Kermit's 50th Anniversary - Muppet film DVDs Press Release

AwallaceUNC · Post by **AwallaceUNC** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 9:37 pm

I wonder- were they remastering the widescreen version before they panned and scanned it? (I would imagine they were). Or are they going to go back and remaster the full frame now? Or maybe this was planned all along, and it's just an oversight on the press release.

-Aaron

jakkijelene · Post by **jakkijelene** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:26 am

Great news that these DVDs will be widescreen after all. I was scared for a moment there! Anyway, does anyone know why "Muppets Take Manhattan" was excluded from this lineup? It's probably my 2nd favorite Muppet film and I would love to see it in widescreen!

RJKD23 · Post by **RJKD23** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:43 am

I still don't understand why a pan&scan version needs to be released? (or will it..?) I mean, I thought we're trying to educate people and tell them that OAR is better (widescreen, not cropped because it can fit the TV screen

)

But...
at least the movies are going to be released in widescreen now!

Yay! (MMkay, Luke. I'll use those links to either pre-order or get them from BestBuy.com for pick up.

)

MickeyMousePal · Post by **MickeyMousePal** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:54 am

Muppets in Widescreen still will hold off since the Treasures, Batman:TAS Volume 4, Superman: TAS Volume 2 and Gargoyles Season 2 Volume 1 comes out in December which is close to November.

Cameron · Post by **Cameron** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 1:01 am

got great customer service from disney today...glad to see them back on target

sold

Grandmaster C · Post by **Grandmaster C** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 1:53 am

jakkijelene wrote:Great news that these DVDs will be widescreen after all. I was scared for a moment there! Anyway, does anyone know why "Muppets Take Manhattan" was excluded from this lineup? It's probably my 2nd favorite Muppet film and I would love to see it in widescreen!

Muppets Take Manhattan was fully financed by Columbia Pictures when it was made and they own the rights to it, and therefore it wasn't sold to Disney in the Muppets deal, because only Muppet movies and TV shows that were owned by Henson were sold to Disney. The same applies to Muppets From Space too if you were curious.

The current Muppets Take Manhattan DVD does feature a widescreen transfer of the film though, so you should pick that up, and it should be easy cause it's not hard to find and not expensive at all.

jakkijelene · Post by **jakkijelene** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 2:35 am

Grandmaster C: Thanks for explaining that to me! I actually have that DVD and you're right, it is widely available for a good price (Wal-Mart $5.50). I guess I was confused because it was released with "The Muppet Movie" and "Great Muppet Caper" in similar packaging. Coincidentally, I have purchased several Jim Henson DVDs but none of these four being rereleased. That's quite refreshing because more than once I have found myself having to repurchase a movie because of a better DVD release. Actually, I almost picked up a copy of "Muppet Treasure Island" the day before I heard about the new version. Close call!

JiminyCrick91 · Post by **JiminyCrick91** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 9:56 am

BTW I can not find The MUppets take Manhattan DVD in ANY Wal-Marts anymore should I just go Best Buy and get for (gulps) DOUBLE?

FYI: here at the wal-marts it was $6.88 at Best Buy it was about $13.99

jakkijelene · Post by **jakkijelene** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 10:58 am

Well, here's a middle ground. If you still can't find it at your Wal-Mart, try Deep Discount DVD. They have it for $9.42 and the shipping is always free (no matter how big or small the order)! A little cheaper than your Best Buy anyway:

http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemID=COL005616

Jakki

JiminyCrick91 · Post by **JiminyCrick91** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 11:04 am

Thanks but my Dad wont but online (well I was to have goten the Disneyland 6 CD set but the S/H was WAY too much) but thanks anyway.

jakkijelene · Post by **jakkijelene** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 11:07 am

Well, perhaps just wait a little while to see if the Muppets Take Manhattan comes back then. I have noticed movies they regularly carry won't be around for a little while but then come back a short time later. Perhaps there was a sudden interest due to the DVDs that were recently released. Good luck anyway!

jimmyraypayne · Post by **jimmyraypayne** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 11:16 am

This is great news that they are now being offered in widescreen. I was so bummed out when I read the press release yesterday. Go muppets!

Teen Artist · Post by **Teen Artist** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 4:03 pm

This is great! We're finally getting all these Muppet movies in widescreen! And I didn't know about it until after it was confirmed so I didn't get upset!

This is so great. I recently picked up Muppets from Space and enjoyed it a lot. That movie wasn't the best muppet movie out there, but it was in widescreen and was pretty entertaining. Now I can add all these other muppet movies to my collection!

jakkijelene · Post by **jakkijelene** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 5:03 pm

Teen Artist: I love Muppets From Space! It definitely has a different vibe from the other Muppet films, but I thought it was really funny. Love the Noah's Ark scene lol. I liked it a whole lot more than Muppets Wizard Of Oz for sure. That was a real diappointment.

Teen Artist · Post by **Teen Artist** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 6:44 pm

jakkijelene wrote:Teen Artist: I love Muppets From Space! It definitely has a different vibe from the other Muppet films, but I thought it was really funny. Love the Noah's Ark scene lol. I liked it a whole lot more than Muppets Wizard Of Oz for sure. That was a real diappointment.

I agree totally! I didn't even get to watch the whole of Muppet Wizard of Oz, and I really didn't like what I saw (I saw the last half I think). But MfS had me cracking up at times. I didn't like Jeffery Tambor in it though. I'm so glad I bought MfS because I hadn't seen it since it was in theatres, and I usually make my decisions way in advance when I buy DVDs, but this one I just saw in the store and got it because it was a good price (like $6 I think) for a good movie.

MauiMallard · Post by **MauiMallard** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 9:25 pm

To all those that seeketh Muppets Take Manhattan? Check out a CompUSA. I work there and it's a dvd we regularlly get in with a bunch of other DVD's that are marked down to clearance type prices. It usually sells for $9.99 but I've seen it running with 5 for $25 speacils every now and then.
We also that Kermit's Swamp Years, not a true Muppet movie I know, but hey it's still Henson and it's pretty cheap as well.

jakkijelene · Post by **jakkijelene** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 11:20 pm

I am glad so many of these DVDs are relatively cheap since it doesn't look like a rerelease is on the way. I just finally picked up "Kermit's Swamp Years" at Wal-Mart but haven't had a chance to watch it yet. It seemed cute enough, though I don't expect it be up to par with the classic Jim Henson films. I plan to watch it very soon!

GelflingWaldo · Post by **GelflingWaldo** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 5:38 pm

Some questions about this press release and the product:

1) Are the "Backstage Disney" behind the scenes featurettes listed on DisneyDirect still coming? (MCC and MTI had listed the documentaries from the 2002 DVDs, and TMM and TGMC had new Backstage Disney docs listed).

2) Are the commentaries on MCC and MTI still coming? DisneyDirect listed them, but not the press release.

3) The press release has MCC listed as having "Christmas Around the World Music Video". If this is the same featurette from Disney's 2002 DVD release (titled "Christmas Around the World"), then it is not a music video. There is no music or sining. It is Gonzo and Rizzo sitting around talking about diffrent Christmas traditions from around the world. Why do they have it listed as a music video here?

4) Are there any other mistakes or typos in this press release? Given it's track record so far, I wouldn't be surpried.

JiminyCrick91 · Post by **JiminyCrick91** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 5:52 pm

GelflingWaldo wrote:
3) The press release has MCC listed as having "Christmas Around the World Music Video". If this is the same featurette from Disney's 2002 DVD release (titled "Christmas Around the World"), then it is not a music video. There is no music or sining. It is Gonzo and Rizzo sitting around talking about diffrent Christmas traditions from around the world. Why do they have it listed as a music video here?

Ther is not much known about it so I can only answer this one and Yes it is the same featurette from Disney's 2002 DVD but it was a typo or error on the PR.

GelflingWaldo · Post by **GelflingWaldo** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 6:42 pm

JiminyCrick91 wrote:... but it was a typo or error on the PR.

So they mess up the aspect ratio on the press release, they list something on the press release as a "Music Video" that is not...what else are the screwing up on the press release? How can we trust any of this if we've already found a whole bunch of mistakes. Usally I would trust a press release as to what the features are but in this case I don't know how accurate this thing is. Disney (both DisneyDirect and Customer Service) stated that Commentaries and featurette/documetaries would be on these discs, however this error-full press release makes no mention to them. Do I trust the press release that their are none, or do I trust the other Disney sources and assume they are on? Do the people in charge not read the press release before they send them out? Why are their so many diffrent things coming out of Disney's mouth (which one should I belive)? Why can't they get their act together?

I remember when The Muppet Show - Season 1 came out customer sevice was saying up until release day that there would be a Jim Henson retrospective on the discs. Why didn't anyone tell them it was off the discs? They knew this long before the release date (it was not on the press release). So is this press release accurate (like TMS one was), or are the other Disney sources stating the truth in this case?

Do I trust customer service/DisneyDirect or do I trust this press release? What is the truth?!?

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