Disney Movie Reviews, Disney DVD/Blu-ray Reviews, Disney Channel Reviews

Welcome to Magical Mountain's Disney Movie Review Section. Here you will find detailed reviews of your favorite Disney movies,Disney DVDs, and Disney Channel shows by our staff and guest columists. To get started on your magical journey into the world of Disney movies and Disney television just click on any of the Disney movie titles below!

Latest Disney Movie, DVD/Blu-rary, Disney Channel Reviews

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Toy Story 3 (Four-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)    (Roger Longenbach)  11/2/2010 2:32 PM EST On November 2, Walt Disney and Pixar released Toy Story 3 on Blu-Ray, DVD and iTunes.  Also available in a combo pack with both a two disc Blu-Ray release, DVD copy and an iTunes download of the movie.   The currently highest grossing animated feature of 2010 is now out for inclusion in your film library.  Toy Story 3 is the last...

Disneynature: Crimson Wing - The Mystery of the Flamingo    (Roger Longenbach)  10/20/2010 1:16 PM EST On October 19, Disneynature releases The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos, which is another in their line of documentary releases involving true nature, a hallmark of the time when Walt Disney was running the company.  The Crimson Wing, which was not released theatrically in the United States, follows the story of a lesser flamingo. ...

Disneynature: Oceans    (Roger Longenbach)  10/20/2010 1:09 PM EST On October 19, Disneynature releases Oceans, the second in the Disneynature labeled theatrical releases. A follow-up to Earth, Oceans focuses on the seven oceans on our planet. So similarly to Earth, Oceans follows several undersea creatures in their native habitat under the sea. Beginning at the Galapogos Islands, you will see what happens to...

Phineas & Ferb: Very Perry Christmas    (Brian Ramsey)  10/12/2010 3:07 PM EST Phineas and Ferb love Santa Claus, and they realize that Santa Clause doesn’t get the thanks he deserves. They decide that they’re going to rectify this and show him that there are people who are thankful to him. The boys construct a rest stop on the top of their house.  They also try to convince all of the residents of Danvil...

Beauty and the Beast (Three-Disc Diamond Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo)    (Roger Logenbach)  10/6/2010 10:06 AM EST Released on October 5, 2010, the Academy Award winning film Beauty and the Beast has finally come to high definition in this Diamond Edition release.  While it may seem like a cliché so say this, it’s true:  You haven’t seen Beauty and the Beast until you’ve seen it on Blu-Ray high definition.  Even beyond th...

Legend of the Seeker: The Complete Second Season    (Chris Rebholz)  10/6/2010 9:50 AM EST The difficult thing about fantasy fiction is that it appeals to a small niche of our culture. So naturally it is equally difficult to translate that fiction for a general audience. When the show Legend of the Seeker first came out it was a hard sell for TV audiences. Based in the “Sword of Truth” book series by Terry Goodkind, the show ...

The Black Cauldron: 25th Anniversary Special Edition    (Brian Ramsey)  9/23/2010 8:19 PM EST Fantasy, Magic, and fun are all brewed together in Disney’s legendary adventure, The Black Cauldron, created from a new digital master.  This 25th anniversary edition features vibrant picture presentation as well as includes new bonus features.   Whoever releases the mysterious black cauldrons powers will be invincible! &nb...

Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue    (Marco Chacon)  9/23/2010 2:55 PM EST Disney has a franchise of Tinker bell movies that continue her story as a "tinker fairy".  She builds makeshift devices, and is part of a group of generally likable, winged little folk.  The story this time has her visiting England, "the mainland", where she goes to a "summer camp".  The summer camp...

Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam - Extended Edition    (Stephen Compall)  9/17/2010 10:14 AM EST If you feel like you’re watching an extended music video, you might be watching tween spectacular Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam. It’s a lot of music, which I suppose you will enjoy if you like the sort of original music that appears in Disney Channel original films, decorated with a little bit of story. Since I assume you know what you&rsq...

Toy Story 3    (Marco Chacon)  7/2/2010 12:06 PM EST It is clear now that the Toy Story movies have a definite formula -- we begin with a play-time scene and then cut over to a "day-in-the-life" of toys.  There is some potential horrible fate though -- being lost, being sent to Japan as part of a toy museum exhibit, or being thrown out; and the toys must band together to rescue one or ...

Disney's StarStruck Extended Edition    (Stephen Compall)  6/12/2010 6:04 PM EST It is clear from the opening seconds of StarStruck that the artists involved in its creation have quite a handle on precisely what its audience wants.  We see the bright neon of stardom in the big city.  We hear the fabulous fantasy object Christopher Wilde (Sterling Knight, 17 Again ) wowing his audience with the opening strains of op...

Alice In Wonderland    (Nathan M Rose)  6/1/2010 12:17 PM EST It is hard to imagine a live action "Alice in Wonderland" film being directed more spectacularly by anyone other than Mr. Tim Burton himself. In his prime, he created fiercely creative works that mixed a somewhat grim vision with fairy-tale sensibilities. His artistic vision that is available in released stills made this apparent.  B...

Marvel Iron Man: The Complete Animated Series    (Marco Chacon)  5/3/2010 7:21 PM EST Marvel tried bringing a big name to the small screen in the form of the 1994 Iron Man animated series.  In case you do not know, Iron Man is the alter ego of Tony Stark, a brilliant playboy industrialist who created the suit of armor originally when he was captured in whatever the latest war was, although originally, it was Vietnam.  He n...

X-Men, Volume Five (Marvel DVD Comic Book Collection)    (Marco Chacon)  5/3/2010 7:17 PM EST The 1990's were sort of a golden age for TV animated super heroes.  The DC cartoons versions of Superman and Batman were extremely successful, and Marvel tried its hand with one of its premier titles:  the X-Men.  This was years before the movie and was the second attempt at a cartoon version of the franchise. I was able t...

The Great Mouse Detective (Mystery in the Mist Edition)    (Nathan M Rose)  4/20/2010 10:00 AM EST Being a sucker for Disney Animation and Victorian set stories, I could not wait to see the new edition of Disney's The Great Mouse Detective on DVD, The Mystery in the Mist Edition. Inspired by the adventures of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes, The Great Mouse Detective: Mystery in the Mist Edition marks ...

Toy Story 2 (Two-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo)    (Marco Chaco)  3/29/2010 7:24 PM EST I remember going to see Toy Story 2 in the theater, and I remember going a sense of trepidation that they would never be able to live up to the first one.  However, I remember coming out elated because it did!  Some people find it arguably better; but at the very least, Toy Story 2 is a sequel that lives up to the original -- and the orig...

Toy Story (Two-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo)    (Marco Chacon)  3/24/2010 6:55 PM EST Having already passed it's "10th Anniversary Edition", I think we are not only past the spoiler date for Toy Story, but are likely past the point where discussing the story is even all that important. Simply put, if you have kids, it is a must-have. If you like Pixar in general, it is a must have. If you have a Blu-Ray player, this is...

Castle in the Sky (Two-Disc Special Edition)    (Marco Chacon)  3/23/2010 10:11 PM EST The fourth Miyazaki title in the DVD collector's edition -- Laputa: Castle in the Sky -- rounds out the collection. If you do not know, Miyazaki is the wizard of mainstream Japanese animation behind Ghibli studios, and it is the creative mind behind a long stream of hits that manage to be fiercely inventive, visually stunning, and family friend...

Ponyo (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)    (Marco Chacon)  3/18/2010 6:27 PM EST Miyazaki is the world's wizard of mainstream Japanese animation. He makes movies that are blockbusters in Japan and then gets lavish studio releases in the US. His track record is strong, and his latest work is a masterpiece. Ponyo is a story crafted in the mold of the Hans Christian Anderson fairytale, The Little Mermaid. It has been 'tran...

The Princess and The Frog (Three Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo with Digital...    (Marco Chacon)  3/15/2010 8:31 PM EST Disney's Holiday 2009 animated film, The Princess and The Frog, comes to DVD and Blu-ray this week. This is the first Disney 2D release in quite some time. In the realm of animation, there might be other contenders, but in the realm of children's animated movies, Disney is the king; and all the more so when they acquired Pixar. Across ...

Kiki's Delivery Service (Two-Disc Special Edition)    (Marco Chacon)  3/15/2010 7:31 PM EST Japanese animation giant, Hayao Miyazaki, effortlessly creates imaginary worlds and brings them to life. Kiki's Delivery Service is based on a book by the same name; and it translates as Witch's Delivery Service, by Japanese children's author, Eiko Kadono. It was released in 1989 and won a slew of awards. Disney has re-released it as on...

My Neighbor Totoro (Two-Disc Special Edition)    (Marco Chacon)  3/11/2010 7:31 PM EST Most other studios do not know animation that way Disney does.  But their purchase of Pixar, and their management of US-region Studio, Studio Ghibli (the Japanese studio behind Miyazaki), proves that they are dedicated to being not just a top animation house, but the top animation house.  Given their portfolio, I would say they have suc...

Hannah Montana: Miley Says Goodbye    (Nathan M Rose)  3/10/2010 3:23 PM EST With the climatic season finale of Hannah Montana debuting on the Disney Chanel later on this month, Walt Disney Home Entertainment lets the rabid Hannah fans get their fix early -- With Hannah Montana: Miley Says Goodbye. Watch as Miley struggles with her biggest decision yet! Will she leave her rock-star life in Malibu to return home to her ...

Winnie the Pooh: A Valentine for You Special Edition    (Roger Logenbach)  1/10/2010 11:00 AM EST Released on January 5, 2009, this is a special collection of the Valentine’s Day related shows of Winnie the Pooh. Considering that Valentine’s Day is one holiday that is bereft of children’s shows, this video should be one to pick up if you enjoy Winnie the Pooh and would like alternatives for Valentine’s Day. ...

Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie (2009)    (Nathan M Rose)  12/24/2009 10:00 AM EST For the last couple of years the Russo have been making a splash on the Disney Chanel with their sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place. Now this fall as a Disney channel special the Wizards of Waverly place had their own movie which has been released on DVD just in time for the holiday season.  While on vacation, Alex (Selena Gomez) accidentally cas...