Toon Talk: The Fox and the Hound DVD
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(c) Disney
Be that as it may, the disc’s bonus features include the “Fast Play�? feature, two vintage shorts (the Oscar-nominated Lambert the Sheepish Lion and the Oscar-winning Lend a Paw starring Pluto - both, by the way, readily available elsewhere), a faded Sing-Along song of Pearl Bailey’s “Best of Friends�?, and two preschool-aimed “Games and Activities�? (the Forest Friendship game, which offers two playing modes, and the DVD storybook New Best Friends, allowing read-along and read alone options). The only extras of any note are a brief featurette (Passing the Baton) that barely touches on the making of the film, and an art gallery “scrapbook�? containing concept art, storyboard sketches, behind the scenes photographs (including live action reference pictures of co-director Art Stevens dressed up as Amos Slade), poster art, merchandise, and even shots of those cool Main Street Emporium window dioramas from Disneyland.
Toon Talk Rating: C-
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In this ‘Toon Talk’ feature, I will briefly highlight a recommended film or DVD, outside of the Disney universe, of similar interest to the main subject. People’s Precocious Pets Much like Widow Tweed and Tod the fox, there is a special bond between Graham Merrill and Mij the otter in Ring of Bright Water (1969, Rank). Following in the paw prints of Born Free, Ring was also based on a well-regarded memoir and even features that film’s stars, Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna. But no doubt about it, it is the lovable and freewheeling Mij (one could say he is "otter-ly adorable" ... ouch) who steals the movie … and your hearts. A tragic ending of Old Yeller proportions may prompt parental discussions, but like that classic tearjerker, the journey is worth it. Ring of Bright Water was directed by Jack Couffer (who worked on several Disney projects during his career, including producing The Incredible Journey and Never Cry Wolf) and is available on DVD from MGM/UA Home Entertainment. |
Coming Soon:
- Don some 3-D glasses for a haunting good time with the re-release of the stop-motion cult classic Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas … in digital 3-D! (Touchstone, October 20).
- Santa’s back, and Jack Frost wants his job in Disney’s The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause; plus, DreamWorks and Aardman Animation re-team for Flushed Away (November 3).
- The Pixar hit Cars zooms home on Disney DVD November 7th.
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-- Kirby C. Holt
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http://www.cafepress.com/MagicBear
Kirby is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. He is also an avid list maker and chronic ellipsis user ...
Took Talk: Disney Film & Video Reviews by Kirby C. Holt is posted whenever there's something new to review.
The opinions expressed by our Kirby C. Holt, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted October 17, 2006