BVHE denies crocodile change and still promotes original!

[Maerj]

Hi Everyone,

I've been lurking these boards for a while, but this whole Lion King DVD thing has gottem me to post.

At first I didn't think too much of the changes made to the original theatrical release of TLK, but in the last 2 days after having bought the DVD I've seen several commercials saying that the disk features both the Special Edition (true) and the Original Theatrical Release (well...sorta not true).

Having watched the original first, the obvious little changes really got under my skin, especially after having seen these commercials. So this thread inspired me to call BVHE myself.

I talked to a very nice lady named Brenda, and we were on the phone for near a half hour discussing all the exact moments where the "Original Theatrical Release" deviated by having scenes input into it from the SE. She took down chapter #'s, running time #'s, I even gave her the spots on the Supplement disk where the original versions of both the crocodile scene and the cloud scene are presented.

She said that she would be presenting all of this information to both the Technical Dept. as well as the Marketing Dept. and that I would recieve a call back concerning a resolution. She even said that when she got home she was going to check this stuff out herself

The whole "SFX" scene is a totally different story as far as I'm concerned, although presenting it with an explanation in the commentary should/would have been acceptable...

Here's to hoping some good comes of this!

You should post all of the changes, chapter numbers, etc. if you have them written down.

[MickeyMouseboy]

yeah commodore that way i can call again. my excuse to have called again will be i haven't received a call from the marketing department.

[Luke]

You should post all of the changes, chapter numbers, etc. if you have them written down.

Yeah, that would help for the page we're going to put together.

[Commodore Barbosa]

Well, when I talked to the rep I didn't point out all the changes, just the more obvious ones that actually had their "original" counterparts present on the supplementary disk.

For example the "Original Theatrical Release" is full of the SE color changes and character feature improvements (backround and foreground), but I only mentioned this in passing, leading her to the 3 Music Videos on the 2nd disk for examples of what the original looked like.

Here's the info I gave her, after first having made sure I chose the Original Theatrical version under the Set-up on the main menu:

Disk 1
Crocodiles: Chapter 5 17:41 into the film
Disk 2
Crocodiles: Choose the "Music" option on the bottom, then choose "Landmark Songwriting" Crocs (and birds) appear near the end of the featurette

Disk 1
"SFX": Chapter 15 52:31 into the film
Disk 2
Original SFX scene is not present anywhere on either disk, refer to VHS or LD

Disk 1
Mufasa Clouds: Chapter 19 1:07:51 into the film
Disk 2
Mufasa Clouds: Choose the "Music" option on the bottom, then choose "More" then choose "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" Music Video, original scene appears towards the end, though not blatantly obvious, played side by side there's a difference.


Now don't get me wrong, I like both versions of the movie (but "Morning Report" is somewhat of a square peg...), and I enjoyed watching this DVD very much. But Disney advertising something, and not delivering on it just isn't very cool.

[Jack]

Well, I just got off the phone with them. The man on the line was very nice. I told him how I was dissapointed that they advertised the "original theatrical version" on the packaging, but it was actually the IMAX version and told him there were various changes throughout the film that added more detail for the IMAX release, plus, they changed the Crocs as well as the Mufasa clouds. Gave him the chapter numbers and the time they were in the movie (thanks for Barbosa for posting these )

Also, I told him the menus on the second disc were very bad. I told him a lot of the features are repeated on the various menus, and it was very hard to find certain features like the Art Galleries because of the poor organization.

He told me he'd pass it along to the marketing people.

I was going to complain about the content of the special features, but I really don't think it would've been worth it. I think its unlikely Disney would change trying to cater to families, kids, and film fans alike. I thought it'd be more effective to pinpoint the more obvious bad points.

I may call back and complain about the features though and say it doesn't measure up to previous releases.

[MickeyMouseboy]

hehehe i'm so proud of you all who have called! I might give a second call sometime next week!

[Paka]

The IMDB shows this

A IMAX special version of The Lion King is set to be released on December 25, 2002 with a re-recorded version of Circle of Life. The IMAX version will contain digital enhancements and touch-ups to allow for the increased screen size. For example, faces will be drawn in for characters who were too small to have one in the standard 1994 releases.

Does anyone know anything about this?

Yep, they re-recorded it. The one and only place you can hear it is from the IMAX release's first trailer, featuring nothing but the "Circle of Life" sequence.

Though I still have the large size QuickTime file of this initial trailer on my comp, I couldn't find a QT format of it anywhere on the net, despite a good hour of searching. The best I could find was this Real Media clip, which features the whole trailer, but of course, Real Player can be moody at connecting and playing things.

The picture doesn't really matter though, as long as you hear the audio play smoothly. You'll hear not only a difference in Carmen Twillie's inflections (especially the line "On the path unwinding..."), but some of the animals' sound effects have been altered, as well - notably the guinea fowl that run before the elephants.

My only guess as to why they didn't ultimately use this version - which was highly touted in TLK's early ad campaign for IMAX - is that test screenings probably resulted in mostly negative feedback; methinks people didn't like the changes, as teensy as they were. I mean, c'mon - you don't mess with a song like "Circle of Life".

Ya know - this might've been a cool extra feature to have on the dvd... *pokes brain-dead Disney*

[STASHONE]

Question: Is there a disc option to play the feature without the new added song recordings or is this now a part of the "original theatrical cut"?

Also, a reviewer from another website had promised me that the segment with Mufasa's face fading into the clouds was still there and unedited. He told me that this was just a rumor. Can anyone verify this and if he is incorrect, can you explain what part of this scene was edited and how?

Thanks.

[PheR]

Hi, new here...this is my first port. (but I've been reading you from ages)...I'm from mexico so I hope I can help you with any mexican edition, you know all of them are r1 too. I'm already a friend of Chernobog (the spanish cover maker).

Well, after this little introduction.....I've made this comparison of the waterfalls (someone here was requesting it) with the actual dvd and the shots from the can you feel the love tonight video.

See ya!!

[RoyalNatalie]

Well, I just called the service number that MickeyMouseboy posted and told them that I would have liked to have seen the original theatrical version of the movie included on the DVD disc set. When the lady said that it was included, I quickly corrected her and informed her it was the IMAX theatrical and I want to see the 1994 theatrical version. I also mentioned how limited the bonus features and "making of" specials were and how it would be better to have something more coherent.

Then she took my name, e-mail, and address and said that she would "definitely" send my opinions along to marketing. I think I still might e-mail because I don't feel as though I was specific enough over the telephone.

So, I did my part. Is MMBoy going to give those of us who have called a cookie or anything?

[TheBionicWoman]

Disneyinfo@Disneyhelp.com

Luke I just emailed that address and I voiced my dissatisfaction about the extras on the Lion King. Hope this helps!

[Chernobog]

Hi, new here...this is my first port. (but I've been reading you from ages)...I'm from mexico so I hope I can help you with any mexican edition, you know all of them are r1 too. I'm already a friend of Chernobog (the spanish cover maker).

Welcome PheR! At last you have decided to join us!

[MickeyMouseboy]

I think Luke should create a exclusive add-on like a medallion or something to put on everyone's avatar that has called to complain!

[Raider]

First I have e-mailed Disney, and have not heard a response, I'm sure I'll get the message that it was forworded to their marketing department, or some consumer place, which basically means they could care less. Does anyone think that Disney could be sued over this or at least if we all threaten? I mean they are clearly violating the law, as per the defination of false advertising which is advertisements that contain representations that are false, misleading, or deceptive. Clearly Disney has done this by stating on commericals, interviews, on the actual DVD packaging, that the orginal theatrical version is included, this is in fact not true. They are also clearly violating the FTC's policy on deception which can be read here http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/policystmt/ad-decept.htm Is anyone a lawyer or know a lawyer that would like to do class action suit against Disney? I feel that we have all be mislead by Disney, and this has to come to an end. Suggestions/Comments?

[Luke]

Hey Raider, welcome to the site. I totally think a False Advertising suit is deserved here and Disney has it coming to them for this (copied from my review):

False advertising is wrong, and often illegal - so I'm not sure why this is permitted, particularly from a studio that has sued other studios (Columbia Pictures) for using the phrase "from the creator of Scream." (DVDs of the film with the offending line in the trailer - I Know What You Did Last Summer - had to be recalled, in spite of the fact that Kevin Williamson indeed wrote the screenplays for both horror films.)

It'd be awfully expensive for them to recall their DVDs and it's clearly NOT the Original Release. Hopefully, Marketing will see enough complaints and even though nothing will happen to Lion King, maybe they'll stop screwing with their films.

[Raider]

Luke great site btw, I just found your review, and your pictures where fantastic and really show people what Disney has done. Maybe some people can send you the other changes that you listed that don't have pictures for? I also posted about this on the Home Theater Forum in the Software section including a link to your review, hope you don't mind, the Home Theater Community is usually great at getting company's to change things, like the Back to the Future DVD I think you mentioned, also I think they got alot of their members to call Disney and complain about the lack of widescreen DVD's. It sure would be expensive for Disney to recall and remake the disc's, but that's their fault for clearly misleading me, and many other customers. There statements are false. If they would have said contains the IMAX version I wouldn't have a problem, but it clearly does not, and even makes you think it's the orignal version by including a poster from the 1994 release. Disney needs to be stopped as much as I love their products, if nothing is said now, they will continue to do this to all their films as they see fit.

[Luke]

Thanks for the compliment and for posting it over there. I'm hoping to get more screencaps from the laserdisc to compare (or contrast, rather) the other things and I'm sure there's more that I haven't noticed, like the Elephant Graveyard change Joe mentioned in another thread.

Speaking of the 1994 poster, where does that come up? They showed it in the ads having a choice, but the only way I've found to select "Theatrical Cut" is by going to the Audio Setup? Am I missing something?

[Joe Carioca]

The original poster can be seen in the "package that opens like a book".

Oh, and I forgot to mention: the ending credits on the DVD are also different! Just compare your tape to the DVD.

[Raider]

Luke no problem, I want as many people to know about this as possible, so hopefully we will get some sort of change.
I don't believe it is on the acutal DVD but on the front cover of the dvd jacket (the cardboard part that goes over the armay DVD case) Here's a picture:
Isn't that blue poster on the top left the orginal movie poster?

[Joe Carioca]

Welcome to the forum, Raider!