DVDizzy Forum

you forgot a fall tittle for fall 07

Jim Hill wrote some more on this topic:

"The release schedule for Disney's Platinum Edition DVD and home videos is constantly being rewritten. Why for? Well, to be blunt, the re-releasing of these animated films in the IMAX and large screen format just prior to their DVD debut hasn't turned out to be the money-maker that the Mouse expected. Which is why--after The Little Mermaid is released in this format in late 2004--Disney's reportedly toying with dropping this portion of its re-release program and just putting as many of the animated titles from its film library out in the marketplace as quickly as possible. And why would Buena Vista Home Entertainment do something like that? Because--as of 2007--Disney is planning on re-releasing many of these same titles all over again. Only in the high definition DVD format. With the hope that--provided that the price is right--we'll all decide to happily set aside our current Disney DVD collections and replace them with the higher quality discs."

Sounds like a silly business plan? Well, let me ask you this: how many of you own a copy of "Beauty and the Beast" in both the VHS and the DVD format? More importantly, how many of you -- later this fall -- are planning on picking up a copy of the 2-disc collector's edition of "The Lion King" once that DVD hits store shelves ... even though your VHS version of "The Lion King" is still perfectly watchable?

Quite a lot of you, I'm betting, answered the questions above in the affirmative. All because you (and I) think that these Disney animated films look better in the DVD format. More importantly, because you want to check out the extra features that Buena Vista Home Entertainment has crammed onto those discs.

That's why I'm kind of reluctant to make fun of the Mouse for abandoning its previously announced Platinum Edition release schedule and embracing this new business plan. Sure, it sucks to think that -- in five years or so -- that we're all going to be spending our hard earned money to purchase Disney movies that we already own (twice already!) in favor of brand new versions of these very same films in the Hi-Definition format.

You see, a couple of years ago, I actually did make fun of friends who were doing just that: buying DVD replacements from films that they already owned in VHS. But now ... well, look at me. I spent an entire afternoon last week driving around to various stores in New Hampshire looking for the 2-disc version of "The Love Bug." A movie that I'm not actually all that fond of ... just because I wanted to see all the extra features that Buena Vista Home Entertainment included in this DVD release.

(By the way, I was never able to track down a copy of that "Love Bug" DVD in New England. But I have high hopes that I'll be able to find this film in its new format sometime over the next 12 days that I'm in California.)"


Sources:
Jimm Hill Media, May 30, 2003
http://www.jimhillmedia.com/articles/05302003.1.htm
http://animated-movies.squareworld.com/News.html

Its sad but true, Jim Hill has hit this one right on the head.
I've got about half of my disney movies twice. Some people have them three or four times when you count Laserdisc copies.

I'm going to buy the Lion King II Special Edition in 2004 even though I have the VHS. I know some people who have Disney films on VHS, but not on DVD. It seems that I'm the only real Disney fan in my neighborhood. During the next two years, I will be spending my hard earned money for several re-releases. I'll be broke before Christmas of 2004.

Matty-Mouse wrote:Its sad but true, Jim Hill has hit this one right on the head.
I've got about half of my disney movies twice. Some people have them three or four times when you count Laserdisc copies.

I for one, don't plan on re-buying any of the current DVDs I own on HD format - unless there are some amazing new extras included in the HD discs. I'm happy with most of the transfers currently, and I don't think better looking transfers warrent the re-buying of 50+ discs.

The HD DVD players will be backwards compatable anyways.

I'm with Jack on this. The move from VHS to DVD is a huge no-brainer. But the only plus the HD has is the higher-resolution picture. That's it. Hardly much of a motive, unless you're a resolution freak.

The Digital Bits has a very good May 8th article about this issue. One of the things they mention is that HD players will likely not be backwards-compatible with regular DVDs, because apparently there would then be no incentive for consumers to upgrade their film libraries.
I'm on the DB's side completely. This mad and confused rush for HD-DVD is really dumb, and I hope it crashes and burns. >:-p

You know, the European versions already have the higher resolution
I have bought many Disney movies 3 to 4 times. I first had them on vhs dubbed to my local language. Then I replaced those with original English language vhs cassettes, and later with DVDs, some of which have already been re-released.
But, I don't think we'll se anything so much better than the current DVDs that would make me replace them anytime soon.

i wonder if south of the south came on disney dvd, would it be a gold collection, special edition, or maybe platinum edition proably not.

^^^

Acutally, I wouldn't mind seeing SONG OF THE SOUTH as a Disney Treasure. A higher MSRP. Fewer Copies. High Demand. Will sell freakin hot!

that really would sell hot like fire

I've heard that the NAACP has threaten to boycott disney movies, if they ever release this in the US, although it is kind of hush hush

Something I found when looking for something else:

From Animated Movies News Archive (May 6th):

Platinum Edition Outside of the U.S.
'Jeroen' mailed Disney Netherlands and Disney Taiwan about the new platinum release schedule: "they both answered that there will be only 1 a year in October."

Interesting... another reason why the 'original' Platinum list may continue in the October releases, and the 'new' additions will be slotted into the 1st Quarter schedule.

http://animated-movies.squareworld.com/News030503.html

But if this were the case they would still have the problem of getting all the original platinums out by 2007.

The UK (and as far as I know - all of Europe) is not getting HD-TV at all. Not sure about the rest of the world.

There's nothing to stop Disney International keeping some releases on hand and releasing them at a later date than Disney US.

I doubt that they will do this because it's just asking for everyone in import (and some estimates are that 65% of players in the UK are region free).

The posting is from May 6th which is quite soon after Disney US's original announcement. I take it more as a sign that the increased schedule was quickly implemented, with no international consultation and had (at the time) not been thought through fully.

I would expect all of Disney's international branches to have changed their plans by now - but I could be wrong. (and don't forget some of the world already as a 2 disc Sleeping Beauty and 2 disc Peter Pan)