Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Space Adventure has been available on my cable’s “OnDemand” feature for a month or two now, but it’s finally getting a proper DVD release.

Space Adventure follows the usual cast of characters as they launched into orbit to find a treasure in space.  Since they’re off in space, they run into alternate universe versions of characters with Martian Mickey, Pluto from Pluto and Moon Men Chip & Dale — plus Space Pirate Pete (my daughter’s favorite) and his helper, Quoodles, a female Toodles.

As with most Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episodes, it kept my daughter enthralled the entire time.

While Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Space Adventure doesn’t break any new ground, it is still a fine edition to any Disney DVD collection. With Christmas right around the corner, this is a no-brainer for a stocking stuffer for children ages 2 to 5.

Added perk: The bonus material on the DVD features a brand new episode called “Goofy’s Thinking Cap,” which my daughter enjoyed just as much, if not more than Space Adventure.

Details: Space Adventure comes with two discs (DVD + Digital copy for your iPad/pod/phone, etc.) Dolby digital sound and it comes in three languages – English, Spanish and French.  Total run time is 70+ minutes with Space Adventure running 45 minutes in length.

Bonus: You can win a copy of the DVD! How: Simply ‘Like’ this post on Facebook or RT this post on Twitter and you are entered to win. We’ll pick a winner on Friday. Good Luck!

Walt Disney Studios

We love us some Studio Ghibli around here, and we’ve been waiting with bated breath for their latest offering, The Secret World of Arrietty, to make it to these shores. For awhile, it seemed like Disney was going to pass on an American release for Arrietty, leaving fans to import UK Blu-rays, but they’ve come to their senses: it’ll arrive in a theater near you on February 17, 2012.

Studio Synopsis:

Residing quietly beneath the floorboards are little people who live undetected in a secret world to be discovered, where the smallest may stand tallest of all. From the legendary Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, Ponyo) comes The Secret World of Arrietty, an animated adventure based on Mary Norton’s acclaimed children’s book series The Borrowers.

Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler), a tiny, but tenacious 14-year-old, lives with her parents (voices of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) in the recesses of a suburban garden home, unbeknownst to the homeowner and her housekeeper (voice of Carol Burnett). Like all little people, Arrietty (AIR-ee-ett-ee) remains hidden from view, except during occasional covert ventures beyond the floorboards to “borrow” scrap supplies like sugar cubes from her human hosts. But when 12-year-old Shawn (voice of David Henrie), a human boy who comes to stay in the home, discovers his mysterious housemate one evening, a secret friendship blossoms. If discovered, their relationship could drive Arrietty’s family from the home and straight into danger. The English language version of The Secret World of Arrietty was executive produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, and directed by Gary Rydstrom.

I don’t know about you, but for me, 1994 doesn’t feel like it was all that long ago — so seeing The Lion King roar back to theaters (where it’s been Number One for an impressive two weeks) and make its Blu-ray debut seems a little…premature somehow. But hey, that’s what happens as you get older: time speeds up, and you can’t help grading nostalgia cash-ins on a sliding scale.

No matter which scale you use, it’s hard not to give The Lion King an A. The last hurrah from the New Golden Era team that brought us Disney hits like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin, it does everything Disney movies are supposed to: it tells a universal tale of loss and redemption, set against breathtaking animated vistas, using unforgettable characters and heart-tugging music. Nearly 20 years later, if someone says “Hakuna matata,” you’re going to think of Timon and Pumbaa. For a latter-day Disney film, that speaks volumes.

Of course, The Lion King has also been merchandised to death; in fact, it’s never really gone away, thanks to direct-to-video sequels, a long-running Broadway musical, and a TV spinoff, to name but a few of the many, many tie-ins. It’s always easy to be cynical about everything Disney does, but when they’re bringing back a movie that’s barely old enough to vote, that cynicism feels more appropriate.

Be that as it may, Disney has also earned a pretty incredible reputation for its Blu-ray reissues, and The Lion King is no exception. If, like me, you were a little worried that they might have lost their touch after plopping out the awful-looking Fox and the Hound reissue pack earlier this year, you can rest easy — The Lion King stands tall next to other spotless Blu-rays from the vaults.

The picture is appropriately incredible, rendered brilliantly via a 1080p AVC-encoded transfer that fills the screen with rich colors across the spectrum. You’ll have to drop it into slo-mo and squint to spot any imperfections, and why would you want to do that when you can just sit back and soak it all in? With the volume turned up, of course, so you can hear every bit of the huge, finely layered DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track.

When you’re finished revisiting the film, you’ll have heaping helpings of bonus features to dive into, both on the disc — which includes an audio commentary, a pair of new behind-the-scenes documentaries, deleted and alternate scenes, and interactive image galleries — and a streamable “virtual vault” containing nearly two hours of material held over from previous DVD releases. Like other Diamond Edition titles, The Lion King also comes with DVD and digital copy discs; unlike most others, this one bundles in a 3D Blu-ray disc, just in case you’ve gone crazy and sprung for a compatible TV and player.

At the moment, the whole thing will set you back $25 at Amazon, which probably seems like 25 too many if you already own the movie on DVD. But if it isn’t already part of your library, you know the drill — this is the version to own. Plan accordingly.

Let’s talk about the movie, though. Adapted from the YA novel written by Mark Peter Hughes, Lemonade Mouth stars Brigit Mendler (Disney’s Good Luck Charlie) and Adam Hicks (Disney XD’s Zeke and Luther) as Olivia and Wen, two high school freshmen who become acquainted while serving detention. Together they meet Mo (Naomi Scott, featured in this fall’s Terra Nova), Stella (Hayley Kiyoko of Cartoon Network’s Scooby Doo prequels) and Charlie (Blake Michael, formerly of Cartoon Network’s Fried Dynamite). Stuck together doing cleaning chores, the five kids quickly learn that they all have a passion for music.

Before you know it they form their own band, settling on the name “Lemonade Mouth” after Stella sprays the resident school jerk with a mouth full of canned, organic lemonade, her favorite drink. The five kids play their own instruments (in the movie, anyway), write their own songs and come up with an anthem, “Determinate,” that all of their classmates start singing around the school halls. This last one is much to the chagrin of the school principal, Mr. Brenigan, played by Christopher McDonald (who will never outlive being “Shooter McGavin” in my book). Moreover, this anthem also pisses off the resident “it” band, Mudslide Crush, whose music sounds is a mix of Red Hot Chili Peppers funkiness and Scott Weiland cockiness.

Each of our heroes has their own issues at home. Olivia lives with her grandmother because her mom has died and her dad is MIA. Wen is distraught that his father is about to remarry a woman he doesn’t like. Mo’s parents do not approve of her rock and roll diversion and want her to focus on her studies. Stella is the school’s resident misfit. And Charlie is kind of mousy, turning his fears and aggressions into some fine drumming skills.

As the movie progresses, the main characters overcome their fears and shortcomings, eventually realizing that it’s not the music that makes the band special, it’s the friendships they’ve formed between the five of them. Additionally, they all learn that they are talented, have worth and that kid’s voices can create change.  As corny as this sounds, everything about Lemonade Mouth is executed superbly and there is an excellent message of empowerment at the core of the story. Lemonade Mouth seems clearly geared as a coming out movie for Mendler to be the next Disney “it” girl, yet all of the young actors do fine work.Like all Disney films, this is a safe one for the entire family and one worth watching multiple times.

since the movie originally aired and I can’t say that I’ve wanted to rip my hair out. The songwriters hired to compose the songs for this one did a great job. And what can be better than walking by your kids’ rooms and watching them lip sync to music?

The DVD has the limited bonus features. There is the option to sing along with the songs in the movie (the lyrics run along the bottom of your screen).There is also an extra scene and song that did not appear in the film. While the song is good (it also appears on the soundtrack) the scene is a waste of time and seems to have been thrown together just for the DVD. The tone and acting do not fit the film at all, so if it was actually a part of the original movie, it’s obvious why it was cut.

The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes

Disney DX premiered The Avengers last fall with a series of vignettes that aired during commercial breaks between other shows. These vignettes, 3-5 minute scenes, were sliced from actual half hour episodes that focus on the individual heroes who comprise the Avengers, the super hero group who fight the Earth’s worst super villains.  The vignettes were teasers in the build up to the series launch. On Volume 1, those vignettes have been reassembled into the actual episodes. Thus, there is a half hour devoted to Iron Man, a half hour to Thor, the Hulk, Ant Man and Wasp, and finally, a rousing 1940′s adventure that stars Captain America. In case you’re wondering, Cap is frozen in suspended animation and reawakened in the 21st Century, just in time to join the Avengers.

By episode 5 on Volume 1, in which secret prisons that hold the worst super villains in the world break open, we know who the players are and anticipate them coming together to form the Avengers. The series takes it time bringing those principals together, allowing for an epic approach to the series. Characters cross paths, have misconceptions about each other, team up for the greater good, and ultimately realize that their combined super powers can help maintain peace and order in a chaotic world.  In addition to the previously mentioned heroes, two other members eventually round out the group. There is Hawkeye, a cocky master archer who is a former member of the government agency S.H.I.E.L.D, and there is the Black Panther, an African prince, who comes to America because he believes joining the Avengers will help mankind.

Disney/Marvel made a conscious decision to link the portrayal of Iron Man/Tony Stark to the smash films starring Robert Downey, Jr. In fact, Eric Loomis’ performance as Iron Man uses the same cocky cadence and flippant line reads as Downey in the movies.  It will be interesting to see how close the animated Thor and Captain America sound and act to their live action counterparts, coming to theaters this summer.

An intersting choice was made in the characterization of the Hulk. Instead of the monosyllabic mass of fury (“Hulk smash!”) that the general public knows him as, the Hulk in this Avengers is more intelligent (he can actually have qa conversation with his teammates) and has an understanding between good and evil. Early on, the Hulk hallucinates seeing his alter ego, the mild mannered Dr. Bruce Banner. The two halves of the Hulk’s personality converse and come to an understanding. If the Hulk will act as a hero, then he can maintain control of the body. Banner will be pushed in to the subconscious. This is a bold storytelling technique for a show aimed at kids. I think that makes The Avengers cooler than your typical action cartoon; it credits its young viewers with being bright enough to figure out some of the complex themes being dealt with in the show.

The Avengers is a fun, lively show that I would consider safe for any child familiar with the many other super hero series that populate the airwaves and DVD racks. It’s rated Y7 for violence, so if your child is sensitive to bone crunching punches and stylized action sequences, it might be better to check out the DVD’s yourself before letting them watch. For any parent that actually likes comic books, there’s plenty to keep you interested and entertained. Unlike some of the crappy animation that Marvel churned out in the 90′s, The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes is one of the best.

Volume 1 Episodes: 1. Iron man is Born 2. Thor the Mighty 3. Hulk vs. the World 4. Meet Captain America 5. The Man in the Ant Hill 6. Breakout, Pt. One 7. Breakout Pt. Two

Volume 2 Episodes: 8. Some Assembly Required 9. Living Legend 10. Everything is Wonderful 11. Panther’s Quest 12. Gamma World: Part One 13. Gamma World: Part Two

If you haven’t seen this blockbuster film, here’s a brief synopsis: Andy, the beloved owner of the toys in the first two Toy Story films, is now 17 and heading to college. His mom gives him an ultimatum: pack up his old toys before he leaves for school of they wind up in the trash or donated to a local day care center. Through a mix up (there’s always a mix up), our beloved toys, who have been pared down to the core favorites- Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), Jess (Joan Cusack), Bullseye, Hamm the Piggy bank (John Ratzenberger), Slinky the dog (Blake Clark, replacing the late Jim Varney), Rex, the not so scary dinosaur (Wallace Shawn), Barbie (Jodi Benson), the Potato Heads (Don Rickles and Estelle Harris) and their adopted alien toys – nearly get crushed by a compactor, but then are driven off to the Sunnydale daycare center.

Woody is upset. He insists that being sent to Sunnydale is a mistake. Of course, the others don’t believe him. Besides, Sunnydale looks like the perfect retirement home. The gang is greeted by a parade of new toys, led by the ever-cheerful Lots-O-Huggin Bear (Ned Beatty) and his right hand doll er, man, Ken (Michael Keaton). Ken is immediately smitten with Barbie and Lots-O-Huggin sets the gang up in a room where children will play with them all day long.

Woody makes his escape, adamant that he should be with Andy. Meanwhile, the gang finds out that Sunnydale has a hierarchy and that all new toys must start at the bottom rung— with the toddlers, who beat and paint and slobber all over toys. This isn’t heaven; it’s toy hell. As you’d expect, Lots-O-Huggin wasn’t telling the whole truth. The gang, now led by Buzz, tries to clear things up with Lots-O-Huggin. Meanwhile, Woody winds up in the home of an adorable little girl named Bonnie, who has just as rich an imagination as Andy did when he was a little boy. Through the efforts of some new toy friends (voiced by Bonnie Hunt, Timothy Dalton, Jeff Garlin and Kristen Schaal) Woody meets at Bonnie’s house, he learns the dark truth about Sunnydale and sets off to rescues his old friends.

From there, the film turns into a Great Escape type adventure, with Woody and the gang battling a reprogrammed Buzz and having to avoid being caught by Lots-O-Huggin and his toy thugs. Toy Story 3 is exciting and heartwarming, and although some of the plot devices are lifted directly from Toy Story 2, there are still plenty of surprises and tears to keep everyone entertained and clapping in the end.  And should Disney and Pixar decide to make another Toy Story film, they certainly left the ending open enough to allow for a fourth film.

As with all Disney’s releases, Toy Story 3 is available on a Blu-Ray/DVD/digital combo pack. The picture quality is beautiful, as are all of the Pixar films on DVD and Blu-ray. It’s tough to justify going to the movie theater and having to sit through a scratchy film print or a muted projection when you know that the DVD will eventually be released with pristine clarity, letting you see every minute detail the artists at Pixar put into the movie. Moreover, the sound is phenomenal, with excellent separation between the dialogue and the music.

Every Pixar release comes with a boat load of bonus features, including a short film. The short on Toy Story 3 is the whimsical Day & Night, directed by Teddy Newton and featuring a great score by Academy Award winner, Michael Giacchio. In addition to the short film, the DVD also comes with these exceptional features:

Toys! – A closer look at all of Toy Story 3’s beloved toys from updating the classic characters to the creation of the Sunnyside Daycare and Bonnie’s Room toys.

Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs: The Science of Adventure – Produced in conjunction with NASA, this hybrid animation documentary of Buzz’s visit to the International Space Station focuses on research in zero gravity and Buzz’s triumphant return to Earth.

Paths to Pixar: Editorial – Pixar editors, past and future share anecdotes about their careers.

The Gang’s All Here – A touching look at the returning voice talent for ToyStory 3 and an introduction to the voices of the new characters.

A Toy’s Eye View: Creating A Whole New Land – A sneak peek at the new Toy Story-themed playland at Hong Kong Disneyland.

Studio Stories – A series of amusing animated anecdotes about life at Pixar.

The Blu-Ray contains all of these features, plus these additional bonus features:

Toy Story Trivia Dash – This cool game challenges you to sprint to the finish with Woody, Buzz, Jessie and Rex as you quickly answer questions about all three Toy Story movies.

Cine-Explore – Commentary by Director Lee Unkrich and Producer Darla K. Anderson.

Beyond the Toybox: An Alternative Commentary Track Featuring Leads from Story, Tech, Art and Animation – Commentary by StorySupervisor Jason Katz, Supervising Technical Director Guido Quaroni, Production Designer Bob Pauley and Supervising Animators Bobby Podesta and Michael Venturini.

Beginnings: Setting A Story In Motion – Screenwriter Michael Arndt analyzes successful opening scenes from Toy Story, Finding Nemo andThe Incredibles.

Bonnie’s Playtime: A Story Roundtable – A roundtable discussion with Director Lee Unkrich and the story artists who brought the “Bonnie’s Playtime” scene to life.

Roundin’ Up A Western Opening – The development of the movie’s exciting opening scene.

Life Of A Shot – Toy Story 3 artists and technicians describe their contributions to a few of the shots in the film’s “Western Opening.”

Goodbye Andy – An exploration of character design, acting and animation in the scene “Andy’s Goodbye.”

Accidental Toymakers – By creating the Toy Story characters, the Pixar filmmakers found themselves in the unlikely role of toy designers. Meet thetoy company that took a chance on manufacturing the now iconic toys and learn of their incredible success that began with a modest number of Woody and Buzz Lightyear toys 15 years ago.

Making of Day & Night – The story behind the unique 2D/3D blended short.

You can’t go wrong.  Whether you’re thinking of buying this for your child or simply for yourself, Toy Story 3 is one gift that everyone should hope to find gift wrapped for them come this holiday season.

As we’ve discussed here in the past, it’s fashionable to hate Disney, and there are some good reasons for that — but if you’re going to build a spinoff franchise, the Tinker Bell movies offer a case study in the right way to do it. Tink is a recognizable character, but she wasn’t the basis of the classic film she starred in, and that frees up the studio to tell all kinds of stories about her without interfering with parents’ fond Peter Pan memories — and tell those stories with computer-generated animation, to boot.

The sight of an animated sequel or spinoff isn’t exactly encouraging, especially of the CG variety, so from the outside, the Tinker Bell movies might look like cheap cash-ins on a classic film. But this is John Lasseter’s Disney, where quality is king; if you’re allergic to fairy cartoons, then it’s doubtful that anything here will change your mind, but if you’ve avoided the Tinker Bell spinoffs because you suffered the horror of Return to Never Land or Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure, then dive right in.

Like the first two installments of the Tinker Bell saga, The Great Fairy Rescue takes place before Tink meets Peter Pan, Wendy, or any of the other characters from her most famous adventures. Unlike the others, however, Rescue functions as a more direct prequel to Peter Pan. The story, which picks up after Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, follows the headstrong Tink (Mae Whitman) to the annual Fairy Camp, where she ignores the warnings of fellow fairy Vidia (Pamela Adlon) and ends up locked in a “fairy house” built by young Lizzie Griffiths (Lauren Mote), who takes Tink home, thus setting in motion the titular rescue. (It’s actually Vidia who ultimately needs rescuing, but still, the story starts here.)

Rescue expands the mythology of the series (we learn that fairies are responsible for painting butterfly wings, putting the strips on bees, and can’t fly in the rain) while making room for some cute callbacks to Peter Pan, like Tink’s discovery that pixie dust can make people fly, or that when she talks, humans only hear the sound of a bell. We’re also treated to a few glimpses of the impetuous, sometimes violent nature she displayed when we first met her. It might boast eye-popping, up-to-the-minute visuals (and more on that in a minute), but Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue is built on rich, clever storytelling that ties into the Disney tradition more strongly than you’d have a right to expect.

On Blu-ray, this movie is a surprising treat. With its stellar archival releases, Disney has demonstrated that it knows its hi-def stuff, and Great Fairy Rescue finds them continuing to make amends for the decade they spent using the home market as a dumping ground for subpar product. It may not have quite as much polish as your average Pixar release, but it still boasts a rich color spectrum, deep detail, and a broad, immersive soundtrack experience. In other words: It looks and sounds great.

But all of that counts for naught if the kids don’t like it, and I’m here to tell you that Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue has been one of the bigger hits of the year with the pint-sized testers here at Dadnabbit HQ. Both of my kids (Sophie, nearly five, and Owen, almost three) enjoyed the first two installments, but they really took a shine to Rescue — in fact, as the closing credits rolled after their first viewing, they bolted out the back door and into the yard, flapping their arms and pretending to be fairies. How much more of an endorsement do you need?

Starstruck

Danielle Campbell, a relatively unknown teen actress whose biggest credit is the un-tween friendly Prison Break, stars as Jessica, a Michigan teenager on a family vacation to visit her grandmother in Los Angeles. Her older sister, Sara (Maggie Castle) is obsessed with pop star Christopher Wilde (Knight) and thinks she’ll be able to track him down while in California (only in a Disney movie). Jessica could care less for the world of movie stars and pop musicians, she’d rather go sightseeing and spend some time on the beach, so when Sara drags her along in search of Christopher Wilde, she does so dragging her feet.

Just who is Christopher Wilde? You’d expect him to be some stuck up snob, the kind of character that Knight plays so effectively on Sonny with a Chance. However, Wilde is actually just a lucky kid whose parents are consumed with his career and making decisions without his input. They want him to tour endlessly and possibly take a role in a big movie project that could make the family more money. No one seems to have his best interests in mind, especially not his fame hungry girlfriend (Chelsea Staub). His lone voice of reason and loyalty is his best friend, played by Brandon Mychal Smith (also from Sonny With a Chance).

Like the best romantic comedies that Starstruck is emulating, dating back to the dawn of talking motion pictures, the privileged Christopher Wilde and the uninterested Jessica are destines to meet, fall for each other, get photographed by paparazzi, have a misunderstanding that leads to a fall out and ultimately come back together. It’s like Notting Hill for a much younger crowd, except that Starstruck is actually more enjoyable than Notting Hill.

Campbell is a bright young star that lights up the screen when she’s on camera. If the head honchos at Disney don’t already have more projects with her in the works, they’re idiots. And Knight has a great comic timing and boatloads of charm. As I mentioned earlier, he plays a real jerk on Sonny with a Chance. In this film, he’s funny, serious and heartfelt. Starstuck may follow a formula, but it is well written, has some great performances and promotes strong messages of honesty, humility, self-acceptance and strength of character. Chalk this one up as a winner for girls and families alike.

This being a movie about a pop singer, there are plenty of opportunities for Knight to perform. The kid has a nice voice, as heard on the CD that accompanies this 2-disc DVD and CD set. Other features on the DVD include an extended version of the movie that is only available on DVD, three music videos, plus eight “rock along” tracks that give girls (and boys) the opportunity to sing along with the stars.

Here’s what you (and, uh, your kids) stand to win:

Winners will receive a Disney-themed Easter Basket that values over $200, including Blu-ray & DVD Combo Packs for the exciting new releases of Ponyo, The Princess and the Frog, Toy Story and Toy Story 2 Special Editions; a special Princess Tiana & Prince Naveen Wedding Doll Playset that is only available in Disney Stores, an adorable Ponyo plush toy, and assorted holiday chocolates and Easter eggs.

Sounds pretty great, right? Here’s all you have to do: Our esteemed Managing Editor, Jason Hare, has pretended to hide an egg somewhere in his hometown of Astoria, Queens. Your job is to take a look at the Google map of Astoria and try to figure out where he hid it. Send Jason an e-mail with your guess, and if you come closest to the imaginary egg’s real location, you win this big ol’ basket full of righteous Disney swag!