Disney Plus (Streaming Service)

[rodrigo_ca]

Hey,
It's interesting... after the HORRIBLE blu ray for SWORD IN THE STONE with its terrible restoration, Disney Plus has the film in HD but "unrestored".... so the film looks as it was meant to look!

Yeah but it’s cropped!!! So what’s even the point of having the movie in 4K?? It’s like Disney will never learn.

1.75:1 is the intended aspect ratio for The Sword in the Stone, isn't it?

[Clindor]

Yeah but it’s cropped!!! So what’s even the point of having the movie in 4K?? It’s like Disney will never learn.

1.75:1 is the intended aspect ratio for The Sword in the Stone, isn't it?

It’s not. 4:3 is the original ratio.

[RyGuy]

So far I really am enjoying Disney+, but I have been surprised by what is there vs what is not there. Frankly I thought a lot more family friendly films from Fox would be there like Anastasia, the Pagemaster, Cheaper by the Dozen, Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, all of the BlueSky films, and the Rodger & Hammerstein musicals.

Also notably missing are a number of Touchstone films like Splash, Father of the Bride, the Preacher’s Wife, Hidalgo, Dick Tracy, and Dead Poet Society, as well as many older Disney films like North Avenue Irregulars, One and Only Original, Genuine Family Band, Wild Hearts can’t be Broken. Also shorts like Paul Bunyan, John Henry, and Prep & Landing.

And yet we get the Simpsons?

Not complaining, I just find it all a bit surprising.

[Marce82]

So yes, Clindor is right. The aspect ratio for Sword in the Stone IS 4:3... but Im still surprised it's a different transfer than the blu ray. A lot of the content seems exactly the same as what they put out on disc. Minus (most) of the bonus material. So it's still not great for Sword in the Stone... but better than the official blu ray! A shame too... before the disc release, you could get it on itunes in HD and in 4:3


And funny, Ryguy... I was looking for certain Touchstone films as well, which I assumed would be a shoe-in. No Splash? No Pretty Woman?

Interestingly, films like Big Business and Mr.Holland's Opus ARE listed but are unavailable until a certain date, because of existing distribution rights deals. I wonder if some Touchstone films have the same issue.

[blackcauldron85]

Rated R movies would probably go to Hulu, not Disney+, so no Pretty Woman.

[rodrigo_ca]

It’s not. 4:3 is the original ratio.

It's not, though. It was indeed shot in 4:3, but exhibitors were instructed to show it in 1.75. Disney only used the open matte version because it was convenient when it came to early home video, but that's not what the director intended (not the case with 101 Dalmatians, for example, released just two years before but still retains its intended 4:3 aspect ratio). Mogli and The Aristocats were also shot in 4:3, but exhibitors were also instructed to show them in 1.75 and that's also the format they retain on recent home video.

[Clindor]

It’s not. 4:3 is the original ratio.

It's not, though. It was indeed shot in 4:3, but exhibitors were instructed to show it in 1.75.

That might be one of the lamest reasons I’ve heard around here to consider that original.
Do you think artists were asked to think the movie in 1.75 while they painted it in 4:3 ???
Cropping the result of an artist work because it fits a cinema screen better at a certain period of time is still a loss of the original piece of art. The whole movie looks like it is zoomed in, animations are cut in a way that of course just feels weird. This version of the film has no reason to exist, especially nowadays.

[JeanGreyForever]

It's not, though. It was indeed shot in 4:3, but exhibitors were instructed to show it in 1.75.

That might be one of the lamest reasons I’ve heard around here to consider that original.
Do you think artists were asked to think the movie in 1.75 while they painted it in 4:3 ???
Cropping the result of an artist work because it fits a cinema screen better at a certain period of time is still a loss of the original piece of art. The whole movie looks like it is zoomed in, animations are cut in a way that of course just feels weird. This version of the film has no reason to exist, especially nowadays.

Floyd Norman actually confirmed that 1:75/widescreen is the correct aspect ratio for The Jungle Book.

[Farerb]

All films from The Sword in the Stone to The Fox and the Hound were made in 1.33, but were instructed for 1.75 cinematic presentation. The Sword in the Stone and the Jungle Book are presented in the cinematic 1.75 aspect ratio, while the others are presented in 1.66 aspect ratio as a compromise between 1.33 and 1.75.

[Widdi]

Really hoping whatever is keeping The Weekenders off the service is worked out eventually. Was so looking forward to watching it again.

Other than that my only gripe is I wish they had included some of the Hulu content for countries, like Canada, where Hulu is unavailable. Would have loved to access to catalog titles only available there, even if it doesn't include anything in the rated R category.

[rodrigo_ca]

That might be one of the lamest reasons I’ve heard around here to consider that original.
Do you think artists were asked to think the movie in 1.75 while they painted it in 4:3 ???

Yes. The director had a specific movie in mind and he created a 1.75 movie. If he wanted to do a 4:3 movie, he would do that and Disney would release that and keep it that way just the way they do with 101 Dalmatians and basically every movie before it (save for Sleeping Beauty and Lady and the Tramp).

Cropping the result of an artist work because it fits a cinema screen better at a certain period of time is still a loss of the original piece of art. The whole movie looks like it is zoomed in, animations are cut in a way that of course just feels weird.

Your argument could be used to absurdly "open the matte" of half the films in existence because "it is a loss of the original piece of art" and you're not even nice while doing it. You can, of course, like the open matte version (I've hunted down a 4:3 version of The Sword in the Stone for myself and wish I could find a high definition version of Lady and the Tramp in actual 4:3 as well as The Aristocats and The Jungle Book) since it shows more artwork that would otherwise be lost, but you can't deny that it is not how the director intended the movie to be seen.

This version of the film has no reason to exist, especially nowadays.

Well I'm glad you feel confident enough to say "screw the director I know more and Disney should release my cut of the movie" but yeah that's not how it works.
------

Thanks for the info farerb!

I agree with you Widdi. They could have made an entirely different section inside the Disney+ app for other countries. Like, you login and you get a two option screen saying Disney+ and Hulu. That way you can include Hulu's more mature titles for international audiences and yet keep them almost completely apart from Disney+.

[blackcauldron85]

New episodes are out today! I haven't even finished most of the first episodes!

I just watched the "Annie" episode of Encore!, and it was amazing. Yes, it has the music!!!! So good!

[UmbrellaFish]

Susan Egan makes an appearance in the second episode (BATB) of Encore! God, I love hearing her voice again.

EDIT: Episode 2 of the Imagineering Story has footage of the Magic Kingdom utilidors (the tunnels) if anyone’s ever wanted to see them. Not all that mysterious! Or glamorous... The long hallway beneath the castle always smelled of sewage...

[JeanGreyForever]

Really hoping whatever is keeping The Weekenders off the service is worked out eventually. Was so looking forward to watching it again.

I was looking forward to seeing this show as well on Disney Plus. Hopefully it gets added soon along with the Aladdin and Tarzan shows.

[Marce82]

Ok.... so I need a little tech help here.

I use an Android phone... I have the Disney Plus app, which does allow you to download videos. Awesome. I downloaded a short video, I disabled the internet, and the video still plays, which means it is INDEED downloaded onto my phone. Does anyone know where I can find the video FILE for it in my phone? (ie: not on the Disney Plus app)

[Hardbackyoyo]

Do any of you think we will ever get physical discs of the 4K versions of Pirates of the Caribbean, The Black Cauldron, The Sword in the Stone, Beauty and the Beast, etc?

[Kyle]

This one's a head scratcher... the Disney+ version of Gravity falls has removed the symbol from Grunkle Stan's fez. Even Alex Hirsch doesn't know why.

https://io9.gizmodo.com/gravity-falls-a ... 1839889801

[Big Disney Fan]

Happy to see the original Mickey Mouse Club on here! Sadly, it's only the first week's worth of episodes, the same ones on the Treasures set. Hopefully more will be added soon.

I thought Leonard Maltin said at D23 that "The Mickey Mouse Club" wasn't going to be available?

[NeoSuperBlissey]

Endgadget.com reports that full-screen options for the first nineteen seasons of "The Simpsons" (and some episodes in Season 20) will have full-screen viewing options starting in early 2020, with the widescreen presentation presently available being made so as to provide visual continuity with the episodes natively produced in widescreen.

[Farerb]

Endgadget.com reports that full-screen options for the first nineteen seasons of "The Simpsons" (and some episodes in Season 20) will have full-screen viewing options starting in early 2020, with the widescreen presentation presently available being made so as to provide visual continuity with the episodes natively produced in widescreen.

I wish people cared about Beauty and the Beast the same way they care about The Simpsons.