Click here or scroll down for Tuesday's new release chart.

July 14, 2005 - This Friday night, the Disney Channel will air a special preview of the latest Platinum Edition pop cover music video, "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" performed by the Disney Channel Circle of Stars. The actors-turned-musicians will be seen in full on the Cinderella DVD in October.

Disc art has just been posted for The Muppets' Wizard of Oz.

July 13, 2005 - Whether or not you see their connection to Disneyland's golden anniversary, snowhite8 fills you in on yesterday's three new DVDs in her latest Weekly Video Update.

Tuesday's New Releases and Deals

This Week's New Disney DVDs Amazon.com BestBuy (Review) $10.49 $9.99 (Review) $10.49 $9.99 (Review) $13.99 $14.99

Temporarily Reduced in Price (for Disneyland's 50th Anniversary) - Just $12.50 at Amazon.com: A Bug's Life (Review), The Parent Trap (1961) (Review), 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Review), The Princess Diaries (Review), Tron (Review), Bedknobs and Broomsticks (Review), The Ugly Dachshund (Review), Darby O'Gill and the Little People (Review), The Apple Dumpling Gang (Review), The Parent Trap (1998), The Gnome-Mobile (Review), Freaky Friday (2003) (Review), Summer Magic (Review), That Darn Cat! (Review), In Search of the Castaways (Review), The Nightmare Before Christmas (Review), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (Review) • Just $9.99 at BestBuy.com (Up to $13 off!): Aladdin: Platinum Edition (Review), Brother Bear (Review), Mulan: Special Edition (Review), Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (Review), Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers (Review), The Haunted Mansion (Review), The Country Bears • BestBuy.com: Free in-store pickup, starts Tuesday for new DVDs. • Amazon.com: Free shipping on $25 or more. (All 3 new DVDs.)

July 12, 2005 - In honor of Disneyland's 50th Anniversary celebration, Amazon.com is running a 2 for $25 sale on Disney DVDs. Among the discounted titles are 2-disc collector sets A Bug's Life, The Parent Trap (original), 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Princess Diaries, Tron, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit, as well as the recent Hayley Mills discs Summer Magic, That Darn Cat!, and In Search of the Castaways. As always, orders of $25 or more are shipped for free within the United States.

With Fox's feature film flaming on at the box office, Buena Vista's recent release of "Fantastic Four": The Complete 1994-95 Animated Television Series seems rather opportune. Our in-depth review looks at this four-disc set of the Saturday morning cartoon adapted from the Marvel comics series of the same name. The Four are a group of humans who obtain potent superpowers through an outer space mishap, and these twenty-six episodes present their origins and encounters with countless villains. While the studio's DVD treatment is refreshingly comprehensive, in neither of the two seasons is the show too compelling. The formulaic peril is exceedingly repetitive and the abundance of characters makes it tough to follow for those unacquainted with the source texts. Still, fans of these impressionable personalities, superhero folklore or animated action series at large will likely want to read our full review.

Before DVDs, the most popular five-inch disc around was the audio CD. Aaron Wallace has a thorough review of one of these items, titled Disneymania 2. The second installment in the series of classic Disney tune pop covers branches out a bit with big band jazz, blues, and techno, but the critic states the eclectic makeup is to its benefit.

DVD Exclusive reports that DisneyToon Studios just keeps on truckin' in their task of creating direct-to-video features. Following a profitable performance by Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas last fall, production on more three-dimensional CG-animated films are in the works, including the seemingly unpromising outing where Tinker Bell speaks for 2007. For Kronk's New Groove, a 2-D feature expected in December and recently previewed on ABC, the studio secured five essential original cast members. The same source also writes about the production of one featurette you can expect when Herbie: Fully Loaded comes to DVD in the fall.

July 11, 2005 - The fourth season of Touchstone Television's popular hourlong spy drama "Alias" will come to DVD on October 25, 2005. The six-disc set will hold all 22 episodes from last season and carry a $59.99 SRP. It is now up for preorder for 30% off at Amazon.com.

The first of several new DVD reviews coming your way this week is now posted. Ice Princess is a straightforward film about a high school senior who must decide between academics and her newfound passion for figure skating. The production caters to young girls and that's the only demographic it's likely to please. The DVD delivers flawless audio/video but only a handful of bonus features, most notably a young cast member commentary.

July 9, 2005 - Disc art has just been posted for the direct-to-video animated films Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch and My Scene Goes Hollywood: The Movie. Each makes its debut on August 30th.

July 8, 2005 - Today's new DVD review puts Vintage Mickey into the spotlight. This disc, to be released next Tuesday, delivers nine of the best black-and-white Mickey Mouse shorts and just that.

With the US theatrical release just over a month away, Disney has opened up an official website for Valiant, the CGI war comedy imported from Britain's Vanguard Animation. The site currently features a film synopsis, character profiles and video clips, a three-page photo gallery, and the trailer for this underpromoted upcoming flick.

July 7, 2005 - Following last Monday's review of "Under the Umbrella Tree" Volume 1, distributor Cinerio Entertainment has announced a price reduction on this and upcoming DVD installments of the late '80s/early '90s Disney Channel children's series. Each disc (running roughly 75 minutes long) will now be sold for $14.95, 25% off the previous price of $19.95. Those who have already bought Cinerio's exclusive "Umbrella Tree" DVDs at the higher price will receive by e-mail a promo code for an additional $5 off for each DVD purchased.

July 6, 2005 - Our Summertime Screencap Challenge has ended and the randomly-selected winner is James from Australia, who will receive The Even Stevens Movie. Thanks to all who entered! The full screencaps and their sources have been revealed here.

July 5, 2005 - UD's 2005 Disney Box Office Thread has been updated with a report and analysis of the 4-day holiday weekend's totals for Herbie: Fully Loaded and Howl's Moving Castle.

Disney has released a plethora of artwork from upcoming DVDs today. Accordingly, we have just posted a thread featuring menus and bonus features from September DVDs including the sixth and seventh Disney Princess volumes and Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie. Earlier today, our Cinderella Preview Page was updated with 12 new bonus features stills and six menu screencaps from fall's Platinum Edition set. Also, the press release thread for Little Einsteins: Our Big Huge Adventure now contains screencaps of the menus and an extra from this feature-length launch of a new animated series. The DVD, from Disney and the creators of Baby Einstein, is due August 23rd.

All are reminded that today is the last day to enter UD's Summertime Screencap Challenge for your chance to win the summer Disney movie of your choice on DVD. Entries must be received by 11:59 PM Eastern.

Meanwhile, Touchstone's sci-fi/comedy The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has been formally announced. The PG-rated film's single-disc, THX-certified DVD release will be offered in both widescreen (2.35:1) and fullscreen flavors on September 13th. Bonus features will include two audio commentaries, a making-of documentary, deleted scenes of the fake and real varieties, a sing-along of the dolphins' "So Long and Thanks For All the Fish" song, Marvin's Hangman Game, an additional guide entry, and a DTS track.

Recent Disney DVD Reviews:
• Heidi - The full 191-minute Disney Channel miniseries comes to DVD with no bonus features. Scenic, but with various shortcomings.
• Spirited Away - This 2-disc set of Hayao Miyazaki's animated odyssey satisfies with quality over quantity.
• "Under the Umbrella Tree" Volume 1 - Five classic 15-minute episodes of the late '80s/early '90s Disney Channel children's series about a woman and her three friendly animal roommates, available exclusively from Canadian distributor Cinerio.
• Cadet Kelly - Middle-of-the-road production offers a few surprises and a generally enjoyable time. Boasts some much welcome extras, including a cast commentary, a multi-level multi-player game, a DVD-ROM party planner, and a brief featurette.

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