Aladdin - Diamond Edition

[DancingCrab]

I'm so confused why they released different aspect ratios for the blu-ray vs. digital copy.



This is seriously what I imagine it looks like behind closed doors at Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment....

[Sotiris]

This is seriously what I imagine it looks like behind closed doors at Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

[Sotiris]

Is there anything that John Lasseter doesn't micro-manage? Argh!

According to Eric Goldberg, Musker and Clements wanted to do a little short where Genie auditions for the role of the Genie in the movie Aladdin and use that as an excuse to make use of the Robin Williams outtakes (which was really smart and meta). Everyone was on board, even David Jessen of WDSHE, but John Lasseter said no and wanted them to just do the outtakes on their own. If you've seen the bonus feature in question (you can watch it here), the end result is pretty underwhelming. Lasseter wouldn't know a good idea if it hit him in the face.

[DisneyFan09]

If there weren't enough reasons to loathe Lasseter priorly, now there is, hahaha. What an idiot.

[Kyle]

Ughh. That's exactly the sort of thing I was hoping, and frankly expecting they would do. I can't think of any reason to shoot that idea down. Not even money.

[Sotiris]

I can't think of any reason to shoot that idea down. Not even money.

It wasn't a money issue. Lasseter just didn't like the idea. He shouldn't have a say in the first place since this was for a movie he had nothing to do with.

[Disney's Divinity]

Is there anything that John Lasseter doesn't micro-manage? Argh!

According to Eric Goldberg, Musker and Clements wanted to do a little short where Genie auditions for the role of the Genie in the movie Aladdin and use that as an excuse to make use of the Robin Williams outtakes (which was really smart and meta). Everyone was on board, even David Jessen of WDHE, but John Lasseter said no and wanted them to just do the outtakes on their own. If you've seen the bonus feature in question (you can watch it here), the end result is pretty underwhelming. Lasseter wouldn't know a good idea if it hit him in the face.

Reading this, my only reaction was, "Jeez, what a jackass."

I wonder if I'll be alive when Disney is finally Lasseter-free again. I wouldn't be surprised if he continues to micromanage the company from the grave.

[Pasta67]

Hmm, interesting. I'm personally indifferent on the "audition idea VS outtakes idea" thing by itself (either would have been fun to watch), but I am saddened to hear that Lasseter killed everybody's excitement for an idea they obviously liked and, as a result, the bonus feature on the blu-ray isn't everything it could have been.

How random. Not sure why Lasseter even had a say in the matter. Like, at all. He had nothing to do with this project on any level, at any stage.

[DancingCrab]

He has control over WDAS, and therefore gets to decide what the artists work on. Sucks, cause something that fun would have tipped the scale in my purchasing the Diamond Edition (I already own the UK edition, so skipped out on this release).

[PatrickvD]

It's just a suspicion but I have the idea that Lasseter is displaying some jealousy towards the renaissance films for vague reasons.

My theory is that he's somehow annoyed that pretty much all of the works that came after it (PIXAR included) continue to stand in the shadows of those four magnificent films. While Frozen was a massive hit, I doubt anyone considers it to be even remotely close to the fabulous four. Of course he doesn't realize his micromanaging prevents any true classic from emerging in this new era in Disney animation.

My theory is loosely supported by this:



"Renaissance and beyond" .... ? Okay, let's see, this set includes:

List of Movies (there are 10 postcards for each):
- Little Mermaid
- Beauty and the Beast
- Aladdin
- The Lion King
- Mulan
- Princess and the Frog
- Tangled
- Wreck-It Ralph
- Frozen
- Big Hero 6

By grouping the underwhelming The Princess and the Frog and the flat-out mediocre Big Hero 6 in with the renaissance films I get the idea Lasseter (or his regime if you will) is trying to somehow blur the lines regarding the studio's evolution over the last 30 years. As if the studio responsible for the renaissance remains unaltered since the late 80s early 90s. But we know what truly went down behind the scenes and how the real talents behind those early films are either dead or unceremoniously banned from WDAS property. By doing so he's trying to claim credit/responsibility for the renaissance and create his own version of history.

Seriously, Big Hero 6 doesn't even deserve to be within the same sentence as Beauty and the Beast. What a joke.

[Disney's Divinity]

I'm not sure about that, but it may be a long-term plan by him or the company to blend his name with those films to casual viewers who don't really know much about the behind-the-scenes goings on or who made what. Maybe in an attempt to make "John Lasseter" as identifiable to the average person as "Walt Disney" as time goes by. Maybe part of the reason John Lasseter's name was stamped on to the intro credits on TLM Diamond re-release? I wonder if his name will appear at the beginning of Aladdin, too...

As far as the postcard product, I suppose they just picked 10 films, but I wonder why they wouldn't go with Tarzan over WIR or BH6. I wonder why they'd pick TLM specifically as the starting point.

[DisneyFan09]

Pardon if it seems as an ignorant indication of mine. Despite how heralded the four Renaissance films are, I guess Pixar's Golden Age films were more beloved. Even more so than Disney's and often at the expense of Disney. Lasseter may be bitter, but at least he's made films which had an impact which were foolproof with both critics and moviegoers.

I remember reading an interview with Lasseter last year due to the release of "Big Hero 6". The journalist slammed the films from 2000's as duds and praised the Lasseter-era films. Perhaps he was payed to do so?

[Pasta67]

He has control over WDAS, and therefore gets to decide what the artists work on.

No, I get that. I suppose, for whatever reason, I had gotten the idea in my head that the "Genie Outtakes" project was just something that Goldberg, Musker, and Clements were doing on the side as a personal project, and not as something officially sanctioned by WDAS. It just never really struck me as important enough to be a "No, you may not make this because I'm the president of the studio and I don't like this idea" kind of thing.

It wasn't until I watched the video that Sotiris linked to that I realized this was something that Goldberg had to get official permission to draw (and had apparently been asking permission for over a decade).

[disneyprincess11]

Ugh, so this pretty much confirms the no 2D movies are mainly Lasseter's doing. It does seem like he really hates the 2D animators. Surprised Goldberg is even there. Guess Lasseter is keeping him to make himself look good and "See, 2D is not banned".

"Renaissance and beyond" .... ? Okay, let's see, this set includes:

List of Movies (there are 10 postcards for each):
- Little Mermaid
- Beauty and the Beast
- Aladdin
- The Lion King
- Mulan
- Princess and the Frog
- Tangled
- Wreck-It Ralph
- Frozen
- Big Hero 6

Wow, I'm shocked that they even put Princess & the Frog, in the first place because it is pretty much banned from Disney. It isn't even on the blue gate at the entrance of WDAS. Heck, I'm even shocked that Wreck-It Ralph and Big Hero 6 are even on there because Disney's motto is pretty much, "If it isn't princess, it doesn't exist "

The fact alone that 2000's movies aren't there is baffling. Yes, I can see why movies from Treasure Planet to Bolt aren't there, but goodness: I wouldn't call 2000's a total dud. Lilo & Stitch was that era's Frozen and it was literally everywhere. Emperor's New Groove is now getting the attention its truly deserves.

And why even put the Renaissance & Revival movies together? They're two separate time-frames, styles, and eras. Separate them.

[Disney's Divinity]

Alan Menken, Linda Larkin, Scott Weinger, Gilbert Gottfried, and Jonathan Freeman should be on ABC's The View this Tuesday, advertising the Diamond re-release I assume.

I understand if most people don't have the forbearance to sit through that show to see them though.

[ProfessorRatigan]

Is there a coupon being put out for this release? I haven't been keeping up (and have actually PASSED on the latest two Diamond releases, 101 Dalmatians and The Jungle Book), but I really want Aladdin.

[disneyboy20022]

This is awesome!!!!


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ1L6dvpkSw[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC_WiWRCFJk [/youtube]

[Avaitor]

Are there any good deals around for the movie?

[lord-of-sith]

I would NEVER believe Lea Salonga and Linda Larkin are over 20 years older than they were when they recorded for the film. Glad that Aladdin's time has come and it's getting some great attention!

[tlc38tlc38]

What are the previews?