Category: Movies

The Walt Disney Studios 2017 Motion Picture Slate is awesome, and to keep you up-to-date on the latest news I am launching a Walt Disney Studios News Round-Up with information about Moana, Cars 3, & Beauty and the Beast!

So let the fun begin!

Walt Disney Studios News Round-Up ~ January 17, 2017

Moana Sing-Along

Walt Disney Animation Studios says ‘You’re Welcome’ to Moana fans later this month when an all-new sing-along version of the epic adventure will sail in to more than 2,000 theaters nationwide on January 27th and exclusively at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre on January 20th.

The sing-along version of Moana includes the full feature film with on-screen lyrics, so audiences can belt out the words to their favorite songs, such as the Golden Globe®-nominated “How Far I’ll Go.”

Make sure that you check your local listings for showtimes and theaters, because the sing-along run will vary by location.

MOANA home Release date announced 

Audiences can soon enjoy the original theatrical version of the film at home and packed with a variety of bonus extras when Moana arrives on Digital HD/3D and Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) on February 21st & on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, Digital SD, DVD and On-Demand on March 7th.

httpv://youtu.be/7cEISD8gd1s

Cars 3 Extended Look

Cars 3 is an all-new story that tests the heart of a champion in a high-tech world, and we have learned about two new characters and a new extended look at the movie was released!

It was announced that Cristela Alonzo, as unconventional trainer Cruz Ramirez, and Armie Hammer, as next-gen racer Jackson Storm, will be joining Owen Wilson in the cast of Cars 3.

Cruz Ramirez is a sunny-but-fierce unconventional trainer at the Rust-eze Racing Center. She expertly arms the team’s talented rookies with cutting-edge tools to tear up the track—but she nearly stalls when her longtime idol Lightning McQueen shows up. While she’d love to help him find his way back to the top, she knows the competition is faster than ever, and victory is all about speed—or is it?

Jackson Storm is fast, sleek and ready to race. A frontrunner in the next generation of racers, Storm’s quiet confidence and cocky demeanor are off-putting—but his unmatched speed threatens to redefine the sport. Trained on high-tech simulators that are programmed to perfect technique and maximize velocity, Jackson Storm is literally built to be unbeatable—and he knows it.

Lightning McQueen is world champion—a modern-day racing legend who’s riding high with five Piston-Cup wins under his hood. Suddenly, he finds himself faced with a new generation of racers who threaten not only his dominance in the sport—but the confidence that got him there. Determined to get back to the pole position, the #95 must decide if his love for racing is enough to fuel the comeback of his life.

And finally in Cars 3 news, I wanted to share the new extended look!

httpv://youtu.be/U1eQYk74R1g

Beauty and the Beast Original Motion Picture Soundtrack news

GRAMMY nominated and multi-platinum selling artist Ariana Grande and 10-time GRAMMY, Oscar-winning and multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter/ musician John Legend are set to perform the Oscar and GRAMMY-winning duet “Beauty and the Beast” as the title track for Disney’s upcoming soundtrack to the live-action film adaptation “Beauty and the Beast.”

The original motion picture soundtrack for “Beauty and the Beast” will be released by Walt Disney Records on March 10, 2017. The pre-order is available now at http://disneymusic.co/BeautySndtrkP.

Beauty and the Beast

Earlier in the month during the Golden Globes a new “Beauty and the Beast” spot aired that FINALLY gave us a glimpse at Emma Watson singing as Belle.

httpv://youtu.be/S7ENUYTXlJg

If you don’t have goosebumps after watching this spot, you’re doing it wrong!!! March 17th can’t get here quick enough!

I can’t wait to bring you more Walt Disney Studios news in a new round-up!

In Celebration of the 25^th Anniversary of “Beauty and the Beast,” bring home all of the Disney Princesses for a limited time!

For the first time ever, the unforgettable Disney Princess films will all be available for purchase at the same time, Sept. 6 – Oct. 17!

In honor of the 25th anniversary of the beloved animated classic “Beauty and the Beast,” Disney fans are gaining unprecedented access to Disney’s Princess films. On Sept. 6, the beloved animated classic featuring Belle and Beast will be released as part of The Walt Disney Signature Collection and in celebration of the event, for the first time ever, all 11 Disney Princess films are being made available to bring home at the same time, Sept. 6 – Oct. 17.

Twenty-five years ago, Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” broke ground as the first animated feature film to receive an Academy Award® nomination for best picture. The beloved classic won two Oscars®, including best song and best original score, as well as a Golden Globe Award® for best comedy/musical. Now a whole new generation of viewers will follow the magical journey of Belle, an independent and intelligent, modern-day heroine who is taken prisoner by a beast in his castle. Despite her precarious situation, Belle befriends the castle’s enchanted staff—a teapot, a candelabra and a mantel clock, among others—and ultimately learns to see beneath the Beast’s exterior to discover the heart and soul of a prince.

The Walt Disney Signature Collection edition features four versions of “Beauty and the Beast,” including a never-before-released on home entertainment, sing-along version. A host of all-new bonus extras include a rare opportunity to gather around the piano with some of Disney’s greatest composers, as they sing and share how they’ve personally been inspired by the film’s award-winning music; a look at how Walt Disney himself sought to adapt this famous fairytale; a nostalgic look back with Paige O’Hara, the voice of Belle; behind-the-scenes access into the recording booth with the cast; and a sneak peek at Disney’s upcoming live-action re-telling of “Beauty and the Beast,” arriving in theaters in 2017.

For nearly 80 years, audiences have followed the dreams and magical adventures of Disney Princesses including Belle, Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel and Merida. The timeless tales that introduced the world to these inspirational heroines include “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Tangled,” “Cinderella,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Brave,” “Pocahontas,” and  “Mulan.” And now, for the first time ever, all 11 of these timeless family favorites will be available to purchase during the same six-week window.

Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of Adventures in Babysitting for this review, but all opinions are my own.

As a child of the 80’s Adventures in Babysitting was one of my favorite movies to watch! So when I saw that a newer version would be the 100th Disney Channel Original Movie (or DCOM) I was really excited.

In “Adventures in Babysitting,” a dull evening for two competing babysitters, Jenny (Sabrina Carpenter) and Lola (Sofia Carson), turns into an adventure in the big city as they hunt for one of the kids who somehow snuck away.

httpv://youtu.be/ak4ph7XLEgQ

If you approach this version of the movie expecting a remake of the original you will be disappointed, because while the movie draws inspiration from the original this is definitely a movie for a younger generation.

You will find that in this version the references and shenanigans are updated to include cell phones, the internet, and scenarios that ‘kids these days’ may find themselves in, there are still a ton of throwbacks and nods to the 1987 classic movie. That being said there is one change that was made that definitely stuck out, or at least it did for me because I clearly remember watching it when I was younger and realizing it was the first time I heard a ‘bad word’ in a movie. But while you won’t be able to join in the fun of the ‘Don’t F**** with the Babysitter’ line, there is still a moment in the movie that pays homage to that iconic line…I mean, this is Disney after all!

Watching the newest version of Adventures in Babysitting as a family was a really fun way to spend a summer night, and Zoe has already asked to have it join the rotation of our favorite movies!

As a total side note, all 100 DCOMs are available on XFINITY On Demand!

Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped – and no one knows why… 

Moana doesn’t hit theaters until November, but I have been extremely excited about this movie since the D23 Expo and the new teaser trailer is here!

httpv://youtu.be/C6PbWhWGUrY

From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Moana,” a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people.

During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) meets the once-mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder.

Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity.

Moana is directed by the renowned filmmaking team of Ron Clements and John Musker (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “The Princess & the Frog”) and produced by Osnat Shurer (“Lifted,” “One Man Band”).

Moana sails into U.S. theaters on Nov. 23, 2016.

For more information, visit the official site, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Check Out The Latest Trailer From The BFG

The talents of three of the world’s greatest storytellers – Roald Dahl, Walt Disney and Steven Spielberg – finally unite to bring Dahl’s beloved classic The BFG to life.

httpv://youtu.be/y1fZg0hhBX8

Directed by Spielberg, Disney’s The BFG tells the imaginative story of a young girl and the Giant who introduces her to the wonders and perils of Giant Country. The BFG (Mark Rylance), while a giant himself, is a Big Friendly Giant and nothing like the other inhabitants of Giant Country.

Standing 24-feet tall with enormous ears and a keen sense of smell, he is endearingly dim-witted and keeps to himself for the most part. Giants like Bloodbottler (Bill Hader) and Fleshlumpeater (Jemaine Clement) on the other hand, are twice as big and at least twice as scary and have been known to eat humans, while the BFG prefers Snozzcumber and Frobscottle. Upon her arrival in Giant Country, Sophie, a precocious 10-year-old girl from London, is initially frightened of the mysterious giant who has brought her to his cave, but soon comes to realize that the BFG is actually quite gentle and charming, and, having never met a giant before, has many questions. ‘The BFG’ brings Sophie to Dream Country where he collects dreams and sends them to children, teaching her all about the magic and mystery of dreams. Having both been on their own in the world up until now, their affection for one another quickly grows, but Sophie’s presence in Giant Country has attracted the unwanted attention of the other giants, who have become increasingly more bothersome. Sophie and the BFG soon depart for London to see the Queen (Penelope Wilton) and warn her of the precarious giant situation, but they must first convince the Queen and her maid, Mary (Rebecca Hall), that giants do indeed exist. Together, they come up with a plan to get rid of the giants once and for all.

‘The BFG’ opens in U.S. theaters on July 1, 2016, the year that marks the 100th anniversary of Dahl’s birth.

Witness the power of the Sorcerer Supreme in the first teaser for Marvel’s Doctor Strange, in theaters November 4! 

httpv://youtu.be/Lt-U_t2pUHI

Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Dr. Stephen Strange in the first full trailer for “Doctor Strange,” in theaters on November 4, 2016, and unlike some Marvel movies this one has a focus on mysticism.

The trailer gives us a glimpse into the backstory, world, and journey of Dr. Strange.

Even Dr. Strange doesn’t buy into the world of possibilities that the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) tells him about saying “I don’t believe in fairy tales about chakras or energy or the power of belief.” His story soon takes a dramatic turn as he see firsthand what the world could be.

To keep up with the latest on Marvel’s Doctor Strange, you can:

• Like Doctor Strange on Facebook, 
• FollowDoctor Strange on Twitter,
• Follow Marvel on Instagram, and
• Visit the officialDoctor Strange website here.

Marvel’s Doctor Strange opens in theatres everywhere on November 4th!

Disney Quotes #MotivationalMonday

The Jungle Book:

New Featurettes and Clips

I am really excited to share two new clips and a new featurette with never-before-seen interviews from the cast and filmmakers including Jon Favreau, Bill Murray, Lupita Nyong’o, Idris Elba, Sir Ben Kingsley and Scarlett Johansson below from Disney’s upcoming live action The Jungle Book!

Directed by Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”), based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories and inspired by Disney’s classic animated film, “The Jungle Book” is an all-new live-action epic adventure about Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi), a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves.

But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan (voice of Idris Elba), who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. Urged to abandon the only home he’s ever known, Mowgli embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery, guided by panther-turned-stern mentor Bagheera (voice of Ben Kingsley), and the free-spirited bear Baloo (voice of Bill Murray).

Along the way, Mowgli encounters jungle creatures who don’t exactly have his best interests at heart, including Kaa (voice of Scarlett Johansson), a python whose seductive voice and gaze hypnotizes the man-cub, and the smooth-talking King Louie (voice of Christopher Walken), who tries to coerce Mowgli into giving up the secret to the elusive and deadly red flower: fire. The all-star cast also includes Lupita Nyong’o as the voice of the fiercely protective mother wolf Raksha, and Giancarlo Esposito as the voice of wolf pack’s alpha male Akela.

“The Jungle Book” seamlessly blends live-action with photorealistic CGI animals and environments, using up-to-the-minute technology and storytelling techniques to immerse audiences in an enchanting and lush world. The wild adventure swings into theaters in 3D on April 15, 2016.

Also right now there are some amazing Bloggers getting an inside look at The Jungle Book, so make sure you look for the #JungleBookEvent to keep up with their adventures!

“The Legacy” Featurette

httpv://youtu.be/kFshLh8xSz0

“Hibernation” Film Clip 

httpv://youtu.be/KpZIeo4oIoA

“Mowgli Leaves The Pack” Film Clip 

httpv://youtu.be/GgGOcEgRh7k

The Jungle Book opens in theatres everywhere in 3D, RealD 3D, and IMAX 3D onApril 15th!

Like The Jungle Book on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, visit Walt Disney Pictures on Tumblr, and follow Walt Disney Pictures on YouTube.

Visit the official THE JUNGLE BOOK website here.

The Jungle Book opens in theatres everywhere in 3D, RealD 3D, and IMAX 3D on April 15th, and I am really excited to share with you the latest clip and cast photos with their characters. 

httpv://youtu.be/OD3CLzPER34

Also make sure to check out the brand new immersive site for Disney’sThe Jungle Book that just launched. Created exclusively by Disney on Tumblr, where you can explore chapters like “Words to Live By: The bare necessities for a man cub to survive” and “In the Face of Danger: Learn about the Red Flower and Shere Khan.” New chapters will be revealed over the next two weeks featuring exclusive content from the film.

Finally, brand new special shoot images featuring the cast of Disney’s The Jungle Book are now available. Featuring Idris Elba, Scarlett Johansson, Lupita Nyong’o, Sir Ben Kingsley, Christopher Walken and Giancarlo Esposito, each image pairs the actor with their onscreen character, as well as quotes from the actors to share with your readers.

Scarlett Johansson / Kaa

Kaa is a massive python who uses her voice and hypnotic gaze to entrance Mowgli. The man-cub can’t resist her captivating embrace. “Kaa seduces and entraps Mowgli with her storytelling,” says Scarlett Johansson. “She’s the mirror into Mowgli’s past. The way she moves is very alluring, almost coquettish.”

Idris Elba / Shere Khan

Voiced by Idris Elba, Shere Khan bears the scars of man, which fuel his hatred of humans. Convinced that Mowgli poses a threat, the bengal tiger is determined to rid the jungle of the man-cub. “Shere Khan reigns with fear,” says Elba. “He terrorizes everyone he encounters because he comes from a place of fear.”

Sir Ben Kingsley / Bagheera

Bagheera is a sleek panther who feels it’s his duty to help the man-cub depart with dignity when it’s time for him to leave his jungle home. “Bagheera is Mowgli’s adoptive parent,” says Ben Kingsley, who lends his voice to Bagheera. “His role in Mowgli’s life is to educate, to protect and to guide. My Bagheera was military–he’s probably a colonel. He is instantly recognizable by the way he talks, how he acts and what his ethical code is.”

Lupita Nyong’o / Raksha

Lupita Nyong’o voices Raksha, a mother wolf who cares deeply for all of her pups–including man-cub Mowgli, whom she adopts as one of her own when he’s abandoned in the jungle as an infant. “She is the protector, the  eternal mother,” says Nyong’o. “The word Raksha actually means protection in Hindi. I felt really connected to that, wanting to protect a son that isn’t originally hers but one she’s taken for her own.”

Christopher Walken / King Louie

King Louie is a formidable ape who desperately wants the secret of Man’s deadly “red flower”–fire. He’s convinced Mowgli has the information he seeks. “King Louie is huge–12 feet tall,” says Christopher Walken, who voices the character. “But he’s as charming as he is intimidating when he wants to be.”

Giancarlo Esposito / Akela

Akela is the strong and hardened alpha-male wolf who shoulders the responsibility of his pack. He welcomes Mowgli to the family, but worries he may one day compromise their safety. “Akela is a fierce patriarch of the wolf pack,” says Giancarlo Esposito, who voices the character. “He believes the strength of the pack lies in what each and every wolf offers. He’s a great leader, a wise teacher.”

THE JUNGLE BOOK opens in theatres everywhere in 3D, RealD 3D, and IMAX 3D on April 15th!

Like The Jungle Book on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, visit Walt Disney Pictures on Tumblr, and follow Walt Disney Pictures on YouTube.

Visit the official THE JUNGLE BOOK website here.

A Spoiler-Free Look At #Zootopia

Zootopia opens in movie theaters today, and while the story may seem ‘fluffy’ from the trailers the world of Zootopia is dealing with some heady issues.

Zootopia is an anthropomorphic metropolis where ‘Anyone can be Anything’, and different species of mammals can live and thrive as neighbors in well designed, connected ecosystems having evolved past the predator/prey relationship that had haunted their history for years.

The story of Zootopia follows Judy Hopps, voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin, as she fulfills her dream to become the first rabbit Police Officer in the history of Zootopia despite several obstacles.

However upon her arrival in Zootopia she quickly learns that her dreams have a harsh reality, and that in this new place she must now work even harder to overcome prejudices. It doesn’t matter if she is facing a bully boss named Chief Bogo, voiced by Idris Elba, stereotypes from co-workers, Clawhauser voiced by Nate Torrence is the first to learn you can’t call a bunny ‘cute’, or cons by the sly fox Nick Wilde, voiced by Jason Bateman, Judy never loses sight of who she is and what she wants to achieve.

Now if the story stopped there you’d have a good film, but what really makes it great is that you are drawn into the world of Zootopia with the rich cultivation of the relationship between Judy and Nick, coupled with the moments of laugh out loud comedy that break the tension, and ‘Try Anything’ by Gazelle, voiced by Shakira, is an ear-worm of a song that will have you dancing in your seat.

The overall message of the movie comes across as positive and not preachy, because the story focuses on the changes you can make to the world around you to make it a better place rather than how to best cope in a world where you are always put down. And while you feel Judy’s lows you never feel ‘sorry’ for her, because she owns responsibility for her role in the scenarios she finds herself in and uses her determination and smarts to figure out how to make things better.

I’m really excited that Judy and Nick will be coming to the Magic Kingdom’s Move it! Shake it! Dance & Play it! Parade! The only thing better than a Meet & Greet, is the chance to shake a tailfeather with them!

Zootopia is a wonderful movie for the whole family, and as soon as the credits started to scroll we all agreed that we wanted to see it again! While younger viewers will really enjoy the movie and its story, it can also serve as a conversation starter for introducing and addressing delicate issues in a relatable way.

Wordless Wednesday – March 2, 2016

This week’s Wordless Wednesday takes us to the #ZootopiaEvent at Disney’s Animal Kingdom where I got to meet my two new friends from Zootopia, opening March 4th, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde!