Customer Reviews

Winnie the Pooh (Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

We took our 4 year old to see this movie in the theater. It was so cute! We read the original stories at home and it was neat for him to see them come to life on the screen. (Albeit with a few tweaks and changes.) He enjoyed the play on words and seeing the words on the screen. He has since been trying to sound out words more and asking how to spell things. The movie theater had people of all ages in it and we heard more laughter during the movie than we did at the theater during Cars II. It was refreshing to see a kids movie without explosions or violence. I recommended this movie to a lot of friends and for once I didn't have to say "it was a great movie except...". There was nothing in the movie that scared our little one at all. We will be purchasing this DVD as soon as it is available.

I have to say that Winnie the Pooh haven't been much appealing to me like other Disney films and characters have. Mostly relegated to direct-to video market, Pooh is somewhat kiddie fare without much transcendance. Still, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977) remains an endearing classic with excellent stories and appealing characters. The Many Adventures approaches Pooh in a very low-key manner but this is an excellent way to envision Pooh, a low key affair that nontheless provides good quality entertainment for everyone and that's why this film succeds where all the other Pooh films have failed.

When I heard that Winnie the Pooh was returning to theaters this year, I approached the news cautiously, as I said before, Pooh is not my cup of tea and aside from The Many Adventures is just not appealing to grown ups. Here in Latin America the now simply titled "Winnie the Pooh" premiered on May 6 (it opened in the States on July 15). I have to report that Disney Animation Studios did an excellent job with this film. Instead of a compillation of short films like its predecessor, this one takes some A. A. Milne original stories and mesh them in one single long film (although long is not the appropiate word because the film runs barely 70 minutes). Although it's not a compillation of shorts, the film feels a little episodic with Pooh & Co. stumbilng into one problem after another. I won't give away any spoliers but let me tell you that this film not only feels true to its original source, it also feels true to the original film. The same low key approach is seen here so don't expect a grand spectacle like last year's Tangled. The animation is remiscent of the original film with of course a newer quality on it. The characters are endearing and not obnoxious (except for the Owl but only in some scenes) and the Hundred Acre Wood retains that magic quality of the first film. Also the characters address the audience and the voice cast is remarkable. Kids will surely enjoy it and grown ups will also smile looking at this level of innocence and simplicity that will remind them what was to be a kid. The new songs are not memorable but serves the film right.

Video & Audio
Winnie the Pooh looks absolutely spectacular in HD. Detail, colors and contrast are exquisite in every scene, in every character. This is another top-notch transfer from Disney.

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA is also excellent. This is not a bombastic film but sound is great with no signs of compression and good directionality.

Bonus Material
Winnie the Pooh does not come as packed as other Disney titles but has some good bonus material including:

"Winnie the Pooh and his Story too" is a kind of making of featurette of the film that is too short but still informative.
"Deleted Scenes": You have five deleted scenes each one with an introduction from the director.
Bonus Shorts: This BD comes with two shorts. The first one is "The Ballad of Nessie" that accompanied Winnie the Pooh in theaters, the other is Mini Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: Pooh's Balloon that features Pooh, Christopher Robin and a blue balloon.
You also have a sing along option, Disney's song selection and a featurette of how to create a Pooh nursery.

A DVD and a Digital Copy are also included.

Closing Thoughts
Winnie the Pooh is a great film that breathes new life to the old bear. It has a lot going for it and I really recommend you give Pooh a chance especially if you have kids, you won't regret it. The BD features an amazing presentation of the film with stellar picture and sound and a healthy collection of bonus material. Highly Recommended!!

We took our two children for a super extra special treat - a trip to the theater to watch Winnie Pooh, a character they had previously only seen in books. I had high hopes for this movie - and they were exceeded.

I love the animation. I love the styling and the fact that it looks like they are in a book.

I love the story. I love the plot and I love the character development and I love how close to the original books they are.

I love the length. One hour is just long enough to be a sit down movie but not so long my children completely lose interest.

Overall I loved this movie. It was nostalgic, classic, clever, and funny in all the right ways. I don't buy a lot of videos, but this one is definitely going on my shelf!

It wasn't loaded with special effects, blaring music, big splashy stars or explosions. Summer 2011's Disney theatrical release, "Winnie the Pooh," was exactly the kind of animated film Walt Disney was making in the late '50s/early '60s -- not sweeping epics, nor pop music short packages, but simple, glowing stories packed with rich characterizations (both in writing and animation), superb voice work and hummable tunes.

Some found this film to be too much of a throwback, but how many modern films can truly rekindle the texture and charm of a classic without succumbing to the present day trappings and trends? Like the TV series "Seinfeld" was in its deceptively self effacing claim to be "about nothing," Pooh's power lies shines his basic plotlines, only without the cynicism. A.A. Milne's books had slim storylines, too, and attempts to clutter them have met with mixed results.

First and foremost, "Winnie the Pooh" is one of the funniest movies of the year. I don't say this with any hint of irony or sarcasm, it's just true. Without messing around with the characters or updating the humor, you find yourself laughing at the clever "who's on first" wordplay. Pooh and pals may be guileless, a bit deluded and sometimes clueless, but they're not stupid or held to ridicule. This is very, very hard humor to pull off successfully.

The most clueless character of all is Owl, a character never fully realized in past "Poohs" but brought to scene-stealing fervor by the sharp vocal timing of Craig Ferguson, who with narrator John Cleese and Zooey Deschanel, are as far as the voice casting ventured into celebrity (but with respect to suitability, not just fame). Cheers to the creative team for retaining the seemingly endless talents of Jim Cummings as Pooh and Piglet rather than hiring a marquee name and wrecking the character for an easy marketing hook. Tom Kenny also does a wonderfully neurotic Rabbit, and my kids got a kick out of hearing wisps of his Spongebob voice peeking out within the characterization.

The musical score by Robert Rodriguez and Kristen Anderson-Rodriguez (she also voices Kanga) is a tribute to the Sherman Brothers' art of the deceptively simple and infinitely singable song. I can't help but assume that the chorus singing "hunny, hunny..." was a nod to the Wonderful World of Color theme ("color, color...").

The Blu-ray looks marvelous, but I was a little let down by the lack of extras. No commentary, not much behind the scenes stuff, pretty lacking all around. Most interesting were the deleted scenes. Charming as they were, the scenes were cut because, it seems from the explanation, to keep the story focused and evenhanded. Although Owl is a scene stealer, he's never the complete focus. Each character gets a sufficient time to shine, even "B'loon." The filmmakers even resisted padding the feature to make it longer, instead adding on The Ballad of Nessie (another film that could have been released in the early Disney/Pooh days). Historically, "Dumbo" was a short feature too, but it's a gem at its ideal running time.

I can only hope they're saving some additional features for a reissue in the future, because this Pooh should not get lost in a sea of direct-to-video movies. Not to slight them all (many were very nice), but it's pretty crowded out there with Pooh videos. Maybe that's why the title is simply "Winnie the Pooh" with no subtitle, in order to set it apart from the pack.

Why aren't the Pooh movies considered classics?

Love this new Pooh movie which features Eeorye this time (they're had a Piglet and Tigger movie in case you've missed those).

As always the Hundred Acre Wood delivers a heartwarming story of friendship as the gang - Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit, Owl, Piglet, Kanga, Roo, Eeryore, and Christopher Robin - face hurdles in life. On October 25th you'll feel more than just a little rumbly in your tummy Pooh style as you hunger for the newest Winnie the Pooh movie on DVD. This newest theatrically featured movie has all of your most loved A.A. Milnes characters in their Disney made-over form on a lost and found hunt. In this tale Eeyore has lost his tail, and Christopher Robin has gone missing. Though Eeroye's tail is a definite mystery, the friends are sent on a wild goose chance to find him a new one while in the middle of their quest Christopher Robin is captured by the Backson monster.

I have to say my 4YO "scaredy-cat" is afraid of the Backson. He'll bite his nails through the movie hoping the Backson doesn't get his beloved friends of the Hundred Acre Wood; so he especially hates the end when they show an actual Backson. My "brave" little 2YO however LOVES this movie and wants to restart it as soon as it's ended!

Disclaimer: I was given this movie for review, however opinions are my own and were not effected by receiving the movie as promotion. http://momstart.com/2011/10/disneys-winnie-the-pooh-on-blu-ray-dvd-october-25th/

Winnie the Pooh has never looked better! I'm happy to re-introduce Disney's Winnie the Pooh to my kids. Such a wonderful and sweet movie that the whole family loved. Can't wait till it releases on Blu-Ray. My kids will be so entertained again...and I will as well. ;)

Don't read this if you desire to hear no spoilers whatsoever. ;)

This adorable little movie was a very nice return to the quaint, classic, storybook-style Hundred Acre Woods, complete with interactive text. Many of the voices were, unfortunately, while not bad, too different to feel comfortable transitioning from the ones I'm used to. I dearly wished for the old Rabbit, Owl, Kanga, etc. Even Tigger sounded somehow slightly different from his usual self, although it was obviously still Jim Cummings. Pooh himself was the one who sounded the most like he always has--which is to say, completely the same. I love Bud Luckey, and he was a good choice for Eeyore, but there's simply no replacing the originals. I kept picturing the Jackalope from "Boundin'" the entire time, lol. (Or Chuckles from "Toy Story III," or Rick Dicker from "The Incredibles"...) It wasn't their fault, of course, that things couldn't be kept perfectly consistent--and indeed, these characters have changed voice actors before. Somehow, though, for the most part, all of the older ones felt more similar, more right, more appropriate, and more readily acceptable.

A few moments struck me as feeling slightly out-of-character, such as Roo's "Send in the pig"--which was a funny line, regardless. Otherwise, the movie didn't feel very "modern," which was a good thing. (And as a side note, I am convinced that Piglet is at least an armadillig, if not a "purebred" armadillo, despite his name and the frequent references to him being a "swine.")

The songs were quite cute; I actually found myself humming or singing a few of them later on! They may not be the best or most memorable songs ever written for Pooh (those are still nearly impossible to equal), but they were good, and got my seal of approval. Zooey Deschanel's lovely, lilting tune that plays during the end credits is an added treat; in fact, she has a great musical talent, on par with her pop star doppelgänger. ;)

The movie IS rather short, perhaps just barely a full-length feature, so I am somewhat glad to have watched it at home, but I think that it still would have been a very worthwhile and enjoyable theater experience. The three basic storylines (Pooh's quest for honey, the search for a new Eeyore tail, and the "Backson" problem) were absolutely classic Pooh, and kept the film flowing along nicely. It had the cozy, warm, fuzzy quality of old Pooh--which is exactly what I was expecting, and the reason you should see it.

Its animation is marvelous--warm, old-fashioned, richly detailed, and true to the classics, although very exaggerated at times (e.g., Rabbit's facial expressions while trapped in the hole. Nothing wrong with this; it was quite amusing...just a tad surprising because it seemed more extreme than what I anticipated.) I always miss Gopher, whom rarely appears in newer Pooh movies.

It must be said that the "Backson" storyline was very similar to the plot of "Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin." Owl misreads a harmless note left casually by Christopher to let his Hundred Acre Wood friends know that he'd be away for a spell, and works everyone up into a tizzy because he interprets it as a cry for help. Conjuring up images of deathly peril for Christopher and epic adventures for his friends as they try to save him, he leads the gang in a song, ultimately chickening out of the whole thing himself. Sound like way too much coincidence? Oh, definitely. There is no way they weren't intending to create another version of this, a variation on that theme. Why would one not expect Owl to do such a thing twice, or for the others not to be just as vulnerable to his sensational errors again? These characters, even the more intelligent ones, have never exactly been creatures of very much brain. ;)

So, yes...as Pooh is forever seeking his beloved "hunny" (but ultimately caring about nothing more than his friends), and Eeyore will probably never stop losing his tail and his house, this movie was primarily based upon things we have seen before. It really went back to the roots of Pooh, which is great--rather than being disappointing because we'd "seen it before," it was refreshing to watch such pure, awesome Poohness again, in a different way. The "swimming in the giant pot of honey" was definitely reminiscent of past dream/fantasy sequences. "Pooh's Grand Adventure" is, however, one of my favorite movies and, I believe, a superior one in just about every way. Its story, songs, animation, script, characterization, etc., are utter perfection; I give it a full 10/10. This new 2011 film gets a solid 8 from me.

What this really makes you want to do is watch the all-time best Winnie the Pooh productions:

*Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree
*Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day
*Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore
*Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too
*The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (including holiday specials such as Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too or Spookable Pooh, and the adventure- and learning-based video collections)
*Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin

I mean, I could not possibly stress enough how every line, song, scene, scary bit, moving moment, and other memorable element of those episodes and features just sticks with you forever and floods you with happiness each time you think about it, no matter what. I can't imagine calling a childhood complete without growing up on those until they, like the thousands of other threads that make up the quilt of mine, are indelibly ingrained into one's mind and memory. Yeah...they are just that amazing.

More recent movies such as The Book of Pooh, Piglet's Big Movie, Pooh's Heffalump Movie, or The Tigger Movie, have all been cute and worth the watch, earning 6s or 7s from me...maybe one 5.

Bottom line: "Winnie the Pooh" is strongly recommended!!

Winnie the Pooh is absolutely charming. The puns and jokes in the movie are smart, and Zooey Deschannel's singing adds a bit of a contemporary feel to the film, but fits perfectly well with the music in the films we all watched growing up.

I think that this film proves that you don't have to have 3D and computer animation to make a film great. The story in the film is simple, but at the same time it has a depth to it that makes it much more complicated. This movie stays true to the original cartoons, and is enjoyable for all ages. I think that phrase is overused nowadays, but I really mean it. Everyone grew up watching Winnie the Pooh, and I think everyone will just walk out of the theater with a smile on their face.

There was a running gag about a Backson creature that went a little too long, but other than that the film was perfect. Just the right amount of heart, music, and jokes and the 69 minutes that the film runs doesn't drag one bit.

This film is one of the best movies of 2011. No joke. Winnie the Pooh is extremely faithful to the original books, and the original Disney films. They don't include Darby, which was in the abysmal my Friends Tigger and Pooh, and bring back Christopher Robin, we get the ever-famous live action opening, the characters are just about the same from the original movies and shorts and spinoffs, and we get one of the happiest endings ever made reinvented into the big screen. Winnie the Pooh is a masterpiece, and I loved every minute of this film, even though it was 70 minutes long.

The Ballad of Nessie, the preceding short, is also a fantastic piece of art. Nessie has never been more cute and adorable until now.

Rating: 5 stars/5 stars

Absolutely a great kids movie. Can't say enough about it for small children. They will actually sit still for this one.