“Alice in Wonderland: 60th Anniversary Special Edition” Combo Pack

On February 1st, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released the beloved classic Alice in Wonderland: 60th Anniversary Special Edition on Blu-ray and DVD!  I’ve been wanting to add this classic to our family movie collection for quite some time, so I was thrilled when it arrived on my doorstep!  You can purchase the Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack online and in stores, retailing for $39.99 in the US and $44.99 in Canada.  Available is also a Standard Definition Movie Download for $29.99 in the US and $35.99 in Canada or High-Definition Movie Download for $39.99 in the US and $44.99 in Canada.

You won’t want to miss out on this all-time high following the record-breaking theatrical performance of Disney’s epic live-action fantasy adventure that is Alice in Wonderland.  The new Alice in Wonderland: 60th Anniversary Special Edition takes viewers on magical adventures like never before with a fantastically odd and fun-filled world of colorful characters in brilliant high-definition and crystal clear sound.  Additionally, the disc comes specially-packed with never-before-seen footage hosted by Kathryn Beaumont, an all-new interactive game and more.

In the film, viewers can look forward to following Alice’s adventures as she chases the White Rabbit on a magical journey into the fantastical world of Wonderland.  It’s a topsy-turvy place that gets “curiouser and curiouser” as Alice’s madcap adventures introduce her to some truly unforgettable characters – the Mad Hatter, March Hare, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts and more.  It’s a great animated story that has pleased the eyes and ears of old and new generations alike.

The animated version of ALICE IN WONDERLAND still remains an all-time American-favorite to this day. Produced by Walt Disney himself and based primarily on Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland with a few additional elements from Through the Looking-Glass, the film was made complete with help from filmmakers Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson and Hamilton Luske (Cinderella, Peter Pan) and the voices of Kathryn Beaumont as Alice (also the voice of Wendy Darling in Peter Pan), Ed Wynn (Mary Poppin; Cinderella) as the Mad Hatter, J. Pat O’Malley (One Hundred and One Dalmatians; The Jungle Book) as Tweedledee and Tweeledum, Verna Felton (Cinderella; Sleeping Beauty; The Jungle Book) as Queen of Hearts, Sterling Holloway (The Jungle Book; Sleeping Bueaty; The Aristocats) as the Cheshire Cat , Richard Haydn (The Sound of Music; Young Frankenstein) as Caterpillar and Bill Thompson (Lady and the Tramp, Peter Pan; Sleeping Beauty) as the White Rabbit.

Walt Disney first created the idea of creating Lewis Carroll’s ALICE IN WONDERLAND book into a full-length animated movie back in 1923 when he was just a young twenty-one year filmmaker trying to make a name for himself. After more than 30-years in the making, and after four successful animated releases under his belt (i.e., Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Fantasia and Bambi), Walt finally released his true vision for the animated film Alice in Wonderland.

This 60^th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray release of ALICE IN WONDERLAND celebrates many of Walt’s accomplishments with this film showcasing its amazing artwork,spectacular songs and dazzling animation. And be sure to dive deeper into the rabbit hole and check-out all of its unique bonus features.

SYNOPSIS

ALICE IN WONDERLAND is a story about a young girl who grows bored listening to her older sister read aloud from a history book about William I of England. While dozing off, she dreams about falling down a rabbit hole (“Wonderland”) that is populated by a peculiar series of misadventures. The always sensible Alice whirls through a world of contradictions, imagination and surprises where she encounters amazing creatures – including a pocket watch-toting White Rabbit, the imperious Queen of Hearts and her army of playing cards, a Cheshire Cat with a lingering smile in an unforgettable fantasy, and the off-kilter Madhatter – and tests her sensibility and courage. In the end it’s all a dream, she is awakened by her sister’s voice, and as the two of them return home for teatime where she realizes that perhaps logic and reason exist for purpose. And in return, her sister realizes affectionatelythat Alice is still young, but will grow-up in time.

BLU-RAY DISC BONUS FEATURES:

Brand-New Blu-ray Features:

– Through the Keyhole: A Companion’s Guide to Wonderland – View the movie in this special mode and discover references to the original Lewis Carroll classic.  Kathryn Beaumont introduces.

– Disney View – Watch the movie in this expanded viewing experience with new Disney art in the wings of the screen.

– Painting the Roses Red Game – Help paint the roses red in the Queen’s garden.  Careful, or someone could lose their head.

– Walt Disney Color TV Introduction (1959) – A never-before-seen color TV intro by Walt.

– Reference Footage: Alice and the Doorknob – Kathryn Beaumont, the voice of Alice, provides an introduction to this newly discovered reference footage of Alice talking to the doorknob.

– Pencil Test: Alice Shrinks – Kathryn Beaumont introduces a newly discovered pencil test of Alice shrinking.

Plus, Classic Features:

– “I’m Odd” Newly Discovered Cheshire Cat Song + Intro

– Thru the Mirror Mickey Mouse Animated Short (Now in Hi-Def)

– Art Gallery (with new design and new images)

– Reflections on Alice

– Operation Wonderland (Now in Hi-Def)

– One Hour in Wonderland

– An Alice Comedy: Alice’s Wonderland

– Original Theatrical Trailers (1951 & 1974)

– Walt Disney TV Introduction (1954 & 1964)

– The Fred Waring Show (Excerpt)

– Deleted Materials:

– – Deleted Scene: Pig and Pepper

– – From Wonderland to Neverland: The Evolution of a Song – An entertaining look at how a song originally written for Alice inWonderland, finally found its home in another Disney favorite, Peter Pan.

– – Deleted Storyboard Concept: Alice Daydreams in the Park – Deleted storyboard sequence set to music.

– – Original Song Demos: “Beware The Jabberwock”; “Everything Has A Useness”; “So They Say”; “Beautiful Soup”; “Dream Caravan”; “If You’ll Believe In Me”

MOVIES DOWNLOAD BONUS FEATURES (SD & HD):

– Pencil Test: Alice Shrinks

– Thru The Mirror Mickey Mouse Animated Short

– Reflections on Alice

DISC SPECIFICATIONS:

Street Date:  February 1 2011
Suggested Retail Price:  Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) $39.99 U.S./ $44.99 Canada
Standard Definition Movie Download $29.99 U.S./$35.99 Canada
High-Definition Movie Download $39.99 U.S./$44.99 Canada
Feature Run Time:  Approximately 75 minutes
Rated:  G
Aspect Ratio:  1:33:1; Adjusted to fit 16×9 Television
Sound:  5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound, DisneyEnhanced Home Theater Mix, Original Theatrical Sound Track
Languages:  English, French & Spanish
Subtitles:  French & Spanish

MY THOUGHTS

I remember watching Alice in Wonderland as a little girl and I loved the different characters, especially the Mad Hatter!  It was really awesome to watch my boys enjoy watching it as well.  They loved the singing flowers and of course the white rabbit.  I am amazed by how many Bonus Features Disney packed on to the Blu-ray Disc.  Now that I’ve gone to Blu-ray, I don’t now how I was without it for so long!  The sound and picture quality are 200 times better, not to mention the many Bonus Features you get on the Blu-ray that aren’t available on DVD.  I love that Disney has the Combo Packs though.  We can watch the Blu-ray at home and the DVDs in the car.  My favorite Bonus Feature in the pack was “One Hour in Wonderland.”  Thank you so much to Walt Disney Home Entertainment for a fun review opportunity on The Mommy-Files!

I received an “Alice in Wonderland: 60th Anniversary Edition” Combo Pack from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment to facilitate this review.  All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.