Dad of Divas' Reviews: Blu-ray Disc Review - The Help

Friday, December 2, 2011

Blu-ray Disc Review - The Help

About the Movie
The Help, the inspirational summer hit film people can‟t stop talking about, arrives in homes just in time for the holidays, delivering this powerful story on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD, Digital Download and On-Demand, December 6, 2011.

The #1 New York Times bestseller by Kathryn Stockett comes to vivid life through the compelling performances of a phenomenal ensemble cast including Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and Bryce Dallas Howard. The Help is a courageous and empowering story about very different and
extraordinary women in the 1960s South who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project.

“Davis and Spencer are both brilliant”
– Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

The Help Blu-ray Combo Pack provides audiences with the chance to delve deeper into the movie
through compelling, never-before-seen bonus features, including “The Making of „The Help:‟ From Friendship To Film,” an intimate look at how the life-changing experiences of close-knit childhood friends director Tate Taylor and novelist Kathryn Stockett led to the creation of the best-selling novel and its transition to the big screen.

Additional bonus includes “In Their Own Words: A Tribute To the Maids Of Mississippi,” which is an honest observation of life in the South from real-life maids, including director Tate Taylor‟s childhood caretaker, Carol Lee; Deleted Scenes; and nine-time Grammy Award®-winning and multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter, Mary J. Blige‟s “The Living Proof”, music video from the film‟s end titles.

In continued efforts to provide consumers with multiple viewing choices and unprecedented quality, value and portability in a single purchase, The Help has been packaged as follows:

3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) = $44.99 U.S./$51.99 Canada

Exclusive Blu-ray Bonus Features:

  • The Making of “The Help:” From Friendship To Film 
  • In Their Own Words: A Tribute To The Maids Of Mississippi 
  • Three deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor, including „Humiliated,‟ A Book About Jackson‟ and „Johnny‟s Home‟ (which is a Blu-ray exclusive) 

DVD Bonus Features:
  • Two deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor including „A Senator‟s Son‟ and Keep On Walkin‟ 
  • “The Living Proof” music video by Mary J. Blige 


2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) = $39.99 U.S./$46.99 Canada

Exclusive Blu-ray Bonus Features:
  • The Making of “The Help:” From Friendship To Film 
  • In Their Own Words: A Tribute To The Maids Of Mississippi 
  • Three deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor including „Humiliated,‟ A Book About Jackson‟ and „Johnny‟s Home‟ (which is a Blu-ray exclusive) 

DVD Bonus Features:
  • Two deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor, including „A Senator‟s Son‟ and Keep On Walkin‟ 
  • “The Living Proof” music video by Mary J. Blige 

1-Disc DVD = $29.99 U.S./$35.99 Canada
Bonus Features:
  • Two deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor, including „A Senator‟s Son‟ and Keep On Walkin‟ 
  • “The Living Proof” music video by Mary J. Blige 

High Definition Digital Download = $39.99 U.S./$46.99 Canada
Bonus Feature:
  • Three deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor, including „Humiliated,‟ A Book About Jackson‟ and „Johnny‟s Home‟ (which is a Blu-ray exclusive) 
  • “The Living Proof” music video by Mary J. Blige 

Standard Definition Digital Download = $29.99 U.S./$35.99 Canada
Bonus Feature:
  • Three deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor, including „Humiliated,‟  A Book About Jackson‟ and „Johnny‟s Home‟ (which is a Blu-ray exclusive) 
  • “The Living Proof” music video by Mary J. Blige 

On-Demand
For additional information and pricing, please contact your television provider or favorite digital retailer. Bonus features are not offered with On-Demand.

DISC SPECIFICATIONS:
STREET DATE: December 6, 2011
(Direct Pre-Book: 10/11/11 / Distributor Pre-Book: 10/25/11)
Feature Run Time: 138 minutes
Ratings: U.S.: PG-13/Canada: PG/Canadian French: G (Bonus Not Rated)
Aspect Ratio: Blu-ray: 1.85:1
DVD: 1.85:1
Audio: Blu-ray: 5.1 DTS HD-MA; 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital
DVD: 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital
Languages & Subtitles: Blu-ray: English, French Canadian, Spanish
DVD: English, French Canadian, Spanish

About The Film and Cast:
The #1 New York Times bestseller by Kathryn Stockett comes to vivid life through the powerful
performances of a phenomenal ensemble cast. The Help is an inspirational, courageous and empowering story about very different, extraordinary women in the 1960s South who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project — one that breaks society‟s rules and puts them all at risk. Filled with poignancy, humor and hope — and complete with compelling, never-before-seen bonus features — The Help is a timeless, universal and triumphant story about the ability to create change.

The Help stars Emma Stone as the courageous Eugenia „Skeeter‟ Phelan, who goes against the beliefs of her family and friends to find her own voice. The critically praised, emotional performance of Viola Davis as Aibileen Clark, a woman who secretly dreams of one day having more than she has been given, offers a deep emotional storyline. The breakthrough performance of Octavia Spencer as Minny Jackson, whose sass and tough exterior disguise the pain and fear she faces every day, brings both drama and humor to the film. Bryce Dallas Howard breathes life into the catty Jackson socialite Hilly Holbrook and Jessica Chastain brings charm and humor as Celia Foote, a kind housewife living outside of town who longs to fit in. Sissy Spacek, Allison Janney and Ahna O‟Reilly also provide vivacious performances that round out this all-star female ensemble.

About The Filmmaker:
The Help is directed by Tate Taylor and co-produced by Michael Barnathan (Percy Jackson & The
Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian), Chris Columbus (Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Night at the Museum franchise, Harry Potter 1, 2, 3), Brunson Green (Fool’s Gold) and Tate Taylor. The screenplay for The Help is written by Tate Taylor and is based on the best-selling novel by Kathryn Stockett.

Those who would like to stay connected with the exciting The Help release are encouraged to:
“Like” the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/thehelpmovie
Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/helpmovie
Visit the website and mobile site: http://thehelpmovie.com/us/

“Casting Skeeter and Aibileen” from “The Help - Making of The Help - From Friendship to Film” Bonus Feature


THE HELP BLU-RAY & DVD - FILM CLIPS

“Aibileen and Mae Mobley”
Aibileen (Viola Davis) and Mae Mobley recite their phrase



“Baby Shower”



“Skeeter Needs Aibileen's Help”
Skeeter (Emma Stone) tries to convince Aibileen (Viola Davis) to let her interview her.




“I Got a Job”
Skeeter (Emma Stone) tells her mother (Allison Janney) about her new job at the newspaper.



My Take on the Movie
I have to start by saying that I have not read the book "the Help" so when I saw this I had no basis for the book, however my wife had in fact read the book so it was an interesting experience watching this with her. In my perspective the movie was very well done. In both acting, story, music and setting this was a very well constructed movie and one that should be worthy of awards. The story itself was compelling and seeing that it is so different from the world that I grew up in, I found it amazing to experience and learn about. On top of this watching some of the bonus clips, especially when they interviewed the women who used to be employed as help in Jackson was an eye-opening experience! I also loved the setting of the movie as it truly seemed to capture the south, both in dialect and in the homes that were used in the filming, you feel like you are there with the cast and you are transported back in time.


Overall, this was an amazing movie that had both funny as well as emotionally poignant moments. I highly recommend this movie to all!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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