2013 Disney Blu-ray Gift Guide

Article first published as 2013 Disney Blu-ray Gift Guide on Blogcritics.

Walt Disney is always a great source for films, with many memorable classics, as well as new entries coming out all the time. This gift guide highlights some of the most recent releases by Disney that I had a chance to review. Any of them would make terrific Christmas gifts for your loved ones of any age. Plus, each of these come in a Blu-ray / DVD / Digital combo pack, so Disney has you covered no matter how you want to watch the movies.



Mary Poppins 50th Anniversary Edition

Mary Poppins was one of my favorite movies growing up. A mix of the magical with a nonsensical nanny who somehow seems stern, even as she is leading her charges in fun games. It’s the ultimate tale of a governess who fixes a family, full of catchy tunes and heartwarming scenes. While its running time is over two hours, the pacing flows, and no one should get bored.

For the anniversary edition, the picture has been digitally restored. This doesn’t mean it looks perfect, by any means. There is plenty of graininess and blurring to show its age. But it also doesn’t look like a VHS tape, updated to a decent presentation. The soundtrack is clearer than the picture, though perhaps not at the level one may be used to.

These are not complaints. Old movies often look aged, and that’s part of their charm. Mary Poppins could have new special effects added in, but why should it? It’s better to remember this nearly-perfect movie as it is.

Starring the extremely talented Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke (the latter plays two roles), and boasting some new extras, including a tie-in to the upcoming movie Saving Mr. Banks, which tells the story of the making this film, this is a solid release.



Monsters University

Monsters University is the result of a Pixar / Disney partnership, so you know it will be good. While not quite living up to Monsters Inc., this prequel, which tells the tale of how Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) and Sulley (John Goodman) met in college, is better than expected. After getting off on the wrong foot, the two join a group of misfits and work their butts off for their dreams. This may sound formulaic, but there are quite a few surprises and fun moments.

Monsters University is available in 3D. While the review copy I was sent was not 3D, I did manage to find the title in the 3D format, and I must say that the visuals are amazing! The depth is well presented and the picture is crystal clear. Purely measured against other 3D releases, this is definitely one of the better ones, with most impressive effects. If you have the capability to watch 3D movies in your home, or think you might gain that soon, I definitely recommend going for 3D here. It’s well worth it.

The Blu-ray set contains a lot of extras, including a charming short entitled The Blue Umbrella, which does seem designed just to show us how awesome animation can look, a cool feat.



Mickey’s Christmas Carol 30th Anniversary

I can’t believe this short film, which I fondly recall from my own childhood, is thirty years old! Mickey and friends take on the story of the Charles Dickens book, A Christmas Carol, and give it a relatively traditional telling. With Scrooge McDuck filling in as (who else?) Ebenezer Scrooge, Goofy as Jacob Marley, Mickey as Bob Cratchit, Donald Duck as Scrooge’s nephew Fred, and familiar faces from other Disney movies like Pinocchio and The Wind in the Willows, this is a wonderful, family-friendly telling.

Disney keeps the ghosts from being too scary or Scrooge from being too cruel, but they still get the point across. Toss in a few Disney-style gags, this embodies the best of the older Disney shorts, with a fuller feeling of a film. Obviously, to get through everything in half an hour, the pacing is rapid, but not so much so that it feels rushed.

Visually, it does not look dated. It’s done in an older style of animation, of course, but the lines are crisp and the colors vivid. The soundtrack does feel a little like it’s being played back in a barrel, but it’s still easy enough to catch dialogue and lyrics.

Because of the quick running time, there has to be something else included to make the title worth buying. In this case, not only are there sing-along songs, a welcome inclusion, but also five additional shorts! Starring the likes of Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Chip, and Dale, added together, these five roughly equal the running time of the feature. This provides enough material to make for a good release.


Other titles

While I only personally reviewed only the three titles above, there are several other releases which I’m sure are fantastic and am eager to add to my own Christmas list. The Little Mermaid has gotten a Diamond Edition update, and Marvel’s latest super hero flick, Iron Man 3, is out in 3D, too. Both of these movies are very enjoyable, so given Disney’s track record, those discs are likely worth finding, as well.

DVD Return Policies Need a Change

Article first published as DVD Return Policies Need a Change on Blogcritics.

It’s been awhile since I tried to take a Blu-ray or DVD purchase back to the store. I remember a time when it was possible to return or exchange an unopened DVD, even without a receipt, for at least store credit. If a disc was opened and damaged, I could swap it out for a new copy. Merchants were accommodating and nice, making sure we got a good product and they got the sale. It made everyone happy, and produced loyal return business.

Sometime over the years, this has changed. I discovered this the ugly way last week when trying to swap out a Blu-ray combo pack I had received as a gift for the 3D version. Although I did not have a receipt, I didn’t think exchanging a mint-condition, unopened package, still in the plastic wrap, would be a problem.

Boy was I wrong!

First, I went to Best Buy, but without a receipt, I was turned away immediately. I was surprised, assuming that my local brick-and-mortar store would be the go-to place for excellent customer service. On this day, there were no apologies or well wishes, just a firm “No.”

Assuming this an anomaly, as, after all, big chains have lots of locations and employees, I called another location. This clerk was much friendlier, but again I was told that it would not be possible to exchange without a receipt. I trudged on.

But I had the same experience at Walmart. The customer service lady at Meijer was super nice and even brought a 3D copy to the counter, but before the transaction was completed, a manager stepped in and cut it off, telling me that store policy required a receipt. Target said they would exchange it, but didn’t have any 3D copies available at this time. I really didn’t want to wait the two weeks.

The more stores I contacted, the more I realized that this has become an industry-wide practice. I was completely confused and shocked. Why couldn’t they take my perfectly good, unused copy and put it back on the shelf? I was certainly willing to pay the price difference for a 3D version, but was not willing to drop $35 on a new copy of a film I already owned (albeit not in 3D).

Wanting to understand, I finally talked to a couple of friends who work at retailers not mentioned here. Both informed me that stores cannot resell a returned copy, no matter how pristine it is. It has to go back to the manufacturer, but that cannot be done with a disc not originally in a retailer’s inventory. And not having a receipt, I couldn’t prove which retailer my disc it came from.

In an age where viewers are increasingly shifting their focus to digital versions, and buying fewer physical copies than ever, why make things so much more restrictive for purchasers? I would certainly understand if a store declined to exchange an opened package, but when the one in my hand looks exactly the same as the one on the shelf, why can’t an exchange be made? To me, it is simply a case of bad customer service, and a policy that makes life more difficult for consumers, at a time when people can easily obtain the video without leaving their home, either legally or illegally, there will be little reason for people to return to stores.


In 2013, it feels like customer service is slipping in a great many areas. I just didn’t think it had reached these levels of ridiculous yet. All the more reason to stay home and find another, more practical use for your money.

At least, don’t accept the status quo. If you’re a customer and you can’t get what you want, don’t buy anything at all. I didn’t happen to spend money personally on this title, but I do purchase plenty of other releases. Now, I will think twice about which ones I buy, and from where I buy them. If you run store chain, push back against such terrible policies; they will cost you business. And if you happen to be an industry decision maker, think carefully about the direction in which the industry is heading, and don’t make dumb moves that will hurt everyone involved.

Archer The Complete Third Season

FX's Archer may very well be my favorite animated series on television. Setting aside its cartoon format, it's one of the best comedies, period. A mash up between workplace sitcom and spy adventure, Archer follows Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin) and the staff of ISIS as they travel the globe, foiling bad guys, wrestling with ocelots, and sleeping with each other. Just before season four premieres this week, The Complete Third season has been released on DVD and Blu-ray.

Note: I've previously written articles about several of the episodes mentioned. Click on the links in the episode titles for those full reviews.

Season three begins with a three part tale entitled "Heart of Archness." Originally having aired months before the rest of the season, and now available in an extend edition on discs, the story follows Archer as he attempts to get over the grief of losing his wife. Along the way, our hero becomes a pirate king, as his friends try to find him. The miniseries guest stars the great Patrick Warburton and David Cross.

After that, we get ten more fantastic episodes. In "The Man From Jupiter," Archer is thrilled to meet Burt Reynolds (himself), until Archer realizes that Burt is banging Archer's mother, Malory (Jessica Walter). "El Contador" marks Cyril's (Chris Parnell) first mission as a field agent, while those back at the base take hallucinogenic drugs. In "The Limited," the team is on a train, and so is Cheryl's (Judy Greer) pet ocelot, which Archer has an intense fascination with. "Lo Scandalo" finds Malory bringing in her staff to help cover up a death in her apartment. "Bloody Ferlin" is a Ray (Adam Reed) story. The two-part season finale, "Space Race" guest stars Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), brings back old foe Barry (Dave Willis), and takes the cast beyond the planet Earth.

On top of all these adventures, there are serial plot lines. For instance, Archer finds the best sex of his life in office worker Pam (Amber Nash), whom he is embarrassed to be seen with at first. This puts Archer in a tough spot, and makes him examine his priorities. But it also allows him to grow as a human being, and begin to get over his ill-fated bride.

As usual, there are some great extras on The Complete Third Season. The best parts are the three shorts. One features Archer's Gator 2 trailer, and what his co-workers think about it. Another is a blatant advertisement for the show's tie-in book, How to Archer, that gets enough laughs as Archer avoids recording the audio version that one doesn't care if it's trying to sell you something or not. (My opinion: buy the book.) Third is Archer's attempt at a cooking show, which also serves to champion the book.

Three episodes get audio commentary by the creator of Archer, Adam Reed, and several cast members. These may not be commentaries in the strictest sense of the word, because they do go on quite a few tangents. However, the people involved in this show have a wonderful dynamic, and they are very entertaining.

Sadly, the Comic Con 2012 special is just the opening bit, rather than the panel itself. Most shows shy away from including a full Q&A session on their DVD releases, either because they fear it will get boring, or because they want to keep the experience special to those who attended. I wish this were not the case, because I would really have liked to have seen more of this, and like most fans, will likely not get the chance to attend such events. But what is included is good.

In short, Archer The Complete Third Season is a great buy, and should provide plenty of enjoyment. It is available now.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first posted on TheTVKing

Doctor Who attends The Greatest Show in the Galaxy

Like many people, Ace (Sophie Aldred) hates clowns. So she isn't too pleased when the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) drags her to the circus in the season finale of the original Doctor Who's penultimate year. The events of this story, The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, are enough to make anyone agree with the Doctor's companion!

As usual, the Doctor and Ace travel somewhere to solve a mystery and probably save some lives. This time, it just happens to be at a circus. Other travelers are arriving, too, and soon everyone is made a part of the show. Sadly, they perform only for a small audience, a family of three who are very hard to please. Even more sadly, if the family is not amused, the performer is obliterated on the spot.

Of course, it is never as simple as that. There is more going on than meets the eye, both with the circus, and with the vindictive audience. Why did the circus settle on this planet? Where did the rest of the staff and fans go? What can't Bellboy (Christopher Guard) remember? Who is Deadbeat (Chris Jury, Lovejoy)? And why do the Ringmaster (Ricco Ross, Aliens) and Morgana (Deborah Manship, Angels) argue so?

The Greatest Show in the Galaxy has its share of secrets which must be uncovered, as it typical for Doctor Who. But it also turns up the whimsy a notch. Besides the obvious circus references, there is a man named Captain Cook (T.P. McKenna, Straw Dogs - 1971), who travels the galaxy with a companion, Mags (Jessica Martin). Mags is more than meets the eye, and these two seem to be sort of a version of the Doctor and Ace seen through a twisted fun house mirror. Including them is interesting, and fits well in this particular setting.

There is something to be said for playing on deep, childhood fears. Not everyone is scared of clowns, but The Greatest Show in the Galaxy will bring out the terror in those who are, and might even skew the impression they make on everyone else. The all-encompassing makeup, the painted on smile; it comes across as inherently creepy when shown in a certain light. And this story makes a valiant play to do so.

The strength of these episode lies in the presentation, rather than the substance. There is a familiar formula often used in Doctor Who, and The Greatest Show in the Galaxy plays perfectly into it. Coming so late in the series' run, this results in a lack of freshness. Yet, it still works because of the allusions it paints, and the masterful way it plays with conventions. There is a reason Doctor Who is beloved, and when looking critically at a "typical" story such as this, that reason emerges in an unexpected way.

As with most of the Doctor Who releases, there is no shortage of extras. The audio commentary this time around includes actors Aldred, Guard, and Martin, as well as familiar voices Stephen Wyatt (writer), Andrew Cartmel (script editor), and Mark Ayres (composer). There are deleted and extended scenes from the first and third parts, two "restored" scenes, and the photo gallery and PDF materials fans have come to expect.

Interestingly, The Greatest Show in the Galaxy is know for its music. There is a unique blend of expected and surprising tones, which meld together nicely, complimenting the tale well. A soundtrack was released, and this DVD gives viewers the option of listening to isolated versions of the music. Also included is a music video, written and sung by cast members of this serial.

There are a number of featurettes, including a half hour "Making Of," which has several Who cast and crew involved in this production providing insight. "Lost in the Darkness" concentrates on model effects, while "Tomorrow's Time" is a more general piece about the Seventh Doctor. There is a Victoria Wood sketch too that is very amusing.

In short, another worthy addition to the Doctor Who collection. Doctor Who - The Greatest Show in the Galaxy is available now.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com! Article first published as DVD Review: Doctor Who - The Greatest Show in the Galaxy on Blogcritics.

Mo Willems' Pigeon and Pals on DVD

In conjunction with Scholastic Storybook Treasures, beloved children's author, Mo Willems releases Pigeon and Pals: Complete Cartoon Collection, Vol. 1 & 2. The set includes six of his beloved stories, brought to life on the screen to the delight of children everywhere. In this collection, you will get "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!," "The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!," "Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale," "Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity," "Leonardo the Terrible Monster," and "Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed."

It's difficult to review these wonderful stories, without first considering the man behind them. Mo Willems started out as a television writer. He went to film school, but then realized he did not have the patience to deal with the various challenges involved in creating live action. So instead, Willems began animating cartoons and writing sketch comedy for adults.

Mo was then asked to become an animator and writer for Sesame Street. He was offered the job because of his ability to be funny, telling him they could teach him to write for kids. But Mo soon learned just how challenging writing for children can be. He believes that easy readers are difficult for writers because they are pressured to tell an exciting story with just a handful of simple words.

Willems first children's book, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, was published in 2003, but it did not come to him easily. He met with some agents and gave them a sketchbook he had developed, introducing it as a "gag thing he was doing." However, they thought there was a book that could be made of it, so he re-worked for a younger audience. Twenty-nine editors said it was unusual and turned him down before one finally published it.

The pigeon stories were born in Oxford, England. Willems had moved there for a month because he thought it would make him more intelligent. He spent a great deal of time trying to make the "great American children's book," but instead found himself drawing pigeons. To get it off his back, he created a sketchbook, and in this sketchbook, he made a young boy responsible for the pigeon, ensuring that it did not drive the bus. His breakthrough came when he found that getting rid of the middle man (the young boy) would make the audience responsible for the pigeon, making the story more interactive and, in turn, easier to draw. Willems admits that he has no control over the character of the pigeon. It continues to peck at this head, insisting he make more books.

And this is where the "Pigeon" stories come from. His earliest and most popular character, Willems has written several of them, and they keep on coming. The animated versions of those included in this set keep his unique animated style and positive message; his minimalist concept is easy to relate to for those not ready to be bombarded with stimuli. The DVDs allow the pigeon to talk to the kids even more effectively than the books do, and that interaction is what attracts them most to the tale. What's more, they stories are humorous and relatable, drawing audiences in. They even prove entertaining for the adults who must sit through them dozens of times with their kids.

Willems' "Knuffle Bunny" series, is a slightly different beast than the "Pigeon" series. Willems claims that he is lazy, and so he takes photographs to use as the backgrounds. He photoshops them to get just the right look and tone for the piece he is doing. "Knuffle Bunny" also introduces human characters, as it is the tale of a father who searches for his child's lost stuffed toy. It's idealistic, as most dads would tell their kid to wait until morning. But that only makes it more charming.

There are eight special features in this set. There is a Spanish version of "Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale," which should prove popular for multicultural households. There is also a Read-Along option for each feature, allowing parents to integrate the books with the television. This should be nice for those who want to encourage a love of reading, an important thing to teach developing children.

There are also several interviews and featurettes about Willems himself. One will get to know the author quite well in this extras. In fact, all of the background information in this review comes from the DVDs. The only problem is, they get pretty repetitive. That's OK for young children, of course, but it's hard to imagine that kids will be viewing the extras very often when their favorite cartoons are packaged right along with them.

In short, this is a terrific collection, aimed at kids kids ages two to eight. If you are a parent, pick up a copy of Pigeon and Pals: Complete Cartoon Collection, Vol. 1 & 2, on sale now. And maybe stop and get the books on the way home, too.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Article first published as DVD Review: Mo Willems' Pigeon and Pals Complete Cartoon Collection Vol. 1 &2 on Blogcritics.

Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales

     If you've watched A Charlie Brown Christmas in the last eight years or so, you may have noticed some extra scenes that weren't in the special prior to this decade. With commercial times getting longer and longer, extra scenes were added in 2002 so that the original 30 minute special could be aired intact, with more footage, in a one hour time slot. Of course, a few weeks ago, the special aired with only some of those extra scenes. But like most holiday specials, A Charlie Brown Christmas has become fluid, aired many different ways.


     For the first time on a solo-release DVD, the extra 18 minutes have been released as Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales. You do not get A Charlie Brown Christmas, but you get all of the bits added to that show this decade. The DVD was actually put out last year as a CVS Exclusive, but has recently been released at stores everywhere.

     Charlie Brown's Christmas Tale includes several stand-alone segments, listed under five headings. It's classic Peanuts, completely in line with the family-friendly humor you've come to expect from the name Charlie Brown. Sally writes a letter to "Samantha Claus". Linus talks to a girl at school who keeps changing her name. Lucy tries to get her brother, Linus, and her crush, Schroeder, to buy her good gifts. There is no over-arcing plot, but that doesn't really matter. If you enjoy Charlie Brown, or your kids do, it's a good gift. The shorts are cute.

     Also on the disc is a 24-minute "bonus feature," "Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown?" It's the only bonus feature included, a special from 1983, and not Christmas related, but still, the Peanuts gang in character. Considering the longer length and the more cohesive plot, I'm surprised this wasn't the main release, with Tales being the bonus feature. My only idea about why it would be released the way it is would be to better market it around the holidays.

     In Is "This Goodbye, Charlie Brown?", Lucy and Linus move away after their father gets a job elsewhere. Sally, predictably, is broken up, as is Charlie Brown. Schroeder is upset too, to his surprise. It will not be shocking to anyone who has followed the strip or the TV specials that the move does not last long. But you get more real, sad emotions from the main characters than practically any other Peanuts story. Plus, keep an eye out for a rare glimpse of Linus and Lucy's parents!

     A subplot involves Peppermint Patty's crush on Charlie Brown. It's a sweet story, an awkward, childhood romance. Poor Patty doesn't know how to express herself to Chuck, and he, of course, sure doesn't pick up on the signals. Even if one of those signals is a middle of the night phone call. Which begs the question, why didn't his parents answer the phone? Surely, they heard it in the middle of the night and were upset! Though parents were never much of an element in the series.

     If you like Charlie Brown and Peanuts, you're going to like this DVD. If you don't already, you probably won't. It's a fine example of classic Peanuts.

     To buy this DVD, please check out your favorite store, or visit the official site. Visit the Warner Bros. official site to get the inside scoop on all Warner movie and DVD releases.

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional TV news, follow Jerome on Twitter.

Article first published as DVD Review: Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales on Blogcritics.

Archer The Complete Season One

    I loved FX's Archer last winter, and no viewer was more excited than me when it got a surprise second season pick up. So when the DVD of the first season came in the mail yesterday (on its release date), I was ecstatic! After reviewing this DVD, I still am, but only for the episodes, not for any special features included, of which this DVD is sorely lacking.

     There are no commentaries. There are no cast interviews, or creator interviews. No one talks about where the idea for the series came from, or what's coming up for season two. The best special feature included was probably a thirty second promo for the show that never aired, my guess, because it was kind of wrong. However, Archer's humor often crosses a line, and that's what makes it great, so I'm not sure how this promo was any worse than what airs during the episodes.

     What is included is a roughly twenty minute 'Making Of'. The 'Making Of' is divided into a number of very short segments, almost all having to do with animation. You get to see how the scenes are created, step by step. There's some bits of storyboard translated into animation. If you're an animation guru, you probably already are aware of the techniques being used. If you are a casual viewer, you may not care, or be bored by it. As such, I'm not really sure who this feature is geared towards. Because this is an animated show, I'm sure it is rewarding to all the people who work very hard to make it happen to see their contributions rewarded. And they deserve it; they really do. But like an ending credits scroll, not many people are actually interested in most of it. If this was one of a number of features, I would say it was kind of neat. As the sole feature of substance, it disappointed.

     There is also about two and a half minutes of deleted scenes, mostly just quick jokes cut out, and a so-called 'Original Unaired Pilot'. I have serious doubts if this is actually an unaired pilot. It's actually the exact full episode "Mole Hunt", the original of which is also included on the DVD, with one big twist that runs through the entire episode. Now I won't spoil the twist, except to say it was completely unexpected, funny at first, and wore thin long before the episode was over.

     As a bonus, FX included the pilots of Louie and The League on the DVD as well. I think both shows are hilarious, and if you haven't seen them, they're worth checking out. The League has already completed two full seasons, so putting a pilot on at this point seems odd, but Louie has only done one season, so the timing is great for it.

     The price of $19.99, as it is currently listed on Amazon, is a little steep, considering the first season of Archer was only ten half hour episodes. However, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia charged the same price last year for a single, hour-long special episode, so compared to that, it's a steal. There is currently no Blu Ray release, just the DVD. I would recommend shopping around for a price around $15, which is about the worth I would assign to it. But I totally recommend buying and watching Archer, as it is an awesome comedy.

RATING:
Archer First Season Episodes: A-
Archer First Season DVD: C-


For frequent mini-reviews and occasional TV news, follow Jerome on Twitter.
Article first published as DVD Review: Archer The Complete Season One on Blogcritics.