Tag Archives: Disney

Movie trailer: ‘Oz: The Great and Powerful’

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Sam Raimi, the director of the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man trilogy, is back in Oz The Great and Powerful. In it he tells the fantastical origin story of The Wizard of Oz, a character originally invented by L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The story serves as a prequel to the famous 1939 film starring Judy Garland. A synopsis follows:

When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot–fame and fortune are his for the taking–that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity–and even a bit of wizardry–Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

Oz: The Great and Powerful opens March 8, 2013 in 3D.

TV trailer: ‘Tron: Uprising’ brings you back to The Grid

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Can’t wait any longer for the Tron sequel to get off the ground? This should hold you over. This June Disney is going to introduce the sci-fi animated series Tron: Uprising to its Disney XD programming slate. The events in the show take place in between the original 1982 movie and the recent Tron: Legacy. The protagonist Beck is voiced by Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings) and Emmanuelle Chriqui (Entourage),  Mandy Moore,  Paul Reubens (aka Pee-Wee Herman), Lance Henriksen (Aliens), and Tron‘s very own Bruce Boxleitner round out the stellar cast of voices. Tron: Legacy producer Sean Bailey is behind the series, along with Once Upon A Time and Lost‘s Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. If you’re a fan of the Tron universe, this 10-part animated series is a must-see.

‘Phineas and Ferb’ renewed for fourth season, movie and possible spin-off on the way

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This month the Disney Channel renewed is highly rated children’s animated series Phineas and Ferb for a fourth season. The pickup guarantees new episodes of the musically-inclined adventure series through the year 2014. I’m a sucker for kid’s programming that likes to acknowledge an older audience, so this is really great news. Though series creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh recently pushed out a made-for-TV Phineas and Ferb movie titled Across the 2nd Dimension, the ingenious duo are ready for an entirely new level of popularity. In August they signed a multi-year, multimillion-dollar deal with Disney Television Animation to develop a feature film based on the show. They are currently writing the script. Rumor has it that the movie will be a mix of live action and the animation viewers are used to. More on this as details surface. In addition to the movie attachment, the Disney deal also has Povenmire and Swampy imagining a new animated show for the Disney Channel, likely a spin-off series based in the Phineas and Ferb universe. According to a NYT article, it will follow the adventures of Isabella and the Fireside Girls. No word on when such a series will make it to air. Expect the movie to hit theatres summer 2013. Celebrate the news with some “Gitchee Gitchee Goo” as perfomed by Phineas and the Ferb-Tones featuring Candace after the break!

[Via Deadline 1, 2] Continue reading ‘Phineas and Ferb’ renewed for fourth season, movie and possible spin-off on the way →

Marvel & Disney confirm ‘Thor 2’ for summer 2013 release

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It’s official: a sequel to this summer’s blockbuster Thor is in the works. This shouldn’t really come as a surprise: the Marvel superhero flick has grossed $437.5 million thus far. Chris Hemsworth will reprise as the God of Thunder, but Kenneth Branagh will not return to helm. He is expected to remain on the team as a producer, though. The search for a new director is currently underway. Obviously a plot has yet to be fully mapped out, but if you waited until after the credits rolled at Thor (spoiler alert) then you’ll know that Loki is still around and I’m sure his existence will factor into the new story. In that same scene, Dr. Selvig is introduced to Samuel L. Jackson’s omnipresent Nick Fury so there’s plenty of material to expand upon in the future. Here’s some solid news: Disney confirms a July 26, 2013 release. The summer of ’13 is certainly one to anticipate; Robert Downey Jr. returns to the big screen in Iron Man 3 on May 3.

[Via Deadline; The-Numbers]

Teaser: The Muppets

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We knew they were coming… It’s time to meet The Muppets, circa 2011. Jason Segel stars in this modern-day take on Jim Henson’s 1976 creation. Flight of the Concords‘ James Bobin is at the helm and Nicholas Stoller co-wrote the script with Segal. The trailer plays out like a cheesy rom-com with Segal and Amy Adams, but the situation gets turned on its head a little more than halfway through. Enough talk, enjoy!

Disney’s The Muppets lands in theatres November 23, 2011.

Disney gives the Haunted Mansion a ghostly revamp

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Disney’s Imagineers have been working hard to retool the Florida theme park’s famous Haunted Mansion ride and now it’s finally ready for the public at large to experience the newly installed frights. If you’ve been on the ride before, you should know that in the ride’s final moments (spoiler alert) ghostly figures appear next to you in the Doom Buggy through the magic of mirroring. Disney decided to upgrade this portion of the ride by making things a bit more interactive. The hitchhiking ghosts referred to as Ezra, Gus, and Phineas not only appear in your cart but they can now rip off passengers’ heads, blow them up like one would with a balloon, and send it flying in the air and it eventually lands back on the shoulders of the unsuspecting passenger. Disney pulls off the neat trick in grand fashion and you can sneak a peek at it in the video above. Obviously little justice is served here, so you ought to check it out first-hand the next time you visit the Magic Kingdom.

[Via InsideTheMagic]

‘Tron: Legacy Reconfigured’ is Daft Punk’s soundtrack, remixed

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This week Disney released a Tron: Legacy remix album containing remixes of the original movie tracks composed by Daft Punk. Though the electronic duo did not have a hand in putting together this re-release of sorts, many well-known artists contributed to it. The Glitch Mob’s fantastic remix of “Derezzed” is just one of the 15 tracks found on Reconfigured. Paul Oakenfold, The Crystal Method, Moby, Com Truise, and Pretty Lights also took turns at rehashing the original soundtrack. Full tracklist is after the break. Physical/digital copies available at those links. This remix album cannot come close to Daft Punk’s original creation, but for hardcore Tron and electronic dance club music fans this is something not to be glossed over.

In related Tron news, Tron: Legacy is now available on Blu-ray, DVD, and a bajillion other formats. Get home release details here.

Nick Pitera does Disney medley

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You know Nick Pitera; he’s the YouTube star famously known for singing both the male and female parts from Aladdin‘s “A Whole New World.” (That video, by the way, currently has a whopping 22.8 million views.) His latest video he calls a “One Man Disney Movie” and it includes him once again seamlessly switching between the male and female vocals. Its a medley of Disney songs ranging from classics like Beauty and the Beast and more recent tales like Enchanted. What’s cool is that Pitera has split the screen into six squares each representing a different role (Heroine, Sidekick, Chorus, etc.) and we get to watch them all at the same time. Sit back and enjoy the nearly nine minute journey through Disney music as told by the man with a magnificently odd voice.

Hey Ryan Murphy, dontcha think it’s time to cast this kid on Glee?

‘Tron: Legacy’ comes to Blu-ray April 5

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The visually splendid, perfectly scored flick Tron: Legacy is yours to own on Blu-ray Tuesday, April 5, as is “TRON: The Original Classic Special Edition.” Disney’s been holding out on releasing the original Tron so that they could give it proper state-of-the-art digital restoration and enhanced high-definition sound it rightfully deserves. In addition to Blu-ray, Legacy will be released across various platforms including Blu-ray 3D, DVD, Digital Copy, Movie Download, and On-Demand. The BD release will boast 1080p visuals and 7.1 surround sound and pack in-depth bonus features on the making of the film. Disney is going to ship three Legacy bundles ranging from $40 to $80 in price. The motherload is a “5-disc 2-movie Blu-ray combo pack” that includes flick on Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD, Digital Copy, and the original, remastered Tron. Bonus features include the “Derezzed” Daft Punk music video and featurettes called “The Next Day: Flynn Lives Revealed,” “Launching the Legacy,” and “Disc Roars.” In addition, all Blu-ray packs will include Disney Second Screen support. The Second Screen companion application can be accessed on any Internet-connected device (iPad, laptop, etc.) and it allows you to explore the story behind the film while you’re watching it. For example, you can engage with elements including 360-degree vehicle turnarounds and interactive progression reels. Look after the break to see the full breakdown of every release bundle.

Oh, and there’s one more thing. Along with Legacy and the original Tron, Disney is also releasing TRON: Legacy RECONFIGURED, an album featuring 14 remixes of the original motion picture soundtrack scored by Daft Punk. Let’s just say April 5 is going to be a wonderful day.

[Via Engadget] Continue reading ‘Tron: Legacy’ comes to Blu-ray April 5 →

Disney opening vault to release classics and modern flicks in Blu-ray 3D for 2011

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If you’ve purchased a 3DTV then you already know that exciting 3D content is annoyingly absent from the retail space.  You can’t even pick up the best 3D feature film Avatar unless you buy it with a Panasonic set.  But I’ve got some good news for you, so listen here.  Walt Disney Studios has made plans to release “at least” 15 Disney films in 3D this year.  The selection includes older classics such as The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast as well as modern hits such as Tangled and Tron: Legacy.  Disney promises that the latter two films will release in 3D day-and-date and packaged with the Blu-ray 2D version.  Be sure to look after the break for the full PR which lists other Disney hits getting the Blu-ray 3D treatment in 2011.

[Via Engadget] Continue reading Disney opening vault to release classics and modern flicks in Blu-ray 3D for 2011 →

Trailer: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

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Johnny Depp is back as Capt. Jack Sparrow in another Pirates tale from Disney, Jerry Bruckheimer, and director Rob Marshall. Gore Verbinski, the original director from the first three films in the franchise, decided to sit this one out.  Actors Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley also parted ways with the film.  This time around Jack Sparrow is hellbent on finding the Fountain of Youth.  Depp is joined by new female lead Penélope Cruz who plays the daughter of the film’s main antagonist Blackbeard (Ian McShane).  Geoffrey Rush reprises his role as Captain Hector Barbossa.  As you’re watching the first theatrical trailer you’ll surely notice that the Klaus Badelt/Hans Zimmer collaborative score has carried over and is still fantastic.  On Stranger Tides hits theatres May 20, 2011 in standard, 3D and IMAX 3D formats.

Update: I’ve replaced the Yahoo! Movies clip with the trailer that’s been uploaded to Disney’s YouTube channel.  This one features a short introduction by Jack Sparrow and more importantly it can be viewed in full HD!