Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs: Diamond Edition (Pt. 2)

[yukitora]

Looks like if I enjoy the blu-ray bonus features enough to want more, MORE, I'll go get the PE version as well to get everything that was missing

[blackcauldron85]

Kind of old news now, and I'm just complaining because it irritated me, but...

I was at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party last night, and one side of the treat bag was an ad for Snow White (the other side was for Up), and it said: "First Time on Diamond Edition Blu-ray and DVD, October 6". That's so misleading. I mean, we know that they've been misleading about the whole thing anyway.

Yes, technically it is coming to (1-disc) DVD on Oct. 6, but it's just misleading. It boils my blood at how sneaky they are being. I hope to goodness that there is a public outcry of angry people! Yes, some say that many people don't care about the bonus features, but at the same time, some people may be mad that they paid so much for just a 1-disc DVD and 2 coasters...?

[CampbellzSoup]

I'm not sure why you're so angry about it, and trsut me their won't be an outcry.

You're an educated consumer, and you won't be purchasing either so I'm not sure where your investment in this comes from?

[SpringHeelJack]

You're an educated consumer, and you won't be purchasing either so I'm not sure where your investment in this comes from?

Common decency?

[blackcauldron85]

Exactly what Brendan said. A good portion of the general public who are interested in the title do not know that only the Blu-ray (yes, plus 1 disc DVD) is coming out Oct. 6. Especially with the DVD packaging, it is very misleading. The treat bag said "Diamond Edition Blu-ray and DVD Oct. 6"...which usually would mean it comes out on Diamond Edition Blu-ray and Diamond Edition DVD on the same day. You and I know that there is no such thing as a Diamond Edition DVD, and you and I know that people who want the 2-disc DVD have to wait until November, but Disney has not advertised that to the average consumer, and so people are uneducated and if they buy the DVD packaging not knowing that they are buying 2 Blu-ray discs + a DVD, then some of them won't be happy about it. Again, some people won't care about bonus features and will be glad to just own the movie on DVD, but I wonder if they'll wonder why they're paying so much at the register for a one-disc, small-amount-of-bonus-features DVD.

I'm not buying it, but I still care about others, and I think that it's awful that Disney is being secretive and trying to pull the wool over unassuming consumers' eyes. You'd think that Disney gets money every time someone buys a Blu-ray player, the way they've been pushing Blu-ray.

And I don't want to make it a Blu-ray vs. DVD discussion again, but Disney really is making us argue about it...yes, I blame Disney for our fighting! ("Our" meaning anyone here who as argued about Blu-ray vs. DVD.)

[goofystitch]

Exactly what Brendan said. A good portion of the general public who are interested in the title do not know that only the Blu-ray (yes, plus 1 disc DVD) is coming out Oct. 6. Especially with the DVD packaging, it is very misleading. The treat bag said "Diamond Edition Blu-ray and DVD Oct. 6"...which usually would mean it comes out on Diamond Edition Blu-ray and Diamond Edition DVD on the same day. You and I know that there is no such thing as a Diamond Edition DVD, and you and I know that people who want the 2-disc DVD have to wait until November, but Disney has not advertised that to the average consumer, and so people are uneducated and if they buy the DVD packaging not knowing that they are buying 2 Blu-ray discs + a DVD, then some of them won't be happy about it. Again, some people won't care about bonus features and will be glad to just own the movie on DVD, but I wonder if they'll wonder why they're paying so much at the register for a one-disc, small-amount-of-bonus-features DVD.

I'm not buying it, but I still care about others, and I think that it's awful that Disney is being secretive and trying to pull the wool over unassuming consumers' eyes. You'd think that Disney gets money every time someone buys a Blu-ray player, the way they've been pushing Blu-ray.

And I don't want to make it a Blu-ray vs. DVD discussion again, but Disney really is making us argue about it...yes, I blame Disney for our fighting! ("Our" meaning anyone here who as argued about Blu-ray vs. DVD.)

I agree. While I don't have anything against Disney for wanting the Blu-Ray to sell really well, I think they have taken things too far. I understand having the Blu-Ray come out a month early, because the truth is that there are die hard fans who will either buy a Blu-Ray player for it or who will get it just to watch the movie now on DVD. But the DVD packaging seems designed for the sole purpose of confusing consumers. And the way the writing is worded on the front cover, it makes it seem like it is a 2-disc DVD set with a Blu-Ray copy of the movie. I am a Blu-Ray owner, but I feel bad for the people who are being misled by this marketing.

I don't think there will be a big outcry though. Most people will buy it in the first week when the sale price is between $19.99 and $24.99. So consumers who want the DVD who buy it at stores like Wal Mart or Toy's R Us aren't paying much more than they would for it if it was just a DVD (at $19.99). And especially for those who use the coupon, they are paying between $9.99 and $14.99 to get it, which is a really good price for a first week DVD deal (even for a 1-disc set). In addition, consumers who care about bonus features are typically informed consumers. They research what supplements are on a release and Disney hasn't hidden the fact that a 2-disc DVD is coming, they just haven't gone out of their way to promote it. If you search for Snow White on Amazon, Best Buy, or even Disney Store's websites, the 2-disc DVD is always one of the first search results. And Disney's DVD site has it on the calendar and has it listed as one of the versions on Snow White's movie page (but not the official website).

To sum it up, I think it's wrong of Disney to false advertise this release, but I don't think it will cause a commotion and I hope that Disney stops this practice of using deceptive packaging in the future.

[yukitora]

^I found i'm agreeing with a lot of the points you raised, but came out with a different result.

first, about blu-ray coming a month before DVD, you gotta remember the DVD came out a month before the equivalent VHS release (this is directed to those who still find this a problem)

second, they aren't false advertising at all. nowhere does it ever say 2 disc dvd + blu-ray. Yes they are purposely misleading everything, but they are not false advertising. If anything, it's clever advertising! why? because:

1. it caters for those who dislike BD packaging (which is a lot of people apparently, either because of dodgy slim-line cases or the fact that it's so blue, or it doesn't make the rest of their collection and

2. it pushes fans who WANT to watch the bonus features (ie disc 2) who don't have a BD player to go get one. Why is this a good thing? Because it's encouraging them to enjoy the movie in high definition. And because these people are fans we are talking about, they should want to see it in high definition (marky aside).

for fans who can't access disc 2, well tough luck. That same scenario made me have to buy both the dvd and BD of SB for a total of about 70USD (in australia, the BD came out two weeks after the DVD, which is much worse than DB coming first btw). but because i was a fan of the film, it was worth it. I just don't think promoting blu-ray through what is being perceived as possible 'deception' is such a bad thing. You can always return the product, but why would you when you're getting it for so cheap anyhow? Plus this whole 'deception' thing is only going to last a month and a bit.

[SpringHeelJack]

So why is the absence of "play all" such a major issue that people are no longer excited for it? It's supposed to be an immersive and interactive experience. Not a put-the-remote-down-so-you-can-pig-out-on-your-Lay's-sour-cream-and-onion-chips-passive-viewing. Spare your remote the unremovable grease and eat those chips during the movie.

It's not just the segmented documentary, it's the exclusion of stuff that was there the first time. Blu-ray or DVD, in the past we've gotten annoyed and rightfully so when Disney has left decent material from an earlier release off a newer one. In addition with the odd layout, it just makes me less excited. I'm not one to kick back and chow down on the chips while watching a documentary, I just like to watch it without having to go back to a menu every three minutes and start up the next segment. I mean, by that logic, let's just have the movie stop every five minutes and return to a menu screen to make it more interactive and immersive.

If you'll look back, I was never thrilled about this release in the first place just because "Snow White" is not a movie I'm over the moon about. I literally think I watched the film MAYBE twice since I bought the first DVD release. The bonus features sound nice, it just sounds so far to me that the first DVD release still stacks up pretty well, bonus feature-wise. Apart form the bonus features, I'm left with a hi-def transfer that while I'm sure will look great, is of a movie I was iffy about. So if you take away things that will potentially add to my enjoyment of the film, I get less enthused about plopping down my money for it.

First, about blu-ray coming a month before DVD, you gotta remember the DVD came out a month before the equivalent VHS release (this is directed to those who still find this a problem)

That's true, and had I known about that back in 2001, despite having a DVD player, I would have still found it unfair.

It pushes fans who WANT to watch the bonus features (ie disc 2) who don't have a BD player to go get one. Why is this a good thing? Because it's encouraging them to enjoy the movie in high definition. And because these people are fans we are talking about, they should want to see it in high definition (marky aside).

Really, let's face it, Disney isn't pushing Blu-ray because they think you should be able to see their bonus features in hi-def, they're pushing it because they get more money out of it. It's not like they're doing this for our own good.

You can always return the product, but why would you when you're getting it for so cheap anyhow?

I think if I were unaware and bought "Snow White" in the standard DVD-style packaging only to find it was aBlu-ray and I lacked the technology to play it, I wouldn't just cut my losses and keep it. It'd be stupid to if I lacked the player. Also, I'm pretty sure most people who buy a Blu-ray / DVD and open it are S.O.L. if they try to return it. Store policy only lets you exchange opened movies.

[The Little Merman]

Disney is smart.

They want people to buy Blu, and that's what they're going to do. There isn't going to be this "enormous public outcry" seeing as how if the 2-Disc DVD were released on the 6th, most consumers buying it for their children would just be playing the first disc anyway.

Kids want to see one of their favorite princesses in action. Kids want to play games and see the pretty Disney Channel star sing the pretty Disney song. They don't care about the history of the Hyperion Studio.

So, people next Tuesday will open their Snow White Blu-rays in DVD packaging and not realize anything more than "Wow! I got a $50 value with this! The DVD and the Blu-ray!"

Or, maybe I'm just not complaining because I already own the 2001 DVD and have a Blu-ray player.

[Rudy Matt]

If I'm understanding the situation correctly, by becoming an early adopter of Blu-Ray, and the most popular studio in home video history, Disney agreed to pimp Blu-Ray and in return, they get a cut from the Blu-Ray consortium. Meaning, Disney pimps Blu-Ray, they get to re-sell their movies on a new format AND they share profits from the Blu-Ray manufacturers.

[Disney Duster]

Hey Little Merman! I must ask, what happened to your favorites, now Snow White is your second favorite instead of Cinderella?

[JustOneBite87]

Aside from the whole misleading marketing debacle, I had chance to see the new restoration last night (the final showing) at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.

It looked beautiful, but the real improvement was in the sound! No more pops or hisses when Snow sings the wishing well song. However, I popped in my PE DVD today for comparison and it still looks amazing to my discriminating eyes.

Ok, back to the blu-ray debate...

[MadonnasManOne]

Review from TheDigitalBits.com:

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/reviewshd ... 9.html#sno

[CampbellzSoup]

If I'm understanding the situation correctly, by becoming an early adopter of Blu-Ray, and the most popular studio in home video history, Disney agreed to pimp Blu-Ray and in return, they get a cut from the Blu-Ray consortium. Meaning, Disney pimps Blu-Ray, they get to re-sell their movies on a new format AND they share profits from the Blu-Ray manufacturers.

Yup.

Also Disney is going to push Blu Ray from now on. If you don't like it please stop shitting up every thread with the same noise over and over again - it's what their going to do, and if you don't like it then tough.

Just like I get annoying because I have a PS3, and some games are Xbox360 exlusive/downloable content is exclusive, but what am I gonna do that's business.

[jpanimation]

The excerpt from Tricks of Our Trade, Camera Tests, Abandoned Concepts, The Restoration, the Walt Disney Biographical Timeline, the Snow White Production Timeline, the Original Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale, the Storyboard-to-Film Comparisons, the original RKO opening and ending credits, all the radio shows and spots, 3 of the deleted scenes, the Silly Song Recording Session and the deleted song (You're Never Too Old to be Young).

Wow, thats a lot of missing material. I wish at least half of that missing list was retained as I've never seen those before not having the previous DVD (some of those are just dated though). I'm not big on documentaries (I can read a book on it or listen to the commentary if I care) but I love trailers, radio spots, deleted scenes, deleted songs, storyboards, newsreels and any kind of production material.

[Mason_Ireton]

Here's a full HQ verison of Tiffany's vid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3joRscFIiI

[The Little Merman]

Hey Little Merman! I must ask, what happened to your favorites, now Snow White is your second favorite instead of Cinderella?

Hey DD! I've missed you so!

Anyways yeah. I'm thinking it goes:

1. The Little Mermaid
2. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
3. Cinderella / Sleeping Beauty

The four, literally, are interchangeable depending on the day so take any list of mine with a grain of salt.

[Deco King]

Here's another review : http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/04/movie ... .html?_r=1

[Escapay]

The four, literally, are interchangeable depending on the day so take any list of mine with a grain of salt.

I have too much time on my hands...

• One random Sunday, Little Merman was walking through the woods near his house and picking berries. He was admiring the sunlight coming through the trees as it reminded him of Sleeping Beauty. "The sun has set, make ready to welcome your princess!" he quoted from the movie. "I think my favourite Disney Animated Classic today will be Sleeping Beauty!"
  
  Monday soon came, and Little Merman was in New York shopping for some shoes. "Wow, this is cool," he said as he examined a pair of Chucks that were see-through. "It's like a glass slipper...Converse style! Today my favourite Disney Animated Classic is Cinderella," he proclaimed as he went to the register to buy his new shoes.
  
  On Tuesday night, Little Merman was getting ready to go out. "Yay, it's Tuesday night! That means Quizzo night!" he said aloud to nobody as he was tying the laces on his Cindy Chucks. "I love Quizzo, it makes me feel smarter than I am. Just like Belle! My favourite Disney Animated Classic tonight is Beauty and the Beast...oh wait...it's not one of the four on my list. Never mind."
  
  Little Merman's team won Quizzo, and so on Wednesday he and his friends decided to go swimming before it got too cold. Little Merman dived off the diving board, swum all the way down, then rose up dramatically to the surface a la just-turned-human Ariel. "The Little Mermaid is definitely my favourite Disney Animated Classic," he thought to himself as he swam over to his friends.
  
  On Thursday, Little Merman and his friends went to another bar for another Quizzo, and while there he met someone named Hunter. They hit it off pretty well, and he decided Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs would be his favourite Disney Animated Classic, since the Huntsman had the word "Hunt" in it just like Hunter.
  
  On Friday, Hunter never called Little Merman like he promised, so he didn't like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. He was too upset to like any of the Disney movies and instead spent the day watching Leonardo DiCaprio movies.
  
  Finally, it was Saturday, and Little Merman was at the Farmer's Market. He bought some apples and soft pretzels, along with some fresh produce and other food to make a grand Saturday feast. While getting food, he ran into Leonardo DiCaprio, of all people. They ended up talking about Disney movies, and Leo said his favourite was Aladdin. "Hey, that's my favourite too!" Little Merman said.
  
  And the two lived happily ever after.

albert

[geniuswalt]

did you guys read what they say in the SW review on thedigitalbits.com?

The Magic Mirror ... even remains waiting on the screen as you switch discs. This is a subtle surprise that really stands out as a next-generation experience.

Sounds definitely cool! Hope it's not only for those with BDLive