disney movie reviews

Mary Poppins Returns Now Available on Blu-ray and DVD

March 29, 2019 by Kathryn 8 Comments

A couple of years ago, I had the fun of introducing my two older boys to a character I had loved myself as a child: Mary Poppins! The boys loved the original movie from 1964 starring Julie Andrews, and I was so happy to share that nostalgic moment with them.

Now, Mary Poppins is back and bringing whimsy and wonder to children once more! Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns was released on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital on March 19 and it’s a new adventure starring an old favourite character that your family won’t want to miss! Here’s a brief synopsis:

mary poppins returns cover art [Read more…]

Journey to a World of Possibilities with Disney’s Tomorrowland on Blu-ray and DVD

October 29, 2015 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

On the very first trip my boys and I made to Disneyland, the very first ride they wanted to try was a rocket ship in Tomorrowland. Over the next few days, we fell in love with so many of the Tomorrowland rides and shows, but that first moment of seeing my boys spin around in space ships is one that will always be a favourite memory. So when I learned that Disney had taken Tomorrowland out of the theme park and onto the big screen, I was delighted. Here’s a brief synopsis of the movie.

Dreamers Wanted…Disney invites you to an incredible world of epic imagination where anything is possible. Buckle your seat belt, as the director of The Incredibles takes your family on an action-packed thrill ride! Join former boy genius Frank, optimistic, science-minded teen Casey, mysterious Athena and the brilliant David Nix in a world of pure Disney imagination. Tomorrowland transports you on an inspiring and magical journey of wonder and adventures to a place where if you can dream it, you can do it. [Read more…]

Introduce Kids to a Whole New World of Magic with Disney Aladdin Diamond Edition

October 16, 2015 by Kathryn 25 Comments

There are a few classic Disney movies that are especially close to my heart, and one of those is Aladdin. I loved the Arabian theme, the catchy music and, of course, the high-energy Genie voiced by the late, great Robin Williams. Now, Disney is bringing the magic back for children of all ages with the Diamond Edition release of Disney’s Aladdin! Here’s a brief synopsis:

Disney’s beloved masterpiece will make your heart race and your spirit soar. Experience the laughter, adventure and Academy Award-winning music for the first time on Blu-ray and Digital HD. And now Aladdin shines even brighter with never-before-seen tributes to the enchanting talent of Robin Williams, the “Genius behind the Genie.”

Watching this movie on Blu-ray with my boys was one of those special moments that I’ll remember for years. I love that Aladdin has a boy hero, and Zackary and Benjamin loved following along with the adventures of the downtrodden “street rat,” his mischievous monkey and his new magical Genie friend. Best of all, the Diamond Edition has tons of bonus features including Genie Outtakes and behind-the-scenes documentaries that are sure to make this release a family treasure. [Read more…]

Get Disney’s Classic Fairy Tale Sleeping Beauty on an Exclusive Diamond Edition

October 8, 2014 by Kathryn 2 Comments

I was always excited when a fairy tale I love was reimagined as a Disney movie and this year, one of Disney’s most beloved fairy tales of all time is being re-released in a new Diamond Edition. Sleeping Beauty: Diamond Edition is available now on Blu-ray Superset and any princess at heart will want to make sure to add it to the family movie collection. Here’s a brief synopsis of the release:

“Sleeping Beauty” tells the wondrous tale of a princess cursed by an evil fairy, protected by three loving fairies and, ultimately, saved by “true love’s kiss.” Featuring the voice talents of renowned opera singer Mary Costa as Sleeping Beauty and Disney stalwart Eleanor Audley as the evil fairy, Maleficent, the film’s vibrant visuals were created by a team that included Milt Kahl and Ollie Johnston, two of Disney’s legendary Nine Old Men and an Academy Award®-nominated score, 1959, adapted from the incandescent music of Peter Tchaikovsky. “Sleeping Beauty” is the sixteenth animated feature in the Disney animated features canon and was the last animated feature produced by Walt Disney to be based upon a fairy tale. It is the tenth film released as part of Disney’s prestigious Blu-ray Diamond Collection.

Creating the ultimate at-home viewing experience, Disney’s 2-Disc Diamond Edition Blu-ray Superset (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) contains digitally restored picture and sound, a digital copy of the film, and a variety of magical new bonus features, including “Once Upon A Parade,” in which “Modern Family” star Sarah Hyland tells us the tale of Walt Disney World’s new Festival Of Fantasy Parade, “Art of Evil: Generations Of Disney Villains,” a legacy piece spotlighting Disney’s favorite villain animator and Maleficent creator Marc Davis, and “@DisneyAnimation: Artists in Motion,” in which Walt Disney Animation Visual Development artist Brittney Lee goes through the process of creating a three dimensional sculpture of Maleficent, completely out of paper. Additional all-new bonus features include never-before-seen deleted scenes “The Fair” (with Deleted Character The Vulture,) “The Curse is Fulfilled” and “Arrival Of Maleficent,” plus the Beauty-Oke sing-along to “Once Upon A Dream.” [Read more…]

Disney’s Saving Mr. Banks Now Available on Blu-Ray and DVD

March 25, 2014 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

It’s not often that I eagerly await my chance to see a movie, but I have to admit that from the first time I saw a preview of Disney’s Saving Mr. Banks, I knew I wanted to watch it. Now at last it is now available on Blu-ray and DVD and recently I received a copy to review. Here’s a brief synopsis of the movie:

Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson bring to life the untold true story about the origins of one of the most treasured Disney classics of all time. John Lee Hancock directs this acclaimed film, which reveals the surprising backstory behind the making of Mary Poppins.

Determined to fulfill a promise to his daughters, Walt Disney tries for twenty years to obtain the rights to author P.L. Travers’ beloved book. Armed with his iconic creative vision, Walt pulls out all the stops, but the uncompromising Travers won’t budge. Only when he reaches into his own complicated childhood does Walt discover the truth about the ghosts that haunt Travers, and together, they set Mary Poppins free! [Read more…]

Let Kids Go Wild with Disney’s The Jungle Book Diamond Edition on Blu-ray and DVD

February 26, 2014 by Kathryn 1 Comment

My boys are early risers and while becoming a mother has changed my sleep patterns a lot, I am still most definitely a night owl. So most mornings, Zackary and Benjamin wake up, head downstairs and watch a little television before I get up and get them ready for school. This morning, I awoke to their uncontrolled laughter and I headed downstairs to find both of them sitting on the couch watching The Jungle Book. This Disney classic was released as a Diamond Edition Blu-ray/DVD combo pack for the first time ever on February 11, 2014. I remember watching this movie as a child and I knew as soon as it was released on Blu-ray that it would be a hit with my two wild boys. Here’s a brief synopsis:

Now for the first time ever on Blu-ray with glorious digital high definition, Disney’s Jumpin’ Jungle Classic has never looked so lush or sounded so good! Beloved characters, swinging music and new behind-the-scenes bonus features make this Diamond Edition Blu-ray a must-have for every family’s classic collection!

Meet the most unforgettable characters and embark on a thrilling adventure with Mowgli as he journeys deep into the jungle and learns “The Bare Necessities” of life from happy-go-lucky Baloo the bear. Meet Bagheera, the wise old panther, and crazy King Louie, the orangutan. But watch out for the cunning Shere Khan and Kaa, the ssssneakiest snake in the jungle! Explore your wild side as you venture into The Jungle Book for extraordinary adventures and a heartwarming tale that celebrates the true meaning of friendship. [Read more…]

Introduce Your Children to Two Classic Muppet Movies Now on Blu-ray from Disney

January 16, 2014 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

When I was just a child, one of our family’s weekly activities was sitting down to watch reruns of The Muppet Show each week. Our entire family, adults and children alike, couldn’t get enough of the loveable characters and their adventures. And when the first Muppet movies were released, we just had to sit down to watch those as well!

The Muppets have been modernized a lot since then, but those classic movies are still so much fun and this year, Disney has released Muppet Treasure Island and The Great Muppet Caper in a special Blu-ray two-movie collection! I had the chance to review the Blu-ray release recently and I was pretty excited to introduce my boys to the Muppets as I once knew them! Here’s a brief synopsis:

A treasure trove of hearty laughs is yours when two of the funniest, most action-packed Muppet movies of all time make their Disney Blu-ray debut in a 2-Movie Collection. From the special star-studded lunacy in Muppet Treasure Island to the jewel-heist hilarity of The Great Muppet Caper, these two classic comedy-adventures are packed with mirth, mayhem and, of course, Kermit, Miss Piggy, Animal, Fozzie, Gonzo and all your Muppet favorites. Jim Henson’s whodunit heist-movie The Great Muppet Caper and the silly and swashbuckling high-seas adventure, Muppet Treasure Island, both restored and remastered, are loaded with unforgettable music and sparkling special effects. [Read more…]

The Magic of Mary Poppins is Back in a Newly Remastered 50th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray

January 5, 2014 by Kathryn 99 Comments

There are some movies that are so completely enchanting that their appeal spans generations and for me, Mary Poppins has always been one of those movies. I’ve seen it dozens of times over the years and have introduced my boys to the movie I loved as a child as well. Now, Mary Poppins is available in a very special 50th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack and I couldn’t wait to sit down and watch it with my boys once more. Here’s a brief synopsis:

Releasing from the Disney Vault in celebration of its 50th Anniversary, creative visionary Walt Disney’s classic shines for the first time on Blu-ray. Starring Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews in her Academy-Award winning role, and featuring iconic toe-tapping songs including “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” Mary Poppins is a movie experience your family will enjoy again and again. An all-new digital restoration adds even more magic – helping bring the award-winning songs and amazing picture to life like never before.

Mary Poppins is not a new movie to me. In fact, I think I may just know every word to every song in the movie. But that hasn’t taken away its magic for me one bit, and my boys love it just as much. The digital restoration made the film brighter and more lifelike than ever before, while still maintaining the classic charm of the movie that makes it so wonderful. [Read more…]