2014 Disney Movie Gift Guide

Article first published as 2014 Disney Movie Gift Guide on Blogcritics.

Every December holiday season, there are numerous Blu-ray titles from which to select gifts for your loved ones. Although I mainly watch television shows, I’m far from immune to the draw of a good film, and Disney had a pretty solid lineup of choices this year among its offerings. This guide serves as a short summary of some of the best choices from “The Mouse.”

Sleeping Beauty Diamond Edition (Blu-ray / DVD / Digital Combo) ~ I already had Sleeping Beauty on DVD, but this new edition is pretty sweet anyway. One of the old Disney classics, the story is timeless, if not quite as relatable as some of the studio’s other films. There’s a magic to it, enhanced by Tchaikovsky’s score. Older viewers will love the nostalgia, while the young should appreciate a movie that isn’t as dated as they might think. There’s a reason Sleeping Beauty got a new, fancy release, packed full of extras, and it’s deserved.

The picture and sound quality on this thing are remarkable! If you already bought the Platinum Edition Blu-ray from a few years ago, this is the same presentation, so there’s no need to shell out again. But if you’ve only watched this film on DVD or (shudder) VHS, I recommend taking the opportunity to upgrade. It’s well worth it, as clearly much time and effort has been spent making a remastered version to be proud of. This is also the first edition offering a digital copy, so that’s worth noting if you want to protect your physical discs from the kids.

Maleficent (Blu-ray / DVD / Digital Combo) ~ You’ve seen Sleeping Beauty, so now check out the other side of the story. This live-action movie stars Angelina Jolie, spectacularly playing the titular “villain.” I recently did a full review of the movie, but suffice it to say, despite some issues with the story, the effects are mostly terrific, and the core performance makes this picture worth checking out. Plus, if you’ve already viewed the original, why not go a little deeper into what make Maleficent tick? It’s an interesting take on motivations and back story. And yes, Sleeping Beauty put in an appearance!

Frozen Sing-Along Edition (DVD / Digital Combo) ~ Frozen has swept the country, if not the world, by storm. If you’re around kids at all, you’ve heard lots about it, as well as its famous song, “Let It Go.” The best Disney animated feature in years, it is the story of two sisters, one with a power she doesn’t know how to control. It’s sweet, full of positive female role models, and amusing to boot. Even some of my peers, in their twenties and thirties, enthusiastically count themselves among the fan base.

This edition, sadly, has no Blu-ray disc. That’s OK, though, because it’s really for the kids, who will love it, and probably won’t notice the quality difference as much as the older folks would. It offers two options: play the full film, with lyrics appearing on screen during the musical bits, or play just the songs from the movie, which is equally popular with the young crowd. Even if that child you’re shopping for already has the regular release, this is something to consider, given that latter feature.
 
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / Digital Combo) ~ In my opinion, this is the best of the recent Marvel slate of movies. Besides being action-packed, it’s also a political thriller co-starring Robert Redford, which might raise the opinion of anyone who has unjustly dismissed it as a simple popcorn flick. Follow Captain America (Chris Evans), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) as they take on a figure from the Cap’s past in a battle that forever completely changes the franchise. It’s really, really good stuff.

As with other Marvel titles, the best way to experience this is in 3D. If you have a 3D television available, I recommend taking full advantage of it to get the most out of the visuals, which are finely detailed and quite impressive. If not, the regular Blu-ray is included in the box, which pack quite a punch all on its own.

Guardians of the Galaxy (Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / Digital Combo) ~ While Captain America is dramatic and serious, Guardians of the Galaxy is loads of fun while being a little dramatic and serious. The movie introduces a whole crop of new superheroes, set away from the Earth. It has an excellent retro soundtrack that helps lock the tone and style of the piece. August theatrical releases aren’t usually as big as those earlier in the summer, but because this one is so well-crafted, Guardians succeeded in the box office and as a quality film.

Like Captain America, I do recommend watching this in 3D if you can. It has even more impressive effects, with the often-present CGI necessary for a space-setting rendered naturally. Not once did I question the believability of the piece, grounded with authentic characters and a moving climax, and  I look forward to Marvel’s continued expansion if this is the type of direction they will be going in.

MALEFICENT Not Quite Magnificent, But Jolie Is

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: 'Maleficent' on Blogcritics.

Disney’s Maleficent, a re-telling of the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty with a twist, comes to Blu-ray and DVD this week. Starring Angelina Jolie (Salt, Mr. & Mrs Smith) in the title role, this film seeks to give layers to what has often been a one-dimensional villain, unspooling the story from a different perspective. It’s one that mostly works. I admit to having relatively low expectations going in, despite a friend’s defense of it, which means the enjoyable result is a pleasant surprise.

Maleficent begins with the titular fairy as a young girl (played by Isobelle Molloy, EastEnders). She’s innocent and bold, loving life and the world around her. One day, Maleficent meets Stefan (Michael Higgins), a human. Despite his bad traits, such as a penchant for stealing, the two hit it off. Little does the girl know, though, that Stefan will grow up to be a manipulative man (Sharlto Copley, District 9) who will betray her in order to become king.

This is when Maleficent turns dark, somewhat early in the running time. After her wings are stolen in a moving sequence, her need for revenge is understandable. That she takes it out on an unborn child makes less sense,  but even this wronged version of the character is not one who will murder or maim, so perhaps it’s done in an empty-threat, kick-the-can-down-the-road sort of way. Once Aurora (Elle Fanning, Super 8) is born, though, and sent to live with three inept pixies (Harry Potter‘s Imelda Staunton, Fleming‘s Lesley Manville, and Killer Joe‘s Juno Temple), Maleficent can’t help but be drawn to the child, whom she comes to like and protect, which makes the fulfillment of the curse somewhat complicated.

While not normally a huge fan of Jolie, I don’t think the movie would work in practically anyone else’s hands. The role is perfect for her. Jolie captures the coldness and danger lurking beneath Malefient’s exterior, but also the vulnerability and magic of the part. She plays this evil-looking, yet still gorgeous, witch in a way that never feels scary, and that pairs nicely with the perpetually-sweet Aurora. Make no mistake about it, Jolie is the number one reason to watch this film.

The story itself isn’t bad. It’s a tad simplistic and predictable, while also weak in logic periodically. Yet it’s cohesive and plays out in a way that makes sense for the characters. Fast-paced enough to hold a child’s interest, the material is deep enough for adults to engage with, too, striking that rare balance in a movie that the whole family truly can enjoy.

Maleficent does push the boundaries of the PG rating. There is no cursing or sex, but there is plenty of violence, including some Lord of the Rings-esque battle scenes, which tend to be required for this type of movie these days (though they’re mostly unnecessary in this case). The humor, mostly delivered by the three pixies, who are well-cast with three terrific, somewhat underused actresses, is more silly than edgy, which may be a good thing for the target audience.

The visuals of Maleficent are mostly stunning as presented in 1080p high definition. There are some moments where certain characters are noticeably digital renderings, rather than actors, but the creatures that populate Maleficent’s moor, as well as the world the movie is set in, are beautiful. The pixies are done by blending the actresses’ actual features into animated creations in a very cool way. I only wish a 3D version were to be officially released in the U.S. (Amazon does have a region-free version listed) as this movie practically begs for that added depth, but it’s still a very good presentation. The audio levels are mixed in such a way that action scenes are a LOT louder than dialogue ones, so you do have to keep a hand on the remote. However, the clarity in the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix is crystal and music and voices coexist nicely when combined.

Maleficent does have a decent amount of extras, too. There are deleted scenes. The ones featuring the pixies better round out the characters than how they are shown in-film, so I wish they hadn’t been cut. There’s a featurette on Aurora, having Fanning talk about her part, which should appeal to young fans. For the older crowd, we see how the movie is made, the creation of the battle stuff, a look at the visual effects, and Maleficent’s costume elements.

While Maleficent is far from perfect, with Stefan making a forgettable villain, it is well-made and much more enjoyable than I expected it to be. It’s definitely worth a watch for the effects and Jolie’s performance, which are both excellent.

Maleficent arrives on Blu-ray and DVD November 4.