Hercules and Hunchback

[Marce82]

Ok...this topic comes up a lot... but I guess I needed to vent:

I understand that Hunchabck and Hercules are not the most well regarded or the biggest earners for Disney... but cmon!!! Are we ever going to get a decent dvd and/or blu ray release?!?!?!?

These movies havent been re-releases since their original issues, in the early 2000....

Other films have gotten re-releases which are not as well regarded... cmon, even Saludos AMigos/Three Caballeros had more than one release!!! Pocahontas had three! Alice had 4!! As of next year, Mulan will have had 3...

Mary Poppins had FOUR dvd-only releases....


Gosh.... I think even Black Cauldron has had more!

Special Features for both Hercules and Hunchback already exist in the laserdiscs.... so its not like they have to produce new content...

[Goofy101]

You can buy hunchback of notre dame in 1080p & you can buy hercules in 720p from Itunes UK store. I'm still waiting for a Blu-ray release tho.

[DisneyFan09]

Special Features for both Hercules and Hunchback already exist in the laserdiscs.... so its not like they have to produce new content...

Really? Isn't the Laserdisc for "Hercules" absent of bonus features?

[Marce82]

Well.... the dvd had a brief making-of and the RIcky Martin music video.... I figued the laserdisc would have had that or more...

But cmon... look at all the stuff they did for Mulan!

[PatrickvD]

But cmon... look at all the stuff they did for Mulan!

But Mulan is a princess!!!

Maybe someone should tell Disney's marketing department that in Greek Mythology, Megara is, technically, a princess. Watch them flood us with merchandise and a full blown 'welcome Megara' ceremony at Disneyland.

For now, they'll just continue to pretend Hercules does not exist.

[Christopher_TCUIH]

I suppose these movies aren't 'special' enough to get a "Special Edition". Black Cauldron surely is unique for being a massive flop. Judging from how their home releases have been as of late, I think it's safe to assume all we'll be getting is Hunchback (with the sequel) & Hercules in 1080p. No extras, maybe an audio commentary if they're feeling generous.

[Disney's Divinity]

This topic has come up many times over the years, but I guess it having been this long only makes me more baffled. I mean, I can understand why they might be trying to wipe The Hunchback of Notre Dame from public memory, but they play Hercules on television all the time. I don't understand why they wouldn't release it in around 12 years, when other films they don't have much enthusiasm for (Aristocats, Sword in the Stone, Robin Hood, Black Cauldron) have had releases? I wish we could write to Disney and get an honest answer back, because it's really bizarre to me.

[DisneyFan09]

[quote="Disney's Divinity"]This topic has come up many times over the years, but I guess it having been this long only makes me more baffled. I mean, I can understand why they might be trying to wipe The Hunchback of Notre Dame from public memoryquote]

So it means that you believe in the rumors that Disney are ashamed of "Hunchback"?

[Marce82]

Why would Disney be ashamed of Hunchback??? It did very well in theaters, had good (if not stellar) reviews from critics, and at the time, they had merchandise, shows at the park...

True, the film doesnt quite fit perfectly in tone w the rest of the Disney roster... but still no reason to be ashamed! If they are going to be ashamed... how come Home on the Range got re-released???

As far as Mulan and Megara being princesses.... Mulan is actually not a princess in the film in any way. Megara may have been one in the myth, but from a marketing standpoint, Mulan helps complete the "rainbow coalition" the princess line has become, while Meg is jaded and seductive, which arent traits they want to market to little girls...

[Christopher_TCUIH]

Maybe they think Quasimodo is too ugly to be seen in HD

[WarriorDreamer]

Maybe they think Quasimodo is too ugly to be seen in HD

Ouch. Lol. I for one would love to see a Hunchback and Hercules Blu Ray. I am actually quite offended that this hasn't happened and really feel as though in some cases, Hercules can be seen as just as good as Aladdin and Tarzan. Great, original design and artwork, entertaining story, great hero and heroine, fun, well designed characters, the great 'message' you are left with at the end of the movie, I see no reason why Hercules cannot be regarded in a similar light as them.

I think Disney look down their nose at Hercules quite a lot for some reason. I mean no sequel (a really great thing for some people.) But I for one would love to see the next adventure of Hercules and his (presumably) wife, Megara. (Provided they don't go the way of the mythos and have him kill her. Haha)

Hopefully some news will come before 2013....?

[Marce82]

Well... I have quite a few good reasons why Hercules isnt as good as Aladdin, but it is still a great movie, and definitely among the better ones Disney has to offer.

And much better than many films that have gotten several releases....

[Marce82]

Oh...and are you kidding? Hercules didnt get a sequel.... but it had a long running TV show!!!!

[Vlad]

A friend of mine downloaded an HD version of The Hunchback from iTunes, and it features a new digital restoration. Here is a comparison between that version (on the right) and the DVD version from 2002 (on the left).


Not bad...not bad at all
The Hunchback will be released on Blu-ray in Germany and other parts of Europe on March 7, 2013.

http://www.amazon.de/Gl%C3%B6ckner-Notr ... 553&sr=1-4

[Marce82]

Hey Sicoe,

Well, the new "restoration" looks less grainy, but the colors look faded.

Either way... a film this new doesnt need a restoration. All it needs is to be sourced from the CAPS files, and not a film print. Gosh... if they had a special edition as good as the 2disc pocahontas one (10th anniv, not blu ray), i;d be thrilled.

[rexcrk]

I was never a huge fan of Hunchback, but I LOVE Hercules! It definitely needs a Blu-ray release.

I don't care if it's like a special edition or not. I just want a proper, anamorphic widescreen, HD release of Hercules. I know it would like absolutely gorgeous in HD. (And I hate that that DVD is only letterbox widescreen.. looks terrible on an HDTV...)

[Marce82]

Um.... the Hercules dvd looked terrible in a standard def tv....

[rexcrk]

Yeah but at least the aspect ratio was fine for that format... which is what I was saying -___-

[Marce82]

Um.... we are talking about resolution, not aspect ratio.

There were standard definition TVs that were 16:9 aspect ratio.

[rexcrk]

You don't have to say "um" when you're typing something on a message board...

And *I'm* talking about aspect ratio...