The Great Mouse Detective: Special Edition Discussion

[The_Iceflash]

The original theatrical aspect ratio is still a mystery to me on this one. Was it 1.75:1, 1.66:1, 1.85:1? Regardless, it appears we are receiving none of the theatrical release ratio options and are forced to watch it in the widescreen TV aspect ratio of 1.78:1.

It was probably 1.85:1, I don't think cinemas could project anything smaller than that anymore. And whatever the ratio is, 1.85:1 or 1.75:1, 1.78:1 fits between them and fills the screens, so does it really matter? I think that the re-released DACs will be in 1.78:1 too, whether they were made in 1.66:1 and projected in 1.85:1 or not.

As long as nothing's lost I don't find it a problem.

[estefan]

So, aside from a new aspect ratio and that Blu-Ray promo, there's nothing new. Pointless re-release, much? Reminds me of how the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Friendship Edition only had an episode of My Friends Tigger & Pooh as a newly added bonus feature?

And can't you watch that Sprouse Twins Blu-Ray bit on the official Disney website anyway?

[disneyfella]

It seems like a silly compromise, though. These films were NEVER made in 1.78:1, nor were they screened in 1.78:1. Why create a new aspect ratio 20 years later for the film?

1.75:1 AND 1.85:1 would fit just fine on widescreen TV displays without loss of picture space around the frame.

This film, one of Disney's Full Length Animated Features....a canon piece of film-making that contributed to the success of The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and The Lion King...is being distributed as a child's film. Not even a kid's film around the age of 7-12 who might find an appreciation for the film, but a child's film. As though 5-7 year old children who have run out of Veggie Tale stories are the only demographic Disney sees fit for their esteemed animation library.

Clearly Disney is throwing The Great Mouse Detective out with the trash come March. Anyone want to scour the dumpsters and see what else we can find? Perhaps the 1968 live-action comedy Blackbeard's Ghost.....

[The_Iceflash]

So, aside from a new aspect ratio and that Blu-Ray promo, there's nothing new. Pointless re-release, much? Reminds me of how the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Friendship Edition only had an episode of My Friends Tigger & Pooh as a newly added bonus feature?

And can't you watch that Sprouse Twins Blu-Ray bit on the official Disney website anyway?

a supposed new digital restoration is coming with that new aspect ratio you know..

[PatrickvD]

Holy Crap, what a corny subtitle.

That is corny. Instead, they should have called it: The Great Mouse Detective: The Sherlock Holmes Story without Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law Edition. Ya I know it's a bit long, but with Sherlock Holmes in theaters, it's a little obvious Disney wants to try and make a little money by unvaulting their version.

In that case they should just release Pocahontas: The James Cameron was watching this and then decided to make Avatar edition as well

[The_Iceflash]

It seems like a silly compromise, though. These films were NEVER made in 1.78:1, nor were they screened in 1.78:1. Why create a new aspect ratio 20 years later for the film?

1.75:1 AND 1.85:1 would fit just fine on widescreen TV displays without loss of picture space around the frame.

This film, one of Disney's Full Length Animated Features....a canon piece of film-making that contributed to the success of The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and The Lion King...is being distributed as a child's film. Not even a kid's film around the age of 7-12 who might find an appreciation for the film, but a child's film. As though 5-7 year old children who have run out of Veggie Tale stories are the only demographic Disney sees fit for their esteemed animation library.

Clearly Disney is throwing The Great Mouse Detective out with the trash come March. Anyone want to scour the dumpsters and see what else we can find? Perhaps the 1968 live-action comedy Blackbeard's Ghost.....

You do know that The Little Mermaid's Platinum Edition gave the film the aspect ratio of 1.78:1 instead of the 1.66:1 ratio given to it's limited edition and from what I see there are few complaints and issues with that ratio in regards to that film.

[Escapay]

It was probably 1.85:1, I don't think cinemas could project anything smaller than that anymore. And whatever the ratio is, 1.85:1 or 1.75:1, 1.78:1 fits between them and fills the screens, so does it really matter? I think that the re-released DACs will be in 1.78:1 too, whether they were made in 1.66:1 and projected in 1.85:1 or not.

As long as nothing's lost I don't find it a problem.

Regardless which widescreen ratio is used, image will be lost as the film was animated in 1.37:1 Academy.



The square is the 1.37:1 (well, 1.33:1) ratio of the "Making of" featurette. The rectangle is the 1.66:1 ratio of the movie on DVD. The B&W portion is what 1.75:1 would look like (so shave a couple more pixels and that's what the new DVD will be). It's a little off near the top, but the whole point is that image will always and intentionally be cropped off for for a theatrical widescreen presentation.

Anyway, regarding this new laughably-titled edition, I'm just gonna

For anyone who can find the older version in stores, get that instead. It's got better bonus features and the transfer is surprisingly good for what was otherwise a cheapy release. Given that the "new" transfers on re-releases like Oliver & Company and The Aristocats were nothing special (and nothing major), I wouldn't expect The Great Mouse Detective to be such a difference that blindbuyers will find preference in the new one over the old one when it comes to a/v quality. Features-wise, the old one has much better bonus features. In addition to the brief making-of and sing-along, you get a scrapbook (only 45 stills, but that's better than nothing) and two animated cartoons ("Donald's Crime" and the unedited version of "Clock Cleaners") instead of a game and Blu-Ray promo.

albert

[disneyboy20022]

the what edition? That has nothing to do with the movie??? What the heck....At leas tBig Top Edition had some meaning to it...heck even Friendship edition you got the idea...sorta.... but this name Im just clueless to where the bloody heck they were thinking when they named this thing....it sound smore like a sequel title than a re-issue dumbly named editon titled Mystery In the Mist |Edition?? I think danfrandes is at it again

[disneyfella]

It seems like a silly compromise, though. These films were NEVER made in 1.78:1, nor were they screened in 1.78:1. Why create a new aspect ratio 20 years later for the film?

1.75:1 AND 1.85:1 would fit just fine on widescreen TV displays without loss of picture space around the frame.

This film, one of Disney's Full Length Animated Features....a canon piece of film-making that contributed to the success of The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and The Lion King...is being distributed as a child's film. Not even a kid's film around the age of 7-12 who might find an appreciation for the film, but a child's film. As though 5-7 year old children who have run out of Veggie Tale stories are the only demographic Disney sees fit for their esteemed animation library.

Clearly Disney is throwing The Great Mouse Detective out with the trash come March. Anyone want to scour the dumpsters and see what else we can find? Perhaps the 1968 live-action comedy Blackbeard's Ghost.....

You do know that The Little Mermaid's Platinum Edition gave the film the aspect ratio of 1.78:1 instead of the 1.66:1 ratio given to it's limited edition and from what I see there are few complaints and issues with that ratio in regards to that film.

Oh believe me, I'm well aware of the misframing that has been going on with Disney since even before home video was adopted at the Mouse House. I've even started a thread to once and for all put aspect ratio mysteries to a close.

And just because the Limited Issue DVD was in 1.66:1 ratio, don't think that it was the original aspect ratio, or even the production ratio. Don't forget that the Little Mermaid was not a CAPS picture and therefore was animated using the full 1.33:1 frame. The 1.78:1 ratio is closer to the theatrical ratio than the 1.66:1....but the point is the same: why not just give the original theatrical aspect ratio and respect the film for what it is?

[Stats87]

I wish each and every Disney film would get a decent "making-of" featurette. Would it really be that hard to get 10 - 15 people consisting of historians/animators/directors to talk about any one of these animated films? Does it really take that much time and effort?

Heck, even a 3 person commetary would do. TGMD was the first film Musker and Clements directed, you would think their first go around as director's would hold a special place in their heart and that they'd like to talk about it, you could even throw in Burny Mattinson.

It's just really frustrating that older films are completely ignored when it comes to bonus features unless they are Platinum/Diamond editions. (I realize I'm not saying anything that others haven't already voiced their frustrations about)

[AlwaysOAR]

You do know that The Little Mermaid's Platinum Edition gave the film the aspect ratio of 1.78:1 instead of the 1.66:1 ratio given to it's limited edition and from what I see there are few complaints and issues with that ratio in regards to that film.

Oh believe me, I'm well aware of the misframing that has been going on with Disney since even before home video was adopted at the Mouse House. I've even started a thread to once and for all put aspect ratio mysteries to a close.

And just because the Limited Issue DVD was in 1.66:1 ratio, don't think that it was the original aspect ratio, or even the production ratio. Don't forget that the Little Mermaid was not a CAPS picture and therefore was animated using the full 1.33:1 frame. The 1.78:1 ratio is closer to the theatrical ratio than the 1.66:1....but the point is the same: why not just give the original theatrical aspect ratio and respect the film for what it is?

Just wanted to throw my support your way, and couldn't agree more. In addition to Little Mermaid, add Toy Story 1 & 2, Finding Nemo, etc. that Disney has released in the inaccurate 1.78:1 ratio, so people can have their screen filled, instead of giving us the correct theatrical ratios.
I don't own these on DVD for this very reason, though most people won't understand that, so I'll hold out till, hopefully, Disney gets it right and starts releasing these titles the way they were initially shown.

[ajmrowland]

Personally, I find AR discussion to be very subjective. The original FILMED ratio and the one INTENDED are two entirely different things. Personally, having a 1.78:1 version of a movie that was originally shown in 1.85:1 is nothing to complain about. So long as there isn't significant cropping, and the framing works, then why complain?

[disneyfella]

Personally, I find AR discussion to be very subjective. The original FILMED ratio and the one INTENDED are two entirely different things. Personally, having a 1.78:1 version of a movie that was originally shown in 1.85:1 is nothing to complain about. So long as there isn't significant cropping, and the framing works, then why complain?

Because the ideas of 'significant cropping' and 'framing that works' are still subjective. That's sort of the whole point. The film was framed for a specific ratio. That's NOT subjective...it was framed by the director to be displayed at a specific ratio. This is objective fact. Why not exhibit the film in that ratio?

Put black bars on if necessary, pillarboxes on the sides if needed...just present the film they way it was seen in theatres...the way it was supposed to be seen.

[zackisthewalrus]

<a href="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/coverart.html#apr13"><img src="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/images/g- ... e.jpg"></a>

Fans of one of Disney's least famous animated features won't have to wait long for a new and improved release. Originally scheduled for March, 1986's The Great Mouse Detective will get a slipcovered Mystery in the Mist Edition DVD on April 13.


Besides boasting an all-new digital restoration, this moderately-priced disc ($19.99 SRP) will include all-new bonus "So You Think You Can Sleuth?", an animated look at the history of detective work through the ages with crime-solving challenge. Carried over from the movie's initial 2002 DVD are a making-of featurette from the 1980s and a sing-along of villain Ratigan's "The World's Greatest Criminal Mind."

[Sotiris]

Olivia is off-model and Basil's pose and expression is a bit awkward and the subtitle is still ridiculous but meh Disney has done a lot worse regarding cover art.

Only one new bonus and a new restoration. Not that bad. At least there will not be extras from previous DVD editions that will not be carried over in this new one. Right?

[SpringHeelJack]

Well... I take back what I said about it maybe having better cover art. This is pretty much on par with the first DVD release.

[SpringHeelJack]

Only one new bonus and a new restoration. Not that bad. At least there will not be extras from previous DVD editions that will not be carried over in this new one. Right?

The new release seems to be missing two cartoon shorts, a sing-along, and a scrapbook.

[Sotiris]

The new release seems to be missing two cartoon shorts, a sing-along, and a scrapbook.

Do you know whether the scrapbook included just stills from the movie or concept art and sketches as well?

[Mason_Ireton]

I like this cover, but Basil's pose is a tad too hip in my opinon.... the first dvd cover was easy to take, this cover says "Rush Job" all over it no offense.

Other than the forementioned, I'm glad this film is being re-released, I might purchase this edition since I don't own it

[Elladorine]

Even if it still needs work (that it's not gonna get), I do think it looks better than any of the previous covers.