Bambi: Diamond Edition Discussion - March 1, 2011

[Victurtle]

Honestly, so long as its jammed packed I don't mind if these released are one disc. On some of the later PEs it just became a hassle switching discs when they could clearly fit on the one.

[Rudy Matt]

Umm... wow. The only Disney Diamond Edition to have one Blu-ray Disc and not two. Kind of makes it a little less special, ya know?

Oh, a lot less special. Lasseter - I'm looking at you. Explain yourself, asshole.

[Elladorine]

Oh, a lot less special. Lasseter - I'm looking at you. Explain yourself, asshole.

Um, as the CCO of the animation studios, exactly how much control does he have with Buena Vista Home Entertainment when it comes to the way Blu-ray releases are handled?

[yamiiguy]

Why does it make a difference if it's on two discs or one? If they don't have anything to fill a second disc it doesn't make much sense to split it across two to make it "special". I would have liked DTS-HD MA rather than DTS-HD HR. Though I have to admit I probably can't tell the difference, I don't even have surround sound

[Escapay]

Lori MacPherson is the one in charge at Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

albert

[Elladorine]

Lori MacPherson is the one in charge at Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

albert

Thank you, I was too lazy to look it up.

Anyway, I just love how John Lasseter is somehow automatically responsible for everything under the sun at The Walt Disney Company these days. But now we can direct all our name-calling to Ms. MacPherson since apparently it's the best way to ensure getting more bonus features on our Blu-rays.

[SpringHeelJack]

But it's so much easier to blame Lassterrrr...

[jpanimation]

... Great. Now all we have to worry about is whether or not the DE of Lion King will get two BR discs and not just released in the stupid 3D Blu-ray pack

No, it's not about the number of discs. It's whether or no they actually put effort into making new supplements. For Bambi, they simply ported the SD extras from the Platinum Edition DVD. So what we should be concerned about is whether they do the same for The Lion King, in which it would be a disappointing release as far a supplements go.

[Scamander]

Why does it make a difference if it's on two discs or one? If they don't have anything to fill a second disc it doesn't make much sense to split it across two to make it "special". I would have liked DTS-HD MA rather than DTS-HD HR. Though I have to admit I probably can't tell the difference, I don't even have surround sound

You need a very expensive audio system (at least $1500) and very good ears to hear any difference.
It's strange though, that the german Blu-ray will include an English DTS-HD MA-Track.

[MJW]

No, it's not about the number of discs. It's whether or no they actually put effort into making new supplements.

I agree, plus, I think the most important thing about any release is the picture/sound quality of the feature itself. Everyone seems hung up on the number of discs/paper inserts/additional features, and no one has even asked about the picture quality of the film (hello?). Unless everyone is just assuming without a doubt that the quality is going to be perfect, that is the question I am most curious about and would want answered from those that have advance copies.

I can count the digits in the barcode and study the color of the security sticker inside the case once I get my own copy.

[steve]

2099net, can you confirm that the RKO title is indeed still missing (that was another reason I wanted to upgrade to Blu).

Yes, it's still missing. It's the sped-up, RKO title-length blue castle (rather than the new CG one).

What are the previews on the bluray?

None! After the opening Disney Blu-ray title, it goes straight to the main menu and I couldn't see any Sneak Peek option.

[2099net]

To be fair, I think that there's a justifiable reason for not including a new Making Of on the disc.

The Blu-rays released so far didn't really have any recent "making of" content from earlier DVD releases. Pinocchio had nothing, Sleeping Beauty's DVD just had a recycled Laser disc documentary, and I believe Snow White's earlier Platinum was mostly a re-edited Laser Disc documentary. Arguably Beauty and the Beast did have a documentary made for its platinum release - but that was release some time before Bambi's DVD release.

So Disney could be justified for not commissioning a new making of - the Platinum release has a reasonably modern making of documentary and this combined with the Inside Walt's Story Meetings feature (which I've been told runs to around 2 hours with the various extensions) mean a new extensive documentary would be somewhat redundant.

However I do feel that perhaps a couple of so shorter documentaries could be commissioned - even if not entirely focussed on the actual film itself. Being as Bambi was Disney's first "animal" film, how about a feature on its legacy in other Disney films? Or what about showing us some storyboards to finished animation comparisons etc.

The disc isn't really a disappointment - were this any other release I'm sure people would on the whole be positive about what it does do rather than what it is perceived not to do. Disney's various collection titles really are a mill-stone around their neck.

While I've not seen the similar feature on Alice being as the UK release is later than the US one so I can't say if its better or worse, Inside Walt's Story Meetings on the DVD was one of the best supplemental features on any Disney DVD - animated or otherwise. Here, we're given an enhanced version! Should we really be complaining that much?

[Wonderlicious]

To be fair, I think that there's a justifiable reason for not including a new Making Of on the disc.

The Blu-rays released so far didn't really have any recent "making of" content from earlier DVD releases. Pinocchio had nothing, Sleeping Beauty's DVD just had a recycled Laser disc documentary, and I believe Snow White's earlier Platinum was mostly a re-edited Laser Disc documentary. Arguably Beauty and the Beast did have a documentary made for its platinum release - but that was release some time before Bambi's DVD release.

So Disney could be justified for not commissioning a new making of - the Platinum release has a reasonably modern making of documentary and this combined with the Inside Walt's Story Meetings feature (which I've been told runs to around 2 hours with the various extensions) mean a new extensive documentary would be somewhat redundant.

This is what I was thinking as well. Bambi was the first Platinum to really set the standard for the future releases, in particular in the structure of its documentary (having chapters of sorts, not featuring a narrator etc). That's my theory as to why Bambi is reusing the same documentary (which was pretty good, for the record), whereas Beauty and the Beast got a new one. I do honestly think that The Lion King will have a new documentary (unless the film is now cursed to receive bad home video releases ).

The disc isn't really a disappointment - were this any other release I'm sure people would on the whole be positive about what it does do rather than what it is perceived not to do. Disney's various collection titles really are a mill-stone around their neck.

While I'll agree that one or two new featurettes could have been made, or a few old trailers be sourced, I do agree that the release is okay. In fact, it's probably on the same level with Alice in Wonderland, or the elusive Dumbo. It's probably better that we get a one-disc Blu-Ray with most everything left on as opposed to a two-discer with lots of features left off (read: Snow White, a, surprise, Diamond Edition).

[jamesslater]

Hi from the UK. Sometime reader, first-time poster.

...I think the most important thing about any release is the picture/sound quality of the feature itself. Everyone seems hung up on the number of discs/paper inserts/additional features, and no one has even asked about the picture quality of the film (hello?). Unless everyone is just assuming without a doubt that the quality is going to be perfect, that is the question I am most curious about and would want answered from those that have advance copies.

The picture quality is (virtually) perfect.

Hope that answers your question.

[tlc38tlc38]

What are the previews on the bluray?

None! After the opening Disney Blu-ray title, it goes straight to the main menu and I couldn't see any Sneak Peek option.

What!?! No sneak peeks? That's beyond odd for Disney not to advertise on their own movies.

[2099net]

On the UK disc at least, there are no sneak peeks. There is on the UK Bambi II blu-ray

[The_Iceflash]

Where can I find info in this Bambi book edition? I tried checking the DMC site but nothing's mentioned.

Bambi Diamond Edition Premium Package

That's all they have up on the website about it so far. I don't see any other information. If I find anything, I will post it and let you know.

Thanks. That looks awesome. A shame it's a DMC exclusive. At this point I don't think joining right now would be that big a benefit to me.

[The_Iceflash]

Hi from the UK. Sometime reader, first-time poster.

...I think the most important thing about any release is the picture/sound quality of the feature itself. Everyone seems hung up on the number of discs/paper inserts/additional features, and no one has even asked about the picture quality of the film (hello?). Unless everyone is just assuming without a doubt that the quality is going to be perfect, that is the question I am most curious about and would want answered from those that have advance copies.

The picture quality is (virtually) perfect.

Hope that answers your question.

That makes me excited! I can't wait for this now!

[geniuswalt]

To those who say there's no point in blaming Lasseter...that may not be so far-fetched if you read this excerpt from a New York Times blog talking about the Oscar telecast

"“In total, ABC will dispatch about 20 to 30 cameras for live streaming coverage at Oscar.com,” reports Ad Age’s Andrew Hampp. “Red-carpet footage will be available for free ad-supported streaming, while the other more behind-the-scenes cameras will be protected by a $4.99 pay wall.” This payable revolution is partly the brainchild of John Lasseter, the Pixar chief (and high-ranking Academy member) who wanted to help score high ratings, and worked with his corporate sibling – Pixar is owned by Disney, which also owns ABC – to come up with the multiscreen plan months ago."

Lasseter does appear to be more involved with several different aspects than some people give him credit for...

[LucilleBallFilms]

Bambi was never really one of my favorites, the animation is the only thing that I like, and as long as it's presented great, i'm up for blu-ray only if needed. I bought the Platinum Edition rather late as it was vaulted due to boring memories, but since I can stand it more now i'll pick it up day one as I did Beast and Snow White