Disney classic movies on Blu-Ray!
I was so excited that I could’ve cried! We were walking through the store when I noticed it on the shelf; a movie. It was just a simple movie but I absolutely HAD to have it. Somehow, within those few seconds, I switched roles with my toddlers and became enamored with an item at the store. “But this is different,” I assured myself “It’s Disney!”
Growing up in the nineties, Disney was my childhood. I danced around pretending to be Cinderella. “Heigh-ho, heigh-ho” (previously “Whistle While You Work” until I realized that I couldn’t whistle) was the song that I’d hum while doing, well, just about everything. The Mad Hatter, Chip and Lumière were always usual guests for tea parties. Mulan proved that women can be tough and Peter Pan taught us the importance of being a child at heart. Ariel and Flounder had the most perfect friendship; Simba and Nala, the most perfect love. More importantly, I could always count on Genie or Jiminy Cricket to make wishes come true.
Well, Disney did it again. Last year they began re-releasing all of my most favorite movies on Blu-ray and DVD and I could’ve easily been mistaken for a kid in a candy store; or, in reality, an overly excited adult in Best Buy. Now, fast forward a year… Disney is releasing six, yes six, enchanting titles all on the same day! I cannot put into words how excited I am – think The Lion King “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” musical montage and you’ll almost have it.
The Aristocats Special Edition
The exciting tale takes place in the heart of Paris where a kind and eccentric millionairess, wills her entire estate to ‘Duchess,’ a high society cat, and her three kittens. When the bumbling butler Edgar tries to pull off the ultimate catnap caper in order to secure the fortune for himself, it’s up to alley cat Thomas O’Malley and his band of swingin’ jazz cats to save the day. “The Aristocats” features the voice talents of Eva Gabor, Phil Harris, Sterling Halloway and legendary French singer Maurice Chevalier, who performs the film’s titular opening song. The legendary Disney songwriting team of brothers, Richard and Robert Sherman, get the joint jumping with the jazz-inspired musical numbers “Ev’rybody Wants to Be a Cat,” “Scales and Arpeggios,” and “Thomas O’Malley Cat.”
The Aristocats Special Edition is a purr-fect treat for the whole family. It includes a brand new bonus featurette “The Lost Open” with Richard Sherman taking viewers through the storyboards of a never-before-seen alternate beginning which introduces a deleted character and a deleted song “How Much You Mean To Me” and “Court Me Slowly” written and performed by the Sherman brothers. This song demo was one of the few times Richard and Robert ever sang together.
Walt Disney Pictures’ action-packed animated musical adventures Pocahontas and Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World debut for the first time ever in vivid High Definition — on August 21, 2012. Combined also for the first time in a two-movie collection, the exciting release allows families and fans of all ages to own these timeless stories of hope, courage and friendship together in an exciting Disney ‘Combo Pack’ Including Blu-ray and DVD, and also available on HD digital download.
The two-movie collection, Blu-ray debut features exciting all-new bonus material including “Drawing Inspiration: The Lost Story of Hiawatha,” a fascinating behind-the-scenes featurette showcasing how Walt Disney and his team were once developing a full-length animated feature called “Hiawatha,” that ultimately directly influenced the development of Pocahontas.
Bursting with all the “Colors of the Wind” and filled with spirited adventure, romance, and the show-stopping songs of Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, the Pocahontas two-movie collection features an award-winning cast that includes Mel Gibson (The Passion of the Christ; Academy Award® winner, Best Director Braveheart, 1995), Irene Bedard, Christian Bale (Reign of Fire; Academy Award® winner, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role The Fighter, 2011) and David Ogden Stiers (Lilo and Stitch, Pooh’s Heffalump Movie).
Pocahontas won Academy Awards® for both Best Original Score and Best Song – “Colors of the Wind” 1995. The film also earned a Grammy Award® for Best Song (“Colors of the Wind,” 1996).
The Tigger Movie Bounce-a-RRRiffic Special Edition
Walt Disney Studios brings the magic of the Hundred Acre Wood to life with The Tigger Movie, bouncing onto Blu-ray high definition and HD Digital for the first time on August 21, 2012. Featuring new digitally enhanced picture and sound and exclusive bonus features, Tigger Movie Bounce-A-Riffic Special Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack invites families to relive the childhood fun of the one and only Tigger.
The exciting new Blu-ray Combo Pack provides hours of viewing fun with bonus materials including two all-new features: Disney Intermission—when the film is paused, young fans can participate in a variety of Hundred Acre Wood themed games including guess the character, spot the differences and counting; and “A Tigger Tale” a featurette where the filmmakers discuss how Tigger’s literary and film history influenced “The Tigger Movie.”
The Tigger Movie Bounce-A-Riffic Special Edition Blu-ray is a tiggerific treat for the whole family and for added fun, comes packaged with a family tree activity poster and stickers.
In this charming musical tale of friendship and adventure, The Tigger Movie Bounce-A-Riffic Special Edition follows Tigger as he sets off on an epic journey to find other Tiggers in his family tree. Through a series of exciting adventures he discovers that families come in all shapes and sizes. This fun and playful animated tale delights a whole new generation of fans with its timeless characters and storytelling, rich animation and delightful songs by legendary Disney songwriting team of brothers, Richard and Robert Sherman. The film features the Hundred Acre Wood’s most lovable characters, Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger, Piglet and the rest of the gang.
The Rescuers 35th Anniversary Edition & The Rescuers Down Under
To commemorate the 35th anniversary of an original classic, Disney proudly presents a special 2-movie collection featuring all-time family favorites, The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under, for the first time ever on Blu-ray! Join two of the world’s bravest mice – Bernard and Bianca – as they set out on two thrilling rescue missions full of comic adventure while soaring through the Devil’s Bayou and flying sky high in the Australian outback.
Buckle up for the ride of your life as these tiny heroes with great big hearts outrun and outwit their rivals to save the day. Brimming with lovable characters and unforgettable music, the 2-movie collection is high-flying fun for the entire family! Share the laughs and excitement for the first time on Disney Blu-ray.
Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure
Disney’s beloved classic continues in Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure – for the first time ever on Disney Blu-ray. Lady and Tramp’s mischievous pup Scamp is always in the doghouse.
Now, an itch for a collar-free life and freedom is sending him on the ultimate adventure! With nonstop laughs, paw-tapping songs and exciting bonus features, Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure is a new breed of Disney fun that the whole family will love!
From Disneynature, the studio that brought you Earth, Oceans and African Cats, comes Chimpanzee — a remarkable story of individual triumph and family bonds. Journey deep into the African rainforest and meet Oscar, an adorable young chimp with an entertaining approach to life. The world is a playground for little Oscar and his fellow young chimps who love creating mayhem.
Full of curiosity, a zest for discovery, joy and a love for mimicking others, they are some of the most extraordinary personalities in the animal kingdom. Stunning hi-definition images bring you up close and personal as Oscar and his family navigate the complex territory of the forest. It’s an inspiring and life-changing adventure that overflows with courage and charm. And it will capture your heart.
Now you can only imagine how excited I was to, not only, have the chance to relive my own childhood but to now be able to enjoy it with my own children. I love that about Disney – their movies are, in fact, timeless. One of our favorite things about this release was being able to put together our family tree with The Tigger Movie activity poster. Hopefully my children will, someday, be able to share their new poster and these classic movies with their children as just as I’ve done with them. Until that time comes, we’ll happily continue having our movie night soirees and dancing around while singing along to our favorite Disney movie songs. I also hope that you, too, can enjoy these with your family because, as all Winnie the Pooh (and The Tigger Movie) stories start out – “together they had many remarkable adventures.” Here’s to your adventure!
*Randi received the above movies, free of charge, to facilitate this review post. All opinions are those of contributor only.
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