Anastasia on Blu-ray

[Disney's Divinity]

Never liked the movie myself.....

Yeah, I've always been ambivalent to it. Not bad, but not something I watch much either.

I'm shocked that the cover is as good as it is. I was walking in Target the other day, and I saw the newest release of FernGully--and that was one godawful cover. I never thought covers could get that bad.

Edit: I personally think there have been much worse Disney covers. The B&tB and SW Diamond covers, for example. Or L&tT Platinum.

[Elladorine]

omg i used to freakin love disney's anastasia (no little mermaid or thumbelina, but deffo on par with hannah montana movie and camp rock) until sumthin horrid happened! i used to love dancing around the livin rooom pretendin i was dancing once upon a november and it made me wanna go to rusher so bad! i finlly got the chance last year, and i was sooooo excited to talk 2 evryone about the movie! but when i talked back to them they didnt know any english and then one guy said:

глупый ублюдок! Этот фильм является капиталистического заговора с целью распространения образ рушится русского общества. Россия является самым передовым обществом в мире!

i was lyk...erm okay, and he hit me. god, i hate rusher! its a lame country, and this movie is now lame.

Woah. As I was reading through this, I thought for sure you were going to say you loved it until someone informed you it wasn't actually a Disney movie.

I'm shocked that the cover is as good as it is. I was walking in Target the other day, and I saw the newest release of FernGully--and that was one godawful cover. I never thought covers could get that bad.

Edit: I personally think there have been much worse Disney covers. The B&tB and SW Diamond covers, for example. Or L&tT Platinum.

I personally think the Anastasia cover would look a lot better if the colors were altered somewhat, the reddish/pinkish hue of the logo just clashes with everything else. I also agree there have actually been worse covers from Disney.

Oh, and I've seen the new Ferngully cover as well . . . how did that even get approved?

[estefan]

Yeah, it's weird that out of all of the possible Don Bluth films they choose to connect this with, it's one of his worst. Though, I guess they made the connection that both are princess musicals.

Also, I understand Anastasia is obviously copying Disney in every way, shape and form, but does nobody notice those big searchlights that open it? You would think that would key people that it was a 20th Century Fox production.

Though, funnily enough, Warner Brothers held test screenings of Thumbelina by placing the Walt Disney Pictures logo at the start of the movie to make the audience like it more. Not even joking.

[DisneyJedi]

Also, I understand Anastasia is obviously copying Disney in every way, shape and form, but does nobody notice those big searchlights that open it? You would think that would key people that it was a 20th Century Fox production.

And that's why people are stupid enough to believe it's a Disney movie.

But that aside, even if it is a Disney knockoff, it was an AWESOME Disney knockoff.

[milojthatch]

Though, funnily enough, Warner Brothers held test screenings of Thumbelina by placing the Walt Disney Pictures logo at the start of the movie to make the audience like it more. Not even joking.

I've heard that before. Crazy stuff!


Does anyone know where one can find a copy of "Anastasia" in Russian? My wife wants it in Russian, so I'm looking high and low for it. Thanks.

[Sotiris]

Though, funnily enough, Warner Brothers held test screenings of Thumbelina by placing the Walt Disney Pictures logo at the start of the movie to make the audience like it more. Not even joking.

They did that as an experiment to see whether the audience was more positively predisposed to a Disney animated film. By tricking the audience to think this was a Disney film, and thus eliminating the issue of brand and people's preconceptions, they could collect more accurate feedback.

[RickWJ324]

I pre-ordered Anastasia, Secret of NIMH, and All Dogs Go To Heaven 1 & 2. I saw Anastasia in the theatre and on VHS when it first came out, but haven't seen it since. Looking forward to watching it again. I seem to remember it not being "Disney-Quality", but it was an enjoyable film. --Rick

[miklc]

Though, funnily enough, Warner Brothers held test screenings of Thumbelina by placing the Walt Disney Pictures logo at the start of the movie to make the audience like it more. Not even joking.

They did that as an experiment to see whether the audience was more positively predisposed to a Disney animated film. By tricking the audience to think this was a Disney film, and thus eliminating the issue of brand and people's preconceptions, they could collect more accurate feedback.

Now that is extremely interesting, I've never heard about that before guess you learn something new everyday! How did the audience react towards the feature? What were their reactions when they were told that it wasn't actually a Disney feature?

I watched both Anastasia and Thumbelina last night, it was the first time I had seen either of these films in years such a nostalgia trip! I've had Thumbelina on DVD for a while just never got around to watching it, I bought Anastasia from HMV last week for like £4. It's weird because when I was younger I never realized that Jodi Benson the voice of my favorite character in the entire world also voiced Thumbelina (in fact I only realized this a few years ago), watching it back however every time she spoke all I could think about was "she's got Ariel's voice" it was mildly distracting Reading about it on Wikipedia afterwards I had no idea that it flopped at Box Office which is a shame seeing as it is a pretty entertaining movie with gorgeous animation, though I can see how it may not be too entertaining to older audiences, I think the fact that I have that nostalgic attachment really helped my enjoyment of it.

Anyway I had completely forgotten how much I loved Anastasia! I was obsessed with the film when it was released, and the VHS was constantly played, watching it last night was in a way like meeting an old friend after many years of not seeing one another. The animation and the music is pretty darn beautiful in my opinion (wanting to get the soundtrack now, though it seems I might end up paying more for that then I did for the actual DVD!). My favorite scene is the dream like sequence where she visits the abandoned palace and the paintings "come to life", it gives me chills as I find the scene so moving in a way I can't describe. I know that the film only uses historical events as a springboard and is largely fictional, but the story on which it's based is so very tragic, yet highly fascinating. I've never understood how Anastasia came to lose her memory and I don't think that film does a good job of explaining it, is it meant to be implied that it was from shock of the events that occurred that night or perhaps after bumping her head from falling from the train?

This will no doubt look amazing on Blu-Ray however I don't feel inclined to purchase it seeing as I just bought it on DVD, if the Blu-Ray comes packed with features I may reconsider if and when it gets a UK release, otherwise I'm pleased to have this title in my collection finally. Looking to now get The Secret of NIMH, An American Tail and All Dogs Go To Heaven other Don Bluth childhood favorites

[DisneyJedi]

The only way I'd get this and the other Bluth movies on Blu-ray is if they were being released in a combo pack, but seeing how the chances of those are the same as those of Hell freezing over.

[Sotiris]

Now that is extremely interesting, I've never heard about that before guess you learn something new everyday! How did the audience react towards the feature? What were their reactions when they were told that it wasn't actually a Disney feature?

All I know is that when early test screenings had the Disney logo on, the audience was more positive towards the film, and when it was not the audience was less positive.

[ajmrowland]

^lmfao

[miklc]

Now that is extremely interesting, I've never heard about that before guess you learn something new everyday! How did the audience react towards the feature? What were their reactions when they were told that it wasn't actually a Disney feature?

All I know is that when early test screenings had the Disney logo on, the audience was more positive towards the film, and when it was not the audience was less positive.

Wow, that just shows Disney and their power over the family entertainment market. People are more inclined to like something if the Disney banner is stamped upon it regardless of overall quality, guess that's how so many direct-to-video sequels sell huge quantities (amongst other factors of course) people see it's a Disney product and feel inclined to buy into it. I can't decide whether Disney being so powerful is a good thing or a bad thing hmmm...

[MJW]

Anyone planning on picking this up today? Although I might end up getting it eventually, I don't really have any plans to get this or any of the other upcoming Bluth Blu-ray releases on release day.

[ajmrowland]

^Well, I dont think I really have the money right now after buying a certain other item ill mention in that thread.

[dvdjunkie]

As far as the poll for best cover goes - you know my feelings on this. In all the years that I have collected DVD's and Blu-rays, I have never tried to play the cover in my player, so as long as the DVD or Blu-ray looks good, then I am a happy camper.

[jinkinquackers]

Blu-Ray.com's Anastasia Blu-Ray Review is up.

[DisneyJedi]

Ohh, I really would like to get this, but I'd rather avoid being berated for 'wasting my money'.

[Sotiris]

Blu-Ray.com's Anastasia Blu-Ray Review is up.

All previous DVD material has been ported over here, along with the addition of two new remote control-based games.

Just great, no new extras but two stupid games. And none of the extras got remastered; they're all in SD, even "Bartok the Magnificent" which is a full-length movie. A rather lazy release if you ask me.

[MJW]

Blu-Ray.com's Anastasia Blu-Ray Review is up.

The review is pretty good and the screenshots look really nice. I might have to pick this one up eventually; I just wish it had been released as a combo pack. Oh well, I can probably find a cheap copy of the DVD at a thrift store and just put the DVD in the case with the Blu-ray.

I'd already found The Secret of NIMH (new) and Thumbelina (used) at the thrift store, so my chances of eventually finding Anastasia are pretty good.

I hope Blu-ray.com puts of a review for NIMH; I am really curious to see how that film has been restored. I am hoping for the best, but kind of expecting the worst.

[jpanimation]

I hope Blu-ray.com puts of a review for NIMH; I am really curious to see how that film has been restored. I am hoping for the best, but kind of expecting the worst.

From what I hear, it's the same mediocre transfer HDNet Movies has been using the past couple of years. So expect some nice detail in some scenes but an overall grainy transfer with many instances of print damage. Also expect the disc to basically be barebones with not nearly as much extras as Anastasia. This is the kind of quality I've come to expect from MGM, who doesn't seem to invest much into their catalog titles, not surprising with them being bankrupt.