Daft Punk – TRON: Legacy - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

The “legacy” appended to the title of the new Tron film doesn’t just refer to the story and visuals of the seminal original, it’s also applicable to the soundtrack crafted by French electronic music stars Daft Punk. Furthering the themes of electronic music married to full orchestral accompaniment as pioneered by Wendy Carlos in the original film, the duo worked closely with director Joseph Kosinski throughout the new film’s production to fully develop the soundscapes necessary to guide viewers through its visionary world. The end result is like nothing they’ve produced in the past, and yet somehow still recognizable as their work.

Daft Punk are know for peppy, uplifting techno house hits such as “Around the World” and “One More Time”, songs that utilize catch melodies and warm, bouncy beats to put smiles on clubbers everywhere. As such, it’s initially shocking to enter the somber, muscular, dystopian soundscape they’ve created for the film, a joyless virtual world that heavily emphasizes drums, but not to move bodies. No, these drums are of a far more primal and tribal nature, more akin to the Kodo drummers of Japan than the electronic beats of clubland. Rather than rely solely on their synths on top of those drums, the duo utilized the full London Philharmonic Orchestra to masterfully expand the epic aims of their work with intense brass and strings, greatly increasing its powerful impact. In fact, their usual electronics are somewhat de-emphasized, called in for important extra color here and there but most consistently providing the low end bass to max out the subwoofers of the world. There’s nothing incidental or off-topic in the score, with barely anything approaching a ballad or dance beat, just a consistently strong and otherworldly auditory adventure into the dark electronic heart of Tron.

This is a score that demands to be experienced at peak volume in an IMAX theater, throbbing with a dangerous intensity and deep, deep bass that threatens to destroy lesser sound systems. It reminded me of Hans Zimmer’s excellent work on the Inception soundtrack earlier this year, with a similar urgency and focus on forceful repetition of notes rather than grand melodies, and like that film there’s no ignoring the score here as it’s clearly an integral and prominently featured component of the film. If you’ve seen any of the recent trailers for the film, you’ve already experienced a taste of what’s in store, and the suits at Disney must recognize they have a clear winner on their hands as it’s also being called into heavy and constant action during their current regular elecTRONica festivities at their California Adventure themepark. The score stands strongly on its own as a visceral and enthralling work that will undoubtedly have a long life regardless of the film’s success, but it’s almost assured that this audio legacy will follow in the footsteps of its soundtrack predecessor to fully expand the cutting-edge vision of the new film.

Article first published as Music Review: Daft Punk - TRON: Legacy - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack on Blogcritics.

Ponyo

As a general rule, I am diametrically opposed to dubbed versions of foreign films, choosing to exercise my Snob right to view material in its completely unadulterated original form. If the US distributor further decides to edit or alter the original, the end result is a virtual no-starter for me. However, Disney sweetened the pot with their presentation of Studio Ghibli’s latest production, Ponyo, by hiring a top-flight vocal cast and E.T. screenwriter Melissa Mathison for its US script. This improved my assignment to provide a thorough review of my Blu-ray screener, but still left me feeling a bit dubious as I settled in for a viewing last night.

Originally titled Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, writer/director Hayao Miyazaki’s latest effort follows the adventures of a little girl sea creature and the five-year-old human boy she befriends. If that sounds like The Little Mermaid in a junior edition, that’s not an inaccurate description, but it fails to convey the wholly original magic contained in this tale. Much of that magic is derived from the film’s decidedly hand-made feel, as Miyazaki continues in his dogged devotion to traditional hand-drawn cel animation in direct opposition to the popular modern conventions of the CG animation era. Backgrounds are a pastel-painted wonderland with clearly visible brush strokes, while characters are animated in a slow, slightly jerky manner that points to devotion to homemade craft instead of high frame rates. The opening sequence sets the tone for the entire film, as Ponyo’s underwater world teems with hundreds of different sea creatures forming a kaleidoscope of animated wonder. The world above-water is equally inviting, as the humans move through a charming coastal town fully in tune with the beauty of its natural surroundings. Miyazaki ’s master touch delivers an animated world you’ll want to inhabit for long after the film ends.

As for the story, I had some concerns after viewing the original last year as it seemed a bit challenging for mass appeal, with a somewhat creepy and confusing father figure for Ponyo and some unclear motivation for Ponyo’s relationship with her human friend, Sosuke. Although I’m hard-pressed to find any difference in the final cut of the original and US versions, the US dub thankfully tones down the bizarre nature of Ponyo’s dad, a human living under the sea, to make him a more sympathetic figure as he attempts to keep Ponyo protected from the human world. I still had some trouble buying Ponyo’s instant and permanent devotion to Sosuke or their prospects for the future, but keeping in mind Miyazaki ’s definition of this as a film for five-year-olds with their corresponding limited, black and white world view, it became a non-issue as I let myself experience the world from their perspective. It also helped to watch with my completely enraptured 3-year-old daughter as she sat transfixed throughout the film with barely any questions about its progression, apparently because it made perfect sense to her. Miyazaki is right, this is a film for kids, but it’s made with such care and respect for its audience that it’s winning entertainment for the entire family.

The US vocal cast is headed by Tina Fey as Sosuke’s mom, along with Liam Neeson as Ponyo’s dad and Cate Blanchett as Ponyo’s sea goddess mom. Also popping in along the way are Matt Damon as Sosuke’s dad and a golden girl trifecta of Betty White, Cloris Leachman, and Lily Tomlin as senior center residents. The young leads are played by siblings of famous Disney alumni: Noah Cyrus (Miley’s sis) as Ponyo and Frankie Jonas (the bonus Jonas brother) as Sosuke. The cast is uniformly fine in their roles, adding luster to this carefully assembled dub.

Ponyo on Blu-ray is a sight to behold, as the lush colors, inviting backgrounds, and highly detailed character line work combine to form an almost 3D feel that further welcomes viewers into its world. The sound mix doesn’t offer many fireworks as this is a quiet tale without need for bombastic surround effects, but for what it’s worth, the 5.1HD mix allows viewers to experience veteran Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi’s score in its best possible format. Blu-ray is a great way to experience every nook and cranny of this lovingly-constructed tale and should be the de facto choice for anyone with the equipment and desire to own the film.

The Blu-ray further excels by providing a mind-numbingly expansive selection of bonus features on the production of the film, including interviews with Miyazaki and Hisaishi, as well as interviews with US producers Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy and most members of the vocal cast. There are also features on the location scouting in Japan used as a basis for the film, features on a few other Ghibli classic productions including My Neighbor Totoro, as well as behind-the-scenes footage from Studio Ghibli. It’s a real treat for Ghibli fans and a further indication of the care Disney put into releasing a definitive edition of the film for US audiences.

Mickey's Magical Christmas

Unless you’re seriously nostalgic for the Disney Channel’s turn of the century animated series House of Mouse, there’s very little reason to pick up this re-released DVD. Originally released directly to DVD in 2001 and out of print for the past few years, the feature is basically an extended House of Mouse episode with a Christmas theme. That means sub-standard TV animation bookending Disney shorts that have been repurposed from other sources, most famously Mickey’s Christmas Carol.

The House of Mouse series was an excuse to gather all of Disney’s animated characters under one roof, in this case an all-inclusive nightclub run by Mickey where the characters could mingle while being entertained by Mickey and friends. The Disney characters apparently just acted as background scenery, with no real function other than to delight tots with glimpses of their favorites. Look, there’s Pocahontas! And over at that table are the Seven Dwarfs! They’re just hanging out, but isn’t it great to see them? Not so much. Don’t be deceived by the prominent position of Disney Princesses on the front cover of the DVD, because this show belongs almost entirely to Mickey and his regular gang of co-stars.

The paper-thin plot of this holiday special finds the gang stranded at the House of Mouse during a brutal snowstorm, leading to the shocking revelation that Donald Duck is lacking in Christmas spirit. Mickey grabs some holiday snacks, Minnie grabs some holiday cartoons, and they all settle in to try to unearth Donald’s holiday spirit. With this framing device in place, the show launches into two lousy modern shorts, Donald on Ice (1999) and The Nutcracker (1999) along with two classic shorts, Pluto’s Christmas Tree (1952) and the aforementioned Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983). The modern shorts are barely worth mentioning or watching, leaving only the classics as the essential viewing in the program.

Pluto’s Christmas Tree finds Pluto being outwitted by Chip and Dale while also trying to please his owner, Donald Duck. Hilarity ensues, and the animation continues to shine nearly 60 years after its production. Mickey’s Christmas Carol caused a minor sensation when it was released theatrically in 1983 as an accompaniment to a re-release of The Rescuers, representing the Mouse’s first new theatrical cartoon in 30 years. The production value was relatively high for its time, and the story was a fairly serious and faithful retelling of A Christmas Carol. It still holds up well today, although clearly shows its age compared to Disney’s animated theatrical features that followed it during their ‘90s glory days of cel animation. However, it’s also readily available in other DVD packages including its own standalone disc released just over a month ago (also including Pluto’s Christmas Tree), so there’s no reason to seek out this release to view it.

The DVD includes a nice bonus for fans of the show: the entire premiere episode of the House of Mouse series. There’s also a brief feature on the many tools foley artists use to make sound effects for the toons, as well as a couple of sing-along Christmas carols. Mickey’s Magical Christmas is now available on DVD.

Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure

She’s no Disney Princess, but Tinker Bell has entered the spotlight as a key Disney player in the past few years via the Disney Fairies product line and a series of slickly-produced direct-to-DVD CGI movies. In her latest outing, a follow-up to last year’s warmly received Tinker Bell, Tink goes on a treasure hunt that takes her far away from her beloved Pixie Hollow home. Along the way, she learns the value of patience and the power of friendship.

If you missed the first movie, you may be surprised to find that Tink talks now and she’s not hanging out with Peter Pan; she’s firmly embedded in a fairy community where she works as a tinker. Her look has been updated somewhat, but the artists took pains to emulate her original design from Disney's Peter Pan so her move to three-dimensional CG model is fairly seamless and unobjectionable. The biggest change in the new movie is her wardrobe, as she accessorizes her pixie dress with some suitable adventuring clothes (long sleeves, pants, and a jaunty cap) for her travels outside the Hollow. It’s a perfectly logical decision from a sensibility standpoint, but it’s not likely to be a favorite Halloween costume choice next season.

As the movie opens, Tink (voiced by Mae Whitman) is tasked with crafting a scepter to house a precious and extremely fragile blue gem in time for an autumn festival. Without the properly configured gem, the pixies won’t be able to collect essential blue pixie dust needed to maintain their tree home. She’s honored to have such a high-profile assignment from the ruling fairies, but also extremely stressed about her abilities to create the final product on time and up to snuff. Enter her friend Terence (voiced by tween heartthrob Jesse McCartney), a eager and kind male fairy who does his best to help Tink but ultimately comes to be viewed as an impediment by Tink as she tries to do everything by herself.

It should come as no surprise that the fragile gem becomes a casualty of her impatience, but her recovery efforts stretch the boundaries of common sense a bit. Rather than confess to the head fairies that she has destroyed the one-of-a-kind gem, she grasps onto the possibly fictional tale of a long-lost magic mirror that may grant its holder one last wish before it expends its power. Really? With days left until the crucial festival, she’s going to set out far away from home in search of a mirror that nobody has ever been able to find, that may not even exist, and hope that it really is magic and still has one more active wish? If you can buy that extreme leap of faith, you’re definitely in the target audience.

Along the way to the mirror, Tink meets a ridiculously cute firefly named Blaze who becomes her travelling companion and friend. His character design is fairly utilitarian, but he’s animated well and “speaks” via adorable squeaks that will enrapture audiences of all ages, making him the breakout star of the film. Will the two friends find the mirror? Will it be too late to save the festival? This is a Disney movie, so there really shouldn’t be much doubt, although the resolution takes a slightly different path than one might expect.

The new movie is winning family entertainment, with two exceptions. First, Tink isn’t a very likeable character due to her hotheadedness, making her a pretty unsympathetic heroine when she’s blowing her stack at her friends. Sure, that’s part of her character dating back to Peter Pan, but this aspect of her personality could have been tempered somewhat while still conveying the themes of patience and friendship. Second, the Disney team spent a great amount of effort crafting the magical world of Pixie Hollow and its denizens in the first movie and numerous books, so it’s a shame to see only glimpses of that world in the new movie as Tink spends most of her time on the road. She’s the star, but I’m certain there are many little fans out there who long to explore Pixie Hollow and the other fairies in more detail rather than primarily follow her exploits away from home. Unfortunately, based on the included preview of next year’s upcoming third film, it appears that this trend is going to continue.

From a production standpoint, the film is top notch and completely belies its direct-to-DVD status. Thankfully, it is being released in Blu-ray format (in addition to DVD) to allow home viewers to get as close to a theatrical experience as currently possible. The Blu picture and sound are thrilling, with fine detail like the individual specks in swirls of pixie dust, crystal-clear depth of field in the highly-detailed Pixie Hollow, and immersive surround sound effects during the expansive adventures outside the Hollow that work together to fully bring the fantasy world to life.

The disc is jam-packed with bonus features including deleted scenes, footage from the recreation of Pixie Hollow on the grounds of Epcot Center, and the ubiquitous BD Live capability. Of special note are the Fairy Bloopers, basically alternate takes on a few of the key scenes that are similar to the old Pixar bloopers over their end credits. They’re genuinely funny and definitely worth seeking out.

Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure is available on DVD and Blu-ray on October 27th. The Blu-ray package includes both Blu and DVD versions of the film, so if you’re undecided on version definitely go Blu to be covered either way.

My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Tigger & Pooh and a Musical Too!

Similar to the previous DVD release Super Sleuth Christmas Movie, this new offering from the creative team of Disney Channel’s My Friends Tigger & Pooh series ditches the episodic format of the series in favor of an entirely new full-length movie. Well, “full-length” is a bit misleading as the story wraps up in about an hour, but it’s still fun to see the gang from the Hundred Acre Wood stretch out in a more substantial offering than the standard episodic limitations. It’s also a bit misleading to call this a musical, as it has seven unremarkable and brief songs that mostly fly under the radar of the main plot except for one standout production number starring Tigger.

Since the last time I reviewed an offering from this series (Hundred Acre Wood Haunt), the animal gang seems to have had a population explosion. In addition to the previous core group, there’s now a porcupine with garishly colored glasses, a beaver who bears a strong resemblance to the still-missing Gopher, a little blue woodpecker, a turtle, a raccoon, a skunk, Kanga, and Lumpy the Heffalump and his mom. Good thing they have a full Hundred Acres to roam, it’s getting pretty crowded out there. No new characters are introduced here, and no existing characters are explained, but the standalone nature of this feature allows viewers to hop on board with no previous knowledge of the show.

As the story begins, the gang has decided to have their annual picnic and has also decided to make Rabbit the honorary mayor. Picnic good, Rabbit mayor bad. As if they never noticed how much of a control freak Rabbit is in his own home, the friends are surprised when Rabbit begins dictating a host of new rules and regulations that seriously harsh their good vibes. When Tigger is hit with a “no bouncing” rule and finally decides to rebel, Rabbit draws a line down the middle of the Wood to keep the law-abiding folks on one side and the no-good rabble rousers led by Tigger on the other. Can they ever resolve their differences and reconcile? It’s up to the Super Sleuths to find out, and it’s up to young viewers to learn about sharing, compromise, kindness, and respect along the way.

The production qualities remain very high, and the show seems to have really hit its stride. The characters act like you would expect, the voice work is spot on, but most of all the CG animation is simply gorgeous and doesn’t feel like the creators had to cut many corners to fit their tv budget. It’s well worth watching for any long-time Pooh fans and a great introduction to the characters for new viewers.

The DVD includes an unimaginative interactive game, “Rabbit’s Think, Think, Think Theatre”, as well as a bonus music video starring Kenny Loggins. My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Tigger & Pooh and a Musical Too! is now available on DVD.

My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Hundred Acre Wood Haunt

If you’re looking for a Halloween-themed Pooh DVD, keep looking. However, if you’re just looking for the latest collection of episodes from Disney Channel’s My Friends Tigger & Pooh show, you’ve come to the right place. Admittedly, the front cover art of this DVD collection is completely misleading and seems like an ill-conceived holiday money grab as it clearly indicates viewers will be treated to Halloween shows if not an entirely new movie (like the properly labeled first release in the series, Super Sleuth Christmas Movie). Once you get past the cover, you’ll either be enchanted by the show’s superb production qualities or dismayed by its break from tradition.

The newest Pooh TV series is also the most dramatic departure from the classic formula, and not just because it gives Tigger star billing. Instead of Christopher Robin, the Hundred Acre Wood gang are now usually teamed up with a perky young girl named Darby and her even perkier non-speaking puppy named Buster. Aside from the core group of characters, Lumpy from the Heffalump movies is an occasional but little-used presence, while Kanga is barely mentioned and Owl and Gopher seem to have vanished completely. Even the concept has been updated, with Tigger, Pooh and Darby forming a Super Sleuth club that dons ridiculous costumes and sets out on tame investigations in most episodes. It’s almost like the creators tried to shoehorn in a Scooby Doo concept in an effort to update the timeless quality of the property, but Darby and Buster really add nothing to the series other than annoyingly reminding parents that this is not our Pooh anymore. While the Disney Channel’s previous Pooh series, The Book of Pooh, played it fairly straight with the framework established by Disney’s original cartoons, the new series is clearly aimed at shaking up the formula to no apparent benefit.

On the upside, the show’s completely CGI production looks fantastic and features the returning talents of longtime Pooh and Tigger voice actor Jim Cummings. The 2D characters have been lovingly translated into exceptional 3D CG character models and the Hundred Acre Wood is appropriately vast and leafy.

Each half-hour episode is split into two easily digestible shorts, and the new DVD contains three full episodes as follows:

"Super Size Darby" / "Piglet's Lightning Frightening" – Darby gets doused with some of Rabbit’s plant growth formula and has to deal with the pluses and minuses of her giant size. Piglet learns about counting the time between lightning and thunder to help calm himself down during scary storms.

"Eeyore's Trip To The Moon" / "The Incredible Shrinking Roo" – Eeyore wants to travel to the moon so the Super Sleuths put together a makeshift rocket and "blast off" to fill in its missing piece. Roo can't figure out why he's shrinking instead of growing. Hint: might be a good idea to avoid tracking your height on a growing sunflower stem. This story's premise is so idiotic that it's painful to watch them try to figure out what's happening.

"Eeyore's Home Sweet Home"/"Rabbit's Prized Pumpkin" - Eeyore's home falls down so the Sleuths present him with alternatives, none of which seem to fit him. Pretty sure this is a direct ripoff of a classic Pooh story. Rabbit grows a gigantic pumpkin and asks the Sleuths to help him protect it.

As evidenced by these stories, this series has been dumbed down, which is remarkable considering how dim these characters have always been. The real culprit is Darby, as she's annoyingly portrayed as being on an equal mental wavelength with the rest of the characters. Where Christopher Robin was always able to inject some logic and realistic solutions, Darby is content to float along with the simple-minded ideas originated by the animal characters. As such, it's not a very educational show, leaving it as delightful eye candy with negligible substance.

Paradoxically, the DVD actually does contain one Halloween-themed episode: a bonus feature of fellow Disney Channel show Handy Manny. It also includes a brief game as well as the requisite plethora of Disney previews. Hundred Acre Wood Haunt is now available on DVD.

Little Einsteins: Flight of the Instrument Fairies

Little Einsteins airs on the Disney Channel and has a fairly deep marketing presence with assorted DVDs and toys readily available. While it’s not the most entertaining of kids shows, it does live up to its Einstein label with some surprisingly educational subject matter. Each episode features the four star characters, a rainbow coalition of little tykes who set out on adventures around the world in their sentient Pat Pat Rocket, a magical vehicle that can instantly transform into any manner of vehicle as needed depending on their situation. Like Dora the Explorer or Super Why, the characters frequently address the viewers, prompting interaction as they try to solve puzzles and also prompting physical activity as they extol their future couch potato audience to “pat pat pat” their legs faster and faster to help the rocket take off, among other activities.

If you haven’t seen the show before, it’s got well above average production values. The main characters appear to be Flash-animated and usually act out their adventures against real photographic backgrounds. The other characters and animals they interact with vary in appearance, ranging between 3-D CGI models, other Flash animation, and manipulated photos (similar to Wonder Pets). Basically, it’s easy on the eyes. The voice cast is solid as well. The soundtrack is where it begins to get educational.

The driving mission of the show seems to be exposing young children to classic art and music. And by classic, I don’t mean the Beatles. They primarily feature classical music and artists who have been dead for centuries, although Andy Warhol surprisingly gets some shine in one of the episodes on this disc. Frankly, it’s pretty educational for adults too, as you’ll probably recognize most of the art and music but may not be able to identify the creators.

The show doesn’t stop at just introducing the music, it also goes into detail on the specific orchestral instruments used in its creation and even teaches kids about brainy stuff like the names of various tempos. Quick, who can tell me the difference between adagio, presto, allegro, and moderato? After watching this, I think I can. They even show the actual sheet music for the featured work of each episode and highlight the notes as played, so viewers are encouraged to learn about how to read sheet music.

It’s not all just music and art, as the episodes also delve into education about wide-ranging subjects such as animals, science, and geography. Each episode sends the gang off on a quest where they learn about these topics along the way. However, the star educational subject matter is clearly the artist and composer of the day. Adventures are secondary to the learning exercises encountered en route and generally aren’t all that interesting anyway, so there’s really no point reviewing the different stories presented on this disc. Instead, here are the artists and composers highlighted in the four half-hour episodes: Ancient Roman mosaics & Mendelssohn, Leonardo da Vinci & Charles Francois Gounod, Andy Warhol & Johann Strauss, Alexej von Jawlensky & Giuseppe Verdi.

The DVD reportedly includes a brand-new episode (the title episode) that hasn’t been shown on Disney Channel yet, so rabid fans have a special treat. Aside from that, the only real bonus feature is an interactive game called Music Mix-Up that reinforces the works of the composers featured on the disc while letting viewers play along. The game features two varying difficulty levels, a nice touch for developmental differences of their target viewers. Also, the DVD features French, Spanish, and English audio and subs, so any parents looking to expose the kids to some foreign language learning have great options here.

Little Einsteins: Flight of the Instrument Fairies is now available on DVD. For more information, visit http://disney.go.com/littleeinsteins/swf/main.html.

DuckTales Volume 3

I recently paid a visit to the fictional town of Duckburg thanks to Disney's new DVD box set release of DuckTales Volume 3. Being new in town, I was drawn to the adventures of its richest citizen, Scrooge McDuck, as well as his rambunctious nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie. They had starred in many classic comic book stories in decades gone by courtesy of legendary creator Carl Barks, so the news that they would be reenacting some of those stories on DVD made me extremely interested in how they would transfer to the video medium. While it was fun to reminisce with the boys as they retold old stories and spun many completely original tales, ultimately I felt that there just wasn't quite enough quality entertainment presented to hold the attention of modern audiences.

While the series will certainly hold great sentimental value for fans who grew up with it, a fresh viewing in today's HD climate reveals a technically inferior presentation with loose key character models, variable animation quality, so-so vocal performances, and a theme song best left buried in the '80s. With that said, the quality is still far better than most of its contemporaries of that era, and a touch of Disney magic manages to shine through from time to time. A new arrival to Duckburg (like me) may wonder what all of the fuss was about, so a little history helps to put the series into its proper perspective.

DuckTales was Disney's first attempt at creating original animated material for syndication, paving the way for subsequent efforts such as TaleSpin and Darkwing Duck. As previously noted, its premise was to translate the original Scrooge McDuck comic book stories by Carl Barks into full-length episodes, sometimes just using those stories as a basic framework and other times creating entirely new stories from scratch using the characters he created. Stories usually center on Scrooge either trying to increase his fortune or protect it from unscrupulous characters, always with the assistance of his lovable nephews. A few episodes focus on peripheral characters such as Gyro Gearloose or Launchpad, but most DuckTales are Scrooge-related.

The box set is spread over 3 discs in individual slim line cases with 8 episodes per disc, making a relatively compact package but completely omitting any bonus features. Most fans probably just want the unadulterated episodes to have and to hold, but some bonus bones thrown to the casual and uneducated viewers would have been a nice touch. This is a fairly straight-forward episode dump to DVD with no apparent attempts to remaster the source material. While the set is perfect for original fans, it’s not such a remarkable tale for newbies.

DuckTales Volume 3 is now available on DVD.