlie Brown’s beagle, would steal the spotlight and overshadow the strip in future years. Much as Snoopy overran the comic strip and merchandising, so did he loom large in many of the animated specials which ran for decades on CBS. Warner Home Entertainment has collected two of those dog-centric specials in the just released[[[He’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown]]].

The disc contains not only the title special, which first aired on February 14, 1968, and was last collected in 2009’s Peanuts 1960s Collection, but also [[[Life is a Circus, Charlie Brown]]], a 1980 special that has not been remastered before. The latter was the 20th special and is making its DVD debut here, and it was clear the energy and creative spark was long since gone.

The first story focuses on Snoopy being terribly disobedient and a general pain in the neck to the gang. Charlie Brown calls the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm , the obedience school that failed to do its job, notifying them the dog is being sent back for remedial lessons. Then, he sends Snoopy across town, asking Peppermint Patty to let the “shortstop with a big nose” stay over one night. Snoopy stays and never leaves until Patty complains. Charlie collects the dog, who promptly escapes but this time Patty makes the dog work to earn his keep. He comes to miss the cushy life he had and returns home. Meantime, the gang has come to miss the annoying pet.

I suppose Snoopy learns his lesson, at least for a little while, but none of the other characters, even Patty, get to do much of anything except complain so its not one of the better uses of the ensemble cast. Neither is the second feature from October 24, 1980. Here, Snoopy accidentally winds up joining a trained dog act when the circus comes to town.  He’s infatuated with Fifi, the star poodle so let Polly the trainer take him in and turn him into a performing star.

Charlie Brown is somewhat distraught to see Snoopy leaving with the circus en route to Omaha but does nothing to get him back. Instead, we see Polly getting orders from the Colonel, the circus’ owner, and slowly it becomes clear the life of a star attraction is not all its cracked up to be and he breaks free, taking Fifi with him. In the end, though, she decides the return to the only home she knew, as Snoopy parts heading for home.

Watching the two back to back, you see the quality of the animation and voice casting clearly deteriorate along with the cleverness of the humor and storytelling. While the strip stopped being interesting years before, the television specials were finally matching that creative drought. The remastering job, though, makes them look terrific so Peanuts fans will be pleased.

The sole special feature is the 22 minute “Snoopy’s Home Ice: The Story of the Redwood Empire Ice Arena”, an extended look at the arena Schulz and family saved from ruin and how it has maintained that special Peanuts legacy as a testament to the creator. Animation guru Lee Mendelson, Kevin McCool (operations manager), Craig Schulz, Skippy Baxter (professional skater/director), Jean Schulz (Charles’ widow), Lisa Illsley-Navarro (skating professor), and Jim Doe (general manager) all appear on camera.

Review: ‘Beauty and the Beast’

beautyandthebeastdiamondeddvdcombo2-8817811The climb back to not only respectability but creativity was a long painful one for Walt Disney Studios but you could see bits and pieces of improvement throughout the 1980s. [[[The Little Mermaid]]] in 1989 was the first serious indication that the animators found their mojo. As a result, audiences were primed and ready for 1991’s Beauty and the Beast. What they didn’t anticipate was just how magical and wonderful the film would be.

Clearly, one of the crown jewels, the studio has polished their gem to a bright luster in the just-released Diamond Edition. There are a variety of formats including the combo pack which has the movie on standard DVD plus two Blu-ray discs chuck full of goodness.

First of all, you get three versions of the movie: the original theatrical release, the extended edition (containing the number “Being Human”) and the work-in-progress print which was screened in New York a year prior to release that gave everyone a hint at how special this film would be. While the animation shines in DVD, it’s glorious in Blu-ray, complete with spectacular sound. If anything, the high definition images are too clear so you actually see animation flaws here and there. Watching the film lets you lose yourself in the finely crafted story with lush visuals and lovely tunes.

The classic tale was reimagined in England under a different creative director and when the first 18 minutes of storyboards were presented, the Disney executives, including Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg, didn’t think it was quite right. They trashed six months of work and reassigned roles. At that point, it was also decided to add music and that is when the creative problems plaguing the story got solved.

Fortunately, the team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken were fresh off The Little Mermaid and stepped in. Ashman was ill, dying before Beauty was released, but did some of his finest work. The finished results had all the Disney magic generations had come to expect and added at least one new generation to its collection of believers. The story of Belle and the Beast is dramatic, emotional, humorous and touching. There are wonderful supporting characters, memorable songs, bits of business for adults and plenty of action for all. No wonder it received a Golden Globe and was nominated for Best Picture, forcing the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to create a separate category.

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The Contest Catch-Up Plus a New Offering

  • News
  • October 7, 2010

We’ve been remiss in announcing our prize winners and here’s a recap for those of you keeping score at home.

Tommy Williams is the winner of a free digital download of 300 with Extras, courtesy of Warner Digital.

Sean D. Martin is the winner of the free digital download of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, courtesy of Warner Digital. The craziest thing he has seen in a comic was turning the page to see Animal Man looking Right. At. Me. and saying
“I can see you!” It actually made me slam the book shut before sanity
returned a split second later and I sheepishly re-opened it.

The winner of the Lord of the Rings on Blu-ray trilogy, courtesy of Warner Home Entertainment, is Shanti Whitesides. She wrote:

Are you asking who is the protagonist, or who is the hero? The protagonist is certainly Frodo. The story opens with him being given the ring, he goes on to choose the burden willingly, and it’s his footsteps in which we follow the story. And it is his act of compassion toward Gollum that allows the quest to end in any sort of triumph.

On the other hand, if you’re asking who is the hero, I would have to say Sam. As I wrote in my essay, “A Fool’s Hope,” the ring-quest is one that can only be completed by a fool, not a traditional hero, and Sam is the epitome of the fool-hero – simple, humble, stout-hearted and loyal, driven by his devotion to Frodo to follow him through the hell of Mordor. It is a testament to Sam’s strength that he is able to heal from the ring quest and go on to live a happy life, where Frodo cannot.

Paul Go wins the LOTR gift set by writing, The lead character is Samwise. He manipulated the Baggins clan to reveal the ring, used Gandalf to research it and create the fellowship, and then made sure that Frodo disposed of it properly. This is his story: everyone else just serves it.

Warner Digital provided us with a copy of Atlantis: The Lost Continent, one of George Pal’s underrated fantasy films. We’re accepting entries until 11:59 p.m. Sunday. All you have to do is give us your best theory of what really happened to Atlantis. Best answers wins the DVD.

Review: ‘Atlantis the Lost Continent’

atlantis-archive-9532902Back in the dim pre-cable days, the independent stations in New York would run movies at all hours of the day. Those of us addicted to television were exposed to movies both great and not-so-great with amazing regularity and repetitiveness. One of those pleasures was in spotting performers we knew from other roles, at different times in their careers. For me, one of those discoveries was Edward Platt, who I only knew as the Chief of CONTROL on [[[Get Smart]]]. But there he was, in priestly robes, in a tale of lost Atlantis. It was years before I remembered its name,[[[ Atlantis the Lost Continent]]]and it was even some time after that before I realized it was from director George Pal. (more…)

Win a Digital Download for ‘King Kong’

  • News
  • October 5, 2010

King Kong remains one of the most imaginative, exciting and innovative movies of all time. The story alone is a pulse-pounding gem but then you add in Willis O’Brien’s groundbreaking special effects you have an instant classic. The 1933 film is being released today on Blu-ray and is now available as a digital download.

Warner Bros. Digital Distribution is releasing of
the classic film King Kong for Download at iTunes..  Take the beast on the run! 
Fans can now enjoy KING KONG on their iPhone, iPad and more…

Warner Digital has given us a digital download to give away to one lucky ComicMix reader. All you have to do is tell us what makes you go ape. The best answer provided in the comments section byt 11:59 p.m. Thursday evening will win this special treat.

 

 

 

Paige O’Hara, the voice of Belle, on being part of ‘Beauty and the Beast’

  • Uncategorized
  • October 3, 2010

mg-9614-7146878On Tuesday, the eagerly-awaited Blu-ray edition of Beauty and the Beast finally comes out and Walt Disney has been making certain we all know it. Yesterday, we presented a chat with Alan Menken, who helped make the music sound so wonderful. Today, we hear from Paige O’Hara, the talent voice actress who made Belle a memorable heroine.

Question: Did they incorporate any of your features when they drew Belle?

Paige O’Hara: Oh yeah. The eyes and cheekbones and the way she raised her eyebrow and pushed her hair out of her face—that was me. Little things and expressions. When I looked at the wall, there were pictures of Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn up, and my little funny picture was there too. The fact that she wasn’t so perfectly beautiful made the film that much more successful. She is a little odd. Of course that’s the character and I identified with her. I was odd as a kid. I was into Gershwin. I definitely identified with Belle. More girls than not feel that way I think.

Question: How excited were you to be part of such a legendary Disney title?

Paige O’Hara: You know, Mary Poppins is my favorite film and I loved Bambi and all the other Disney animated films. I was always an artist as well so I appreciated the animation too. Playing Belle was a dream come true.

Question: The film won two Academy Awards. Tell me what it was like being there.

Paige O’Hara: Oh it was incredible. It is the only animated film to ever be nominated for Best Picture so it holds that stature as well. I was really excited. We had heard rumors about the songs being nominated and there was a lot of discussion about celebrities performing our songs, but Mr. Eisner and Mr. Katzenberg insisted that the original artists get to sing their songs. That was really, really wonderful. It was the only time I sang with Angela Lansbury and Jerry Orbach. Angela introduced me at the Academy Awards. I remember we were backstage and of course I was going to be singing live which was scary so I was shaking. She was shaking too. She patted me on the butt and said if, “I had your voice, I wouldn’t be shaking. Don’t be nervous.”

Question: What else do you remember about the experience?

Paige O’Hara: It was fun being a part of the parties. Honestly, the worst part about the Oscars was that I didn’t like my dress—the one I performed in. They told the designer to put me in blue and it was this blue and white dress that looked more like Bo Peep or Dorothy. It was way too frilly and not very “Belle-y.” It was a checkerboard pattern. I had to perform in that dress, but afterwards I got to change into a beautiful Bob Mackie teal green gown. I even made one magazine’s Top 3 Best Dressed list!

(more…)

alan-menken-6975-3454002

Alan Menken Revisits ‘Beauty & The Beast’

  • News
  • October 2, 2010

alan-menken-6975-3454002In case you missed it, Walt Disney is finally releasing their wonderful Beauty and the Beast on Blu-ray this coming Tuesday. The movie, which earned an Academy Award nomination for best picture, is getting the full PR treatment and they provided us with this interview with composer Alan Mencken, whose work with the late Howard Ashman re-energized the films during the 1980s and 1990s.The combo pack will include the Blu-ray, a standard DVD and a digital copy for your personal use.

Alan Menken has composed huge hits such as THE LITTLE MERMAID, ALADDIN, HERCULES, POCAHONTAS   and ENCHANTED and   has won more Oscars than any other living person. He sat down for the following  interview.

Question: You have been involved with so many wonderful Disney films, what does BEAUTY AND THE BEAST mean to you?

Alan Menken: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST has been a perennial favorite of people who love Disney animation. They   have a continued appetite to know more about it and to see it enhanced. That is incredibly gratifying. I love the film too. I just watched it  again and it is gorgeous. It is possible that it is even more beautiful than it was when it debuted. It is very gratifying to have this “Diamond Edition”.

Question: Can you explain what it was that you did musically  with BEAUTY  AND THE BEAST?

Alan Menken: All  Howard and I did  was to tell the story, which is very romantic. The setting is   timeless and I just went to my gut, which is what I always do. With  this one, Howard was in his last days, although at the beginning I didn’t know that, but by the end of working on it, I knew that this was  a great artist’s last creation. I am sure that emotion informed what we did. We worked with a palette of French and classical and Broadway music and it was a culmination of a certain kind of  emotion for us. Also all these projects we do – whether it is THE LITTLE MERMAID OR BEAUTY AND THE BEAST or ALADDIN –  are  homages. This  one is an homage to the most romantic  parts of the Disney canon. Maybe I was channeling something special I don’t know, but it was clearly romantic and timeless and I credit Howard with a lot of what we came up with.

Question: The music has everything: from poignancy, to humor and ultimately joy, how did you convey that spectrum of emotions?

Alan Menken: That is what we always aim to do.  As an ideal, the Disney musical   is  always a combination of things that are joyful and things that are wistful and scary too and BEAUTY has all those elements. I can only be as good as the stories I am telling and  the characters that I am bringing to life. And with this film we were bringing some powerful things to life. (more…)

Sci-Fi Fan Favorite Summer Glau is Supergirl in ‘Superman/Batman: Apocalypse’

  • News
  • September 29, 2010

Summer Glau knows her audience.

Whether as River Tam in Joss Whedon’s cult classic series and follow-up film, Firefly and Serenity, or as the indestructible android-from-the-future Cameron in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Glau has cornered the market on playing attractive, demure young females with the controlled homicidal power to destroy an opposing legion of trained warriors.

So it was only natural that as her first-ever animated voiceover role, Glau would fit neatly into the role of an uber-powered Kryptonian who falls under the spell of one of Superman’s greatest foes. Glau finds the perfect mix of youthful curiosity, teen angst and alien-turned-Earth-girl aggression as the voice of Kara, cousin of Superman (and ultimately destined to become Supergirl) in Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, the ninth entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies out this week from Warner Home Video.

Based on the DC Comics series/graphic novel Superman/Batman: Supergirl by Jeph Loeb, Michael Turner and Peter Steigerwald, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is produced by animation legend Bruce Timm and directed by Lauren Montgomery (Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths) from a script by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Tab Murphy (Gorillas in the Mist). Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is now available as a Blu-ray Combo Pack, Special Edition DVD, On Demand and for Download.

Glau’s career has been populated with frequent visits to the fanboy realm, adding regular roles on The 4400 and Dollhouse to her featured gigs on Firefly/Serenity and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. The professionally trained ballerina had a seven-episode run on The Unit, and will appear in the upcoming NBC series, The Cape, as well as in the film. Knights of Badassdom.

Following her recording session, Glau freely discussed a number of subjects – from the acting strengths of the Whedon alumni association to her consistent on-set nerves to a strong desire to land more adult roles. Here’s how that conversation went …

QUESTION: Was it easy to find a way to relate to Kara?

SUMMER GLAU: Kara was a really comfortable fit for me because she’s sort of a girl coming into her own.  A girl becoming a woman and finding out who she is, and so I felt like there were moments when it reminded me of River because she is so powerful, but also young and naïve and a little bit lost. She has this underlying strength that comes from out of nowhere. (more…)

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