Fantasia/F2K: 2-Movie Collection Discussion: Nov. 30, 2010

[ajmrowland]

you mean, aside from the *other* press release that we at least get a quote from?

[ajmrowland]

There aren't any portable blu-ray players, but if there were, most people wouldnt afford them.

Actually there are portable blu-ray players.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... eimprovemz

huh, I think they would've reported something like this on Blu-ray.com or High-Def Digest cuz a year and a half ago, these didnt exist(and they still dont in any stores that I bothered to look for one in).

[johns]

So only Fantasia 2000 will have The Fantasia Legacy bonus features, according to the press release?

[geniuswalt]

Well, having read the official press release I'm really disappointed that we aren't getting any meaty video-based content...I mean, sure we're gettin an 82 minute special on Destino (which, to be honest, doesn't have anything to do with Fantasia), but what about the Walt Disney Family Museum featurette? It's just 5 minutes?

Also, it's incredible there is NO making of!!

Really sloppy release

[johns]

So it appears the original DVD content is going to be accessable through BD Live. The "*" and the "o" bullet points used in the press release apparently mean two different things. For instance, the Audio Commentaries heading is listed using the asterisk, but the participants in the commentaries are listed underneath using the "o". Similarly, Disney's Virtual Vault is next to a "*", but underneath is: "o Original DVD Bonus Features from Legacy Collection"

At least that's how I understood it.

[tcclives23]

Well thank god I live in the US and have BD-Live

[MutantEnemy]

Well thank god I live in the US and have BD-Live

Karmic revenge for the U.S. not getting Dumbo, lol!

[Lorddh]

Really??? Then which movie is taking its place? Sorry I was t informed, haha.

I'd assume that Aladdin would be added back into the line-up. Who really knows anymore at this point. I'm getting so tired of the inconsistency of these releases that I don't care what they're called, as long as we get them. I'm still really bitter that all of us in the US haven't seen the Dumbo SE yet.

. Hmm, well I hope they update us soon about this. Since they're suppose to be releasing 2 films a year, so It's obvious we're only getting one. And don't worry, I was pretty upset about Dumbo too. But hey there's obviously a good reason for this, they're probably Adding the Walt Disney in the cover, since it only says Disney.

[jsz1002]

Actually there are portable blu-ray players.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... eimprovemz

huh, I think they would've reported something like this on Blu-ray.com or High-Def Digest cuz a year and a half ago, these didnt exist(and they still dont in any stores that I bothered to look for one in).

I've seen this very player at a Target where I live (in NC). It's pretty worthless though since HD on a screen that small wouldn't be anything special.

[Mr. Yagoobian]

I've seen this very player at a Target where I live (in NC). It's pretty worthless though since HD on a screen that small wouldn't be anything special.

I don't see what's worthless. There are films in my collection I only own on BD; with a portable player I wouldn't be restricted to DVD titles for the kids' viewing on car trips. It would be nice---and I've seen this feature on another model, I believe---if it had inputs that would also allow one to use the display for viewing content from portable media devices. And once you get where you're going you're not restricted to the 10" screen: it's got an HDMI output for connecting to an HDTV.

[jsz1002]

I've seen this very player at a Target where I live (in NC). It's pretty worthless though since HD on a screen that small wouldn't be anything special.

I don't see what's worthless. There are films in my collection I only own on BD; with a portable player I wouldn't be restricted to DVD titles for the kids' viewing on car trips. It would be nice---and I've seen this feature on another model, I believe---if it had inputs that would also allow one to use the display for viewing content from portable media devices. And once you get where you're going you're not restricted to the 10" screen: it's got an HDMI output for connecting to an HDTV.

My point being it is worthless if you're buying it to view HD on a 10 inch screen. You'll never see the detail on a screen of that size. If you're looking to connect to an HDTV you can find blu-ray players much cheaper than this (less than 50 bucks).

[miniroll32]

Of course the whole unsalvageable audio line strikes me as strange... But the primary dialogue for their most ambitious film to date just becomes irreparable? I'd like us to get a fuller story on that sometime.

It may be 'their most ambitious film to date', but that doesn't prevent stop science or nature taking its course. The soundtrack was processed on Nitrate film. The majority of nitrate film elements from the 40's and earlier are now either a blob of sticky, tough gloop in their film can or have just about managed to survive thanks to descent conditions. Either way, nitrate film is not only stupidly combustable, but deteriorates very, very quickly and once recorded, the process of keeping the definition within it is irreplaceable.

This was the reason why, in the late 50's, the soundtrack was transferred to magnetic film (which is superior) and this is the one we hear today, though much of the fidelity was lost in the transfer - you can tell when the orchestra comes together in its loudest sections that the frequency range sounds mushy.

By the 50's, the film had been edited a number of times already, and so elements of Taylors speech even then wouldn't have been shown at Theatres. All we can assume now, in 2010, is that many of these elements had been lost or like the soundtrack, had just turned into a mess. It's just a natural process of nitrate film and needs no introduction

[miniroll32]

Oh yeah, Amazon UK has never cover-art for the Combo Pack...



If only these muppets could get a grip and make their mind up on a cover! Honestly, how hard is it? This should have been planned months ago!

[Sotiris]

They should change Donald's pose on the cover and re-draw the nature sprite better and on-model...

[miniroll32]

They should do a lot of things.

But they won't!

[Mickeyfan1990]

http://www.digitalbits.com/#mytwocents

"A number of you have asked if Disney's Fantasia Blu-ray will include the censored or uncensored version of the film. As some of you may know, the original theatrical version of the film featured a 'black centaurette' character in The Pastoral Symphony sequence. For the previous DVD release, this character was removed via a digital zoom. Our sources tell us that this change is still part of the new Blu-ray, but that with improved digital tools the edit is more seamless. Like some of you, I have mixed feelings about this. I'd love to see some kind of branching viewing option that allows you to see the uncensored version, with some kind of BD-Java option or featurette that addresses the issue head-on. Even a BD-Live option to view the uncensored version or scenes online. In today's PC climate though, I can understand why Disney wouldn't include it. Essentially, the controversy itself would be all ANYONE in the media talked about. Same with Song of the South - in an ideal world, Disney would release it uncensored as a special edition that directly addressed the subject racism in classic Hollywood films head-on. An unvarnished look at the issue and how far we've come (or not) since then, WITH members of the black community involved - historians, etc. And they could donate all the profits to a charity devoted to ending racism. But in today's media climate, some groups would decide to use the release as an opportunity to generate controversy and stir up PR, and even those people who honestly believe the film should never be seen again would campaign on Larry King, and it would be a circus. My take is, you should never sanitize your own history, but rather deal with it head on. But that requires the ability to look at things in context, in more than the time that it takes to write or read a Twitter feed, and our society doesn't seem to have that ability anymore - at least at the moment. So yes, it's unfortunate, and but I guess I do understand Disney's decision. And while it's important to keep all this in mind, it's not going to prevent me from enjoying what should be an otherwise excellent release, much like the previous DVD set.

By the way, the uncensored version of Fantasia (not to mention Song of the South) IS available on bootleg DVD for the determined collector to find, and it's not that hard to track down a copy via the Internet. To be absolutely clear, I'm certainly not endorsing that any more than I endorse the censorship. I'm just saying."

[miniroll32]

Well written post. I'm certainly not budging though - one of the biggest corporations in the world isn't going to let this crude imagery be seen again for fear it would damage their 'Uncle Walt' (yawn) reputation. The ratio of individuals who even care about about a digital zoom that's less than 30 seconds long or whom are even aware of what Sunflower is is far less than that this forum discussion makes out. Again, there will be so many people who will love this film without being aware of the racist imagery.

And there's nothing wrong with this. It doesn't need to be shoved down there throats just because some 'buffs' aren't happy. Just look at the Tom and Jerry Spotlight DVDs that contained countless cuts - all of which were just as crude as Sunflower. But an audience wouldn't be aware of the cuts unless they were told, yet they still enjoy what us on screen.

[CampbellzSoup]

I never even saw Fantasia I don't care about features

[miniroll32]

I never even saw Fantasia I don't care about features

Many people have seen it, and many of them care.

[KubrickFan]

I'd like to post Robert Myer Burnett's reaction on this whole situation. He was the producer of the original Anthology DVDs, so he knows what he's talking about.

The orginal DVD for THE FANTASIA ANTHOLOGY was the very first DVD I ever worked on while employed by Kurtti/Pellerin, once the premiere company for creating DVD Special Features. That was a glorious time and I felt incredibly privlidged to be given such an opportunity.

That said, I am in complete agreement with you. Unfortunately, in our ridiculous, politically correct times, the Corporate decision makers at Disney really have no choice but to try and head off at the pass any kind of publicity nightmare that might blow up in their faces.

Today on thedigitalbits.com, Bill Hunt had this to say and I completely agree with him:

"As some of you may know, the original theatrical version of the film featured a 'black centaurette' character in The Pastoral Symphony sequence. For the previous DVD release, this character was removed via a digital zoom. Our sources tell us that this change is still part of the new Blu-ray, but that with improved digital tools the edit is more seamless. Like some of you, I have mixed feelings about this. I'd love to see some kind of branching viewing option that allows you to see the uncensored version, with some kind of BD-Java option or featurette that addresses the issue head-on. Even a BD-Live option to view the uncensored version or scenes online. In today's PC climate though, I can understand why Disney wouldn't include it. Essentially, the controversy itself would be all ANYONE in the media talked about. Same with Song of the South - in an ideal world, Disney would release it uncensored as a special edition that directly addressed the subject racism in classic Hollywood films head-on. An unvarnished look at the issue and how far we've come (or not) since then, WITH members of the black community involved - historians, etc. And they could donate all the profits to a charity devoted to ending racism. But in today's media climate, some groups would decide to use the release as an opportunity to generate controversy and stir up PR, and even those people who honestly believe the film should never be seen again would campaign on Larry King, and it would be a circus. My take is, you should never sanitize your own history, but rather deal with it head on. But that requires the ability to look at things in context, in more than the time that it takes to write or read a Twitter feed, and our society doesn't seem to have that ability anymore - at least at the moment. So yes, it's unfortunate, and but I guess I do understand Disney's decision. And while it's important to keep all this in mind, it's not going to prevent me from enjoying what should be an otherwise excellent release, much like the previous DVD set."

I believe as a nation, when it comes to such issues, we've become incredibly immature and I think unable to understand the historical context in which these beautiful works were created. At one point, we tried to get SONG OF THE SOUTH released, with the idea of getting black celebs, such as Oprah, Quincy Jones, Morgan Freeman etc. to introduce the film and set up the historical content in which it was made. If you've ever seen SONG in a theater with a predominantly black audience, you can see they don't need it, because they love the film...but those guilty white folks, THEY'RE the ones who will be pissed. For myself, I remember seeing SONG OF THE SOUTH as a little kid and absolutely loving it. I've had the Japanese laserdisc for YEARS and I still love it. I plan on showing it to my kids (If I ever have any).

So, until America (and the Islamic World...where people are killed for drawing cartoons) grows out of its continuing regressive maturity, I don't think there's much of a chance we'll be seeing these films in their original form.

Which is a damn shame.

I have to say, I absolutely agree with him.