MARY POPPINS RETURNS [2018 / 2019] [Blu-ray + 4K Ultra HD] [Exclusive Limited Edition SteelBook] [UK Release] The Ultimate Movie Watching Experience! Practically Perfect In Every Way!
The magic returns in Disney’s reimagined classic as Mary Poppins [Emily Blunt] helps the Banks family remember the joy of what it’s like to be a child. Together with her friend Jack the lamplighter [Lin-Manuel Miranda], fun is brought back to the streets of London in celebration that everything is possible… even the impossible!
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 2018 British Film Designers Guild Awards: Win: Best Production Design International Studio Feature Fantasy Film for John Myhre (Production Designer), Gordon Sim (Set Decorator) and Niall Moroney (Supervising Art Director). 2018 Detroit Film Critics Society Awards: Nominated: Best Use of Music. 2018 Golden Schmoes Awards: Nominated: Best Actress of the Year for Emily Blunt. 2018 Heartland Film: Win: Truly Moving Picture Award for Rob Marshall (director) and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (distributor). 2018 Hollywood Music In Media Awards (HMMA): Nominated: Best Original Song in a Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Film for Marc Shaiman (written) and Scott Wittman (written) for the Song: “The Place Where Lost Things Go.” Nominated: Best Original Song in a Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Film for Marc Shaiman (written) and Scott Wittman (written) for the Song: “The Place Where Lost Things Go.” Nominated: Best Original Score in a Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Film for Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. 2018 IGN Summer Movie Awards: Nominated: Best Lead Performer in a Movie for Emily Blunt. Nominated: Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Movie. 2018 Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards: Win: Sierra Award for Best Family Film. 2018 National Board of Review, USA: Win: NBR Award for Top Ten Films. 2018 New Mexico Film Critics: Win: NMFC Award for Best Music/Score for Marc Shaiman. 2018 Odyssey Awards: Nominated: Best Lead Actress for Emily Blunt. 2018 Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards: Win: Top Ten Films. 2018 Seattle Film Critics Society: Nominated: SFCS Award for Best Costume Design for Sandy Powell. Nominated: SFCS Award for Best Production Design for Gordon Sim and John Myhre. 2018 The BAM Awards: Nominated: Best Actress for Emily Blunt. 2018 Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards: Nominated: Best Production Design for Gordon Sim (set decoration) for John Myhre (production design). 2019 Academy Awards®: Nominated: Best Achievement in Music Written for the Motion Pictures Original Score for Marc Shaiman. Nominated: Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures Original Song for Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman for the song “The Place Where Lost Things Go.” Nominated: Best Achievement in Costume Design for Sandy Powell. Nominated: Best Achievement in Production Design for Gordon Sim and John Myhre. 2019 BAFTA Awards: Nominated: BAFTA Children's Award for Feature Film for John DeLuca, Marc Platt, Rob Marshall, Walt Disney Pictures and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Nominated: BAFTA Film Award for Original Music for Marc Shaiman. BAFTA Film Award for Best Costume Design for Sandy Powell. BAFTA Film Award for Best Production Design for Gordon Sim and John Myhre. 2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Nominated: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for Emily Blunt. 2019 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA: Win: Saturn Award for Best Music for Marc Shaiman. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for Lin-Manuel Miranda. Best Production Design for John Myhre. Best Fantasy Film. Best Costume Design for Sandy Powell. 2019 AFI Awards, USA: Movie of the Year. 2019 Annie Awards: Win: Best Animated Special Production. Win: Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Live Action Production for Chris Sauve, James Baxter and Sandro Cleuzo. Nominated: Outstanding Achievement for Character Design in an Animated Feature Production for James Woods. Nominated: Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Feature Production for Jeff Turley. Nominated: Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production for Ovi Nedelcu. 2019 Art Directors Guild: Nominated: Excellence in Production Design Award for Fantasy Film for John Myhre (production designer), Gordon Sim (set decorator), Niall Moroney (supervising art director), Steve Carter (art director), Amanda Dazely (art director), Simon Elsley (art director), Elaine Kusmishko (art director), Vicki Stevenson (art director), Laura Ng (art director), Richard Hardy (assistant art director), Sarah Ginn (assistant art director), Lauren Briggs-Miller (assistant art director), Nick Pelham (storyboard artist), Simon Gustafsson (concept artist), Eva Kuntz (concept artist), James Gemmill (scenic artist). Alasdair McKay (model maker), Sarah Bicknell (draughtsman), Kira Kemble (draughtsman), Dominique Law (draughtsman), Rosie Hardwick (draughtsman), Lotta Wolgers (draughtsman), Candice White (draughtsman), Oscar Allan (draughtsman), Jade Lacey (draughtsman), Will Smith (draughtsman), Jamie Burrows (draughtsman), Michael Pybus (art director), Sally Ledger (assistant art director), Patrick M. Sullivan Jr. (art director: USA), Thomas T. Taylor (set designer: USA), Dean Tschetter (illustrator: USA), Shae Shatz (illustrator: USA) and Scot Erb (model maker: USA). 2019 Awards Circuit Community Awards: Nominated: Best Original Score for Marc Shaiman. Nominated: Best Costume Design for Sandy Powell. Nominated: Best Visual Effects for Jim Capobianco, Kyle McCulloch, Matt Johnson and Steven Warner. Nominated: Best Production Design for Gordon Sim and John Myhre. 2019 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards: Nominated: Critics Choice Award for Best Picture. Nominated: Critics Choice Award for Best Actress for Emily Blunt. Nominated: Critics Choice Award for Best Actress in a Comedy for Emily Blunt. Nominated: Critics Choice Award for Best Score for Marc Shaiman. Nominated: Critics Choice Award for Best Visual Effects. Nominated: Critics Choice Award for Best Production Design for Gordon Sim and John Myhre. Nominated: Critics Choice Award for Best Costume Design for Sandy Powell. Nominated: Critics Choice Award for Best Song for the song “The Place Where Lost Things Go.” Nominated: Critics Choice Award for Best Song for the song “Trip a Little Light Fantastic.” 2019 Casting Society of America: Nominated: Artios Award for Outstanding Achievement in Casting for Big Budget Comedy Feature for Bernard Telsey, Conrad Woolfe (associate), Sarah Trevis (UK associate) and Tiffany Little Canfield. 2019 Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle Awards: Nominated: Best Costume Design for Sandy Powell and Make-up for Peter Swords King. 2019 Chita Rivera Awards: Win: Theatrical Release. 2019 CinEuphoria Awards: Nominated: Best Visual Effects for International Competition. Nominated: Best Costume Design for International Competition for Sandy Powell. Nominated: Best Original Music for International Competition for Marc Shaiman. Nominated: Best Duo for International Competition for Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Nominated: Best Ensemble for International Competition for Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh Joel Dawson, Julie Walters, Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Jeremy Swift, Dick Van Dyke, Angela Lansbury, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, David Warner, Jim Norton, Noma Dumezweni and Tarik Frimpong. 2019 Clio Awards: Win: Bronze Clio Entertainment Award for Home Entertainment Movie Promotion for Calvin Chin (trailer editor). 2019 Costume Designers Guild Awards: Nominated: Excellence in Period Film for Sandy Powell. 2019 Denver Film Critics Society: Nominated: Best Original Song: “The Place Where Lost Things Go.” Nominated: Best Original Song “Trip a Little Light Fantastic.” Nominated: Best Original Score for Marc Shaiman. 2019 Etna Comics International Film Festival: Win: UZETA Award for Best Cross-Media Artist Tony Bancroft. 2019 Georgia Film Critics Association (GAFCA): Nominated: GAFCA Award for Best Original Song for Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman for the Song: “The Place Where the Lost Things Go.” Nominated: GAFCA Award for Best Original Song for Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman for the Song: “Trip a Little Light Fantastic.” 2019 Gold Derby Film Awards: Nominated: Costume Design for Sandy Powell. Nominated: Production Design for John Myhre. Nominated: Original Score for Marc Shaiman. Nominated: Original Song for Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman for the Song: “The Place Where Lost Things Go.” 2019 Golden Globes: Nominated: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture in a Musical or Comedy for Emily Blunt. Nominated: Best Motion Picture in a Musical or Comedy. Nominated: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture in a Musical or Comedy for Lin-Manuel Miranda. Nominated: Best Original Score in a Motion Picture for Marc Shaiman. 2019 Golden Trailer Awards: Win: Best Home Ent Family/Animation for Walt Disney Pictures Aspect. Win: Best Action TV Spot for Walt Disney Pictures WORKSHOP. Win: Best Animation/Family TV Spot for Walt Disney Pictures. Win: Best Motion Poster: Nominated: Best Original Score TV Spot for Walt Disney Pictures Create Advertising Group. Nominated: Best Billboard. 2019 Guild of Music Supervisors Awards: Nominated: Best Music Supervision for Film Budgeted Over 25 Million Dollars for Michael Higham and Paul Gemignani. Nominated: Best Song/Recording Created for a Film for Lin-Manuel Miranda (recording artist), Emily Blunt (recording artist), Tarik Frimpong (recording artist), Pixie Davies (recording artist), Joel Dawson (recording artist), Nathanael Saleh (recording artist), Marc Shaiman (songwriter), Scott Wittman (songwriter), Michael Higham (music supervisor) and Paul Gemignani (music supervisor) for the Song: “Trip a Little Light Fantastic.” 2019 Hawaii Film Critics Society: Nominated: HFCS Award: Best Art Direction for Gordon Sim and John Myhre. Nominated: HFCS Award: Best Costume Design for Sandy Powell. Nominated: HFCS Award: Best Song for Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman for the Song: “Trip a Little Light Fantastic.” 2019 Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards: Nominated: Artisan Award for Best Period and/or Character Makeup for a Feature-Length Motion Picture for Paula Price and Peter Robb-King. Nominated: Artisan Award for Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling for a Feature-Length Motion Picture for Paula Price and Peter Robb-King. 2019 Humanitas Prize: Win: Family Feature Film for David Magee, John DeLuca and Rob Marshall. 2019 International Film Music Critics Award (IFMCA): Win: Best Original Score for a Comedy Film for Marc Shaiman. Nominated: Film Score of the Year for Marc Shaiman. 2019 Iowa Film Critics Awards: Nominated: Best Song “Trip a Little Light Fantastic.” 2019 Kids' Choice Awards, USA: Nominated: Blimp Award for Favorite Movie. Nominated: Blimp Award for Favorite Movie Actress for Emily Blunt. 2019 Latino Entertainment Journalists Association Film Awards: Nominated: Best Production Design and Set Design for Gordon Sim and John Myhre. Nominated: Best Costume Design for Sandy Powell. Nominated: Best Visual Effects for Jim Capobianco, Kyle McCulloch, Matt Johnson and Steven Warner. Nominated: Best Music for Marc Shaiman. Nominated: Best Song Written for a Motion Picture for Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman for the Song: “The Place Where Lost Things Go.” Nominated: Best Song Written for a Motion Picture for Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman for the Song: “Trip a Little Light Fantastic.” Nominated: Best Stunts for Mark Mottram. 2019 Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA: Nominated: Golden Reel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing for Dialogue and ADR for Feature Film for Alexa Zimmerman (dialogue editor), Heather Gross (dialogue editor, adr editor) and Renee Tondelli (supervising sound editor). Nominated: Golden Reel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing for Musical for Feature Film for Fiona Cruickshank (scoring editor), Jennifer L. Dunnington (supervising music editor), Jim Bruening (music editor) and Lewis Morison (music editor). 2019 Music City Film Critics' Association Awards: Nominated: Best Film. Nominated: Best Actress for Emily Blunt. Nominated: Best Score for Marc Shaiman. Nominated: Best Music Film for Michael Higham and Paul Gemignani. Nominated: Best Production Design for John Myhre. 2019 Online Film & Television Association: Nominated: OFTA Film Award for Best Original Song for Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman for the song “The Place Where Lost Things Go.” Nominated: OFTA Film Award for Best Original Song for Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman for the song "Trip a Little Light Fantastic.” Nominated: OFTA Film Award for Best Production Design for Gordon Sim and John Myhre. Nominated: OFTA Film Award for Best Costume Design for Sandy Powell. Nominated: OFTA Film Award for Best Visual Effects for Jim Capobianco, Kyle McCulloch, Matt Johnson and Steven Warner. 2019 Palm Springs International Film Festival: Win: Ensemble Cast Award for Emily Blunt, Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh, Joel Dawson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Colin Firth, Meryl Streep, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Dick Van Dyke and Angela Lansbury. 2019 Satellite Awards: Win: Best Art Direction & Production Design. Nominated: Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical for Lin-Manuel Miranda. Nominated: Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical (Major, Independent or International). Nominated: Best Original Song: “Can You Imagine That?” Nominated: Best Sound (Editing & Mixing). Nominated: Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical for Emily Blunt. 2019 Teen Choice Awards: Nominated: Choice Sci-Fi/Fantasy Movie. Nominated: Choice Sci-Fi/Fantasy Movie Actor for Lin-Manuel Miranda. Nominated: Choice Sci-Fi/Fantasy Movie Actress for Emily Blunt. 2019 World Soundtrack Awards: Nominated: Best Original Song Written for a Film for Emily Blunt (performed), Marc Shaiman (written) and Scott Wittman (written) for the song “The Place Where Lost Things Go.” 2019 Yoga Awards: Win: Worst Foreign Film for Rob Marshall. 2019 Young Entertainer Awards: Nominated: Best Leading Young Actor in a Feature Film for Nathanael Saleh Walt Disney Studios. Nominated: Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film for Pixie Davies Walt Disney Studios. Nominated: Best Young Ensemble Cast in a Feature Film for Joel Dawson, Nathanael Saleh and Pixie Davies Walt Disney Studios. 2020 Grammy Awards: Nominated: Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media for Marc Shaiman (composer).
FILM FACT No.2: In February 2017, Angela Lansbury was cast to play the Balloon Lady. Julie Andrews, who portrayed Mary Poppins in the 1964 film, was approached to do a cameo or possibly as the Balloon Lady before the part was offered to Angela Lansbury in the sequel but turned down the offer as she wanted it to be “Emily's show.” Dick Van Dyke, who portrayed Bert and Mr. Dawes Sr. in the original film, returns in the sequel as the latter's son, Mr. Dawes Jr., replacing Arthur Malet, who died in 2013. Karen Dotrice, who played the young Jane Banks in the original, has a cameo appearance in the film. Principal photography on the film began on the 10th February, 2017, at Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England. Eight soundstages were used to build practical sets for the film, including Cherry Tree Lane, and the enormous abandoned park, where a big part of the musical number, “Trip a Little Light Fantastic,” was set. Scenes requiring green and blue screens for visual effects were first filmed on J and K Stages with physical set pieces for the cast to interact with, which were then swapped out in post-production with animation. Unlike the first film, which was wholly shot within soundstages in Hollywood, filming also took place on location, including outside the Bank of England in March 2017, and outside Buckingham Palace in April 2017. Principal photography was wrapped by July 2017. The visual effects were provided by Cinesite, Framestore, Luma Pictures, Pixomondo, the Government of Victoria with the assistance of Film Victoria (both in Australia), and TPO VFX and supervised by Christian Irles, Christian Kaestner, Brendan Seals, Matthew Tinsley and Matt Johnson.[35] Like the original film, this film includes a sequence combining live-action and traditional hand-drawn animation. According to Marshall, he asked for an animated/live-action sequence rather than employing modern CGI animation, feeling that it was vital to hold on the classic hand-drawn animation to protect the spirit of the original film. The animation sequence was developed and overall supervision was handled by Jim Capobianco, with Ken Duncan supervising physical animation production at his studio in Pasadena, California. Over 70 animation artists specializing in hand-drawn 2D animation from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, and other animation studios were recruited for the sequence. The animated drawings were created using pencil and paper and scanned onto the computer to be digitally inked and painted. Character designer James Woods and animator James Baxter also helped redesign the penguins from the first film. All of the hand-drawn animation was created by Duncan's animation studio, Duncan Studio, in Pasadena.
Cast: Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh, Joel Dawson, Julie Walters, Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Jeremy Swift, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Dick Van Dyke, Angela Lansbury, David Warner, Jim Norton, Noma Dumezweni, Tarik Frimpong, Sudha Bhuchar, Steve Nicolson, Christian Dixon, Christopher Godwin, John Dagleish, Karen Dotrice, Ian Conningham, Billy Barratt, Felix Collar, Kate Attwell, Chris O'Dowd (Shamus the Coachman voice), Mark Addy (Clyde the Horse voice), Edward Hibbert (Parrot Umbrella voice), Ash, Shay Barclay, Ashley Birchall, Johnny Bishop, Michael Carroll, Jon-Scott Clark, Leon Cooke, Jack Harrison-Cooper, Sean Corrie, Momar Diagne, Antony Edwards, Aston Newman Hannington, Jake Moyle, Marlon Pelayo, James Revell, Ted Rogers, Charles Ruhrmund, Christopher Scott, Zac Smith, Craig Stein, Alex J Sturman, Jahrel Thomas, Johnny White, Teneisha Bonner, Lavinia Fitzpatrick, Tara Nicole Hughes, Hannah Kenna-Thomas, Jennifer Leung, Rachel Muldoon, Cassie Rogers, Lorraine Stewart, Maria Alexandrova (uncredited), Raj Awasti (uncredited), Jeremy Azis (uncredited), Peter Baykov (uncredited), Euan Beaden (uncredited), Kiera Bell (uncredited), Colin Blyth (uncredited), Declan Brooks (uncredited), Joshua Burnett-Blake (uncredited), Jonathan Cann (uncredited), Steve Carroll (uncredited), Benj Cave (uncredited), Max Cave (uncredited), Calvin Chen (uncredited), Aiken Clark (uncredited), Anna Clark (uncredited), Ruth Clarson-Horrocks (uncredited), Bern Collaço (uncredited), Antonio Raul Corbo (uncredited), Tom Dab (uncredited), Jack Dargov (uncredited), Rocco Day (uncredited), Ashley Edmonds (uncredited), Guinevere Edwards (uncredited), Vikki Edwards (uncredited), Jake Ellis (uncredited), David Evestaff (uncredited), Jason Forde (uncredited), Robin George (uncredited), Maryjanesamantha Gibb (uncredited), Andrew Hale (uncredited), Krystof Hansbury (uncredited), Rosanna Hiscock (uncredited), Jonathan Andrew Hume (Animated Weasel) (uncredited), Theo Ip (uncredited), Alex Jaep (uncredited), Rich Johnson (uncredited), Oliver Jones (uncredited), Paul Joseph (uncredited), Josh (uncredited), Sebastian Keep (uncredited), Daniel Kijewski (uncredited), Nina Kumar (uncredited), Isaac Lesser (uncredited), Evelina Liu (uncredited), Katarina Martin (uncredited), Martyn Mayger (uncredited), Bradley Wj Miller (uncredited), Lee Musselwhite (uncredited), Richard Peter O'Sullivan (uncredited), Rick Osman (uncredited), Nick Owenford (uncredited), Rico Pass (uncredited), Jag Patel (uncredited), Callum Powell (uncredited), Sacha Powell (uncredited), Kamal Prabhakar (uncredited), Joe Prattley (uncredited), Richard Price (uncredited), Tineke Robson (uncredited), Bernardo Santos (uncredited), Craig Schembri (uncredited), Toby Segar (uncredited), Oliver Shields (uncredited), Mark Shrimpton (uncredited), William Sutton (uncredited), Fran Targ (uncredited), Alisha Tarran (uncredited), Drew Taylor (uncredited), Dominic Tighe (uncredited), Josh Turner (uncredited) and Paul Wingrove (uncredited)
Director: Rob Marshall
Producers: Angus More Gordon, Alonzo Ruvalcaba, Ben Howarth, Callum McDougall, Caroline Roberts, Jennifer Lane, John DeLuca p.g.a., Marc Platt p.g.a, Rob Marshall p.g.a.
Screenplay: P.L. Travers (based upon the “Mary Poppins” stories), David Magee (screen story/screenplay), John DeLuca (screen story) and Rob Marshall (screen story)
Composer: Marc Shaiman
Costume Design: Sandy Powell
Cinematography: Dion Beebe, A.C.S., A.S.C, (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 4K ULTRA HD 2060p + 2D Blu-ray 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Region: 4K ULTRA HD Region B/2 + Blu-ray All Regions
Running Time: 130 Minutes
Number of discs: 2
Studio: Walt Disney Studio / Buena Vista
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: Disney's ‘MARY POPPINS RETURNS’ [2018] is a musical set in the 1930s, more than two decades after the events of the original Mary Poppins. Siblings Michael Banks [Ben Whishaw] and Jane Banks [Emily Mortimer] are now adults, and Michael, a recent widower, lives in his childhood home with his three children – John Banks [Nathanel Saleh], Anabel Banks [Pixie Davies], and Georgie Banks [Joel Dawson] and their put-upon housekeeper, Ellen [Julie Walters]. But he's having trouble making ends meet in Great Depression-era England. The next generation of Banks children are in for a treat when Mary Poppins [Emily Blunt] returns to Cherry Tree Lane to care for them and teach the entire family valuable lessons ... with a little help from Cockney lamplighter Jack [Lin-Manuel Miranda]. When the bank, under the management of William Weatherall Wilkins [Colin Firth], calls Michael Banks and Jane Banks's loan in, everyone does their best to make sure that the Banks family doesn't lose their beloved home.
This is where Mary Poppins’ cue to float down from the sky with her carpet bag and her talking umbrella to take the children out and about in London while Michael Banks and Jane Banks search for the share certificate which might just save them from homelessness. This ticking-clock scenario makes the film slightly gloomy: even when Mary Banks and the children are dancing with cartoon penguins, we’re always aware that the Banks family is on thin ice.
Emily Blunt commands film with this offering with an outstanding performance as the titular character. She’s every bit of Julie Andrews and every bit her own progressed interpretation. It is Emily Blunt in a role that really sees none of her and only Mary Poppins, fully transforming herself and gets lost in the role and the other players in the film are a good bit of jolly fun. Lin-Manuel Miranda as the Cockney lamplighter Jack, is given plenty opportunity to shine and this is a logical positive step for him as Hollywood seems to be in a stage of trying to figure out how and where to best utilize his talents.
Emily Blunt unquestionably makes Mary Poppins her own while also keeping nostalgic viewers happy with tributes to the original in this whimsical, playful sequel. Director Rob Marshall loves making big-budget Hollywood musicals, and in ‘MARY POPPINS RETURNS,’ he ambitiously creates a delightful world that families with kids of all ages will be eager to dive into and enjoy. Everything from the amazing production design to the colourful costumes to the catchy, upbeat songs penned by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, as well as a few contain references to the Sherman Bros.' original 1964 score, that has that Walt Disney wonderful glow. The performances are all good, with Emily Blunt leading the way. Lin-Manuel Miranda's Cockney accent is a little subtler than Dick Van Dyke's was and of course we British folks notoriously rightly panned the lovable actor Dick van Dyke for his over-the-top Cockney accent attempt, and, refreshingly, there isn't a hint of romance between his Jack and Mary Poppins. Instead, they are just good old friends who show the three Banks children how to be imaginative and helpful. Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer are well cast as the grown-up Michael Banks and Jane Banks, and Meryl Streep memorably joins the proceedings as Mary Poppins' eccentric cousin Topsy.
Director Rob Marshall has been one of Hollywood’s go-to musical directors since his giant success with the Academy Award® winning Best Picture Chicago 17 years ago. ‘MARY POPPINS RETURNS,’ Rob Marshall proves to be at his most colourful and imaginative we’ve seen so far, compared to a few dud films earlier on in his career, like the most rubbish and embarrassing film ever ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ sequel. It pays gleeful tribute with a visual palette and special effects offering that handsomely compliment the original Mary Poppins film. Side to side you can tell they were made over 50 years apart, but digging in, with the feelings, themes, songs and what the costumes, sets and animation is going for, they couldn’t more the same.
‘MARY POPPINS RETURNS’ is cleverly done, but the film might have felt more worthwhile if it had anything in it that wasn’t a blatant imitation. And, as delightful as much of Mary Poppins Returns is, it isn’t quite as delightful as it was the last time we saw it. The songs by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman are sprightly, sweet and carefully crafted. And perhaps, once we’ve heard them a hundred times, they will eventually sound like classics. But on first listen, I wasn’t convinced that any of them beat “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” or “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”
‘MARY POPPINS RETURNS’ could very well be called “Mary Poppins Reprise” as it gives life back to that joy and feeling of watching the original while boasting all new side adventures and songs. It is an amazing visual treat with wonderfully talented performers doing best to honour a dignified classic both in front of and behind the camera. I’m not sure it is this amazing new classic, but it sure is an enjoyable escape for any family or individual to enjoy for a couple hours.
With ‘MARY POPPINS RETURNS’ how do you make a sequel to one of the most beloved live-action children’s films ever? For several decades, the answer was: you don’t. Mary Poppins was released in 1964, but even though the source novel’s author PL Travers wrote seven further books about the Banks family’s magical nanny, no one attempted to follow a film that was, to use Mary Poppins’s own phrase, “Practically perfect in every way.”
In the 21st Century, however, there is no intellectual property that can’t be rehashed or rebooted, and so, at last, ‘MARY POPPINS RETURNS.’ Director Rob Marshall, the Oscar-winning ‘Chicago,’ is in charge, the screenplay is by David Magee and Emily Blunt is the brave soul who has taken on the role that helped make Dame Julie Andrews a superstar.
Sensibly, Emily Blunt doesn’t try to impersonate Dame Julie Andrews. Less sensibly, she impersonates Maggie Smith: her haughty, upper-crust Mary would be right at home in Downtown Abbey. But otherwise, ‘MARY POPPINS RETURNS’ is slightly similar to its predecessor as to be almost identical. There are no revelations, no unexpected locations, and no hints at what Mary Poppins gets up to when she isn’t looking after the Banks children – although we’ll probably get a prequel set in nanny-training college in a few years’ time. The only significant difference is that the story has been moved on from 1910 to the 1930’s, so it could be called ‘Mary Poppins: The Next Generation.’
55 years ago, Walt Disney’s live action fantasy musical that mesmerized audiences with its display of live action and animation sharing a frame. In 2018, Disney aimed to recapture that magic with a new tale of “Mary Poppins” with ‘MARY POPPINS RETURNS.’ Narratively a sequel to the original 1954 classic, this update lovingly swam into the “sequel” class of films. It tells a new story that shares a structure and beats with the original film. A nostalgic trip for the older generation audiences and a clean new entry point for younger viewers who have not yet viewed the original ‘Mary Poppins.’ Overall, ‘MARY POPPINS RETURNS’ is an imaginative, fun little piece and a wonderful joy for all generations.
‘MARY POPPINS RETURNS’ is dedicated to the memory of Helen DeLuca (1926 – 2017).
MARY POPPINS RETURNS MUSIC TRACK LIST
(Underneath the) LOVELY LONDON SKY (Music by Marc Shaiman) (Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman) [Performed by Lin-Manuel Miranda]
(Underneath the) LOVELY LONDON SKY (Reprise I) (Music by Marc Shaiman) (Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman) [Performed by Lin-Manuel Miranda]
THE ROYAL DOULTON MUSIC HALL (Music by Marc Shaiman) (Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman) [Performed by Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Pixie Davies, Joel Dawson, and Nathanael Saleh]
THE PLACE WHERE LOST THINGS GO (Music by Marc Shaiman) (Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman) [Performed by Emily Blunt]
TRIP A LITTLE LIGHT FANTASTIC (Music by Marc Shaiman) (Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman) [Performed by Lin-Manuel Miranda with Emily Blunt, Tarik Frimpong, Pixie Davies, Joel Dawson, Nathanael Saleh and Leeries]
TRIP A LITTLE LIGHT FANTASTIC (Reprise) (Music by Marc Shaiman) (Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman) [Performed by Dick Van Dyke with Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Pixie Davies, Joel Dawson and Nathanael Saleh]
(Underneath the) LOVELY LONDON SKY (Reprise II) (Music by Marc Shaiman) (Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman) [Performed by Lin-Manuel Miranda]
A CONVERSATION (Music by Marc Shaiman) (Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman) [Performed by Ben Whishaw]
CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT? (Music by Marc Shaiman) (Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman) [Performed by Emily Blunt with Pixie Davies, Joel Dawson and Nathanael Saleh]
A COVER IS NOT A BOOK (Music by Marc Shaiman) (Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman) [Performed by Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Company]
TURNING TURTLE (Music by Marc Shaiman) (Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman) [Performed by Meryl Streep with Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Pixie Davies, Joel Dawson and Nathanael Saleh]
THE PLACE WHERE LOST THINGS GO (Reprise) (Music by Marc Shaiman) (Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman) [Performed by Joel Dawson, Nathanael Saleh and Pixie Davies]
NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP (Music by Marc Shaiman) (Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman) [Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman) [Performed by Angela Lansbury, Ben Whishaw, Pixie Davies, Joel Dawson, Nathanael Saleh, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Jeremy Swift, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, David Warner, Jim Norton and Company]
Instrumental phrases from “MARY POPPINS” songs (Written by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman)
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Audio: English: 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 2.0 Descriptive Audio
French: 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus
Spanish: 5.1 DTS Digital Surround
Dutch: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Flemish: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish and Dutch
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Play Movie with Sing-Along Mode: Lyrics appear-on-screen during film playback. Access only available when selecting the “Play” option via the main menu.
Special Feature: Back to Cherry Tree Lane: Dick Van Dyke Returns [2018] [1080p] [2.39:1 / 1.78:1] [5:22] Cast and crew discuss the amazing impact of Dick Van Dyke's appearance in the film and how it shaped the production by returning an original cast member to the set. We get to view some short clips of the original ‘Mary Poppins’ film, and especially with scenes of Dick Van Dyke as the original chimney sweeper. Contributors include: Colin Firth [William Weatherall Wilkins], Emily Blunt [Mary Poppins], Ben Whishaw [Michael Banks], Dick Van Dyke [Mr. Dawes, Jr.], Nathanael Saleh [John Banks], Pixie Davies [Annabel Banks], Lin-Manuel Miranda [Jack], Rob Marshall [Director] and John Myhre [Production Department].
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Special Feature: Practically Perfect Bloopers [2018] [1080p] [2.39:1] [1:57] Here we get to view some so called humorous moments from the ‘MARY POPPINS RETURNS’ shoot.
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Special Feature: Seeing Things from a Different Point of View: The Musical Numbers of ‘MARY POPPINS RETURNS’ – Here we get to view a collection of making-of shorts that focus on several of the film's musical numbers and they are as follows:
Trip A Little Light Fantastic [2018] [1080p] [2.40:1 / 2.39:1] [3:56] Here we get to view the cast and crew discuss the song's importance to the film, how the choreography developed as an homage to the original film, and how the cast exceeded expectations in the amazing routines. Contributors include: Lin-Manuel Miranda [Jack], Emily Blunt [Mary Poppins], Rob Marshall [Director] and John DeLuca [Producer].
The Royal Doulton Music Hall / A Cover Is Not the Book [2018] [1080p] [1.78:1 / 2.39:1] [7:05] Here we get to view the Cast and crew in Pre-Production Rehearsals discussing the fun and we also get to see the technical challenges of filming live-action sequences that shows up in the animated world. This featurette also explores green screen usage, costumes, and the type of historical musical numbers the filmmakers and music writers were trying to evoke with the song and dance routines. Contributors include: Rob Marshall [Director], Jim Capobianco [Animation Sequence Supervisor], Lin-Manuel Miranda [Jack], Sandy Powell [Costume Designer], Duncan Animation Studios, Pasadena, California, John DeLuca [Producer], Joel Dawson [Georgie Banks], Pixie Davies [Annabel Banks] and Emily Blunt [Mary Poppins].
Turning Turtle [2018] [1080p] [1.78:1] [3:01] This short featurette explores the amazing set design for the “Topsy Turvy” sequence and how the musical number came together. We get to see Meryl Streep rehearsing the song “Topsy Turvy” and trying to learn all of the words of a very complicated song. Contributors include: John Myhre [Production Designer], Meryl Streep [Cousin Topsy], Scott Whittman [Lyricist], Marc Shaiman [Composer/Lyricist], Nathanael Saleh [John Banks], Gordon Sim [Set Decorator], Marc Platt [Producer] and Rob Marshall [Director].
Can You Imagine That? [2018] [1080p] [1.78:1 / 2.39:1] [4:03] Here we take a look at creating the magical sequence in the bathtub, including the slide used to move the characters into the underwater world, the rigging used the green screen for the scene before the CGI was added, and the magic was created by the sequence. Contributors include: Emily Blunt [Mary Poppins], Rob Marshall [Director], John DeLuca [producer], Nathanael Saleh [John Bands], Pixie Davies [Annabel Banks], Mark Mottram [Stunt Coordinator] and Marc Platt [Producer].
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Special Feature: Deleted Song: “The Anthropomorphic Zoo” [2018] [1080p] [1.78:1] [5:04] Here we are informed that "The following sequence is an early concept for “The Anthropomorphic Zoo,” a song that would have been placed where “The Royal Doulton Music Hall” now appears. Please enjoy this demo recording, sung by songwriter Marc Shaiman and edited to rough story sketches you get to view.
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Special Feature: The Practically Perfect Making of ‘MARY POPPINS RETURNS’ [2018] [1080p] [1.78:1 / 2.39:1] [23:38] Here we get to view four-part featurettes, which you can view each one separately or View All and they are as follows:
Introduction: Cast and crew discuss the timelessness of the original Mary Poppins and the challenges they faced in recreating the magic of the original film. Also discussed are choreography and filming a Broadway style musical. We also get to view lots of clips from the original ‘Mary Poppins’ film. Contributors include: Rob Marshall [Director].
Underneath the Lovely London Sky: Here we get to view discussions which includes recreating the set from the original film, the awe the actors felt while performing in a film they watched as children, and creating a new character for Mary Poppins based more on the books than Dame Julie Andrews' classic performance. Contributors include: Emily Blunt [Mary Poppins], Lin-Manuel Miranda [Jack], John DeLuca [Producer] and John Myhre [Production Designer].
Can You Imagine That?: A closer look at Director Rob Marshall's contributions, where the team are assembled, how he brought the musical film to life, filming various scenes, plus including the Mary Poppins' introduction, and how the music came together as a defining characteristic in the film. Contributors include: Ben Whishaw [Michael Banks], Nathanael Saleh [John Banks], Pixie Davies [Annabel Banks], Colin Firth [William Weatherall Wilkins], Meryl Streep [Cousin Topsy] and John DeLuca [Producer].
Nowhere To Go But Up: This supplement highlights Angela Lansbury and Dick Van Dyke's work and their impact on the film. It also explores the picture's theme, remembering the magic of childhood. We also get an in-depth look behind-the-scenes of the recording of the music for ‘MARY POPPIS RETURNS’ at the famous London Abbey Road Studios and especially recording some of the songs. Contributors include: Marc Shaiman [Composer/Lyricist], Richard Sherman [Music Consultant], Scott Whittman [Lyricist], Angela Lansbury [Balloon Lady] and Dick Van Dyke [Mr. Dawes, Jr.].
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Special Feature: Deleted Scenes: Here we get to view Leaving Topsy's [2018] [1080p] [2.39:1] [0:55] and Trip A Little Light Fantastic [2018] [1080p] [1.78:1] [0:48].
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Sneak Peaks: Here we get to view the following trailers and they are as follows:
DisneyLand Paris 25th Anniversary [2018] [1080p] [2.39:1] [0:32]
‘TOY STORY 4’ [2018] [1080p] [2.39:1] [1:38]
‘Aladdin’ [2018] [1080p] [2.39:1] [1:29]
Finally, with the film ‘MARY POPPINS RETURNS,’ how do you make a sequel to one of the most beloved live-action children’s films ever? For several decades, the answer was: you don’t. ‘Mary Poppins’ was released in 1964, but even though the source novel’s author PL Travers wrote seven further books about the Banks family’s magical nanny, no one attempted to follow a film that was, to use Mary Poppins own phrase, “practically perfect in every way.” Disney has been revisiting many of their hand-drawn animated classics of yesteryear and been giving human or computer animated life to them for a whole new generation with great degrees of success. ‘MARY POPPINS RETURNS’ takes us through one of their live-action classics, that also featured a handful of hand-drawn animation and giving it a sequel of all its own. The film proved a solid hit and one of the biggest films of the holiday season, but not the monster they were expecting over that lengthy time period. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
