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Ben Simon Author Archive

Celebrate 20 years of Disneyland Paris with a new book!

As Disneyland Paris begins its twenty-year anniversary celebrations, our very own Jeremie Noyer has been hard at work behind the scenes on a new publication marking this historic birthday! Disneyland Paris: 20 Years Of Dreams documents the development of what was once EuroDisney (at its opening in 1992) through to the resort destination it has [...]


The Muppets

The true best picture of 2011 becomes the instant must-have disc of 2012 as Kermit and the gang find themselves in new but very assured hands. Made by fans for fans, if you don’t have this already, get it now for a fun family Easter treat!


The Lion King II / The Lion King 1½

The first sequel suffers from too much comparison to its predecessor, but where the third film hits the mark is in being just the opposite: an all-out, almost full-on parody of Disney’s classic hit.


Disney contemporary classic cover art revealed!

Over at Amazon.com, some new additions to Disney’s extensive Blu-ray catalog line up for the year have just been made available for pre-order, revealing the cover artwork for the first time. Perhaps predictably recycling previous DVD sleeve incarnations, Newsies: 20th Anniversary Edition arrives on June 19 to tie in with its Broadway musical stage bow, [...]


Wallace & Gromit’s World Of Invention

Although not featuring Nick Park’s classic characters as we’re more often used to seeing them, the Wallace and Gromit hosted World Of Invention is informative and fun thanks to their (brief) links.


The Adventures Of Tintin: The Secret Of The Unicorn

Hergé’s iconic graphic album adventures burst onto the screen courtesy of top-flight motion-capture animation under the watchful eyes of Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson, and the result is simply astounding!


Happy Feet Two

This poor, poor retread of the original film won’t win over any new fans, and old ones should just watch the first film again, but the disc wins big points for including an excellent new Looney Tunes short with a classic twist.


Gnomeo 2 taps Sherlock Gnomes for new adventure

Following the surprise success of the Disney-distributed Gnomeo And Juliet from Elton John’s Rocket Pictures, the company has revealed its next literary target in the title for a sequel film, Gnomeo And Juliet: Sherlock Gnomes, which has gone into development according to Dealine.com. John will again compose new songs for the film, which is set [...]


Lady And The Tramp

Walt Disney’s classic brings kitchen sink drama to animated film, and this latest home video version, while not adding much new to what the Platinum DVD served up, scores with its pristine audio and video presentation.


Mad: Season One, Part Two

The usual gang of idiots return for a second helping of the original satirical magazine’s surprisingly consistent transition to the screen, and even if the strike rate isn’t quite as strong as the first episodes there are still (“cheap!”) laughs to be had.


Real Steel

Memories of robot-in-the-ring childhood toy games will come flooding back for those of a certain age, for whom the big-hearted Real Steel will entertain as a good-time, old-style movie, but with state-of-the-art visuals.


The Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Ultimate Collector’s Edition Volume One

Looking better than ever, the Looney Tunes have hit Blu-ray with a stunning collection of classic toons and tributes to Chuck Jones. Excellent.


The Essential Daffy Duck

An overpriced random selection of milestones, also-rans and specials don’t really add anything to the Daffy Duck legend, but a couple of nostalgic TV specials may help to round out some collections.


Dr. Seuss’s Holidays On The Loose!

A rather odd grouping of previously released Grinch specials, collected together under the pretence of the holidays when only one of them is actually tied to one, with undistinguished audio and video on all but the classic Christmas show.


Disney Blu-ray 3D Reissues: Chicken Little / Meet The Robinsons / Bolt / G-Force

The lowdown on the upgrades for four of Disney’s recent CG features, now presented in high-definition 3D.


Cars 2

Lacking any of the heart or speed of the original, this flat as a flat tyre sequel finds Pixar running awfully low on gas, and the extras scrape the barrel in trying to tune-up a rare misfire that doesn’t get out of the pit-stop let alone make the finish line.


Toy Story / Toy Story 2 / Toy Story 3 – 3D Editions

The toys are back on disc, now with an added dimension in these reissued combo packs that bundle in 3D and Digital Copy platters. The supplements are as plentiful as ever, but what about the new perspective?


Winnie The Pooh

Though sometimes overly familiar and not remarkably new, there’s an innocent sweetness to this return to the Hundred Acre Wood, and the disc’s package puts together some welcome supplements including the animated short The Ballad Of Nessie.


Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: Limited 3D Edition

Fourth time around the sails look pretty worn on the franchise. The supplements show off the detail gone into its making, but sneaky of Disney to hold them back just for this otherwise redundant 3D edition.


Tom & Jerry: Golden Collection Vol 1

At last! Tom & Jerry finally get the really deluxe treatment they deserve in the first of Warners’ high-definition shorts compilations. If they’re all as good looking and awarded with supplements as this, we’re going to be collecting a long time!


The Lion King: Diamond Edition

The most crushingly disappointing Blu-ray since Fantasia, it’s disturbing that such little attention has been paid to Disney’s biggest film. Two new documentaries are very good, but that’s pretty much all you get: there’s much more to do than has been done here…


Beauty And The Beast: Diamond Edition (3D)

With newly included Digital Copy and 3D that adds a surprisingly immersive aspect to Disney’s 20-year-old classic, this Diamond Edition reissue remains an excellent package that is certainly more Beauty than Beast!


Dumbo: 70th Anniversary Edition

Although one important supplement from previous disc releases hasn’t made the Blu-ray cut, one of Walt’s true classics flies high again in this 70th anniversary edition. With stunning image and new extras, Dumbo is an instant recommendation!


Phineas And Ferb: The Movie – Across The 2nd Dimension

While not classic Disney, or even classic Disney television animation, I’m sure long-time fans will get a huge buzz from Disney Channel’s Phineas And Ferb’s first big movie and this packed disc presentation.


Mad: Season One, Part One

The original satirical magazine makes a truly genuine translation from page to screen in a Warner Bros. Animation animated program that feels close in freewheeling spirit to the unit’s classic 1990s animated comedies.


Hoodwinked Too! Hood Vs. Evil

Though not the worst animated film you’re ever likely to see, don’t get hoodwinked into seeing this lower than average sequel to a surprisingly fun original. The extras try, but there are no happy endings here.


Bambi II: Special Edition

Disney’s surprisingly good direct-to-video midquel gets its own Blu-ray special edition upgrade, and while the film looks great – too perfect at times – the extras don’t really offer anything new of worth.


The Fox And The Hound: 30th Anniversary 2-Movie Edition

Unexpectedly vibrant in a new restoration, Disney’s overlooked 1981 feature makes it to Blu-ray, though the film’s mid-quel follow up and lack of vintage documentaries don’t enhance the package much.


The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D

Tim Burton’s holiday tale returns to hi-def disc, now with an added third dimension that spookily looks like it’s being watched through a ViewMaster. And it works…kind of…


Mars Needs Moms

A misfire from Disney and ImageMovers, Mars Needs Moms fails in almost every regard to bring a fun kids book to the screen with any sense of fantasy about it, with the 3D adding very little.



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