On Tuesday May 4th, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment will release IRON MAN: THE COMPLETE 1994 ANIMATED TELEVISION SERIES and X-MEN: Vol. 5 on DVD! From Stan Lee comes Marvel’s complete 1994 animated television series, Iron Man. Experience every thrilling moment – from the very first episode, to the final climactic battle – in this 3-disc collector’s edition. The action doesn’t end there! The original tales of Marvel comic books come to life in Volume 5 of the X-men collection. Relive the action of the popular animated series in this collectible compilation of the X-men adventures.
IRON MAN
The Complete 1994 Animated Television Series
3-Disc DVD Set - FACT SHEET
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Story: From Stan Lee comes Marvel’s complete 1994 animated television series, Iron Man. Experience every thrilling moment – from the very first episode, to the final climactic battle – in this 3-disc collector’s edition. Witness the action-packed adventure from the very beginning as billionaire inventor Tony Stark dons his invincible suit of iron to battle the villainous Mandarin and the power of his ten deadly rings.
With fellow super heroes Nick Fury, War Machine, Scarlet Witch, Spider Woman and Hawkeye at his side, Iron Man faces off against a band of evil foes, including Whiplash…and confronts his own demons, as well.
Go behind the armor and get to know the man under the powered suit. This complete Iron Man collection is a must-have for fans of all ages !
“Iron Man” stars voice talent Robert Hays (Superhero Movie), John Reilly (TV’s “General Hospital: Night Shift”), Jennifer Hale (Ariel’s Beginning – Voice) and is executive produced by Stan Lee (Spider-Man, Iron Man, The Fantastic Four, The Ultimate Avengers II), Avi Arad (Spider-Man 4, Fantastic Four, X-Men: The Last Stand) and Larry Leiber (Iron Man, Iron Man 2).
EPISODE LIST:
Disc 1:
1. And The Sea Shall Give Up It's Dead
2. Rejoice! I Am Ultimo Thy Deliverer
3. Data In - Chaos Out
4. Silence My Companion, Death My Destination
5. The Grim Reaper Wears A Teflon Coat
6. Enemy Within, Enemy Without
7. Origin Of The Mandarin
8. Defection Of The Hawkeye
Disc 2:
9. Iron Man To The Second Power (Part 1)
10. Iron Man To The Second Power (Part 2)
11. Origin Of Iron Man (Part 1)
12. Origin Of Iron Man (Part 2)
13. Wedding Of Iron Man!
14. The Beast Within
15. Fire And Rain
16. Cell Of Iron
17. Not Far From The Tree
Disc 3:
18. Beauty Knows No Pain
19. On The Inside
20. Distant Boundaries
21. The Armor Wars (Part 1)
22. The Armor Wars (Part 2)
23. Hulkbuster
24. Empowered
25. Hands Of The Mandarin (Part 1)
26. Hands Of The Mandarin (Part 2)
STREET DATE: May 4, 2010
Suggested retail price: $29.99 US; $35.99 Canada
Rated: TV – Y7
Run time: 572 minutes
DVD aspect ratio: 4:3
Sound: Dolby Digital Surround Sound, Spanish and French Language
Tracks & Subtitles
© MARVEL, IRON-MAN and all related characters and their distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries and are used with permission.
© 2010 Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries. © Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc.
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X-MEN: Volume 5
2-Disc DVD FACT SHEET
COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION WITH THE FINAL VOLUME !
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Synopsis: The original tales of Marvel comic books come to life in Volume 5 of the X-men collection.
Relive the action of the popular animated series in this collectible compilation of the X-men adventures. The X-men must turn to their arch-nemesis, Magneto, in an effort to save the life of Professor Xavier! Watch the action unfold in the final episode, “Graduation Day, “and don’t miss a moment of X-men excitement in this 2-disc set, complete with 14 riveting episodes. Complete your X-men collection with this must-own final installment of this great animated series.
X-men stars voice talents Iona Morris (Law and Order, Spider-man, Fantastic Four, The
Wayans Bros), Lenore Zann (Law and Order, Dragon Tales) and Alison Seasly-Smith
(Honey, Degrassi: The Next Generation, M.V.P: The Secret Lives of Hockey Wives) and is executive produced by Stan Lee (Spider-Man, Iron Man, The Fantastic Four, The Ultimate Avengers II), Scott Thomas (Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles) and Will Meugniot (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, X-Men: Evolution, Silver Surfer).
EPISODE LIST:
Disc 1
Episode 63 The Phalanx Covenant (Part 1)
Episode 64 The Phalanx Covenant (Part 2)
Episode 65 A Deal With The Devil
Episode 66 No Mutant Is An Island
Episode 67 Longshot
Episode 68 Bloodlines
Disc 2
Episode 69 Storm Front (Part 1)
Episode 70 Storm Front (Part 2)
Episode 71 Jubilee's Fairy Tale Theatre
Episode 72 The Fifth Horseman
Episode 73 Old Soldiers
Episode 74 Descent
Episode 75 Hidden Agendas
Episode 76 Graduation Day
STREET DATE: May 4, 2010
Suggested retail price: $23.99 US; $29.99 Canada
Rated: TV – Y7
Run time: 308 minutes
DVD aspect ratio: 4:3
Sound: Dolby Digital Surround Sound, Spanish and French Language
Tracks & Subtitles
© MARVEL, X-MEN, and all related characters and their distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries and are used with permission.
© 2010 Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries. © Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc.
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Experience More of Wonderland …
ON DISNEY BLU-RAY & DVD – JUNE 1, 2010
With Worldwide Theatrical Box Office Earnings Approaching the $800 Million Mark, Tim Burton’s Take on the Classic Tales Wins Fans Everywhere
Following a record-breaking theatrical performance, Tim Burton’s epic fantasy adventure ALICE IN WONDERLAND, Disney’s 4th biggest film of all time, takes its booming box-office success into the home with a Disney 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy), 1-Disc Blu-ray and 1-Disc DVD on June 1, 2010, from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE).
The ALICE IN WONDERLAND Blu-ray DiscTM Combo Pack provides audiences with the chance to experience a magical and imaginative twist on some of the most beloved stories of all time in pristine 1080p picture and Dolby Digital 5.1 HD surround sound quality and has been especially packaged with family and fans in mind – with lots of exciting bonus features and an extra DVD and Digital Copy of the movie.
The Blu-ray Disc versions of the film include nine bonus features that take viewers deeper into the famous “Rabbit Hole” - exploring more of the world of Wonderland, its iconic characters and the making of the film. Features include the making of the Futterwacken Dance, a look inside the world of the Mad Hatter and Johnny Depp’s transformation, Tim Burton’s vision for the movie and its characters, the visual effects of growing and shrinking of Alice, costume designs, music, stunts and more.
The suggested retail prices for ALICE IN WONDERLAND are as follows: The 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) is $44.99 (US)/$51.99 (Canada); the 1-Disc Blu-ray is $39.99 (US) /$44.99 (Canada); and the Single Disc DVD is $29.99 (US)/$35.99 (Canada).
Film Synopsis:
Tumble down the rabbit hole with Alice for a fantastical new adventure from Walt Disney Pictures and Tim Burton. Inviting and magical, ALICE IN WONDERLAND is an imaginative new twist on some of the most beloved stories of all time. Alice (Mia Wasikowska), now 19 years old, returns to the whimsical world she first entered as a child and embarks on a journey to discover her true destiny. Wonderland is a world beyond your imagination and unlike anything you’ve seen before. The extraordinary characters you’ve loved come to life richer and more colorful than ever. There’s the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), the White Queen (Anne Hathaway), the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter), the White Rabbit (Michael Sheen) and more. A triumphant cinematic experience – ALICE IN WONDERLAND is an incredible feast for your eyes, ears and heart that will captivate audiences of all sizes.
The film’s opening weekend made ALICE IN WONDERLAND the highest-grossing non-sequel opening weekend in history, the biggest March opening of all time, the biggest 3D opening of all time and the biggest IMAX opening of all time.
Bonus Features:
DVD:
Finding Alice – It’s all things Alice. This featurette includes Tim Burton’s vision for the characters, differences from the book and Disney’s version of Alice and how she evolves as both a character and actor as she takes an adventure through Wonderland.
The Mad Hatter – Audiences are provided with a deeper look into the world of the Mad Hatter. Check out Johnny Depp’s early sketches, make-up, costumes and how they digitally enhanced his eyes.
Effecting Wonderland – A behind-the-scenes piece on the different technologies used to create some of the most beloved characters in the film – Stayne, Tweedledee, Tweedledum, Bandersnatch and the Red Queen.
BLU-RAY:
Everything on the DVD plus:
The Futterwacken Dance – Futterwhat? Check out the making of the timeless dance called the Futterwacken.
The Red Queen – The creation of the Red Queen from start to finish, including early Tim Burton sketches showcasing costume designs, make-up and digital effects.
Time-Lapse: Sculpting the Red Queen – A short time-lapse piece showing Helena Bonham Carter as she gets her make-up done. A three-hour process can be watched in just a few short minutes.
The White Queen – An interview with Anne Hathaway, who plays Wonderland’s good queen, about her character’s journey throughout the process of the film.
Scoring Wonderland – Composer Danny Elfman and Tim Burton discuss the music for the movie.
Stunts of Wonderland – A featurette highlighting some of the biggest stunts in the film.
Making the Proper Size – An inside look at the visual effects process of growing and shrinking Alice. See how filmmakers used different techniques to stay true to the storyline.
Cakes of Wonderland – Take a trip to “Cake Divas” where the creators of the EAT ME cakes provide viewers with details about how they made the smallest crumb to the largest cake in scale.
Tea Party Props – Tea cups, saucers, cakes and more. Prop master Doug Harlocker gives an overview of all the props used to bring the famous tea party scene together visually.
About Disney Combo Packs:
To provide consumers with unprecedented quality, value and portability of their favorite Disney classics, in 2008 WDSHE pioneered the Combo Pack – a Blu-ray Disc plus a DVD and in some cases a Digital Copy of the movie in a single package. Current 2010 Disney titles available as Combo Packs include Ponyo, Toy Story, Toy Story 2 and Princess and the Frog.
About Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment:
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, a recognized leader in the home entertainment industry, is the marketing, sales and distribution company for Walt Disney, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Buena Vista product, which includes DVD, Blu-ray Disc™ and electronic distribution. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is a division of The Walt Disney Studios.
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Truly great stories are those that stick with you long after you read the last page or the final credits roll. Lewis Carroll's tales of Alice are like that for me. I've read the book so many times I've memorized the chapter names. When I heard Tim Burton was making a sequel of sorts, I was excited, because the eccentric director is well-matched to this bizarre world. Burton brings his flair to Wonderland, but he presents a story that is faithful to the source material.
Though I wasn't fortunate enough to see this in IMAX 3D, my local theater's digital 3D presentation was gorgeous. Even the Friskies commercial (which had me laughing hysterically) was pretty, albeit a little oddly placed, in 3D. The film itself makes great use of the technology. So many times when I go to see a 3D film, there are elements that seem gimmicky and out of place. The 3D in Alice in Wonderland was an asset to the story, making Underland (as it's called in this film) the surreal movable feast we expect it to be. Vivid colors and lush environments complement the colorful characters Alice encounters along the way.
Speaking of characters, all of the old familiar characters are there (OK, not all of the old characters, but the major players anyway). I knew I was in for a treat when Alice first arrives in Underland and rocking-horse flies flew across the screen. The story is totally accessible to anyone who hasn't read the books (as was the case with two people in my group), but for those of us who have read the books, it's one "Wow!" after another. Not only do you get to see the major players, but even elements from "Jabberwocky" (like the Jabberwocky himself, the Jub-Jub Bird, and the frumious Bandersnatch). And the way Burton works the story from the poem itself into the film is great.
Casting for the film was very well done. Mia Wasikowska's Alice has the right balance of naivete and bravado, reacting just the way I'd imagine Carroll's Alice would. Crispin Glover's turn as the Knave of Hearts is creepy in all the right ways, and Burton mainstays Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp make the film. Voice acting by Stephen Fry (Cheshire Cat), Matt Lucas (Tweedledee/Tweedledum), and Alan Rickman (Absalom the Blue Caterpillar) is a delight. Of the supporting performances, Anne Hathaway's turn as the White Queen brought me the most joy. She captures the essence of the character so well, floating across the screen with pleasant pageantry.
There's so much to enjoy about this film. It's fun, scary, heartwarming--all the things you want a film like this to be. Danny Elfman's score is uncharacteristic of traditional Burton/Elfman scores, but that's a great thing. The annoying thing about Elfman sometimes is that every score sounds like Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. That's so not the case here. One caveat--if you decide to take the kiddos to this one, keep in mind that even Lewis Carroll's story went to some dark and scary places, and Burton's does too. Our theater was packed with little ones, and several kids beside me were terrified by some of the creatures, most notably the Jabberwocky. (I have to admit, even I jumped once at the menacing giant.) The only complaint I have involves a short dance sequence, but it's more about the music that backs it, not so much the dance itself.
Go see this movie. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200. It's everything a fan of the original book could hope for, but it's accessible to anyone who just wants a fun time at the movies. (Trust me, it's worth the price of admission for the 3D Friskies commercial. It's a scary glimpse into the future.)
Stacey Rader
Senior Reviewer
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FBI agents (Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell) investigate the mysterious murder of a college student linked to the man who helped create a high-tech surrogate phenomenon that allows people to purchase unflawed robotic versions of themselves—fit, good looking remotely controlled machines that ultimately assume their life roles—enabling people to experience life vicariously from the comfort and safety of their own homes. The murder spawns a quest for answers: in a world of masks, who's real and who can you trust?
The Film: Surrogates, directed by Jonathan Mostow (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines), is an interesting film that raises particular questions. The film takes the idea of Avatars (not the Cameron film), which have been popularized by online video games and social networks, and takes it to the next level. Civilization no longer interacts face to face. Everyone plugs into a specialized chair that allows him or her to link up with his or her surrogate. They then pilot the surrogate out into the world, while they stay tucked away in the safety of their home.
The safety of surrogates comes into question when two surrogates are attacked with an electrical device. Not only are the surrogates shorted out, but the device overrides the fail safe between surrogate and controller, killing the human being connected to the surrogate as well. This sends our main characters on a search for answers, and leads to some fairly intense action sequences. For the most part, the film is entertaining. While I wouldn’t rank it up there with recent action movies like Star Trek, it’s still a decent action adventure movie.
Video: The blu-ray version of the film presents a nice video transfer. There are a few soft shots, but the majority of the film is crisp and clear. The film employs contrasting color schemes for the surrogates and the real world. Whenever surrogates are present and dominating the frame, the color scheme is a cold blue. However, when scenes take place out in the open, particularly in the camp filled with people who reject the use of surrogates, the color palette is warm with browns and oranges. The strength of the transfer really enhances these color differences and makes the viewer take notice.
Sound: The sound design and implementation on the blu-ray is every bit as nice as the video transfer. The sound mixing is appropriate for each scene. During conversations, the dialogue is mixed high, and is easy to understand. During action sequences the bass is amped up and shotgun blasts, helicopter blades, and motorcycle engines sound as if they are in the same room with you.
Features: This is where the blu-ray falters. The special features are very basic and don’t take advantage of the blu-ray format, other than being presented in HD.
Features include:
- Audio commentary with director Jonathan Mostow
- A More Perfect You: The Science of Surrogates (15 mins)
- Breaking the Frame: A Graphic Novel Comes to Life (7 mins)
- Deleted Scenes (6 mins)
- Music Video: “I Will Not Bow” by Breaking Benjamin (4 mins)
Value: Listing at around $24 (Amazon), the lack of special features really hurts this release. When compared to recent blu-ray releases like Star Trek (3.5 hours of special features) and Up (1.75 hours of special features), both of which include two blu-ray discs and a digital copy (Up also includes a DVD version of the film), and can be purchased for under $20 on Amazon, the single disc, almost featureless Surrogates blu-ray seems like a rip off at $24. However, Disney is offering a $10 off coupon to be used in retail stores for the first week of the films release, so you still have a few days to take advantage of that if you really want the movie, but like me think $24 is a bit high. At around $15 the price is right for this blu-ray disc. The coupon can be located at:
http://video.movies.go.com/surrogates/couponoffer/
Terry Barnhill
Staff Reviewer
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With the Surrogates Blu-ray & DVD about to be released, we sit down to chat with actress Radha Mitchell. How does the action star handle stunts in high heels? What’s it like to be a sex symbol? Read on for Radha’s insights into bruises, bungee jumps, Bruce Willis and lots more… 
What can you tell us about your new Blu-ray & DVD, Surrogates?
The movie is a sci-fi, action thriller and I play an FBI agent called Peters. The device of the story is that there is a surrogate technology being used in the world and the population is addicted to using it. You plug into a device, which is basically a robot, and that robot goes and performs all of your daily tasks for you. When that happens, you can manicure your life. You can organize and control how you want to live and how you want to feel. However, something goes wrong in this society and my character works alongside Bruce Willis’ character to figure out who committed a murder.
Tell us more about the surrogates…
When the story begins, the technology of surrogates has been around for years. It has been promoted because it’s considered extremely safe. You can have any kind of experience and not feel a thing. For example, you can jump out of a plane, but you’ll never be in physical danger because it’s all done vicariously. However, something terrible has happened to shake up this world – and it’s up to my character and Bruce Willis’ character to find out how and why this murder has occurred.
What would you use a surrogate to do for you? Perhaps you’d like to jump out of a plane?
I think you’d lose part of the experience if you used a surrogate for something like jumping out of a plane. Part of the experience is about risking your own mortality. I’d love to use a surrogate to do all of the boring things in life that I’ve done thousands of times before, like cleaning or household chores. However, I think I’d want to do all of the exciting stuff for myself.
Are you a daredevil at heart?
I haven’t jumped out of a plane, but I did consider it in the past. A friend of mine jumped out of a plane when I was in high school and I remember him coming back with the video, so I thought about doing it back then. Since then, I feel like there’s enough uncertainty in my life as it is without needing to add to the drama. But who knows? Maybe if the opportunity came along, I’d consider it again.
Would you ever consider a bungee jump?
Bungee jumping? No. My most daredevil experience has involved motorbike riding. I survived a motorbike accident because I fell off one, but I’m not too much of a thrill seeker in that sense.
Did you have many action scenes in Surrogates?
I have one action sequence, which was a lot of fun to shoot. I had to drive around downtown Los Angeles on the top of a bus – and my character had to jump from the bus to a car. It was all done in purple high heels, too. That’s the only way to do action scenes!
How much of the stunt work were you allowed to do?
I did some of the stunt work, but there was also a stunt girl on hand. The girl who did my stunts had to swing from ropes between buildings and things like that. There were lawyers on the set making sure I didn’t do too much, but I was allowed to run around in between fast cars and I was strapped to the top of the bus driving through the city. I discovered that I can jump from elevated sections onto targeted marks in high heels, which was fun.
Did you get any bruises along the way?
Yes, I did. I even got a scar. I got scratched jumping onto the back of a car where all of the windows had broken, but I was fine. You live with these things.
Are you an action fan?
I’m not a huge fan of action, but I like it when it’s well done. I like Asian action.
Do you like action roles where you get to kick butt?
I do. I filmed another movie recently where I got to shoot a fight sequence with a zombie and that was a lot of fun. Stunt men really shine in fight sequences and I got to fight a guy in full zombie regalia in a car wash. It was very dramatic and very fun, but I wasn’t in high heels for this one. If you can do it in heels, that’s always a plus.
How does it feel to be a sex symbol?
I don’t think I am a sex symbol. If I was a sex symbol, how would I feel about that? I think that it’s all other people’s projection. It can be fun, but it should never be taken too seriously.
What do you find sexy?
What do I find sexy in the world? I think I find the sun sexy. I think it’s sexy to lie around on the beach all day and have absolutely nothing to do. I think that’s sexy.
What are sexier scenes like to shoot on a movie set?
They are awkward. I wouldn’t wish love scenes on people. They are way too difficult to process. You just have to do them and not think about them.
How much fun did you have shooting Surrogates?
We shot a lot of the movie in Boston, which is a real gritty city where the people are great. I had a driver who had a duel life as a cage fighter, so he was certainly a lot of fun to hang out with every day. We were also near New York, so we could always disappear and visit the Big Apple if we wanted to. It was a big movie, so the sets were elaborate and it was bizarre to play these robots.
Why is it difficult to play a robot?
It’s difficult to play a robot and still keep drama within a scene because what’s robotic is not necessarily dramatic. However, it’s certainly interesting to watch a bunch of robots sitting around talking to each other. It’s an interesting concept to say the least. Playing a robot was a tricky challenge because you have to cut out any idiosyncrasies we have as human beings. You can’t slouch or shake your arms when you move. Robots are clipped, manicured and purposeful in their movements – and there was always someone on set to tell us if we weren’t doing it right.
What was it like to work alongside Bruce Willis?
That was a great experience. He’s the consummate action star and he’s a very funny man. He’s very similar to a lot of the characters he plays and it was a lot of fun to work with him. It was really interesting to see him in the dynamic of the set when he was there.
With the Surrogates DVD and Blu-Ray released soon, how much of a fan of DVDs and Blu-Ray are you?
I’ve just bought a Blu-Ray player and I’m looking forward to using it more. You know what? I love being able to watch movies whenever I feel like it, which is one of the joys of DVDs and Blu-Ray. You can just put on a movie whenever you fancy, which is a luxury that we take for granted – and it’s great.
What DVDs should everyone have in their collection?
I love the way that you can watch a whole season of a TV show in one sitting on DVD. In that respect, I really like shows like True Blood and Mad Men. However, when it comes to movies, everyone should have Blade Runner, The Matrix and Surrogates in their DVD collection.
Does this mean you are a big fan of sci-fi?
I’m not really, but Blade Runner and The Matrix are epic movies that have changed modern cinema. You should have some other classics in your collection, too.
SURROGATES is Available on Blu-ray & DVD January 26th!
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In anticipation of the January 26th release of SURROGATES on Blu-ray & DVD, we present you with these Factoids! How was the robotic look of the surrogates achieved? What is director Jonathan Mostow working on now? Answers to these questions and more are all inside!
FACTOIDS
• First-time author Robert Venditti came up with the unique premise while working at Top Shelf Publications in their shipping warehouse in suburban Atlanta.
• “SURROGATES” was filmed on location in Massachusetts, primarily in Boston and surrounding suburbs.
• In addition to mounting the film in several neighborhoods around Boston—the Leather District, the Financial District, the South End, Chestnut Hill, and the home of his alma mater, Cambridge, among them—director Jonathan Mostow also filmed in such Boston suburbs as Worcester, Taunton and Hopedale.
• Studies led the film’s scripters to a Japanese scientist named Hiroshi Ishiguro, who has been using a plastic version of himself to lecture around the world without leaving his Osaka office. They also uncovered a rhesus monkey in North Carolina that has been wired to make a robot in Kyoto walk, merely by thinking.
• The actual robotic look of the main cast and hundreds of extras appearing in the film came to life through the combined efforts of the film’s two makeup departments—the key makeup under the guidance of Oscar®-winner Jeff Dawn (“Terminator 2: Judgment Day”), and the special prosthetic designs courtesy of another Oscar winner, Berger (“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”).
• Some of Howard Berger’s unique designs included the crucified corpse of the surrogate Greer after it’s destroyed; shotgun wounds that graphically reveal the mechanical innards of the robotic doubles.
• Director Jonathan Mostow directed “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, which earned $450 million in global receipts in the continuation of one of Hollywood’s most fruitful franchises.
• The Surrogates Blu-ray contains the DVD extras plus exclusive bonus features that go into the heart of the film’s intriguing premise: A More Perfect You: The Science of Surrogates, Breaking the Frame: A Graphic Novel Comes to Life, and Four Deleted Scenes
• In addition to his film and television work, director Jonathan Mostow also recently created, for Virgin Comics, The Megas, a four-issue graphic novel series set in an alternative reality, in which the United States is ruled by a monarchy.
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In anticipation of the January 26th release of SURROGATES on Blu-ray & DVD, Disney presents a first look at the bonus features!
Featurette: Best Version of Yourself (Bonus)
Deleted Scene: Apologies & Theories (Bonus)
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Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL), a global character-based entertainment and licensing company founded in 1939, announced that at a special meeting held this morning, Marvel stockholders approved the adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger entered into by Marvel and The Walt Disney Company (“Disney”), which provides for a merger in which Marvel will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Disney. Marvel anticipates that the merger, which, based on the closing price of Disney’s common stock on December 30, 2009, has an estimated value of approximately $4.3 billion, will be completed today after the close of the market.The completion of the merger is subject to satisfaction of remaining conditions disclosed in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus filed by Disney with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424 on December 2, 2009.
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ROY E. DISNEY, KEY FIGURE IN REVITALIZING THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY AND DISNEY’S ANIMATION LEGACY, DIES AT AGE 79; MULTI-FACETED FORMER DISNEY VICE CHAIRMAN WAS A LEADING BUSINESSMAN, PHILANTHROPIST, FILMMAKER AND SAILOR
Roy Edward Disney, son of Disney Studios co-founder Roy O. Disney, and nephew of Walt Disney, passed away today (12/16/09) at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, California, following a year-long battle with stomach cancer. He was 79 years old. Disney was a successful businessman, philanthropist, filmmaker, and award-winning sailor, who played a key role in the revitalization of The Walt Disney Company and Disney’s animation legacy. He was associated with the Company over a 56-year period, and from 1984 – 2003, served as vice chairman of the Company’s board of directors, and chairman of the Studio’s Animation Department. In recent years, he held the title of director emeritus and consultant for the Company.
As head of Disney Animation, Disney helped to guide the Studio to a new golden age of animation with an unprecedented string of artistic and box office successes that included “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” and “The Lion King.” He personally executive produced “Fantasia/2000,” a sequel to the 1940 Disney classic, and served in a similar capacity on a number of recent animated shorts, including the 2004 Oscar®-nominated “Destino,” based on storyboards and original art by the iconic artist Salvador Dali. In the area of live-action films, Disney and his wife, Leslie DeMeuse Disney, most recently executive produced the 2008 feature documentary, “Morning Light,” which followed a group of young sailors as they competed in the grueling Transpac race from Los Angeles to Honolulu.
His philanthropic activities included sponsorship of the Roy E. Disney Center for the Performing Arts at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center, part of Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, is scheduled to open in spring, 2010.
Commenting on the announcement, Bob Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, said, “On behalf of everyone at Disney, we are saddened by the loss of our friend and colleague Roy E. Disney. He was much more than a valued 56-year Company veteran – Roy’s true passion and focus were preserving and building upon the amazing legacy of Disney animation that was started by his father and uncle. Roy’s commitment to the art of animation was unparalleled and will always remain his personal legacy and one of his greatest contributions to Disney’s past, present and future.”
John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, added, “I first met Roy when I was still an animation student at CalArts. Not only did I consider him a personal friend, but he was a great man who believed deeply in the art of animation. He put his heart and soul into preserving Disney’s legendary past, while helping to move the art of animation into the modern age by embracing new technology. Roy was a visionary and passionate supporter of the art form, and he was all about quality. I was always impressed that he would make time for someone like me when I was fresh out of college, and he continued to support and encourage me throughout my career.”
Stanley Gold, president, Shamrock Holdings, said, “Roy and I enjoyed a 35-year friendship and partnership that was simply special. We faced many business challenges together, had fun in the process, and enjoyed a wide variety of professional successes. Roy was a man who was steadfastly loyal to his principles and to his friends. He was a gracious, humble gentleman who could make the tough decisions life sometimes requires. He carried the torch high and proud, and the world is a better place for his tireless efforts. I will miss him greatly.
Roy Edward Disney was born in Los Angeles on January 10, 1930 to Roy O. Disney and Edna Francis Disney. His father and his uncle, Walt Disney, co-founded the Disney entertainment business in 1923.
After attending Harvard School and Pomona College, Disney launched his entertainment industry career in 1952, working as an assistant film editor on the “Dragnet” TV series.
He joined The Walt Disney Studios in 1953 as an assistant film editor, where his credits included the landmark Academy Award®-winning True-Life Adventures features, “The Living Desert” and “The Vanishing Prairie.” As a writer and production associate, he received Oscar® nominations for his work on the short subject, “Mysteries of the Deep” in 1959, and in 2003 for his work as executive producer for “Destino.”
Disney produced and directed some 35 other TV and theatrical production, including the landmark 1968 documentary, “Varda, the Peregrine Falcon,” before leaving in 1977 to become an independent producer and investor.
In 1978, Disney founded Shamrock Holdings, Inc., a wholly-owned family enterprise headquartered in Burbank, California, which specializes in private equity, real estate, and public equities investing. He served as chairman of the company, which has approximately $1.5 billion of capital committed to funds.
An avid competitive sailor, Disney holds several elapsed-time records for offshore races in the Pacific Ocean, including multiple wins in the 2,225-mile Transpac.
Among his many professional and philanthropic activities, Disney served on the board of trustees of California Institute of the Arts, the advisory board of St. Joseph Medical Center, and the board of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, Inc. Additionally, he was an advisory member of the board of directors of the United States Committee for UNICEF, chairman emeritus of the board of directors of the Peregrine Fund, a member of the board of trustees of Ronald McDonald House charities, and a member of the board of trustees of the American Ireland Fund.
In 1993, he received the Winsor McCay Award (a special “Annie Award”) from ASIFA-Hollywood (The International Animated Film Society). The McCay Award is for lifetime achievement in animation. In 1997, Disney was awarded the first “Mort Walker Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Cartoon Industry,” by the Boca Raton International Museum of Cartoon Art.
Disney received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from his alma mater Pomona College in 1998. In 2002, he received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Mercy College in New York. The following year, he was presented with the Trustees’ Award and honorary Doctor of the Arts degree from CalArts.
Among his other honors, Disney was named a recipient of the 1999 National Catholic Education Association Elizabeth Ann Seton Award, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to children and education. In April 1999, Disney received the Henry Bergh Humane Award from the ASPCA, and in spring 2000, he was awarded the Inaugural Environmental Leadership Award from the Audubon Society.
Disney is survived by his wife, Leslie, and four children from his marriage to Patricia Dailey Disney – Tim Disney, Roy Patrick Disney, Abigail Disney, and Susan Disney Lord. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be private, followed by cremation. His ashes will be scattered at sea. Plans for a Life Celebration will be announced shortly. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California.
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On January 26th, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment releases SURROGATES on Blu-ray & DVD! Director Jonathan Mostow (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, U-571) brings Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele’s futuristic graphic novel to life in an action-packed murder mystery starring Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, James Cromwell, Ving Rhames, and Rosamund Pike! Bonus material includes directors commentary, an in-depth look at the creation of the superhuman versions of the cast, deleted scenes, and more!
Bruce Willis is Back in Action in the Adrenaline-Fueled Thriller
SURROGATES
Available on Blu-ray™ Hi-Def and DVD on January 26, 2010
“High-Octane Action” – Matt Goldberg, Collider.com
Action superstar Bruce Willis (the Die Hard franchise) headlines another spectacular thrill ride in the gripping film Surrogates, coming to Blu-ray® Hi-Def and DVD on January 26, 2010 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. Directed by Jonathan Mostow (Terminator Three: Rise of the Machines, U-571), Surrogates is a heart-pounding futuristic tale of splintered identity, treachery and murder. Both DVD and Blu-ray editions come with an array of bonus features that not only invite viewers to delve deep into the darkly imaginative world of Surrogates, but describe how this futuristic idea is not such a far-off reality.
Based on the enormously popular graphic novel created by Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele, Surrogates also stars Radha Mitchell (Silent Hill), Ving Rhames (Mission Impossible), James Cromwell (Spider-man 3) and Rosamund Pike (An Education).
Synopsis
FBI agent Tom Greer (Bruce Willis) lives in a world where robotic surrogates stand in for people, protecting them from violence, contagion—and the appearance of aging. These picture perfect, real-life avatars—fit, good-looking, remotely controlled machines that assume their operator’s life role—enable the population to experience life vicariously from the comfort and safety of their own homes. Greer and his partner, Agent Peters (Radha Mitchell), are called in to probe the mysterious death of a college student, whose life ended when his surrogate was destroyed. When Greer’s surrogate is damaged in the investigation, he ventures out of his apartment for the first time in decades. In a world of masks, Greer must decide who is real and who can be trusted.
Bonus Features
Surrogates on DVD includes:
• Commentary with director Jonathan Mostow
• “I Will Not Bow” Music Video by Breaking Benjamin
The Surrogates Blu-ray contains the DVD extras plus exclusive bonus features that go into the heart of the film’s intriguing premise:
• A More Perfect You: The Science of Surrogates — The world of surrogates is not far away! Mind-controlled robotics is already in use in today. This featurette explores the realities of this technology and offers an in-depth look into the creation of the superhuman versions of the cast created for this film.
• Breaking the Frame: A Graphic Novel Comes to Life — A visual exploration of the evolution of Surrogates from graphic novel to major motion picture from the earliest designs and sketches. Pivotal sequences come to life in a dazzling 3-D animated experience.
• Four Deleted Scenes
Surrogates is priced at $39.99 (U.S.) and $44.99 (Canada) on Blu-ray Hi-Def, and $29.99 (U.S.) and $35.99 (Canada) on DVD.
Blu-ray
Suggested retail price: U.S. $39.99, Canada $44.99
Feature run time: 88 Minutes
Rating: USA: PG13 - for intense sequences of violence, disturbing images, language, sexuality and a drug-related scene; Canada: 14A - Violence, Not Recommended for Young Children
Bonus materials not rated
Aspect ratio:
Sound: English 5.1 DTS-HD
Languages: English, Spanish, French
DVD
Suggested retail price: U.S. $29.99, Canada $35.99
Feature run time: 88 Minutes
Rating: USA: PG13 - for intense sequences of violence, disturbing images, language, sexuality and a drug-related scene; Canada: 14A - Violence, Not Recommended for Young Children
Bonus materials not rated
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound
Languages: English, Spanish, French
STREET DATE: January 26, 2010
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