March Movie Madness
The spring home releases are in bloom. This month’s bouquet: and By Mercedes Milligan.
Disney animation’s first Pacific Islander “princess” (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho) and her bombastic demigod companion Maui (Dwayne Johnson) set sail on disc this month, selling out on Amazon within days. From dynamic duo Ron Clements and John Musker, the film follows a determined teen girl on her epic, mythical quest to become an open-ocean navigator and find her true self, helped (and sometimes hindered) by her divine companion. The voice cast also features Temuera Morrison, Rachel House, Nicole Scherzinger, Jemaine Clement and Alan Tudyk.
The DVD release includes Leo Matsuda’s short Inner Workings, music video for “How Far I’ll Go” written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and audio commentary with Ron ’n’ John. Blu-ray and BD 3D ($39.99) sets are packed with additional goodies: Maui Mini-Movie theater: Reese Witherspoon ( overworked mama pig Rosita), Scarlett Johansson (punker porcupine Ash), and Taron Egerton (young gorilla gangster Johnny) to name a few.
Also available on Blu-ray ($34.98), BD 3D and 4K ($44.98), the Sing DVD includes three fresh mini-movies ( Gunter Babysits, Love at First Sight, Eddie’s Life Coach), music video for Tori Kelly’s “Don’t You Worry ’Bout a Thing,” The Best of Gunter, character profiles, and more. Spe- February, this is the next-best way to experience this stunning work of artistry and mind-bending storytelling.
Originally released in 1995 and produced by Production I.G, the feature is set in the year 2029, in a world where humanity has developed technology that allows human consciousness to inhabit machines. Our hero is Major Motoko Kusanagi — a cybernetic government agent with multiple awards and a nomination for the Annecy Cristal.
Set in Edo-era Japan, the film centers on O-Ei, the daughter of the famous artist Hokusai — and the uncredited talent behind many works sold under his name. Caught between her reserved nature, domineering father, the care of her blind sister, and the untasted life she explores in her art, O-Ei floats through an enchanted Edo full of strange spirits and stranger people.