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DVD Review: "Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure"
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What? Are you surprised we're reviewing "Tinker Bell"? Is it too babyish?
We thought it might be, at first, but then we thought again. IML'ers talk a lot about this on the You Said It pages and have even sent in questions to our Advice section. When you're a tween, you're kind of stuck in the middle of different kinds of entertainment. Much that's aimed at "kids" is still fun for you to watch, and even if you don't plan on watching, you may have to if you've got younger siblings. You might also feel pressure to focus on TV, movies, and music that's aimed at older tweens and teens even though you still like the "little kid" stuff (but are embarrassed to admit it). It's interesting to think about why certain things, especially characters, are seen as too immature. Can you still enjoy something even though the company that produced it has decided to market it most heavily to viewers who are younger than you?
That's why we say, go ahead and enjoy the new "Tinker Bell" movies! Last year, the first film served up a fun and fanciful version of Tink's origin story, introduced us to the fantasy world of Pixie Hollow (clearly the coolest neighborhood in Neverland), and offered a colorful cast of all new fairies. And actress Mae Whitman did a wonderful job with a tough assignment: voicing a character that people have loved for more than 50 years. Maybe you outgrew the princesses long ago (or were never into them in the first place), but these fairies are strong female characters who care about much more than when their prince will come.
Now Tink and her fairy friends are back in a new installment on DVD and Blu-ray, "Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure." In the story, our favorite tinker gets an assignment befitting her talents: she's asked to construct the Autumn Scepter to hold the priceless Moonstone, a magical gem that is essential to producing the rare blue fairy dust, which nourishes the all-important Pixie Dust Tree. Got that? No? Well, don't worry, because this is all just an excuse for Tinker Bell to go off on a perilous and exciting adventure, meet some new friends (including a cute firefly named Blaze), and, hopefully, save the day just in the nick of time.
But even the adventure is secondary to the real heart of the movie: Tinker Bell's friendship with Terence, a handsome pixie dust fairy who's clearly crushing on her. This movie is, at its core, the story of two friends who love being together, often get on each other's nerves, occasionally fight, and sometimes need to break up for a while...Just like friends in the real world do. Friendship isn't an easy path to travel, as Tink learns. There are ups and downs, and stops and starts, but in the end true friends always get back together, because they remember the things that brought them together in the first place. Sound familiar?
The DVDs and Blu-ray discs feature some funny extras, including "bloopers" and a music video of Demi Lovato performing the movie's theme song, "Gift of a Friend." Check it out!
We hope you'll tune out the voices that tell you you're "too old for this stuff"...and even if you are, really truly, too old for this stuff, this is a great movie to watch with younger sibs or if you're babysitting.
IML's Rating: A
We thought it might be, at first, but then we thought again. IML'ers talk a lot about this on the You Said It pages and have even sent in questions to our Advice section. When you're a tween, you're kind of stuck in the middle of different kinds of entertainment. Much that's aimed at "kids" is still fun for you to watch, and even if you don't plan on watching, you may have to if you've got younger siblings. You might also feel pressure to focus on TV, movies, and music that's aimed at older tweens and teens even though you still like the "little kid" stuff (but are embarrassed to admit it). It's interesting to think about why certain things, especially characters, are seen as too immature. Can you still enjoy something even though the company that produced it has decided to market it most heavily to viewers who are younger than you?That's why we say, go ahead and enjoy the new "Tinker Bell" movies! Last year, the first film served up a fun and fanciful version of Tink's origin story, introduced us to the fantasy world of Pixie Hollow (clearly the coolest neighborhood in Neverland), and offered a colorful cast of all new fairies. And actress Mae Whitman did a wonderful job with a tough assignment: voicing a character that people have loved for more than 50 years. Maybe you outgrew the princesses long ago (or were never into them in the first place), but these fairies are strong female characters who care about much more than when their prince will come.
Now Tink and her fairy friends are back in a new installment on DVD and Blu-ray, "Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure." In the story, our favorite tinker gets an assignment befitting her talents: she's asked to construct the Autumn Scepter to hold the priceless Moonstone, a magical gem that is essential to producing the rare blue fairy dust, which nourishes the all-important Pixie Dust Tree. Got that? No? Well, don't worry, because this is all just an excuse for Tinker Bell to go off on a perilous and exciting adventure, meet some new friends (including a cute firefly named Blaze), and, hopefully, save the day just in the nick of time.
But even the adventure is secondary to the real heart of the movie: Tinker Bell's friendship with Terence, a handsome pixie dust fairy who's clearly crushing on her. This movie is, at its core, the story of two friends who love being together, often get on each other's nerves, occasionally fight, and sometimes need to break up for a while...Just like friends in the real world do. Friendship isn't an easy path to travel, as Tink learns. There are ups and downs, and stops and starts, but in the end true friends always get back together, because they remember the things that brought them together in the first place. Sound familiar?
The DVDs and Blu-ray discs feature some funny extras, including "bloopers" and a music video of Demi Lovato performing the movie's theme song, "Gift of a Friend." Check it out!
We hope you'll tune out the voices that tell you you're "too old for this stuff"...and even if you are, really truly, too old for this stuff, this is a great movie to watch with younger sibs or if you're babysitting.
IML's Rating: A
DVD Review: "Wizards On Deck With Hannah Montana"
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Disney Channel = The Tween Channel
Do you agree?
Sometime in the last decade, the folks at Disney Channel figured out the power of pre-teens. They realized that if they pt a few great shows on the air with really appealing young celebs, most people aged 7 to 12 will watch. And watch, and watch. And then buy, buy, buy! Over the years, they've done a great job of creating programs and characters that really resonate with their target audience, providing positive role models and messages about life. Such a great job, in fact, that doesn't it sometimes feel like Disney Channel is its own universe?
That universe comes together in three "crossover" episodes of "Wizards of Waverly Place," "The Suite Life On Deck," and "Hannah Montana" that are now available on one DVD titled "Wizards On Deck With Hannah Montana." In case you missed it, these episodes show us what kind of chaos takes place when the Russo kids take a teen cruise on the S.S. Tipton...which Miley Stewart also happens to board on her way to a concert in Hawaii. It's really fun to see characters from the different shows interacting with one another. Actually, when you look at them as one group, you can kind of recognize the "roles" that kids often play in real life. You've got The Flirt, The Class Clown, The Princess, The Annoying Little Brother, The Cool Big Brother, The Loyal BFF. Then you've got characters like Alex, Bailey, and Miley, who are the ones we're supposed to identify with most. When you see them all in the same "universe," who do you connect to?
The DVD has only a few bonus features, the best of which is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of these episodes and how the Disney Channel stars relate to one another as friends (now that's a group date we'd like to see!).
If you're really into the Disney Channel shows, this DVD might be a good one for your collection. We're not sure how often viewers will really watch it, especially since it doesn't offer much beyond what you saw on the TV broadcast. To see more of your favorite characters hanging out and getting into trouble together, you might want to check out some of the fan fiction websites online ("Fan Fiction" is when you write a story using the characters and world of an existing TV show; super fun!).
IML's Rating: B
DVD Review: "JONAS: Rockin' The House"
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So let's talk about the Jonas Brothers. They're talented, funny, and totally cute. And there's three of them! (Not counting Frankie the Bonus Jonas, of course.)
We love watching their Disney Channel show "Jonas" because (1) it makes us laugh, (2) the music is awesome, and (3) it's great to watch the dynamic of three real-life brothers in a sitcom setting. Now the first five episodes, plus two exclusive premiere episodes, are available on DVD, along with a fun "You've Just Been JoBro'd" prank on co-star Chelsea Staub.
"Jonas" follows in the footsteps of the Beatles movie "Help!" (where John Lennon has a bed in the floor just like Nick does) and of course, the TV series "The Monkees" (check it out and you'll see what must have inspired the JoBros' zany, girl-crazy personas). There's something just really addictive about watching pop stars play a slightly altered version of themselves.
Which makes us wonder: how much of "Jonas" is based on their real lives? Obviously, the guys don't go to a prep school or live in a converted firehouse. And we kind of giggle at the scenes where Nick, Kevin, and Joe can, like, walk down a street and not be chased by screaming girls. But if you watch them play off each other on the show, both in comedy and when they perform music, you get a sense of how strong and honest their sibling relationships are. Which means of course that they do occasionally fight about stuff. They must! That we probably won't see on the show or the next JoBros concert movie, but it's fun to think about. (Does Joe ever get jealous of the other guys' solos? Does Nick get ganged up on by his older bros? Will Kevin grow apart from them when he gets married?)
These are real people who are growing and changing just like the rest of us; we hope they only have great things lying ahead for them.
Check out IML's sections on Sibling Rivalry and Birth Order to get advice on sib situations and share your experiences! And then enjoy this Jonas video clip, which is one of our faves.
DVD Review: "Earth"
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When we read IML'ers postings on our "Helping The Environment" You Said It page, we get the feeling our planet's future is in really good hands. So many of you are already doing what you can to conserve Earth's resources or educating yourselves about how our actions affect that floating ball in space we call home.
Earlier this year, the movie "Earth" was released in theatres and maybe you got a chance to see it on the big screen; now it's out on DVD and Blu-ray. If you love Planet Earth (or maybe just have a little crush), this flick is much more than a nature documentary. It tells the story of one year on the planet, capturing incredible footage from every continent and focusing on three very different animal families (polar bears, humpback whales, and elephants) trying to survive in challenging and changing conditions. It's by turns fascinating, funny, tension-filled, and sad. (If you're like us and hate to see animals scared or suffering, a few scenes are hard to watch. But all part of reality and important to see.)
We watched this and kept thinking, "Whoa! How did they shoot
that?" Fortunately, the DVD offers up a real treat: a behind-the-scenes mini-documentary showing the awesome amount of work, patience, and expertise that goes into making a movie like this.
IML's Rating: A
Hopefully "Earth," along with other films and TV programs like it, will inspire young people to get involved in wildlife conservation. Because our favorite animals in this movie were the humpback whales, we've gathered a few tips on how you and your family can help them out:
Seek out information about conservation issues
--Check out books from your local library on whales and the places where they live to learn more about these amazing animals.
--Contact local conservation groups to find out what they are doing to help animals like the humpback whale and to learn how you can get involved.
---Visit zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to see marine mammals, support marine mammal conservation, and learn more about how you can animals like whales in the wild.
Reduce, reuse, recycle, and replenish
--Conserve water at home. Help family members check for leaky faucets and encourage them to use cold water in the wash. Challenge your entire family to take shorter showers, turn off the water when brushing their teeth, and make a rain barrel. This saves water for animals (and people) everywhere.
--Remember, all drains lead to the ocean! Be careful what chemicals, pesticides, and household products you use. Encouraging your family to use green cleaning products is one way to help keep waterways clean. Finding alternatives to chemical pesticides is another way to help wildlife. And recycling motor oil and disposing of hazardous waste properly can ensure pristine lakes, rivers, and oceans for future generations.
Look for and purchase environmentally friendly products
--While many whales are protected from hunting, they sometimes still end up trapped in nets or fishing line intended for other animals. If your family eats seafood, make sure it is "whale and dolphin safe" - meaning it is caught in a way that won't hurt other animals.
--When dining out, have your parents ask if the seafood is sustainable - meaning it is caught in a way that won't hurt the fish population or other animals (such as whales and dolphins).
--When fishing, use eco-friendly gear such as fishing line that will decompose and lead-free spinners and weights. Learn about environmentally friendly hooks that can reduce damage to fish during catch-and-release fishing trips. All of these things can help protect aquatic animals and habitats.
--Check out books from your local library on whales and the places where they live to learn more about these amazing animals.
--Contact local conservation groups to find out what they are doing to help animals like the humpback whale and to learn how you can get involved.
---Visit zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to see marine mammals, support marine mammal conservation, and learn more about how you can animals like whales in the wild.
Reduce, reuse, recycle, and replenish --Conserve water at home. Help family members check for leaky faucets and encourage them to use cold water in the wash. Challenge your entire family to take shorter showers, turn off the water when brushing their teeth, and make a rain barrel. This saves water for animals (and people) everywhere.
--Remember, all drains lead to the ocean! Be careful what chemicals, pesticides, and household products you use. Encouraging your family to use green cleaning products is one way to help keep waterways clean. Finding alternatives to chemical pesticides is another way to help wildlife. And recycling motor oil and disposing of hazardous waste properly can ensure pristine lakes, rivers, and oceans for future generations.
Look for and purchase environmentally friendly products
--While many whales are protected from hunting, they sometimes still end up trapped in nets or fishing line intended for other animals. If your family eats seafood, make sure it is "whale and dolphin safe" - meaning it is caught in a way that won't hurt other animals.
--When dining out, have your parents ask if the seafood is sustainable - meaning it is caught in a way that won't hurt the fish population or other animals (such as whales and dolphins).
--When fishing, use eco-friendly gear such as fishing line that will decompose and lead-free spinners and weights. Learn about environmentally friendly hooks that can reduce damage to fish during catch-and-release fishing trips. All of these things can help protect aquatic animals and habitats.
DVD Review: "Hannah Montana: The Movie"
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This week, "Hannah Montana:
The Movie" comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray. However you feel about Miley at the moment, the
flick stands alone as a funny, sweet, entertaining story that we can all relate
to in some way...even if we don't have a secret pop star identity. On those days
when you're not sure who you're becoming or what matters most to you, it might
help to tag along with Miley on her trip back home to Tennessee to reconnect
with her roots (and herself). And we just love the movie's soundtrack,
especially the awesome single "The Climb", the video of which, along with
deleted scenes and giggly bloopers, is among the DVD's bonus features.
Here's some more from Miley on chilling out and staying in touch with what she loves best.
What would you get up to on the perfect day?
At the moment, the perfect day would involve a sleep-in! I'm a night owl who loves to stay up late - but then I find myself with a 6am start time and I'll end up having only two hours sleep. That's why my perfect day would involve sleeping in and then hanging out by the pool with my mum.
What's the best way to chill out?
I love being at home -
especially when I'm out by the pool. We have a waterfall in our backyard and
it's beautiful. It's lovely to sit out there alone. In fact, I like anywhere I
can just be alone. I love being alone!
What else do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to ride my bike and I
love reading. I also like to watch movies and stay up late. Staying up late is
great because I find it really relaxing. It's the only time when everyone else
is asleep, so I can have some alone time.
Did you enjoy traveling to Nashville to shoot the "Hannah Montana" movie?
That was awesome! I loved
going home to Nashville because it's a wonderful place and it's where I grew
up. I really enjoyed the tranquility of everything there. I loved the peace and
the quiet. It was amazing.
So how would you spend your ideal day in Nashville?
Ooh, I like this question!
I'd just relax and enjoy the peace and quiet. You know what? I really wish I
had more time to spend in Nashville. Filming the movie was the longest I had
been back since I left, but I am hoping to move back there at some point.
Let's get back to your favorite obsessions...What was the last book you read?
I've just finished reading a
book called Catcher In The Rye.
It's a really great book. If you haven't heard of it, check it out. It's by JD
Salinger and it's a bit of a classic.
What makes it such a good book?
It's a really good story.
Plus, when I was reading the book, I thought that I was a little similar to the
main character. He over-thinks everything and I'm like that.
What do you over-think?
In the book, this guy is
obsessed with a girl called Jane - and I can be exactly like that when it comes
to boys. I'll be thinking, 'I really hope they like me.' And I'll stress and
stress and stress about it.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Hopefully I'll still be
working in ten years. I love doing films, so I hope I'm doing them for years to
come - but I also hope that I've become a bit more settled.
What do you mean by that?
Well, my life is so crazy at
the moment, so it would be great to have a more normal life in ten years. I'd
love to be doing movies on and off - but I hope I get the chance to spend a lot
of time with my family, too. That would be very cool indeed.
DVD Review: "So You Think You Can Dance: Get Fit"
Okay, we'll go on record and say that we are BIG fans of Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance." Watching young people pursue their artistic dreams -- and dancing their hearts out -- makes great TV! Plus we just love our favorites: Jeanine, Ade, and Brandon.
If you're a fan too (or even if you're not, but you love to dance), you might want to check out two brand new DVD's from the SYTYCD folks: "Get Fit - Tone & Groove" and "Get Fit - Cardio Funk." Both DVD's feature dance workouts in different styles taught by dancers from the last three seasons: Hip-Hop with Twitch (Season 4), Jazz with Katee (Season 4), Cha-Cha with Dmitry (Season 2), Contemporary with Travis (Season 2), Disco with Courtney (Season 4), and Hip-Hop with Lauren (Season 3).
The workout routines are short and easy to learn, and there's a dance warmup and cool-down on each disc -- plus bonus interviews with the dancers. You won't get as intense a workout as, say, going for a run or swimming laps, but if you want to do something quick to get started in the morning or just want to dance out some stress, you might find these DVD's to be perfect. They'd also make for a cool activity with friends, a sib, or a parent. We like that they're aimed at people of all ages, and all dancing skill levels.
As SYTYCD producer Nigel Lythgoe says in an interview on the DVD, it's true that not everyone can dance...but everyone can move. And that's what matters -- moving to express yourself, get some exercise, bust out with your buds, shake off some anger or tension...whatever!
IML's Rating: B+
It's also fun to get "instruction" from these dancers we've enjoyed watching in the past. IML got the chance to talk to Katee Shean -- one of Season 4's breakout stars -- about this project and her advice for young dancers in general!
IML: Can you tell us about working on this DVD?
Katee: The experience was really fun. There were people from seasons 2, 3, and 4 working on it, and everybody has different stories and different experiences from the show so we all got close real fast. It's the first time any of us had done something like this, and fortunately we were working with fitness trainers who showed us how to instruct people, breaking the movements down. And I think everybody is really excited for the finished product.
IML: Was this your first time teaching dance?
Katee: I do go around the country and teach master dance classes, but this is the first time I'd done something focused on fitness. When you teach dancers in a dance class, there's a vocabulary and certain movements they already know. With these routines, we had to think about how to choreograph and teach them so that anybody could understand them.
IML: So tell us a little about what you've been doing in the year since you were on SYTYCD!
Katee: The past year has been crazy! I finished the SYTYCD tour, where we did 42 cities. After that, I've been flying to different states teaching master classes, intensives, and choreography. I just finished filming "Step Up 3D" in New York. And I've done some TV stuff too. It's been a whirlwind and I've been working, which has been great.
IML: Does it feel a little unreal to actually be making a living as a dancer?
Katee: Yes! I'm so blessed to be able to do what I love and be making money from it. I mean, I would do it for free because dance is my outlet, so I really appreciate being able to live out my dream. Being able to dance and travel -- I can't ask for more.
IML: We know you've been dancing since you were little. When you were growing up, especially during the tween and teen years, what did dancing add to your life?
Katee: I think it taught me at a very young age how to be disciplined and stay focused. I wasn't out at parties going crazy. I went from school to dance class to rehearsals...It taught me how to prioritize my time and focus on getting to where I wanted to be. You know, to make time for everything; you make time for homework, for your friends, for your family...and for dancing as well. Growing up, dance was always my passion. If dance wasn't there, I don't really know what route I would have taken! I'm so glad I found it at an early age and kept with it.
IML: What's your advice for young people who are interested in pursuing dance, but aren't sure how far to go or if they're good enough to "make it"?
Katee: I would not let the fear of not being good enough to ever bring you down! There are so many outlets for dance. You could be working at a theme park, a TV show, in movies, on Broadway. I feel like there's always room for everyone in the dance world. When I started off, I had two left feet...and clown feet at that! I definitely think that if you work hard and want something, you'll keep working until you're satisfied and get to where you want to go. I think at the end of the day, it's the things that don't come easy as a dancer that can be most rewarding. For instance, I know I don't have perfect technique or turnout; my body's not built that way and I'll never have it. But when you get there and achieve something knowing it was hard, instead of having it come easy, it means so much more.
IML: Katee, that is great advice! Thank you so much and good luck to you!
Katee: Thanks!
DVD Review: "Princess Protection Program"
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Okay, just what is it about princesses? Is it the gowns? The bling? The not-having-to-do-crummy-chores-like-scooping-the-litterbox? Or maybe it's simply the fact that princesses are special (in a good way). As a little kid you might have been into Ariel, Belle, and the gang. Or maybe you always loved dressing up and playing princess with your friends.
If you enjoyed the Disney Channel Original Movie "Princess Protection Program," it's probably -- in part -- because none of us really outgrow our fascination with princesses. What we at IML particularly liked about this flick is that it actually asks the question, "What does it really, truly mean to be a princess?" and found a fun way to explore that, with a great story about friendship.
In case you didn't catch it when it aired on The Disney Channel, here's the story: tomboy Carter Mason (played by Selena Gomez) gets her world turned upside down when her father, who works for a top-secret princess rescue operation (Are there really that many princesses out there in jeopardy? Whatever, it's a movie.), brings home Princess Rosalinda (Demi Lovato) in an effort to protect her from a dictator who's taken over her tiny country. Rosalinda has to blend in as a typical American teen; Carter thinks this intrusion is a royal pain in the butt. Despite their differences, the two become friends and help each other in all sorts of "You go, girl! ways.
The DVD features a new video of Selena and Demi performing the song "One and the Same" and some cool behind-the-scenes footage. In one segment, Selena and Demi talk (and giggle a lot) about their real-life friendship, and how awesome it was to make a movie together. They do seem to really be BFF's (after all, they've known each other since they were both on "Barney" -- that must be like the teen star equivalent of being kindergarten classmates) and super nice people to boot. But of course, it made us wonder:
If Demi and Selena are really best friends, then they must also, really, fight sometimes. Or at least argue. Because that's part of friendship, right? Do they ever crush on the same guy? Does Demi get mad at Selena if Selena gets invited to some red carpet gala and doesn't ask her bud to come along? What happens if one of them becomes much more successful than the other (say, for instance, Demi wins a Grammy while Selena's music career fizzles, or Selena becomes a huge movie star while Demi can't seem to break out of TV)? We can only hope that they'll work it out. Other celeb BFF's -- like Courtney Cox Arquette and Jennifer Aniston -- seem to be able to keep their friendships strong. Keep the faith, Demi and Selena!
And all the talk about "What does it mean to be a princess?" (which is also explored in the DVD extras, including an interview with a "real" princess, India Oxenburg)...well, maybe that's just something each of us has to decide for ourselves.
