What's a panda to do when his dreams of kung-fu awesomeness awake to the cold reality of noodle-making? Clumsy, overweight Po (Jack Black) dreams of becoming a kung fu master like China's revered "furious five," but instead seems destined to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather in the restaurant business. When great leader Oogway has a vision that the imprisoned kung fu warrior Tai Lung (Ian McShane) will soon escape, he declares it time to choose China's dragon warrior--one kung fu master deemed worthy of possessing the dragon's scroll and its secret to limitless power. Po and all the townspeople rush to the Jade Palace atop the highest mountain to witness the contest between Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Crane (David Cross) and Viper (Lucy Liu), but Po is locked outside the palace. After a miracle of sorts, Po lands inside the palace gates, where he is chosen as the dragon warrior and placed under the tutelage of the decidedly non-plussed master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman). An unconventional student to say the least, hilarity reigns as Shifu tries desperately to make Po into some semblance of a kung fu warrior. Can Po possibly fulfill his destiny as dragon warrior, or was Oogway's final decision a critical mistake? A film rich with hilarious moments, superior animation, and an important message about believing in oneself and the power that comes from within, Kung Fu Panda is great entertainment that will have the whole family laughing and begging for more. (Ages 3 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

One good film :D, 16 Nov 2008
This is actually a really great film! My dad took me to see it in the cinema, 'cos he thought it looked good. Even though I think Jack Black is fully amazing, and Jackie Chan is awesome, I didn't think I would enjoy it, since I'm not one for cartoons, even though I'm not that old. I could hardly stop laughing though! It's a great film, for kids and adults, and even the odd teenager, like me! I highly recomend it, if, like me, you love comedies! :)

The Panda of Destiny?, 12 Nov 2008
Our story centers around Po the Panda (voiced by Jack Black). He is a Kung Fu legend. Evildoers fear him and the people adore him. The Fearsome Five long to fight with him. And everything...hold on, maybe that isn't the way it really is.

In reality, Po works in his father's noodle restaurant waiting tables. He's way overweight and out of shape. But he dreams about Kung Fu and idolizes the Fearsome Five, Monkey (Jackie Chan), Crane (David Cross), Tigress (Angelina Jolie) Viper (Lucy Liu), and Mantis (Seth Rogen). That's why, when it is announced that the legendary Dragon Warrior will soon be chosen, Po leaves everything behind and joins the rest of the village high up the mountain.

Through a series of events, Po winds up being named the Dragon Warrior, much to the dismay of the Fearsome Five and Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) who must train the rookie. Po doesn't think he can do it, but he doesn't want to quit. Shifu and the Five want to make him quit. But they'd better figure things out soon because an old foe is about to return to the village intent on destroying it. Can Po save the day?

Since I'm not a fan of Jack Black or Dreamworks Animation, I almost skip this flick. And that would have been a huge mistake. This is a fun movie for all ages.

So let's get the obvious and the only negative out of the way right now, shall we? We've seen this plot many, many times before. But the movie does a great job of making the familiar ride enjoyable.

Part of that is through the humor. There are lots of great one liners and slap stick scenes. It's not side splitting funny, but I laughed plenty of times. And some of the gags were completely unexpected. Yet the more serious and tender moments don't feel forced in the slightest. And the story is fast paced with an ending that made me smile.

The first few minutes are hand drawn animation, but the rest of the movie is computer animated. It looked amazing with plenty of beautiful settings and small details. They even managed to do a good job with the Kung Fu fight scenes. Heck, they were easier to follow than fight scenes in many of the live action movies made these days.

I always worry when I hear that a movie has a voice cast made up of famous people, but here they did a good job becoming the characters. I wasn't left picturing the actor recording the voice. Instead, I bought the characters and got lost in the story.

Okay, so this movie isn't highly original. It's still incredibly fun. And that's all that matters. I'm glad I gave the movie a chance.

Bit of a let down, 28 Oct 2008
Heard this was a great film, but kids and I were sadly disappointed. A few funny bits, but on the whole, it felt very very long and boring!

side splittingly funny, 28 Oct 2008
summary: ok I'm biased, I love animated movies, martial art movies, and comedy in general but this really got to me - your kids will love it too!

========================
Jack Black voices Po, a lazy, overweight Panda who idolises the Furious Five kung fu champions: Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Crane (David Cross), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Monkey (Jackie Chan). However, when Po gatecrashes an initiation ceremony, he is accidentally chosen to be the mythical Dragon Warrior, who is destined to save his valley from the villainous leopard Tai Lung (Ian McShane).

The Furious Five are mortified that Po has gatecrashed their ranks, but Master Oogway (Randall Duk Kim) tells them that there are no accidents and this is indeed Po's destiny. However, when word reaches the Five that Tai Lung has escaped from prison, Po has to get into shape fast, so he begins training under Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman).

Great fun!, 10 Oct 2008
As many before have kindly reviewed the story, I will leave at that. What I can add is that our 3 years old loved every second of it! Haven't been able to stop her from trying kung fu kicks since!

Really good fun!

More exciting than The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian continues the movie franchise based on C.S. Lewis' classic fantasy books. The movie picks up where the first left off... sort of. It's been a year since the Pevensie children--Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and Lucy (Georgie Henley)--returned to England from Narnia, and they've just about resigned themselves to living their ordinary lives. But just like that, they're once again transported to a fantastical land, but one with a long-abandoned castle. It turns out that they are in Narnia again--and they themselves lived in that castle, but hundreds of years ago in Narnia time. They've been summoned back to help Prince Caspian (Stardust's Ben Barnes, resembling a young, cultured Keanu Reeves), the rightful heir to the throne who's become the target of his power-hungry uncle, King Miraz (Sergio Castellitto). And he's not the only one threatened: Miraz's people, the Telmarines, have pushed all the Narnians--the talking animals, the centaurs and other beasts, the walking trees--to the brink of extinction. Despite some alpha-male bickering, Peter and Caspian agree to fight Miraz alongside the remaining Narnians, including the dwarf Trumpkin (Peter Dinklage) and the swashbuckling mouse Reepicheep (voiced by Eddie Izzard). (Also appearing is Warwick Davis, who was in Willow and the 1989 BBC version of Prince Caspian.) But of course they most of all miss the noble lion, Aslan, who would have never let this happen to Narnia if he hadn't disappeared.

Prince Caspian is epic, evoking memories of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films. (Some of the battle elements may seem too familiar, but they were in Lewis's book.) And it's appropriate for kids (Reepicheep could have come out of a Shrek movie), though the tone is dark and there is a lot of death, albeit bloodless. After two successful films, Disney and Walden Media's franchise has proved successful enough that many of the characters are scheduled to return in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. --David Horiuchi, Amazon.com

One good film :D, 16 Nov 2008
This is actually a really great film! My dad took me to see it in the cinema, 'cos he thought it looked good. Even though I think Jack Black is fully amazing, and Jackie Chan is awesome, I didn't think I would enjoy it, since I'm not one for cartoons, even though I'm not that old. I could hardly stop laughing though! It's a great film, for kids and adults, and even the odd teenager, like me! I highly recomend it, if, like me, you love comedies! :)

The Panda of Destiny?, 12 Nov 2008
Our story centers around Po the Panda (voiced by Jack Black). He is a Kung Fu legend. Evildoers fear him and the people adore him. The Fearsome Five long to fight with him. And everything...hold on, maybe that isn't the way it really is.

In reality, Po works in his father's noodle restaurant waiting tables. He's way overweight and out of shape. But he dreams about Kung Fu and idolizes the Fearsome Five, Monkey (Jackie Chan), Crane (David Cross), Tigress (Angelina Jolie) Viper (Lucy Liu), and Mantis (Seth Rogen). That's why, when it is announced that the legendary Dragon Warrior will soon be chosen, Po leaves everything behind and joins the rest of the village high up the mountain.

Through a series of events, Po winds up being named the Dragon Warrior, much to the dismay of the Fearsome Five and Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) who must train the rookie. Po doesn't think he can do it, but he doesn't want to quit. Shifu and the Five want to make him quit. But they'd better figure things out soon because an old foe is about to return to the village intent on destroying it. Can Po save the day?

Since I'm not a fan of Jack Black or Dreamworks Animation, I almost skip this flick. And that would have been a huge mistake. This is a fun movie for all ages.

So let's get the obvious and the only negative out of the way right now, shall we? We've seen this plot many, many times before. But the movie does a great job of making the familiar ride enjoyable.

Part of that is through the humor. There are lots of great one liners and slap stick scenes. It's not side splitting funny, but I laughed plenty of times. And some of the gags were completely unexpected. Yet the more serious and tender moments don't feel forced in the slightest. And the story is fast paced with an ending that made me smile.

The first few minutes are hand drawn animation, but the rest of the movie is computer animated. It looked amazing with plenty of beautiful settings and small details. They even managed to do a good job with the Kung Fu fight scenes. Heck, they were easier to follow than fight scenes in many of the live action movies made these days.

I always worry when I hear that a movie has a voice cast made up of famous people, but here they did a good job becoming the characters. I wasn't left picturing the actor recording the voice. Instead, I bought the characters and got lost in the story.

Okay, so this movie isn't highly original. It's still incredibly fun. And that's all that matters. I'm glad I gave the movie a chance.

Bit of a let down, 28 Oct 2008
Heard this was a great film, but kids and I were sadly disappointed. A few funny bits, but on the whole, it felt very very long and boring!

side splittingly funny, 28 Oct 2008
summary: ok I'm biased, I love animated movies, martial art movies, and comedy in general but this really got to me - your kids will love it too!

========================
Jack Black voices Po, a lazy, overweight Panda who idolises the Furious Five kung fu champions: Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Crane (David Cross), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Monkey (Jackie Chan). However, when Po gatecrashes an initiation ceremony, he is accidentally chosen to be the mythical Dragon Warrior, who is destined to save his valley from the villainous leopard Tai Lung (Ian McShane).

The Furious Five are mortified that Po has gatecrashed their ranks, but Master Oogway (Randall Duk Kim) tells them that there are no accidents and this is indeed Po's destiny. However, when word reaches the Five that Tai Lung has escaped from prison, Po has to get into shape fast, so he begins training under Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman).

Great fun!, 10 Oct 2008
As many before have kindly reviewed the story, I will leave at that. What I can add is that our 3 years old loved every second of it! Haven't been able to stop her from trying kung fu kicks since!

Really good fun!

Saved by the mice and Lucy, 19 Nov 2008
The first thing that I have to say is that this isn't a great movie,not by a long way.It's too long,boring in parts and I had the same problem that I had with the first film in the series.Namely,three of the four children are a charmless bunch bereft of any personality.Apart from Georgie Henley that is who plays Lucy.She gave the best performance in the first film and is also the best thing about 'Prince Caspian'.As the Prince,Ben Barnes certainly looks the part but his accent varies between Spanish,French and Scottish.I also felt that this film was aimed directly at the children's market.

So why have I given it a reasonable three stars?I was toying with giving it two but in fairness it does look great and some of the CGI is very well done.I especially liked the water giant near the end.If I could give this two and a half stars I would but because of Miss Henley,the water giant and the mice(cute) I will give it a maybe too generous three.This is not a movie that I would watch again but children will probably love it.

Good sequel, 19 Nov 2008
I was looking forward to this movie, this was one of the iconic books from my childhood. I have to say that I very much enjoyed it, however maybe not as much as the first film. The filming was excellent, with beautiful backdrops and surroundings, very good CGI and good acting. It's been so long since I read the books however, that I can't remember if this was faithful to the original though... will have to re-read them I think! The things that let it down for me were the comedy elements, the mouse-knights and alike fitted very much with a Disney film, however I thought that they were not necessary, and detracted from the story. Word of warning though, not sure if I would let very small children see it though as there is quite a lot of violent deaths albeit no blood.

Prince Caspian, 18 Nov 2008
This has to be one of the most disappointing films I've ever seen. The books enthralled me as a child and, as an adult I have read them to children in my family who were equally delighted by them, so the liberties taken with the story were a total disaster for us.

It starts off well enough, but then the film-makers apparently think they have to add plot twists with a very silly a subtext where Caspian & Peter are so jealous of eachother that they almost bring about the downfall of Narnia by it.

Yet again Hollywood has tinkered with the original and wonderful story, and lost the magic on the way, and because the special effects are fantastic it's a real let down. This is not a film I'll be buying or would want to own under any circumstances. Don't waste your money.

what happened to..., 16 Nov 2008
I did enjoy the film - and thought it stood up well against The Lion et al, but what happened to 'a Horse and his boy'? (The 3 chronicle) also will we go back to the Magician's Nephew at a later stage?


Excellent family entertainment, 13 Nov 2008
I'll keep it short and sweet - great performances, great effects, true to th ebook while still fleshing out the story and characters a little more. Fantastically fun action adventure that's suitable for all the family without patronising kids or sanitising the darker elements of the story. Parents should not object to being forced to sit through it with the kids!

One good film :D, 16 Nov 2008
This is actually a really great film! My dad took me to see it in the cinema, 'cos he thought it looked good. Even though I think Jack Black is fully amazing, and Jackie Chan is awesome, I didn't think I would enjoy it, since I'm not one for cartoons, even though I'm not that old. I could hardly stop laughing though! It's a great film, for kids and adults, and even the odd teenager, like me! I highly recomend it, if, like me, you love comedies! :)

The Panda of Destiny?, 12 Nov 2008
Our story centers around Po the Panda (voiced by Jack Black). He is a Kung Fu legend. Evildoers fear him and the people adore him. The Fearsome Five long to fight with him. And everything...hold on, maybe that isn't the way it really is.

In reality, Po works in his father's noodle restaurant waiting tables. He's way overweight and out of shape. But he dreams about Kung Fu and idolizes the Fearsome Five, Monkey (Jackie Chan), Crane (David Cross), Tigress (Angelina Jolie) Viper (Lucy Liu), and Mantis (Seth Rogen). That's why, when it is announced that the legendary Dragon Warrior will soon be chosen, Po leaves everything behind and joins the rest of the village high up the mountain.

Through a series of events, Po winds up being named the Dragon Warrior, much to the dismay of the Fearsome Five and Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) who must train the rookie. Po doesn't think he can do it, but he doesn't want to quit. Shifu and the Five want to make him quit. But they'd better figure things out soon because an old foe is about to return to the village intent on destroying it. Can Po save the day?

Since I'm not a fan of Jack Black or Dreamworks Animation, I almost skip this flick. And that would have been a huge mistake. This is a fun movie for all ages.

So let's get the obvious and the only negative out of the way right now, shall we? We've seen this plot many, many times before. But the movie does a great job of making the familiar ride enjoyable.

Part of that is through the humor. There are lots of great one liners and slap stick scenes. It's not side splitting funny, but I laughed plenty of times. And some of the gags were completely unexpected. Yet the more serious and tender moments don't feel forced in the slightest. And the story is fast paced with an ending that made me smile.

The first few minutes are hand drawn animation, but the rest of the movie is computer animated. It looked amazing with plenty of beautiful settings and small details. They even managed to do a good job with the Kung Fu fight scenes. Heck, they were easier to follow than fight scenes in many of the live action movies made these days.

I always worry when I hear that a movie has a voice cast made up of famous people, but here they did a good job becoming the characters. I wasn't left picturing the actor recording the voice. Instead, I bought the characters and got lost in the story.

Okay, so this movie isn't highly original. It's still incredibly fun. And that's all that matters. I'm glad I gave the movie a chance.

Bit of a let down, 28 Oct 2008
Heard this was a great film, but kids and I were sadly disappointed. A few funny bits, but on the whole, it felt very very long and boring!

side splittingly funny, 28 Oct 2008
summary: ok I'm biased, I love animated movies, martial art movies, and comedy in general but this really got to me - your kids will love it too!

========================
Jack Black voices Po, a lazy, overweight Panda who idolises the Furious Five kung fu champions: Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Crane (David Cross), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Monkey (Jackie Chan). However, when Po gatecrashes an initiation ceremony, he is accidentally chosen to be the mythical Dragon Warrior, who is destined to save his valley from the villainous leopard Tai Lung (Ian McShane).

The Furious Five are mortified that Po has gatecrashed their ranks, but Master Oogway (Randall Duk Kim) tells them that there are no accidents and this is indeed Po's destiny. However, when word reaches the Five that Tai Lung has escaped from prison, Po has to get into shape fast, so he begins training under Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman).

Great fun!, 10 Oct 2008
As many before have kindly reviewed the story, I will leave at that. What I can add is that our 3 years old loved every second of it! Haven't been able to stop her from trying kung fu kicks since!

Really good fun!

Saved by the mice and Lucy, 19 Nov 2008
The first thing that I have to say is that this isn't a great movie,not by a long way.It's too long,boring in parts and I had the same problem that I had with the first film in the series.Namely,three of the four children are a charmless bunch bereft of any personality.Apart from Georgie Henley that is who plays Lucy.She gave the best performance in the first film and is also the best thing about 'Prince Caspian'.As the Prince,Ben Barnes certainly looks the part but his accent varies between Spanish,French and Scottish.I also felt that this film was aimed directly at the children's market.

So why have I given it a reasonable three stars?I was toying with giving it two but in fairness it does look great and some of the CGI is very well done.I especially liked the water giant near the end.If I could give this two and a half stars I would but because of Miss Henley,the water giant and the mice(cute) I will give it a maybe too generous three.This is not a movie that I would watch again but children will probably love it.

Good sequel, 19 Nov 2008
I was looking forward to this movie, this was one of the iconic books from my childhood. I have to say that I very much enjoyed it, however maybe not as much as the first film. The filming was excellent, with beautiful backdrops and surroundings, very good CGI and good acting. It's been so long since I read the books however, that I can't remember if this was faithful to the original though... will have to re-read them I think! The things that let it down for me were the comedy elements, the mouse-knights and alike fitted very much with a Disney film, however I thought that they were not necessary, and detracted from the story. Word of warning though, not sure if I would let very small children see it though as there is quite a lot of violent deaths albeit no blood.

Prince Caspian, 18 Nov 2008
This has to be one of the most disappointing films I've ever seen. The books enthralled me as a child and, as an adult I have read them to children in my family who were equally delighted by them, so the liberties taken with the story were a total disaster for us.

It starts off well enough, but then the film-makers apparently think they have to add plot twists with a very silly a subtext where Caspian & Peter are so jealous of eachother that they almost bring about the downfall of Narnia by it.

Yet again Hollywood has tinkered with the original and wonderful story, and lost the magic on the way, and because the special effects are fantastic it's a real let down. This is not a film I'll be buying or would want to own under any circumstances. Don't waste your money.

what happened to..., 16 Nov 2008
I did enjoy the film - and thought it stood up well against The Lion et al, but what happened to 'a Horse and his boy'? (The 3 chronicle) also will we go back to the Magician's Nephew at a later stage?


Excellent family entertainment, 13 Nov 2008
I'll keep it short and sweet - great performances, great effects, true to th ebook while still fleshing out the story and characters a little more. Fantastically fun action adventure that's suitable for all the family without patronising kids or sanitising the darker elements of the story. Parents should not object to being forced to sit through it with the kids!

Magical, 19 Nov 2008
What a lovely film!! I got this for my 3 year old daughter since she is going through a 'fairy phase'. I have to admit I actually sat and watched the film the whole way through myself.
Magical and cute, with added humour... some facial expressions perhaps lost on a small child, but not on me!
Recommended must-have DVD for anyones Disney collection!

Rubbish, 16 Nov 2008
A relative bought this for my daughters 5th birthday & what a waste of good money.My daughter who is a huge fan of Peter Pan wasn`t impressed with this. The animation is good but there is no feasible story line. Disney should have left Tinkerbell in her original form as in Peter Pan. It`s just another rip off sequel.

The dust she sprinkles still has great potency., 11 Nov 2008

J.M. Barrie first created the character Tinker Bell to appear in a play (Peter Pan) and then in a novel (Peter and Wendy) but her worldwide popularity is no doubt largely the result of her appearance in the Disney film that first appeared in 1953, Peter Pan. Tinker Bell later became the official Disney "mascot" in versions of the television series variously known as Walt Disney Presents, Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, The Wonderful World of Disney, and The Magical World of Disney. The point is, she has been a major entertainment figure for more than 50 years and, at one point, was so popular that she received more fan mail than all others, including Marilyn Monroe.

Of course, children could not care less about her history but they continue to be delighted by her charm and energy. Tinker Bell is by nature a creature whose greatest talent is to "tinker" with whatever needs to be repaired; rather than pots and pans, she uses fairy dust that enables children to fly. Children love to explore secret places as when following Alice down a rabbit hole, or Peter Pan and the Darling children through an open bedroom window and then high above London at night, sailing with Geppetto, Figaro, and Cleo into Monstro's stomach, or visiting Pixie Hollow where Tinker Bell and the other fairies live. As in countless other Disney features, the production values in this film are outstanding, the music is seamlessly integrated with the plot developments, and the humor is appropriately playful. Also, I think the running time (78 minutes) is just right for younger children.

No need to list the special features. Others have listed them and they do add substantial value, although the younger grandchildren with whom I see them seem interested only in the games whereas I much prefer the background material. Some animated features (including the Disney classics as well as several produced by DreamWorks and Pixar) have an almost unlimited shelf-life, retaining great appeal throughout and among various age groups. I doubt if that will be true of Tinker Bell or, for that matter, Peter Pan. However, that said, I think that those who have seen it, as they grow older, will still enjoy seeing it again and again with younger companions if only to observe their delight. For me, the fairy dust has lost none of its potency after all these years...and never will. How wonderful!

Aww! Adorableness, 11 Nov 2008
What a lovely, lovely film! It's magical, and glittery and imaginative and beautifully done. The CGI quality is very good, and the ideas are wonderful; from Silvermist fairy manually putting dew-drops on spider webs, to catching the last of the sun's rays for lighting the glow-worms, to tinkering about with a broken ballerina music box... and chubby-cheeked Cheese the mouse, who is almost unbearably cute.

The fairy dust shimmers and sparkles throughout the film and, at its core, it's a lovely story about being true to who you are. Not a theme that will impact adult viewers, perhaps, but it is an excellent message for younger children, and grown ups will be charmed by its prettiness and innocence.

Pixie Hollow is a beautifully imagined place, and with a cast comprising of luminaries such as Anjelica Huston and Jane Horrocks, this isn't low budget cynical nonsense aimed at earning a fast buck before Christmas. It's genuinely witty, heart-warming and smile-making; a film for kids, adults and anyone in between.

The only word that describes it is "darling". Tinkerbell is absolutely darling, and it is highly highly recommended.



Beautiful film to watch with young ones or by yourself!, 03 Nov 2008
Beautiful film to watch with young ones or by yourself if your a big disney fan! Very well made and lovely story!

Disney's 1959 Sleeping Beauty was the studio's most ambitious effort to date, a lavish spectacle boasting a gorgeous waltz-filled score adapted from the music of Tchaikovsky.

In the 14th century, the malevolent Maleficent (not dissimilar to the wicked queen in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) taunts a king that his infant Aurora will fatally prick her finger on a spinning wheel before sundown on her sixteenth birthday. This, of course, would deny her a happily-ever-after with her true love. Fortunately, some bubbly, bumbling fairies named Flora, Fauna and Merryweather are on hand to assist.

It's not really all that much about the title character--how interesting can someone in the middle of a long nap be, anyway? Instead, those fairies carry the day, as well as, of course, good Prince Phillip, whose battle with the malevolent Maleficent in the guise of a dragon has been co-opted by any number of animated films since. See it in its original glory here, alongside Maleficent's castle, which, filled with warthogs and demonic imps in a macabre dance celebrating their evil ways, manages a certain creepy grandeur. --David Kronke, Amazon.com

One good film :D, 16 Nov 2008
This is actually a really great film! My dad took me to see it in the cinema, 'cos he thought it looked good. Even though I think Jack Black is fully amazing, and Jackie Chan is awesome, I didn't think I would enjoy it, since I'm not one for cartoons, even though I'm not that old. I could hardly stop laughing though! It's a great film, for kids and adults, and even the odd teenager, like me! I highly recomend it, if, like me, you love comedies! :)

The Panda of Destiny?, 12 Nov 2008
Our story centers around Po the Panda (voiced by Jack Black). He is a Kung Fu legend. Evildoers fear him and the people adore him. The Fearsome Five long to fight with him. And everything...hold on, maybe that isn't the way it really is.

In reality, Po works in his father's noodle restaurant waiting tables. He's way overweight and out of shape. But he dreams about Kung Fu and idolizes the Fearsome Five, Monkey (Jackie Chan), Crane (David Cross), Tigress (Angelina Jolie) Viper (Lucy Liu), and Mantis (Seth Rogen). That's why, when it is announced that the legendary Dragon Warrior will soon be chosen, Po leaves everything behind and joins the rest of the village high up the mountain.

Through a series of events, Po winds up being named the Dragon Warrior, much to the dismay of the Fearsome Five and Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) who must train the rookie. Po doesn't think he can do it, but he doesn't want to quit. Shifu and the Five want to make him quit. But they'd better figure things out soon because an old foe is about to return to the village intent on destroying it. Can Po save the day?

Since I'm not a fan of Jack Black or Dreamworks Animation, I almost skip this flick. And that would have been a huge mistake. This is a fun movie for all ages.

So let's get the obvious and the only negative out of the way right now, shall we? We've seen this plot many, many times before. But the movie does a great job of making the familiar ride enjoyable.

Part of that is through the humor. There are lots of great one liners and slap stick scenes. It's not side splitting funny, but I laughed plenty of times. And some of the gags were completely unexpected. Yet the more serious and tender moments don't feel forced in the slightest. And the story is fast paced with an ending that made me smile.

The first few minutes are hand drawn animation, but the rest of the movie is computer animated. It looked amazing with plenty of beautiful settings and small details. They even managed to do a good job with the Kung Fu fight scenes. Heck, they were easier to follow than fight scenes in many of the live action movies made these days.

I always worry when I hear that a movie has a voice cast made up of famous people, but here they did a good job becoming the characters. I wasn't left picturing the actor recording the voice. Instead, I bought the characters and got lost in the story.

Okay, so this movie isn't highly original. It's still incredibly fun. And that's all that matters. I'm glad I gave the movie a chance.

Bit of a let down, 28 Oct 2008
Heard this was a great film, but kids and I were sadly disappointed. A few funny bits, but on the whole, it felt very very long and boring!

side splittingly funny, 28 Oct 2008
summary: ok I'm biased, I love animated movies, martial art movies, and comedy in general but this really got to me - your kids will love it too!

========================
Jack Black voices Po, a lazy, overweight Panda who idolises the Furious Five kung fu champions: Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Crane (David Cross), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Monkey (Jackie Chan). However, when Po gatecrashes an initiation ceremony, he is accidentally chosen to be the mythical Dragon Warrior, who is destined to save his valley from the villainous leopard Tai Lung (Ian McShane).

The Furious Five are mortified that Po has gatecrashed their ranks, but Master Oogway (Randall Duk Kim) tells them that there are no accidents and this is indeed Po's destiny. However, when word reaches the Five that Tai Lung has escaped from prison, Po has to get into shape fast, so he begins training under Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman).

Great fun!, 10 Oct 2008
As many before have kindly reviewed the story, I will leave at that. What I can add is that our 3 years old loved every second of it! Haven't been able to stop her from trying kung fu kicks since!

Really good fun!

Saved by the mice and Lucy, 19 Nov 2008
The first thing that I have to say is that this isn't a great movie,not by a long way.It's too long,boring in parts and I had the same problem that I had with the first film in the series.Namely,three of the four children are a charmless bunch bereft of any personality.Apart from Georgie Henley that is who plays Lucy.She gave the best performance in the first film and is also the best thing about 'Prince Caspian'.As the Prince,Ben Barnes certainly looks the part but his accent varies between Spanish,French and Scottish.I also felt that this film was aimed directly at the children's market.

So why have I given it a reasonable three stars?I was toying with giving it two but in fairness it does look great and some of the CGI is very well done.I especially liked the water giant near the end.If I could give this two and a half stars I would but because of Miss Henley,the water giant and the mice(cute) I will give it a maybe too generous three.This is not a movie that I would watch again but children will probably love it.

Good sequel, 19 Nov 2008
I was looking forward to this movie, this was one of the iconic books from my childhood. I have to say that I very much enjoyed it, however maybe not as much as the first film. The filming was excellent, with beautiful backdrops and surroundings, very good CGI and good acting. It's been so long since I read the books however, that I can't remember if this was faithful to the original though... will have to re-read them I think! The things that let it down for me were the comedy elements, the mouse-knights and alike fitted very much with a Disney film, however I thought that they were not necessary, and detracted from the story. Word of warning though, not sure if I would let very small children see it though as there is quite a lot of violent deaths albeit no blood.

Prince Caspian, 18 Nov 2008
This has to be one of the most disappointing films I've ever seen. The books enthralled me as a child and, as an adult I have read them to children in my family who were equally delighted by them, so the liberties taken with the story were a total disaster for us.

It starts off well enough, but then the film-makers apparently think they have to add plot twists with a very silly a subtext where Caspian & Peter are so jealous of eachother that they almost bring about the downfall of Narnia by it.

Yet again Hollywood has tinkered with the original and wonderful story, and lost the magic on the way, and because the special effects are fantastic it's a real let down. This is not a film I'll be buying or would want to own under any circumstances. Don't waste your money.

what happened to..., 16 Nov 2008
I did enjoy the film - and thought it stood up well against The Lion et al, but what happened to 'a Horse and his boy'? (The 3 chronicle) also will we go back to the Magician's Nephew at a later stage?


Excellent family entertainment, 13 Nov 2008
I'll keep it short and sweet - great performances, great effects, true to th ebook while still fleshing out the story and characters a little more. Fantastically fun action adventure that's suitable for all the family without patronising kids or sanitising the darker elements of the story. Parents should not object to being forced to sit through it with the kids!

Magical, 19 Nov 2008
What a lovely film!! I got this for my 3 year old daughter since she is going through a 'fairy phase'. I have to admit I actually sat and watched the film the whole way through myself.
Magical and cute, with added humour... some facial expressions perhaps lost on a small child, but not on me!
Recommended must-have DVD for anyones Disney collection!

Rubbish, 16 Nov 2008
A relative bought this for my daughters 5th birthday & what a waste of good money.My daughter who is a huge fan of Peter Pan wasn`t impressed with this. The animation is good but there is no feasible story line. Disney should have left Tinkerbell in her original form as in Peter Pan. It`s just another rip off sequel.

The dust she sprinkles still has great potency., 11 Nov 2008

J.M. Barrie first created the character Tinker Bell to appear in a play (Peter Pan) and then in a novel (Peter and Wendy) but her worldwide popularity is no doubt largely the result of her appearance in the Disney film that first appeared in 1953, Peter Pan. Tinker Bell later became the official Disney "mascot" in versions of the television series variously known as Walt Disney Presents, Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, The Wonderful World of Disney, and The Magical World of Disney. The point is, she has been a major entertainment figure for more than 50 years and, at one point, was so popular that she received more fan mail than all others, including Marilyn Monroe.

Of course, children could not care less about her history but they continue to be delighted by her charm and energy. Tinker Bell is by nature a creature whose greatest talent is to "tinker" with whatever needs to be repaired; rather than pots and pans, she uses fairy dust that enables children to fly. Children love to explore secret places as when following Alice down a rabbit hole, or Peter Pan and the Darling children through an open bedroom window and then high above London at night, sailing with Geppetto, Figaro, and Cleo into Monstro's stomach, or visiting Pixie Hollow where Tinker Bell and the other fairies live. As in countless other Disney features, the production values in this film are outstanding, the music is seamlessly integrated with the plot developments, and the humor is appropriately playful. Also, I think the running time (78 minutes) is just right for younger children.

No need to list the special features. Others have listed them and they do add substantial value, although the younger grandchildren with whom I see them seem interested only in the games whereas I much prefer the background material. Some animated features (including the Disney classics as well as several produced by DreamWorks and Pixar) have an almost unlimited shelf-life, retaining great appeal throughout and among various age groups. I doubt if that will be true of Tinker Bell or, for that matter, Peter Pan. However, that said, I think that those who have seen it, as they grow older, will still enjoy seeing it again and again with younger companions if only to observe their delight. For me, the fairy dust has lost none of its potency after all these years...and never will. How wonderful!

Aww! Adorableness, 11 Nov 2008
What a lovely, lovely film! It's magical, and glittery and imaginative and beautifully done. The CGI quality is very good, and the ideas are wonderful; from Silvermist fairy manually putting dew-drops on spider webs, to catching the last of the sun's rays for lighting the glow-worms, to tinkering about with a broken ballerina music box... and chubby-cheeked Cheese the mouse, who is almost unbearably cute.

The fairy dust shimmers and sparkles throughout the film and, at its core, it's a lovely story about being true to who you are. Not a theme that will impact adult viewers, perhaps, but it is an excellent message for younger children, and grown ups will be charmed by its prettiness and innocence.

Pixie Hollow is a beautifully imagined place, and with a cast comprising of luminaries such as Anjelica Huston and Jane Horrocks, this isn't low budget cynical nonsense aimed at earning a fast buck before Christmas. It's genuinely witty, heart-warming and smile-making; a film for kids, adults and anyone in between.

The only word that describes it is "darling". Tinkerbell is absolutely darling, and it is highly highly recommended.



Beautiful film to watch with young ones or by yourself!, 03 Nov 2008
Beautiful film to watch with young ones or by yourself if your a big disney fan! Very well made and lovely story!

They don't make 'em like this any more, 13 Nov 2008
This has always been my favourite Disney film, and I am so glad it's been given the loving restoration it deserves.

The fantastic detail and 1950s graphic take of gothic and medieval styles is positively breathtaking. For Walt Disney it was ground breaking (and almost bankrupting) to create something so meticulously detailed and stylistically consistent right down to the backgrounds, and the result is beautiful and atmospheric. The extras are all interesting, detailing the conceptual side of things, and added a whole new perspective on what was always my favourite childhood film (even though I was terrified of Maleficent and convinced she was under my bed).

Amazing as the new computer technology is, it just doesn't for me have the artistic soul and wonder of this kind of traditional animation (no offence to those talented folk who work long and hard creating it, it's just not my bag). Now we strive for 3D realism, in movies like this it was for a blending of styles/genres and a stylistic vision that I feel lost in the computer age. I doubt we'll see animation like this again, and for me that's a crying shame.

And on the character side of things... Flora, Fauna and Merriweather still crack me up, twenty years later.

Pink! Blue! Pink! Blue! PINK!, 10 Nov 2008
My daughter, like many others, is obsessed with Disney Princess and has watched this a few times now.

I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the transfer. The picture quality is superb - and the animation is the smoothest I've seen in a hand-drawn feature. It's probably wrong of me to assume that an animated film released 50 years ago wouldn't have the same level of animation quality as a modern film, and this has certainly quashed my preconceptions.

The story is simple, and the humour is basic - but there's a real charm to this early Disney film. Maybe it's the flawless animation, or the jaunty songs - but you soon see past the cheesy Prince Charming and enjoy this for the fairy tale that it is.


Sleeping Beauty , 31 Oct 2008
This region 2 UK 50th anniversary 2 disc edition has I'm sad to say, an authoring fault. It is not properly flagged as anamorphic 16x9, it appears the initial batch as I have had two copies now, are non anamorphic, resulting in the main feature playing with black bars on all four sides of the screen, rather than the usual widescreen bars top and bottom.

And before anyone asks, I have my dvd player and screen set up correctly.



Simply a remarkable and truely inspirational Disney film, 25 Oct 2008
very few animations can meet this standard of film making.
this was Walt Disneys' final fairy tale before his tragic death (r.i.p Walt...you are a true inspiration).
Sleeping Beauty had a complex style of animated style never ever before done to make it look extremely realistic.
and it all definately paid off to a great level...it is Disney (yet again) at its very best.
very few can beat it.
it blends its horror, fantasy, action and comedy together extremely well which earns it a high place on my list of ultimate films by Disney only beaten by The Little Mermaid and The Lion King.
a quality film that introduced us to the ultimate Disney villain ever created...Malefecent.
for me the fairy godmothers just steal it every time.
masterpiece is an understatement...well it beats Snow White and Pinocchio(not being controversial).
a well deserved re-release...i've been waiting and now i can watch it in high-definition...i can't wait till it gets to my doorstep:).
sheer movie magic.

After 50 years, even more dazzling and more delightful animation, 15 Oct 2008

This is a new release of a Disney classic that first appeared in 1959. As is my custom, I much prefer to watch an animated feature film with several of my younger grandchildren (ages 3-7) and did so again with Sleeping Beauty on its 50th anniversary. Once again, they were engrossed in the story line whereas I was somewhat more interested in how the quality of animation measures up (after 59 years) when compared and contrasted with recent films such as Toy Story and Toy Story 2, the three Shreks, Ratatouille, Cars, and Wall-E. It measures up remarkably well. Just as there is a certain charm in black-and-white classic films from the 1930's and 40's (e.g. Casablanca, The Little Shop Around the Corner, and It Happened One Night), the same is true of older Disney features (e.g. Dumbo, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Pinocchio) despite relatively less sophisticated animation.

There were also generational differences when my companions and I examined the special features that include "Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough (a fully immersive virtual tour), an all-new "Enchanted Dance Game," the "Dragon Encounter Audio Sensory Experience," and an all-new "Making of Sleeping beauty." Predictably, my grandchildren much preferred the supplementary games whereas I was (as always) intrigued by the "behind the screen" material such as a discussion of the film by John Lasseter of Pixar, the film critic Leonard Maltin, and the Disney animator Andreas Deja. The production values in this new edition are superb, especially in the Blu-ray version. The running time of 75 minutes seems just about right. Whatever the ages of those who see this film and one or more of its numerous special features, they will find much to enjoy and appreciate.

The story line is strikingly similar to the one in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. A daughter named Aurora is born to royal parents and then cursed to die by her 16th birthday by an evil fairy, Malificent. To protect her, three good fairies take her away, re-name her Briar Rose, and raise her themselves. A handsome prince meets her by chance, they fall in love, and agree to meet again soon. However, on the night of her 16th birthday, as she prepares to return to her parents and be crowned a princess, the evil fairy locates her and then.... Fortunately, everything eventually works out for Aurora as it also does for Snow White, Belle, and other Disney heroines.

I highly recommend this 50th anniversary celebration of one of Disney's most delightful animated films. Under-appreciated when first released, I think it will now receive the praise it so clearly deserves. Bravo!

If you're looking for signs that the modern-day Disney has lost neither its touch nor its savvy nature, then there's evidence in abundance in the smart modern-day fairy tale Enchanted. Bookended by the kind of old-style animation the studio is rightly famed for, the main, live action segment of the film finds Amy Adams' Giselle--an archetypal Disney princess in pretty much every sense--dropped slap bang into the middle of modern day New York.

What follows is ingenious fun, as Giselle walks round very much as a fish out of water, followed quickly by James Marsden's prince who attempts to come to the rescue. Thing is, modern day New York and old style princesses don't really mix, and Enchanted studiously mines the comedy of the scenario, thanks to a smart and witty script.

What also lifts Enchanted though are the delightful tips of the hat to classics of Disney old. And we're not just talking the show-stopping numbers: there are references to the likes of Beauty and the Beast, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty to be found here, and a star-making performance from Adams powering the whole film forward.

One of the very best family movies of 2007, Enchanted does occasionally stumble through the odd twee moment (and it could really use a villain with more screen time than Susan Sarandon's wicked stepmother gets), but that can't hide the fact that it's terrific fun, lavishly made and, at its best, quite brilliant. A modern day family classic, and great to see Disney once again delivering the kind of entertainment it excels at. --Simon Brew

One good film :D, 16 Nov 2008
This is actually a really great film! My dad took me to see it in the cinema, 'cos he thought it looked good. Even though I think Jack Black is fully amazing, and Jackie Chan is awesome, I didn't think I would enjoy it, since I'm not one for cartoons, even though I'm not that old. I could hardly stop laughing though! It's a great film, for kids and adults, and even the odd teenager, like me! I highly recomend it, if, like me, you love comedies! :)

The Panda of Destiny?, 12 Nov 2008
Our story centers around Po the Panda (voiced by Jack Black). He is a Kung Fu legend. Evildoers fear him and the people adore him. The Fearsome Five long to fight with him. And everything...hold on, maybe that isn't the way it really is.

In reality, Po works in his father's noodle restaurant waiting tables. He's way overweight and out of shape. But he dreams about Kung Fu and idolizes the Fearsome Five, Monkey (Jackie Chan), Crane (David Cross), Tigress (Angelina Jolie) Viper (Lucy Liu), and Mantis (Seth Rogen). That's why, when it is announced that the legendary Dragon Warrior will soon be chosen, Po leaves everything behind and joins the rest of the village high up the mountain.

Through a series of events, Po winds up being named the Dragon Warrior, much to the dismay of the Fearsome Five and Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) who must train the rookie. Po doesn't think he can do it, but he doesn't want to quit. Shifu and the Five want to make him quit. But they'd better figure things out soon because an old foe is about to return to the village intent on destroying it. Can Po save the day?

Since I'm not a fan of Jack Black or Dreamworks Animation, I almost skip this flick. And that would have been a huge mistake. This is a fun movie for all ages.

So let's get the obvious and the only negative out of the way right now, shall we? We've seen this plot many, many times before. But the movie does a great job of making the familiar ride enjoyable.

Part of that is through the humor. There are lots of great one liners and slap stick scenes. It's not side splitting funny, but I laughed plenty of times. And some of the gags were completely unexpected. Yet the more serious and tender moments don't feel forced in the slightest. And the story is fast paced with an ending that made me smile.

The first few minutes are hand drawn animation, but the rest of the movie is computer animated. It looked amazing with plenty of beautiful settings and small details. They even managed to do a good job with the Kung Fu fight scenes. Heck, they were easier to follow than fight scenes in many of the live action movies made these days.

I always worry when I hear that a movie has a voice cast made up of famous people, but here they did a good job becoming the characters. I wasn't left picturing the actor recording the voice. Instead, I bought the characters and got lost in the story.

Okay, so this movie isn't highly original. It's still incredibly fun. And that's all that matters. I'm glad I gave the movie a chance.

Bit of a let down, 28 Oct 2008
Heard this was a great film, but kids and I were sadly disappointed. A few funny bits, but on the whole, it felt very very long and boring!

side splittingly funny, 28 Oct 2008
summary: ok I'm biased, I love animated movies, martial art movies, and comedy in general but this really got to me - your kids will love it too!

========================
Jack Black voices Po, a lazy, overweight Panda who idolises the Furious Five kung fu champions: Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Crane (David Cross), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Monkey (Jackie Chan). However, when Po gatecrashes an initiation ceremony, he is accidentally chosen to be the mythical Dragon Warrior, who is destined to save his valley from the villainous leopard Tai Lung (Ian McShane).

The Furious Five are mortified that Po has gatecrashed their ranks, but Master Oogway (Randall Duk Kim) tells them that there are no accidents and this is indeed Po's destiny. However, when word reaches the Five that Tai Lung has escaped from prison, Po has to get into shape fast, so he begins training under Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman).

Great fun!, 10 Oct 2008
As many before have kindly reviewed the story, I will leave at that. What I can add is that our 3 years old loved every second of it! Haven't been able to stop her from trying kung fu kicks since!

Really good fun!

Saved by the mice and Lucy, 19 Nov 2008
The first thing that I have to say is that this isn't a great movie,not by a long way.It's too long,boring in parts and I had the same problem that I had with the first film in the series.Namely,three of the four children are a charmless bunch bereft of any personality.Apart from Georgie Henley that is who plays Lucy.She gave the best performance in the first film and is also the best thing about 'Prince Caspian'.As the Prince,Ben Barnes certainly looks the part but his accent varies between Spanish,French and Scottish.I also felt that this film was aimed directly at the children's market.

So why have I given it a reasonable three stars?I was toying with giving it two but in fairness it does look great and some of the CGI is very well done.I especially liked the water giant near the end.If I could give this two and a half stars I would but because of Miss Henley,the water giant and the mice(cute) I will give it a maybe too generous three.This is not a movie that I would watch again but children will probably love it.

Good sequel, 19 Nov 2008
I was looking forward to this movie, this was one of the iconic books from my childhood. I have to say that I very much enjoyed it, however maybe not as much as the first film. The filming was excellent, with beautiful backdrops and surroundings, very good CGI and good acting. It's been so long since I read the books however, that I can't remember if this was faithful to the original though... will have to re-read them I think! The things that let it down for me were the comedy elements, the mouse-knights and alike fitted very much with a Disney film, however I thought that they were not necessary, and detracted from the story. Word of warning though, not sure if I would let very small children see it though as there is quite a lot of violent deaths albeit no blood.

Prince Caspian, 18 Nov 2008
This has to be one of the most disappointing films I've ever seen. The books enthralled me as a child and, as an adult I have read them to children in my family who were equally delighted by them, so the liberties taken with the story were a total disaster for us.

It starts off well enough, but then the film-makers apparently think they have to add plot twists with a very silly a subtext where Caspian & Peter are so jealous of eachother that they almost bring about the downfall of Narnia by it.

Yet again Hollywood has tinkered with the original and wonderful story, and lost the magic on the way, and because the special effects are fantastic it's a real let down. This is not a film I'll be buying or would want to own under any circumstances. Don't waste your money.

what happened to..., 16 Nov 2008
I did enjoy the film - and thought it stood up well against The Lion et al, but what happened to 'a Horse and his boy'? (The 3 chronicle) also will we go back to the Magician's Nephew at a later stage?


Excellent family entertainment, 13 Nov 2008
I'll keep it short and sweet - great performances, great effects, true to th ebook while still fleshing out the story and characters a little more. Fantastically fun action adventure that's suitable for all the family without patronising kids or sanitising the darker elements of the story. Parents should not object to being forced to sit through it with the kids!

Magical, 19 Nov 2008
What a lovely film!! I got this for my 3 year old daughter since she is going through a 'fairy phase'. I have to admit I actually sat and watched the film the whole way through myself.
Magical and cute, with added humour... some facial expressions perhaps lost on a small child, but not on me!
Recommended must-have DVD for anyones Disney collection!

Rubbish, 16 Nov 2008
A relative bought this for my daughters 5th birthday & what a waste of good money.My daughter who is a huge fan of Peter Pan wasn`t impressed with this. The animation is good but there is no feasible story line. Disney should have left Tinkerbell in her original form as in Peter Pan. It`s just another rip off sequel.

The dust she sprinkles still has great potency., 11 Nov 2008

J.M. Barrie first created the character Tinker Bell to appear in a play (Peter Pan) and then in a novel (Peter and Wendy) but her worldwide popularity is no doubt largely the result of her appearance in the Disney film that first appeared in 1953, Peter Pan. Tinker Bell later became the official Disney "mascot" in versions of the television series variously known as Walt Disney Presents, Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, The Wonderful World of Disney, and The Magical World of Disney. The point is, she has been a major entertainment figure for more than 50 years and, at one point, was so popular that she received more fan mail than all others, including Marilyn Monroe.

Of course, children could not care less about her history but they continue to be delighted by her charm and energy. Tinker Bell is by nature a creature whose greatest talent is to "tinker" with whatever needs to be repaired; rather than pots and pans, she uses fairy dust that enables children to fly. Children love to explore secret places as when following Alice down a rabbit hole, or Peter Pan and the Darling children through an open bedroom window and then high above London at night, sailing with Geppetto, Figaro, and Cleo into Monstro's stomach, or visiting Pixie Hollow where Tinker Bell and the other fairies live. As in countless other Disney features, the production values in this film are outstanding, the music is seamlessly integrated with the plot developments, and the humor is appropriately playful. Also, I think the running time (78 minutes) is just right for younger children.

No need to list the special features. Others have listed them and they do add substantial value, although the younger grandchildren with whom I see them seem interested only in the games whereas I much prefer the background material. Some animated features (including the Disney classics as well as several produced by DreamWorks and Pixar) have an almost unlimited shelf-life, retaining great appeal throughout and among various age groups. I doubt if that will be true of Tinker Bell or, for that matter, Peter Pan. However, that said, I think that those who have seen it, as they grow older, will still enjoy seeing it again and again with younger companions if only to observe their delight. For me, the fairy dust has lost none of its potency after all these years...and never will. How wonderful!

Aww! Adorableness, 11 Nov 2008
What a lovely, lovely film! It's magical, and glittery and imaginative and beautifully done. The CGI quality is very good, and the ideas are wonderful; from Silvermist fairy manually putting dew-drops on spider webs, to catching the last of the sun's rays for lighting the glow-worms, to tinkering about with a broken ballerina music box... and chubby-cheeked Cheese the mouse, who is almost unbearably cute.

The fairy dust shimmers and sparkles throughout the film and, at its core, it's a lovely story about being true to who you are. Not a theme that will impact adult viewers, perhaps, but it is an excellent message for younger children, and grown ups will be charmed by its prettiness and innocence.

Pixie Hollow is a beautifully imagined place, and with a cast comprising of luminaries such as Anjelica Huston and Jane Horrocks, this isn't low budget cynical nonsense aimed at earning a fast buck before Christmas. It's genuinely witty, heart-warming and smile-making; a film for kids, adults and anyone in between.

The only word that describes it is "darling". Tinkerbell is absolutely darling, and it is highly highly recommended.



Beautiful film to watch with young ones or by yourself!, 03 Nov 2008
Beautiful film to watch with young ones or by yourself if your a big disney fan! Very well made and lovely story!

They don't make 'em like this any more, 13 Nov 2008
This has always been my favourite Disney film, and I am so glad it's been given the loving restoration it deserves.

The fantastic detail and 1950s graphic take of gothic and medieval styles is positively breathtaking. For Walt Disney it was ground breaking (and almost bankrupting) to create something so meticulously detailed and stylistically consistent right down to the backgrounds, and the result is beautiful and atmospheric. The extras are all interesting, detailing the conceptual side of things, and added a whole new perspective on what was always my favourite childhood film (even though I was terrified of Maleficent and convinced she was under my bed).

Amazing as the new computer technology is, it just doesn't for me have the artistic soul and wonder of this kind of traditional animation (no offence to those talented folk who work long and hard creating it, it's just not my bag). Now we strive for 3D realism, in movies like this it was for a blending of styles/genres and a stylistic vision that I feel lost in the computer age. I doubt we'll see animation like this again, and for me that's a crying shame.

And on the character side of things... Flora, Fauna and Merriweather still crack me up, twenty years later.

Pink! Blue! Pink! Blue! PINK!, 10 Nov 2008
My daughter, like many others, is obsessed with Disney Princess and has watched this a few times now.

I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the transfer. The picture quality is superb - and the animation is the smoothest I've seen in a hand-drawn feature. It's probably wrong of me to assume that an animated film released 50 years ago wouldn't have the same level of animation quality as a modern film, and this has certainly quashed my preconceptions.

The story is simple, and the humour is basic - but there's a real charm to this early Disney film. Maybe it's the flawless animation, or the jaunty songs - but you soon see past the cheesy Prince Charming and enjoy this for the fairy tale that it is.


Sleeping Beauty , 31 Oct 2008
This region 2 UK 50th anniversary 2 disc edition has I'm sad to say, an authoring fault. It is not properly flagged as anamorphic 16x9, it appears the initial batch as I have had two copies now, are non anamorphic, resulting in the main feature playing with black bars on all four sides of the screen, rather than the usual widescreen bars top and bottom.

And before anyone asks, I have my dvd player and screen set up correctly.



Simply a remarkable and truely inspirational Disney film, 25 Oct 2008
very few animations can meet this standard of film making.
this was Walt Disneys' final fairy tale before his tragic death (r.i.p Walt...you are a true inspiration).
Sleeping Beauty had a complex style of animated style never ever before done to make it look extremely realistic.
and it all definately paid off to a great level...it is Disney (yet again) at its very best.
very few can beat it.
it blends its horror, fantasy, action and comedy together extremely well which earns it a high place on my list of ultimate films by Disney only beaten by The Little Mermaid and The Lion King.
a quality film that introduced us to the ultimate Disney villain ever created...Malefecent.
for me the fairy godmothers just steal it every time.
masterpiece is an understatement...well it beats Snow White and Pinocchio(not being controversial).
a well deserved re-release...i've been waiting and now i can watch it in high-definition...i can't wait till it gets to my doorstep:).
sheer movie magic.

After 50 years, even more dazzling and more delightful animation, 15 Oct 2008

This is a new release of a Disney classic that first appeared in 1959. As is my custom, I much prefer to watch an animated feature film with several of my younger grandchildren (ages 3-7) and did so again with Sleeping Beauty on its 50th anniversary. Once again, they were engrossed in the story line whereas I was somewhat more interested in how the quality of animation measures up (after 59 years) when compared and contrasted with recent films such as Toy Story and Toy Story 2, the three Shreks, Ratatouille, Cars, and Wall-E. It measures up remarkably well. Just as there is a certain charm in black-and-white classic films from the 1930's and 40's (e.g. Casablanca, The Little Shop Around the Corner, and It Happened One Night), the same is true of older Disney features (e.g. Dumbo, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Pinocchio) despite relatively less sophisticated animation.

There were also generational differences when my companions and I examined the special features that include "Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough (a fully immersive virtual tour), an all-new "Enchanted Dance Game," the "Dragon Encounter Audio Sensory Experience," and an all-new "Making of Sleeping beauty." Predictably, my grandchildren much preferred the supplementary games whereas I was (as always) intrigued by the "behind the screen" material such as a discussion of the film by John Lasseter of Pixar, the film critic Leonard Maltin, and the Disney animator Andreas Deja. The production values in this new edition are superb, especially in the Blu-ray version. The running time of 75 minutes seems just about right. Whatever the ages of those who see this film and one or more of its numerous special features, they will find much to enjoy and appreciate.

The story line is strikingly similar to the one in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. A daughter named Aurora is born to royal parents and then cursed to die by her 16th birthday by an evil fairy, Malificent. To protect her, three good fairies take her away, re-name her Briar Rose, and raise her themselves. A handsome prince meets her by chance, they fall in love, and agree to meet again soon. However, on the night of her 16th birthday, as she prepares to return to her parents and be crowned a princess, the evil fairy locates her and then.... Fortunately, everything eventually works out for Aurora as it also does for Snow White, Belle, and other Disney heroines.

I highly recommend this 50th anniversary celebration of one of Disney's most delightful animated films. Under-appreciated when first released, I think it will now receive the praise it so clearly deserves. Bravo!

Enchanting, 13 Nov 2008
I appreciate a movie studio who can give the audience a knowing wink while poking copious amounts of fun at itself. Disney delivers!

The movie is both a parody of and a loving tribute to Disney movies. There's not a single dramatic convention or stereotype that doesn't get lampooned, yet the story has a lot of heart and you root for the characters. The songs are as fun as ever - kids will enjoy it as a basic fairytale, adults will laugh and smile as they recognise the clever jokes and references. Disney manage to bring an animated movie to the real world, as absurd as that is, but instead of falling flat on its face it shows us precisely why we have cartoons and the mirror they hold up for us - with a wink and a nudge!

The extras are also very enlightening; it's extremely impressive just how many Disney movies are slyly referenced as well as the more obvious overtones. The name of the restuarant comes from Lady and the Tramp, tap dancing grandads in the park also tap danced on the roof for Mary Poppins, the voices of some Disney princesses make cameos... you can go on, but at heart this is really just a classic Disney story. It's fun, frothy, it sparkles but it's also got heart and intelligence to it. It's a brilliant piece from people who clearly love and respect Disney movies while understanding what makes them tick.

Amy Adams and James Marsden are to be particularly commended for making cartoon characters human while never letting go of the fact that they are cartoon characters with all the conventions and silliness that goes along with it!

Great for adults and children, 13 Nov 2008
As others have said, a great film for all the family. A nice twist on the usual Disney fare that you wouldn't usually expect from them - great stuff

Downhill Disney, 04 Oct 2008
Disney films have pretty much gone downhill since the "Hunchback of Notre Dame" animated movie. In that film, the heroine kicks men in the groin to make her escape and the comedy relief is provided by a stone gargoyle that relieves itself by passing gas.

In this film, we have a live dog urinating on the leg of a prince and a chipmunk that defecates when frightened.

Is this what passes for family entertainment these days?

a nice mix of cartoon characters and real people and a fast-paced story, 28 Sep 2008
This film had a nice mix of cartoon and real characters and lively songs and singing and the story and humour were good too.Mainly suitable for younger people but many adults will enjoy it too.Nothing scary or too sad and you'll be glad you watched it.

fairly average disney movie, 14 Sep 2008
We came into this film expecting to enjoy it more than the kids, we did ( if only just), the kids sodded off to play elsewhere. The main characters were boringly predictable, although the chipmunk and evil henchman did provide some amusement. It didn't seem to know which gags to run with and there are many missed opportunities for adult jokes.
I'm sure little princesses will love it, but I'm afraid our household wasn't impressed

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is the 2008 CGI-animated theatrical film that serves as the kick-off to the weekly animated Clone Wars TV series. The concept came about way back in 1977's original Star Wars film, when Leia says in her message to Obi-Wan Kenobi "Years ago, you served my father in the Clone Wars." Initially a simple offhand reference that would reveal Luke's past, the phrase captured fans' attentions for years, until Episode II: Attack of the Clones revealed just how the Clone Wars figured into the battle between Republic and Empire.
The 2008 movie is full of familiar characters--Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Count Dooku--and a new one: Ahsoka Tano, a young girl who has been made Anakin's Padawan. Together, the two headstrong youths embark on a mission to rescue Jabba the Hutt's kidnapped child, battling each other as much as they battle the Separatist forces. There are some good sequences, including duels with Dooku and his assassin, Asajj Ventress, and it's interesting to see some new corners of the Star Wars universe, such as the seamy underbelly of Coruscant. But Ahsoka and her penchant for nicknames that are too cute to stomach seem aimed only at tween-age audiences, and for all that goes on in the movie, nothing really happens in the end. The 2003 animated Clone Wars micro-series, which had the advantage of being directly tied into the live-action film series, had much more emotional bite.
At least some familiar voices return: Samuel L. Jackson (Mace Windu), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO, and still the only actor in every movie), Christopher Lee (Dooku). Other voices include Matt Lanter (Anakin), Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka), and James Arnold Taylor (Obi-Wan). But even the traditional opening crawl has been replaced by a narration more suited for Starship Troopers. Veteran Star Wars fans will probably want to see The Clone Wars--once--but it won't take them long to discover that this Star Wars isn't theirs any more. --David Horiuchi

One good film :D, 16 Nov 2008
This is actually a really great film! My dad took me to see it in the cinema, 'cos he thought it looked good. Even though I think Jack Black is fully amazing, and Jackie Chan is awesome, I didn't think I would enjoy it, since I'm not one for cartoons, even though I'm not that old. I could hardly stop laughing though! It's a great film, for kids and adults, and even the odd teenager, like me! I highly recomend it, if, like me, you love comedies! :)

The Panda of Destiny?, 12 Nov 2008
Our story centers around Po the Panda (voiced by Jack Black). He is a Kung Fu legend. Evildoers fear him and the people adore him. The Fearsome Five long to fight with him. And everything...hold on, maybe that isn't the way it really is.

In reality, Po works in his father's noodle restaurant waiting tables. He's way overweight and out of shape. But he dreams about Kung Fu and idolizes the Fearsome Five, Monkey (Jackie Chan), Crane (David Cross), Tigress (Angelina Jolie) Viper (Lucy Liu), and Mantis (Seth Rogen). That's why, when it is announced that the legendary Dragon Warrior will soon be chosen, Po leaves everything behind and joins the rest of the village high up the mountain.

Through a series of events, Po winds up being named the Dragon Warrior, much to the dismay of the Fearsome Five and Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) who must train the rookie. Po doesn't think he can do it, but he doesn't want to quit. Shifu and the Five want to make him quit. But they'd better figure things out soon because an old foe is about to return to the village intent on destroying it. Can Po save the day?

Since I'm not a fan of Jack Black or Dreamworks Animation, I almost skip this flick. And that would have been a huge mistake. This is a fun movie for all ages.

So let's get the obvious and the only negative out of the way right now, shall we? We've seen this plot many, many times before. But the movie does a great job of making the familiar ride enjoyable.

Part of that is through the humor. There are lots of great one liners and slap stick scenes. It's not side splitting funny, but I laughed plenty of times. And some of the gags were completely unexpected. Yet the more serious and tender moments don't feel forced in the slightest. And the story is fast paced with an ending that made me smile.

The first few minutes are hand drawn animation, but the rest of the movie is computer animated. It looked amazing with plenty of beautiful settings and small details. They even managed to do a good job with the Kung Fu fight scenes. Heck, they were easier to follow than fight scenes in many of the live action movies made these days.

I always worry when I hear that a movie has a voice cast made up of famous people, but here they did a good job becoming the characters. I wasn't left picturing the actor recording the voice. Instead, I bought the characters and got lost in the story.

Okay, so this movie isn't highly original. It's still incredibly fun. And that's all that matters. I'm glad I gave the movie a chance.

Bit of a let down, 28 Oct 2008
Heard this was a great film, but kids and I were sadly disappointed. A few funny bits, but on the whole, it felt very very long and boring!

side splittingly funny, 28 Oct 2008
summary: ok I'm biased, I love animated movies, martial art movies, and comedy in general but this really got to me - your kids will love it too!

========================
Jack Black voices Po, a lazy, overweight Panda who idolises the Furious Five kung fu champions: Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Crane (David Cross), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Monkey (Jackie Chan). However, when Po gatecrashes an initiation ceremony, he is accidentally chosen to be the mythical Dragon Warrior, who is destined to save his valley from the villainous leopard Tai Lung (Ian McShane).

The Furious Five are mortified that Po has gatecrashed their ranks, but Master Oogway (Randall Duk Kim) tells them that there are no accidents and this is indeed Po's destiny. However, when word reaches the Five that Tai Lung has escaped from prison, Po has to get into shape fast, so he begins training under Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman).

Great fun!, 10 Oct 2008
As many before have kindly reviewed the story, I will leave at that. What I can add is that our 3 years old loved every second of it! Haven't been able to stop her from trying kung fu kicks since!

Really good fun!

Saved by the mice and Lucy, 19 Nov 2008
The first thing that I have to say is that this isn't a great movie,not by a long way.It's too long,boring in parts and I had the same problem that I had with the first film in the series.Namely,three of the four children are a charmless bunch bereft of any personality.Apart from Georgie Henley that is who plays Lucy.She gave the best performance in the first film and is also the best thing about 'Prince Caspian'.As the Prince,Ben Barnes certainly looks the part but his accent varies between Spanish,French and Scottish.I also felt that this film was aimed directly at the children's market.

So why have I given it a reasonable three stars?I was toying with giving it two but in fairness it does look great and some of the CGI is very well done.I especially liked the water giant near the end.If I could give this two and a half stars I would but because of Miss Henley,the water giant and the mice(cute) I will give it a maybe too generous three.This is not a movie that I would watch again but children will probably love it.

Good sequel, 19 Nov 2008
I was looking forward to this movie, this was one of the iconic books from my childhood. I have to say that I very much enjoyed it, however maybe not as much as the first film. The filming was excellent, with beautiful backdrops and surroundings, very good CGI and good acting. It's been so long since I read the books however, that I can't remember if this was faithful to the original though... will have to re-read them I think! The things that let it down for me were the comedy elements, the mouse-knights and alike fitted very much with a Disney film, however I thought that they were not necessary, and detracted from the story. Word of warning though, not sure if I would let very small children see it though as there is quite a lot of violent deaths albeit no blood.

Prince Caspian, 18 Nov 2008
This has to be one of the most disappointing films I've ever seen. The books enthralled me as a child and, as an adult I have read them to children in my family who were equally delighted by them, so the liberties taken with the story were a total disaster for us.

It starts off well enough, but then the film-makers apparently think they have to add plot twists with a very silly a subtext where Caspian & Peter are so jealous of eachother that they almost bring about the downfall of Narnia by it.

Yet again Hollywood has tinkered with the original and wonderful story, and lost the magic on the way, and because the special effects are fantastic it's a real let down. This is not a film I'll be buying or would want to own under any circumstances. Don't waste your money.

what happened to..., 16 Nov 2008
I did enjoy the film - and thought it stood up well against The Lion et al, but what happened to 'a Horse and his boy'? (The 3 chronicle) also will we go back to the Magician's Nephew at a later stage?


Excellent family entertainment, 13 Nov 2008
I'll keep it short and sweet - great performances, great effects, true to th ebook while still fleshing out the story and characters a little more. Fantastically fun action adventure that's suitable for all the family without patronising kids or sanitising the darker elements of the story. Parents should not object to being forced to sit through it with the kids!

Magical, 19 Nov 2008
What a lovely film!! I got this for my 3 year old daughter since she is going through a 'fairy phase'. I have to admit I actually sat and watched the film the whole way through myself.
Magical and cute, with added humour... some facial expressions perhaps lost on a small child, but not on me!
Recommended must-have DVD for anyones Disney collection!

Rubbish, 16 Nov 2008
A relative bought this for my daughters 5th birthday & what a waste of good money.My daughter who is a huge fan of Peter Pan wasn`t impressed with this. The animation is good but there is no feasible story line. Disney should have left Tinkerbell in her original form as in Peter Pan. It`s just another rip off sequel.

The dust she sprinkles still has great potency., 11 Nov 2008

J.M. Barrie first created the character Tinker Bell to appear in a play (Peter Pan) and then in a novel (Peter and Wendy) but her worldwide popularity is no doubt largely the result of her appearance in the Disney film that first appeared in 1953, Peter Pan. Tinker Bell later became the official Disney "mascot" in versions of the television series variously known as Walt Disney Presents, Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, The Wonderful World of Disney, and The Magical World of Disney. The point is, she has been a major entertainment figure for more than 50 years and, at one point, was so popular that she received more fan mail than all others, including Marilyn Monroe.

Of course, children could not care less about her history but they continue to be delighted by her charm and energy. Tinker Bell is by nature a creature whose greatest talent is to "tinker" with whatever needs to be repaired; rather than pots and pans, she uses fairy dust that enables children to fly. Children love to explore secret places as when following Alice down a rabbit hole, or Peter Pan and the Darling children through an open bedroom window and then high above London at night, sailing with Geppetto, Figaro, and Cleo into Monstro's stomach, or visiting Pixie Hollow where Tinker Bell and the other fairies live. As in countless other Disney features, the production values in this film are outstanding, the music is seamlessly integrated with the plot developments, and the humor is appropriately playful. Also, I think the running time (78 minutes) is just right for younger children.

No need to list the special features. Others have listed them and they do add substantial value, although the younger grandchildren with whom I see them seem interested only in the games whereas I much prefer the background material. Some animated features (including the Disney classics as well as several produced by DreamWorks and Pixar) have an almost unlimited shelf-life, retaining great appeal throughout and among various age groups. I doubt if that will be true of Tinker Bell or, for that matter, Peter Pan. However, that said, I think that those who have seen it, as they grow older, will still enjoy seeing it again and again with younger companions if only to observe their delight. For me, the fairy dust has lost none of its potency after all these years...and never will. How wonderful!

Aww! Adorableness, 11 Nov 2008
What a lovely, lovely film! It's magical, and glittery and imaginative and beautifully done. The CGI quality is very good, and the ideas are wonderful; from Silvermist fairy manually putting dew-drops on spider webs, to catching the last of the sun's rays for lighting the glow-worms, to tinkering about with a broken ballerina music box... and chubby-cheeked Cheese the mouse, who is almost unbearably cute.

The fairy dust shimmers and sparkles throughout the film and, at its core, it's a lovely story about being true to who you are. Not a theme that will impact adult viewers, perhaps, but it is an excellent message for younger children, and grown ups will be charmed by its prettiness and innocence.

Pixie Hollow is a beautifully imagined place, and with a cast comprising of luminaries such as Anjelica Huston and Jane Horrocks, this isn't low budget cynical nonsense aimed at earning a fast buck before Christmas. It's genuinely witty, heart-warming and smile-making; a film for kids, adults and anyone in between.

The only word that describes it is "darling". Tinkerbell is absolutely darling, and it is highly highly recommended.



Beautiful film to watch with young ones or by yourself!, 03 Nov 2008
Beautiful film to watch with young ones or by yourself if your a big disney fan! Very well made and lovely story!

They don't make 'em like this any more, 13 Nov 2008
This has always been my favourite Disney film, and I am so glad it's been given the loving restoration it deserves.

The fantastic detail and 1950s graphic take of gothic and medieval styles is positively breathtaking. For Walt Disney it was ground breaking (and almost bankrupting) to create something so meticulously detailed and stylistically consistent right down to the backgrounds, and the result is beautiful and atmospheric. The extras are all interesting, detailing the conceptual side of things, and added a whole new perspective on what was always my favourite childhood film (even though I was terrified of Maleficent and convinced she was under my bed).

Amazing as the new computer technology is, it just doesn't for me have the artistic soul and wonder of this kind of traditional animation (no offence to those talented folk who work long and hard creating it, it's just not my bag). Now we strive for 3D realism, in movies like this it was for a blending of styles/genres and a stylistic vision that I feel lost in the computer age. I doubt we'll see animation like this again, and for me that's a crying shame.

And on the character side of things... Flora, Fauna and Merriweather still crack me up, twenty years later.

Pink! Blue! Pink! Blue! PINK!, 10 Nov 2008
My daughter, like many others, is obsessed with Disney Princess and has watched this a few times now.

I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the transfer. The picture quality is superb - and the animation is the smoothest I've seen in a hand-drawn feature. It's probably wrong of me to assume that an animated film released 50 years ago wouldn't have the same level of animation quality as a modern film, and this has certainly quashed my preconceptions.

The story is simple, and the humour is basic - but there's a real charm to this early Disney film. Maybe it's the flawless animation, or the jaunty songs - but you soon see past the cheesy Prince Charming and enjoy this for the fairy tale that it is.


Sleeping Beauty , 31 Oct 2008
This region 2 UK 50th anniversary 2 disc edition has I'm sad to say, an authoring fault. It is not properly flagged as anamorphic 16x9, it appears the initial batch as I have had two copies now, are non anamorphic, resulting in the main feature playing with black bars on all four sides of the screen, rather than the usual widescreen bars top and bottom.

And before anyone asks, I have my dvd player and screen set up correctly.



Simply a remarkable and truely inspirational Disney film, 25 Oct 2008
very few animations can meet this standard of film making.
this was Walt Disneys' final fairy tale before his tragic death (r.i.p Walt...you are a true inspiration).
Sleeping Beauty had a complex style of animated style never ever before done to make it look extremely realistic.
and it all definately paid off to a great level...it is Disney (yet again) at its very best.
very few can beat it.
it blends its horror, fantasy, action and comedy together extremely well which earns it a high place on my list of ultimate films by Disney only beaten by The Little Mermaid and The Lion King.
a quality film that introduced us to the ultimate Disney villain ever created...Malefecent.
for me the fairy godmothers just steal it every time.
masterpiece is an understatement...well it beats Snow White and Pinocchio(not being controversial).
a well deserved re-release...i've been waiting and now i can watch it in high-definition...i can't wait till it gets to my doorstep:).
sheer movie magic.

After 50 years, even more dazzling and more delightful animation, 15 Oct 2008

This is a new release of a Disney classic that first appeared in 1959. As is my custom, I much prefer to watch an animated feature film with several of my younger grandchildren (ages 3-7) and did so again with Sleeping Beauty on its 50th anniversary. Once again, they were engrossed in the story line whereas I was somewhat more interested in how the quality of animation measures up (after 59 years) when compared and contrasted with recent films such as Toy Story and Toy Story 2, the three Shreks, Ratatouille, Cars, and Wall-E. It measures up remarkably well. Just as there is a certain charm in black-and-white classic films from the 1930's and 40's (e.g. Casablanca, The Little Shop Around the Corner, and It Happened One Night), the same is true of older Disney features (e.g. Dumbo, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Pinocchio) despite relatively less sophisticated animation.

There were also generational differences when my companions and I examined the special features that include "Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough (a fully immersive virtual tour), an all-new "Enchanted Dance Game," the "Dragon Encounter Audio Sensory Experience," and an all-new "Making of Sleeping beauty." Predictably, my grandchildren much preferred the supplementary games whereas I was (as always) intrigued by the "behind the screen" material such as a discussion of the film by John Lasseter of Pixar, the film critic Leonard Maltin, and the Disney animator Andreas Deja. The production values in this new edition are superb, especially in the Blu-ray version. The running time of 75 minutes seems just about right. Whatever the ages of those who see this film and one or more of its numerous special features, they will find much to enjoy and appreciate.

The story line is strikingly similar to the one in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. A daughter named Aurora is born to royal parents and then cursed to die by her 16th birthday by an evil fairy, Malificent. To protect her, three good fairies take her away, re-name her Briar Rose, and raise her themselves. A handsome prince meets her by chance, they fall in love, and agree to meet again soon. However, on the night of her 16th birthday, as she prepares to return to her parents and be crowned a princess, the evil fairy locates her and then.... Fortunately, everything eventually works out for Aurora as it also does for Snow White, Belle, and other Disney heroines.

I highly recommend this 50th anniversary celebration of one of Disney's most delightful animated films. Under-appreciated when first released, I think it will now receive the praise it so clearly deserves. Bravo!

Enchanting, 13 Nov 2008
I appreciate a movie studio who can give the audience a knowing wink while poking copious amounts of fun at itself. Disney delivers!

The movie is both a parody of and a loving tribute to Disney movies. There's not a single dramatic convention or stereotype that doesn't get lampooned, yet the story has a lot of heart and you root for the characters. The songs are as fun as ever - kids will enjoy it as a basic fairytale, adults will laugh and smile as they recognise the clever jokes and references. Disney manage to bring an animated movie to the real world, as absurd as that is, but instead of falling flat on its face it shows us precisely why we have cartoons and the mirror they hold up for us - with a wink and a nudge!

The extras are also very enlightening; it's extremely impressive just how many Disney movies are slyly referenced as well as the more obvious overtones. The name of the restuarant comes from Lady and the Tramp, tap dancing grandads in the park also tap danced on the roof for Mary Poppins, the voices of some Disney princesses make cameos... you can go on, but at heart this is really just a classic Disney story. It's fun, frothy, it sparkles but it's also got heart and intelligence to it. It's a brilliant piece from people who clearly love and respect Disney movies while understanding what makes them tick.

Amy Adams and James Marsden are to be particularly commended for making cartoon characters human while never letting go of the fact that they are cartoon characters with all the conventions and silliness that goes along with it!

Great for adults and children, 13 Nov 2008
As others have said, a great film for all the family. A nice twist on the usual Disney fare that you wouldn't usually expect from them - great stuff

Downhill Disney, 04 Oct 2008
Disney films have pretty much gone downhill since the "Hunchback of Notre Dame" animated movie. In that film, the heroine kicks men in the groin to make her escape and the comedy relief is provided by a stone gargoyle that relieves itself by passing gas.

In this film, we have a live dog urinating on the leg of a prince and a chipmunk that defecates when frightened.

Is this what passes for family entertainment these days?

a nice mix of cartoon characters and real people and a fast-paced story, 28 Sep 2008
This film had a nice mix of cartoon and real characters and lively songs and singing and the story and humour were good too.Mainly suitable for younger people but many adults will enjoy it too.Nothing scary or too sad and you'll be glad you watched it.

fairly average disney movie, 14 Sep 2008
We came into this film expecting to enjoy it more than the kids, we did ( if only just), the kids sodded off to play elsewhere. The main characters were boringly predictable, although the chipmunk and evil henchman did provide some amusement. It didn't seem to know which gags to run with and there are many missed opportunities for adult jokes.
I'm sure little princesses will love it, but I'm afraid our household wasn't impressed

Not for Science Fiction, or Star Wars fans., 26 Oct 2008
I tried to open minded about this film when I first went to the cinema, determining that "I'm a star wars fan, and no matter how bad it is, it's still Star Wars."

That feeling lasted about um... a second and a half from the start of the film. It started off fine with the, "A long time a