Movie Review: Gnomeo and Juliet

What do you get when you combine William Shakespeare and Walt Disney? Well, in this case, you get Disney's Gnomeo & Juliet, now in Blu Ray and DVD.

Watching this movie, and being a fan of the Bard, I couldn't help but revel in the animated version. Shakespeare tale of two feuding families. A boy and girl from each side falling in love, and the angsts which follow, play out well for the family. Very well, actually.

With talking gnomes, runaway lawnmowers, and each garden statue tribe trying to outdo the other in regard to their respective backyards, the modern take holds up for young audiences. The Capulets and Montagues are seen as the Reds and Blues in this Disney delight, with voice talents from Sir Michael Caine, Emily Blunt, Dame Maggie Smith, Dolly Parton, Ozzy Osborne and more. Music is furnished by Sir Elton John.

Specials include: alternate endings, music videos and Ozzy Osborne segments.

Bottom Line: Disney's Gnomeo & Juliet is an excellent teether for future Shakespeare fans and a delightful twist for fans of all ages.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC, and follow her on Twitter @ejmusgrave1 and Facebook.
Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.

DVD Review: The Incredibles

Disney Pixar has released the child-friendly movie The Incredibles in a DVD Blu-Ray combo pack. Included are the digital copy, perfect of while traveling in the car, and the bonus material disc. The superheroes have been outlawed by the public after a rash of law suits are lodged by various people.

The underlying story is created when a small boy, Buddy Pine (Jason Lee), idolizes Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) and is shunned by him. Buddy grows to adulthood with a giant chip on his shoulder and invents, rockets, deadly robots and explosives. To avenge his years-old anger, he begins terminating all the superheroes, one by one, until he feels ready to oppose fallen hero.

Meanwhile, the Incredible family expands to include marriage to Elasticigirl (Holly Hunter) and three little Incredibles: Violet, who is able to become invisible and throw out invisible force fields; Dash, who is able to run at lightning speed and across water; and Jack-Jack who, at first, appears to have no super powers.
This is a hilarious look at blending super heroes into a "normal" lifestyle, living without their super powers and the inability to integrate into life post lawsuits.

Bottom Line: Taking on a villain brings the almost broken home of the Incredibles together and allows the family to embrace the super power life once again. The delightful movie is worth watching over and over and captures Good vs. Evil in a new way.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, music, restaurant and performing arts critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC and follow her on Twitter @ejmusgrave1 and Facebook.
Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.

DVD Review: Disney Tron Legacy and Tron Classic

Disney has released both Tron Classic and (previously reviewed by me) Tron Legacy on DVD and Blu Ray. The 2-disc combo packs include the Blu-Ray and DVD versions together with bonus features.

The bonus features on these two movies are more than the average DVD includes. The Making of is included on both, as well as the cultural influence the original carried, sneak peaks at the next chapter in The Next Day: Flynn Lives, a music video, the animated 3D series Tron: Uprising, cast interviews, interactive features, extensive documentaries, photos and deleted scenes.

These two DVDs/Blu-Ray combo packs are meant not just for the fans of the original, but for the next generation of Tron fans as Disney prepares to continue the saga. Without giving any details away, the sneak peaks alone justify the purchase.

Watching the original movie after so many years brought home the differences between technology then and now. It is less cumbersome and smoother now, as well as more intense. However, the original set the future in motion and beyond other technology in its day. It is needed in your memory bank to clarify and give depth of understanding to the second in the series.

Bottom Line: Disney's Tron Classic and Tron Legacy are must-haves for the avid movie collector and for fans of sci-fi, adventure and action flicks of all ages.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, music, restaurant and performing arts critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC and follow her on Twitter @ejmusgrave1 and Facebook.

Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.