Winnie The Pooh – We Are Movie Geeks

CHRISTOPHER ROBIN – Review

*Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor) with his longtime friend Winnie the Pooh in Disney’s CHRISTOPHER ROBIN.*

The Winnie the Pooh stories are among the great treasures of childhood but this seeming re-write of the sad life of the real Christopher Robin might unsettle adults who learned the true story of A. A. Milne’s son in last year’s GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN. Ordinarily, a chance to revisit A. A. Milne’s delightful world of the Hundred Acre Wood through film would be most welcome but in light of the sad story revealed in that film, there is something off about the way Disney’s new live-action CHRISTOPHER ROBIN goes about that, with a tale in which a grown Christopher Robin reconnects with happy childhood memories of Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore and the rest. GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN revealed the much sadder true story of Milne’s son Christopher Robin, the real boy who was the inspiration for the stories’ fictional one, and the way the publication of the books had a devastating effect on his childhood. The Disney film seems to cut out the unpleasant parts of the real person’s story to create a happier one, which just feels wrong, or at least it will likely seem that way to anyone who saw last year’s powerful drama.

Still, kids certainly will be unaware of all that, as will adults who didn’t see the earlier film and, of course, parents can chose to ignore it too. Actually, in this story, it is the fictional Christopher Robin who has grown up, with a life parallel life to Milne’s real son but with the trauma just cut out. Purely as a family film, CHRISTOPHER ROBIN is a crowd-pleaser, with period charm, lovely locations, nice performances, and a likable fantasy tale that will entertain both children and parents. The live-action combination of actors and CGI-animated stuffed animals is very well done, and the characters are a much better, more faithful depiction of A.A. Milne’s delightful creations than in the earlier Disney animated versions.

The film is directed by Marc Forster, who has successfully mixed children’s literature and the real people behind the stories before in FINDING NEVERLAND, about the creation of Peter Pan. But while children will delight in the Disney live-action/CGI animated stuffed animal characters in this appealing Winnie the Pooh fantasy, there remains something unsettling about the way the film simply erases out all the unpleasant parts. A.A. Milne’s Pooh stories are wonderful but the success of the books and readers’ interest in the real boy who shared the books’ fictional character’s name turned his parents into greedy stage parents exploiting their son, an experience that haunted him throughout life.

The story is set in a post-World War II London, and Ewan McGregor plays a grown-up Christopher Robin, with Robin being his last name. The film gives us a scene of young Christopher Robin saying farewell to his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood, as in “The House At Pooh Corner,” and then a quick recap of growing up and into adulthood that roughly resembles part of young Milne’s life. After service in the war, the adult Christopher Robin has a wife, Evelyn (Hayley Atwell) and a nine-year-old daughter, Madeline (Bronte Carmichael), but all his time seems to be taken up by his job as an efficiency manager at a luggage manufacturer. He likes his job and his department of oddball co-workers (played by a wonderful assortment of British character actors) but works too-long hours and is a bit too serious and stern with his young daughter.

Unfortunately, the luggage company is not doing well, and Christopher’s boss Giles Winslow (a delightfully obnoxious Mark Gatiss) insists that he has to work the weekend so they can cut 20 percent from company costs, cuts that may involved layoffs among Christopher’s staff. Working the weekend will spoil his plans for a long-awaited family weekend at the Sussex cottage where the child Christopher Robin played with his toys in the Hundred Acre Wood. Fortunately, Christopher Robin’s childhood friend Pooh and the rest return to save the day and help the grown man reconnect with his childhood and his daughter in a magical adventure.

The real appeal of this film are A.A. Milne’s characters, brought to life in well-done CGI stuffed animal animation and fine voice acting performances. Visually, the film is wonderful. The mix of live actors and stuffed animal characters is seamless and wholly-convincing, as one expects from Disney, and scenes were shot on location in London and Sussex. There is plenty of action, silly humor and exciting chases to please young viewers. Early on, there are a few tense, dark moments which may upset some younger children (not as harsh as BAMBI) but the story quickly switches tone and eventually delivers the kid-pleasing happy ending and a message about family that will please parents.

On the plus side, the film offers an appealing versions of Milne’s characters, much more true to their charm and clever humor than the earlier simplified animated versions. Parents who have not read the originals to their kids should remedy that immediately, as adults will delight to find the stories entertaining and smarter than you expect based on the Disney versions.

While the plot is pretty familiar, mostly a standard tale of a man re-discovering what really is important in his life, director Marc Forester, who also directed FINDING NEVERLAND, has a few surprises in mind. Ewan McGregor turns in a nice performance as Christopher and gets strong backing from the rest of the cast. The voice acting hits all the right comic notes, particularly Brad Garrett as Eeyore and Jim Cummings as Pooh. Others lending their voices include Toby Jones as Owl, Peter Capaldi as Rabbit and Sophie Okonedo as Kanga.

However, the biggest appeal, not surprisingly, are Milne’s beloved characters. Of course, Winnie the Pooh is front and center in this fantasy of a man getting back in touch with his childhood but the surprise and delight is the prominent role given to Eeyore, a character much funnier in the books than in the cartoon version. We still get the hyperactive Tigger and all the other characters to varying degrees. As said earlier, these version are more true to the smarter, funnier books.

Kiddies won’t notice this but adults who saw GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN will notice the striking visual parallels between this film and the drama, which will keep that other darker tale of bad parenting in the front of mind, perhaps Foresters’ subtle unspoken cautionary commentary. Parents who have not seen GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN might want to consider seeing it before taking their kids to this happy fantasy, although that earlier drama is not suitable for some kids, as director Marc Forster may intend some of the subtext as a cautionary tale for parents. The underlying message, buried under all the kid-friendly entertainment, is to let kids be kids, whether one is aware of the true story behind this or not. Other grown-ups who fondly remember Winnie the Pooh should be aware of the sad true story depicted in the drama before embracing this white-washed version of the grown-up Christopher Robin.

For kids, CHRISTOPHER ROBIN is an enjoyable family film, the kind that can entertain both them and their parents, and particularly delightful if they have read the real A.A. Milne stories. For parents who saw the earlier drama, it has a cautionary message. Other grown-up Pooh fans should check out the sad true story depicted in the drama before embracing this fictional tale of Christopher Robin.

RATING: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Ewan McGregor is CHRISTOPHER ROBIN In Delightful New Trailer And Poster

Disney has released a darling new poster and trailer for the upcoming film CHRISTOPHER ROBIN. The film opens on August 3, 2018. Perfect way to end the summer!

In 2017 GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN, directed by Simon Curtis, was released and starred Domhnall Gleeson, Margot Robbie, and Kelly Macdonald. The story was about the lives of Winnie-the-Pooh creator A. A. Milne and his family, especially his son Christopher Robin. (REVIEW)

The new fantasy film, from director Marc Forster, stars Ewan McGregor as Christopher Robin; Hayley Atwell as his wife Evelyn; Bronte Carmichael as his daughter Madeline; and Mark Gatiss as Giles Winslow, Robin’s boss. CHRISTOPHER ROBIN also features the voices of: Jim Cummings as Winnie the Pooh and Tigger; Brad Garrett as Eeyore; Toby Jones as Owl; Nick Mohammed as Piglet; Peter Capaldi as Rabbit; and Sophie Okonedo as Kanga.

In the heartwarming live action adventure Disney’s CHRISTOPHER ROBIN, the young boy who shared countless adventures with his band of lovable stuffed animals in the Hundred Acre Wood is now grown up and living in London but he has lost his way.

Now it is up to his childhood friends to venture into our world and help Christopher Robin rediscover the joys of family life, the value of friendship and to appreciate the simple pleasures in life once again.

Disney’s CHRISTOPHER ROBIN is directed by Marc Forster from a screenplay by Alex Ross Perry and Allison Schroeder and a story by Perry based on characters created by A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard. The producers are Brigham Taylor and Kristin Burr with Renée Wolfe and Jeremy Johns serving as executive producers.

Madeline Robin (Bronte Carmichael) and her father Christopher’s longtime friends Tigger, Piglet and Winnie the Pooh go on an adventure in Disney’s CHRISTOPHER ROBIN.

GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN – Review

And once more we dive into the overflowing sea of films “inspired by true events”, though it has a touch of the “biopic”. Much as with the recent Mark Felt and Thurgood Marshall movies, it doesn’t offer a “cradle to grave” overview of the person’s life. But it certainly covers a bigger “chunk” than those flicks, going from the first World War to the second. Plus, it can considered an “origin” story of a favorite popular culture icon as with last weekend’s PROFESSOR MARSTON AND THE WONDER WOMEN (still miffed that it wasn’t shown to the press), and like the princess, one that’s still very favored by the younger set, starring in a still steady stream of feature films (though most go straight to home video). This is the saga of author A.A. Milne whose son inspired him to write the tale of Winnie the Pooh and his pals in the Hundred Acre Woods. Yes the “silly old bear” had a real life human friend, as we learn in GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN.

The story begins far from those benign woods, as one of Britain’s most celebrated authors, A.A. Milne (Dominhall Gleeson) witnesses the all too real horrors on the bloody battlefields of WWI. At war’s end he returns to England and re-unites with his gorgeous socialite wife Daphne (Margot Robbie). Though he’s done with the war, it’s not done with him as he experiences a form of PTSD, going into panic mode when surprised by a loud noise (a balloon pop, etc.). London seems to be squelching his creativity, so Daphne suggests they move to the country (a change of scenery should produce lots of poems and plays). They settle into Cotchford Farm in Hartfield, East Sussex, far from the noisy city and right next to a lovely wooded area. Milne, “Blue” to his wife and friends, is more interested in fixing chicken coops than writing. Soon Daphne gives birth to a child, Christopher Robin, though they call him “Billie Moon”. After she hires a young nanny named Olive (Kelly Macdonald), a frustrated Daphne declares that she will go to London to shop for wallpaper and will not return until Blue starts writing once more. Billie, now eight (Will Tilston) becomes Blue’s main focus. Watching his son play with his stuffed animal toys in the forest fires up his creativity. When his old collaborator, artist Ernest Shephard (Stephen Campbell Moore) visits the farm, they try to bring Billie’s flights of fancy to illustrated life. The result is the literary debut of Winnie the Pooh, a smash hit. Upon Daphne’s return, they are swamped with fan mail as the press swarm about their little lad. But will this sudden success and fame destroy the family and damage the boy?

The role of the troubled Milne provides a terrific showcase for the talented Gleeson. We see the horrors of battle through his listless, haunted eyes which slowly spark back to life through the delight of fatherhood. Gleeson has that upper-crust rigid demeanor down pat as Blue begins to let his guard down to dive into that magical forest. But the most complex role may be that of his wife Daphne. She’s at times a dithering party girl, then a tough task master to her hubby (a demanding muse), Robbie treads a delicate balance between being unwittingly insensitive and unashamedly cruel. She takes a risk with this often unlikable character and it truly pays off. Bravo to her bravery. The most sympathetic performance is that of Macdonald as the truly caring care-giver whose only motivation is protecting her dear charge. And what a find Tilston is as the title character. With a shiny Jackie Coogan page-boy do’ and devastatingly deep dimples (Shirley Temple doesn’t hold a candle to those “dents”), his eyes sparkle with wonder, then he breaks our hearts as he yearns for affection from his papa. It’s a rare child performance that’s sweet, but never cloying. His C.R. is the precious boy of any parent’s dreams.

Director Simon Curtis (THE WOMAN IN GOLD) has crafted a touching true tale that is much tougher than expected. Certainly the forest strolls are magical, evoking those timeless stories. But success doesn’t make life more pleasant. Though set 90 years ago, the Milnes’ saga offers a timely commentary on the pitfalls of fame. Billie was a real “rock star” as his parents allowed and encouraged the frenzy that ate away at his childhood, even as Olive tried to shield him ( a zoo photo shoot seems unbelievable until we see the actual photo during the end credits). The art director recreates the twenties with visual splendor as the cinematographer bathes everything in a nostalgic golden glow. And unlike many films about writers, we see how life unlocks ideas rather than enduring long shots of putting pen to blank paper. GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN is a splendid ‘behind the pages” look at a world that continues to entrance and delight children and adults. It’s as tasty as a dollop of fresh honey.

4 Out of 5

Domnhall Gleeson, Margot Robbie And Kelly Macdonald Star In First Trailer For GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN

In January 2017, fans of A.A. Milne celebrated the anniversary of his birthday which has become Winnie the Pooh Day. Biography.com posted a list about the British author earlier this year which you can see here.

In 2006, Winnie the Pooh received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, marking the 80th birthday of Milne’s creation.

Milne is most famous for his two Pooh books about a boy named Christopher Robin after his son, Christopher Robin Milne, and various characters inspired by his son’s stuffed animals, most notably the bear named Winnie-the-Pooh. Christopher Robin Milne’s stuffed bear, originally named “Edward”, was renamed “Winnie-the-Pooh” after a Canadian black bear named Winnie (after Winnipeg), which was used as a military mascot in World War I, and left to London Zoo during the war. “The pooh” comes from a swan called “Pooh”. E. H. Shepard illustrated the original Pooh books, using his own son’s teddy, Growler (“a magnificent bear”), as the model. The rest of Christopher Robin Milne’s toys, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo and Tigger, were incorporated into A. A. Milne’s stories, and two more characters – Rabbit and Owl – were created by Milne’s imagination. Christopher Robin Milne’s own toys are now under glass in New York where 750,000 people visit them every year.

The real stuffed toys owned by Christopher Robin Milne and featured in the Winnie-the-Pooh stories. They are on display in the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building in New York. The fictional Hundred Acre Wood of the Pooh stories derives from Five Hundred Acre Wood in Ashdown Forest in East Sussex, South East England, where the Pooh stories were set. (wikipedia)

Milne with his son Christopher Robin and Pooh Bear, at Cotchford Farm, their home in Sussex. Photo by Howard Coster, 1926.

Now comes the film, GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN opening in select theaters October 13.

Watch the first trailer from Fox Searchlight Pictures.

GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN gives a rare glimpse into the relationship between beloved children’s author A. A. Milne (Domhnall Gleeson) and his son Christopher Robin (Will Tilston), whose toys inspired the magical world of Winnie the Pooh. Along with his mother Daphne (Margot Robbie), and his nanny Olive (Kelly Macdonald), Christopher Robin and his family are swept up in the international success of the books; the enchanting tales bringing hope and comfort to England after the First World War. But with the eyes of the world on Christopher Robin, what will the cost be to the family?

The film is directed by Simon Curtis (MY WEEK WITH MARILYN, WOMAN IN GOLD), and could possibly show up during awards season, especially with BAFTA. Possible early screenings of GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN could be at Telluride (September 1-4) and/or Toronto (Sept. 7 – 17).

Opens in UK cinemas on September 29.

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/goodbyechristopherrobin/

www.facebook.com/goodbyechristopherrobin

WINNIE THE POOH – The Blu Review

Hand-drawn animation, lovable characters, and a timeless story all make WINNIE THE POOH a must for your movie collection!

All is well in the Hundred Acre Wood. Winnie the Pooh is in search of honey. There is no honey left in his house and his tummy will not stop grumbling at him until Pooh finds some. While on his quest he finds Eeyore, who seems more down than normal. Turns out that his tail has gone missing. They gather up the gang and hold a contest to see who can find Eeyore a new tail. While out and about, searching for tails and such, Pooh finds a note from Christopher Robin that says “Gone out. Busy. Back soon.” and brings it to Owl to read. See, there isn’t a lot of reading going on in the Hundred Acre Wood, and Owl is the smartest of them all. Of course, this isn’t exactly Owl’s strong-suit either, and now they are all convinced that Christopher Robin has been kidnapped by some sort of monster called the “Backson”. What started out as a normal day has now become a quest… for honey, Eeyore’s tail, and to rescue Christopher Robin from the “Backson”.

WINNIE THE POOH is presented in 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer, which looks divine. It really captures all of the pencil marks, and the warmth of the hand-drawn animation. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is just what it needs to be. It isn’t overpowering and ear shattering. It is just enough to compliment the softness of Pooh, which I appreciate.

They didn’t go overboard on the bonus features on these discs. However, the features they did put on are great. (Well, except for one which I will explain!)

Bonus Features:

Exclusive bonus short “Mini-Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: The Balloon” – In this charming short, Pooh comes up with a daring plan to get a hold of some honey by fooling a group of bees. It really is quite adorable. I love that they included bonus animations in the packaging!
“The Ballad of Nessie” – The animated short film included in the theatrical release is the heartwarming tale of how Nessie found her new home in the Loch Ness. FANTASTIC! I loved this in the theaters and now I am glad that I own it. (Sidenote: I think Nessie should be friends with the Elliot from PETE’S DRAGON. They would be amazing friends!)
“Winnie the Pooh and His Story Too” – A fun and informative behind-the-scenes look at the film, designed for the whole family. Hosted by John Cleese (narrator of the film), and with occasional help fromPooh himself, this featurette explores Winnie the Pooh’s history from his beginnings as a character in a book, to his continued life in the movies. If you are a fan of Pooh, you will really appreciate the stories in this feature. The filmmakers reveal how they worked to keep the look of the characters and settings in this movie consistent with their first appearances on-screen in1966. Pooh, being a bear of very little mind, finds much of this confusing, but the Narrator and the filmmakers make it all clear to Pooh – and you!
Deleted Scenes introduced by directors, Stephen Anderson and Don Hall – 5 deleted scenes including “The Tummy Song,” “”Rabbit’s Friends and Relations,” “Original Eeyore Intro,” “Original Tigger Intro” and “Pooh Searches for a Tail”. What is neat about these scenes is that they are not fully animated, so we get to see some rough sketches and the beginnings of the animation.
Sing-Along with the Movie – Follow the red balloon and changing word colors to seven song lyrics featured in the film.
Disney Song Selection – “Winnie the Pooh Theme Song,” “The Tummy Song, “A Very Important Thing To Do,” “The Backson Song,” “It’s Gonna Be Great,” “Everything is Honey” and “The Winner Song Finale”

WINNIE THE POOH is out on Blu-Ray, DVD and Combo Packs now. This film is a must for any film library!

Overall Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars

WINNIE THE POOH DVD Giveaway

Journey back to the 100 Acre Wood for a heart-warming adventure with Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, Owl, Kanga, Roo, Eeyore and Christopher Robin in WINNIE THE POOH! WAMG loves this “silly old bear” so much that we are giving away copies of WINNIE THE POOH on DVD.

Bonus material includes the EXCLUSIVE short “Mini-Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: The Balloon,” deleted scenes and more!

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE A U.S. RESIDENT WITH A U.S. MAILING ADDRESS.
2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.
3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: Who is your favorite WINNIE THE POOH character? Why?

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED.

Inspired by the beloved stories from A.A. Milne’s books and crafted in Disney’s classic style, “Winnie the Pooh,” is the most critically-acclaimed animated film of 2011*. It is narrated by the voice of John Cleese and features the vocal talents of legendary voice actor Jim Cummings (over 350 voices including Gnomeo & Juliet) and a host of other distinctive actors including Craig Ferguson (TV’s ‘The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson’), Tom Kenny (TV’s ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’), Bud Luckey (Toy Story 3) and musical performances by Zooey Deschanel (indie folk band “She & Him”).
* RottenTomatoes.com, as of 9/9/2011

Social Media:

Stay connected with the latest news and information on Winnie The Pooh.

“Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WinniethePooh
Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/disneyanimation
View exciting trailers, video clips and more at www.Disney.com/WinnieThePooh

WINNIE THE POOH is Available on Blu-ray & DVD OCTOBER 25th

Happy 85th Anniversary WINNIE THE POOH!

“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.” ― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

On October 14, 1926 A.A. Milne published Winnie-the-Pooh, the first volume of stories featuring the beloved bear and his Hundred Acre Wood inhabiting pals! In honor of this momentous occasion we present you with film clips from the upcoming release of Disney’s WINNIE THE POOH on Blu-ray & DVD on October 25th. Plus, some Coloring Sheets and DIY Character Masks! FUN!

Journey back to the 100 Acre Wood for a heart-warming adventure with Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, Owl, Kanga, Roo, Eeyore and Christopher Robin! Bonus material includes the EXCLUSIVE short “Mini-Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: The Balloon,” deleted scenes and more!

Inspired by the beloved stories from A.A. Milne’s books and crafted in Disney’s classic style, “Winnie the Pooh,” is the most critically-acclaimed animated film of 2011*. It is narrated by the voice of John Cleese and features the vocal talents of legendary voice actor Jim Cummings(over 350 voices including Gnomeo & Juliet) and a host of other distinctive actors including Craig Ferguson(TV’s ‘The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson’), Tom Kenny (TV’s ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’), Bud Luckey (Toy Story 3) and musical performances by Zooey Deschanel (indie folk band “She & Him”).

* RottenTomatoes.com, as of 9/9/2011

Tigger, Pooh & the Red Balloon

Relying on Piglet

Setting a Trap

COLORING PAGES

PLAY MASKS

The all-new “Winnie the Pooh” brings back to life the timeless charm, wit and whimsy of the original featurettes and characters. Sure to become a family favorite for every household, it is directed by Stephen Anderson (Meet The Robinsons) and Don Hall (The Princess and The Frog) and Executive Produced by John Lasseter.

Blu-ray ™Bonus Features:

Exclusive bonus short “Mini-Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: The Balloon” – In this charming short, Pooh comes up with a daring plan to get a hold of some honey by fooling a group of bees.
“The Ballad of Nessie” – The animated short film included in the theatrical release is the heartwarming tale of how Nessie found her new home in the Loch Ness.
“Winnie the Pooh and His Story Too” – A fun and informative behind-the-scenes look at the film, designed for the whole family. Hosted by John Cleese (narrator of the film), and with occasional help fromPooh himself, this featurette explores Winnie the Pooh’s history from his beginnings as a character in a book, to his continued life in the movies. The filmmakers reveal how they worked to keep the look of the characters and settings in this movie consistent with their first appearances on-screen in1966. Pooh, being a bear of very little mind, finds much of this confusing, but the Narrator and the filmmakers make it all clear to Pooh – and you!
Deleted Scenes introduced by directors, Stephen Anderson and Don Hall – 5 deleted scenes including “The Tummy Song,” “”Rabbit’s Friends and Relations,” “Original Eeyore Intro,” “Original Tigger Intro” and “Pooh Searches for a Tail”
Sing-Along with the Movie – Follow the red balloon and changing word colors to seven song lyrics featured in the film.
Disney Song Selection – “Winnie the Pooh Theme Song,” “The Tummy Song, “A Very Important Thing To Do,” “The Backson Song,” “It’s Gonna Be Great,” “Everything is Honey” and “The Winner Song Finale”

DVD Bonus Features:

“Mini-Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: The Balloon”
“The Ballad of Nessie”
Deleted scenes introduced by directors, Stephen Anderson and Don Hall – 3 deleted scenes including “The Tummy Song,” “”Rabbit’s Friends and Relations” and “Pooh Searches for a Tail”

Movie Download Bonus Features:

“Mini-Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: The Balloon”
“The Ballad of Nessie”
Deleted Scenes introduced directors. Stephen Anderson and Don Hall – 3 deleted scenes including “The Tummy Song,” “Rabbit’s Friends and Relations” and “Pooh Searches for a Tail”

Disc Specifications:

STREET DATE: October 25, 2011
Direct prebook: August 30, 2011

Distributor prebook: September 13, 2011

Suggested retail prices: 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy)
$44.99 U.S. and $51.99 Canada

2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD)
$39.99 U.S. and $46.99 Canada

1-Disc DVD
$29.99 U.S. and $35.99 Canada

High-Definition Movie Download
$39.99 U.S. and $44.99 Canada
Standard-Definition Movie Download
$29.99 U.S. and $35.99 Canada

Feature Run Time: Approx. run time 60 minutes

Rated: G

Aspect Ratio: 1.78, 16×9

Sound: 5.1

Languages: English, French and Spanish

Social Media:

Stay connected with the latest news and information on Winnie The Pooh.

“Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WinniethePooh
Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/disneyanimation
View exciting trailers, video clips and more at www.Disney.com/WinnieThePooh

WINNIE THE POOH is Available on Blu-ray & DVD OCTOBER 25th

WINNIE THE POOH National Honey Month

As National Honey Month comes to a close, we are keeping the celebration going with these WINNIE THE POOH-themed recipes and a honey-loving clip! The world’s most beloved bear spends his days in search of the naturally delicious nectar, and now you, too, can enjoy some honey-flavored treats with Pooh.

POOH BEAR TAKES CARE OF HIS TUMMY

RECIPE & COOKING ACTIVITIES

And on October 25th, Disney releases WINNIE THE POOH on Blu-ray & DVD! Journey back to the 100 Acre Wood for a heart-warming adventure with Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, Owl, Kanga, Roo, Eeyore and Christopher Robin! Bonus material includes the EXCLUSIVE short “Mini-Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: The Balloon,” deleted scenes and more!

Walt Disney Studios proudly invites families and audiences of all ages to return to the HundredAcre Wood with some of the world’s most beloved characters, as “Winnie the Pooh,” the delightful all-new animated feature film comes home to Blu-ray Combo Pack for the very first time, as well as DVD and Movie Download on October 25, 2011. Reuniting audiences with Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, Owl, Kanga, Roo and last, but certainly not least, Eeyore (who has lost his tail), “Winnie the Pooh” is a honey of an in-home release containing hours of immersive bonus features, including exclusive animated shorts “The Ballad of Nessie” and “Mini-Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: The Balloon;” a sing-along viewing option; an informative behind-the-scenes featurette for the whole family and deleted scenes with director commentary – all available on Blu-ray Combo Pack.

Inspired by the beloved stories from A.A. Milne’s books and crafted in Disney’s classic style, “Winnie the Pooh,” is the most critically-acclaimed animated film of 2011*. It is narrated by the voice of John Cleese and features the vocal talents of legendary voice actor Jim Cummings(over 350 voices including Gnomeo & Juliet) and a host of other distinctive actors including Craig Ferguson(TV’s ‘The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson’), Tom Kenny (TV’s ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’), Bud Luckey (Toy Story 3) and musical performances by Zooey Deschanel (indie folk band “She & Him”).

* RottenTomatoes.com, as of 9/9/2011

Blu-ray ™Bonus Features:

Exclusive bonus short “Mini-Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: The Balloon” – In this charming short, Pooh comes up with a daring plan to get a hold of some honey by fooling a group of bees.
“The Ballad of Nessie” – The animated short film included in the theatrical release is the heartwarming tale of how Nessie found her new home in the Loch Ness.
“Winnie the Pooh and His Story Too” – A fun and informative behind-the-scenes look at the film, designed for the whole family. Hosted by John Cleese (narrator of the film), and with occasional help fromPooh himself, this featurette explores Winnie the Pooh’s history from his beginnings as a character in a book, to his continued life in the movies. The filmmakers reveal how they worked to keep the look of the characters and settings in this movie consistent with their first appearances on-screen in1966. Pooh, being a bear of very little mind, finds much of this confusing, but the Narrator and the filmmakers make it all clear to Pooh – and you!
Deleted Scenes introduced by directors, Stephen Anderson and Don Hall – 5 deleted scenes including “The Tummy Song,” “”Rabbit’s Friends and Relations,” “Original Eeyore Intro,” “Original Tigger Intro” and “Pooh Searches for a Tail”
Sing-Along with the Movie – Follow the red balloon and changing word colors to seven song lyrics featured in the film.
Disney Song Selection – “Winnie the Pooh Theme Song,” “The Tummy Song, “A Very Important Thing To Do,” “The Backson Song,” “It’s Gonna Be Great,” “Everything is Honey” and “The Winner Song Finale”

DVD Bonus Features:

“Mini-Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: The Balloon”
“The Ballad of Nessie”
Deleted scenes introduced by directors, Stephen Anderson and Don Hall – 3 deleted scenes including “The Tummy Song,” “”Rabbit’s Friends and Relations” and “Pooh Searches for a Tail”

Movie Download Bonus Features:

“Mini-Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: The Balloon”
“The Ballad of Nessie”
Deleted Scenes introduced directors. Stephen Anderson and Don Hall – 3 deleted scenes including “The Tummy Song,” “Rabbit’s Friends and Relations” and “Pooh Searches for a Tail”

Disc Specifications:

STREET DATE: October 25, 2011
Direct prebook: August 30, 2011

Distributor prebook: September 13, 2011

Suggested retail prices: 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy)
$44.99 U.S. and $51.99 Canada

2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD)
$39.99 U.S. and $46.99 Canada

1-Disc DVD
$29.99 U.S. and $35.99 Canada

High-Definition Movie Download
$39.99 U.S. and $44.99 Canada
Standard-Definition Movie Download
$29.99 U.S. and $35.99 Canada

Feature Run Time: Approx. run time 60 minutes

Rated: G

Aspect Ratio: 1.78, 16×9

Sound: 5.1

Languages: English, French and Spanish

Social Media:

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“Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WinniethePooh
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View exciting trailers, video clips and more at www.Disney.com/WinnieThePooh

About The Filmmakers:

Directed by Stephen Anderson (Meet The Robinsons, The Emperor’s New Groove) and Don Hall
(The Princess and the Frog, Meet The Robinsons), the film was supported by a variety of industry and highly-creative Disney veterans including Producers Peter Del Vecho (The Princess and the Frog, Chicken Little) and Clark Spencer (Bolt, Meet The Robinsons), Executive Producer and two-time Academy Award®-winning director John Lasseter (Toy Story franchise, WALL●E, Bolt) and senior story artist Burny Mattinson (Academy Award®-nominee for Best Animated Short Film, Mickey’s Christmas Carol, 1983 and key animator on the 1974 Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too!).

About The English Language Voice Talent:

The “Winnie The Pooh” movie is narrated by funnyman John Cleese (Shrek Forever After, A Fish Called Wanda) and voiced by the talents of Jim Cummings (Gnomeo & Juliet, The Princess and the Frog, Shrek) as Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, Craig Ferguson (TV’s ‘The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson’) as Owl, Tom Kenny (TV’s ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’) as Rabbit, Travis Oates (TV’s ‘My Friends Tigger & Pooh,’ ‘Tigger & Pooh and a Musical Too’) as Piglet, Bud Luckey (Toy Story 3) as Eeyore,
Kristen Anderson-Lopez (TV’s ‘The Wonder Pets,’ Off-Broadway’s ‘In Transit’) as Kanga, Wyatt Hall (seven-year-old son of director Don Hall) as Roo and Huell Howser (this was his first role as an actor) as Backson and Jack Boulter (this was his first role as an actor) as Christopher Robin.

About The Music:

The amazing musical scores featured throughout the film were created by Tony® Award-winning songwriter Bobby Lopez, and his wife Kristen, who wrote all of the six spirited new songs for Pooh and his pals, including “The Tummy Song,” “A Very Important Thing To Do,” “Everything Is Honey,” “The Winner Song,” “The Backson Song,” and “It’s Gonna Be Great.” Lopez is behind the Broadway hits “Book of Mormon” and “Avenue Q” and together they’ve written for Nickelodeon and Disney, including the stage version of “Finding Nemo” and composed songs for several episodes of “The Wonder of Pets,” which earned him two Daytime Emmy® Awards in 2006 for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition.

The original score, a special rendition of the beloved “Winnie the Pooh” theme song for the film was composed by Henry Jackman (“The Da Vinci Code,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” “Monsters vs. Aliens”) and sung by actress, musician, singer and songwriter, Zooey Deschanel (Indie folk band, “She & Him”). Deschanel also provided vocals for
“A Very Important Thing To Do” and “So Long.”

About Disney Blu-ray Combo Packs:

To provide consumers with unprecedented quality, value and portability of their favorite Disney classics, in 2008 Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment pioneered the Combo Pack – a Blu-ray Disc plus a DVD and in some cases plus a Digital Copy of the movie in a single package. To date, the company has released almost all their films as Combo Packs. Recent Disney titles released as Combo Packs include Tangled, Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Bambi, Santa Paws, Beauty and the Beast and Fantasia.

About The Walt Disney Studios:

For morethan 85 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which TheWalt Disney Company (DIS: NYSE) was built. Today, the Studio brings qualitymovies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under four banners: Walt Disney Pictures, which includes Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios, Disneynature, Touchstone Pictures and Marvel. Through the Home Entertainment division, innovative distribution methods provide access to creative content across multiple platforms. Original music and motion picture soundtracks are produced underWalt Disney Records and Hollywood Records, while Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Broadway theatrical productions, Disney on Ice and Disney LIVE! For more information, please visit www.disney.com.

WAMG At The WINNIE THE POOH Junket

Well, hello all of you crazy kids out there! It’s your nerd with the word, Melissa here, and I have a treat for you…

Recently, I got to attend the WINNIE THE POOH junket at Disney Animation Studios. I was like a kid in a candy store! Not only do I love movies… but I love to draw! Hooray!

We started the day with a screening of the movie WINNIE THE POOH with an introduction by the Producer, Peter Del Vecho.

Next, I got to go into the recording booth and attempt to do a voiceover for Piglet. They showed me a clip from the new film, and then I had to read the script while attempting to also see when Piglet’s mouth was moving. It was really hard, but super fun! (So, if anyone wants to hire me… I am tooootally available! Hint, Hint… Wink, Wink!) Even though I look like a complete dork… here is a clip of me attempting to do the voiceover. Just don’t make fun of me too much! LOL

After that. we were whisked away to a drawing demo with Eric Goldberg, who is the Supervising Animator for Rabbit and the Backson Song. He showed us how he draws Rabbit, and talked about his work at Disney. He actually closed his own studio to work at Disney Animation Studios. There is first film was ALADDIN, where he took on the role of lead animator for Genie and Aladdin. In the clip below, we here Goldberg talk about the animation process, his excitement for hand drawn animation, and we even get to see him draw! I am sorry that it is not clearer… the room was dark and I need to get an HD camera. Still, you can really start to see the drawing about 4 minutes in.

The next venture was a drawing demo with Mark Henn, the Supervising Animator for Winnie The Pooh and Christopher Robin. When we walked into the room, there were drawing benches and newsprint tablets sitting out. I am guessing that there were some people there who were displeased, since they very audibly started complaining with such malarkey as “I can’t draaawww….!“. I, on the other hand, could not contain my “Yesssssssss!” as I took my seat in the front row. Henn gave us step by step instructions on how to draw Winnie The Pooh while demonstrating on an overhead projector. Here is my completed drawing.

Mark Henn even signed it and gave me a gold star (after I took this picture). I love to draw! I could have stayed in that art room all day. In a way, I am a little jealous of the people that get to go through their instruction courses. That would be amazing!

Following the second drawing demo we went to a quick presentation and roundtable where Disney Consumer Products, or DCP, gave us a rundown on how they pick the images for their products. This is a full day! Whew!

The last thing that I did before leaving Disney Animation Studios was sit down and talk to some of the people involved with the film one on one. Below, you will find my interviews with Jim Cummings (Voice of Winnie The Pooh and Tigger), Tom Kenny (Voice of Rabbit), and Burny Mattinson (Senior Story Artist).

WARNING: I DO CURSE IN THE TOM KENNY INTERVIEW… JUST ONCE, BUT YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

Melissa From WAMG Talks With Jim Cummings (Voice of Winnie The Pooh and Tigger : WINNIE THE POOH
Jim Cummings was (is) so fun! Not only was he very nice, but he even recorded a special birthday message for my best friend Molly (kickin’ it since age 5 son!). He went all out too! I left it in at the end for you crazy kids to enjoy. You can also hear him slip into Darkwing Duck, the Tasmanian Devil, and other voices occasionally. He will be on THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON (Who is the voice of Owl in the film). Zooey Deschanel will also be a guest tonight, which makes this a “WINNIE-TASTIC” lineup!

Melissa Talks With Tom Kenny (Voice of Rabbit, WINNIE THE POOH)

Tom Kenny is one fun guy! We talked about music, the difference between voice acting and being on screen, and of course (and this is his term) the “POOHNIVERSE”. Such a down to Earth, cool guy!

Melissa Talks With Burny Mattinson (Senior Story Artist, WINNIE THE POOH)

Burny Mattinson has been at Disney Animation Studios since 1953 when he took a job in the mail room. He worked alongside Walt Disney’s “9 Old Men”, a core group of 9 original Disney animators. His stories are amazing.

Here is a picture of Burny Mattinson with the WINNIE THE POOH doll that is featured in the opening credits of the film. His wife made this doll for use in another of the Pooh films, but the opening scene had already been shot. It’s a beautifully handcrafted doll!

At the end of the day they handed me a lovely gift bag with a plush Tigger popping out. Inside was:

DISNEY WINNIE THE POOH: A CELEBRATION OF THE SILLY OLD BEAR (Hard Cover) By Christopher Finch

WINNIE THE POOH Soundtrack Featuring Zooey Deschanel (Advanced Copy)

A Tigger 12″ Plush Toy

DISNEY POOK-A-LOOZ NEW POOH KEYCHAIN

LIMITED EDITION WINNIE THE POOH LITHOGRAPH

It’s even numbered!

Here is the envelope that it came in. Figured I would show that too!

That is one fun giftbag!

I had a great day at DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS and would like to thank everyone for such a delightful day!

Melissa

WINNIE THE POOH – The Review

Hand-drawn animation, lovable characters, and a timeless story all make WINNIE THE POOH a must see in the theaters!

I cannot express to you how much I enjoyed this film. I, of course, have to start out with the fact that they went back to hand-drawn animation. WINNIE THE POOH doesn’t need 3D, crazy effects, or a CGI makeover. One of the biggest appeals to the story of Pooh is that it is classic. Timeless even. Animating it by hand and being able to see the individual drawing marks move gave the film, and the characters in it, the warmth that they deserve. Plus, I have always been a fan of classic, hand drawn animation. Sure, I have some CG animation favorites, but they don’t have the same feel as the hand drawn films.

Jim Cummings, as the voices of both Winnie The Pooh and Tigger, was simply phenomenal! Cummings took on the voice of Pooh after Sterling Holloway, the original voice, retired. He later took on the voice of Tigger when Paul Winchell, also the original voice, retired. There is a reason that he (Cummings) has been chosen to take on not one, but two legendary Winnie The Pooh characters… he is unbelievably talented! He really brings both characters to life, giving them a sense of warmth and charisma. His work in this film is nothing short of amazing!

Another impressive voice actor, Tom Kenny, who joins the “Poohniverse” (Hey! It’s his word, not mine!) by lending his voice to Rabbit, following Junius Matthews, the original voice, Will Ryan, and Ken Sansom, who was the voice of Rabbit for the longest run. Kenny is very talented in his voice-over work. There are very few voice actors that have the ability to disguise their voice so the character really comes to life.

MELISSA RANT: Today, most films cast big named actors who sound like themselves. I can’t tell you how many times I have been pulled out of a movie because I recognized who was doing the voice. Once this happens, it’s hard to focus on just the character. There are very few exceptions. One is listed below.

Kenny, like Cummings, has the ability to throw themselves into their work, and can convince the viewer that their character is real. When you watch (or, as I should say… hear) their work, you aren’t thinking about who is doing the voice. You aren’t even thinking about the fact that someone IS voicing the animation. Like magic, they add to the illusion. Simply AWAZING! (For those of you that don’t have your Melissa Vernacular Handbooks at the ready, that is a AWESOME and AMAZING combined. It’s a Melissa “super word”!)

Craig Ferguson is an exception to my rant above. He is perfect as the wise, yet opinionated voice of Owl. His quick-witted sense of humor matches up rather nicely with the (self-declared) smartest creature in the Hundred Acre Wood.

The thing that I appreciate, more than anything, about this film is that they didn’t try to update it, or make it modern. There is one modern moment in the film (you will know it when you see it), but it only lasts a few minutes. There are no cell phones in the Hundred Acre Wood. Pooh doesn’t need to be made to have more edge. They kept to the classic origins for the story, as well as the characters, and I couldn’t be more pleased. There are some things that just do not need to be reinvented or remade by Hollywood. Sure, they made sure that there was a little more humor in it than its predecessors, but it stuck to the clean, good-natured spirit of the original tales like honey in Pooh’s tummy.

I think that they were extremely smart with the telling of this tale. There are three different stories going on, so that it keeps the attention of little ones, people with ADHD, that one random guy in the theater that can never stay awake (but still feels the need to spend his money on movie tickets) etc. Now, I have heard a few people complain that it is too short in length, but I disagree. Too often, movies are made to be entirely too long and end up dragging on because they feel like a movie has to hit a certain length in order to be taken seriously. This is false! Stop wasting my time with drawn out, boring scenes. This film tells it’s tale, tells it well, and cuts out at around the 70 minute mark (with the credits). I didn’t feel like I missed something, or that they left something out. I was more than pleased with their use of time.

Zooey Deschanel adds to the timeless tale as a bit of a “musical narrator”. She lends her voice to the soundtrack, which includes the original “Winnie the Pooh” Theme song, as well as as “So Long”, which she wrote with fellow She & Him cohort M. Ward. She has a folk-y, classic tone to her voice that really meshs well with this film. Plus, the songs are fun! I really enjoyed (“A Very Important Thing To Do”.) I don’t think they could have picked a better person to take on the songs for this film.

So, long story short… WINNIE THE POOH will melt your heart!

Tag: Winnie The Pooh

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