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The Disney Blu-ray Thread: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Vault
- Thread starter BertramCooper
- Start date
At least here in Sweden they didn't count the new Winnie-the-Pooh movie as a "classic", thus making Wreck-it Ralph #51 and Frozen #52.
Ninja Scooter
Member
I remember as a kid when I first saw the commercial/trailer for Lion King and they said "Disney's 32nd animated classic..." but I thought they said "thirty-second animated classic" and I was like WTF they just showed the whole thing then.
Escape Goat
Member
Is the OP being updated?
Just to mention, the Tinkerbell movies aren't crap. They're kids movies, but they're really good kids movies, better than they have any right to be, which elevates them into a "not for everyone" kind of adult category.
IntelliHeath
As in "Heathcliff"
Did you ever seen those movies? I think half of those movies were fantastic kid movies.
The Little Mermaid came with a slipcover here in Sweden, should have been the same in Denmark since it's the same distributor.
Just checked and you're right! But pretty much none of the movies have then anymore. Not even Ralph or Frozen :/
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
I updated the image to reflect current US releases (added Frozen, vaulted Peter Pan and Cinderella because they're being vaulted this month). There aren't release dates for anything right now.
Long story.
Basically, Disneytoon was set up in the money-hungry Eisner era and was mandated to exploit established Disney IP with direct-to-video sequels made on a shoestring budget, and they weren't allowed to damage the brands they were working on, so they weren't even allowed to take story risks. I know a lot of people hate Dinseytoon's output from this time, but even though I can see the flaws (Return to Neverland was just terrible) I kind of respect what they managed to get done under terrible working conditions. I know WDAS reportedly hated Disneytoon for stepping on their toes, but I've seen comments that they hated Ducktales and Rescue Rangers for the same reasons, so I don't put a lot of weight into that complaint.
The Tinkerbell series is an attempt to flesh out Disney's unofficial mascot.
After Eisner got the boot for having no soul and Lasseter came to power, Lasseter checked up on the progress of the first movie, since it was stuck in development hell, and said it was absolutely terrible. The writer and director said it was the fault of the head of Disneytoon, an Eisner loyalist, who had inexplicably taken a personal, creative interest in the movie, and churned through a dozen writers and directors and rewrites, trying to attain her perfect vision. Lasseter sat down with the director and writer and asked what they wanted to make, agreed with everything they put forward, and then ordered Disneytoon to make it happen. Then there was some drama with the head of Disneytoon having a meltdown and refusing to listen to Lasseter, putting two "Tinkerbell 1" movies into production at the same time (hers and Lasseters), which resulted in her getting fired.
I've seen four of the Tinkerbell movies (as well as one short episode) and they're really good. I haven't seen the fifth movie yet, but the Bluray just came out and it's sitting on my shelf, and a sixth movie is in production. They're kids movies and they don't have the universal appeal of something like Tangled or Frozen, but as someone well-versed in kids products, they're really good. Basically, if you suspect you'll like the Tinkerbell movies, you probably will. If you can't see how you'd enjoy them, then you probably won't. I must admit, they're not for everybody.
Comparing Disneytoon's first golden age to Pixar's descent into marketing whoredom is like comparing apples to oranges.
Dropped by my local Target and got The Jungle Book, Frozen, Cinderella and Brave. I was glad that I found a Cinderella with a slip cover. But I guess the point is moot considering the Target plastic cases kind of "crush" the slip covers. :/
Last day to purchase it at $13 would be this Saturday, 4/19/14. I'm considering going back to grab Monsters University and Wreck-It-Ralph, titles I've watched plenty of times but do not own.
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
I have an extra Princess and the Frog Blu-Ray DMR code (note: not an extra digital copy code). The reason I have the extra code is because I got a PatF DMR code off a friend a long time ago, and just bought the Blu-Ray today.
Looking to trade for a Tangled, PInocchio, Dumbo, or Enchanted Blu-Ray DMR code--I own all of these but do not have DMR codes for them.
Looking to trade for a Tangled, PInocchio, Dumbo, or Enchanted Blu-Ray DMR code--I own all of these but do not have DMR codes for them.
Big Papa Husker
Member
Went today, prices are back up to 30 dollars for Blu Rays. Same movies are all 13 on DVD. Damn, at least I made out with Peter Pan right before it is vaulted, really wanted Mermaid at that price.
Going to count that as a victory though.
VGChampion
Member
Stupid me and procrastinating. Wanted to check out my local store but was waiting until my day off tomorrow. 
thecouncil
Banned
Amazon has a Disney Easter sale going on. Ends tomorrow. Some Blu Rays in there. Not a big selection, and I'm not even sure the "sale" is greater than a normal day but, hey...
direct link.
direct link.
WordAssassin
Member
Why on God's green earth is Sword in the Stone $40
That price is from a third-party seller on Amazon. Amazon's price is $14.99 but they are currently out of stock. Though you can still lock in the price at $14.99 by placing an order from Amazon (and not the third-party seller) now and they're expected to restock within the next week or two.
WordAssassin
Member
Ah, thanks for the explanation!
*Hopeful laughter that degrades into sobbing*
FloppyDelux
Member
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
OMG the package films?! Really? That would be great.
OMG GOOFY MOVIE!!!?
OMG GOOFY MOVIE!!!?
HammerOfThor
Member
Aladdin over a year from now?!?!
ALL I WANT IS ALADDIN ON BLU, C'MON!
Edit: Oh was it released already? I know Pinocchio was but its on that list
ALL I WANT IS ALADDIN ON BLU, C'MON!
Edit: Oh was it released already? I know Pinocchio was but its on that list
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
Pinocchio is the only thing on that list that would be a US re-release. And it makes sense that it'd be unvaulted at some point, given that Sleeping Beauty is being re-released this year and Pinocchio's last release as a Platinum release, not a Diamond release, so it'd be next on the list for a re-release anyway. Aladdin is released in Europe but not the US (the OP has the full list of US releases among mainline WDAS films)
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
Still no word on the Ghibli titles for this year? :/
HammerOfThor
Member
Is there a reason movies like Hercules and Aladdin don't have a US BD release? Or Disney just has other priorities?
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
Aladdin: Disney considers it a major title and only releases two of those a year. It does extra work on bonus features and gives the films a little bit of extra space in terms of marketing.
Hercules: Disney hasn't got to it yet *shrugs*
They are taking so damn long with these. I just want at LEAST Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away.
I would bet on Aladdin in Fall 2015, makes sense to me. Better have a good looking cover though.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
We won't get Spirited Away this year, but, providing Disney hasn't abandoned the Ghibli blu rays altogether, I'd wager that we'll get Mononoke this year, along with The Wind Rises and maybe even Porco Rosso too since it's another Miyazaki aviation themed movie.
What makes you say that? I have never seen Porco Rosso, and I'm kind of holding out on a Blu Ray release to watch it for the first time. Might just buy it on DVD otherwise.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
We're definitely getting The Wind Rises this year since Disney released it late last year/early this year theatrically. If it follows their typical theatrical-to-bluray release schedule, we should be getting it in a few months.
Disney's Ghibli release schedule:
2010:
Ponyo
2011:
Nausicaa
2012:
Castle in the Sky
Whisper of the Heart
Arrietty
2013:
Totoro
Howl's Moving Castle
Lately they've released two legacy titles per year, not counting the new releases such as Arrietty. (I'm assuming that The Wind Rises won't count either)
So that leaves two more for this year, and in terms of the remaining unreleased Ghibli titles, there are really only two "big" ones left: Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. The Spirited Away blu ray isn't even out in Japan yet, so there's no way we're getting it this year but Princess Mononoke has been out since last year in Japan and the UK is getting it this year, and since I figure that Disney will want to release at least one major legacy title this year, I'm assuming that that title will be Princess Mononoke. (Fake Edit: after looking through the internet, there seems to be a consensus that Ghibli won't allow their films to be released on blu ray in the US within a year of their Japanese releases, and since Mononoke came out in early December of last year in Japan, we might not get it this year after all.)
I think it's safe to say that Disney will never release Only Yesterday, Pom Poko, or Ocean Waves in the US and I have serious doubts about My Neighbors the Yamadas and Tales from Earthsea as well. That just leaves:
Kiki's Delivery Service
Porco Rosso
The Cat Returns
Princess Mononoke
Spirited Away
I'm thinking that Porco would be the likeliest of those since it has an aviation theme (to go along with The Wind Rises). And if we don't get Princess Mononoke this year, I guess its slot would go to either Kiki or Cat.
I don't really know though, I'm just speculating.
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
The Miyazaki Lupin III movie (Castle of Cagliostro) is getting a US release this year, but not from Disney. It's from... uh... the people doing the CyberSix DVD release... Discotek, that's it.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
A few of their other pre Ghibli titles are also getting US releases from Discotek later this year: Sherlock Hound and Horus Prince of the Sun.
Cybersix is getting a DVD release? Neato.
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
I believe you can return the film even if you've failed to decline it. Not sure if that's worth the hassle for you.
Hmm. Do you have to pay return shipping? I might just keep it to fulfill my commitment so I can cancel. I just looked on the website and there's probably already enough movies out to sign up again.
That'll do it. I might join very soon. Grab a few Pixar movies (Incredibles, Wall-E, Ratatouille), along with Little Mermaid and a Miyazaki.
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
Disney's The Three Musketeers: Mickey, Donald, and Goofy
August 12, 2014
http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00K5ZXKTS/
Amazon Canada also lists Tarzan for August 12, 2014:
http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00K5ZXIZY/
Amazon Canada also lists Hercules for August 12, 2014:
http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00K5ZXJFI/
Disney Movie Club has Hercules and Tarzan as next month's selection as well, so that's a great way to fulfill your commitment.
In addition, D23 is having a Vault screening of Ichabod and Mr. Toad on September 13th, so expect a fall release for that.
Finally, there's going to be a series of limited edition soundtrack re-releases starting with The Lion King
http://disneymusicemporium.com/
Given that Sleeping Beauty is on this list for this fall at the same time as the blu-ray re-release, it seems possible that Pinocchio's album release (Feb 2015) might coincide with Pinocchio being next spring's Diamond Edition.
August 12, 2014
http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00K5ZXKTS/
Amazon Canada also lists Tarzan for August 12, 2014:
http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00K5ZXIZY/
Amazon Canada also lists Hercules for August 12, 2014:
http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00K5ZXJFI/
Disney Movie Club has Hercules and Tarzan as next month's selection as well, so that's a great way to fulfill your commitment.
In addition, D23 is having a Vault screening of Ichabod and Mr. Toad on September 13th, so expect a fall release for that.
Finally, there's going to be a series of limited edition soundtrack re-releases starting with The Lion King
http://disneymusicemporium.com/
Given that Sleeping Beauty is on this list for this fall at the same time as the blu-ray re-release, it seems possible that Pinocchio's album release (Feb 2015) might coincide with Pinocchio being next spring's Diamond Edition.
Great news. Which of these aged better in your minds? I will grab one of these and (presumably) Sleeping Beauty when that is a selection later this year. Will complete it then.
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
Also on Amazon.ca:
http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00K5ZXKFM/
August 12, 2014 as well.
Hercules is, I think, a pretty interesting film that holds together well with a great performance by James Woods. The soundtrack is by Michael Bolton, I like a few of the tracks.
Tarzan to me is quite a limited film whose only real interesting sequence is CG tree-surfing and I'm not confident that has aged well as a lot of the CG-heavy sequences from that era didn't. I was stunned when I rewatched Atlantis, which was a few years later, how poor a lot of the CG looked in my opinion.; in addition, I was disappointed with Phil Collins' soundtrack. Disney apparently wasn't, because they brought him back for Brother Bear, which I also think was a weak film with a weak soundtrack.
If you only have to get one, for me that one should be Hercules. On the other hand, Tarzan grossed significantly higher at the box-office and I understand that a lot of people like it. So this is just my opinion. I'd personally place both of the above films in the lower end of Disney's 1990s output.
http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00K5ZXKFM/
August 12, 2014 as well.
Hercules is, I think, a pretty interesting film that holds together well with a great performance by James Woods. The soundtrack is by Michael Bolton, I like a few of the tracks.
Tarzan to me is quite a limited film whose only real interesting sequence is CG tree-surfing and I'm not confident that has aged well as a lot of the CG-heavy sequences from that era didn't. I was stunned when I rewatched Atlantis, which was a few years later, how poor a lot of the CG looked in my opinion.; in addition, I was disappointed with Phil Collins' soundtrack. Disney apparently wasn't, because they brought him back for Brother Bear, which I also think was a weak film with a weak soundtrack.
If you only have to get one, for me that one should be Hercules. On the other hand, Tarzan grossed significantly higher at the box-office and I understand that a lot of people like it. So this is just my opinion. I'd personally place both of the above films in the lower end of Disney's 1990s output.
Christopher
Member
Pinnochio before Dalmatians??? Wtf
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
Well, I mean, 101 Dalmatians doesn't have a soundtrack (there's not enough songs for a single, even--it's one of the least musical Disney animated classics) so if they were going to do both at or around the same time, we wouldn't know from this.
But to me the timing is suspicious enough that I can't see why they'd re-release the Pinnocchio soundtrack if they weren't planning something else around the same time.