Nativity Made New, Part Two: Mark

Image belongs to Blake's family. Text font in image is "Cretino."

Our voyage continues into the story of Jesus’ birth.



By Blake



Originally posted December 30, 2009.




In Matthew, we learned about an angel visiting Joseph, Joseph’s loyalty to Mary, and the truth about the three wise men. However, since there are four descriptions of Jesus’ life in the New Testament, there are still three more versions of the Christmas story to uncover. Today we’ll delve into the book of Mark.


Although there’s still a lot of the Christmas story yet to tell in the remaining three Gospels, we don’t find any of it in Mark. None. The book mainly describes the many wonders and tasks Jesus performed during his stay on earth. In Mark 1, we are told about Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist, inviting the initial disciples to be His followers, doing away with evil spirits, praying, and healing many people of their sicknesses.


So while we don’t get anything about the Christmas story in Mark, we do get a helping of part of what Jesus came to earth to pursue: helping others and bringing them closer to the Lord.




Related BlakeOnline articles:

• A Christmas Celebration (posted December 25, 2009)
• Nativity Made New, Part One: Matthew (posted December 29, 2009)
  
  
  

By Blake; posted December 30, 2009. Image belongs to Blake's family; text font in image is "Cretino."

DVD Review –“Up” Deluxe Edition

Image copyright Disney/Pixar.

Pixar’s next great achievement rises to the occasion to deliver a DVD packed with fun bonuses.



By Blake



Originally posted December 29, 2009.




Up Deluxe Edition DVD
Disc One: Feature and Bonuses
Disc Two: Digital Copy of Feature
Approx. Total Disc Running Time: About 242 minutes (about 4 hours and 2 minutes)
Highlight of Set: Up Feature Film
Highlight Runner-Up: Dug’s Special Mission animated short



It really wasn’t any surprise when Pixar yet again hit it out of the ballpark last summer as Up soared into moviegoer’s hearts worldwide. What was shocking, though, was the way the film would impact its audience. Packing quite an emotional punch with happy highs and somber lows, the film (running about 96 minutes) eloquently tells a story with enough reality to make it able to transcend the screen and relate personally with viewers, while at the same time showcasing a level of fantasy that adds whimsy of humor to its very likable characters.


We’re first introduced to Carl Fredrickson, an elderly balloon salesman who’s had enough of the construction site that has displeasingly surrounded his beloved home. Then there’s Russell, a young and dedicated Wilderness Explorer who needs one more badge—the “assisting the elderly badge— to promote him to Senior Wilderness Explorer. Curious and full of energy, he tries his best to follow instructions and do as he’s told in order to seek approval from his authority figures. There’s also Dug, the hyper dog with a special collar that amplifies his thoughts for everyone to hear, and Kevin, the downright hysterical “snipe.” When those four are stuck together traveling through a dense jungle with a floating house and thousands of balloons in tow, there’s bound to be hilarity.

Up's cast of characters are the source of many hysterical moments. Image copyright Disney/Pixar.

And hilarity there most certainly is. The creative nature of the characters’ personalities are the source of much of Up’s comedic moments. You can read more of my thoughts about the film itself in my review of it during its theatrical run.



Bonus Features


Partly Cloudy (about 6 minutes) is the Pixar short that appeared alongside Up in its theatrical run. A charming tale, it tells the story of a misfit cloud trying his hardest to create the best beings he can so that a stork can deliver them, but inadvertently ending up making treacherous monsters. The short has a lot of heart, and will surely earn a few “Awwwww”’s from you.


Dug’s Special Mission (about 5 minutes) is an all-new animated short that serves as an in-between-quel to Up, conveyed in the same style as The Lion King 1 ½ and last year’s Burn-E Pixar short that was on the Wall-E DVD. Dug’s Special Mission takes place before Dug meets Carl or Russell, and has his pack trying to keep him distracted while they try to track the elusive “snipe” (aka Kevin). Hilarity ensues with some classic instances of visual comedy, which are real treats. ("TREAT! TREAT! TREAT!") Sorry . . . I should’ve used a different word.


Alternate Scene: The Many Ending of Muntz (about 5 minutes) is really more like a hoopla of alternate scenes, as we get to see a collection of ways that the filmmakers had initially planned on concluding Muntz’s story. Rather than simply showcasing the alternate scenes by themselves, the several different sequences are pieced together in a featurette format, complete with interviews from several of the filmmakers. Overall this bonus is put together very nicely, and has me wondering how many other similar revisions were created for other scenes in the movie.


Adventure Is Out There (about 22 minutes) is a fascinating look into the filmmakers’ journey to South America to research the different environments that would be showcased in the film. These include the mysterious mountains and Angel Falls (which would inspire Paradise Falls). A rather neat fact we learn in this featurette is due to the high altitudes in which the animators were studying in, one minute they would be sketching a setting, only to look up from their drawing pads the next moment to see nothing but clouds and fog! Needless to say, their voyage certainly paid off, and the detail and authenticity in the final product is outstanding, making audiences feel like they’re right there along with Carl and Russell as they make their way to Paradise Falls.

South American settings inspired the look of Up. Image copyright Disney/Pixar.

The Audio Commentary (about 96 minutes) lets us watch the film while listening to director Pete Docter and co-director Bob Peterson. Both previously worked together on Monsters, Inc. The commentary, both informative and lighthearted, gives us insight into many different aspects of the film and we come away with a greater sense of knowledge on how the film was made. We also get to hear details about many sequences that were cut from the film. They’re talked about during the position of the film they would have been placed in, so it’s easy to visualize how they would have been used.


Learn How to Take Your Favorite Movies On the Go (about 1 minute) uses clips from Wall-E and Bolt to explain the directions for using DisneyFile Digital Copy. The Deluxe Edition of Up does indeed come with a digital copy of the movie for those that would like to watch it on their portable devices.


Sneak Peeks (about 11 minutes) include previews for Toy Story 3 (the teaser trailer that made its debut with 3-D screening of Up in theaters, not the trailer that appeared with the Toy Story double feature), The Princess and the Frog, Santa Buddies, Disney Blu-ray, Disney Movie Rewards, Dumbo 70th Anniversary Edition, Ponyo, and the ABC Christmas special Prep & Landing.


The disc’s menus are accentuated by an enjoyable instrumental of the “Spirit of Adventure” theme. Pink brackets surrounding the remote’s selection onscreen make it easy to see what you’re choosing against the light colors of the background.




Wrapping It Up


Although there are even more bonus features available on the Blu-ray version of Up, those without a Blu-ray player are able to be more than satisfied with the film’s DVD editions. The regular, basic version of the DVD includes the short films Partly Cloudy and Dug’s Special Mission, while the Deluxe Edition (as reviewed here) features those two shorts in addition to the featurettes “The Many Endings of Muntz” and “Adventure Is Out There,” as well as the audio commentary. They provide fascinating behind-the-scenes peek into the making of the movie and compliment the excellent cinematic voyage quite nicely, making Up’s home video release quite an adventure indeed.

Image copyright Disney/Pixar.

How do I rank Up Deluxe Edition DVD? (Bolded is my choice.)
Brilliant movie + very good bonus features =

• Aaah!
• Blech
• Not good
• Good
• Very good
• Brilliant
  
  
  

Up Deluxe Edition DVD will most likely please: Disney Fans - Preschoolers (ages 3-4) - Kids (ages 5-7) - Older Kids (ages 8-10) - Tweens (ages 11-13) - Adults

Related BlakeOnline articles:

• Disney Talk - Up Is Here (posted May 29, 2009)
• Silver Screen Review - Up (posted June 3, 2009)
  
  
  

By Blake; posted December 29, 2009. All images copyright Disney/Pixar.

Nativity Made New, Part One: Matthew

Image belongs to Blake's family. Text font in image is "Cretino."

The kickoff of a special journey into the four Gospels.



By Blake



Originally posted December 29, 2009.




Welcome to the first of four installments of “Nativity Made New,” a series of articles comparing the telling of the Christmas story as it is written in the first four books of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Today we’ll take a look at Matthew 1:18-25 and Matthew 2:1-18.


The story starts out fairly simple, without many of the details that make up the well-known Christmas story that’s displayed in many families’ manger scenes each year. We are told that Mary and Joseph were a couple and that Mary, a virgin, became pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Although we aren’t yet told about an angel visiting Mary in her dreams, we are told of Joseph’s similar encounter with an angel, in which the angel told Joseph that Mary was still loyal to him, and instructed him to likewise be loyal to her. In this same visit, the angel told Joseph to name Mary’s child Jesus, and that the child would be the Savior of all people’s sin. Joseph obediently followed the angel’s instructions.


Interestingly enough, all that is told about the actual birth of Jesus in Matthew is that “ . . . [Mary] gave birth to a son. And [Joseph] gave him the name Jesus.” (NIV) Nowhere to be found is Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem or the couple being turned away at the inn. It isn’t mentioned that Jesus was born in a manger, either. We’ll get to that later, but for now the details about Jesus’ birth aren’t yet talked about.


Next, in Matthew chapter two, the three wise men are brought up and are referred to as the Magi. It is told that the Magi followed an eastern star to Jerusalem in search of the newborn king of the Jews. When they inquired on where they could find Jesus, King Herod of Jerusalem became quite intrigued to hear more details. Herod instructed the Magi to find Jesus and then report back to him so that he could also worship Jesus. The Magi saw that the eastern star they had been following had moved and stopped above where they would find Jesus. They found Him and gave Him gold, incense, and myrrh. They did not return to Herod due to a warning they received in a dream.


Next, Joseph received another visit from an angel, instructing him, Mary, and Jesus to head to Egypt to escape Herod. They did so until Herod died.


Sure enough, Herod, out of anger towards the Magi for not returning to him, ordered that every boy age two and under in Bethlehem be killed. This gives us a little insight into the time frame of the wise men’s visit to Jesus. Since Herod ordered only to kill boys ages two and under, we can conclude that the wise men’s arrival could have been up to two years after Jesus’ birth. This is quite different than the story we are led to believe in typical manger scenes, depicting the wise men alongside Jesus when He was born in the manger.


Throughout Matthew’s telling of the Christmas story, he notes several prophecies that had become reality as a result of the events occurring. These include one from Isaiah 7:14 (written about 700 years before Jesus’ birth) proclaiming that a virgin would become pregnant with a son named “Immanuel,” God with us. Another from Micah 5:2 (also written about 700 years before Jesus’ birth) described that a ruler that would shepherd the people of Israel would be born in Bethlehem. Yet another from Hosea 11:1 (written about 850 years before Jesus’ birth) stated that God would call his son to Egypt, as he did through an angel’s warning to Joseph. Lastly, a prophecy from Jeremiah 31:15 (written even before the previous three prophecies) told that a mother would mourn over the loss of her child, a scene that came to fruition as a result of Herod’s orders.


Although there’s still a long way to go and there are many more details to have some light shed upon them, Matthew gives us the basic structure for the Christmas story. We learn more about the events following Jesus’ birth than we do His actual birth itself, but those will be talked about later. Stay tuned as we continue this ambitious journey into the true meaning of Christmas.




By Blake; posted December 29, 2009. Image belongs to Blake's family; text font in image is "Cretino." All Scripture appears in New Living Translation.

The BlakeOnline Buzz, Winter 2009-2010

Image belongs to Blake's family. Text fron in image is "Action Jackson."

Volume 1, Issue 3



By Blake



Originally posted December 26, 2009.




Dear BlakeOnline readers,



This past fall has certainly been a season to remember in the world of Disney. There have been several noteworthy happenings in many different departments of the company, including movies, music, Muppets, and more.



Several exciting titles have made their way to DVD and Blu-ray. Among them are Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Diamond Edition (available for the first time in eight years) and the highly-acclaimed Pixar film Up. Expect reviews of both of those releases soon. Up has been nominated for Best Animated Film and Best Score Golden Globes. Winners will be announced during a ceremony on NBC on January 17. Additionally, Up is currently in the running to be nominated for a Best Picture Academy-Award, among other categories. All Oscar nominees will be announced on February 2, with a ceremony following on ABC on March 7.



As far as movies are concerned, some very special releases have hit the silver screen recently, including the double feature of Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3-D, as well as Disney's A Christmas Carol, Old Dogs, and The Princess and the Frog.

Image copyright Disney.

Muppet fans have celebrated many landmarks this year as their favorite furry friends have worked their way back into the public spotlight. With many talk show appearances, a DVD release of their 2008 Christmas special, and new online viral videos (including a parody of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" that's had over eleven million views on YouTube), it's been quite a season for Kermit and friends.

Image copyright Disney.

Disney Parks have had all sorts of annual festivities for Halloween and Christmas, concluding with yesterday's broadcast of the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade on ABC. Personal favorite highlights during the parade for me were the "Down In New Orleans" performance by Anika Noni Rose (the voice of Princess Tiana in The Princess and the Frog), the inspirational Yanni Voices performance, and the high-energy appearance of Magic Kingdom's Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party - it had very nice editing and was able to efficiently capture the excitement of the floats and characters without seeming too hectic. The surprise performance for me was the Santa Buddies-inspired performance by Steve Rushton, who sang from the marque in front of Main Street's Art of Disney store.



Other Disney Parks happenings include the kickoff of the Give A Day, Get a Disney Day campaign, which will hopefully inspire one million people to volunteer in 2010. Volunteers will receive a free one-day ticket to a Walt Disney World of Disneyland theme park. Television commercials featuring the Muppets promoting the campaign have already begun to air. Beginning January 8, Kermit and Miss Piggy will be featured in a new pre-parade at both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom celebrating volunteering.



Here at BlakeOnline, we've celebrated much exciting news, and have had several quite successful articles. The Thanksgiving and Christmas posts have sparked very kind comments that I truly appreciate.



As the new year begins, BlakeOnline is getting ready to start a new series chronicling the four-part story of Jesus' birth as told in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I am very pleased to unveil the series' title and title card here:

Image belongs to Blake's family. Text font in image is "Cretino."

Be on the lookout for "Nativity Made New" very soon!



May you and your family have a happy and prosperous new year,



-Blake
December 26, 2009




"The BlakeOnline Buzz" image belongs to Blake's family; text font in image is "Action Jackson." The Princess and the Frog and A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa images copyright Disney. "Nativity Made New" image belongs to Blake's family; text font in image is "Cretino."

A Christmas Celebration

A special Christmas greeting.

Dear BlakeOnline readers,

I hope that everyone is having a safe and joyful Christmas season. Enjoying the sights, sounds, and all-around merriment of Christmas make December my favorite time of the year. I anxiously await each special as it airs on TV, count down the days until Mr. Claus will be hopping down my chimney and, after this year, anticipate Wayne and Lanny security-checking my house for the big guy.

It seems that each year as Christmas comes to a close and people begin to make their resolutions for the year to come, I have trouble with taking the next step forward and entering the new year with everyone else. One of the most dreaded moments of the year, in my opinion, is when I turn on the radio and come to realization that the stations have ceased playing Christmas music. Oh, the horrors! I still enjoy embracing what each new year has to offer, but I tend to want to hang on to Christmas for as long as possible.

So this year, in an effort to not only stretch the season's length out a little bit more, but to also recognize the true meaning of Christmas, I'm pleased to formally announce to you that beginning soon, I'll begin a four-article series that will chronicle the Christmas story as it is told in the first four books of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Together, we'll discover the differences between the four tellings of the Nativity, uncover the full story, find out the truth about the mysterious three Wise Men, and more. You won't want to miss this ambitious endeavor, so keep an eye out for it very soon!

Before I let you go, I'd also like to shed some light on a very special passage from the Christmas story, made even more famous when it was recited by Linus in the classic special A Charlie Brown Christmas, from Luke 2:8-15 -

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying:

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." (NIV)

I think the message there is pretty clear, and rather hard to top, if you ask me: Christ--our Savior--has been born.

The reason I share that particular passage with you is not only to remind you of the true reason that we celebrate Christmas, but also of the true reason that we celebrate Christmas. Often I embarrassingly view it as a chore to somehow squeeze in the real significance of the Christmas holiday into the hustle and bustle of special-watching and shopping. That's not how it should be. Notice how the shepherds not only took the time to listen to what the angels had to say to them, but they took action and went to see for themselves what this new King was all about.

Perhaps this season, the greatest gift we can give is not only taking the time to honor Christmas's real meaning, but to truly celebrate it and be thankful for it. It doesn't even matter how small our efforts are, as long as take a moment to give back.

Merry Christmas, and best wishes into the new year,

-Blake
December 24, 2009

DVD Review – "A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa" Extended Edition

Image copyright Disney.

The Muppets’ renaissance continues with a DVD release of their 2008 Christmas special, filled with classic Muppet humor and hysterical new outtakes.



By Blake



Originally posted December 23, 2009.




A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa Extended Edition DVD
Total Disc Running Time: About 79 minutes (about 1 hour and 19 minutes)
Highlight of Disc: Feature Presentation
Highlight Runner-Up: Bloopers



It’s been quite a year for Muppet fans. In the midst of online sensations, guest appearances, and Beatles parodies, perhaps the most significant aspect of the Muppets’ comeback thus far has been their new Christmas special, A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa, which debuted on NBC in 2008. The program has now arrived on DVD.


Letters to Santa follows Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, and the entire Muppet crew, who accidentally forget to mail a little girl’s letter to Santa Claus. Since it’s Christmas Eve and the post office has closed, the only way left to deliver the letter is to personally hand it to Mr. Claus himself in the North Pole.

Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, and friends have to come up with a solution to get their letters to Santa Claus. Image copyright Disney.

What ensues is pure genius, with just as much Muppet wit as ever. The humor is spot-on, with most jokes involving a play on words, some making fun of their own cheesiness. The music also blends a few snappy tunes and heartfelt ballads to create a memorable soundtrack. You can read more of my thoughts about the special itself in my review from last year.


The “Extended Edition” in the title refers to the several bonuses that have been integrated into the film itself, as opposed to being placed on a bonus features submenu. These include deleted scenes, which have been seamlessly woven into where they would have originally been featured in the special. Most of them aren’t so much full scenes as they are individual jokes or moments. The most significant of these sequences is one introducing two new snail characters, who are postmen. Snail postmen = snail mail. Get it? Laugh! Even though it’s not that funny, it’s very funny.


The rest (and majority) of the “Extended” portions of the film take place after the credits. If you usually turn off the TV once the credits begin to roll, I have one major piece of advice for you: this time around, DON’T! Make sure to watch all the way through. After the credits is a total of ten minutes’ worth of hysterical goodies. These include my-belly-aches-from-laughing-so-hard outtakes (possibly the best bloopers I’ve ever seen—seriously), as well as the “Glad All Over” music video that appeared on YouTube last year to the promote the special.


From the main menu, one last bonus feature can be accessed by clicking “The Muppets Stocking Stuffer Smorgasbord.” This takes viewers to another menu that displays the Muppets’ stockings hung on a fireplace. From there, several different object placed throughout the screen can be clicked on to view additional deleted scenes, a photo gallery, and interviews with the Muppets, Madison Pettis, and Jane Krakowski. Together these all total about eight minutes, and are rather mediocre to be honest. The items can be somewhat difficult to spot when choosing them on the screen, and since they’re not labeled I got confused with which ones I had and hadn’t seen. They’re ok, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to make sure to see them all.


As always, sneak peeks can be selected from the main menu, this time totaling about fifteen minutes and including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Diamond Edition, Toy Story 3, Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving 10th Anniversary Special Edition, Santa Buddies, Disney Movie Rewards, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Choo-Choo Express, Ponyo, Up, Disney Blu-ray, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, Prep & Landing, and the re-release of Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed In at the House of Mouse.


Whether or not its bonus features are abundant with backstage peeks, the DVD release of A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa is stellar enough to make it an enthusiastic recommendation, especially to a Muppet fan. Would it have been nice to perhaps see a behind-the-scenes featurette (possibly with Muppeteers’ thoughts about the Muppets’ comeback)? Sure. But does the lack of such footage take away anything from the special itself? No. A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa succeeds at featuring beloved characters in a modern-day Christmas classic. Its comedy, music, and Christmas-ey fun, paired with its excellent outtakes, make it quite a satisfying release.

Image copyright Disney.

How do I rank A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa DVD? (Bolded is my choice.)
Very good feature presentation + good bonus features =

• Aaah!
• Blech
• Not good
• Good
• Very good
• Brilliant
  
  
  

A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa DVD will most likely please: Muppet Fans - Kids (ages 5-7) - Older Kids (ages 8-10) - Tweens (ages 11-13) - Teens - Young Adults - Adults

Related BlakeOnline articles:

• Channel Flippin' - A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (posted December 22, 2008)
• Disney Talk - They've Gotten Things Started (posted November 28, 2009)

By Blake; posted December 23, 2009. All images copyright Disney.

Channel Flippin’ – “Prep & Landing”

Image copyright Disney.

Disney’s new animated Christmas special about a super-secret team of elves is inventive and full of Christmas cheer.



By Blake



Originally posted December 23, 2009.



The idea of Prep & Landing, the newest Christmas endeavor from Walt Disney Animation Studios and its first made exclusively for ABC, is simple: before Santa Claus arrives to deliver toys at houses, a team of elves security-checks each home to make sure everything is A-OK. The special uses its boundaries and theme to concoct a whole-hearted entertaining new tradition. It’s clever at introducing audiences to a new world of characters and personalities in its timeframe without seeming rushed, though at the same time keeps a steady pace that keeps interest throughout its duration.


Prep & Landing follows a veteran elf named Wayne (voiced by Dave Foley, Flik in a bug’s life) who, after over 200 years, has become a bit tired of preparing houses for “the big guy.” As luck would have it, this year Wayne is assigned to work alongside Lanny (Derek Richardson), a newbie who has dreamed his entire life of working with the elf team. (Lanny’s enthusiastic and obsessive-fan personality reminded me of Rhino from Bolt.) All is going well in Wayne and Lanny’s preparations until Timmy, a little boy who lives in the house the elves are working at, catches the two of them.

Wayne gets caught. Uh-oh. Image copyright Disney.

Throughout the special, several supporting characters round out the cast to add a few sub-plots and several rather funny joke tidbits. These include the frantic Magee (Sarah Chalke), an elf in charge of making sure everything runs smoothly back at the North Pole; the silent Tiny, Magee’s assistant who remains off-camera except for his hat; reindeer Dasher and Dancer (Nathan Greno and David DeLuise), who comically lead Santa’s sleigh; and the mysterious mythical Thrasher (Hayes McArthur), a.k.a. the “other” reindeer. Lastly, of course, there's jolly Santa Claus (William Morgan Sheppard).

Magee is charge at the North Pole. Image copyright Disney.

A large majority of Prep and Landing’s comedy relies on taking creative spins on common Christmas phrases and carol lyrics. Some examples include the amount of people awake in a house being referred to as the number of “creatures stirring,” as well as the signal for “all clear” being “dash away all.” For the most part these expressions funny, and although after a while they get a bit droll and expected, it helps to immerse the audience in the world of the characters and make the story more believable. Other hilarity comes from the creative spy gadgets the elves use to efficiently get their jobs done.


Although overall the pace of Prep & Landing is kept at an appropriate speed, at times it overlooks a few minor plot points that cause a little confusion later on. For instance, it wasn’t clear to me at first that two elves worked at just one house the entire night – I was thinking a large group of them would move from home to home together.


For those who want to see more Prep & Landing goodies, Disney has kindly created several online bonuses. On Disney.com, guests can see a new spinoff short entitled Tiny’s Big Adventure that uses visual comedy to deliver two quite hysterical minutes of animation. Also on Disney.com are several short extras such as story-related “commercials” and an elf training video. On ABC.com, guests can watch Prep & Landing in its entirety with pop-up text commentary by Wayne, Lanny, and Thrasher, who are all in-character an highly entertaining. The bonus videos and the commentary are welcome additions that help extend the story beyond the television screen.


For a new special, Prep & Landing has already established itself quite well in popular culture. I’ve heard of adult couples watching it together, seen a teenage girl become ecstatic over finding a Wayne toy in the Disney Store, and heard children exclaim that something is “so tinsel” on a number of occasions. I can just imagine that many families have already entertained the thought that Wayne and Lanny could be creeping around their house come Christmas Eve. Additionally, the fact that the program’s premiere telecast brought in over 12 million viewers (to make it the most-watched Christmas special thus far of 2009) simply blew me away. Happily, Prep & Landing delivers a playful half-hour of family fun that I feel confident in saying will enthrall audiences for years to come.




How do I rank Prep & Landing? (Bolded is my choice.)

• Aaah!
• Blech
• Not good
• Good
• Very good
• Brilliant
  
  
  

Prep & Landing will most likely please: Preschoolers (ages 3-4) - Kids (ages 5-7) - Older Kids (ages 8-10) - Tweens (ages 11-13) - Young Adults - Adults

By Blake; posted December 23, 2009. All images copyright Disney.

Disney Talk – Old Toys

Image copyright Disney/Pixar.

The first peeks are unveiled of the next chapter in the tale of Andy’s toys.



By Blake



Originally posted December 22, 2009.





When I last reported on Toy Story 3 in August 2009, we knew several things – that most of the original voice cast would return, that Michael Keaton would be voicing Ken (a new character playing opposite Barbie), and that the film’s plot tells of the toys’ owner, Andy, heading to college.


Since then, several more exciting details have emerged concerning the highly-anticipated Pixar sequel hitting theaters in June. At the D23 Expo in September, fans learned that Bonnie Hunt, Whoopie Goldberg, and Jeff Garlin would all have a role in the film, though which characters they will be playing are still unspecified. More voice casting news came via an October online video featuring director Lee Unkrich, revealing that Slinky Dog (who was previously voiced by the late Jim Varney) will now be played by Blake Clark (who has a pretty cool name, if you ask me). In the same video, Unkrich also announced that Kristen Schaal will have a role in the film.

Woody, Buzz, and the rest of Andy's toys return to the big screen in summer 2010 for Toy Story 3. Image copyright Disney/Pixar.

Also in October, alongside the theatrical double feature release of Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3-D, came the prestigious official trailer for Toy Story 3 that really puts into perspective what the series’ third installment will bring to audiences and the level of both comedy and emotional heart that we’ll be witnessing come next June. Take a look at the trailer at Disney.com and just try not to feel the tiniest inkling of excitement. (Remember to return to BlakeOnline to read the rest of the article when you’re finished!)


Talk about awesome.


The trailer very effectively shows the plot and its characters in a way that allows audiences to re-spark their familiarity with the characters, as well as both become sentimental and provide a few laughs. We also get to see where exactly the toys are headed as Andy leaves for college: a daycare, filled with a toy’s worst nightmare: preschoolers. Lastly, the trailer shows that Buzz accidentally gets reprogrammed into thinking he’s a real space ranger again and not a toy, though this time he speaks only Spanish. That should make for some very funny sequences, though I’m wondering what clever trick Pixar has up their sleeves to implement those gags in Spanish-speaking countries.

Andy's toys are headed to Sunnyside daycare in Toy Story 3. Image copyright Disney/Pixar.

Fast-forward to last Sunday, December 20, and Lee Unkrich introduced a new sneak peek clip from Toy Story 3 on ABC Family. The scene was made available on Disney.com on December 21. Again, please click the link to watch it and then hightail back over here.


Back? Ok, good.


Overall, the scene seems to be very reminiscent of the yard sale sequence from Toy Story 2 in that it sets the gears in motion for the rest of the film through a series of unintentional occurrences. Andy means well by placing the bag of toys in front of the attic, but becomes distracted and thus causes his toys to be put out on the curb.


Already in this brief clip, we get to see a wide variety of the characters’ signature personalities. Mr. Potato Head makes a sarcastic remark and Rex is as nervous as ever. Notice how Jessie’s anxiety begins through fearful panting as she awaits what might happen next. Also take note that when Andy chooses Woody to go with him to college, Woody isn’t in a celebratory mood whatsoever. Rather, his classic sense of leadership kicks in as he rushes to see how he can help his friends escape their unfortunate predicament.


A pivotal action on Andy’s part takes place as he holds both Woody and Buzz in his hands, wondering what to do with them. His two favorite toys, both characters have been treated as equals during the entire film series, up until now. Ultimately Andy places Woody in his college box and Buzz in a trash bag intended for the attic. Oh, snap! Did you see Buzz’s face? He was just as shocked as we were.


Suspiciously absent from any trailer or sneak peek so far are several supporting characters, including Wheezy, Bo Peep, RC, Lenny, and a few others. Not to worry, though. Unkrich has confirmed on his Twitter page that those four will indeed be returning in Toy Story 3.


After viewing both the trailer and sneak peek for Toy Story 3, it’s very clear that Pixar is again crafting a truly marvelous film. We know that the toys will eventually make it to Sunnyside Day Care and subsequently lead an effort to break out, but what happens after that it’s anyone’s guess. Whatever lies in store for Woody and Buzz, it can be expected to be an adventure packed with enough tears to fill Niagara Falls and enough laughs to give Monstropolis a lifelong energy boost. For those reasons, I think it’s safe to say that Toy Story 3 could be pretty spectacular, even by Pixar standards.

Image copyright Disney/Pixar.

Related BlakeOnline articles:

• 
  
  Disney Talk - Toys "R" Back (posted April 8, 2009)
• 
  
  Disney Talk - Toys "R Back, Part Two (posted August 1, 2009)
  
  
  

By Blake; posted December 22, 2009. All images copyright Disney/Pixar.

Christmas Picks For Week of 12/20 - 12/26/2009

Here are my picks for Christmas specials and movies this week! :)



Sunday, December 20

• Ratatouille - ABC Family at 6pm Eastern Time
  OR
• The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause - ABC at 8pm EST
  OR
• The Incredibles (with a sneak peek of Toy Story 3)- ABC Family at 8:30pm EST
  OR
• Enchanted - USA at 9pm EST
  
  

Monday, December 21

• I Want a Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown - ABC at 8pm EST
  OR
• The Polar Express - Disney Channel at 8pm EST
  
  

Tuesday, December 22

• Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special - Fox at 8pm EST
  
  

Wednesday, December 23

• Prep & Landing - ABC Family at 7pm EST
• The Spongebob Squarepants Christmas Special - Nickelodeon at 7:30pm EST
  OR
• Miracle on 34th Street - ABC Family at 7:30pm EST
  OR
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas - ABC at 8pm EST
• The Polar Express - ABC Family at 10pm EST
  
  

Thursday, December 24 - Christmas Eve!

• Little Drummer Boy - ABC Family at 8am EST
• Mickey's Christmas Carol - ABC Family at 11am EST
• Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too - ABC Family at 11:30am EST
• The Santa Clause - Disney Channel at 4pm EST
• The Santa Clause 2 - Disney Channel at 6pm EST
  OR
• Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh - Nickelodeon at 7pm EST
  OR
• Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - ABC Family at 8pm EST
  OR
• Prep & Landing - ABC at 8pm EST
  OR
• It's a Wonderful Life - NBC at 8pm EST
  OR
• The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause - Disney Channel at 8pm EST
  OR
• A Christmas Story - TBS for 24 hours beginning at 8pm EST on Christmas Eve
• Year Without a Santa Claus - ABC Family at 9pm EST
  
  

Friday, December 25 - Christmas Day! Celebrate!

• A Christmas Story - TBS for 24 hours continuation, last showing is at 6pm EST on Christmas Day
• Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade - ABC at 10am EST
• The Spongebob Squarepants Christmas Special - Nickelodeon at 3:30pm EST
• Miracle on 34th Street - ABC Family at 4pm EST
  OR
• Enchanted - USA at 5:50pm EST
  OR
• Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh - Nickelodeon at 6pm EST
  OR
• Pixar Short Films - ABC Family at 6:30pm EST
  OR
• Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas - Disney Channel at 6:45pm EST
  OR
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - ABC at 8pm EST
  OR
• Elf - USA at 8pm EST and 9:30pm EST
  OR
• Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas - Disney Channel at 8:05pm EST
  OR
• The Incredibles - ABC Family at 8:30pm EST
  
  

Saturday, December 26

• The Incredibles - ABC Family at 5:30pm EST
  
  

Have a wonderful and joyful Christmas, everyone. Stay safe and don't lose sight of the meaning we celebrate this merry season each year: the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Silver Screen Review – “The Princess and the Frog”

Image copyright Disney.

Disney’s last film of the decade is also one of its best.



By Blake

Originally posted December 18, 2009.

As I settled into my comfortable stadium-style seating at a local theater and Anika Noni Rose’s opening notes of The Princess and the Frog surrounded the audience in an enchanting melody, I really could feel that I was about to experience something special. I was excited for the many landmarks that make the movie a truly historic event, though what I was anticipating most were the hallmarks of what make a Disney masterpiece—enjoyable characters in eye-pleasing environments with show-stopping tunes, all orchestrated with the help of a heartwarming story. Thankfully, my expectations were abundantly fulfilled far beyond what I had imagined (which was pretty huge in the first place) in The Princess and the Frog.


Set in New Orleans, the film weaves the tale of Tiana (voiced by Anika Noni Rose), a headstrong waitress who has dreamed for years of opening her very own restaurant. Soon a foreign prince named Naveen (Bruno Campos) visits the city and finds himself outwitted by a sinister voodoo man named Doctor Faciler (Keith David) and transformed into a frog. Remembering the fairy tale of “The Frog Prince,” Naveen mistakes Tiana for a princess and, in an attempt to turn himself human again, asks her to kiss him. Having complete opposite results than both characters anticipated, the kiss turns Tiana into a frog. The two ultimately decide that the only way to become human again is to set aside their differences and put their dreams on the backburner as they work together.

Naveen and Tiana get themselves into quite a situation. Image copyright Disney.

The duo discovers that in order to return to their human selves, they must visit Mama Odie (Jenifer Lewis), who serves as a “fairy godmother” of sorts and whose personality is everything you would expect from a blind, forgetful, off-on-a-tangent senior citizen. Also providing comic relief are Louis (Michael-Leon Wooley), a friendly alligator who dreams of performing jazz in a band, and Ray (Jim Cummings), a Cajun firefly who continuously speaks of his not-so-mild crush on another firefly named Evangeline. Tiana’s best friend Charlotte (Jennifer Cody)—a spoiled-but-kind southern beauty—seems to be a parody of previous Disney princesses, her head in the clouds as she waits for her prince to come. Rounding out the supporting cast are Tiana’s patient parents Eudora and James (Oprah Winfrey and Terrence Howard, respectively) and Charlotte’s pushover father Big Daddy (John Goodman).

Mama Odie with her snake, Juju. Image copyright Disney.

In comparison to previous Disney princesses, Tiana is more along the lines of Belle or Mulan: Belle in that she knows what her dream is and is confident in pursuing it; Mulan in that she isn’t going to sit around waiting for her aspirations to become reality by themselves. The Princess and the Frog yet again teaches the Disney wish-upon-a-star staple, though takes that message a little bit further to help relate Tiana’s story on a more believable and rational level. The film teaches that although dreams are important, they’re not going to come true without dedication and work. A sappy moral? Not at all.


The film’s message is delivered with poise and heart in a well-crafted opening sequence that traces Tiana’s childhood. By seeing the spark of Tiana’s goal to open a restaurant at such a young age, the audience is able to more tangibly understand her motivation as the film progresses.

Tiana's parents encourage their daughters dreams, but remind her that she has to work hard to make them come true. Image copyright Disney.

Throughout Tiana and Naveen’s journey, it’s difficult to decide which to pay more attention to: the action in the forefront or the eye-pleasing scenery in the background. The art that brings the varied settings of the movie to life is absolutely stunning. Ranging from the hustle and bustle of the streets of New Orleans to the calm serenity of the bayou, I had to remind myself a few times to focus on the characters—I just couldn’t keep my eyes off of the gorgeous backgrounds.

The breathtaking scenery of the bayou nicely compliments the characters onscreen. Image copyright Disney.

That’s not to say that the characters weren’t just as pleasing to view. Spearheaded by an all-star group of Disney pros, the animators for The Princess and the Frog’s characters do an excellent job at giving each role movement and personality. Louis especially comes to mind when thinking of a character from the film whose behavior is largely portrayed visually.


Completing the package of sensory experiences that The Princess and the Frog provides is its phenomenal music composed by Randy Newman. The score is charming, sounding at time a bit like Toy Story and satisfactorily capturing the essence of the film’s many environments. Newman also wrote seven new songs for the movie. Some are adequate, while others (like “Down in New Orleans” and “When We’re Human”) really hit it out of the park in terms of context to the film and its characters.


Curiously missing from the music of The Princess and the Frog, however, is a love ballad between Tiana and Naveen. Yes, there is a romantic song that the couple dances to and yes, there is a pop love song written and performed by Ne-Yo included in the end credits. I suppose I was expecting something along the lines of “A While New World,” which wasn’t present this time around. That’s just me being nitpicky, but still.


Doctor Facilier’s bad-guy number is downright eerie. Definitely one of the scariest Disney baddies in a while, one concept is very clear throughout the course of the film: Doctor Facilier is one creepy villain. His snake-like smile is already foreboding from the get-go, and when added with his troupe of Tim Burton-esque shadow creatures, a few scenes certainly have potential to frighten toddlers.


Although the film altogether paces itself at an appropriate level, the plot abruptly quickens its speed when Doctor Facilier is introduced. His actions seem slightly rushed when his evil plan begins, especially since his excuses for being bad aren’t fully explained until later on in the film. The audience doesn’t yet know why he’s doing what he’s doing, so the fast turn of events caught me off guard for a few minutes.


Thankfully, the plot soon gets back to a clear, steady beat as viewers sit back and appreciate what truly could be a major turning point in Disney animation history. The emotion-driven story with its relatable message, likeable characters, elegant visuals, and pleasant music all encompass the beauty of The Princess and the Frog. Not to mention the many firsts and returns that it brings to the Walt Disney Company.


The Princess and the Frog will undoubtedly be looked back on as an engaging cinematic journey. But perhaps the most impactful gift that the film gives its audience is the core of what Tiana embodies—someone to look to as an example of perseverance shining through to achieve a dream.

Image copyright Disney.

“All your dreams can come true, if you have the courage to pursue them.”
- Walt Disney




How do I rank The Princess and the Frog? (Bolded is my choice.)

• Aaah!
• Blech
• Not good
• Good
• Very good
• Brilliant
  
  
  

The Princess and the Frog will most likely please: Disney Fans - Animation Fans - Preschoolers (ages 3-4) - Kids (ages 5-7) - Older Kids (ages 8-10)

By Blake; posted December 18, 2009. All images copyright Disney.

Christmas Picks For Week of 12/13 - 12/19/2009

Sunday, December 13

• White Christmas - AMC at 8pm Eastern Time
  
  

Monday, December 14

If you going for strictly Christmas specials:

• Jennifer Hudson: I'll Be Home For Christmas - ABC at 8pm EST

If you're not going for strictly Christmas specials:

• Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day - ABC Family at 7pm EST
• Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too - ABC Family at 7:30pm EST
• Mary Poppins - ABC Family at 8pm EST
  
  

Tuesday, December 15

• A Charlie Brown Christmas - ABC at 8pm EST
• Home Alone 2: Lost in New York - ABC Family at 8:30pm EST
  
  

Wednesday, December 16

• Mickey's Christmas Carol - ABC Family at 7pm EST
• Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too - ABC Family at 7:30pm EST
• Prep & Landing - ABC at 8pm EST
  
  

Thursday, December 17

There are a few movies and specials on, but nothing too significant that I'd track down anything specific to watch.

Friday, December 18

• The Santa Clause - Disney Channel at 7pm EST
  OR
• Cars - ABC Family at 7:30pm EST
  OR
• Frosty the Snowman -CBS at 8pm EST
  OR
• The Santa Clause 2 - Disney Channel at 8:50pm EST
  OR
• Pixar Short Films - ABC Family at 10pm EST
  
  

Saturday, December 19

• Home Alone 2: Lost in New York - ABC Family at 10:30am EST
• Cars - ABC Family at 3:30pm EST
• Pixar Short Films - ABC Family at 6pm EST
• The Santa Clause 2 - ABC at 8pm EST
  OR
• Elf - CBS at 8pm EST
  OR
• A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa - NBC at 8pm EST
  OR
• Ratatouille - ABC Family at 8pm EST
  
  

Have a great week! Christmas is almost here!

Christmas Picks For Week of 12/6 - 12/12/2009

Sunday, December 6

• Elmo's Christmas Countdown - ABC at 4pm Eastern Time
  
  

Monday, December 7

• Elf - USA at 7pm EST
  OR
• Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town - ABC at 8pm EST
  
  

Tuesday, December 8

• Mickey's Christmas Carol - ABC Family at 7pm EST
• Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too - ABC Family at 7:30pm EST
• A Charlie Brown Christmas - ABC at 8pm EST
• Prep & Landing - ABC at 8:30pm EST
  
  
  

Wednesday, December 9

• Shrek the Halls - ABC at 8pm EST
  OR
• Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town - ABC Family at 8:00pm EST
  
  

Thursday, December 10

• Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town - ABC Family at 7pm EST
  
  

Friday, December 11

• Year Without a Santa Claus - ABC Family at 7pm EST
• Yes, Virginia - NBC at 8pm EST
  OR
• Phineas and Ferb: Christmas Vacation - Disney Channel at 8pm EST
  OR
• The Santa Clause 2 - ABC Family at 8pm EST
  
  

Saturday, December 12

• Little Drummer Boy - ABC Family at 7am EST
• Year Without a Santa Claus - ABC Family at 3pm EST
• Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town - ABC Family at 5pm EST
• The Santa Clause 2 - ABC Family at 6pm EST
• The Polar Express - ABC at 8pm EST
  OR
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - CBS at 8pm EST
  OR
• It's a Wonderfu Life - NBC at 8pm EST
  
  

Have a wonderful week!