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

“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 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

• The movie itself and the disheveled Dude is enough
• Vintage Coen Brothers off-the-wall characters and situations
• Jeff Bridges and entire cast give performances of their careers
• 28-page booklet with hilarious movie quotes, quizzes, interviews, Bridges’ photos
• Interactive elements are fun to keep track of utterances of the f-word,  pop-up picture-in-picture comments, interviews, behind-the-scenes
• Bonus features galore including making-of, finishing lines of dialogue trivia, previously-released ten-year anniversary interviews, and fun interactive map of shooting locations.

– By Scott Hettrick

* Mars Needs Moms (Disney, $49.99 4-disc set w/ 3D) took a pounding from critics and cost filmmaker Robert Zemeckis his company and partnership with Disney, but the performance-capture/computer-animated movie itself about a boy (Seth Green) who heads to outer space to rescue his mom (Joan Cusack) when she is abducted by aliens offers the following:

• Plenty enough fun and enjoyable for any kid and their parents.
• 3D on Blu-ray looks even better and more effective than in theaters
• Alternate scene in 3D of mother’s abduction is impressive extra
• Lots more enjoyable bonus features including extended opening and multiple deleted scenes that are interesting, and amusing behind-the-scenes mini-doc about motion-capture process for actors.

* The Fox and the Hound 30th Anniversary Edition /Fox and Hound 2 (Disney, $39.99 three-disc set with Blu-ray and two DVDs)  is one of the few bright spots from the black hole post-Disney death era of the late 1960s – 1980s, with a cute story of an unlikely friendship between a young hound dog and a fox that evolves into a natural estrangement as they mature.

• First half when animals are pups is far more cute and fun
• One of last Disney movies using old school animation by several of Nine Old Men (this was also the first Disney film that filmmaker Tim Burton worked on).
• Music and songs by Pearl Bailey (“Best of Friends”) a delight
• Couple of mildly entertaining bonus features: sing-along, video of unlikely friendships, and mini-doc on transition of Disney animation
• DVD premiere sequel Fox and the Hound 2 has much less sophisticated TV-style quality and different voices but cute enough for younger viewers.

– By Scott Hettrick

• fascinating pieces by the filmmakers about shooting in Rio
• interactive option to explore Rio on your own.
• unique exclusive access to unlock never-before-played bonus levels of the inexplicably popular phone app game called Angry Birds
• “Rio Coloring with Blu” app that lets users color their favorite characters and backgrounds on their iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad or Android. Their finished art can then be printed out using AirPrint or shared on Facebook and other social networking sites.

This is the story of an endangered young pet bird called Blu (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg) — only coincidence that it is spelled the same as Blu-ray? — who lives with a young lady in frozen Minnesota, is forced to adjust to life when he is taken to Brazil to find a mate and save his species.
The movie gets off to a very colorful, lively, and engaging start but winds up being a cute but not dynamic story with nice music by Sergio Mendes, who hit it big 45 years ago with his “Brasil ’66″ album.
The animation, humor, music, and overall entertainment come off pretty well. But it does none of those things extremely well except, perhaps, for the computer animation. The humor may make you smerk but never laugh out loud or remember any lines.
Still, compared to most fare this year, “Rio” is a delightful diversion.

– By Scott Hettrick

Here is a 60-second teaser of the teasers, with a particularly intriguing new animation of a light saber emblazoning the Blu-ray logo: