November 1, 2009

Everyone knows her, everyone loves her and now the worlds most famous and beloved fairy returns in an all-new adventure that will test her friendship as well as put her tinker skills to the test in Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure on Blu-Ray. I’ve always been a big fan of the Peter Pan and its various spin-offs over the years. My favorite came with the release of 2008’s Tinker Bell, which marked the first time that viewers got to see the Peter Pan’s favorite feisty companion in CG. Now we get to see her once again in her greatest adventure yet.

The Autumn Revelry is approaching and this year is extra special. In Pixie Hollow a blue harvest moon will grace the sky and with a preciously fragile moonstone will create Blue Pixie Dust, which is essential to revive the Pixie Dust Tree, the source of all their magic. Tinker Bell is chosen and given the great responsibility to create the new Autumn Scepter that will hold the moonstone and once the rays of the moon are in the right place create the essential Blue Pixie Dust.

Tink’s friend Terence makes a greater appearance this time around as the two of them set about creating the scepter. Only as time goes draws nearer, Tinker Bell and Terence’s friendship becomes torn as problems arise and she accidentally puts the land of Pixie Hollow in great danger. Tinker Bell’s morale is at an all time low but after hearing an old fairy legend she sets off on her own to find a magical fairy mirror to restore what has been ruined.

Along the way, Tinker Bell must brave an adventure-filled new world and meet new friends to set things right. Tinker Bell soon realizes that she can’t do everything on her own and that she must rely on the help of others to complete her goals.

Filmmaking: 9
The adventure in Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure is a magical experience that will pull at your heart. The people at Disney continue to make magic with every film they do and this one is no exception. Lost Treasure does come off a little different than the previous film in the fact that it is a bit darker of sorts with some of the elements. These moments do add a bit more character to the world and show that the fairy world isn’t just fun and fancy-free. I really did like the pirate references and I can only hope that this will lead to the eventual meeting of Peter down the line in a possible sequel.

Visuals: 9
The world of Pixie Hollow looks vibrant as ever right down to every last dewdrop. Presented in stunning 1080p High Definition the details have never been sharper. The fur and feathers on the animals are all well done. The character models and the clothing also look better than before. The mysterious lost island was also well designed and I loved the derelict pirate ship. I also really liked the craft style opening that blended right into a heart felt opening sequence.

Sound: 10
Ah the things I could say about the sound department of Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure. The same voice cast returns for the film and does a splendid job, especially Mae Whitman and Jesse McCartney. But the part that that I love above all else in this film is the music. The opening song by Lisa Kelly (of Celtic Women fame) is soothing one moment and very uplifting the next. It really fits the film well and I honestly could listen to it all day. The entire presentation sounds amazing in English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio.

Value: 4
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure on Blu-Ray also comes packaged with a standard definition copy of the film presented in 1.78:1 widescreen and features Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Both versions of the contain special features that include a music video by Demi Lovato, a magical guide of Pixie Hollow by Tink and Terence, as well as deleted scenes and pixie powered goofs that didn’t make the cut. One of the neatest features goes behind the scenes of how Pixie Hollow came to life at Epcot. It’s amazing how much work was put into recreating parts of Pixie Hollow out of flowers and plants. It's certainly not as much extras as we see on other Disney releases but the kids this movie is targeted for won't care.

Overall: 9.3
Nothing personifies the values of family, friends and life more than a Disney film. It is those values that make Disney’s Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure an instant hit with me. This film is a testament that friendship can help overcome the toughest obstacles. I couldn’t have said it any better than the quote heard near the end of the film. Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure is a must own for any family and especially the young ones.