Blu-Ray/DVD Holiday Gift Guide - Part 1
The holidays are upon us and Blu-Rays, DVDs with or without digital copies, make great, easy to grab and wrap presents so we are starting to watch some and tell you what is out there for you (let's face it.. who doesn't buy themselves a gift or two?). Then there are your BFFs, significant others and, yes, it's necessary, even mom, dad and those annoying younger bros and sises, cousins etc.
Here, in Part 1, is the info and our verdict on some hot animated films, some rom/coms, a little action and some teen-friendly comedies for your gift-giving consideration.
First, for the "Animaniac" in all of us, two of this year's most fun animated films.......
From Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment 
Up - Blu-Ray, DVD and digital copy
After his beloved, long-time wife Ellie dies, Carl Fredricksen (voice of Edward Asner) becomes a hermit in his central city home until it is slated for demolition. Deciding to live a life of adventure as Ellie always wanted, Carl, who sold balloons in his younger days, uses a ton of them to lift his house off its foundation and up, up and away!!! But, cramping gramps' high style is cub scout type stowaway (he was on the front porch) Russell (Jordan Nagal).
The duo finally arrive in an exotic South American adventure destination and who is hiding there but Charles Muntz (Christopher Plummer) Carl's adventuresome childhood hero, an inventor/hunter, etc. Muntz is in search of an exotic giant bird, that no one believes exists, in order to prove his worth in the scientific community. Russell has found the big birdie and named "her" "Kevin." It's time to save Kevin and escape from Muntz with the aid of dimwit and adorable Dug the dog, a canine with a special collar that allows him to talk! Of course Russell and Carl do some serious bonding and form the "family" that both desperately need.
Special Features: Lots! This is a four-disc set, having the feature film on Blu-ray (disc one), DVD (disc three), Digital Copy (disc four), and another disc that's loaded with special bonus features!
"Audio Commentary" - with directors Pete Docter and Bob Peterson, covers the whole movie and is upbeat and informative with pop-ups and picture-in-the corner artwork and other visual fun to illustrate what they are saying. Actually really cool fun!
"Adventure is Out There" is the making-of featurette, and it's fascinating to watch. Pixar flew the animators down to a weird-looking South American plateau site (Tepui mountains) and you get that these guys went through hiking horrors and bad weather to give us the amazing landscape in the film. Really cool doc to see over and over.
"Dug's Special Mission" - A totally adorable short that lets you know what Dug the dog was doing right before our heroes meet him in the movie. Awwwwww! "Partly Cloudy" - another short film ran with Up when it was in theaters. Also very cute. It's about storks delivering babies.. and clouds are involved. "The Many Endings of Muntz" has the filmmakers describing how they thought of several different ways to "off" evil Muntz but decided on the one they used. Interesting.
"Geriatric Hero" -Is something your grandpa will love since it tries to make seniors "Cool!" like Carl finally is in the movie. You see real seniors in a good light. Hey, these folks have some great tales to tell and they are cool do don't discount them! "Canine Companions" - centers on the dogs in the film and concentrates on Dug again. I can't help it. I luv anything Dug!!
"Russell: Wilderness Explorer" - is all about pudgy scout Russell and we see several drawn versions of the character and cute kid actor Jordan Nagal recording the voice. Very sweet. "Our Giant Flightless Friend, Kevin" - is, duh, about the giant mama bird and hey, what kind of bird is it anyway? Maybe ostriches are involved.. or at least they inspired the colorful fowl.
"Homemakers of Pixar" -All about Carl's home and decorating it animation-style. "Balloon and Flight Dirigibles"- all about the real inspiration for Carl's balloon-carried home and Muntz' blimp! Cool. "Composing for Characters" covers the music that concentrated on making the emotions in the film have further impact. Also interesting. "Alternate Scene: Married Life" - is a different take on Ellie and Carl's homelife. I like what they used better but it's fun to see. "Global Guardian Badge Game" asks players (up to 4) to know their geography of countries and states. Educational but cute for younger viewers.
Wrapping Up on Up (just had to do that): This movie has it all; adventure, great heart, cute puppies and the great theme that 'it ain't over till it's over" and "one person's dull life can be another's true adventure!" It looks beyond beautiful on both Blu-Ray and DVD and you get a ton of extras! I could spend days just looking at the amazing scenery alone.
As a Holiday Gift? So very, very worth a buy for well.... everybody on your gift list of any age. Just a total winner!!
From 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (Blu-Ray, DVD plus digital copy)
This film continues the tales of woolly mammoth sweethearts Manny (Ray Romano) and Ellie (Queen Latifah) who are starting a family. Ellie is preggers and Manny is the doting dad-to-be who can't wait for his child to arrive as he creates a cool ice playground. Sid the sloth (John Leguizamo) is jealous of Manny's little family and so wants to help out but Manny isn't having it. Slinky cat Diego (Dennis Leary) feels he's become rusty at doing his catlike hunter thing and little Scrat is looking for and trying to protect his precious acorn, especially when he meets a foxy femme fatale!!
Sid finds some dinosaur eggs and they hatch and imprint on him as dad! (or is it mom?). They are carnivorous T-Rex babies and start terrorizing the other animals. Mom T-Rex takes Sid with her and babies (as a captive) to an underground Lost World where so-called extinct dinos still live. Manny, Diego, Ellie and the possum twins go after Sid and tangle with a weird weasel named Buck (Simon Pegg) who tries to help the visitors escape. Ellie births baby Peaches, Diego gets his inner hunter back when he fights the dinos and, on the outside, Scrat finds love with a flying squirrel ... who steals his beloved acorn!
Special Features - This is a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy set with three discs.
"Filmmakers' Commentary" is with directors and animators- It's kinda boring for such a fun movie- There is plenty of production info however. "Ice Age Storybook Maker" - Good for the younger relatives on your list. They can make their own storybook out of screenshots and write a story with pics. You've got 3 different settings for difficulty and this may take some family help but it's cute and original!
"Evolution Expedition" A cool guy from L.A.'s La Brea Tarpits talks real animals, dinos, mammoths, saber-toothed kitties, etc. over some real animal video and clips from the movie. Okay, it's educational but really interesting! "Buck: From Easel to Weasel" and "Falling for Scratette"- Talk about new characters; Scrat's new love and Buck the weasel who helps our leads escape from Lost World. In "Unearthing the Lost World", you see how the whole world was designed etc. Good if you are into the art of the film.
"Scrat Shorts" and "Scrat Featurettes" -OMG, I love Scrat so loved these little Scrat-tales! There is also a how to draw him piece. Loved it! "Fox Movie Channel Featurettes" are from TV and are "making of" pieces that take you through scene conception to the final film. Nothing you haven't seen before as far as the process in concerned. You get three short interviews with John Lequizamo, Ray Romano, and Queen Latifah, about the fun they had doing the voices. What about Buck voiced by cool Simon Pegg?
"Unfinished Deleted Scenes" are in storyboard form.. they are cute but just slow down the film's pacing. There is Queen's "Walk the Dinosaur" music video that is cute to dance to.. You can also use the "Live Lookup" feature to find the bios of the actors on IMDB.com.
Wrapping Up: This latest Ice Age adventure incorporates an age old story (the Lost World of dinos) but we root for Manny and his little family and Sid to feel wanted. There are new obstacles for the "herd" to fight in the underground world and who doesn't want to see little Scrat fall in love? Sooooo, cute! The film looks great on both Blu-Ray and DVD (both included here along with the digital disc).
As a Holiday Gift? Yes! I can't see anyone of any age hating the film. You and your buds might love it for Scrat, your younger bro and sis or cousins etc. and the parents will also find something to love so.. go buy it!
Aliens in the Attic-Blu-Ray plus digital copy 
In this live-action film with CGI aliens, the Pearson family, including teen Bethany (Ashley Tisdale), her bro Tom (Carter Jenkins) and their cousin Jake (Austin Butler) are at a vacation house with family including dad (Kevin Nealon), grandma Nana (Doris Roberts), Uncle Nate (Andy Richter) and baby sis Hannah (Ashley Boettcher). Bethany's boyfriend Ricky (a total 'tard) (Robert Hoffman) joins the party in his cool ride.
When the gang discovers that the satellite dish on the roof is wonky, they go up and find tiny armed aliens Sparks (Josh Peck), a friendly sort and hard-a** leader Skip (J.K. Simons) and soldiers Tazor (Thomas Hayden Church) and Razor (Kari Wahlgren) who think the humans need to be taken prisoner. They shoot Ricky with a remote-control device and he becomes a human puppet doing everything the aliens want. Only adults (Ricky is lying about his age) can be controlled and his weirdo behavior alienates galpal Bethany. Under the house is the alien's buried device that can super-size them so they can take over our planet. It's up to the younger generation to save the day.
Special Features- "Intros with Ashley Tisdale" - Don't really see the point but Ashley briefly intros us, in a chipper voice, to the movie and the extras. "The Ashley Encounters" is just the HSM star on set and talking with her co-stars, they chat about her and we see a bunch of re-takes as she slaps her "boyfriend"- cute if you are into Ashley.
"Alternate Ending"- isn't really that different but has more of the aliens jerking poor Ricky around and it rearranges some events. "Deleted Scenes"- more family bonding scenes, some arguing, a few more stunts. Okay but you see why they are gone in the final film. "Gag Reel" - Okay, this is pretty funny as everybody blows their lines and giggles and falls over on set, dances at bit and slap and tickles. Fun to watch.
"Lights! Cameras! Aliens!" is the "making-of" featurette showing the stunts and Hoffman falling and being drug around. You see how the CGI aliens were created and view the artwork that came first. This is actually entertaining, "Behind the Zirkonians" is sort of a comic book on your screen one panel at a time that gives you background on the little aliens and how they got ready for their mission and then were sent to earth. Cute if you think the aliens are cute.
"Meet the Zirkonians" - is an interactive feature that lets you turn the aliens around for different views or zoom in closer and learn facts about each. There are "interviews". Again quite cute for those who love these little guys. The "Fox Movie Channel- Life After Film School" episode is an interview with producer Barry Josephson on his career and what a producer actually does and what he did on this film. More interesting to older teens and adults.
Wrapping Up: This one skews a little young but still might be kicky escapism for older teens. It looks great and it's kinda charming and silly. Just a popcorn-fest that will probably not bore your friends too horribly and will entertain the younger crowd quite a bit.
As a Holiday Gift? Sure but aim this one at younger teens down to tweens and tiny cousins on your lists. High School Musical fans will enjoy Ashley and the physical comedy is pretty funny for everybody. 
I Love You Beth Cooper-Blu-Ray
If you are in high school, college or middle school, you can relate to nerdy valedictorian Denis (Paul Rust) who, at graduation, tells the whole student body that he is crazy for hot, super popular Beth Cooper (Hayden Panettiere) who, to the geek's surprise, then shows up that night with her BFFs to show Denis the partying time of his life but, of course, things don't go as planned.
Special Features- "Alternate Ending"- is just wilder and wackier than the one they used.. with guns and bears an more.. oh my! "Deleted Scenes"- there are four of these; more gags at Denis' expense in the after-grad evening and Denis' pal Munsch gives the guys more nicknames that would make them "cool" in college. Beth gets into Denis' pants (sort of) and there's a flashback of what Beth thinks or remembers of her nite with Denis.
In "I Love You, Larry Doyle"- we focus on the author of the book who adapted it to screenplay form, what his original inspiration was and we've got the cast talking about how cool he is. Okay, if you want to know where this comedy came from. "We Are All Different, But That's a Good Thing"- is about casting and has interviews with the film's stars talking about their characters and working together. Each actor had to make up a bio of their chars by order of director Chris Columbus. More interesting than the other stuff.
In the silly "Peanut Butter Toast"- Denis (Paul Rust) makes up a song about... yeah peanut butter on toast.. Go figure! From the Fox Movie Channel we get "In Character with" two programs in which Paul Rust and Hayden Panettiere are guests talking about their own high school experiences, getting the parts, why Beth is insecure and how Hayden isn't much into rehearsals. Interesting if you are into these two actors.
Wrapping Up: If you, or your intended gift-getter, are into Hayden or maybe Lauren Storm (one of the BFF's) from "Flight 29 Down", you may get a kick out of this raunchy, silly and sometimes funny "mean girls tease geek guys" film.
As a Holiday Gift? - Why not?... but mostly for Hayden fans or guys you know who are into physical comedy jokes, PG-13 rated raunch and high school, grad nite partying!
From Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
The Ugly Truth -Blu-Ray plus digital copy
In this rom/com, Abby (Katherine Heigl) is a smart, overly-organized, classy TV producer who has made her "man wish list" and won't deviate from it. Her TV news talk show isn't getting the ratings anymore so she's worried about losing her job. Along comes Mike (hot Gerard Butler) who is sloppy and hosts a cable show called "The Ugly Truth" in which he tells girls that guys are only into their looks and hooking up and to forget this "ideal man" stuff. Abby's boss hires popular Mike to boost ratings on her show and it works. Of course Abby hates everything he stands for. But..... he's hot! You know where this is going....
Special Features - You get the Blu-Ray disc with the film plus a digital copy for your 'puter or other device. "Commentary" with Director and Producer. This is only over a few scenes "Opening Sequence, Mike's First Broadcast, Abby Meets Colin, Mike Coaches Abby, The Baseball Game, Vibrating Panties, The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Mike and Abby Dance, Mike's Disappointment, and The Hot Air Balloon" -okay and somewhat funny at times.
"The Art of Laughter" is a "making of" featurette that focuses on the laughs behind the characters and well, why they are funny. Kinda but not too funny.
In "The Truth is Ugly: Capturing the Male & Female Point of View" we have a "he said, she said" comparison as cast and crew discuss the Mars vs. Venus aspect of the story and the battle of the sexes over footage from the movie and behind-the-scenes clips. This one is pretty funny and fun.
There is a "Gag Reel" with lines blown and fun and silly boo boos and six "Deleted Scenes" that look like they were cut for length and two "Alternate Endings" that are interesting. There is "MovieIQ" feature that allows you to go online and read details and cast and crew filmographies and bios, stuff about the soundtrack etc. Nice interactive feature.
Wrapping Up - Although this film portrays women as mostly uptight and bitchy and guys as fun-loving oafs, Katherine and Gerard do represent real people. Hey, there are uptight women and adorable but chauvinistic dudes out there! This Blu-Ray looks great, most of the extras are worth a watch and let's face it, Katherine and Gerard are hot!
As a Holiday Gift? - Sure! This one is great for date night on the sofa or a gathering of your BFFs. Well worth gifting for male and female older teens and the adults on your lists! 
From Touchstone Home Entertainment
The Proposal- Blu-Ray plus digital copy
In this Sandy Bullock rom com, publishing exec Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) is a cold beeatch who is running her exec assistant Andrew (hot Ryan Reynolds) into the ground with her uber-uptight, picky demands. When her Visa (she's Canadian) runs out and she'll be deported, she has to get married quick. If Andrew wants his book published, he'd better marry her so the reluctant duo is off to visit Andrew's rich 'rents and nana (Betty White) way up in Alaska. In order to fake out the immigration agent and Andrew's parents, the two have to fake love and learn something about each other in only three days.. of course, they fall in love.
Special Features- We have a feature-length "Commentary" from director Anne Fletcher and her writer that is light-weight and mostly about the challenges on location and how cool everything else was. They are way impressed by funny Betty White and this is just friendly chatter. "Deleted Scenes" give more info and you see a bit more of Andrew's ex played by Watchmen's Malin Ackerman. Okay to go through once.
"Alternate Ending" features funny Neicy Nash (from TV's "Clean House" and "Reno 911") aboard the plane that is flying Sandy's character away for good. I like Neicy so I found it kind of funny but the ending the filmmakers went with is more to the point and well-chosen. In "Set Antics: Outtakes and Other Absurdities from 'The Proposal'" we get alternate jokes from the cast. Kind of cute.
Wrapping Up - This comedy made a lot of money and Ryan and Sandra are a good mis-matched couple but it's very "formula".
As a Holiday Gift? - Yes but more for your gal/pals or Ryan fans or Sandra fans. The parents will also probably enjoy it (kiss of death? Maybe not). And, yes, granny Betty White is pretty darn funny for all ages.
More to come in Part 2 of our Blu-Ray/DVD gift guide...
