Toon Talk: The Aristocats Special Edition DVD - Feb 5, 2008


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(c) Disney

 
As for the Games and Activities section, there�s a �Fun With Language� activity that teaches the kiddies all about musical instruments, but the real draw here is the �Disney Virtual Kitten�. Players pick one of four kittens (Aristo-stars Marie, Toulouse and Berlioz, plus special guest cat Figaro) and, using their DVD remote control, can take care of the often finicky feline. Honestly, it is not all that exciting, but hey, at least you don�t have to clean out a litter box.
 
Toon Talk Rating: C
 

Toon Talk

AWARDS WATCH

 

This week is the Chinese New Year, celebrating the Year of the Rat, and no more is that more true then in the award race, where Disney/Pixar�s Ratatouille is raking in the gold left and right. Wins include the Broadcast Film Critics Association�s Critics� Choice, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association�s Golden Globe and the Producers Guild of America awards. This all points to victory come Oscar night (February 24), where Ratatouille is nominated for five Academy Awards (making it the most nominated Pixar film to date and tying it with Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin as the most nominated animated films ever). In addition to Best Animated Feature and Best Original Screenplay nods for Brad Bird, Michael Giacchino�s Original Score was also recognized, as well as the film�s sound mixers and sound editors.
 
Enchanted, winner of the Critics� Choice Award for Best Family Film (Live Action), scored a surprising three nominations in Oscar�s Best Original Song category (only the fourth time in Academy history that that has occurred -- the other times were for Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King and Dreamgirls): �Happy Working Song�, �That�s How You Know� and �So Close� by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, who previously shared Oscars for the work on Pocahontas.
 
Also getting some love from the Academy was Pirates of the Caribbean: At World�s End, nominated for Best Visual Effects and Best Make-Up. But the Visual Effects Society is where Pirates really cleaned up, with a field best six nominations (Ratatouille and Enchanted also received nominations). Alas, you win some, you lose some: Orlando Bloom was nominated for a Golden Raspberry �Razzie� Award for �Worst Supporting Actor� for his performance as Will Turner in the film.
 
In other guild awards, Pirates and Ratatouille received nominations from the American Cinema Editors and Art Directors Guilds, while Pirates and Enchanted were recognized by the Costume Designers Guild. And all three of these, plus Meet the Robinsons, are nominated for Golden Reel Awards from the Motion Picture Sound Editors.

 
Coming Soon:

  • Sarah Bolger, Freddie Highmore and Freddie Highmore are siblings who enter a fantastical world in The Spiderwick Chronicles (Paramount, February 15).
  • Don�t worry if you start seeing spots next month -- it�s just the Platinum Edition DVD of 101 Dalmatians (Disney DVD, March 4).
  • It did it in theaters, so no reason to think you won�t be Enchanted all over again when it comes home (Disney DVD, March 18).

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-- Kirby C. Holt

Kirby is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. He is also an avid list maker and chronic ellipsis user ... In addition to his Toon Talk reviews, Kirby is the creator of Movie Dearest, a blog for movie fans.

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 February 5, 2008

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