Time to watch Disney’s Maleficent: Mistress of Evil now at home

Time to watch Disney’s Maleficent: Mistress of Evil now at home

Disney’s most iconic villain when Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, starring Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning and Michelle Pfeiffer, is now on Digital and Movies Anywhere and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD.

The thrilling sequel to 2014’s “Maleficent,” starring Angelina Jolie as Maleficent and Elle Fanning as her goddaughter Aurora, arrives home with brand-new bonus features, extended scenes, outtakes – you can see those below.

Elle Fanning is Aurora in Disney’s live-action MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL

“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” carries on the story of Disney’s most iconic villain. The years have been kind to Maleficent and Aurora. Their relationship, born of heartbreak, revenge and ultimately love, has flourished. Yet hatred between man and the fairies still exists. Aurora’s impending marriage to Prince Philip is cause for celebration as the wedding serves to unite the Kingdom of Ulstead and the neighboring Moors. But, when an unexpected encounter introduces a powerful new alliance, Maleficent and Aurora are pulled apart to opposing sides in a Great War, testing their loyalties and causing them to question whether they can truly be a family.

Harris Dickinson is Prince Phillip, Elle Fanning is Aurora, Robert Lindsay is King John and Michelle Pfeiffer is Queen Ingrith in Disney’s live-action MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL

Bonus features take viewers behind-the-scenes with the all-star cast to explore the making of “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.” Extended scenes reveal how Queen Ingrith (Michelle Pfeiffer) manipulates Aurora into questioning Maleficient and accelerating her wedding plans. Featurettes include interviews with Jolie, who discusses Maleficent’s origins and the cast who portray the Fey, and Fanning, who gushes over Aurora’s fairytale wedding. Filmmakers showcase the visual effects behind the film’s stunning landscapes and the seemingly effortless flight of the Fey. Additional extras include “You Can’t Stop The Girl,” a music video performed by Bebe Rexha, and hilarious outtakes, ranging from uncooperative cats to uncontrollable giggles on set.
DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE:
  • Lickspittle – Fantasy-film veteran Warwick Davis considers how every aspect of the film’s design inspired his tragic character.
BLU-RAY & DIGITAL BONUS:
  • Extended Scenes
    • The Queen Comforts Aurora – Queen Ingrith takes advantage of Aurora’s fragile state to gain her confidence and accelerate the wedding plans.
    • Philip and Aurora Dance – Aurora struggles to gain Queen Ingrith’s approval when she realizes how she is viewed among aristocracy.
  • Featurettes
    • Origins of the Fey – Angelina Jolie discusses Maleficent’s lore, her newly discovered origins, and the diversity of the cast who portray the Fey.
    • Aurora’s Wedding – Elle Fanning gushes over Aurora’s fairytale wedding; plus, hear from some special guests as they give their best to the bride and groom.
    • If You Had Wings – Get a glimpse of the elaborate visual effects that allow the Fey to take to the skies.
    • “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” VFX Reel – Discover how a perfect blend of practical and visual effects were used to create the stunning landscapes in “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.”
  • Outtakes – Uncooperative cats, a serious case of the giggles and even the “floss dance” found their way into Ulstead.
  • “You Can’t Stop The Girl” – Music video performed by Bebe Rexha

 

and for those that love to cook some very special directions for Maleficent Cake Pops.

CES 2020: Arcade1up announces the next wave

CES 2020: Arcade1up announces the next wave

The embargoes have been lifted and we have blast off for 2020 –  I have the official word of whats coming next from Arcade1up.

Lets start with a cabinet that was announced already, Burger Time, first we saw it as Karate Champ, but we know it has been upgraded to feature the unique Burger Time cabinet design. Whats the official word? Scott Bachrach, CEO, Tastemakers, LLC. “We’re only selling a limited number of these units, as we know this is a collectors’ piece, and it will only be available on arcade1up.com for a very limited time. I want our community to know we will continue to launch titles directly to consumers through our website, as long as they continue to support and request them.”

Arcade1Up has a promised ship date of March 1st when your order is placed before January 31st. This unit features a light-up marquee, matching riser, and a unique form factor true to the original version with rounded side panels. Additional games include: Karate Champ, Bad Dudes, and Caveman Ninja.

It also a special 40th anniversary Pac-Man cabinet is coming soon, with a ton more games!

Cool. Now lets talk about whats new…. Arcade1Up will officially be adding the following to their ¾ scale lineup with new titles and features

  • NBA Jam LiveArcade1Up’s first-ever online cabinet allowing users to play with other Arcade1Up cabinets in drop-in style games with up to four players on four different machines across North America. Games Included: NBA Jam, NBA Jam Tournament Edition, NBA Hang Time
  • Frogger: Help the animated amphibians find their way home, navigating frog flattening road crossing and hazardous waterways with Arcade1Up and Konami’s Frogger. Games included: Frogger and Time Pilot.
  • Golden Axe: Venture through a medieval fantasy world in search of the legendary Golden Axe. This Side-scrolling beat ’em up arcade machine game comes with additional games such as: Golden Axe, Shinobi, Altered Beast, Wrestle Wars, and Death Adder.
  • Atari Star Wars™ Sit-down VersionArcade1Up adds a new form factor to enjoy the Star Wars saga. The Arcade1Up sit-down version comes with a bench that seamlessly slides around the 4ft machine giving it cockpit-like feel while navigating the flight yoke. Games include: Star Wars™, Empire Strikes Back™ and Return of the Jedi™.

With the success of the 3/4 scale arcade cabinets Arcade1up is also going to be releasing some new form factors, like handheld devices, plug and play controllers, at-home Jumbo Joysticks, and more. Partners include but are not limited to: Disney, Namco, ColecoVision, Intellivision, Commodore 64, Atari, and more.

Last part of the official news from Arcade1Up is a partnership with Zen Studios to create ¾ scale digital pinball tables. Wow I’m so excited about this one… CAN NOT WAIT! Zen Studios, known for developing the most iconic digital pinball games to date, brings an extensive range of knowledge and game selection for both retro and modern games.

Stay tuned to this post as we’ll update it with the latest and greatest as we have boots on the ground at CES.  Lastly if you’re at CES to celebrate the launch of NBA Jam, Arcade1Up  is bringing the world’s largest arcade machine to CES and will have former NBA star, Clyde Drexler, in attendance for autograph signing in their booth on Jan 8 @ 12-2pm in the south hall booth #21308.

Thanks to David McIntosh for CES photography.

Disney’s The Little Mermaid is out of the vault and its time to bring her home on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital

Disney’s The Little Mermaid is out of the vault and its time to bring her home on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital

In honor of its 30th anniversary, two-time Academy Award-winner “The Little Mermaid,” dives into the highly celebrated Walt Disney Signature Collection with all-new bonus features and a sing-along mode. We also have a really cool activity sheet for you to print out for your kids.

The Signature Edition of “The Little Mermaid” [amazon] showcases its award-winning musical score and iconic songs such as “Under the Sea” and “Part of Your World” with a sing-along mode allowing you to accompany this beloved cast of characters on their journey.   Never-before-seen bonus features bring legendary composer Alan Menken and some of Disney’s most recognizable leading ladies together around a piano to reminisce, sing and celebrate “The Little Mermaid.” The latest installment of “Stories from Walt’s Office” compares Walt and Ariel’s love of collecting treasures. Viewers will also receive an inside look at the “The Little Mermaid” cast in their original recording sessions, explore hidden treasures and fun facts from the film, and enjoy a special performance of “Part of Your World” by a cappella singing sensation DCapella. Plus, fans will have access to hours of additional classic bonus features!

“The Little Mermaid” [amazon] is the seventh title to join the Walt Disney Signature Collection, which includes groundbreaking films created or inspired by the imagination and legacy of Walt Disney, featuring timeless stories and characters that have touched generations. The film takes its place alongside “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Pinocchio,” “Bambi,” “The Lion King” and “Lady and the Tramp.”

ALL-NEW BONUS FEATURES: *

BLU-RAY & DIGITAL

  • Sing-Along Mode – Sing along to the movie in this  sing-along version of the film.
  • Alan Menken & the Leading Ladies Song – From the voice of a mermaid to the tunes of a muse, the music of Alan Menken has scored the soundtrack for some of Disney’s most iconic leading ladies. Join Alan, Jodi Benson (Ariel), Paige O’Hara (Belle), Judy Kuhn (Pocahontas Singing Voice), Lillias White (Calliope) and Donna Murphy (Mother Gothel) as we celebrate the music of their films in honor of the one that started it all … “The Little Mermaid.”  In this discussion, the ladies will share their memories of musically creating their characters with Alan, discuss what it means to be part of the Disney Princess/leading lady legacy and create new memories as they sing with Alan around a baby grand piano.
  • “What I Want From You…Is YOUR VOICE” – Enter the recording studio and get an inside look at the cast of “The Little Mermaid” in their original recording sessions.
  • Stories From Walt’s Office – Gadgets & Gizmos – Like Ariel, Walt Disney was a collector of many different things from miniatures to early mechanical characters that inspired the invention of audio-animatronics. We take a look at some the collections that Walt kept in his office in the third episode of this series.
  • #TreasuresUntold – Join Ruby Rose Turner and Olivia Sanabia from the Disney Channel Original Series “Coop and Cami Ask the World” as they take a deep dive to explore some hidden treasures and fun facts about Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.”
  • DCapella “Part of Your World” Music Video
  • Classic Bonus Features – revisit four exciting bonus features from previous releases including:
    • Deleted Character: Harold The Merman
    • Under The Scene: The Art Of Live Action Reference
    • Howard’s Lecture
    • Audio Commentary With Ron Clements, John Musker and Alan Menken

DIGITAL EXCLUSIVES

  • “Part of Your World” – A 30-Year Retrospective – Songwriter Alan Menken and Jodi Benson, the acting and singing voice of Ariel, sing the epitome of Disney “I Want” songs “Part of Your World” and discuss its impact since it was first heard 30 years ago.
  • Classic Bonus Features – Over 3 additional hours of previously released classic bonus features including Deleted Scenes, Easter Eggs, Music Videos and more!

Bottom line The Little Mermaid is a Disney classic movie one that I grew up on, one that my family has enjoyed watched dozens upon dozens of times.  My girls love Ariel and pretty much every time we’re at a beach they act and play as Ariel. While some might debate the value of this movie in our modern culture, but its a fairy tale, its a story, and one that can be shown and enjoyed and at some later point discussed and used as an example.

Disney’s “A Wrinkle in Time” The Heart-felt, Inspirational Story of the Timeless Classic Comes Home

Disney’s “A Wrinkle in Time” The Heart-felt, Inspirational Story of the Timeless Classic Comes Home

Just in time for summer break, Disney’s “A Wrinkle in Time,” from acclaimed director Ava DuVernay, comes home on Digital HD and Movies Anywhere and on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD, DVD and On-Demand. The stunning story of an ordinary girl’s extraordinary adventure through time and space offers exhilarating entertainment and positive messages for the whole family—encouraging self-confidence, inclusion and pushing imagination to the next level.

More than 50 years after Madeleine L’Engle’s young adult novel “A Wrinkle in Time” was awarded the prestigious Newbery Medal, the big-screen retelling of this timeless classic takes audiences on a transformative journey, exquisitely illustrated through jaw-dropping visual effects, a stirring musical score and diverse, star-studded cast. Three celestial guides, Mrs. Which (two-time Academy Award® nominee Oprah Winfrey), Mrs. Whatsit (Oscar®, Golden Globe® and Emmy® winner Reese Witherspoon) and Mrs. Who (Emmy nominee Mindy Kaling), come to Earth to share their wisdom and love with struggling eighth-grader Meg Murry (Storm Reid) as she journeys across dimensions with classmate Calvin (Levi Miller) and younger brother Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe) in search of her father (Chris Pine), a world-renowned physicist who mysteriously disappeared four years ago.

As fantastical as the film’s premise and imagery may seem, “A Wrinkle in Time” centers on a universal human need that feels particularly relevant and relatable today. “This is a story about belonging,” says DuVernay. “It’s about a girl who just doesn’t feel strong in her mind, body and spirit. But through this epic journey, she finds her strength and learns that the center of the universe starts inside her. It’s about Meg feeling like she belongs in the universe and has a mighty part to play… as do we all.”

Bonus features include**:

BLU-RAY & DIGITAL HD:

  • A Journey Through Time – Take an up-close look at the making of this magnificent movie with Director Ava DuVernay, Oprah Winfrey, and the cast and crew.
  • Deleted Scenes (with optional director audio commentary)
    • Ant on a String
    • Aunt Beast
    • Meg Learns About Calvin’s Dad
    • Papergirl
  • Audio Commentary
    • Director Ava DuVernay
    • Producer Jim Whitaker
    • Co-Screenwriter Jennifer Lee
    • Production designer Naomi Shohan
    • First assistant director Michael Moore
    • Editor Spencer Averick
    • VFX supervisor Rich McBride
  • Bloopers
  • Original Songs/Music Videos
    • “I Believe” performed by DJ Khaled featuring Demi Lovato
    • “Warrior” performed by Chloe x Halle
Thor: Ragnorak is a SMASHING good time!

Thor: Ragnorak is a SMASHING good time!

HULK SMASH! I do love that line…   this was by far the best Thor movie by far.  It really takes the best parts of last couple of Marvel movies and puts them together.  Think all the humor of Guardians of the Galaxy spliced with the off beat comedy of Thor. I really loved this movie and highly recommend it for any adult, my son Marc who is 9 was laughing a good bit of the movie and cheered at the fight scenes but there is a body count in this movie, so please think twice about bringing children under 7 to seeing this movie.

In Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Ragnarok,” Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok—the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization—at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela. But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger—the Incredible Hulk!

Chris Hemsworth returns to the tle role of the hammer-wielding hero of Asgard. He is joined by  Tom Hiddleston  as Thor’s duplicitous adopted brother, Loki; Cate Blanchett as the villainous Hela;  Idris Elba  as the Asgardian sentry, Heimdall; Jeff Goldblum as the eccentric dictator, Grandmaster, ruler of Sakaar; Tessa Thompson as the fierce warrior, Valkyrie; Karl Urban as Skurge, one of Asgard’s strongest warriors;  Mark Ruffalo, reprising his role of Bruce Banner/The Hulk from “The Avengers” and “The Avengers: Age of Ultron”; and   Anthony Hopkins again portraying Odin, King of Asgard.

There are two after the movie scenes.  A mid credit scene and one extra scene at the end of credits.

THOR OPENS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD 2017!

Disclosure: We attended a screening of this movie to help facilitate the review. All opinions are my own and honest.