PADDINGTON 2 [2017 / 2018] [Limited Edition SteelBook] [Blu-ray] [UK Release]
The Family Film Of The Year! Where All Your Dreams Come True!
The much-anticipated sequel ï¬nds Paddington happily settled with the Brown family in Windsor Gardens. While searching for the perfect present for his beloved Aunt Lucy’s 100th birthday, Paddington spots a unique pop-up book in Mr. Gruber’s antique shop, and embarks upon a series of odd jobs to buy it. But when the book is stolen, it’s up to Paddington and the Browns to unmask the thief.
Paddington’s biggest adventure yet sees Hugh Grant and Brendan Gleeson joining the all-star returning cast of Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi and Ben Whishaw as the voice of the beloved bear.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 2018 BAFTA® Awards: Nominations: Outstanding British Film of the Year for David Heyman, Paul King and Simon Farnaby. Nominations: Best Supporting Actor for Hugh Grant. Nominations: Best Screenplay (Adapted) for Paul King and Simon Farnaby. 2018 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA: Nominations: Best Fantasy Film. 2018 Empire Awards, UK: Nominations: Best British Film. 2018 Evening Standard British Film Awards: Nominations: Best Supporting Actor for Hugh Grant. 2018 London Critics Circle Film Awards: Win: Supporting Actor of the Year for Hugh Grant. Win:
FILM FACT No.2: In April 2015, David Heyman, the producer of ‘Paddington’ [2014], confirmed that a sequel was in development. It was also announced that Paul King would return to direct, and co-write the screenplay with Simon Farnaby. David Heyman's Heyday Films, and STUDIOCANAL, produced the film, making it a British-French co-production. Principal photography began on the 18th October, 2016. Many of the domestic interiors were filmed on stages at Pinewood Studios and Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden, but producers also shot at key central London locations like Tower Bridge and St Paul's Cathedral. Jonah Coombes, supervising location on both ‘Paddington’ and the sequel. Filming took place in London’s Little Venice for three days, and also at Shepton Mallet Prison and Knebworth Park. Principal photography ended on the 27th June, 2017. Michael Bond, the creator of Paddington Bear, died the same day, and the film was dedicated to him.
Cast: Michael Gambon (voice), Imelda Staunton (voice), Ben Whishaw (voice), Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, Sally Hawkins, Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, Marie-France Alvarez, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Ben Miller, Jessica Hynes, Robbie Gee, Nicholas Woodeson, Alex Jordan, Stewart Gilchrist, Jim Broadbent, Enzo Squillino Jr., Tom Conti, Sam Payne, Catherine Shepherd, Louis Partridge, Hugh Grant, Peter Capaldi, Claire Keelan, Shola Adewusi, Nadine Marshall, Geoffrey Lumb, Meera Syal, Richard Ayoade, Michael Mears, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Tom Davis, Noah Taylor, Aaron Neil, Nicholas Lumley, Virgile Elana, Jamie Demetriou, Brendan Gleeson, Dame Eileen Atkins, Jennie Legat, Tim Fitzhigham, Gus Brown, Simon Farnaby, Jean Evans, Dan Antopolski, Robert Stevenson, Geoff Banks, Emeson Nwolie, Deepak Anand, Stephen McDade, Cal McCrystal, Joanna Lumley, Joel Fry, Kya Garwood, Justin Edwards, David Sant, Maggie Steed, David J Biscoe, John Shearer (voice), Omar Alboukharey (uncredited), Raj Awasti (uncredited), Mohan Banerji (uncredited), Michael Barron (uncredited), Kishore Bhatt (uncredited), James Black (uncredited), Ross Carter (uncredited), Clare Cashion (uncredited), Ricky Champ (uncredited), Peter Coe (uncredited), Pamela Betsy Cooper (uncredited), Richard Cooper (uncredited), Michael Cotton (uncredited), Scott Cripps (uncredited), Julian Essex-Spurrier (uncredited), Anthony Tim Forde (uncredited), Amii Freeman (uncredited), Joe Gallucci (uncredited), Clive De-Halton Gibson (uncredited), Robby Haynes (uncredited), Pete Buzzsaw Holland (uncredited), Helena Holmes (uncredited), Jermaine Humes (uncredited), Ty Hurley (uncredited), Danny Jackson (uncredited), Jimi James (uncredited), Jackson Kai (uncredited), Phelim Kelly (uncredited), Elsie Kibue (uncredited), Tom Knight (uncredited), Adam Lake (uncredited), Carl Lindquist (uncredited), Fred Martin (uncredited), Kenny-Lee Mbanefo (uncredited), Paul A Munday (uncredited), Jack Norman (uncredited), Andrew G. Ogleby (uncredited), Hiten Patel (uncredited), Jag Patel (uncredited), Marlonde Pierre (uncredited), Javone Prince (uncredited), Jacqueline Ramnarine (uncredited), Deborah Rock (uncredited), Jake Samuels (uncredited), Krishan Sharda (uncredited), Tamara Sharpe (uncredited), Monty Stewart (uncredited), Daniel Stisen (uncredited), Alexis Strum (uncredited), David Sullivan (uncredited), Fran Targ (uncredited), Dywayne Thomas (uncredited), Nadia Townsend (uncredited), Nicki Vickery (uncredited), William Wahbah (uncredited), Stuart Whelan (uncredited), Arthur Wilde (uncredited), Gavin Wilkinson (uncredited), David John William Williams (uncredited), Samuel Williams (uncredited), Jason Wright (uncredited) and Yvan Zahui (uncredited)
Director: Paul King
Producers: Alexandra Ferguson-Derbyshire, Ben Irving, David Heyman, Ivan Entel, Rob Silva, Ron Halpern, Rosie Alison and Tim Wellspring
Screenplay: Paul King, Simon Farnaby and Michael Bond ("Paddington Bear" creator)
Composer: Dario Marianelli
Choreography: Craig Revel Horwood
Cinematography: Erik Wilson (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audio: English: 7.1 Dolby ATMOS Master Audio
English: 7.1 Dolby TrueHD Master Audio
English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 5.1 Audio Descriptive Service
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English
Running Time: 103 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: STUDIOCANAL
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: With ‘PADDINGTON 2’ [2018] we find Michael Bond’s cherished family favourite soared onto the silver screen in 2014 with a rendition of the Paddington tales that most never thought to be quite as successful as it turned out. With a keen eye from director and writer Paul King, he whimsically transformed Paddington literally from page to screen as this addition to Michael Bond’s legacy couldn’t have been more nostalgic or perfect in all of its effort.
A few years have passed and luckily a sequel was born from the popularity and box office success of the original Paddington film. Paul King’s clear ode to the character and the charm shapes ‘PADDINGTON 2’ into a sequel that is far superior in more ways than one, creating a firm family favourite which one could only hope to continue. Sometimes we just need something as cute and overwhelmingly charming as this film.
Before the first ‘Paddington’ film, a lot of people were convinced Michael Bond’s classic character couldn’t work as a live-action film. Not only was it a major success, but the sequel was even better received, and with ‘PADDINGTON 2’ becoming the first film ever to get not one single negative notice and to me it is the best film ever made, and one that will charm any cynic that would say a follow film will not be a massive box office hit.
Paddington [Ben Whishaw] is happily living in London with the Brown family and Paddington wants to get his beloved Aunt Lucy a special 90th Birthday present, and sets his sights on a unique pop-up book. Just when he’s nearly got enough cash, the book is stolen and the police think the small bear is the one who took it. As a result, Paddington ends up in prison, at the mercy of a scary brute known as Knuckles [Brendan Gleeson].
Meanwhile the Browns, led by mother Mary [Sally Hawkins], know that Paddington must be innocent and so set out to prove it, even if father Henry [Hugh Bonneville] is initially a little preoccupied with his midlife crisis. The real villain is snooty actor Phoenix Buchanan [Hugh Grant], who’s convinced the pop-up book is his ticket to riches and doesn’t care if he destroys Paddington to get them.
The best family films manage to be fun and exciting while exuding a real warmth and optimism, and that is exactly what ‘PADDINGTON 2’ does. From the opening moments it sets out to put a smile of the viewer’s face and keep it there and as an added bonus we have the faces of very well-known British actors like Peter Capaldi, Ben Miller, Jim Broadbent and Richard Ayoade.
‘PADDINGTON 2’ is very much about a massive fun filled adventure and at its core lies something more pure and full of heart: the goodness in people and the greatness that can be achieved when we are good to each other. It might sound corny but it’s such a simple concept executed with such class and optimism that you can’t help but be swept away by it all. The Brown family took Paddington in but he saved them as much as they saved him and they all came out the better for it. And in this sequel that magic touch spreads to more friends and neighbours who are all made better by simply knowing this very loveable Paddington bear, who has so much joy into people’s lives.
If you just want to smile for the whole of the 103 minutes running time, then the film ‘PADDINGTON 2’ is the one film for you and definitely the whole family, but also the film has enormous heart and energy, smartly building on the previous film instalment of more adventures with this precise cute bear, and keeping the marmalade sandwiches flowing and especially the smiles will always be constant throughout the film. By the way, don’t be in a hurry to stop watching once the end credits roll up the screen or you’ll miss Hugh Grant performing, as you will see an amazing Busby Berkley over the top camp style dance routine entitled “Rain on the Roof” (Go Pit-Pitty-Pat) which is from the Steven Sondheim’s stage show production of “Follies,” where we see Hugh Grant as Phoenix Buchanan going well over the top with the other prisoners, and also leading the prison warders in a hilarious song-and-dance routine, and is such a wonderfully funny payoff to everything we have seen previously, and Hugh Grant is so unexpectedly really good with the whole lot of camp silliness, which is truly spectacular and well worth the wait.
PADDINGTON 2 MUSIC TRACK LIST
DADDY COOL (Written by Frank Farian and George Reyam) [Performed by Boney M.]
LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR (Written by Roaring Lion) [Performed by Tobago Crusoe and D. Lime]
JUMP IN THE LINE (uncredited) [Performed by Harry Belafonte]
RAIN ON THE ROOF (uncredited) (Written by Stephen Sondheim) [Performed by Hugh Grant]
Blu-ray Image Quality – Once again STUDIOCANAL has presented us a stunning 1080p image, that is enhanced with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, that really shows off the film ‘PADDINGTON 2’ in a really beautiful way. Shot with a colour palette of blues, browns and Christmas reds, in Paddington’s London, the city is seen as an enchanting land for fairy tales. In a moment of fantasy when the little bear imagines himself walking through the pages of the classic pop-up book with his Aunt Lucy, the imagination behind the animation with each London landmark, from Tower Bridge to Piccadilly Circus, is wonderfully explored and executed. No commercial for an overseas English vacation has ever made the international city look of the City of London look so magically appealing and the industry for British tourism must be thrilled. This is an impressively clean and sharp imaging overall, picking out details in the excellent set designs of the locations. Contrast seems perfectly presented and resulting in environments feeling warmer and more refined, such as the sequences of the opening Peru-set animation played out with a completely different feel via this 1080p presentation and especially with this Blu-ray disc, it delivers strong, stable black levels, it's the rich colour palette that makes more of an impression, in particular, Paddington's hat or a painted door, gain an extra lustre here, and the film's overall riot of tones is captured perfectly, so well done STUDIOCANAL in producing something really special and a very heart-warming presentation. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – STUDIOCANAL has supplied us with three individual audio presentations that really show’s off the film in its best audio potential experience, where you have a choice of the following: English: 7.1 Dolby ATMOS Master Audio, English: 7.1 Dolby TrueHD Master Audio, English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English: 5.1 Audio Descriptive Service and English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio. ‘PADDINGTON 2’ takes a step up from its predecessor's sound presentation, by also offering us a Dolby ATMOS mix, for those who can access it. Overall, the audio mix gives you a greater sense of space, and occasionally we are given discrete aural effects to experience, especially the harp strings, that act as a flying swan's musical signature presentation and also especially the sound of the gears turning as Paddington climbs up into the clock tower. Again, overall it is an excellent piece of sound design that makes convincing use of the surrounds, delivers dialogue flawlessly and boasts incredible musicality. So once again, well done STUDIOCANAL for presenting us a really professional job all round.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Audio Commentary with Director Paul King: Here Paul King, the Co-writer and Director of ‘PADDINGTON 2’ film, and introduces himself, and welcomes us to his personal audio commentary and also welcomes us to listening to him talking throughout the film. Paul will also explain in detail how the film was made, especially with the CGI special effects, and warns any little ears who have not yet watched the film, to not listen to him, as it will spoil the illusion and magic of the film and have their dreams of ‘PADDINGTON 2,’ then asks their parents not to watch this audio commentary. The first opening scene of the film above the Peruvian river scene, was actually the last shooting schedule of the film, especially showing you young Paddington the bear struggling in the water and how he first comes into contact with Aunt Lucy and Uncle Pastuzo and their relationship and what drives the story, but the original initial story was never thought ideal, but the scene we see with young Padding the bear being rescued by Aunt Lucy was far more dramatic and the start of an adventure we were all going to experience throughout this new Paddington film. When we meet the Brown family again and all the new characters that Paddington the bear interacts with, those new actors we see were very keen to appear in this 2017 film, because of the great box office success of the first Paddington film, and Paul was very eager to work with all these comedy heroes that he admired, and especially some of the actors he was very keen to work with, and it was also a joy when Paul wrote to all these actors and got such joy when they replied back to him, saying how honoured they were to appear in the film. When we see Paddington the bear enters Mr. Gruber’s shop, Paul informs us that Jim Broadbent is one of his all-time favourite actor and also thinks he is a brilliant comedian, especially as the character of Mr. Gruber and his interaction with Paddington the bear. But when we see Paddington the bear opens up the pop-up book and we see Paddington meet his Aunt Lucy interact with all the pages, which Paul informs us was a very complicated shoot and took well over a year to produce and was very tough animation, and it all started when they actually made the paper pop-up book. When we get to the scene at the fair, especially with the Brown family, especially when they encounter the KOZLOVA mighty organ that was owned by the famous Madame Kozlova, well it turns out it is the oldest organ in the world and were very lucky to acquire it for the film sequence with Hugh grant and you will of noticed behind the organ a roller-coaster, which is in fact the Coney Island Roller-coaster, which is the historic wooden roller-coaster in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, New York City and of course they could not dismantle it and bring it over the UK, but of course was photographed and was incorporated into the film via the CGI special effects department. Paul also talks how they contacted Hugh Grant to play the washed up narcissistic actor and how Hugh was keen the play the character. Paul talks about all the scenes with Paddington the bear doing all the good deeds around the community and was also so pleased the Calypso group called “D Lime” that features Tobago Crusoe appeared in the film again. When we see Paddington the bear chase after the mysterious thief, who has just stolen the pop-up book, Paul explains that the chase sequences were very complicated to film and the Irish Wolfhound named “Wolfie” the stray Irish Wolfhound whom Paddington the bear befriends, was partly filmed of the Irish Wolfhound and partly CGI animation. When we see Paddington the bear go to prison, the interior was based on Kilmainham Gaol Museum, Dublin, Ireland and was partially built in the film studio and the rest was done with CGI special effects by Framestore. Paul felt very lucky and privilege to be able to film in the famous London landmark building s, and especially in St. Paul’s Cathedral and it all came about because the Dean is fond of marmalade. Paul also wanted Paddington the bear and the prisoners in stripped prison uniforms, as homage to Charlie Chaplin, Paul also enjoyed filming Paddington in the prison scenes, as it took the bear out of his comfort zone and especially seeing the prisoners in pink uniforms, so making the location look more colourful, as well as having the well-known actors in the prison scenes. When we see Mrs. Brown in Phoenix Buchanan home for a chat, you see in the background a big painting of The Monarch of the Glen and if you could have looked close you would of seen Hugh Grant’s face and was especially commissioned for the film. When you see the famous Red Telephone Boxes, this is one standard prop the film company owns and was used in the previous film and it is used, because certain areas of London no longer have these phone boxes. When we get near to the end of the film, where Paddington the bear comes out of his three day sleep after the near fatal train accident, and of course gets the ultimate very emotional surprise when he opens the Brown’s front door, and a very rewarding end to the film. Paul talks about how the idea of the “MY SCRAP BOOK” images we see while the credits roll up the screen and the scenes we see around London. When we see the prison scene of the dance routine in the musical number Rain on the Roof (Go Pit-Pitty-Pat) with Phoenix Buchanan, well it took Hugh Grant about six weeks to learn to sing and dance. Also Paul had to write to Stephen Sondheim to get permission to film it and gave the green light, but what was amazing is that Paul had never heard of the show “Follies” or the song, it was through Simon Farnaby who insisted to use the song and of course it works beautiful. Paul also says he had to do a dedication in the credits for Michael Bond and who loved the first film, but sadly passed away before the second film was released, but was able to see the clip with Paddington the bear cleaning the windows. So as we get near to the end of the credits, Paul thanks us for joining him with his audio commentary and hopes you enjoyed the film and I give this audio commentary a five star rating, as Paul King was absolutely brilliant and totally fascinating.
Special Feature: PADDINGTON 2: The Challenge of Making the Film [2017] [1080p] [2.35:1 / 1.78:1] [4:24] With this very short special feature, Pablo Grillo [Animation Director of Framestore] explains in great detail the great detail the intricacies in explaining the special CGI effects in creating and making us feel that Paddington the bear is real and back in action. Pablo Grillo explains that having animated Paddington the bear for his first big-screen outing back in 2014 with Framestore, which is a British visual effects company based near Oxford Street in London which was formed in 1986, and helped create something really special for the follow up film ‘PADDINGTON 2’ to greater effect. So again the team re-joined to bring the iconic character to cinemas once more in ‘PADDINGTON 2’ in 2017. Described in early reviews as a work of art built up from thousands of tiny, thoughtful details and the second cinematic instalment of our beloved bear has earned the film a 100% endorsements from every critic and all who has viewed the latest film. When you have Framestore doing the visual effects it brings an air of confidence via Pablo Grillo the Animation Director. With over 523 shots in the film hand-crafted by the Framestore team, the scope of the work meant VFX in nearly every shot. They created the lead character of the film with the biggest performances and there are some great actors in the film and Framestore is proud to have created one of them. Despite this special feature that is just over 4 minutes, it certainly packs in a lot of fascinating information, so enjoy.
Special Feature: Rain on the Roof (Go Pit-Pitty-Pat) with Phoenix Buchanan [2017] [1080p] [2.00:1] [1:31] Here we get to see that actual musical video as the end credits roll up the screen, where you see it now in the full glorious spectacular colourful razzmatazz, and the fabulous Hugh Grant performing “Rain on the Roof” (Go Pit-Pitty-Pat) from Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies,” where you see an amazing Busby Berkley over the top camp style dance routine which is from the Steven Sondheim’s stage show production of “Follies,” where we see Hugh Grant as Phoenix Buchanan going well over the top with the other prisoners, and also leading the prison warders in a hilarious song-and-dance routine, and is such a wonderfully funny and over the top in a spectacular way, and is well worth seeing this video on its own and well worth repeat viewings. Craig Revel Horwood choreographed the final dance sequence scene in the prison in ‘PADDINGTON 2’ and this musical video should of won sort of an award.
Special Feature: PADDINGTO 2: BAFTA Q&A with David Heyman, Paul King, Simon Farnaby, Hugh Grant and Pablo Grillo [2017] [1080p] [1.78:1] [34:03] Here we get to view this special question and answer session, that is introduced by BBC Radio 4 presenter Francine Stock up on the stage and introduces everyone that was involved with the film ‘PADDINGTO 2.’ Here we get each individual explaining in great detail how they wanted expand the further adventures of Paddington the bear with the Brown family in London. Director Paul King and Screenwriter Simon Farnaby said that they wanted a failed actor character in the film and they wanted to call him Hugh and of course they immediately thought of Hugh Grant and with tongue in cheek, Hugh grant said he was very upset, but when he read the script, forgave them and was eager to appear in the film and feels it was his best acting career choice and is one of his favourite film ever and really enjoyed the whole experience, and was more than happy to play the part of a washed up narcissistic actor, in showing that the character was totally showing off in an excessive interest in or admiration of oneself and one's physical appearance.. They also inform us from the time the last film was released; it took them at least 5 years from start to finish releasing ‘PADDINGTON 2.’ Producer David Heyman says that when the first ‘PADDINGTON’ film was released, they wanted a follow up film to be even better storyline and did not want to mess it up and especially not do the usual remake, but again to make the film totally different. Animation Director of Framestore Pablo Grillo wanted to bring out the best in Paddington the bear and to make him look as though he had totally natural hair, more natural and totally believable and was very proud to have worked on the film and also all the work of his staff on the project. We get a lot of interesting and intriguing questions from the audience and we equally get some interesting replies from the panel on the stage, especially Hugh Grant explaining what it was like working with the toy bear’s head on a stick. Also Hugh Grant was asked what his favourite part in the film was and did he like dressing up in the different costumes and his reply was that he loves dressing up in women’s clothes, especially as Sister Isabella, but also loved playing the villain in the film. Despite it only lasting just over 34 minutes, it was a really enjoyable and a must watch, as everyone on the staged enjoyed the experience.
Sneak Peeks: Here we get to view three separate trailers, which are as follows: Early Man [2018] [1080p] [1.78:1] [2:28]; Shaun The Sheep: The Movie [2015] [1080p] [1.78:1] [2:26] and Paddington Run: Computer Game App [2017] [1080p] [1.78:1] [0:51].
Finally, ‘PADDINGTON 2’ is just the tonic you need during times when you are not feeling at your best or down in the dumps, because this film is an endlessly watchable family classic with marmalade jars full of seasonal fun and frolics. In these dreary, uncertain times it’s so refreshing to get a family adventure that ticks all of the boxes. And any film of this calibre that can make London look so magical on-screen is always worth its weight in gold. ‘PADDINGTON 2’ is simply unmissable and without doubt one of the finest films you will see in a very long time. With an ensemble cast, the comedy just flows effortlessly and there is not a downside to Paddington’s second big screen adventure. It really does have something for the whole family to enjoy, from its wonderful visual style to its naturally funny belly-laughs and whole-hearted sentiment. Above all, this film is a message of love that will touch all souls, everywhere, for generations and Michael Bond’s legacy lives on in our hearts and he would be so proud. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
