The Jungle Book: Platinum Edition Press Release, Discussion

[TonyWDA]

Because it was 1 disc?

Hmm, good point.

[2099net]

I'm sorry TonyWDA, I probably came across as a little abrupt there. But my issue is with Disney. We've all seen the Platinum editions slowly degrade - Peter Pan being the ultimate insult with its "read along". I can just see Disney rubbing their hands together at having 70+mins of the second disc taken up with the alternative viewing ratio. Its another bullet point, its extensive, and it doesn't involve them actually making any effort.

[TheSequelOfDisney]

Surely it won't matter. They're more than likely to offer both versions across both discs given previous US release patterns.

Or just make the 2nd disc totally wonderful and put both widescreen and full screen versions on disc one.

The coverart.....meh. It's not that great, and the first thing I said when I saw it was, "Somebody's gonna change that, right?" I really don't like it, but I guess it really doesn't matter, as long as we see great picture/sound and a great platter of bonus features. This is actually a big buy for me because this is pretty much a blind-buy. I've only ever seen this once, that I remember, and I don't really remember what happened except for "The Bare Necessities" and Mowgli running around with fire during the climax. So I'm excited, just please, change the coverart!

[goofystitch]

I'm SO excited that Disney is releasing this in widescreen and all of the bonus features announced so far sound great. I like the layout of the cover art. I was very critical of Peter Pan's cover art when it first came out, but then the revised version was released and characters were more on model (and Peter wasn't so creepy). I think that we will eventually see revised cover art. The layout should remain very much the same, but the characters will look more on model. I like the layout personally. I can't wait for this.

[akhenaten]

blergh everyone's off model.and where's bagheera! the taylor hicks monkey has got to go!!

[Mason_Ireton]

I love the new cover, it's really orignal and not a revised, sharper looking of the orignal cover, it's agreed that Bagheera, Col.Hathi or the Vultures could be next to Louie with a banana peel on their head or in their trademark personality. If you look closely you'll see Louie's temple in the background.

The bonus features sounds really exciting especialy the altrenate Baloo's Song and I Wan'na Be Like You, I've heard the demos of "Brothers All"
"The Song of the Seeonee" on Jungle Book soundtrack, they're quite deep and seriously too Kiplying. The music video will probaly be, Baloo's Song-Bowling For Soup or I Wan'na Be Like You- Jonas Bros (Disneymania 5) it's probaly gon'na be the latter song.

Looked forward to an Audio commentary/Inisde Walt's Story Meetings (would've been interesting hearing notes bout Walt's Death in the meetings.) Lady/Tramp, Alice In Wonderland, Jungle Book, 101 Dalamation and Pinocchio should've recieve Audio Comentaires for their 2 disc editions.

[ichabod]

Since when does Baloo have the same hairstyle as Hitler?

[Mason_Ireton]

That's my 2nd problem with this cover, Baloo/Mowgli are equaly the same size, but too big for the top off and Baloo's design is way off of Frank Thomas's orignal design. Baloo's hair kinda looks like Hitler's hair in the orignal, J.B. 2 (Alil bit), overall I think it's more orignal than the prev. Platinum covers. Too bad we're not getting a documentary on The Sherman Bros and Louis Prima, they made such a impact on Jungle Book's production.

[goofystitch]

It's a mock up everyone. The only thing from the cover art that will probably stay the same is the position of characters, their general pose, the background, and the title logo. Other than that, almost all of the characters will be revised and will probably look much more on model. Case in point:


I like the layout of the characters in the new Jungle Book cover. I agree that in place of the obscure monkeys should be some more central characters like Baghera, but I think the layout is very good. The only thing I absolutely dispise is that the cover art is too green, and green is my favorite color. I think that if they change the color of the Platinum bannar to yellow, it will make the green feel less overwhelming. If I have time, perhaps I will change it in photoshop.

[TonyWDA]

I'm sorry TonyWDA, I probably came across as a little abrupt there. But my issue is with Disney. We've all seen the Platinum editions slowly degrade - Peter Pan being the ultimate insult with its "read along". I can just see Disney rubbing their hands together at having 70+mins of the second disc taken up with the alternative viewing ratio. Its another bullet point, its extensive, and it doesn't involve them actually making any effort.

No, No, It's okay. I know how you feel, some features are a BIT unnecessary.

[carter1971]

If wouldn't say offering both aspect ratios is unnecessary in this case. I'd say that it's the right thing to do. The movie was animated in the 1.33:1 aspect ratio, and shown this way in many theatres. The "widescreen" version is going to be a matte of the picture, as TonyWDA pointed out. Of course it will make owners of widescreen TV's happy because they won't have black bars on the sides of their sets, and I suppose that's the reason they're doing it. It's the old pan and scan philosophy in reverse.

[Escapay]

What kind of stuff is on the TJB laserdisc? Maybe everything there will be on the DVD as well.

1997 CAV 30th Anniversary Limited Edition

Side One
1. Program Start
2. Opening Credits
3. The Legend Of The Man-Cub
4. The Man-Cub Is Adopted By Wolves
5. The COuncil Of THe Wolf Pack Elders
6. Kaa Drops In For A S-S-Snack
7. Dawn Patrol ("Colonel Hathi's March")
8. Inspection
9. Mowgli Meets Baloo

Side Two
10. Baloo Takes Mowgli Into His Care
11. Baloo's Philosophy ("The Bare Necessities")
12. Mowgli Is Kidnapped
13. King Louie Lays It On The Line ("I Wan'na Be Like You")
14. Settling Down For The Night
15. Baloo And Mowgli Take A Long Walk
16. Shere Khan, The Hunter

Side Three
17. Mowgli On His Own
18. Kaa Tries To Win Mowgli OVer ("Trust In Me")
19. Hanging Out With The Vultures
20. "That's What Friends Are For"
21. Mowgli Confronts Shere Khan
22. Baloo Takes A Tiger By The Tail
23. A Dark Moment
24. The Girl With The Water Jug ("My Own Home")
25. Happy Endings For All

Side Four - Supplemental Material
26. "The Jungle Book - The Making Of A Musical Masterpiece" (15 minutes)
27. Frank Thomas And Ollie Johnston Discuss Character Animation (unknown runtime)
28. Original Theatrical Trailer

The CLV simply put the first 26 chapters on two sides (1-13 Side 1, 14-26 Side 2).

The few laserdisc reviews still out there never gave a runtime for Chapter 27, though nearly everyone else have said (imdb included) that the making-of featurette is 15 minutes.

Escapay

[Simba3]

Since when does Baloo have the same hairstyle as Hitler?

That is the funniest thing I've heard all week, possibly all month! I think I will put that in my signature. I have to agree with you as well. I do like the cover art in terms of the color scheme and the basics of it, but it sure could use a little retooling!

[Rowlf_The_Dog]

I love the cover art ... It looks real purty!

I like that the "platinum edition" banner is a nice jungle-y green.

[jeremy88]

Wow thats an awesome cover art! I like it a lot! THey always make the cover arts way different from what my brain makes up lol.

But of course this is the rough draft version...Im sure the revised one will be coming soon.

*sigh* October can't come soon enough...Ooh how scary...Im going to be a senior in high school by then...Time flys doesnt it? This reminds me of last year waiting for The Little Mermaid.

[Simba3]

Now I know this is just an early glimse of the cover art, but my guess is the final product won't be drasticly changed from what we are seeing now. I just noticed that the cover looks kinda bare in some areas, especially the bottom left corner. I know that is a little weird, but I think there should be something there, perhaps something leafy, or even a bunch of bananas since King Louie is right there... I don't know just something, it kinda just looks strange.

[blackcauldron85]

If wouldn't say offering both aspect ratios is unnecessary in this case. I'd say that it's the right thing to do. The movie was animated in the 1.33:1 aspect ratio, and shown this way in many theatres. The "widescreen" version is going to be a matte of the picture, as TonyWDA pointed out. Of course it will make owners of widescreen TV's happy because they won't have black bars on the sides of their sets, and I suppose that's the reason they're doing it. It's the old pan and scan philosophy in reverse.

Aspect ratios are messing with my head again. So, the Platinum Edition of "The Jungle Book" won't be in its intended aspect ratio? Or is the matted version the intended ratio, and just not the original aspect ratio? I don't own this on DVD at all, so, no matter what, I'll be picking it up...

[Escapay]

The movie was animated in the 1.33:1 aspect ratio, and shown this way in many theatres.

No, it wasn't (show in theatres in 1.33:1).

The "widescreen" version is going to be a matte of the picture, as TonyWDA pointed out. Of course it will make owners of widescreen TV's happy because they won't have black bars on the sides of their sets, and I suppose that's the reason they're doing it. It's the old pan and scan philosophy in reverse.

No, it's not.

All of the animated features in the 1960s and 1970s (with the exception of The Rescuers) were animated in the 1.33:1 ratio, and drawn with the intention of it being matted in theatres to 1.75:1. So while both ratios would be correct, the 1.75:1 theatrical ratio is the intended ratio that the animators wanted the film to be seen in (regardless of the picture that'd be cut off on the top and bottom).

So for those who want the "whole picture" and find it's not included in the Platinum DVD, they'd have to hunt down an old Limited Issue DVD.

Escapay

[goofystitch]

Simba3 wrote:

I just noticed that the cover looks kinda bare in some areas, especially the bottom left corner.

Probably because Disney wants to make me mad again and print the "Disney Movie Rewards" promo logo on the actual insert, as opposed to spending an extra fraction of a cent to slap a sticker on it saying that it has a code inside. Grrr, Disney!

[Simba3]

Simba3 wrote:

I just noticed that the cover looks kinda bare in some areas, especially the bottom left corner.

Probably because Disney wants to make me mad again and print the "Disney Movie Rewards" promo logo on the actual insert, as opposed to spending an extra fraction of a cent to slap a sticker on it saying that it has a code inside. Grrr, Disney!

Oh, that's right - I didn't even think of that!