101 Dalmatians (Two-Disc Platinum Edition)
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Movie Reviews of 101 Dalmatians (Two-Disc Platinum Edition)
Movie Review: Disney's hatred of consumers is showing (again)
Summary: 1 Stars
"101 Dalmatians" is a classic Disney film and one of their better efforts. Complaints about the animation style arise from failure to appreciate that it IS a style. It's wonderful for its clarity and lack of clutter and arises from a cartooning style popular during the late `50s and early `60s.
It must be admitted that the "good side" characters are a little bland, especially the parent dogs' owners. The Disney people should probably have employed some better voice talent for these people and given them a few interesting crochets - assuming this wouldn't be too great distortion of the original book.
However, Cruella De Vil and her nincompoop sidekicks more than make up for this deficiency. In the 1996 live-action version, the brilliant Glenn Close is even nastier and funnier. However, Betty Lou Gerson, the voice actress here, gives her Cruella plenty of bite and venom. Also making up for so many pallid characters are the "Cruella De Vil" song and Cruella's own number about pelts.
On the whole, the film is a good romp. Young children may be apt to take Cruella's threat to the puppies seriously ... although Cruella is painted in such broad strokes that a moderately intelligent 5-year-old will probably realize that she's all smoke and mirrors. Teen-agers and adults will relax and enjoy the fun without worrying.
The extras included in this set are on occasion interesting, even meaty. They are some inducement to buy the new edition even if you have one of the old ones. Also an inducement is the restoration work on the film itself, which makes it look as fresh as it did in the theaters. Well, almost (see below).
You may at this point wonder at my rating for this offering, since my verbiage seems to be working toward a tepid mid-range score. No such luck. This edition of 101 lies at the bottom of the barrel. I don't know why anyone would want to buy it, much less rent the thing. The reason is its disastrously mutilated visual aspect.
The Disney people have had a vile and pernicious prejudice against widescreen aspects from the get-go. The only reason they even make widescreen films for theaters is that's what audiences expect. But they know there are a lot of Luddite fools out there who want films to "fit" their oh-so-1960s little-screen TV sets. And this plays right into their hatred of the widescreen medium. Getting them to put out a DVD with a film showing its original dimensions sometimes amounts to pulling their teeth with rusty pliers. This latest travesty really takes the cake.
"101 Dalmatians" was filmed at an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. Every single VHS and DVD edition of it that I know of has mutilated the original down to a disgusting 1.33:1 ... with a coy little note that it's been mutilated to "fit your television screen". WELL, IT DOESN'T FIT MINE. Welcome to the 21st Century, stupid stupid Disney people. Yes, people still buy antiquated little screens ... save those pennies, guys! But half the programs on many channels are already in widescreen, and it doesn't fit YOUR screen, ha-ha-ha. It fits mine. Most widescreen films are produced on DVD only in widescreen, and it's about time.
If Disney wants to wallow in the last Century, that's their business. However, I don't see why we should enable them by buying their old-fashioned, creakily antiquated products. Once they produce a widescreen DVD of 101, I'll buy it. Used ... that way they don't get my money. Until then, I'll just keep my VHS tape. Yes, Disney, I can still be even more-antiquated-than-thou. As to this issue of the film: what a rip-off!
Movie Review: 101 Dalmatians, and responding to the scenes cut review
Summary: 4 Stars
First, in response to the assertion that some smoking images were cut from this edition: I just compared this edition to the 1992 VHS release and there were NO differences in the amount of smoke in the scenes, the cigarettes/pipes/cigars were never cut, and even scenes which portrayed characters doing nothing but smoking were left intact. So, to the best of my knowledge this edition has not been altered or censored in that respect, at least in comparison to the VHS version. Potential buyers should also note the runtime for both the Platinum edition and Limited Issue DVD are the same.
As for the review of the film, of course it gets 5 stars in my book. The 4 star review is for this particular edition.
Good things: The sound and picture are restored beautifully, everything looks crisp and the colors are gorgeous. One thing of special note is Cruella's smoke is restored to a ghastly green, as it was intended (the VHS version was definitely washed out and more gray.) The special features are mostly passable - the documentary is good but a little short. I do like how much credit it gave to the author Dodie Smith though. There are some awesome little tidbits on how they animated the vehicles, but I wish they had gone more in depth on that. The small feature on Cruella probably could have been folded into the larger documentary as well. The real gem of this edition are the promo trailers and advertisements - there's a ton, and they're quite fun to watch!
Bad things: The special features ARE thin on this one, especially compared to other Disney Platinum releases. There is no commentary, which I would have loved. The biggest issue however, is the lack of widescreen. The film was available in widescreen as well I believe, and I wish Disney had included it as a viewing option. These concerns were enough to drop a star from the rating, but don't let this stop you from buying the DVD! The restored picture and sound alone are worth the purchase.
Movie Review: LOVE IT!
Summary: 5 Stars
Until this edition came out I only had this movie on VHS and when I watched the DVD for the first time I could not believe the difference!! The colors are amazing and everything is so much clearer. Of course the movie is still amazing but the bonus features are a big plus for kids and adults as well. I loved being able to hear about how the story came into Walt's (Disney) hands and the whole process of making the film back in the day. If you are a Disney fan this movie is a must!!Movie Review: Warning certain Images have been cut from this two-disc edition.........
Summary: 1 Stars
The original release version has the cigarette smoking from cruella.Disney cut the smoke image from cruella so they would not have to release this special edition as unrated...So you are better off buying the original limited Edition as it was meant to be seen nothing is cut from the original print..........This version is defintely not for collectors of Disney especially with certain Images cut from this great Film.......You have been warned this is a edited version...........not the version Walt would have wanted issued.........Movie Review: Nostalgia For The Older Fans, Fun For The Newest Fans
Summary: 5 Stars
In common with many of my fellows of 50 or so years, I have fond memories of 101 Dalmatians as the very first "new" Disney animated film I ever saw. I remember being taken to see it and making my father sit through it twice because I refused to leave after the first showing, and I still have a bedraggled stuffed Dalmatian toy I must have gotten for Christmas that year. I've owned and cherished a VHS copy for years, but I leaped at the chance to get this new DVD version, and I'm so glad I did.
First, the film itself is so beautifully restored its like watching it for the first time. All the characters are magnificently and perfectly depicted, with sharp personalities for each one of the puppies. I love the scenes of parks and streets in London, and the lovely English countryside. (I now realize this film must have been an early encouragement for my rabid Anglophilia, which manifested itself at a young age.) From an adult perspective, I was struck by the "Britishness" of the culture of the film, so to speak. So many of the characters have an air of the old Empire about them, from the name Pongo itself (originally a sort of nickname widely used among British soldiers) through to the innumerable Colonels and Sergeants among the animal characters, right down to the Cockney rhyming slang employed by the brothers who steal the puppies. Its very definitely late 50s early 60s vintage, but it has a timeless charm.
The second disc is very worthwhile, too. I enjoyed the early history of Walt Disney and the story of the making of the film, especially a short piece on Disney's correspondence with Dodie Smith, the author of the book on which the film is based. The film turns out to have been truly revolutionary in its use of new techniques and equipment, including early photocopiers. I also liked the extra songs which were originally deleted from the film but are included here. You can understand why some weren't used, but there's one called "Cheerio, Goodbye, We're On Our Way to London" which I wish had been kept in. Its a lovely tune, and one which (to continue the military theme I alluded to earlier) its easy to imagine British troops singing in 1945. Another really pleasing inclusion is a series of unused trial versions of the "Kanine Krunchies" Jingle, which I can listen to over and over (be forewarned that you'll have it running through your head for the next several hours, though!)