Disney movies on Laserdisc?

[Lars Vermundsberget]

Most of those branded Exclusive Archive Collection would be worth your while, at least in terms of bonus features. This is especially true of the Three Caballeros/Saludos Amigos set, but less true of the earlier titles, like Mary Poppins.

I definitely agree about the TTC/SA set - among other things it includes one of my favourite extras pieces ever - the "reconstructed" Caxanga.

[blackcauldron85]

Most of those branded Exclusive Archive Collection would be worth your while, at least in terms of bonus features. This is especially true of the Three Caballeros/Saludos Amigos set, but less true of the earlier titles, like Mary Poppins.

I definitely agree about the TTC/SA set - among other things it includes one of my favourite extras pieces ever - the "reconstructed" Caxanga.

Lars & Feed Me Linguini- thanks for the info! I'll have to look up the "Exclusive Archive Collection". That's great that SA/TTC are on a set together. What's the "reconstructed" Caxanga?

[The Lizard King]

Thanks very much for the model numbers of players to get- that's hugely helpful, seeing as I know nothing about electronics!

Unlike the DVD format, the quality if the image on a LaserDisc is accutely dependent on the quality of the player. I have a mint-in-box Pioneer Elite CLD-79 that I can part with if you are serious about buying one. PM me if you are interested.

TLK

[Lars Vermundsberget]

What's the "reconstructed" Caxanga?

It's a "suggestion" of what an unfinished short could have been like. It consists of various sketches of Donald Duck, Goofy and Jose Carioca playing a Brazilian matchbox game set to a "catchy tune". Then, at night, Donald has a "musical nightmare" similar to the short "Drip Dippy Donald", that may have been inspired by this unfinished work. The overall effect is highly enjoyable and interesting.

[feedmelinguini]

The overall effect is highly enjoyable and interesting.

...and addicting, too! I haven't watched this reconstructed short in a very long time, but I still can't get its melody out of my head. It's a song that is sung to a game involving four friends and four matchboxes.

-Lon

[blackcauldron85]

Thanks for the offer, Lizard King! I'm going to have to pass for now (seeing as how I have $25 of spending money), but I'll keep it in mind when and if I decide to purchase one!

[Lars Vermundsberget]

The overall effect is highly enjoyable and interesting.

...and addicting, too! I haven't watched this reconstructed short in a very long time, but I still can't get its melody out of my head.

Definitely! This is "one of those songs"...!

[blackcauldron85]

I'm back with more questions. So, on www.lddb.com, if you type in a movie title, they'll show a list of the various LD releases of that title, for various countries. "Melody Time", for example, just had a Japanese release. If I bought a LD player, since there are no regions, would it matter if it's Japanese? Would there be any indication of it being a foreign release? I've only been writing down the #s for the American LDs, but I'm interested in what a foreign release would be like, in terms of being different from an American release...

I'm still not quite in the market for a LD player, but maybe later in the year I will be, if I can do all of my research and know exactly what specific releases I want.

Also, lets say there's a LD listed on eBay. If I contacted the seller and asked "Is there Laser Rot", could they tell just by looking (I mean, if they don't have a LD player, there will be no way of telling except for looking).

Thanks!

[Lars Vermundsberget]

Different? Well, there's a lot of Japanese writing on the cover! But, fortunately, there were no region codes back then. If there's nothing wrong with the disc and nothing wrong with your player it is going to work (the only exception being PAL-only players, but let's forget about those).

One cannot detect "laser rot" just from looking - one has to play the disc.

[blackcauldron85]

Different? Well, there's a lot of Japanese writing on the cover! But, fortunately, there were no region codes back then. If there's nothing wrong with the disc and nothing wrong with your player it is going to work (the only exception being PAL-only players, but let's forget about those).

One cannot detect "laser rot" just from looking - one has to play the disc.

But, let's say I bought that Japanese "Melody Time"...it won't be dubbed in Japanese, will it? Or there won't be subtitles if I don't want there to be (they can be turned on/off)? If and when I purchase a laserdisc player, I'd start off with the American LDs...I still need to do more research as to which ones have the bonus features that are worth the $.

[Lars Vermundsberget]

Well, MT is music most of the time anyway...

I don't think it's dubbed. Some of the LDs offer optional soundtracks, though (English/Japanese).

There are probably "subtitles" for a few "title cards" here and there. If there are, these cannot be turned off.

Some of the American LDs might have extras that you'll find worthwhile. The only reason to buy the Japanese Melody Time and Make Mine Music is basically the fact that they are the only LD versions of those titles in existence.

[blackcauldron85]

"Melody Time" was just one that came to mind that didn't have an American version. "Mulan" and "Tarzan", for example, have no American LD, but there seem to be Japanese LDs of these movies. I would only buy a Japanese one (if I could afford it) if it was all in English.

Also, I have a question about Laser Rot-
how does it affect play? How would I know if a LD I bought had Laser Rot?

And, can an unopened LD have Laser Rot?

[Lars Vermundsberget]

"Melody Time" was just one that came to mind that didn't have an American version. "Mulan" and "Tarzan", for example, have no American LD, but there seem to be Japanese LDs of these movies. I would only buy a Japanese one (if I could afford it) if it was all in English.

In my opinion you should have no language problem with MMM and MT - if you can indeed afford them in the first place. I've got MMM myself, pretty much because I was lucky - still looking for MT.

I've got neither Mulan nor Tarzan on Japanese LD. Tarzan has, as far as I've been told, the original sound, while Mulan has not, for some strange reason. Instead I got myself a French (PAL) LD of Mulan - just for the sake of my collection...

Also, I have a question about Laser Rot-
how does it affect play? How would I know if a LD I bought had Laser Rot?

And, can an unopened LD have Laser Rot?

They say that "laser rot" materializes as colourful dots on the screen - if it's really bad the disc is basically unwatchable. Slight video "dropouts" and "white noise" may also occur - however, according to experts this is not the same as "rot". Not so sure that's any comfort, though, if it's really bad...

And don't "trust" a LD just because it's unopened - that has very little to do with it. If I were going to pay a high price for a LD I would NOT buy it unopened - I'd want to have it checked for playability.

[blackcauldron85]

Thanks for all your help, Lars! I don't have the money right now, but I'm doing my research ahead of time! Chances are I won't get a LD player anytime soon...

So, on the "Mulan" LD, you can't watch it with the original English?

Will a PAL LD play on a regular American LD player? Or do you need one specifically for PAL? And, I've heard people talking about PAL & how the sound is sped up- is it really noticable? Can PAL be played on a regular American TV? (Sorry- I'm clueless!)

Thanks again!

[dcp3y]

Before embacing a technology that is going away (although that could mean better affordability), also consider Disney's new push for Blu-Ray rolling out this year. The format is very condusive to overloading us with bonus features due to the much higher storage capacity. Personally, I'm very reluctant to jump on the new technology bandwagon, but this is an option to consider for bonus material. Simply Blu Ray has to offer us more than traditional DVDs in order to be remotely relevant, so my thinking is Disney will pull out all the stops to put any and everything up to the kitchen sink on these discs.

Highly doubtful SotS will appear as a Blu Ray since Disney is regretfully ashamed of this quality film with admitted stereotype issues from a different era (opinion - could easily be resolved gracefully), so if you want a clean copy of that you'll likely need to get it on a LD. Another upside to the Blu Ray is you have even more options where you don't necessarily have to buy all of them since companies are renting them (a certain mail order company for sure will carry them). Simply watch what you want and return them ~ should be a college friendly plan coupled with I'm sure some of your friends would welcome having a certain game system around (most affordable B-R player) for their own amusement. Not sure how one of those compares to buying a LD player - guessing they're close in price with one on the upswing and the other fading into near obscurity (perhaps a fate of BR as well - can't say yet).

My main point being your quest seems driven by attaining bonus material and Disney has a new product line that should be geared toward delivering that in droves. Good luck with whatever you decide.
-dcp3y

[Lars Vermundsberget]

I don't have the money right now, but I'm doing my research ahead of time! Chances are I won't get a LD player anytime soon...

Top quality is still going to cost, but in general I think you can get working LD players for cheap these days...

So, on the "Mulan" LD, you can't watch it with the original English?

Correct, unfortunately. There seems to be no Mulan LD with the original English sound in existence. But since I really wanted Mulan on LD for my own irrational collector purposes, I decided that French language was preferable to Japanese - besides, I think the French one was cheaper and easier to find.

Will a PAL LD play on a regular American LD player? Or do you need one specifically for PAL? And, I've heard people talking about PAL & how the sound is sped up- is it really noticable? Can PAL be played on a regular American TV?

I'm sure a PAL LD will not play on most American LD players (or TV screens). Not much of a problem, though, since PAL LDs are a marginal phenomenon in the first place... In my part of the world most of the few LD players around play both PAL and NTSC. A minority play PAL only - pretty useless, really. PAL speed-up is real. Some notice it, others say they don't. I have compared and there is definitely a noticable difference. Still, I usually don't notice without comparing.

[blackcauldron85]

Before embacing a technology that is going away (although that could mean better affordability), also consider Disney's new push for Blu-Ray rolling out this year. The format is very condusive to overloading us with bonus features due to the much higher storage capacity. Personally, I'm very reluctant to jump on the new technology bandwagon, but this is an option to consider for bonus material. Simply Blu Ray has to offer us more than traditional DVDs in order to be remotely relevant, so my thinking is Disney will pull out all the stops to put any and everything up to the kitchen sink on these discs.

Highly doubtful SotS will appear as a Blu Ray since Disney is regretfully ashamed of this quality film with admitted stereotype issues from a different era (opinion - could easily be resolved gracefully), so if you want a clean copy of that you'll likely need to get it on a LD. Another upside to the Blu Ray is you have even more options where you don't necessarily have to buy all of them since companies are renting them (a certain mail order company for sure will carry them). Simply watch what you want and return them ~ should be a college friendly plan coupled with I'm sure some of your friends would welcome having a certain game system around (most affordable B-R player) for their own amusement. Not sure how one of those compares to buying a LD player - guessing they're close in price with one on the upswing and the other fading into near obscurity (perhaps a fate of BR as well - can't say yet).

My main point being your quest seems driven by attaining bonus material and Disney has a new product line that should be geared toward delivering that in droves. Good luck with whatever you decide.
-dcp3y

I understand what you're saying, dcp3y, and thanks! I love bonus material...this all started when I read a post here and someone mentioned that the LD of "Alice in Wonderland" had more released songs than the DVD does...which made me think that other LDs probably have some bonus material that the DVDs don't have. I have the "Dinosaur" Collector's Edition DVD, and I'm pretty sure that the Blu-Ray of "Dinosaur" doesn't have nearly the amount of bonus features on the 2-disc DVD...I'm not sure about the bonus material on the upcoming "Chicken Little" and "Cars" Blu-Ray discs...I bring those up because, if we don't buy them now, they'll end up in the vault and we'll have to find them on websites and hope that they're not bootlegs or bad quality. I can't afford a Blu-Ray player or a PS3 yet, although I'm sure eventually my husband and I will get something. As far as the renting, I watch my Disney movies so often that I need to own them- I can't rent!
And, even if you have a Blu-Ray player (or PS3) and Blu-Ray DVDs, can you watch them without having a HD-TV? I definitely can't afford a HD-TV.

And, thanks sooo much Lars! I now know that, when and if the time comes, I won't be getting the "Mulan" LD (I only speak English!, and I won't get any PAL LDs.

[Escapay]

I love bonus material...this all started when I read a post here and someone mentioned that the LD of "Alice in Wonderland" had more released songs than the DVD does...which made me think that other LDs probably have some bonus material that the DVDs don't have.

In several cases it's true, as there are I think 40+ song demos on Alice in Wonderland, yet only a small handful appear on the DVD. Also, the previously mentioned Archive Collection LDs for Saludos Amigos/The Three Caballeros feature far more than their Gold Collection DVDs. A few other instances I can think of is the Aladdin LD which contains the 1992 TV Special, the Lion King LD which has its 1994 TV Special and the theatrical trailer, and a Pocahontas LD which has a different audio commentary and complete pencil animation for "If I Never Knew You". The Hunchback of Notre Dame has a wealth of extras on its LD, and the initial press release for the DVD touted it as a two-disc affair with the LD extras. That press release was pulled some time later, and instead we got a single-disc which is adequate (commentary, TV making-of, multi-language reel), but still lacking. I'm not sure if the R2 DVD also has those features, but it does contain a few of the LD features, such as a deleted song ("Someday"), a "History" featurette on the film and on Paris, the early presentation reel, an animation progression reel, and a CGI demo. Also, I'm not sure, but I think a Fantasia LD has a different documentary/featurette than the 47-minute one on the DVD.

I have the "Dinosaur" Collector's Edition DVD, and I'm pretty sure that the Blu-Ray of "Dinosaur" doesn't have nearly the amount of bonus features on the 2-disc DVD...

The only bonus materials for Dinosaur on Blu-Ray is the commentary, a BluScape short, and one featurette from the CE, "Monster Cloud".

I'm not sure about the bonus material on the upcoming "Chicken Little" and "Cars" Blu-Ray discs...I bring those up because, if we don't buy them now, they'll end up in the vault and we'll have to find them on websites and hope that they're not bootlegs or bad quality.

Chicken Little on Blu-Ray will retain all the DVD bonus features (3 alternate openings and 1 deleted scene, the 18-minute "Hatching Chicken Little" featurette, the useless "Shake Your Tail Feather" music video, and 3 versions of "One Little Slip - karaoke, sing-along, and music video) as well as 4 more deleted scenes and an audio commentary with Mark Dindal, Randy Fullmer, and Steve Goldberg.

It's not known what'll be on the Cars Blu-Ray, though I guess it would contain what's already on the DVD, and maybe a couple notable internet featurettes that made their way to the Wal-Mart and/or Target Bonus DVDs (and the R4 two-disc DVD).

More about Disney Blu-Ray can be found on UD's page here

And, even if you have a Blu-Ray player (or PS3) and Blu-Ray DVDs, can you watch them without having a HD-TV? I definitely can't afford a HD-TV.

Blu-Ray players (and PS3) will only play on a high-definition TV as the advanced technology make it incompatible with a standard definition television set (I think. It's a lot of technical stuff that has to do with the video, so your best bet would be to ask a better-informed UD member!).

Escapay

[blackcauldron85]

Escapay, you are awesome! I'm thinking it'd be worth getting "Chicken Little" for the 4 deleted scenes, but I don't have a player. In your opinions, is it worth spending the $30 and waiting for the day in a few years when I'll get a Blu-Ray player (as opposed to waiting many years and paying a lot of $?)...I mean, some PEs you can get fairly cheap online, but some Disney DVDs can get expensive...I don't know what to do, but 4 deleted scenes will make me happy...

[Escapay]

Escapay, you are awesome!

Thanks!

I'm thinking it'd be worth getting "Chicken Little" for the 4 deleted scenes, but I don't have a player.

It's Chicken Little, of course it's worth it!

In your opinions, is it worth spending the $30 and waiting for the day in a few years when I'll get a Blu-Ray player (as opposed to waiting many years and paying a lot of $?)...

I'd pick it up for two reasons. The first is because I doubt it will be revisited by Disney in a newer features-packed edition and if it's ever announced to go out of print, at least now you'd have a deadline for when to get the movie instead of finding out two years after its been vaulted. The other reason to pick it up now is so you'll have more of an incentive to go out and buy a Blu-Ray player and HDTV, though I'd still wait a year or so for prices on Blu-Ray players (or PS3 if you wish) to get reasonable and players to get all their kinks worked out. I'd invest in the HDTV now as their prices are reasonable compared to a few years ago, and they'd still help make your DVDs look nicer.

The high-definition format is still pretty young, I don't understand why people predicted its quick success or quick demise. I doubt it'll die quickly if the sales aren't what companies want them to be, after all, laserdisc hung around for 20-odd years and mostly was a niche product. I've got a feeling that Blu-Ray (and HD-DVD for those that enjoy it)will be in for the long haul, except cheaper. Compare the $35 pricetags for a new Blu-Ray Disc to the $100+ pricetags for a new laserdisc where the major bonus was original aspect ratio, a trailer, and alternate audio tracks. Hey, that sounds like early DVD!

Escapay