DVD Review: Tinker Bell
Tinker Bell finally has finally gotten her very own animated feature! Yeah, it's a straight-to-DVD feature, but that's still a feature nonetheless. And while I do think that spunky little fairy deserves a full scale theatrical film of her own, I'm happy to say this release is still pretty good. It doesn't have any major musical numbers, the plot is pretty simple, and other than Tink herself there is very little character development, but the animation is beautiful, the characters are likable and feel realistic, and there is a nice balance of humor mixed into the storytelling.
The story begins with Tinker Bell's birth, though she begins life as a fully formed fairy, not some little infant fairy. Almost as soon as she comes into the world, she is presented with a whole bunch of items arranged in a circle around her, with one of the item representing what type of fairy she will be. After several attempts at choosing an item only to have it mysteriously vanish, she finally finds the item for her... or more correctly, the item finds her! As she walks by a Tinker's Hammer, it glows very bright and is pulled toward our little fairy, who is then giving the name Tinker Bell.
Unlike the nature ability fairies who can manipulate the various elements of nature, the tinkers use nature to build. Although it may not seem as glamorous as catching a rainbow in a bottle or creating miniature whirlwinds to pollinate flowers, Tink seems to enjoy her new cast... at least until the day she learns that the tinkers don't go to the mainland when it's time to change the seasons. From that point, she begins to see tinkering as a bore, and thus enlists the help of her friends so that she may learn how to become a nature ability fairy.
Each one of her friends try to teach poor Tink their particular nature talent, such as putting dew drops on spiderwebs or teaching baby birds to fly, but unfortunately determination is not enough, and all attempts end in disaster. Disheartened, Tink even turns to the one fairy who had become her rival, a stuck up wind fairy who sees this as her chance to totally humiliate Tink. So upon her suggestion, Tink attempts to prove herself by rustling up a bunch of rowdy weeds which are an annoyance to all the fairies, but this time it not only ends in disaster, it ends in a major disaster which could very well prevent the winter from changing into spring!
Of course we all know it has a happy ending, it is a Disney movie after all. The major moral of the tale is to just be yourself, which is a good message, but I think there is another moral here as well, you should try new things, even if you fail at them. I'm sure young girls will like this movie, though adults while find it entertaining as well. It doesn't have the depth as something like Shrek, but it's fun, and not too overly cute like My Little Pony.
The DVD holds a few special features, such as deleted scenes (with optional introductions, which I like) and a making-of featurette. There is also a music video which I found to be pretty dull, a little tour of the fairies' realm which seemed to only cover part of their realm (did they run out of time before they had to release the DVD?), and a little something called "Ever Wonder". This was a little live-action skit about kids going to a park or something, and in the background, animated fairies would make stuff grow and whatnot. It was lame, and I'd recommend skipping that. But as for the DVD, I'd recommend at least giving it a rental.
Tinker Bell, released by Disney, is available starting October 28, 2008. Check out the official website.
Press Release: Tinker Bell
For the first time in history, Tinker Bell, one of the world’s most beloved animated characters, will speak in an all-new original film that reveals many of life’s wondrous mysteries of nature. From the storytellers at Walt Disney Pictures, comes a spectacular, full-length CG animated movie filled with magic and adventure. Tinker Bell takes flight on October 28, 2008 with a treasure trove of captivating bonus features on Disney DVD and Blu-rayTM Disc.
Introducing extraordinary new characters, Tinker Bell is enhanced by an impressive voice cast widely acclaimed for performances on stage and screen. Mae Whitman (Independence Day, One Fine Day) gives Tinker Bell her first true voice, and EmmyR and Golden GlobeR Award winner America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) provides the voice of the mischievous Fawn, an animal fairy. Five-time Image Award honoree Raven-Symone (College Road Trip) fills the illuminating role of Iridessa, a light fairy; TonyR Award winner Kristin Chenoweth (Pushing Daisies) offers the elegant tones of Rosetta, a garden fairy; and two-time SAG Awardee Lucy Liu(Dirty Sexy Money) plays Silvermist, an endearing water fairy. In addition, singer-songwriter Jesse McCartney lends his voice to Terence, keeper of the pixie dust, and Academy AwardR winning actress Anjelica Huston (Prizzi’s Honor) reigns over Pixie Hollow as the voice of Queen Clarion.
Long before Peter Pan and the Lost Boys soared into Never Land, the world’s most beloved fairy and her friends were creating their own special magic. For the very first time in film, Tinker Bell opens the doors to Pixie Hollow, a secret hideaway deep in the heart of Never Land, where the Disney Fairies make their home.
Have you ever wondered how a flower gets its color...or pondered the source of a dew drop ... or contemplated from where rainbows originate? It’s all the work of fairies! This landmark motion picture from DisneyToon Studios reveals the story of Tinker Bell’s early life in the fantastic world of Pixie Hollow. Each fairy is born with a special talent, whether it’s making flowers grow, giving fireflies their light or tracing beautiful patterns into a winter morning’s frost. Tinker Bell thinks her fairy talent as a “tinker” isn’t as special or important, because tinkers don’t go to the mainland like the other fairies. But when Tink tries to change who she is, she creates nothing but disaster! With encouragement from her friends Fawn, Iridessa, Rosetta and Silvermist, Tink learns that the key to solving her problems is found in her unique abilities ... and discovers that when you stay true to yourself, magical things can happen.
Tinker Bell is the first in a series of films featuring the Disney Fairies. The Disney Fairies represent a majorinitiative across The Walt Disney Company being incorporated into divisions such as Disney Consumer Products, Disney Publishing, Disney Interactive Studios, Disney on Ice, Disney Parks and Resorts, Disney Online and more.
For Tinker Bell Blu-ray Disc owners who score high points in the Tinker Trainer Game, they automatically accrue Movie Reward Points, via their BD-Live Network membership, that can be redeemed for Tinker Bell wallpapers and exclusive virtual jewelry their fairy can wear online! Additionally, if the player can collect contraption parts while exploring the Tinker Trainer Game to build, a music box that plays music once all parts are assembled!
