Disney’s two Blu-ray releases this week (Aug. 9, 2011) are notable for different reasons and both are worth a look:
* 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