UltimateDisney.com: The Ultimate Guide to Disney DVD
AUGUST 1-15, 2006 NEWS ARCHIVES
Click here for Tuesday's New Release and Bargain Chart
August 15, 2006 - Our coverage of Disney Movie Club exclusives continues with Ed South's look at The Bluegrass Special, a 1977 installment of "The Wonderful World of Disney" which makes for a light and unusual disc on its own. The 48-minute episode tells the story of Penny, a teenaged girl determined to tame an unruly horse and become a jockey against convention. Like many other DMC Premieres, this one offers a mediocre feature presentation and no bonuses whatsoever -- not a special feature, not a chapter stop, and (despite what was announced) not the Runaway on the Rogue River, Bluegrass's usual video companion. Even the thrill of owning something not available in stores comes at a tough-to-justify standard price of $19.95. Click here for the full review.
As part of an attempt to reconfigure our section on Television Movies -- a vast and largely unavailable component of the Disney catalogue -- we are unveiling a new page today: Disney Channel Original Movies. Representing the first stage of change, this document now lists all of the movies which have made their debut on the cable channel that the Mouse launched 23 years ago. The titles are arranged by original airdate, in reverse chronological order, spanning from this October's Halloweentown: Witch U. to 1983's Tiger Town. This approach seemed most appropriate since it is the newest entries (the tween-targeted "DCOMs") which are most likely to receive DVD release, as opposed to the Disney Channel Premiere Films of the 1980s which regularly were issued on VHS back in the day but have been out of circulation for many years. Nonetheless, the list is completely accurate and up-to-date as of this moment. It includes links to purchase the titles, whether that be on rare, long out-of-print videocassettes or on DVD via discs from general retail, the Disney Movie Club, or independent studios. Click here to view UD's latest new section: Disney TV Movies - Disney Channel Original Movies (1983-Present). In the meantime, please excuse any duplicate listings which may appear in the other three TV movie pages (The Wonderful/Magical World of Disney, 1997-Present, TV Movies & Specials, 1980-1996, and vintage TV Movies & Specials, 1954-1979) - their overhauls are in progress.
August 14, 2006 - After months of being allowed to slide in the face of unattractive prices and slim new pickings, our UD Worldwide DVD+ Shop, affiliated with Amazons from around the globe, has been restored to its former glory and then some. The catalog has been updated to include all announced Region 1 releases through December plus a handful of Region 2-exclusives like 16x9 presentations of '60s Hayley Mills films served up fullscreen in the US. The Top Sellers Chart has been overhauled to reflect what currently-available and upcoming discs (as well as the odd Disney book and CD) are especially hot with UD readers. And the sections for each month in 2006 now include new Disney CDs in addition to DVDs. Check out the Shop for search-friendly, category-happy, review-linkedy fun!
"Gummi Bears" Volume 1 menus, anyone? Check 'em out right here: Disc 1, Disc 2, and Disc 3.
Our 10-day review drought comes to an end with Aaron Wallace's critique of Disney Learning Adventures: Winnie the Pooh - Wonderful Word Adventure, one of the two educational volumes set in the Hundred Acre Wood which finally reached stores earlier this month after a number of delays. With this disc, the tot-tailored line is steered back to originality, with all-new animation taking A.A. Milne's colorful characters (as well as viewers in the Pre-K to K demographic) on an obstacle course illustrating the concept of opposites. Read on...
August 12, 2006 - Who let the direct-to-video dogs out? Disney did, but don't go running to your store just yet. Both Air Buddies and The Fox and the Hound 2 won't be out for precisely another four months. But that doesn't mean we can't bring you high-res cover artwork of each. Click here to view it.
August 11, 2006 - Amazon.com has made Cars: Widescreen Edition available for preorder.
  
It's now official! We've just gotten word that "DuckTales" Volume 2, "Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers" Volume 2, and "Disney's Adventures of The Gummi Bears" Volume 1 will all arrive on DVD on November 14th. "DuckTales" will include the 5-part pilot episode "Treasure of the Golden Suns" plus 19 additional episodes. "Chip 'n Dale" will hold Episodes 28-51 and include its 5-part pilot "Rescue Rangers to the Rescue." "Gummi Bears", Disney's first animated TV series, will contain all 47 episodes from Seasons 1 through 3, half of the show's 6-season run. Each 3-disc set will carry a modest $34.99 suggested retail price. "Gummi Bears" fans needn't worry about compression woes; most of these 47 episodes run about 11½ minutes apiece (they were doubled up to fill a half-hour timeslot), making its content comparable to the other two sets. Update: High-res cover and slim case artwork has now been posted for "DuckTales" V2, "Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers" V2, and "The Gummi Bears" V1.
Disney has set December 12th as the release date for two dog-centric direct-to-video sequels: the G-rated The Fox and the Hound 2 featuring the voices of Reba McEntire, Patrick Swayze, and Jeff Foxworthy and PG-rated Air Buddies starring Michael Clarke Duncan, Richard Karn, and Don Knotts.
August 10, 2006 - After several weeks of releasing nothing or close to it (and there are a couple of those still to come), Buena Vista Home Entertainment will move to a relatively packed schedule at the end of this month. To guide you through August, we've set up a forum thread profiling the various new Disney DVDs that have just come to stores or are on the way. Click here for UD's Guide to August's Disney DVDs.
August 9, 2006 - Full-fledged press releases have come in for the trio of '90s cartoon box sets due on August 29th: "TaleSpin" Volume 1, "Darkwing Duck" Volume 1, and what is now being called "The Tick" vs. Season 1. Though "TaleSpin" and "Darkwing" rank among the most substantial sets Disney has issued on DVD, their announcements fall on the short side, saying little about the shows and the bonus-less discs that hold them. Each 3-disc set, however, is distinguished as being part of the "Disney Animated TV Box Sets Collection", a class that is expected to be extended by three new volumes in November.
It was time today for another Disney earnings conference call and, as usual, a recording of the proceedings has been made available as a webcast. As has become increasingly customary, hardly any entertainment news of interest leaked out during the hour-long reflection of the Walt Disney Company's Q3 earnings. The Company did report a 17% growth in revenue and praises were sung for Cars, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and Disney Channel's High School Musical (which is already being referred to as a "franchise"). It was announced that a Cars-based attraction is all but certain to come to one or more Disney theme park. New distribution methods were again talked up, with statistics boasting high advertisement recall among viewers of the company's recent trial offering TV show episodes freely online. Still, speakers shied from proclaiming firm plans for Blu-ray releases of Cars and Dead Man's Chest. Of course, the major changes recently reported to be in store for Disney were confirmed: the company's movie branch will move to focus on Disney branding, with an annual goal of ten films falling under the Walt Disney Pictures banner compared to just 2 or 3 productions from Touchstone Pictures. While this restructuring is meant to cut back on studio costs, it will offer an increase in Disney-branded film output, as next year's lineup now only has 6 such movies confirmed.
August 8, 2006: This Week's Deals
This Week's Bargains:
Discounts are back at Amazon.com! Grab huge savings on Disney DVD preorders:
August 29: "Darkwing Duck" Volume 1, "TaleSpin" Volume 1, "The Tick" Season 1, Brother Bear 2 (33-34% off); The Wild (34% off, Sept. 12), The Little Mermaid: Platinum Edition (37% off, Oct. 3), The Fox and the Hound: 25th Anniversary Ed. (34% off, Oct. 10)
Amazon.com's Hot List (Amazon's most popular DVD deals)
Get 3 movies for $1.99 and free shipping when you join the Disney Movie Club!
Save big on Disney DVDs (up to 53% off SRP!) at Overstock.com : Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl ($10.96), The Shaggy Dog (2006) ($16.81), High School Musical ($14.91), The Apple Dumpling Gang: Special Edition ($7.01), Angels in the Outfield ($7.01), Newsies ($10.96), The Three Musketeers ($7.01), Miracle (2-Disc Set) ($7.01) and many more
Hundreds of Disney DVDs are on sale for $5.99 (60% off) at J&R - JR.com
BestBuy.com Bargains (Support Ultimate Disney: buy online, free in-store pickup.)
 Catch up on past Walt Disney Treasures from Waves 3-5 ($24.99-$29.99 each)
 Buy 3 Classic Cartoon Favorites volumes for $25 (excludes Holiday volumes)
 Preorder Lost, Desperate Housewives or Grey's Anatomy, save $10 on Season 1
 Preorder The Little Mermaid Platinum Edition and save $5 on any Disney DVD
 Select Disney/Pixar/Touchstone/Miramax DVDs are 50% off ($14.99 each)
 "Home Improvement" Seasons 1-3 are just $24.99 (38-50% off SRP). |
August 8, 2006 - We've posted fact sheets for the just-announced Disney Channel DVDs scheduled to hit stores on October 24th: "Hannah Montana": Livin' the Rock Star Life!, Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior.
Those disheartened by the recent news that Cars will not follow its Pixar predecessors to a 2-disc DVD release (at least not in November) may want to e-sign a new petition encouraging BVHE to reconsider the decision, thus sparing the film's and studios' most ardent fans a double-dip.
August 7, 2006 - In an online-only offer, BestBuy.com is selling new copies of discontinued past Walt Disney Treasures tins for $24.99 to $29.99 each. While Silly Symphonies and four other titles have already sold out, eleven others from Waves 3, 4, and 5 (including Walt Disney On the Front Lines, listed separately) are now on sale. Click here to fill in your missing spots without going broke.
A new issue of UD's free e-mail newsletter was sent out this morning. If you're someone who hates to miss out on Disney entertainment news, then you ought to sign up for this irregular mailing. You'll never get spam, it's easy to unsubscribe, and you'll stay informed even when you forget to visit (or read) this here front page. To subscribe, simply send a blank e-mail to UltimateDisney-subscribe@topica.com.
August 6, 2006 - Fans of live action Disney films will not want to miss this week's giveaways at Chimney Sweepstakes. Every day through Saturday, the site -- which specializes in painless, spamless, Disney-themed contests -- is giving visitors a chance to win a selected Disney DVD. Check it out.
August 5, 2006 - Now up for preorder with sizable discounts at Amazon.com are: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - Four-Disc Extended Edition ($29.99, 30% off SRP) and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - Four-Disc Extended Edition & Bookend Gift Set ($55.99, 30% off).
August 4, 2006 - We've just posted high-res cover artwork for Cars. The front cover (of the cardboard slip variety) has hardly changed from the image we gave you weeks ago. Click here to view the cover.
Video Business is the bearer of surprising news regarding Cars. Confirming that USA Today's use of "disc" was not a typo, this article reveals that indeed only a "slim" single-disc release is in order for Pixar's $235 million-grossing blockbuster's November 7th DVD. Meanwhile, amidst more talk of the DVD's heavy marketing campaign, Home Media Retailing makes mention of a Disney Channel Circle of Stars music video for "Route 66", a song heard in two variations in the film. Anyone else foreseeing a two-disc double-dip to coincide with next June's theatrical release of Ratatouille?
| July's Top Sellers on UltimateDisney.com |
Austin and Belle have discovered that Disney has added an 8-minute preview featuring several scenes from Brother Bear 2 to the upcoming sequel's official website. This same pair of sleuths have turned up with retailer confirmation that November 14th will bring three-disc Volume 2 box sets of "DuckTales" and "Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers", as well as "The Gummi Bears": Volume 1, a chronologically-arranged box set of Disney's first fully-animated television program. We should have more on all three collections soon.
Daniel has informed us that USA Today has confirmed our earlier reports and added some news on the anticipated November 7th DVD release of Pixar's summer blockbuster Cars. Among the bonus features this article mentions are the all-new short Mater and the Ghostlight, the Oscar-nominated pre-film short One Man Band, four deleted scenes, the behind-the-scenes feature "Inspiration for Cars", and a sneak peek at Ratatouille. We hope to bring you much more on the Cars DVD, which will come in separate widescreen and fullscreen flavors, in the hours and days ahead.
August 3, 2006 - Aaron Wallace provides another new review, this one covering another disc you won't find in stores. "Under the Umbrella Tree" Volume 3 delivers five more 15-minute episodes of the children's program, a Disney Channel staple in the late '80s and early '90s. The DVD, available exclusively from Ottawa's Cinerio Entertainment, holds a show with "near-universal appeal" which manages to "endear and endure" in the years since first airing. As an pleasant bonus, Cinerio's third installment boasts "remarkably satisfying" picture and fun newly-created interstitials. Click here for the full review.
Our coverage of the latest wave of Disney Movie Club exclusive DVDs continues with Michael Miller's review of Kidnapped. This 1960 adventure offered Walt Disney a second chance to bring a Robert Louis Stevenson novel to the screen, which he did with director Robert Stevenson (no relation to the author) and a cast which includes Peter Finch, James MacArthur (Swiss Family Robinson), and a pre-Lawrence of Arabia Peter O'Toole. Neither that distinguished lineup nor Kidnapped's exciting nature could get the film a more respectful treatment. While completely void of bonuses, this Club-exclusive disc does get a passing grade in picture and sound. More...
This Week's Bargains
Hot-selling Disney DVDs are up to 53% off at Overstock.com: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl ($10.96), The Sword in the Stone ($10.96), Hocus Pocus ($7.01), Flight of the Navigator ($7.01), Newsies ($10.96), High School Musical ($14.91), The Three Musketeers ($7.01), The Apple Dumpling Gang: SE ($7.01), The Little Mermaid: PE ($19.85), "Lost" Season 2 ($39.91)
Hundreds of Disney DVDs are on sale for $5.99 & $11.99 (40-60% off) at J&R - JR.com
Amazon.com's Hot List (Amazon's most popular DVD deals)
BestBuy.com Bargains (Support Ultimate Disney: buy online, free in-store pickup.)
Save big on recent (non-Disney) films' DVDs:  $3.99 and up (titles include Spider-man 1 & 2, Men in Black 1 & 2, Peter Pan (2003), Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Meet the Fockers, War of the Worlds (2005), Mission: Impossible, Fantastic Four, Nanny McPhee, Mr. and Mrs. Smith and many more - click here for the full list)
Buy 3 Classic Cartoon Favorites volumes for $25 (excludes Holiday volumes)
Preorder Lost, Desperate Housewives or Grey's Anatomy, save $10 on Season 1
Preorder The Little Mermaid Platinum Edition and save $5 on any Disney DVD
Select Disney/Pixar/Touchstone/Miramax DVDs are 50% off ($14.99 each)
"Home Improvement" Seasons 1-3 are just $24.99 (38-50% off SRP).
August 1, 2006 - Many are looking forward to the second installment of The Chronicles of Narnia and now the third chapter of Pirates of the Caribbean, but our Upcoming Disney Movies page has just been updated with a preview of a project that may dwarf both in terms of anticipation. Toy Story 3 may be two or three years off at least, but there's already been enough happening to merit a multi-paragraph overview of what to expect and who from. Click here to read on.
Recent Disney DVD and CD Reviews:
The Shaggy Dog (2006) - Tim Allen headlines this contemporary spin on the man-turned-dog premise as a workaholic lawyer gets bit by a 300-year-old Collie and begins to see things differently, from a dog's perspective. Occasionally clever but all too often conventional, this new filming neither lives up to its big screen inspirations nor works the magic of past Allen/Disney collaborations. The DVD delivers pristine widescreen and fullscreen versions (which aren't redundant) and includes a surprisingly enlightening commentary alongside insignificant video extras.
"That's So Raven": Raven's Makeover Madness - Hit Disney Channel comedy's fourth compilation houses five episodes from the show's unprecedented fourth season. The selected episodes introduce some much-needed change by letting the psychic teen balance a fashion design internship alongside her everyday duties.
The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men - Walt's second entirely live-action film (shot in early-'50s England) comes to DVD exclusively through the Disney Movie Club in the barest of barebones discs, lacking not only extras but chapter stops. The presentation of this "lively and good-natured" filming also leaves plenty to be desired.
"The Suite Life of Zack & Cody": Taking Over the Tipton - Five-episode compilation of the sitcom about tween twins who live at an upscale Boston hotel. The formula for the success of the show, which is ranked second among all Disney Channel programs: take two charismatic boys (the male equivalent of the Olsens), two slightly older girls, the premise of Kay Thompson's "Eloise" books/telemovies, throw in some conventions from other Disney Channel comedies, and top it off with broad comedy. Far from cutting-edge, but plenty diverting, the DVD includes one unaired show and a decent featurette.
A Musical History of Disneyland - In Walt Disney Records' deluxe soundtrack marking the Anaheim park's 50th anniversary, six CDs provide nearly eight hours of audio from noteworthy attractions of the past and present, spanning five decades and all eight lands. The set, which carries a $100 list price in general retail, also contains an excellent hardcover book and, in some cases, a vinyl record reproduction of the first park soundtrack.
Recent Touchstone and Miramax DVD Reviews:
"Commander in Chief" Part 1 - This two-disc set holds the first ten episodes of the Geena Davis presidential drama which was poised to become ABC's fourth hour-long hit in two seasons with good buzz and a Golden Globe, but ended up changing executives thrice and getting prematurely cancelled.
Chicago: The Razzle-Dazzle Edition - Miramax's 2002 Best Picture Oscar winner is given splendid two-disc treatment. High praise is in order for both the movie ("fast-paced, full of energy, and an absolute delight") and DVD, which includes a variety of extended/alternate musical performances plenty on the film's theatrical predecessor.
July DVD Roundup - Critiqued in capsule-reviews are Touchstone's military drama Annapolis starring James Franco; Miramax's small town drama An Unfinished Life directed by Lasse Hallstrφm and starring Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman, and Jennifer Lopez; and Miramax's Tsotsi, the South African drama which won Best Foreign Film at this year's Oscars.
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