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Category:    Home > Reviews > Animation > Fantasy > Fable > Comedy > Superhero > Action > TV > CGI > Computer Animation > Video Games > Cars > Wheely (2018/Umbrella Region Free PAL Import DVD)

Little Mermaid 4K (1989*)/P.J. Masks: Butterfly Brigade (2019/eOne/Fox DVD)/Ralph Breaks The Internet (2018/*both Disney 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray w/Blu-ray sets)/Shimmer & Shine: Flight Of The Zahracorns (2019/Nickelodeon DVD)/Wheely (2018/Umbrella Region Free PAL Import DVD)



4K Ultra HD Picture: B/B+ Picture: B/C+/B/C+/C+ Sound: B/C+/B+ & B/C+/C+ Extras: C+/D/C+/D/D Main Programs: C+/C+/B-/C+/C



PLEASE NOTE: The Wheely Import DVD is now only available from our friends at Umbrella Entertainment in Australia, can only play on Blu-ray, 4K and DVD players that can handle the PAL DVD and can be ordered from the link below.



Here are the latest child/family releases to know of....



Disney's Little Mermaid 4K (1989) is one of the first of the classic animated films in the new Ultra HD format from the studio that still has its following, as the review of this 2D/3D Blu-ray set will show...


http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/12389/The+Little+Mermaid+%E2%80%93+Diamond+Edit


That also has a link by the same writer to the previous, older DVD release, so no doubt the film is a success, but I am in the school of persons who think it is overrated, not looking so good, never looked great, was a big commercial step backwards for better and worse and liked Oliver & Company the previous year better. That actually had better art design, is underrated and holds up better than many will admit. Oh well.


But back to this release. I don't know what else Disney can do with the film now that it is out in every possible format, but fans should be pleased by all the choices and diehards will buy them all. Of course, we get extras and they again are slightly varied from the previous editions, this time including...


BLU-RAY & DIGITAL


  • Sing-Along Mode - Sing along to the movie in this sing-along version of the film.

  • Alan Menken & the Leading Ladies Song - From the voice of a mermaid to the tunes of a muse, the music of Alan Menken has scored the soundtrack for some of Disney's most iconic leading ladies. Join Alan, Jodi Benson (Ariel), Paige O'Hara (Belle), Judy Kuhn (Pocahontas Singing Voice), Lillias White (Calliope) and Donna Murphy (Mother Gothel) as we celebrate the music of their films in honor of the one that started it all ''The Little Mermaid.'' In this discussion, the ladies will share their memories of musically creating their characters with Alan, discuss what it means to be part of the Disney Princess/leading lady legacy and create new memories as they sing with Alan around a baby grand piano.

  • ''What I Want From You... Is YOUR VOICE'' - Enter the recording studio and get an inside look at the cast of ''The Little Mermaid'' in their original recording sessions.

  • Stories From Walt's Office - Gadgets & Gizmos - Like Ariel, Walt Disney was a collector of many different things from miniatures to early mechanical characters that inspired the invention of audio-animatronics. We take a look at some the collections that Walt kept in his office in the third episode of this series.

  • #TreasuresUntold - Join Ruby Rose Turner and Olivia Sanabia from the Disney Channel Original Series ''Coop and Cami Ask the World'' as they take a deep dive to explore some hidden treasures and fun facts about Disney's ''The Little Mermaid.''

  • DCapella ''Part of Your World'' Music Video

  • Classic Bonus Features - revisit four exciting bonus features from previous releases including:

    • Deleted Character: Harold The Merman

    • Under The Scene: The Art Of Live Action Reference

    • Howard's Lecture

    • Audio Commentary With Ron Clements, John Musker and Alan Menken


DIGITAL EXCLUSIVES

  • ''Part of Your World'' - A 30-Year Retrospective - Songwriter Alan Menken and Jodi Benson, the acting and singing voice of Ariel, sing the epitome of Disney ''I Want'' songs ''Part of Your World'' and discuss its impact since it was first heard 30 years ago.

  • Classic Bonus Features - Over 3 additional hours of previously released classic bonus features including Deleted Scenes, Easter Eggs, Music Videos and more, which you can read more about in our previous review coverage.



P.J. Masks: Butterfly Brigade (2019) is simply a set of more episodes of the hit show (six his time) with no extras or other ideas for the very young superhero-type show that is not bad, but might be not getting the dull support it needs. Why no bonus material or anything else exciting? With superhero films so big, this is bad oversight.



Ralph Breaks The Internet (2018) is the sequel to the surprise hit Wreck-It Ralph (2012) that we covered with great surprise in this 3D superset...


http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/12077/Wreck-It+Ralph:+Ultimate+Collector%E2%80%99s


Now comes the sequel in a new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Blu-ray set and it serves the sequel well with its improved animation (by so much) as Ralph (John C. Reilly in perfect casting) and Vanellope (Sarah Silverman holding her own) go in search of a new game, but it may lead to a lost friendship and other troubles neither of them ever imagined... so Ralph will do what he can to make sure none of that happens.


Thew jokes are in line with the pervious film and nothing new here struck me as hilarious, but it is a decent follow-up and fans should be happy. However, a little of this can go a long way for some, so go in with standard expectations and you will not be disappointed.


Extras are decent and break down in an unusual way as this press description explains...


Blu-ray & Digital:


  • How We Broke the Internet - Go behind the scenes at Walt Disney Animation Studios to get an in-depth look at how the filmmakers brought a world to life that billions of people visit every day but never actually see - the internet. Take a front-row seat as the team reveals the inspirations for the story and what it took to bring it to the screen. Discover all that went into developing the characters of the film including netizens like KnowsMore as well as characters like Double Dan. See the lengths the team took to create the car chase scenes in Slaughter Race and much, much more.

  • Surfing for Easter Eggs - Surf the web for the near-countless Easter Eggs, inside jokes and references hidden throughout the movie.

  • The Music of Ralph Breaks the Internet - Take a look at the music of Ralph Breaks the Internet with appearances by Imagine Dragons, Julia Michaels, Alan Menken, Sarah Silverman and more.

  • Deleted Scenes - Five deleted scenes with intros from directors Rich Moore and Phil Johnston. Scenes include Into the Internet, Opposites, Domestic Hell, Bubble of One & Recruiting 'Grandma.'

  • BuzzzTube Cats - Many videos were created by the animators to fill the screens of the Internet world... and lots of them are of cats! Check out the BuzzzTube to watch this hilarious cat compilation.

  • Music Videos - ''Zero'' by Imagine Dragons and ''In This Place'' by Julia Michaels.


Digital Exclusive:


  • Baby Drivers - Slaughter Racing School - Take a spin behind the wheel with the artists behind Ralph Breaks the Internet as they go to race car driving school.


DVD:

  • Music Videos - ''Zero'' by Imagine Dragons and ''In This Place'' by Julia Michaels.



Shimmer & Shine: Flight Of The Zahracorns (2019) is sadly just another basic DVD from Nickelodeon offering seven episodes of the show and nothing else unfortunately as the automatic pilot releases of the show continue with barely a theme to hold them together. This might be fine for children, but I think it is underselling to its audience and lacks enthusiasm for them an the show.


There are no extras.



Finally we have a CG animated feature that did not make it to the U.S., Carl Mendez's Wheely (2018) which is set in a world of cars and resembles the Disney/PIXAR franchise (especially its first film) just a bit too much for its own good. It is not very memorable either, while its animation looks dated and lacks character, but it is made to try and find a child audience.


Umbrella in Australia has issued it as a Region Free PAL Import DVD that at least does some justice to the presentation, but the participants are mostly unknowns and this is only for the VERY curious.


There are no extras.




The 2160p HEVC/H.265, HDR (10; Ultra HD Premium)-enhanced 2.35 X 1 Ultra High Definition image in Ralph is easily the best performer on the list with its decent detail and rich color scheme, but a few shots look a little off and a few others are a bit better than my rating. The 1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image on the Blu-ray is decent, but it cannot deliver the improvements the 2160p 4K disc does, especially as compared to the slight improvements in animation versus the first film.


The 2160p HEVC/H.265, HDR (10; Ultra HD Premium)-enhanced 1.85 X 1 Ultra High Definition image on Mermaid looks good for what it is, but while color improves over the 1080p 1.85 X 1 digital High Definition image transfer on the Blu-ray, there are new flaws you can see that were not evident on the Blu-ray 2D or 3D versions. It is the best that can be hoped for for a film this old with its limited budget.


The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image on the three DVDs look good for the format, but nothing too impressive is here beyond that.


The Dolby Atmos 11.1 lossless mix (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 mixdown for older systems) on Ralph is easily the best sonic presentation here and on the 4K version, often fun, but more dialogue/joke-based than many other animated films. Mermaid also has a Dolby Atmos 11.1 lossless mix (Dolby TrueHD 7.1) upgrade on the 4K version only, but the film was an old analog Dolby System release, so it shows its age, limit and is not as engaging.


The regular Blu-rays of Ralph and Mermaid offer DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 7.1 lossless mixes that are not bad, but Ralph loses some detail while Mermaid does not suffer at al being so old.


The DVDs all have lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 mixes, save lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo on Masks, but the sound is all the same and nothing really stands out. They are adequate for what they are and lossless versions would likely not be much better.



To order the Umbrella import Wheely DVD, go to this link for it and other hard to find titles at:


http://www.umbrellaent.com.au/



- Nicholas Sheffo


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