Chances for a SE Hercules DVD?

[singerguy04]

Hunchback and Hercules are way overdue for a new release. Being as popular as they are, it has surprised me for the past few years that they haven't been re-released. I've been holding out hope that Disney would release them as some of the first non-diamond/platinum blurays because they would look and sound absolutely wonderful on the format. It seems however that Disney is more content with releasing the elder classics first like Dumbo, the Fantasias, and Alice.

There are a few classics outside of the Diamond line that will most likely make it to blu before the others. I'm excluding Dumbo, Alice, and the Fantasias bc they are already coming

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Pocahontas
Hunchback of Notre Dame
Hercules
Mulan
Tarzan
The Emperor's New Groove
Lilo & Stitch

beyond those I think these films will be higher profile too.

Mary Poppins
Finding Nemo
The Incredibles

I figure all of these films will be released on blu over the next few years. Once the format settles in more, we'll see other films from the cannon upgrade to blu.

[milojthatch]

Along with Hercules, there's a few other movies still trapped in the old "Gold Collection":
Make Mine Music
Melody Time
Fun and Fancy Free
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad
The Rescuers Down Under
and The Black Cauldron which is finally getting replaced in a couple weeks.

I'm hoping some of them get special editions next year.

I always was given the impression from Disney that we should be grateful to get the old "Package films" released at all. Now that said, they did re-release "Saludio Amigos" and "The Three Cabrellos," but the latter film is also maybe the most popular of that whole era. I don't know, it could happen, I'm just not getting my hopes up on that.

I think next fall (2011) we'll see a DAC coming to Blu. The question is, which one will it be? Odds are it'll be The Black Cauldron if it follows in Alice in Wonderland's footsteps.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this next years titles so far?:

Dumbo (probably feb. 2011)
Bambi (spring 2011)
Alice in Wonderland (probably spring 2011)
Tangled (March 2011)
The Lion King (fall 2011)


I think they'll be a title in there between Tangled and The Lion King unless that's when Alice in Wonderland will come out.

If Disney is smart (they aren't), they would re-release "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" on Blu-ray to coincide with 2011's theatrical and blu-ray release of "Untitled Winnie the Pooh sequel".

That would make sense. But since when has this company EVER made sense? At least these days?

Me too, that'd be awesome! I hope one day, eventually, all the DAC's are out on Blu-ray. I could see that happening, but I don't know if they'd give the less popular titles the complete restoration they need.

I don't think that many titles need a complete restoration, I can't imagine that any of the movies are in bad shape. New masters have to be made, yes, but HD broadcasts and DVDs benefit from those as well. I'm sure every Classic will be released on Blu eventually, just as they did on DVD. We're fortunate that they'll have to put some effort in it, you can get away with much less on BD than on DVD.
I've never seen Hercules, but any title that that would bring us closer to other Classics on Blu (apart from the Diamond collection) gets my vote.

I think Disney has been releasing their DAC at a much slower rate on Blu Ray then they did on DVD. They seem to be only releasing new films in that collection and the cream of the crop for the old ones. I predict it will take longer to get all of the DAC on Blu Ray then it did on DVD, if even.

[King Louis 2010]

I sure hope so, milojthatch! Hercules is one of my favorite Disney movies, and I believe it does not get the attention it deserves. Even A Diamond Edition would be worthy for it! But, I won't think it will happen because when the General Public thinks of Disney Movies, Hercules is not one that comes to mind. Both Hercules and Hunchback of Notre Dame are spectacular movies, and I think they are equally good and deserving of a 2 Disk Special Edition.

My thoughts exactly. I do think Disney have a habit of 'pushing' the same movies again and again, the ones they know people are most familiar with, and they obviously don't think much of Hercules and Hunchback, even though they were fairly sizeable hits when they came out!

[milojthatch]

I sure hope so, milojthatch! Hercules is one of my favorite Disney movies, and I believe it does not get the attention it deserves. Even A Diamond Edition would be worthy for it! But, I won't think it will happen because when the General Public thinks of Disney Movies, Hercules is not one that comes to mind. Both Hercules and Hunchback of Notre Dame are spectacular movies, and I think they are equally good and deserving of a 2 Disk Special Edition.

My thoughts exactly. I do think Disney have a habit of 'pushing' the same movies again and again, the ones they know people are most familiar with, and they obviously don't think much of Hercules and Hunchback, even though they were fairly sizeable hits when they came out!

I agree. "Hunchback" and "Hercules" were the lowest box office performers during the last Golden Age of Disney Animation. As a result? They get thrashed on! I don't think there are any good reasons why every film between "Mermaid" and "Tarzan" SHOULD NOT get a two disc treatment, even "Rescuers Down Under!"

[rodis]

I don't think there are any good reasons why every film between "Mermaid" and "Tarzan" SHOULD NOT get a two disc treatment, even "Rescuers Down Under!"

I can't stand Hercules. I hate the slapstick humor, the crude drawings, the messy storyline. It's such an exhausting film to watch all the way through.

Mulan improved upon it in all these aspects but still not as good as the ones from 1989 to 1996.

[milojthatch]

I don't think there are any good reasons why every film between "Mermaid" and "Tarzan" SHOULD NOT get a two disc treatment, even "Rescuers Down Under!"

I can't stand Hercules. I hate the slapstick humor, the crude drawings, the messy storyline. It's such an exhausting film to watch all the way through.

Mulan improved upon it in all these aspects but still not as good as the ones from 1989 to 1996.

Wait, are you try to tell me you LIKED "Hunchback?" I always thought "Herc" was a better film. "Hunchback" was not a film that should have been a Disney Animated Classic. That said, it was still better then "Black Cauldron" or "Chicken Little."

[ajmrowland]

Dont be so surprised. A lot of people like Hunchback. I, myself, like Hunchback. The Gargoyles were the only part wrong with it.

[SWillie!]

I wasn't aware anyone DISliked Hunchback. It's a far better film than Hercules. Much more mature, more artistically crafted. I thought everyone was in agreement that, yes, the gargoyles bring it down, but overall it's a great film. Guess not.

[PatrickvD]

I wasn't aware anyone DISliked Hunchback. It's a far better film than Hercules. Much more mature, more artistically crafted. I thought everyone was in agreement that, yes, the gargoyles bring it down, but overall it's a great film. Guess not.

Both films have flaws as well as good things going for it. And just because Hunchback has a very romantic and realistic design in terms of its depiction of Paris does not mean it's more 'artistically crafted' than Hercules. Herc has stunning art direction and original character designs.

Also, the Rotten Tomatoes scores for both films:

Hercules: 84 %: Fast-paced and packed with dozens of pop culture references, Hercules might not measure up with the true classics of the Disney pantheon, but it's still plenty of fun.

Hunchback: 73 %: Disney's take on the Victor Hugo classic is dramatically uneven, but its strong visuals, dark themes, and message of tolerance make for a more-sophisticated-than-average children's film.

IMDB:

Hercules: 6.8
Hunchback: 6.5

So despite what you might think, Hercules is the better film according to general consensus. But only by a tiny bit.

[ajmrowland]

Interesting. I wasnt really aware of any particular pop culture references in Hercules. I guess that proves how strong the movie is.

[PatrickvD]

Interesting. I wasnt really aware of any particular pop culture references in Hercules. I guess that proves how strong the movie is.

?

that is the RT consensus. Also how could you not be aware of pop culture references in Hercules? Have you even seen the movie? They don't make or break a film, but critics (back in the 90s) mentioned the references as a strong aspect of the film.

It wasn't until Dreamworks unleashed its CG trash that pop culture references and fart jokes received a really bad name. After all, The Lion ing had farts and burps and no one gave a crap back then. Different times.

[Disney's Divinity]

Both films have flaws as well as good things going for it. And just because Hunchback has a very romantic and realistic design in terms of its depiction of Paris does not mean it's more 'artistically crafted' than Hercules. Herc has stunning art direction and original character designs.

Thank you!

Despite what you might think of the style of Hercules' animation--though I have to admit, "crude" has never come to mind--it is as 'well-crafted' as any other stylized film that Disney has had.

Also, tbh, I don't remember many pop culture references in Hercules. I don't remember anything referring to "this person" or "that movie" or "a well-known song." If anything, Hercules makes fun of how pop culture is, but it doesn't actually have references to pop culture beyond mimicking the way the process works (ex: Hercules' is idolized, commercials, merchandise out of the wazoo, etc.). Most of the jokes have to do with Greek culture ("someone call IXII," Meg and Hercules talking about "Oedipus," Hades joking about Pandora and Troy when talking to Meg, Hercules accidentally smashing the arms from the statue of Venus). The few that aren't (Thebes the "Big Olive," and Underworld--"1,000,000 Served"), are far from intrusive and, mostly, they're hilarious. Sorry some people didn't like them. Your loss.

Tbh, if I had to rank these films, yes, I do find Hercules a better action/comedy than Hunchback is a drama. It seems most of the critics agreed.

[The_Iceflash]

Dont be so surprised. A lot of people like Hunchback. I, myself, like Hunchback. The Gargoyles were the only part wrong with it.

I always put Hunchback up there with the big 4! I never considered it any less. Its epic score and tone of the film spoke for itself.

Hellfire

God Help the Outcasts

How Disney could think so little of this film now is shocking to me.

[Goliath]

Wait, are you try to tell me you LIKED "Hunchback?" I always thought "Herc" was a better film. "Hunchback" was not a film that should have been a Disney Animated Classic.

Because it deals with religious (christian) hypocrisy, the evils religion (christianity) can drive powerful people to commit, and the concept of sin and lust. Right?

Interesting. I wasnt really aware of any particular pop culture references in Hercules. I guess that proves how strong the movie is.

?????????

Were you asleep when you watched the film?

Take the whole song 'From zero to hero', for instance (just an example). Do you really think that's what ancient Greece looked like? Screaming fangirls who beg their idol for an autograph? Advertisements for (celebrity endorsed) footwear? Action figures? Credit cards? Pretty girls and celebrities doing commercials for a power drink?

If you didn't catch those were all references to our times, then what did you think they were? True representations of ancient Greece?

[Giygas]

He's talking about how the movie doesn't specifically reference anything. (For example: Shrek 2 references Spider-Man, The Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter. I don't remember Hercules referencing anything other than commercialism, but then again, it's been a while since I last saw the movie.)

[The_Iceflash]

Wait, are you try to tell me you LIKED "Hunchback?" I always thought "Herc" was a better film. "Hunchback" was not a film that should have been a Disney Animated Classic.

Because it deals with religious (christian) hypocrisy, the evils religion (christianity) can drive powerful people to commit, and the concept of sin and lust. Right?

[milojthatch]

Wait, are you try to tell me you LIKED "Hunchback?" I always thought "Herc" was a better film. "Hunchback" was not a film that should have been a Disney Animated Classic.

Because it deals with religious (christian) hypocrisy, the evils religion (christianity) can drive powerful people to commit, and the concept of sin and lust. Right?

Because it was maybe the heaviest of all the Disney Animated Films to date and the source material maybe a bit too mature for a children's film. I mean poll dancing, really? It lacked the fun that both "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Lion King" had and was trying too hard to be "adult." Both of the latter films however were able to actually draw adults in while still having that fun Disney sensibility these films are known for. That's why. "Hercules," while not perfect, did a better job of that.

He's talking about how the movie doesn't specifically reference anything. (For example: Shrek 2 references Spider-Man, The Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter. I don't remember Hercules referencing anything other than commercialism, but then again, it's been a while since I last saw the movie.)

It mostly was commercialism. Nike, Disney Store, American Express, and Gatorade were all things parodied. That is about as far as it went. The Dreamworks film on the other hand have parodied pop culture period.

[jpanimation]

Because it deals with religious hypocrisy, the evils religion can drive powerful people to commit, and the concept of sin and lust. Right?

It was mainly the last two that really hit home for me. It made Frollo the most human of all the Disney villains to see him struggle with common human weaknesses.

Because it was maybe the heaviest of all the Disney Animated Films to date and the source material maybe a bit too mature for a children's film. I mean poll dancing, really? It lacked the fun that both "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Lion King" had and was trying too hard to be "adult." Both of the latter films however were able to actually draw adults in while still having that fun Disney sensibility these films are known for. That's why. "Hercules," while not perfect, did a better job of that.

I'll admit, as a kid I completely wrote off Hunchback but now as an adult, I appreciate it much more. I actually wish they removed the fun bits (like every scene with the gargoyles or Esmeralda's whacky escape after freeing Quasimodo from being tortured during the festival of fools) that are currently in there as they hamper what could be a REALLY good movie (I feel the same way with Tarzan and it's sidekicks hampering the seriousness of the story).

[Flanger-Hanger]

Also, the Rotten Tomatoes scores for both films:

Hercules: 84 %: Fast-paced and packed with dozens of pop culture references, Hercules might not measure up with the true classics of the Disney pantheon, but it's still plenty of fun.

Hunchback: 73 %: Disney's take on the Victor Hugo classic is dramatically uneven, but its strong visuals, dark themes, and message of tolerance make for a more-sophisticated-than-average children's film.

IMDB:

Hercules: 6.8
Hunchback: 6.5

So despite what you might think, Hercules is the better film according to general consensus. But only by a tiny bit.

And yet Hunchback was the bigger financial success:

Hunchback: $100,138,851 (domestic) vs. Hercules: $99,112,101 (domestic)

Hunchback: $225,200,000 (foreign) vs. Hercules: $153,600,000 (foreign)

Totals: $325,338,851 vs. $252,712,101

Even though Hunchback cost more, it still made more times it's budget (more than 3) than Hercules (less than 3).

I mean poll dancing, really?

Really? You mean the 5 seconds of a fully clothed Esmeralda swinging extended from a spear? You found that offensive like Frollo?

[estefan]

Because it was maybe the heaviest of all the Disney Animated Films to date and the source material maybe a bit too mature for a children's film. I mean poll dancing, really? It lacked the fun that both "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Lion King" had and was trying too hard to be "adult." Both of the latter films however were able to actually draw adults in while still having that fun Disney sensibility these films are known for. That's why. "Hercules," while not perfect, did a better job of that.

When I saw Hunchback as a child, I didn't catch the more mature bits of the story. I only noticed them as an adult and thus appreciate the film more.

My major problem with Hercules is that all of the characters are cocky a-holes who I have a major problem sympathising with. The only likeable character (to me) is Hades and that's mainly because of James Woods' excellent voice-work. Unlike Hunchback, where I found Quasimodo, Esmeralda and Pheobus all to be likeable characters. Of course, it also didn't help Hercules that it was simply Superman in Greek clothing.

I'm actually in the minority who prefers the television show. While we lost Alan Menken's memeorable and lively songs plus the contiunity was all of whack (how does Hades know Herc is a teenager in the series, when in the film, he only finds out that he is alive as an adult), the characters were more likeable and borrowed a tad more from Greek mythology, while skip keeping it family-friendly. It also featured one of the rare moments where a cross-over has actually done it for me (the Hades-Jafar team-up episode).