Hannah Montana Movie
Posted on March 24, 2009 at 8:00 pm
The latest pics from the new “Hannah Montana Movie!”
Posted on March 24, 2009 at 8:00 pm
The latest pics from the new “Hannah Montana Movie!”
Posted on March 24, 2009 at 8:00 am
Bolt (voice of John Travolta) thinks he is a super-dog. He and his “person,” Penny (voice of Miley Cyrus) spend their days battling the evil, green-eyed Dr. Calico (voice of Malcolm McDowell), who has captured Penny’s scientist father and has a lair defended by dozens of black-clad henchmen. Thank goodness for Bolt’s loyalty and courage and for his thunderous super-bark and heat vision, too!
But what Bolt doesn’t know is that none of this is real. He’s an actor on a television show and his “superpowers” are special effects. The director insists that Bolt must believe that it is all really happening in order to make his performance, well, believable. “If the dog believes it,” he explains condescendingly to “Mindy from the network,” “the audience believes it.”
Bolt accidentally gets shipped to New York, and for the first time finds out what the real world is like — and what he is really like, too. Even without the super-bark and the steel-melting stare, he has to find his way back to Penny.
This feels like a transitional film, as Pixar takes over Disney animation, and the seams show. Bolt is a likable character, but bland next to those around him, especially the pigeons, who deserve much more screen time, and those who accompany him on his road trip, a scraggly cat (voice of Susie Essman of “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) and an excitable hamster (animator Mark Walton). Bolt’s dilemma may be confusing to younger children who are still unclear with their own notions of what is real and what is pretend and may not be interested in the problems of a child star with a pushy agent. But in its best moments, it gently shows us how Bolt’s discoveries parallel those of a child in learning self-reliance.
Children have an ever-evolving sense of what is real and what is pretend. Developmental psychologists believe that it is not until age nine or even older that they are sure about whether what they see in movies and television is really true and still engage in “magical thinking” that parents can approve of (that Santa lives in the North Pole) and that is more troubling (that they caused parental discord or separation). Being able to repeat “it’s only pretend” does not mean that they understand what it means. “Bolt” is a movie that reflects this aspect of childhood.
Posted on March 9, 2009 at 2:00 pm
A+Lowest Recommended Age: | All Ages |
MPAA Rating: | G |
Profanity: | None |
Alcohol/ Drugs: | Children smoke cigars |
Violence/ Scariness: | Tense and scary scenes including characters being swallowed by a whale and apparent death |
Diversity Issues: | None |
Date Released to Theaters: | 1940 |
Date Released to DVD: | January 30, 2017 |
Amazon.com ASIN: | B01M105H8W |
This week Disney is releasing a glorious new edition of its most most gorgeous, splendid, and fully realized of all of its hand-drawn animation classics before the use of photocopiers and computers. Every detail is brilliantly executed, from the intricate clocks in Geppetto’s workshop to the foam on the waves as the enormous whale Monstro thrashes the water. It also has one of Disney’s finest scores, featuring “When You Wish Upon a Star,” which has become the Disney theme song. “I’ve Got No Strings,” “Give a Little Whistle,” and “An Actor’s Life for Me” are also memorable. It is the classic story about the wooden puppet whose nose grows when he tells a lie and has to almost turn into a donkey before he can become a real boy, told with endless imagination and beauty, a must-see for all families.
This new edition has some great behind-the-scenes extras.
“Pinocchio” is a natural for the first discussions with kids about telling the truth (especially admitting a mistake) and not talking to strangers. Talk to them, too, about how to find their own conscience and listen to it as if it were Jiminy Cricket. The trip to Pleasure Island may also lead to a discussion of why things that feel like fun may be harmful, and the difference between fun and happiness.
Posted on December 24, 2008 at 4:00 pm
The latest set of Disney Treasures really live up to the name with some extra-special treats from the Disney vaults.
Annette – 1957-1958 Season Everyone’s favorite Mousketeer was the 1950’s version of Miley Cyrus. The 1957-58 episodes featured here include all 20 episodes from her own TV series (“Annette”) and a new tribute to her career. The song she sang on the show, “How Will I know My Love,” was written by the Sherman brothers (who would later go on to write the songs for “Mary Poppins”). It became a hit and led to a successful recording career. Annette’s sweetness and unaffected charm is as winning as her talent.
The Chronological Donald, Vol. 4 completes the collection of Donald-ania and includes two Oscar-nominated shorts, “No Hunting” and “Rugged Bear” with Cinemascope cartoons on DVD in their original format for the first time. No one ever got madder better than Donald Duck and it is always a delight to see him bluster.
Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh is an exciting three-part miniseries starring Patrick McGoohan as priest by day/avenger by night, based on the novels by Russell Thorndike.
Posted on November 18, 2008 at 4:46 pm
My very favorite cartoon character turns 80 today. Happy birthday, Mickey!