Reviews With Mike Furches: Disney+

Showing posts with label Disney+. Show all posts

Friday, March 5, 2021

Raya and The Last Dragon Movie Review

It was with some hesitation that I decided to see the new Disney movie, Raya and The Last Dragon. This animated movie has been pushed heavily by Disney for some time and it is now available via theatrical release and on Disney+. I decided to see the movie on the big screen.

Raya is a fantasy tale with Asian influence that takes place after the disappearance of Dragons in the world. One village has the remaining stone that is thought to contain the spirit and essence of Sisu, the last great dragon. The people of all nations, all a part of the world called Kumandra worship Sisu but are divided by geographical location, beliefs and more, much like in today's world. It is here we see Raya, the princess of the Heart tribe and her father Chief Benga. Chief Benga has a dream of bringing all people back together as it was before the loss of dragons. His only problem, while he is willing to work with other tribes they are not and prefer to hold onto their differences. After an accident and the release of evil spirits called the Druun, evil is set loose on earth and the spirits turn everyone they come into contact with to stone. Thus begins the quest of Raya to gather the pieces of stone that contains the spirit of Sisu to hopefully bring unity to the world.

One of the things about this movie is the beautiful animation, but before I go there, I HAVE TO COMMENT ON THE OPENING SHORT PRIOR TO THE MOVIE, ONCE AGAIN. Much like the opening scenes in UP, the opening short story in Raya is nothing short of brilliant. It has to be considered for an Oscar for best short. It is the most beautiful, touching scene since Up and the short itself makes the ticket to see Raya worth the cost. Without too much detail, while there is no dialog, the animation and story will bring tears to your eyes. It's beautiful!

Now as to be expected, with the union of Pixar and Disney in recent years no one does animation nearly as beautiful and brilliant as Disney. The animation in Raya, for the most part is fantastic, at times, trend setting and as realistic as any animation seen in years. As I mentioned though, I said, for the most part. Unfortunately, there are aspects of animation that were lackluster and fall short to the excellence most scenes contain. In what should have been among the most beautiful scenes with the best animation, one would think the scenes with dragons would be among the best, but unfortunately the dragons were bland and nothing to write home about. The same can be said for the voicing of some of the character. I didn't care for the voice of Sisu and while I recognize the talents of voice actors, there was nothing really special in the voicing of any of the characters. There is no doubt, that ultimately, it is the story and some innovative animation scenes that are the stars of this movie.

We live in a world where we in America ask questions and make comments about getting along, not hating, coming together, unity and so forth. In those regards, the movie addresses themes that we can learn from. While we may talk about getting along, specifically in America after our recent political history, are we willing to give up something important to us to make unity happen? Or will we hold on to what is so important to us that we ignore the potential and lives of others, despite their beliefs. Can we quit throwing blame and condemnation and find ways to bring about needed change to our world? These themes, and the potential consequences of finding reasons to hate as opposed to love, permeate the themes of Raya. I am reminded of the Bible verse that states, No greater love has any than this, their willingness to lay down their life for another.

Raya is a film I recommend for the big screen as opposed to the television streaming option. When the animation is good, which is most of the time, it is amazing and deserves to be seen in large screen format. Unfortunately, if not for the animation and the brilliant opening short movie this movie would score around a 5 1/2 on a scale of 1 - 10, still better than average but not great. However, because of the short movie Once Again the movie experience here is better.

On a scale of 1 - 10, for the willingness of the princess warrior Raya to sacrificially bring about love and show that love to others over her own needs; I give a 7 for the letters in the word warrior, for it takes a warrior to sacrificially love. 7

To see the trailer for the movie click on the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VIZ89FEjYI

To Donate via Pay Pal, donate at paypal at mike@furches.org

To Donate via Cash App, donate at $MichaelFurches

You can also always donate to The Virtual Pew at 1249 North Saint Francis, Wichita Kansas 67214

Click here to follow The Virtual Pew on Twitter

Mike Furches on Faceboook.

Click to subscribe to my blog

You can also check out Mike's Musical ventures by searching for Mike Furches and Pastor Mike and the Demon Slayer Blues Band. Mary Jane's album is available online and by contacting Mike and the Pastor Mike and Demon Slayer Blues Band album is available on over 150 download formats.

There are hundreds of postings so make sure to check out the archives on The Virtual Pew and Mike Furches Reviews. You can also contact me for a free audio book link of The Keystone Kid at mike@furches.org You can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/.

Hopefully, you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

You can donate via paypal at mike@furches.org or cash app at $MichaelFurches

Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word. Here is our contact information

The Virtual Pew
1249 N. St. Francis
Wichita Kansas, 67214
Email: mike@furches.org

To follow Mike's Band, Pastor Mike and the Demon Slayer Blues Band, click the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/TheDemonSlayers

The Movie Guys

Donations to The Virtual Pew

The Virtual Pew Blog

Reviews With Mike

The Virtual Pew Sermons

The Virtual Pew News

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Hotel Transylvania

I have to tell you, Disney has a way with movies, especially children’s movies and animation. It is nice to see others like Sony Pictures starting to do the same. While their newest release Hotel Transylvania isn’t what one would consider a classic, it is a very good animated movie that is rather enjoyable and quite entertaining. While I saw this in Real D 3D as opposed to the 3D with the glasses, I still had a good time and the visual and sound aspects were quite good. This October, during the month of Halloween, we some classic characters from horror bring a new taste to the treats of the season. There is no trick here, we have a treat that emphasis family and community and as a result, families will see old horror characters in a new way, one that illustrates that despite our differences, we can, and should, come together.

Hotel Transylvania is the story of a single father, Dracula, played actually quite well by Adam Sandler who has lost his wife to humans. He now lives in Transylvania with his daughter Mavis, played innocently enough by Selena Gomez. Dracula, in his heartache and intent to protect his daughter from humans he builds a Hotel where all of his and her friends needs will be met without ever having to venture around humans. Mavis is turning 118 years of age and entering into adulthood, or would that be monsterhood? While the Hotel plans to open numerous guests arrive as Dracula has a grand-opening and Mavis Birthday Party to kick everything off. Everyone from The Abominable Snowman, Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, The Blob and many others arrive to celebrate. Also appearing, quite by accident, is a young human, (humans are feared among the monster kingdom for their treatment of monsters in the past) named Jonathan. Jonathan and Mavis meet up and a Romeo Juliet themed plot advances. Forbidden love mixed in with quite a few laughs and some surprisingly scary moments for a contemporary animated film, in fact, some moments that had me feeling better about not taking my 2-year-old granddaughter to the advance screening I attended. The story is an enjoyable, if not predictable one that picks up quite nicely.

There is quality stamped all over this film, from the acting to sound and from the visual 3-D effects to the quality of story. There is a surprising cast that not only includes those already mentioned but the likes of Kevin James as Frankenstein, Fran Drescher as Eunice, one of my favorites Steve Buscemi and others like CeeLo Green, David Spade and Jon Lovitz among others. There is little doubt the cast had fun making this movie and they wanted to do something for their children. This is especially true in the case of Adam Sandler who uses 2 of his own children as voice actors. One can rest assured, this will be an entertaining evening if taking your family to the movies.

In Hotel Transylvania we see an advancement of character in Adam Sandler’s character Dracula partially because of the quality of animation. Sandler is not known as the most remarkable actor in the business but he can tell a good story, as he has indicated from his contributions to other film, he can also have fun with his voice. Fortunately, the animation captures emotions in his character that I am not sure could be caught from his own natural appearance. We see his character in regards to his opinion of humans and his relationship with his daughter grow. It isn’t just his character we see something in though; we also see it in Mavis and Jonathan. We see a love blossom that transcends animation; it moves to tell us something about ourselves as humans and the role some of us have taken on as parents.

There is a strong story concept in Hotel Transylvania that would not only be wonderful for us as adults to explore, but to explore with our children for those of us with children. There is a bias many individuals have towards others that are rooted in hatred, prejudice, and perception or stereotypes. We can especially see this now when politics, religion or election cycles are in place. It doesn’t take long for those involved in social media such as facebook to see these things. Old friends take on bitter roles, opinions are based on who is of one party or another and long lasting relationships can be ruined. One has to wonder what small children learn when watching their parents behave in such a way. Even for those who don’t have children, we as a society have to have some level of concern of the perspectives presented. As is the norm for many children, there is often a place where rebellion occurs, rebellion against the things observed by ones parents and others in society. We certainly see that here. It is one thing that gives some measure of hope though. It is possible that in areas where we as parents and/or adults have blown it, that a small child can relearn or learn anew for the first time something of value, such as the way to treat others, to love anew, and to throw away the prejudices and hatred of the past. It is here that Hotel Transylvania shines. We don’t just see the ability of a child, even an adult child, to change; we see the opinions attitudes and actions of adults can change.

Another beautiful byproduct of this story is the willingness of a father to recognize his own wrongs and failures and be a big enough human, (or vampire in this case) to change and do what is right. Dracula is at least in this film, a role model for adults. Are we as adults, willing to recognize our own sins, prejudices, stereotypes, hatred if you will and change to establish a better model for the children of this world, or as some would say, this planets future? When willing to make that change we see illustrated how some things aren’t always as we thought and of the potential of a mighty powerful word, the four letter word, HOPE. It is with the potential of hope that things can change but all parties have to be willing to address the need for change, specifically in how we see each other. In Hotel Transylvania we see the potential of hope come about in a powerful way by the goodness of humans. While humans at one time were afraid of certain things, even doing harm and killing monsters, we see their ability to change. I can’t help but believe there are strong moral and spiritual messages for us seeing this movie. Just as a pastor or speaker may deliver an eloquent sermon that inspires change, Sony Pictures through the message of Hotel Transylvania does the same thing.

Unfortunately as mentioned above, Hotel Transylvania is not a classic by any measure but it is very good with some very good and exceptional lessons in it for all of us. There is a lackluster opening and closing credit sequence and the plot could have been a little tighter. The film drags a little in the first 20 minutes or so but picks up and becomes quite good towards the end. I seldom talk about the appropriate content of a film but will say, very small children may experience some scary moments. I couldn’t recommend it for them. I certainly think it is well worth the price of a regular admission ticket, and if taking a family, to save a few bucks certainly a matinee. I think the real D 3D is quite good and don’t think the extra price for a regular 3D ticket is necessary. That all said, on a scale of 1-10, for the better than average family experience a worth while 7

To see the video below, just click on it, if for some reason the video doesn’t appear or is distorted or not in full frame, click on the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4RK3jY7AVk

The Virtual Pew and our other work is supported solely by the kind contributions of others. You can click on the donate button below to give any amount to this work that does so much more than just post articles on the net; I draw no ongoing salary from the church I pastor, Mosaic Wichita which is predominantly a homeless church; I am grateful for any small amount you can contribute to help with this ministry. Believe me there is much more going on than most realize. I will also provide information to verify the ministry and income that comes into this ministry and work. Thanks and feel free to share any material from The Virtual Pew, I only ask that appropriate credit is given and a link to the original site with the material is provided.

Click here to read about, and order the book, The Keystone Kid

Click here to visit the web page The Virtual Pew

Click here to follow The Virtual Pew on Twitter

Mike Furches on Faceboook.

Click here to visit Mosaic Church where Mike is Pastor

The Keystone Kid/Virtual Pew Message Boards

Click here for booking information to have Pastor Mike come speak or perform, from speaking to music or magic, something for all groups.

Click to visit with Pastor Mike regarding any of your needs. He will respond to each request personally, and if need be refer you to one of our other pastors.

Click to subscribe to my blog

Click to visit and join our sister group at MySpace Hollywood Jesus.

Now for those that do not know, make sure you check out the numerous articles and blogs by checking out the archives. If visiting The Virtual Pew or MySpace they are archived on the left hand side of the page. Scroll down to where you see newer or older listed under archives and then click there. There are hundreds of postings so make sure to check out the archives. You can also contact me for a free e-book pre edit version of The Keystone Kid at mike@thevirtualpew.comYou can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ and on the front page down on the left side you sill see our store. Your purchase provides needed funds to The Virtual Pew. If you do not see something to purchase you can click on the search engine, (do not put anything in the search box at this time). You will be taken to Amazon where you can search for anything you desire. Hopefully you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word.Here is our contact information

The Virtual Pew
6441 N. Hydraulic
Park City Kansas, 67219

Email: mike@furches.org

Click on the following links to learn more about The Virtual Pew

Donations to The Virtual Pew

The Virtual Pew Blog

Personal Furches Web Site

Mary Jane Furches MySpace Page

Mike Furches MySpace Page

Mike Furches MySpace Blog

Hollywood Jesus

Reviews With Mike

The Virtual Pew Sermons

The Virtual Pew News

MySpace Hollywood Jesus Group

MySpace The Virtual Pew Group

The Virtual Pew Live Radio Web Page

To Subscribe to The Virtual Pew Live Feed

Monday, August 20, 2012

Disney's The Tigger Movie on Blu-ray

I unapologetically admit, I have for most of my life, for whatever reason, been a huge fan of Winnie The Pooh. I was actually excited to get the opportunity to review the new release of Disney’s The Tigger Movie on Blu-ray DVD. As is the norm with most Disney products, there is an exceptional product made available for the consumer. The imagery and sound is spectacular, and even if owning this film in standard DVD, one can’t go wrong with the purchase of the Blu-ray version if they have a high definition television. One of the excellent features with the Blu-ray is not only the special features, which are refreshing, educational, and enjoyable, but also the sound quality. In a seemingly hand drawn format, the visual images are are stunning and the story is as good as this fan could have wanted. While Pooh is the star of the Winnie The Pooh franchise, there is enough of the other characters to keep all the fans of Pooh happy. I loved them all, their portrayal, and story. There is very little to be critical of this spectacular feature.

The premise of The Tigger Movie centers on Tigger accepting himself and the circumstances he is in as opposed to the images that often hurt, even if brought on by ones self. Unfortunately, Tigger is a representation of what many experience. It is hard for many. In this premise, I think of the command in my faith that dictates that we love others as much as we love ourselves. Many will understand that it is often difficult to love ourselves, thus we have a hard time loving others. Disney has produced an extremely spiritual concept here that is that we can often learn to love ourselves by the recognition of the fact that others love us, despite our differences. Unfortunately, many, like Tigger have a hard time understanding this. It is through the love of others thought that Tigger sees himself in a different light. I was once told by a friend, while we were filming an educational video documentary for The Sandoz Corporation that it was as others believed in this one person, that she begin to believe in herself. That is how it is not just for Tigger but many of us. As we love others, they experience the love and thus, feel loved, making it possible for them to love others not just more, but more perfectly. I loved this movie for that reason. For fans of Pooh, you can’t go wrong here; this is one to be enjoyed by not just the children, but by all ages. I know I did and this one will be on my must watch list, many more times in the future.

To see the video below, just click on it, if for some reason the video doesn’t appear or is distorted or not in full frame, click on the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBnw_3r0wtM

The Virtual Pew and our other work is supported solely by the kind contributions of others. You can click on the donate button below to give any amount to this work that does so much more than just post articles on the net; I draw no ongoing salary from the church I pastor, Mosaic Wichita which is predominantly a homeless church; I am grateful for any small amount you can contribute to help with this ministry. Believe me there is much more going on than most realize. I will also provide information to verify the ministry and income that comes into this ministry and work. Thanks and feel free to share any material from The Virtual Pew, I only ask that appropriate credit is given and a link to the original site with the material is provided.

Click here to read about, and order the book, The Keystone Kid

Click here to visit the web page The Virtual Pew

Click here to follow The Virtual Pew on Twitter

Mike Furches on Faceboook.

Click here to visit Mosaic Church where Mike is Pastor

The Keystone Kid/Virtual Pew Message Boards

Click here for booking information to have Pastor Mike come speak or perform, from speaking to music or magic, something for all groups.

Click to visit with Pastor Mike regarding any of your needs. He will respond to each request personally, and if need be refer you to one of our other pastors.

Click to subscribe to my blog

Click to visit and join our sister group at MySpace Hollywood Jesus.

Now for those that do not know, make sure you check out the numerous articles and blogs by checking out the archives. If visiting The Virtual Pew or MySpace they are archived on the left hand side of the page. Scroll down to where you see newer or older listed under archives and then click there. There are hundreds of postings so make sure to check out the archives. You can also contact me for a free e-book pre edit version of The Keystone Kid at mike@thevirtualpew.comYou can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ and on the front page down on the left side you sill see our store. Your purchase provides needed funds to The Virtual Pew. If you do not see something to purchase you can click on the search engine, (do not put anything in the search box at this time). You will be taken to Amazon where you can search for anything you desire. Hopefully you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word.Here is our contact information

Disney's :Lady and The Tramp 2, Scamps Adventure on Blu-ray

Disney has a reputation of making classic animation. Many over the years have seen the wonderful animated classic, Lady and The Tramp. Now on Blu-ray is the follow-up sequel to the story, Lady and The Tramp 2. This wonderful little gem, like most Disney DVD’s exudes excellence. From the animation to the quality of sound and excellent high definition transfer, Disney continues to work its magic. Also included in this wonderful little film is some nice special features that brings out some of the old footage from the vaults explaining some of the workings on the original. Seeing some of that old footage with Walt Disney himself is quite nice.

Lady and The Tramp 2 also addresses a primary point regarding family, and in that, the growth and maturity of children. We see Scamp, the son of Lady & The Tramp venture out on his own, trying to find his own way. Along the way, he finds as many children do, that the parents, as imperfect as they often are, still have the best interest of their children in mind. That isn’t to say there aren’t things to learn on the journey to independence, but it is to say that as is often the case, an appreciation of ones parents and what they have for their children, or as in this case, pups, is in the best interest of the child or pup, and with an amount of extreme love for the child. I appreciated the version of the program because we don’t see the parents as perfect, few of us in reality are, but we do see a love and a family that despite difficulties will come back together with a better understanding for each other. Just as in real life, there are lessons to learn, thankfully, Disney still understands not only the struggles of families, but the needs of families, especially when it comes to loving and being there for each other.

To see the video below, just click on it, if for some reason the video doesn’t appear or is distorted or not in full frame, click on the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t0GjNThU1A

The Virtual Pew and our other work is supported solely by the kind contributions of others. You can click on the donate button below to give any amount to this work that does so much more than just post articles on the net; I draw no ongoing salary from the church I pastor, Mosaic Wichita which is predominantly a homeless church; I am grateful for any small amount you can contribute to help with this ministry. Believe me there is much more going on than most realize. I will also provide information to verify the ministry and income that comes into this ministry and work. Thanks and feel free to share any material from The Virtual Pew, I only ask that appropriate credit is given and a link to the original site with the material is provided.

Click here to read about, and order the book, The Keystone Kid

Click here to visit the web page The Virtual Pew

Click here to follow The Virtual Pew on Twitter

Mike Furches on Faceboook.

Click here to visit Mosaic Church where Mike is Pastor

The Keystone Kid/Virtual Pew Message Boards

Click here for booking information to have Pastor Mike come speak or perform, from speaking to music or magic, something for all groups.

Click to visit with Pastor Mike regarding any of your needs. He will respond to each request personally, and if need be refer you to one of our other pastors.

Click to subscribe to my blog

Click to visit and join our sister group at MySpace Hollywood Jesus.

Now for those that do not know, make sure you check out the numerous articles and blogs by checking out the archives. If visiting The Virtual Pew or MySpace they are archived on the left hand side of the page. Scroll down to where you see newer or older listed under archives and then click there. There are hundreds of postings so make sure to check out the archives. You can also contact me for a free e-book pre edit version of The Keystone Kid at mike@thevirtualpew.comYou can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ and on the front page down on the left side you sill see our store. Your purchase provides needed funds to The Virtual Pew. If you do not see something to purchase you can click on the search engine, (do not put anything in the search box at this time). You will be taken to Amazon where you can search for anything you desire. Hopefully you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word.Here is our contact information

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

The Lion King, Diamond Edition on Blu-ray

Over the years there have been a handful of animated movies that have moved from family fare to classic film. Many of those come from the Disney Library and the new release of The Lion King on Blu-ray DVD on the tails of the recent rerelease of theatrical release and a #1 weekly box office rating shows this film is a timeless classic for a reason; it resonates and endures, not just for a little while, but a lifetime.

Seeing The Lion King in theaters back when it was originally released was a memory I will likely never forget. It was 1994 and I took my young daughter and then very young son to see the movie. My daughter, while older was entertained, and my son, who was around 3 years of age, was also glued to the screen, on top of all of that was the family experience, my wife and I also enjoyed the movie. It had great animation for the children, along with memorable characters but it also had an enjoyable story line for the adults.

It is hard to imagine that animation technology and CGI have evolved as much as it has since the release of the film in 1994. At the time, The Lion King presented state of the art animation, possibly equaled by none. The reality of that quality is no better displayed than how the animation holds up today, especially with the Blu-ray format. The images are crisp, clear, and bright. Another benefit is the high quality of sound on the Blu-ray format. The voice acting of the actors playing their respective parts such as Matthew Broderick (adult Simba), James Earl Jones (Mufasa), Nathan Lane (Timon) and Jeremy Irons as Scar, just to name a few, still stands out. Some of the voice acting and animation to match the characters is among the best Disney has ever offered. On top of all of this is the score and story which is still outstanding.

The premise of the film is one that most people likely already know. The story takes place in Africa where a pride of lions and the animal kingdom is led by Mufasa. Musfasa has a jealous brother named Scar. Scar is deceitful and seeks to inherit the kingdom by any means necessary. As fate has it, Mufasa has a son, named Simba who will inherit the kingdom. Simba in his innocence listens to his uncle and this unfortunately leads to the death of Mufasa. Scar talks Simba into going into the dark lands where he will escape the punishment of the animal kingdom for what he thinks is his own role in his father’s death. While there, he comes across two friends, a warthog named Pumba and a meerkat named Timon, (Ernie Sabella.) These three embark on a journey of growing up and in the process learning to do what is right.

In the journey of Simba, we see him grow up and become a lion worthy to be king. He recognizes the need to make things right and to follow his call in life. One of the unique attributes of a Disney film is that while targeting children, with animation and fun characters, there is a willingness to not only show the good, but to also show the dark side of life, including revenge, difficulty, and even ultimately, death. It is in their willingness to show these things that the adult viewer can relate to the characters and story. Simba is memorable for a reason; we grow with him and ultimately understand his journey into adulthood. There are difficulties in life, but there is also a need to overcome.

There is a reason The Lion King is the best selling home entertainment release of all time, it delivers with a story that is eternal. The story is based in part on stories from the Bible, including Moses and Joseph, we see the concepts of being outcast, and then the return where justice is served and leadership qualities are developed. In real life my faith tells me to persevere. It is a concept Simba eventually learns, he recognizes the reality of a higher power in his life and the need to submit to the calling on his life. While there has been tragedy, it is through the concept of perseverance that strength is developed and things of value accomplished. The need to hear these themes, to be reminded of them is a likely reason parents took their children to see it in theaters to the extent they did during its recent release. We recognize that in a hopeless world, we need leaders who persevere. These characters were created with some of the stories from the Bible in mind. It hopefully will have some going back to the original stories to learn about characters like Moses, Joseph, and even Jesus, who all persevered to the point of doing something of value not just for their families, but the world around them. In those lessons of discovering our gifts and talents, we can be inspired to find the hope we need to persevere in our own lives.

I loved The Lion King in 1994 when it was released, I still love it. The transfer quality onto Blu-ray is outstanding and Disney again provides so many quality special features they can’t all be mentioned. For the film buff like me, one will be very satisfied with the product. The only drawback I can think of is this product is going to only be available for a limited time. For those who have followed Disney, they know that when Disney says a limited time, they mean it. I suspect it will be hard to find this product during the Holidays, but I could be wrong. If a fan of the movie, and wanting to give it as a gift this year, I wouldn’t take the chance, Buy it right away, it is worth every penny it costs. I reviewed the Diamond Edition which includes not only the Blu-ray version but also a regular DVD. There are a variety of packages available, all worth the cost.

To see the video posted below, click on the video, if the video doesn’t appear or appears in distorted form, click on the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL1JmPCogq0

Click here to read about, and order the book, The Keystone Kid

Click here to follow The Virtual Pew on Twitter

Mike Furches on Faceboook.

The Keystone Kid/Virtual Pew Message Boards

Click here for booking information to have Pastor Mike come speak or perform, from speaking to music or magic, something for all groups.

Click to visit with Pastor Mike regarding any of your needs. He will respond to each request personally, and if need be refer you to one of our other pastors.

Click to subscribe to my blog

Click to visit and join our sister group at MySpace Hollywood Jesus.

Now for those that do not know, make sure you check out the numerous articles and blogs by checking out the archives. If visiting The Virtual Pew or MySpace they are archived on the left hand side of the page. Scroll down to where you see newer or older listed under archives and then click there. There are hundreds of postings so make sure to check out the archives. You can also contact me for a free e-book pre edit version of The Keystone Kid at mike@thevirtualpew.comYou can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ and on the front page down on the left side you sill see our store. Your purchase provides needed funds to The Virtual Pew. If you do not see something to purchase you can click on the search engine, (do not put anything in the search box at this time). You will be taken to Amazon where you can search for anything you desire. Hopefully you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word.Here is our contact information

Monday, September 19, 2011

Dumbo on Blu-Ray, 70th Anniversary Special Edition

There are some movies that pass the test of time; Dumbo is one of those movies. Disney has just released this classic on Blu-Ray DVD and the question for most will be this, is it worth it? Let me tell you, as a fan of Disney, and especially as a fan of classic animation, this product is well worth it and we now have the opportunity to see Dumbo like never before.

There was the magic age of Disney where it seemed like everything they touched turned to gold, Dumbo is among that era, and the fact that Walt Disney himself had his hand involved in this is no coincidence. The fact that a film released in 1941 would still have appeal to a small child today, and at the same time, entertain their parents or grandparents is a testament to the reason Dumbo is a classic. This animated tale includes valuable lessons in everything from family, to friendship, and from bullying to obtaining dreams. There is more though and the reality that it is all included in only 64 minutes is outstanding. Some would consider Dumbo a part of Disney Gold, count me among them.

For those not familiar with the story, Dumbo is the new baby delivery to Mrs. Jumbo the elephant. He is delivered by the stork, and early on we see how much mothers love their children, whether a lion or a chimpanzee, parents from all walks of life love their children, (or at least they should.) Unfortunately Mrs. Jumbo doesn’t get her baby on time, he comes a little late. We see her go from sadness to joy, back to love and protector as she discovers that Dumbo has an apparent defect, he has giant ears. In a moment of Dumbo being bullied and her trying to protect him she is put into captivity and separated from her baby. This scene, some years later, still brings tears to most that see the love of Mrs. Jumbo for her son when they are separated. Fortunately, Dumbo is befriended by Timothy Q. Mouse who takes Dumbo under his wing, and in the process, helps Dumbo learn to accept himself.

I used the word ‘magic’ earlier, along with the word ‘outstanding.’ I don’t use either of those words lightly. What happens on screen, especially with the time frame given, is nothing short of either of these two words. We see an outstanding, magical story that has many life lessons for those watching. The 64 minutes of this presentation may be as close to 64 minutes of perfection ever put on screen. We see everything from plot development, incredible voice acting, brilliant animation, (not the CGI we are used to, but real animation) and life affirming, eternal messages that will last as long as movies exist. I have seen movies that have lasted for hours that were unable to come close to the character development we see here. I have seen entire series that have said less in their hours than Dumbo presents in its 1 hour. I have seen less entertaining films, that get boring and yet after numerous viewings I have never gotten bored with this story, yes, I use the words ‘magic’ and ‘outstanding’ with intent.

There are so many lessons that one could touch on with Dumbo, but one I have thought little of in the past is the importance of friendship and encouragement we see in the character of Timothy Q. Mouse, not just him though, but in other characters like the crows who encourage Dumbo to find a way to put his giant ears to good use. Those lessons of encouragement, of befriending the outcast, the one who is bullied is a message and theme just as important today as it was in 1941 when this movie was released. In a world where we see bullying and making fun of others played out so much, to know that a lesson of friendship can be learned, appreciated, and at the same time, entertain even for a 2 year old is refreshing. That refreshing concept is the concept I appreciated as I watched the movie with my 18-month-old granddaughter who was entertained throughout the film. I understood, those are lessons I will be able to revisit with her over and over again as she gets older, not just those messages though, but others that are presented in the film such as the love and appreciation of family. The spiritual lessons of how we are to love each other, to see the positive in each other, despite those things we consider faults in others is another life lesson of value. If we could learn to see the benefit and potential in others in the same way God sees those things in us we would be in such a better place. Of course real friends can help with that process. We can learn, whether the one needing encouragement, or the one giving encouragement, there is benefit to loving each other and treating each other like family. Dumbo and Timothy both learn those lessons and we learn along with them.

One of the things I normally like to comment on is the quality of the DVD and the special features. In those aspects, Disney, with Dumbo, delivers. While we have a small screen format as opposed to a widescreen presentation, the colors and sound are more vibrant and brilliant as ever. Disney has included some special features including artwork around the framing of the film to fill out the television screen. I also found myself enjoying as much as ever the abundant special features that Disney brings to this product. In the past Disney has mostly been a hit in the special features they present; sometimes there is a let down; that is not the case with Dumbo. While the navigation bars are not the easiest to navigate, there are numerous features that I have not seen before which make this DVD a definite must own for those owning Blu-ray players. I would go so far as to say this; the purchase of a DVD player would be worth it if buying it to watch this movie. One will quickly find out there are ample features on the Blu-ray DVD’s, (generally speaking) but when finding a blu-ray like this one, you realize, your purchase of the player, plus the extra cost for the DVD are well worth it because it isn’t often we get the opportunity to enjoy a magical, refreshing, outstanding film and product like this version of Disney’s Dumbo.

To see the video posted below, click on the video, if the video doesn’t appear or appears in distorted form, click on the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvTstdw1g6o

Monday, August 29, 2011

Bambi II On Blu-ray

One of the classic films of all time is the Disney film, Bambi. Just released on Blu-ray DVD is the sequel Bambi II. The film released in 2006 is the follow up to the original which was recorded in 1942. Despite the difference in time regarding the release of the sequel, the story in Bambi II starts soon after the death of Bambi’s mother.

Bambi’s father, The Great Prince, voiced by Patrick Stewart, is a single father facing the conflict of raising a son. Bambi goes through many issues that others may be going through, as a result Bambi II is more than just a coming of age story, it looks at the relationship of single fathers and the conflicts they go through in raising a child on their own. Through a series of events, Bambi and The Great Prince learn to realize the need for each other, but not just each other, the community around them.

Over the years I have been quick to praise Disney for their outstanding work, especially in the field of Blu-ray transfer. Bambi II has a great story that is mature enough for adults and children to watch and learn from. The voicing of the characters of the film is quite good, especially Alexander Gould, the voice of Bambi, Brendon Baerg as Thumper, and Nicky Jones as Flower. The story is well crafted. What is lacking isn’t so story, but the magic animation Disney is noted for. There are several good scenes with quality transfer but those are few and far between. The quality is more of what may be expected of a television program than a DVD or movie release. Whatever the expectation, one who has viewed Disney DVD’s in the past will agree this is not as good in its animation.

One of the strengths of the DVD is the story and in that story the understanding of the two primary characters, Bambi and his father The Great Prince. While the story could have been a tad longer, the basics of the characters are intact. One of the weaknesses is the movie plays to the attention span of small children too much. It would have been possible to add some moments appreciated by small children, and developing the characters for the adult audience. For those who have gone through single parenthood, there is enough information but for those wanting to understand the issues, more could have been worthwhile.

Just as in real life, lessons for both father and son are learned through experience, sometimes, even the bad experiences. We see this transpire in a natural and real way, if seeing the story as an allegory. Thankfully, the ultimate lessons doesn’t come at the cost we of the original Bambi film. That doesn’t mean there isn’t tragedy involved, and it doesn’t mean there aren’t lessons to be learned. While some of the events may be difficult for the very young viewer, there are ample opportunities for discussion between child and parent and due to the nature of the events and growth process within those characters it is likely discussion will need to take place.

We unfortunately live in a society where family is becoming more fragmented. Disney recognized that I believe when they decided to do this sequel. The struggles of single parenthood are at its root the theme of this film. While there are difficulties in single parenting, Disney in the character of The Great Prince recognizes that the concept of love within the family, even in broken or single parent families is important and needed. Ultimately that love is transferred not just from a father to a son but from a son to a father. That love involves a sacrifice where one is willing to go beyond the norm. We see that sacrificial love throughout the Bible, a love that reflects not only the goodness of God, but the goodness and love to be communicated to our fellow human. While there is at times conflict, the ultimate desire is to love God and each other. Through the experiences, which require sacrifice, we can get to the place where there is not only understanding, but a life worthwhile for each of us.

I find myself having mixed opinions about Bambi II. I loved the story, although it could have been longer than the 74 minutes of the film, but I was disappointed in the quality of animation. I expect more from Disney and this product just didn’t deliver. While there are some special features on the DVD, I also found them lacking. If purchasing the DVD, I would recommend the purchase of just the standard version of the film as there is nothing worth the additional expense of the Blu-ray. It is nice to know that Disney is offering a value price of the Blu-ray that comes complete with the standard DVD. If able to find the standard DVD in a stand alone package, that is what I would recommend.

I still find myself reluctantly recommending this product on the power of the story and the well acted out voicing. It isn’t the best, but a less than average Disney product is still better than the standard run of the mill animated or children’s product. This one isn’t much better, but it is better on story alone. For that reason, it is worth owning and seeing several times, especially for those coming from single parent families and fathers.

To see the video posted below, click on the video, if the video doesn’t appear or appears in distorted form, click on the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PqdgiSq52Q

Click here to follow The Virtual Pew on Twitter

Mike Furches on Faceboook.

The Keystone Kid/Virtual Pew Message Boards

Click here for booking information to have Pastor Mike come speak or perform, from speaking to music or magic, something for all groups.

Click to visit with Pastor Mike regarding any of your needs. He will respond to each request personally, and if need be refer you to one of our other pastors.

Click to subscribe to my blog

Click to visit and join our sister group at MySpace Hollywood Jesus.

Now for those that do not know, make sure you check out the numerous articles and blogs by checking out the archives. If visiting The Virtual Pew or MySpace they are archived on the left hand side of the page. Scroll down to where you see newer or older listed under archives and then click there. There are hundreds of postings so make sure to check out the archives. You can also contact me for a free e-book pre edit version of The Keystone Kid at mike@thevirtualpew.comYou can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ and on the front page down on the left side you sill see our store. Your purchase provides needed funds to The Virtual Pew. If you do not see something to purchase you can click on the search engine, (do not put anything in the search box at this time). You will be taken to Amazon where you can search for anything you desire. Hopefully you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word.Here is our contact information

Monday, August 8, 2011

Mars Needs Moms, On Blu-ray

Sometimes movies are praised so highly that when you see them there is somewhat of a letdown. I had never really anticipated the reverse to be true but I think it is, sometimes a movie can be panned so badly that when you see it, you realize it really isn’t that bad. Such is the case of the new DVD release of Mars Needs Moms. I had seen various reviews of the movie, most all bad, the latest, on a nationally broadcast syndicated television show had two critics listing it among their worst films of the year claiming it wasn’t for children. After seeing the movie I was pleasantly surprised, while not the best Disney film I have seen, it was far from the worst and it was actually ended up being quite enjoyable.

The premise of Mars Needs Moms is that an evil female Martian, called The Supervisor, voiced by Mindy Sterling, and has decided, unbeknownst to the other Martians to separate the male from female Martian babies because she sees little value in family. The female Martians are raised by robots and the males sent to the trash pits. Over the years the Martians have gathered or abducted Human Moms who ultimately die. The young human Milo, voiced by Seth Green, has issues with his mother, voiced by Joan Cusack. The Supervisor observes the issues and decides to abduct Milo’s mom. Milo sees the abduction, tries to save his mom, and gets trapped on the spaceship to Mars. While there he attempts to save his mother. He comes into contact with another human, Gribble, voiced by Dan Fogler who assists him in trying to save his mother.

One of the things Mars Needs Moms has been critiqued for by some is its dark nature, not only in its themes, but also in the colorization on screen. The film shot for a 3-D experience actually was quite nice on the Blu-ray rendition. Using a format which had the actors acting out the parts and having their images and expressions animated was quite nice. I was also impressed and pleased with the acting, and the dramatic nature of the film. The director, Simon Wells takes a difficult theme and turns it into a decent story.

One of the things the critics got right in their reviews is that it really is not a children’s film. There are scary moments and difficult themes which involve death, and abduction. These themes are rather difficult for young viewers, Seth Green, and especially Dab Fogler as Gribble do very nice jobs in their respective roles and we do see both characters grow. In their growth we see and learn about their past, especially in the case of Gribble. As the characters develop we see a change of attitude in Milo as he learns to accept the sacrifices his mother has made. By the time we get conclusion of the film, we feel for him, we also contemplate and think about our own relationships with those we love.

Mars Needs Moms address the most basic of human needs, the need for family, understanding and an appreciation for those who make sacrifices for others out of love. We see that sacrifice not just in the willingness of Milo to recognize his wrongs, but to recognize his need to change. We also see the love of a mother in her willingness to sacrifice for her son. As others observe sacrificial love they as well are moved to the point of change in their own lives, enough so to change their environment.

Many often refer to God as a man and male attributes and characteristics but there are several instances in the Bible that refer to the motherly nature of God. We see a glimpse of what that entails in the character of Mom. She is quick to discipline but she does so in love. She is also quick to sacrifice for her son and those she loves, in fact, all she does she does out of love. This is a reminder to the love God, no matter the situation or circumstance. That doesn’t mean we don’t sometimes have difficult times, even punishment, but it is always done out of a selfless love to improve our lives.

I found myself liking this movie far more than I thought I would. It isn’t a great film, but it isn’t bad either. Disney has always done a good job at providing quality entertainment and quality DVD’s, while this isn’t their best effort it isn’t bad. The package I reviewed came complete with a Digital Copy, a Standard DVD, a Blu-ray version and a Blu-ray 3-D version. There is a quality transfer with terrific sound and ample special features. Due to the quality of the special features and the complete package I found the DVD one worth owning. With the appropriate themes of family, respect, and appreciation of those who love you, the themes are worth visiting, and revisiting. While this movie isn’t for very small children, I think older children and parents will appreciate it. I have watched it twice already and fully expect to see it again. That said, one of the worst movies of the year? I don’t think so.

To see the video posted below, click on the video, if the video doesn’t appear or appears in distorted form, click on the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aS5W___Ezk

Monday, July 18, 2011

Disney's Have A Laugh, Volume 4

Disney is continuing its series Have A Laugh where it is redoing some of its classic cartoons, many of which have not been seen in some time. Their unique approach of releasing the DVD’s with updated music and quality re-mastering improvements to the original product has received quite a bit of praise. For the fans of classic Disney, the current release of Volume 4 will likely keep them happy.

I was actually quite pleased to see some of the older Disney pieces I hadn’t seen in some time, and a couple I had never seen. What I didn’t expect was a remix of some of the features using contemporary music as music styled videos. The transfer quality of the old footage was done quite well. The reproduction and editing with its usage of contemporary music while done nicely actually hindered my enjoyment of the cartoons using that style. The original cartoons with their original score were the highlight of the DVD’s.

One of the pleasures of the old Disney features is the reminder of the early and classic Disney. The characters, from Mickey Mouse to Pluto, and form Donald Duck to Goofy will bring back memories for many parents watching the with their children. Each character is a character many will know well and Disney and the early creators did an excellent job at maintaining character traits with each character over the years.

These old Disney cartoons bring back a seemingly time of innocence. One thing I fully expect them to do is to bring back memories and times where parents and young children can spend quality time together. There isn’t so much the concern of pressing social themes which seems to exist in many contemporary cartoons, there is instead an innocence which has as a primary purpose the desire to make one laugh.

While there is on the DVD what is called ‘Re-Micks’ which has the cartoons playing to contemporary music, I didn’t care for it. The real pleasure of this DVD is the original cartoons themselves. There are special features that are primarily marketing ploys using the same cartoons we see in remixed forms. I was rather let down and disappointed. Unfortunately, there just weren’t enough cartoons on the DVD.

If there had been a few more cartoons on the DVD, despite the issues regarding the remixes and adaptations to the cartoons, I would have been able to justify owning the product. The original cartoons were actually quite enjoyable and entertaining. There may be those who have enjoyed the series that will enjoy this more than I, but I imagine most would agree with my assessment. If looking for a good time with the kids this is an easy and fun hour. This DVD will bring back memories and provide children a taste of the past, a past that all too many parents will relate to.

Click here to follow The Virtual Pew on Twitter

Mike Furches on Faceboook.

The Keystone Kid/Virtual Pew Message Boards

Click here for booking information to have Pastor Mike come speak or perform, from speaking to music or magic, something for all groups.

Click to visit with Pastor Mike regarding any of your needs. He will respond to each request personally, and if need be refer you to one of our other pastors.

Click to subscribe to my blog

Click to visit and join our sister group at MySpace Hollywood Jesus.

Now for those that do not know, make sure you check out the numerous articles and blogs by checking out the archives. If visiting The Virtual Pew or MySpace they are archived on the left hand side of the page. Scroll down to where you see newer or older listed under archives and then click there. There are hundreds of postings so make sure to check out the archives. You can also contact me for a free e-book pre edit version of The Keystone Kid at mike@thevirtualpew.comYou can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ and on the front page down on the left side you sill see our store. Your purchase provides needed funds to The Virtual Pew. If you do not see something to purchase you can click on the search engine, (do not put anything in the search box at this time). You will be taken to Amazon where you can search for anything you desire. Hopefully you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word.Here is our contact information

Friday, May 27, 2011

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Over the years, writing for Hollywood Jesus has brought many personal pleasures. Among those was my review of the first: Pirates of the Caribbean movie. To find out that my quote about Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow was used on Johnny Depp’s web site was quite an honor. The joy and pleasure I had with Depp in that role not only reminded me of my appreciation for the pirate tale as a youth, his portrayal has continued to please me up to and including the new adventure, On Stranger Tides.

In On Stranger Tides, directed by Rob Marshall, Depp is back as Jack Sparrow but there is also the beautiful and sensuous Penelope Cruz as Angelica, the brilliant actor Geoffrey Rush as Barbossa, and we have Ian McShane as the infamous Blackbeard. Each character plays critical roles in this tale where we see the search for The Fountain of Youth. There are the typical things to expect; from sword fights to the mythical creatures of the deep seas, such as mermaids.

As per the norm, Pirates of the Caribbean, On Stranger Tides is filled with action and special effects. As to how a movie is made and presented on screen we see a tremendous work here. I saw this particular feature in 3-D and was pleasantly surprised at how even this aspect of the film transferred. Far too often 3-D is overused with little value. That wasn’t the case in this movie. There is a terrific score and everything about the film seems on the surface as if it would end up being a brilliant movie. While this is a very entertaining movie, with lots of action, even better than the last journey of Captain Jack Sparrow there still was some things lacking. There was far too much needed information essential to the story missing. Some speculation indicates this may be the first in a second trilogy, if that is so, it leaves out hope that much of the story line left out will be included in future tales.

I liked the characters and despite there being some holes in the plot, the acting, costuming and sets are entertaining enough to take the viewer back to the adventures of the seas. We see the search for eternal life take place; from Captain Barbossa and his crew including Jack Sparrow, Spanish Commissioned Force, and the pirate Blackbeard and his crew. There is a multiple conflict and battle among the three forces. There is just not enough information about any of the groups to give clarity to the plot.

Along the race to the Fountain of Youth, there are spiritual battles each party is faced with. One thing addressed is the role of faith and the treatment of others in the attempt to gain eternal life. We see a Christian understand and see the humanness of a captive mermaid. While some see and use her as a tool to obtain knowledge to their own self interest, this individual sees a beautiful creature and realizes that to give up his humanity for the sake of eternity would be to lose the very things such as compassion and love that make him human. Ultimately, he and others come to the understanding that without love, nothing else is of value. As a result, this recognition of love, leads to the salvation of some from the ultimate death they likely face. This journey to discover love is not just something experienced by the mermaid Syrena and Christian Philip, it is ultimately searched out and touched on in the relationship between Jack Sparrow and Angelica. Unfortunately, there is too much selfishness in the lives of these two characters to come to a point where love is realized. We are faced with our own recognition to see and value those around us. While this theme has been played out many times in film, it is obvious it is still a theme that resonates with the movie going audience. Do we take grasp of and love unconditionally those around us when we have the opportunity, or do we go off seeking our own selfish desires. We realize and see an example of how ultimate love will ultimately lead and provide eternal and joyous life.

On the surface, it may appear as if I didn’t enjoy this movie. I enjoyed it more than the last Pirates movie and had a lot of fun with the action sequences and special effects. It is easy to watch and I consider it a fun pop corn flick or date movie. I just wanted, and frankly, expected, more in the plot line. Depp is as brilliant as ever as is the rest of the cast. I just want more in the next episodes if they do occur.

There is a side note to make mention of in closing, a number of years ago I coined a word for a closing scene that contributed to the movie that ran after the credits. While not truly an epilogue, this concept actually includes a short scene that adds to upcoming story line. That term was hepiloguej. After some research this was allowable and I simply added an h to the front and a j after (for Hollywood Jesus) to the word epilogue. That all said to say this, if you are a fan of the series and want to see the movie in its entirety, make sure to stay until the end of the credits to see the closing hepiloguej of On Stranger Tides.

Now on a scale of 1 – 10, for the four movies so far, take that away 3 from 10, plus one incredible Johnny Depp and you will see, while not a perfect movie, it is still a very fun and entertaining 7.

To see the trailer below, simply click on the video, if the video doesn't appear or appears in a non complete form, click the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR_9A-cUEJc