Disney Films Screaming for a Remastered Picture/Sound

[disneyfella]

I was just watching old Disney movies today, and was really.....REALLY disappointed with some of the transfers these films have gotten. I know some have been mentioned on this site before, but I don't think there has been a place to talk about picture quality. Goodness knows that we would all love to see more special features on Disney movies, or even get some more catalog titles released on DVD!


'The Moon-Spinners', 'Blackbeard's Ghost', 'Miracle of the White Stallions', and 'The Journey of Natty Gann' are a complete embarrasment to Buena Vista Home Entertainment. Not only for their barebones releases, but from absolutely horrible film transfers that have been cut!! Part of what critics praised about 'The Moon-Spinners' was its beautiful photography of the island of Crete, and now the 2.35:1 image has been cropped to fullscreen and badly in need of digital enhancement. I'm not even sure if there has ever been a release in its original aspect ratio (laserdisc, beta, DVD, VHS, etc.) since its original exhibition. I know we've had discussions about 'Blackbeard's Ghost' on a few different pages about how bad of a cropping job that was, again with such poor video quality.


I don't understand how such poor quality could make it through the gate! Walt would never have allowed this, and I only hope that these titles can get a proper release with respect to the image and sound of these films. I can't praise Disney enough for rereleasing 'The Absent Minded Professor' in the 1.66:1 black and white transfer (especially since its release was so close with that of the original).


I was hoping this could be a sort of soapbox, or place where we can all come together to whine and complain about our biggest disappointing Disney DVD treatment to films. Am I alone in thinking these releases are unacceptable?

[SwordInTheStone777]

The Sword In The Stone! The features weren't bad, but I was expecting more from a film like Stone.

[Flanger-Hanger]

Babes in Toyland and The One and Only Genuine Original Family Band need fixing up too, but Blackbeard's Ghost would be my top priority.

[CampbellzSoup]

The Little Mermaid.

HORRIBLE Platinum transfer

[SpringHeelJack]

The Sword In The Stone! The features weren't bad, but I was expecting more from a film like Stone.

Seriously? The transfer is much better than many other films ("The Black Caldron", "The Rescuers") and for a film that did so-so box-office and critically, all it was really missing was a short documentary.

[Escapay]

I need only to say one word.

ROCKETEER

Seriously, it's one of the worst transfers I've seen on DVD, and that's taking into account the couple dozen public domain titles I have in my collection. The UD review is spot on in its description...

Unfortunately, the word that comes to mind in describing this DVD transfer is "murky." It's as if the film is covered by a layer of film, and everything seems more distant and than it should be. It lacks the sharpness and clarity it should have, and while there are no distracting flaws or inconsistencies, the film would very much stand to benefit from a new anamorphic transfer. As it is, it's an overly dark transfer that is pretty disappointing.

And watching the trailer is far worse, as it's not only a P&S of the 2.20:1 frame, but it's also been slightly stretched (1.4:1)

Scaps

[SwordInTheStone777]

I liked Rocketeer

[disneyfella]

Good call with the Babes in Toyland and Rocketeer transfers. Just terrible!

How about 'Shipwrecked'. The Disney Movie Club has released it exclusively, and the trasnfer is a horrible fullscreen crop of this 2.35:1 picture. Again, a film who's high points included the cinematography has literally covered it up!!!

[Jack Skellington]

THE BLACK CAULDRON PLEASE !

[David S.]

I nominate the 2 Latin American DACs and 4 "package" DACs that followed.

3 of these 6 transfers are automatically flawed since they are edited for content (Saludos Amigos, Melody Time, and Make Mine Music).

While SA and MT are small edits, MMM was butchered with the removal of an ENTIRE segment (Martins and the Coys)

Also, according to the UD review, Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad has a really poor transfer wherin the viewer can even see the reel change circles! ( http://www.ultimatedisney.com/ichabod.html )

Very few of the bonus features on these Gold editions actually pertained to the films themselves - most are bonus shorts that have since been made available on treasures or other shorts collections.

Lastly, these are all presented in mono mixes. While I am a purist enough to appreciate the appearance of"original theatrical mono", I also like to have a stereo mix available as an option (as long as the original elements from the films are used and stay faithful to the sonic intent).

While these 6 DACs will never get treated with equal respect as their more famous "single-story" brethren, they are nonetheless part of the "canon".

And more importantly, IMO, are underated and enjoyable films, therefore deserving of better treatment on a DVD revisit, UNCUT!

(Hopefully we'll see Saludos and 3 Cabs sooner rather than later, as they are OOP)

[SpringHeelJack]

Also, according to the UD review, Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad has a really poor transfer wherin the viewer can even see the reel change circles!

A lot of movies have this. Sometimes there's nothing you can do on older films, and it's a very costly process. Should they ideally do something? Yes. Will they likely do anything on a low-key film? Likely not.

[David S.]

Yes, I know it's fairly common, but in my experience with the DACs on DVD, not something I've seen yet! I wasn't really complaining about it as I don't have that DVD yet, but since the UD review indicates it is one of the poorest transfers of the DACs, Ichabod and Toad, along with the other 40's DACs post-Bambi, seemed like good candidates for a re-visit.

PS. Is your name a reference to the song "Spring Heel Jim", or is that just a coincidental resemblance

[SwordInTheStone777]

Fantasia in my opinion needs to remastered, I own the 60th Anniversary Edition, and it was really gritty and griny.

[SpringHeelJack]

Is your name a reference to the song "Spring Heel Jim", or is that just a coincidental resemblance

Ha, I think you're like the second person here to mention that! But no, mine is from a Victorian-Era phantasm who basically annoyed/harassed people then jumped over tall fences to escape.

[SwordInTheStone777]

A Ghost that jumps? weird!

[Matt]

Beauty and the Beast, you all know why, don't have to get into it again lol.

Dumbo, OMG, I cannot stand the Big Top Edition restoration, So horrible!

The Little Mermaid too ugh!

And others I agree with as well.

[SwordInTheStone777]

Dumbo Big Top Edition restoration was way to dark, the pink elephants on parade weren't pink, more like Maroon.

[BambiFan87]

Totally agree with the little mermaid I was in shock. Lowry definatly didnt do that restoration flat out. IT WAS STILL GRAINY! blah! Also yea dumbo really disapointed me. and both these dvd's did as well I have never gone back to them after the original viewing because they were so disapointing. I did go back to kiss the girls part when we were drunk to sing it though. lol. Iv yet to see black cauldron, rescuers, sword and the stone, and others on dvd yet so I dont have an opinion. I have no interest in the old live actions at all.

[Matt]

Totally agree with the little mermaid I was in shock. Lowry definatly didnt do that restoration flat out. IT WAS STILL GRAINY! blah! Also yea dumbo really disapointed me. and both these dvd's did as well I have never gone back to them after the original viewing because they were so disapointing. I did go back to kiss the girls part when we were drunk to sing it though. lol. Iv yet to see black cauldron, rescuers, sword and the stone, and others on dvd yet so I dont have an opinion. I have no interest in the old live actions at all.

I hope u are old enough to drink lol.
That is to funny, watching that scene drunk.

[BambiFan87]

lol well im 20....so only a few more months! hehe!