Peter Pan: Platinum Edition DVD Press Release and Discussion

[Disneykid]

I do agree that Peter Pan deserves a new 40-minute-or-so documentary, but at least the inclusion of the Walt Disney Christmas Show would've made the brevity of everything else easier to swallow.

DVDTalk's review is back, but doesn't seem to have changed at all.

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=26351

[Jake Lipson]

Hmm. Other than the dated previews, Return to Never Land sneak peak and such, has anything been lost from the Special Edition? From the review, it seems like they've carried everything over.

[Escapay]

Hmm. Other than the dated previews, Return to Never Land sneak peak and such, has anything been lost from the Special Edition? From the review, it seems like they've carried everything over.

I'm thinking the DVD-ROM weblinks are gone, but that's about it.

Anyway, I'm still disappointed in the DVDtalk review. Don't see why they had to post it for a few days, take it down, and re-post it, with virtually nothing changed. It still reads like a glossed-over fluff piece, and the third and fourth times re-reading it, I really really had a problem with this passage:

Overall the bonus material for Peter Pan is very impressive and worth [sic] of a Platinum Release. Some of the features were available on the Special Edition though and bits of the content repeat themselves from extra to extra.

The bonus material was impressive...five years ago on the Special Edition. While I'm glad for the three new featurettes (though I personally don't care for the Tink one, but I'm still looking forward to In Walt's Words and Peter Pan That Almost Was), and maybe even the "Neverland" song, it's still a very weak set of material, and even though quality should outweigh the quantity, I personally don't see what's offered as enough to be worthy of a Platinum release.

**goes off to continue grumbling at the exclusion of trailers, the Christmas show, and a serious 40+ minute documentary**

Escapay

[TheSequelOfDisney]

Update for PP's sequel:

Another trailer on the set reveals that the theatrically-released 2002 sequel Return to Never Land will be returning to DVD in the undetermined near-future.

I guess it's a good thing that I hadn't picked this up. I bet that it will probably just be a re-issue though.

[Dottie]

Not a big surprise, though. Since many European countries get a box-set of the two movies it was out of the question this title would be revisited when the PE comes out.

[TheSequelOfDisney]

Not a big surprise, though. Since many European countries get a box-set of the two movies it was out of the question this title would be revisited when the PE comes out.

It is weird though that "The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea" has yet to see another release. Same with "Cinderella II" but then again, who would actually want another release?

[Disneykid]

It is weird though that "The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea" has yet to see another release. Same with "Cinderella II" but then again, who would actually want another release?:P

Well, considering we just found out about Return to Never Land (and since the year is still young), there's plenty of time for a TLM II re-release between now and October. I do find the lack of Cindy II bizarre, though. It's going for ridiculous amounts on Ebay right now, so there's a demand by people who've seen Cindy III and not II. Why Disney isn't taking advantage of that is anyone's guess.

[TheNikki]

Yay! I'm glad Return to Neverland is getting a re-release seeing as I've never seen it and have heard good things about it.

[Simba3]

I am very skeptical of Disney sequels, I have only seen 2 (the theatrically released "Rescuers Down Under" and "Toy Story 2") but now that I know Return of Neverland was theatrically released, I might at least check it out.

[TheSequelOfDisney]

I am very skeptical of Disney sequels, I have only seen 2 (the theatrically released "Rescuers Down Under" and "Toy Story 2") but now that I know Return of Neverland was theatrically released, I might at least check it out.

Well, technically "Toy Story 2" isn't Disney, it's just presented by them (i.e. Walt Disney Pictures Presents A Pixar Animation Studios Film). And "The Rescuers Down Under" is really the only Disney Studios film that is an actual sequel, "Peter Pan in Return to Neverland" is actually a Disney Toon Studios film, so it's a DTV. Sorry, I just had to spill, especially over the Disney/Pixar thing.

[UmbrellaFish]

In my personal opinon Return to Neverland is just as good as the other sequels before it. But that's just my opnion.

[TheNikki]

I like most of the Disney sequels so it shouldn't bother me too much.

[mvd24]

About the inclusion of the "Christmas show" as a bonus feature:

I am living in Europe and at the moment I'm in France where Peter Pan is released the 21st of February.
I was in a store yesterday where they already had the keepcases, but were not yet selling.
On the back of the case under "backstage Disney" is listed a bonus called something like "The story of Peter Pan, a 1952 document"

Could this be it?

[Farid]

That isn't it. It's also listed on the back of the Danish cover, but it's not it.

[Big Disney Fan]

Not a big surprise, though. Since many European countries get a box-set of the two movies it was out of the question this title would be revisited when the PE comes out.

It is weird though that "The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea" has yet to see another release. Same with "Cinderella II" but then again, who would actually want another release?

Not me.

[rs_milo_whatever]

yay!!! i was waiting for sequels to the platinum editions to be confirmed....
two to go!!!

[Simba3]

I am still DYING to see some disc art, booklet pictures, and screen caps!! PLEEEEEEAAAAAAAASE!! Anyone?

[singerguy04]

I am still DYING to see some disc art, booklet pictures, and screen caps!! PLEEEEEEAAAAAAAASE!! Anyone?

I'm thinking that in the next week or so lighthousemike will have all this for us. So now we just have to be patient for a little bit longer!

[drsd2kill]

I tracked down the 1990 CAV Laserdisc release of PETER PAN (which I owned long ago) and made some screenshots. I also made screenshots from the 1998 CAV Laserdisc (same transfer used for the 1999 DVD) and 2002 Special Edition DVD. The 1990 release did not contain the RKO card or music that accompanied it, but the 1998 and 2002 releases did. The images are labeled according to the following key:

A = 1990 release
B = 1998 release
C = 2002 release

When the 2007 DVD is released, I'll make screen captures of it as well. I tried to get as close to the exact frame in each version as I could.

http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... TER%20PAN/

Here are a few interesting comparisons (1990/1998/2002)

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... PAN/2A.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a><BR>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... PAN/2B.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a><BR>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... PAN/2C.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a><BR><BR>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... PAN/3A.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a><BR>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... PAN/3B.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a><BR>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... PAN/3C.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a><BR><BR>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... AN/13A.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a><BR>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... AN/13B.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a><BR>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... AN/13C.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a><BR><BR>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... AN/14A.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a><BR>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... AN/14B.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a><BR>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... AN/14C.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a><BR><BR>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... AN/18A.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a><BR>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... AN/18B.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a><BR>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... AN/18C.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a><BR><BR>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... AN/17A.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a><BR>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... AN/17B.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a><BR>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... AN/17C.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a><BR><BR>

I like the color on the 1990 release above all the others, but it is very soft, especially in comparison to the 2002 DVD. I don't understand what went wrong with fleshtones on the 1998 release, though the 2002 DVD seems to offer the best all-around presentation. We'll have to wait and see what the 2007 DVD offers.

Chuck

[Disneykid]

Excellent screencaps, drsd2kill! I love the color palette of the 1990 release (which is what I grew up on). Normally the early 90s VHS tapes look dark and muted compared to later restorations (such as with Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland). Peter Pan, on the other hand, goes the opposite route. The 1998 and 2002 transfers are flatter and darker. The 1990 one is lush, bright, and vivid. I believe the 2007 restoration will be similar to this one. People in the Peter Pan screencap thread complained that the color scheme of the new DVD looked too warm in comparison with the older DVD, but it seems that was the intended look of the film. This makes sense since Never Land is a tropical place, afterall.