Dick De Jong
October 26, 2012
HDTV Solutions

I'll admit right up front that I'm not exactly the demographic that the good folks at Disney were targeting with Secret of the Wings, but as with any successful G rated movie that adults may have to sit through numerous times with adoring pre-teens, this Tinker Bell movie provides more than enough production values to keep the more jaded post-post-teens entertained.

If you are new to this world of Disney fairies comprised of Tinker Bell and her winged pals like Fawn, Iridessa and Vidia, you have a bit of catching-up to do. Launched less than eight years ago, Disney has already published 1,400 Disney Fairies and Tinker Bell books in 57 countries and 33 languages. In the related Pixie Hollow virtual world, over 40 million Fairies have been created by devoted fans.

In this full length movie, a curious Tink, a warm fairie, hitches a ride to the frosty Winter Woods in a snowflake basket piloted by a swooping snowy owl. Icy adventures ensue and warm-hearted secrets are revealed.

I'm not going to wreck the movie by detailing the plot - you'll have plenty of chances to memorize all the lines and hum all the songs - I want to talk about the artistry and craft of the visuals and animations.

It should come as no surprise that the artists at Disney have created a beautiful and inventive world. Their palette is lush and the environments inviting, even the hoary Winter Woods.

It's always comforting when you realize that you are watching a movie molded by skilled and imaginative people. I had that feeling within the first few frames. Executive Producer, John Lasseter (Toy Story, Brave, Up, Bolt...) and his team have consistently upheld the storied Disney tradition.

Blu-ray and a big HDTV are a great combination for enjoying a visually captivating film like Secret of the Wings.

Of note, this is the first Tinker Bell movie presented in 3D. Once again, the Disney animators know all the 3D tricks and to their credit, they use them sparingly and as subtly as 3D can be.

I'm not convinced that pre-teens should be spending hours wearing those 3D glasses. Luckily, the movie holds up wonderfully without 3D viewing. I actually prefer it in the old fashioned 2D.

As much as I admired the Secret of the Wings movie, I was disappointed by the "Pixie Hollow Games" featurette. I appreciate the thought of presenting girls as athletes, but the prissy Rosetta was just too stereotypical to be funny.

Again, the Pixie Hollow world was luminous. I just wish the characters were a bit more nuanced. I know that is asking a lot of a G rated animation and may be unrealistic and unfair.

The short, "Fright Light" was a quick pleasure.

The Bonuses also included two music videos, one with the McClain Sisters and the other starring Zendaya.

Studio: Walt Disney

Director: Peggy Holmes

Cast: Anjelica Huston, Timothy Dalton, Lucy Liu, Raven­-Symoné, Megan Hilty, Pamela Adlon, Matt Lanter, Debby Ryan, Mae Whitman, and introducing PERIWINKLE, voiced by Lucy Hale

Length: 75 minutes

Rated: G

Video:
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1

Audio:
English:
  DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Spanish:
  Dolby Digital 5.1
French:
  Dolby Digital 5.1

Subtitles:
English SDH, French and Spanish