Wow, where'd you dig up this old chestnut of a thread?
It's like going back through time when I was a UD Newbie! Thanks for actually using this thread, even 4 years later!
PeterPanfan wrote:Okay, well, I have a question on which DVD to buy. They are all out of print, so eBay would be my choice of where to purchase them.
I'm sure you know this, but be VERY careful in that there's a high chance that you may end up with a bootleg and you may have to pay a hefty price for that.
PeterPanfan wrote:Beauty and the Beast: Platinum Edition
Tarzan : 2 Disc Collectors Edition
Atlantis: The Lost Empire : 2 Disc Collector's Edition
Mickey Mouse in Living Color Volume One
Mickey Mouse in Living Color Volume Two
Disneyland, USA
Mickey Mouse in Black and White Volume One
Mickey Mouse in Black and White Volume Two
Fantasia Anthology (If I even have enough...)
Any help is appreciated!!
First, I've VERY RARELY came across BatB, Tarzan, Atlantis, and Fantasia Anthology (got Tarzan and Fantasia when I saw it b/c I knew I'd never see it again) at stores that sell used DVDs, but I've NEVER seen those particular Treasures in recent years other when they were released. Escapay got lucky and found Disneyland, USA at Wal-Mart one Christmas season. If you're going purely on the hard-to-findness of the DVDs on your list, you should go for one of the Treasures, though these days, it's tough to find any Disney DVD that's not Cinderella III in Used DVDs.
If hard-to-findness in real life is not the issue, then it all depends on what you really really want. Do you want Animated Features more so than shorts? Do you value the bonus features and documentaries then the movie? Do you enjoy the Disney parks more so than Disney animation? If you could answer any of these questions, then you've answered your own question. If you're torn between all of them, here's the general attitude I personally have towards the DVDs on your list:
Beauty and the Beast: Platinum Edition:
SW is still IMO, the best and most inclusive and complete of possible bonus features out of all the Platinums and BatB comes second. I enjoy the movie a lot and there's enough bonus features to satisfy your thirst for behind the scenes info. The Story Behind the Story feature explores different Disney animated films with Disney celebrity presenters that looks at concept art and the original source material for each one and how Disney disneyfied them. The kiddie fluff features are the least boring of other DVD set-top games and there's a nice featurette with Shia LeBouf post "Even Stevens" and pre "Transformers" presenting Disney Animation Magic. All in all, IMO this is the best choice of the Animated Features in your list.
Tarzan : 2 Disc Collectors Edition
I really enjoyed this movie and the features on this 2-Disc made me appreciate it even more! The bonus content was not as memorable as the early Platinums, but this being an early DVD Collectors Edition, there's certainly plenty of material to keep you busy.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire : 2 Disc Collector's Edition
Don't have it. So I don't know...
Mickey Mouse in Living Color Volume One
The REALLY classic Mickey shorts are on this volume ("Boatbuilders", "Hawaiian Holiday", "Mickey's Trailer", "Brave Little Taylor", etc.) and some lesser known ones like "Mickey's Polo Team." This one is enjoyable because there are a lot of caricatures of famous Hollywood celebrities from this era. There aren't too many bonus features on this volume, but the classic shorts speak for themselves. If you're a fan of Classic Mickey Mouse, this is the volume to get!
Mickey Mouse in Living Color Volume Two
This volume has a lot of really diverse cartoons despite it being composed of Mickey Mouse cartoons. Mickey's evolultion with time made him less active in his own shorts than he was in the Black and Whites and MMILC Vol I. Pluto ends up starring in most of the later shorts in this volume. This volume has a lot of cool bonuses like the 80s short "Mouse Mania" and an interview with real life couple Wayne Alwine and Russi Taylor (the current voices of Mickey and Minnie) and some documentaries and things. Also, this volume has Mickey's 80's/90's shorts. "Runaway Brain" is a madcap ride of scifi Mickey adventure and I think can only be found on this DVD. This volume of MMILC is great if you enjoy the modern, more laid back Mickey and like more bonus features focusing on Mickey.
Disneyland, USA
I looooooooove this DVD! When I became a more serious Disney fan, it was because of the theme parks and this DVD celebrates the very first one! The DVD set is made up of Disneyland the TV show that showcased the park. It's a terrific trip back to the days of a consistent Disney Sunday Evening special of the 50's and 60's and you also get to see how Americans saw Disneyland in its early days. The newer Disneyland Treasure focuses more so on the past and present while this one focuses on the past. If you love the Disney theme parks, this is the DVD to get!
Mickey Mouse in Black and White Volume One
Don't have it.
Mickey Mouse in Black and White Volume Two
I have this, but I find myself watching the color shorts a lot more than the black and white shorts. The known ones aren't on this volume, but some great shorts come from the later years presented on this set (a.k.a. the ones that came out right before color shorts premiered). Mickey Plays Papa is a great short and there's one short where Mickey and the Gang reenact Uncle Tom's Cabin. Other than those shorts, I can't really remember what else is on here as I don't watch it often enough.
Fantasia Anthology
I bought this as soon as Escapay and I found it used at Sam Goody last summer. Sadly though, I haven't had a chance to explore all the bonus features despite having the DVD for a year already. From what I've heard, the documentaries on this set are terrific and it's especially something you must own if you love the Fantasia movies.
