“Beauty and the Beast” is perhaps even more stunning in 3D than “The Lion King,” which surprised the industry with a whopping $94 mil. at theaters last fall initially intended as a brief run to promote the Blu-ray 3D debut.
The 1991 “Beauty,” which has grossed $350 million worldwide since then, was one of the first animated films to use some digital animation. That helped greatly in the 3D conversion. Among the most notable new attributes:

- Belle’s opening number walking across bridge and into village is filled with so many shots showcasing 3D that it looks to have been originally designed that way.
- Extravagant “Be Our Guest” number does not disappoint with obvious 3D benefits of dancing plates
- Signature “Beauty and the Beast” ballroom dance even begins with dazzling display 0f 3D from bottom and top of staircase.

Meanwhile, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, which had an exclusive five-day window at IMAX theaters last month, picked up another $14.2 mil. this weekend, increasing total domestic box-office to close to $190 million, surpassing the original movie in the series.

Another 3D movie, “The Adventures of Tintin,” picked up another  $4.4 million, bring the domestic gross total-to-date to $68.9 million.

– By Scott Hettrick

Sony’s 3D Blu-ray of “The Smurfs” ($45.99) offers a very good 3D representation of the computer-animated movie that generated more than half-a-billion dollars in theaters worldwide last summer. Once again the 3D on the home version is perhaps even more vibrant and visually dynamic than in theaters.

<Story continues following the 3-minutes of video highlights below from a Sony Pictures Home Entertainment media day at Sony Pictures Animation in Culver City to demonstrate the many bonus features, especially those accessible via the Internet and mobile devices…>

Oddly not included in the 3D Blu-ray set is an original new half-hour cartoon on the other Blu-ay sets called “The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol” that cleverly resurrects the original TV-style animation to distinguish the dream sequences from the present-day scenes in the new computer-animation.

– By Scott Hettrick

* “Arthur Christmas“ is easily the more broadly enjoyable of the two. It’s hard to imagine anyone not finding this clever twist on Santa Claus charming and delightful.
The computer-animated family film from British production company Aardman, traditionally known for stop-motion films such as “Wallace and Gromit” and “Chicken Run,” has delivered an unexpected holiday gift for Sony Pictures Animation.

The story follows three generations of the Claus family trying to come to grips with the transition of leadership to the next in succession. With the current Santa (Jim Broadbent) of retirement age and showing signs of slipping, the likely next-in-line is eldest son Steve (Hugh Laurie), who has been preparing for the day for years with his high-tech mechanization and military style management of the entire North Pole process, including a super-sonic sleigh. But the even older GrandSanta (Bill Nighy) favors the traditions of his day and the passion of his younger unassuming and nerd-ish grandson Arthur (James McAvoy).
It all leads to a slightly predictable but nonetheless amusing scenario in which young Arthur finds himself trying to save the day using his Grandsanta’s dilapidated sleigh led by the few surviving reindeer to reach the chimney of a young girl who was inadvertently bypassed by Steve’s digital distribution.

Director and co-writer Sarah Smith, with the assistance of Sony Pictures Imageworks, uses the 3D to good effect in almost every shot. While it seldom pushes off the screen very much, the depth and space between objects close and far is palpable throughout, especially in scenes depicting the factory command center full of tiered rows of elves, and the aerial shots from the perspective of the sleighs.

* “Hugo“ is full of heart and a loving tribute to one of the original pioneers of cinema, Georges Méliès of turn-of-the-century France. The film, set in a train station in 1930s Paris, takes awhile to build up a head of steam and feels more like a period European film for its long-ish running time of more than two hours.
But the sweetness and sentimentality of the story about an orphaned young boy trying to complete the dream of his father while secretly keeping the giant station clock tower properly wound up, is sincerely conveyed by director Martin Scorsese and the cast of Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Asa Butterfield, and Chloë Grace Moretz.

Even more impressive is Scorsese’s use of 3D, which greatly enhances the impact of the story, subliminally drawing the audience in visually, as it should. He also uses 3D to create more obvious dynamic effect, starting with the first scene in which the camera moves at a fast pace through the station, past the trains, and between the crowds to immediately establish the setting and the feeling of the hustle and bustle far more effectively than could be done in traditional 2D.
Likewise, 3D provides a far more dramatic visualization of the enormous vertical scale and scope of the station clock tower to initially enhance the sense of detachment of Hugo from the swarms below, and later to emphasize the scope of his view of the Paris skyline, and finally to create a heightened sense of fear and suspense during a chase to the top of the staircase.
Even Méliès’ iconic film “A Trip to the Moon” gets a tantalizing 3D makeover, as well as impressive colorization.

– By Scott Hettrick

“Spy Kids: All the Time in the World” ($39.99 four-disc set from Dimension Films via new distributor Anchor Bay on Nov. 22), is the fourth installment in the gadget-heavy Spy Kids franchise and the most effective 3D yet.
This time spy mom Jessica Alba starts out very pregnant in the midst of a high-speed chase while keeping her unaware husband posted on her increasing labor pains. It continues in that hyper-reality mode as the emphasis once again shifts to her spy kids and their friends and dog who all employ super high-tech weapons and tools that could previously be demonstrated only in cartoons like “Inspector Gadget.”

Kids and their parents know what to expect here (except maybe the voice of comedian Ricky Gervais as a talking dog), and this “Spy Kids” once again delivers, this time with the enhancement of a 3D quality that truly adds a new dimension to the gadgets and the fun.

Bonus features include the usual array of deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes featurettes, including a funny interview with Gervais in the recording studio.

– By Scott Hettrick

* “Bolt 3D” ($49.99 four-disc combo) is not only the best of this group but also the best Disney animated movie in nearly a decade when it was released in 2008 — it deserves a sequel, at least for Blu-ray. The story of a TV hero dog actor that has to perform heroic feats in real life to save his young girl owner, is clever, cute, funny, and filled with very impressive action sequences and more, all enhanced on this Blu-ray 3D:
–  Terrific and impactful use of 3D in an amazingly dynamic and exciting opening chase scene, and in numerous sequences throughout such as on a train and in an alley.
– Elaborate and detailed backgrounds and settings showcased brilliantly here in Blu-ray HD.
– Hilarious hamster comic relief character called Rhino who gets a starring role in a so-so animated short in Blu-ray bonus features.
– Fun theme song and music video “I Thought I Lost You,”  and charming in-session video with Miley Cyrus and John Travolta singing duet (when Cyrus was still charming).
– Plethora of solid traditional Blu-ray-only bonus features, including making-of, deleted scenes, interactive game (that needs better instructions for play on a laptop)

* “G-Force 3D” ($44.99 three-disc set) is the Blu-ray and 3D version of Jerry Bruckheimer’s 2009 family live-action and computer-animated action/comedy featuring high-tech gadget-wielding guinea pig would-be spies.
– Fun, if a little silly.
– Short (88-minutes including several minutes of credits).
– Stellar voice cast: Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Jon Favreau, Penelope Cruz, Tracy Morgan, and Steve Buscemi.
– 3D shows far more depth here than in theaters and has many brief sequences of flying rodents, breaking glass, etc., that successfully break the frame and appear to pop out of the screen.
– Enjoyable bonus features (Blu-ray only), especially in-depth “Cine-Explore” picture-in-picture behind-the-scenes; two mini-docs with Bruckheimer, director Hoyt H. Yeatman, Jr., and his 11-year-old son; and three music videos: “Jump” by Flo Rida featuring Nelly Furtado, “Ready To Rock” by Steve Rushton, and “Go G-Force.”

* “Chicken Little 3D” ($44.99 three-disc combo) brings the industry’s first digital 3D theatrical film from 2005 to Blu-ray 3D. The modern twist on the classic children’s cautionary tale is only 81-minutes and not particularly memorable but the 3D is solid as showcased here. There are a handful of typical bonus features here, including audio commentary by the Barenaked Ladies, a sing-along, music video by the Cheetah Girls, and a making-of filmmaker Q&A.

 * “Meet the Robinsons 3D” ($44.99 three-disc set) is a 2007 theatrical release that was the last of Disney’s string of so-so movies of the early-to-mid 2000s, but which features decent 3D that is also showcased well here. The Blu-ray-only bonus features are average — a “Kids of the Future” music video featuring the Jonas Brothers is a sign of the times — and include a standard-def  featurette about inventions.

– By Scott Hettrick

A lot is riding on Disney-Pixar’s “Cars 2,” so to speak.
Pixar chief John Lasseter used to denegrate Disney animated movie sequels, except for his own “Toy Story 2,” especially those that Disney premiered first on DVD. But in the past few years he not only greenlit “Toy Story 3″ and the upcoming prequel to “Monsters, Inc.,” this year he released “Cars 2″ and is building an entire theme park land (Cars Land) at Disney Resort’s California Adventure based on the franchise.
Lasseter even has a “Cars” spin-off called “Planes” set to premiere first on Blu-ray in 2013, and has produced a couple handfuls of Cars Toon shorts for the Disney Channel and theaters that are available on a separate Blu-ray set called “Mater’s Tall Tales.”

The new “Cars 2″ Blu-ray 3D  features promotions for that “Planes” production, and it looks great in 3D and appears as if it will be great fun as well.
Likewise, the new theme park attraction also gets a big plug here — in 2D, not 3D — and also looks to be a very fun theme park land, especially Luigi’s Flying Tires levitating ride that offers a nostalgic revival of the 1966 short-lived Disneyland Flying Saucers attraction.

Other most notable bonus features:

* “Air Mater,” exclusive new Cars Toon 3D animated short that appears to be a transitional production to bridge “Cars” with the upcoming “Planes,” with tow truck Mater sprouting wings and flying with an aerial acrobatic team of jets. Whatever drove the creative concept, the outcome is very entertaining, the 3D is quite effective, resulting in a fun cartoon that should appeal to all viewers.

* A 3D trailer for the studio’s upcoming 3D animated theatrical release “Brave” is enticing.

* Toy Story Toon “Hawaiian Vacation,” the six-minute 2D animated short that preceded “Cars 2″ in theaters is a fun cartoon depicting the gang of toys working together to try to create a faux island getaway for Ken and Barbie while house-bound during the dead of winter.

* Full menu of “on-location” featurettes, from Tokyo to London and many points in between, offer fun behind-the-scenes shorts and a couple of unmarked surprises as well.

Interestingly, the “Cars 2″ movie itself, depicting the lovable collection of automobile personalities in an overseas adventure, is probably the least interesting element of this entire set. The primary challenge for the viewer, particularly younger kids, is that the story is far too ambitious, mixing in multiple plot lines involving the strained relationship between Mater and Lightning Queen, a complicated international spy ring conspiracy revolving around a duplicitous oil corporation pretending to be promoting alternative fuels, Mater’s inadvertent complicity in that mystery, and Mater’s budding romantic relationship with a femme fatale motorcar.
As is typical for Pixar movies, the 3D is very subtle to the point where it feels superfluous, except for the enjoyably intense opening scene depicting a boat in the unlikely setting of a dark and turbulent ocean.
Even if the story isn’t as fun and engaging as we are used to from Pixar movies, the extravagant locations are visually dynamic and the movie has moments in which it draws knowing humor from Mater dealing with the customs of overseas cultures, especially in Tokyo.

– By Scott Hettrick

Disney-Pixar did 3D conversions of the original “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2″ that were released theatrically as a double-feature in 2009. The following year  the company released the first made-from-scratch 3D installment in the series when “Toy Story 3″ was released theatrically in summer 2010.

Although Disney already released elaborate Blu-ray editions of all three films, none were offered in Blu-ray 3D until now. All three movies are being released Tuesday, Nov. 1 in four-disc and five-disc combo sets for $49.99 each, which each also include the previous Blu-ray, DVD and digital copy versions — “Toy Story 3″ includes a second Blu-ray disc of bonus features. For those who already have all those previous iterations, Disney has gratefully offered a 3D Trilogy set that includes only the three Blu-ray 3D discs of each movie for a $100 retail price — Amazon.com has priced it at less than $68, making it a very reasonable cost of less than $23 per disc.

Each 3D disc includes impressive 3D trailers for upcoming 3D animated Disney studios, “Brave,” and Pixar’s made-for-disc spin-off of “Cars” called “Planes” in 2013.

Curiously, and disappointingly, the delightfully clever Oscar-nominated 3D short, “Day & Night,” is not included in 3D on the “Toy Story 3″ disc.
It is, however, included on the 2D Blu-ray bonus disc, as are numerous behind-the-scenes programs and interactivities including a fun trivia game with questions specific to “Toy Story 3″ or to all three movies in the series.

Click the following for a review of the “Toy Story 3″ Blu-ray edition.

This is one of the few movie series that many felt improved with each new installment. While I would not argue strenuously against that opinion, I enjoyed “Toy Story 2″ more than the most recent installment, which is also terrific but features several scenes that are suprisingly intense.

Pixar’s very subtle approach to 3D remains in evidence here. While the 3D on some movies is accentuated for home display, all three of these films offer little more than a slightly greater sense of depth, with the 3D only really noticeable in a handful of scenes.

Click the following for a complete review of the theatrical film “Toy Story 3.”

– By Scott Hettrick

The DreamWorks Pictures release distributed by Disney’s Touchstone Pictures was not only far and away the #1 movie of the weekend with $27.3 million in the U.S., it also pummeled its way to $3.2 mil. on 270 IMAX screens, according to IMAX, which is more than 12% of the overall domestic gross and, according to Hollywood.com Box Office, a September/October record at IMAX theaters.

The movie, set about 15 years in the future and featuring an irresponsible  father (Hugh Jackman) and his estranged but precocious son (Dakota Goyo) struggling to build a new relationship while building a robot that becomes an unlikely champion of bot boxing, generated a total of $4.4 mil. at IMAX theaters worldwide, including $1.2 mil. in 62 IMAX screens overseas where the movie grossed $22.1 mil.

Greg Foster, IMAX Chairman and President of Filmed Entertainment, said the forecast for the movie is especially strong since it has yet to open on nearly half of the overseas IMAX screens.

The script is way too precious, the movie way too long at well over two hours, there are way too many blatant product placements, and Goyo is nearly as melodramatic as Ricky Shroder was in the 1979 “The Champ,” but it’s clear why this movie appeals to that target demo, and Jackman and the robot action are both enough fun to keep parents and less discriminating audiences entertained.
And, of course, all of the large-scale boxing action looks even better on the large-format IMAX screen.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros.’ 3D “Dolphin Tale” also appealed to the family audience with another $9.1 mil. as it swims towards $50 mil. in U.S. theaters.

Still another family film, this one also in 3D, “The Lion King,” clawed its way to another $4.6 mil. even after the release of the Blu-ray 3D version of the movie this week, roaring to a total of $86 mil.

– By Scott Hettrick

• “The Lion King” Diamond Edition 3D (Disney, 4-Disc Combo Pack, $49.99) is enormously impressive and satisfying on many levels, starting with the 3D HD disc:
  - More depth and emotional impact than ever.
  - Clear distinction of depth between images in foreground and those on multiple background planes in opening pre-title sequence soaring over the plains of Africa and running with the indigenous herds of animals.
  - No sense of gimmickry.
  - Much more powerful moment when Rafiki presents young Simba in air atop Pride Rock
  - Far more intense sequences amidst the bones in the animal graveyard and deep inside the dense overgrowth.
  - Viewer drawn much closer during tender moments when young Simba curls up under the paw of his dead father and when Nala leans in to affectionately rub her head against Simba’s neck upon finding him alive. Simba’s reflection in the water feels tangible.
  - Fun 3D preview for “Cars 2.”
  .
  Treasure trove of new and previously-released bonus features on other discs:
  - 3 1/2-minutes of voice bloopers & outtakes cleverly set to animation as if the animated characters themselves made the flubs.
  - 38-minute elegantly and admirably produced retrospective “Pride of the Lion King” featuring almost all the current and former Disney top brass involved with the movie and Broadway play adaptation, and several voice cast.
  - 20-minute illuminating and fascinating personal video memoir of the evolution and production of the movie by producer Don Hahn.
  - 14 minutes of a handful of deleted scenes with director intros
  - Hours of additional sing-alongs, interactivities, and previous DVD bonus features.
  .
• “Beauty and the Beast” Diamond Edition 3D (Disney, 5-Disc Combo Pack, $49.99) is perhaps even more stunning in 3D than “The Lion King.” It was one of the first animated films to use some digital animation, which helps greatly in the 3D conversion. It is the 3D that is the most dynamic aspect of this new edition:
  - The opening menu instantly dazzles with impressive depth of text options that pop off the screen.
  - Belle’s opening number walking across bridge and into village is filled with so many shots showcasing 3D that it looks to have been originally designed that way.
  - Extravagant “Be Our Guest” number does not disappoint with obvious 3D benefits of dancing plates
  - Signature “Beauty and the Beast” ballroom dance even begins with dazzling display 0f 3D from bottom and top of staircase.
  .
  And all the terrific bonus features of “Beauty and the Beast Diamond Edition” 2D Blu-ray released a year ago.

– By Scott Hettrick

From the opening pre-title sequence soaring over the plains of Africa and running with the indigenous herds of animals, producer Don Hahn and stereoscopic supervisor Robert Neuman, the latter of whom did 3D so well on Disney’s “Tangled,” imbue the movie with a clear distinction of depth between the images in the foreground and those on multiple background planes without injecting any sense of gimmickry. The triumphant moment when Rafiki presents the young Simba up in the air atop Pride Rock is much more powerful; sequences amidst the bones in the animal graveyard and deep inside the dense overgrowth are far more intense.
The audience is drawn much closer during tender moments when young Simba curls up under the paw of his dead father and when Nala leans in to affectionately rub her head against Simba’s neck upon finding him alive. Simba’s reflection in the water feels tangible.

(l-r) Producer Don Hahn, stereographer Robert Neuman, directors Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers

An enthusiastic D23 Expo audience in Anaheim last night (Aug. 20) was treated to the first public screening of the new 3D edition of the 17-year-old movie that will have a limited theatrical run next month before being released on Blu-ray Oct. 2 along with a long-delayed 3D version of “Beauty and the Beast.” Hahn, Neuman, and directors Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers discussed the movie on stage Saturday night before the screening began.

About four-minutes of clips from the Blu-ray 3D version of “Lion King” and a teaser from “Beauty and the Beast” have been playing in the Exhibit Hall at D23 since Friday on Panasonic equipment. The home version and the big-screen version both look equally impressive.

Disney introduced the studio’s first attempt at converting movies to 3D – “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2” –  at the first D23 Expo in 2009 with far less dynamic results.
Hakuna Matata – this time Disney got the 3D conversion right on “The Lion King.”

– By Scott Hettrick