Genius Products and The Weinstein Co. today give audiences a chance to catch an animated/live-action feature film that was largely overlooked in theaters during the movie-packed holiday season. Director Luc Besson’s Arthur and the Invisibles (Arthur et les Minimoys) brings a backyard adventure to living rooms across North America as it arrives on DVD, complete with behind-the-scenes peeks and other bonus features.
Based on Besson’s own series of children’s books, Arthur and the Invisibles tells the story of a 10-year-old boy named Arthur (Freddie Highmore) who hopes to save his grandmother’s home from being demolished by seeking his grandfather’s treasure, which is hidden in the land of the tiny Minimoys. Having collected clues left behind by his grandfather, Arthur discovers a way into the Minimoys’ world and teams with Princess Selenia (Madona) and her brother, Betameche (Jimmy Fallon) to defeat the evil Malthazard (David Bowie) and retrieve a stash of precious rubies. The English-language voice cast also includes Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, Snoop Dogg, Emilio Estevez, Jason Bateman and Chazz Palminteri.
Bonus features on the DVD include a look at the performers who provide the voices in the film, a behind-the-scenes visit with recording artist Jewel in the studio, music videos for songs by Jewel and Elijah, and the chosen trailer from the ‘Make Your Own Arthur and the Invisibles Movie Mash-Up Game.’ The DVD lists for $28.95.
Other big-screen holiday release new to disc today include Warner Bros. The Fountain and Picturehouse’s Pan’s Labyrinth. Directed by Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream), The Fountain is a science-fiction love story that explores man’s quest for immortality over three different periods in time, eploying visual effects by Mokko Studio, Intelligent Creatures Inc., Buzz Image Group, LOOK Effects, New Deal Studios Inc., Digital Dimension, Giant Killer Robots, TCS Toronto and Klon Films. The DVD lists for $27.95 and includes Inside The Fountain: Death and Rebirth, a series of six featurettes exploring the film’s various periods and settings.
From Hellboy director Guillermo del Toro, Pan’s Labyrinth tells the story of a young girl who descends into a world of fantasy to escape the real horrors of the second World War. The Spanish-language production features CG character animation and other visual effects by Caf’FX. Bonus materials include a video prologue and feature-length commentary by del Toro, and a special two-disc version of the DVD ($34.99) includes several featurettes, DVD comics titled Giant Toad, The Fairies and Pan and The Pale Man, a director’s notebook detailing the art and making of the movie, and galleries featuring more than 400 images.
