Why does 'A Muppet Christmas Carol' cost so much?

[talpa]

i was looking on amazon for some christmas dvds, and i noticed that the 2002 dvd release of 'a muppet christmas carol' costs quite a bit, and i was wondering why. is this some really rare dvd or something? thanks

[SpringHeelJack]

"The Muppet Christmas Carol" isn't "so much," it's $10.99. The 2002 edition has been out of print for some time, replaced by the new widescreen/full screen version seen here.

[Escapay]

i was looking on amazon for some christmas dvds, and i noticed that the 2002 dvd release of 'a muppet christmas carol' costs quite a bit, and i was wondering why. is this some really rare dvd or something? thanks

Like Brendan said, it was replaced by the 2005 version, which includes the widescreen theatrical version as well as the fullscreen extended version. It's a cheaper way to acquire the movie, even if it doesn't contain the 22-minute featurette "Frogs, Pigs, and Humbug: Unwrapping a New Holiday Classic" (which may be one reason why the 2002 DVD is getting some business in the rare/oop dvd market?).

albert

[MrIncredible]

I finally got around to picking this up a few weeks ago, it was part of the HMV's (a major chain up here) ongoing 2 for $30 or $19.99. It was the 2005 version, which I think is the only one around, plus it's better cause it's widescreen.

[talpa]

i know that the 50th anniversary edition isnt much, but i was referring to the prices for this edition http://www.amazon.com/Muppet-Christmas- ... 928&sr=1-2

the prices for this edition start at over $30, and a new one is going for $160

[PeterPanfan]

Escapay already explained why it might be.

[SpringHeelJack]

The 2002 edition has been out of print for some time

Ta-da.

[DisneyJedi]

Is the 2005 version the one with some of the key scenes unnecessarily cut? T_T

[Escapay]

Is the 2005 version the one with some of the key scenes unnecessarily cut? T_T

It's the one where the song "When Love Is Gone" is cut from the widescreen theatrical version, though it's retained in the fullscreen extended version.

albert

[SpringHeelJack]

WISELY cut, IMO. It's a pleasant enough song, but was always my cue to take a pee and get another glass of Mountain Dew.

[blackcauldron85]

I've always enjoyed that song!!!

I just wanted to share that fact with everyone...

[Luke]

I must say I'm glad to have the theatrical cut, i.e. without that slow song in it. This is one Muppet DVD where the many customer complaints don't carry as much weight. Of course, if I were producing the DVD, I'd have dropped the fullscreen version, made both cuts available in widescreen with seamless branching, included the making-of featurette, and had the commentary available on either cut. But I didn't produce the DVD. I guess this was the fall when Disney was really gung-ho for single-disc releases (<i>Tarzan</i>, <i>The Emperor's New Groove</i>), so a 2-disc set was out of the question (aside from <i>Narnia</i>, which got 4 discs). Go figure.

[Matt]

Is the 2005 version the one with some of the key scenes unnecessarily cut? T_T

It's the one where the song "When Love Is Gone" is cut from the widescreen theatrical version, though it's retained in the fullscreen extended version.

albert

That really doesn't make sense, but when does Disney ever do?

[SpringHeelJack]

Well, it KIND OF makes sense. I mean, if I had my druthers, both would be widescreen, of course, but you can't claim false advertising when you have the theatrical cut and the home video cut and both are actually what they claim to be. And at least the widescreen one is the one sans song, as it's the only version I watch of the movie anymore.

[gardener14]

I just watched this movie, and I think the scene in question, ending with Scrooge in tears, makes much more of an emotional impcact with the song included. It's a beautiful song, and it lends the scene more meaning.

It's a slow song, and it takes the story away from the Muppet characters, so I understand why it was excised for the mass market, but personally, I prefer it to be included. If only they could have made both cuts widescreen I'd be very happy.