UltimateDisney.com/DVDizzy.com Reviews: Discussion Thread

[Escapay]

You know, I guess it kind of reflects that the people who made the site may have moved on from Disney fandom...

Luke, Aaron, Renata...I have a feeling they don't care for Disney as much as they used to...?

It's not so much about being less of a Disney fan, but that the site needs to be more than just Disney (hence, DVDizzy coming about in 2007) if it wants to maintain itself. Around the time that Disney showed less devotion to DVDs, UD was growing larger and larger in readers and forum members. For anyone who followed Disney's DVDs as religiously as UD has, it was obvious that they just could not sustain the site on a few big announcements every so often and a flurry of Disney Channel or Playhouse Disney material. The site couldn't just be another fan site anymore.

Understandably, it pissed off a certain portion of UDers, because to them, it was as if UltimateDisney was no longer the ULTIMATE place to learn about Disney DVDs. And I'm sure the whole "Why hasn't UltimateDisney gone 100% Blu?" debacle just polarised the UDers even more. Heck, Blu-Ray.com doesn't even like us and there was a thread here at UD all about it.

But Luke and almost everyone else also seem to populate the boards less than they used to, unless I am just not in the threads they are...

Given the amount of reviews Luke almost always has on his plate, along with general site maintenance and other things that take up his time, I'm not surprised at the waning amount of posts on his part. It's nice when he does turn up, though I do wish it would be more often as his presence is definitely missed. At the same time, we have to remember he does a lot of things for UD/DVDizzy and can't always be a 24/7 presence on the forums. Likewise, Renata usually only chimes in when something tickles her fancy (so we must tickle her fancy some more!), and I know she was working for a bit too before going to grad school.

IIRC, Aaron's in grad school too, and that took up a lot of his time for the past year and a half or so. He only recently brought back Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Pod, for example, and I'm surprised (and grateful) that he still manages to organise the various Forum Awards, Movie/Music/Media Awards, etc. as well as contribute to the CD and music threads every so often (along with jovial discussion of Pete's Dragon once in awhile).

Disneykid (aka Kelvin Cedeno) is probably the only current person on the UD/DVDizzy writing staff that contributes regularly to the forum, so I'm grateful for that.

And as always, we have 2099net and CJ to help moderate the boards, but we have to remember that even they have time off from UD (Ceej went to WDW in early June, for example).

I haven't seen anything at all from indianajdp for awhile now (he moderates the Trade forum), and deathie mouse's appearances are few and far between (though he is always just a PM away!). And there have been mods or other notable members who simply have moved on from UltimateDisney (Paka, Jack, etc.). I miss reading event reports by Pluto Region1, Christopher Disher, etc. but I'm guessing they simply don't have the time to cover them anymore. But I'm always glad when they have the rare chance to stop by on the forums.

Though I heard many people don't like the current popular discussions, especially in the Disney discussion section, maybe because it's too princessy, or only about what's animated, or whatever.

Before these UD forums were established in 2003, there were the infamous "condom" boards that UD started in 2001 (I think). So that's already 8 years that the UD forum has existed. Members have come and gone, the average age of the UD user has seemingly gotten younger and younger (I remember when members like Kram and Just Myself - back when he was Secret Disney Man - were some of the youngest members on UD, now they're in the middle of the age bracket!), and discussions made 6 years ago by members who no longer come to the boards get forgotten, replaced by new discussions by newer members. And for any members who've stuck around and see the new discussions, they've already discussed it, and sometimes feel they don't have much to say anymore.

I remember reading a post from Lars Vermundsberget where he pretty much said the same thing. He's been with UD for a LONG time, and lately he's taken to reading discussions but not feeling the need to contribute anymore since all he wanted to say has been said.

But anyway, do reviews keep the site afloat?

Reviews, "Support UD" affiliate orders, and donations keep the site afloat. The main business is in reviews, as that's what UD was built on. DVDizzy is another way of making reviews.

And, Albert, I just don't know what to say. So I'll just smile.

Just consider it a compliment. We all have our own taste in movies, but it pains me sometimes if someone writes off an entire body of work from another company just because it isn't *their* company.

Sometimes I get annoyed by fierce brand loyalty, but then I remember that I haven't changed the type of shampoo I use in 12 years, and that I'll more than likely buy a shirt with a Polo Ralph Lauren logo than one with St. John's Bay even if both are pretty much the same shirt in colour and size.

albert

[Jules]

[quote-"Albert"]I miss reading event reports by Pluto Region1, Christopher Disher, etc. but I'm guessing they simply don't have the time to cover them anymore. But I'm always glad when they have the rare chance to stop by on the forums.[/quote]

I've actually never met Cristopher Disher on the forums, and have always wondered if he ever stops by. I guess I know now.

Could it be that I know him, only under a different usename?

I remember reading a post from Lars Vermundsberget where he pretty much said the same thing. He's been with UD for a LONG time, and lately he's taken to reading discussions but not feeling the need to contribute anymore since all he wanted to say has been said.

*sigh* I know I've mentioned this before multiple times during the last twelve months, but this stuff is happening to me too. I must really make an effort to get myself to post on UD. I seem to have lost the motivation to write. These last months have seen me lurk far more than contribute. Sometimes I try to change things and make a sudden burst of posts - long and short. Then I become dormant again for weeks, sharing only few words on the boards.

I feel expired.

Sometimes I get annoyed by fierce brand loyalty.

I don't think you ever told us what you think of DreamWorks films, Bert. (though I do know that you love The Prince of Egypt) I'm currently rewatching them and can't help feeling they've taken a lot of unnecessary flack over the years. I'll always prefer a WDAS film, but I found even the seemingly much loathed Shrek to be a strong film. I just wish it were free of the burp and fart jokes. Nevertheless, I feel I'd be doing the talented people who worked on it a disservice by simply writing off their film because of a couple of farts - no matter how much I detest such material. As for Shark Tale - which I have finally seen - it's nowhere near as terrible as people say it is. I even liked its funky stylised looks!

[Escapay]

I miss reading event reports by Pluto Region1, Christopher Disher, etc. but I'm guessing they simply don't have the time to cover them anymore. But I'm always glad when they have the rare chance to stop by on the forums.

I've actually never met Christopher Disher on the forums, and have always wondered if he ever stops by. I guess I know now.

Could it be that I know him, only under a different usename?

He's ckdish on the forums.

I don't think you ever told us what you think of DreamWorks films, Bert. (though I do know that you love The Prince of Egypt)

With the exception of The Prince of Egypt and The Road to El Dorado, I used to be in the "DREAMWORKS SUCKS, DISNEY 4EVA!" crowd, but grown out of that phase some years ago and usually appreciate a film as a film regardless which studio made it. The DreamWorks animated "canon" as it is, doesn't have much that I enjoy immensely or will flock to as quickly as I would a Disney animated movie. I think if I were to pick my five favourite from the animated films, it'd be The Prince of Egypt, The Road to El Dorado, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Flushed Away, and Bee Movie. Of course, it doesn't really say much if two of the top five films are actually Aardman films. I want to get around to seeing all the DreamWorks films as there's a few I've missed out on but are apparently better than people expected.

I found even the seemingly much loathed Shrek to be a strong film. I just wish it were free of the burp and fart jokes.

I feel the same way. On its own, Shrek is quite good despite the scatological humour, easily-dated music selections, etc. And I really don't care much for any of the characters, they're just there to be funny to me - as opposed to me loving Aladdin immensely and wanting to pal around with Al or go on a carpet ride with Jasmine (ironically, the screenwriters were the same for both films). But that's probably part of its charm. As a series, there's little I like in Shrek. I haven't seen Shrek 2 in its entirety, and saw the unfortunate thing that is Shrek the Third. The holiday special was pretty much ignored in the NJ Trilogy's household, and we only saw the 3-D show once (last year, during our first visit to Universal Studios in like...9 years).

Nevertheless, I feel I'd be doing the talented people who worked on it a disservice by simply writing off their film because <strike>of a couple of farts</strike> they happen to make it at an animation studio that doesn't bear the name "Disney"

That's how I feel.

albert

[blackcauldron85]

Just for the record, I don't really have a problem with Aardman, although Flushed Away kind of looked really bad.

[Disney Duster]

Well thank you for all that explaining! I guess I will have to accept it couldn't stay Ultimate Disney anymore. It just couldn't.

By the way, I think Amy could just really not like most Dreamworks movies.

Oh, but um, I really have to ask:
Why for the new Tron Legacy information does it predict that the new film will not live up to expectations? Isn't that putting in negative opinion, and before we really know anything about the actual shot film?

It's not saying something like "the public really wants this movie", which would be an observation. This was saying something negative about the film when it's supposed to be about providing info.

Though I must say, in a way it may be Luke revealing his thoughts which I'm glad to know.

Oh, and Rapunzel's story has changed, so the info for that section should change, to. Just check out what PrincePhillipFan tells us from the magazine, it will be the original fairy tale, at least that information is known:
http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... &start=720

[Disney Duster]

Hey Scaps what were the condom boards?

Hey Kelvin, I read the Dragonball review! Mostly because...I couldn't believe it had come out yet!

Seriously, they must have kept it quiet because I heard about the trailer being online, but didn't watch it because I thought I would see it in theaters, but I never did, and now I can't believe the film already came to theaters and now to DVD!

The review of the film itself felt like there could've been more details, but maybe that's because, as you suggested, there wasn't much to the film anyway.

Your line about the sexual tension between two guys still not enough to make a bonus feature entertaining was pretty funny.

Hey, do you wonder if they called it a Z Edition because the film is so bad it's a Z movie?!

[Escapay]

I wish I could read the Dragonball: Evolution DVD review, but alas, UD is too sexy for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport...

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v96/a ... Hahaha.jpg" height="600" width="915"></img>

And the condom boards were the UD boards before this format, and was known for having random ads for condoms appear on the pages. I wasn't around for that, though I've seen it via the wayback machine. Before wayback, it used to still be accessible from the actual forum address, though I think it finally got deleted a couple years ago.

albert

[Disney Duster]

Oh and I forgot to say Kelvin, that the link to buy the film on Amazon, in your review, takes you to buy the film "Eat My Dust", not the correct one, "Dragonball: Evolution".

[David S.]

I really enjoyed reading Luke's Pete's Dragon review and am glad that compared to many other Gold Collection re-releases, this one actually looks like a definite "upgrade" as there is more "film-specific" material than the first edition. I am glad most of the original bonus features got carried over from the first edition, because I don't think the original publicity about the new edition mentioned any of them!

Still, I agree with Luke that it's a shame "Man, Monsters, and Mysteries" wasn't carried over, as it works with the theme of the film and is not available anywhere other than the first, now OOP, edition.

Luke - I really enjoyed and agree with your comments about why not just make it a 2-disc set, in order to keep all the bonus features. I particularly liked the sentence:

It's too bad that Disney only seems to print extra discs for largely unredeemed digital copies.

Anyway, thanks Luke for the typically thorough UD review, and keep up the great work with the site!

[blackcauldron85]

Great Pete's Dragon review, Luke! I am very much anticipating the DVD!

And, great Hannah Montana: The Movie, Luke and Kelvin! I really enjoyed the movie, so I disagree with some of your complaints (although the review was surprisingly mostly positive!), but it was a nice, more-refreshing-than-I-was-expecting read! I only have a $20 Borders gift card and $12.84 to try and purchase both DVDs (you do save $6 when you buy both)...I wish the gift card was for Best Buy or Target. Stupid Borders and your expensive prices. Bobby had said, "I'll go to Borders and try to sell your gift card to a customer- they would be spending $20 anyway, and I'll stay until they pay so they can know that the gift card works"...Alas, he hasn't sold it, and we're both sick, so I don't think that will happen. Yeah, I'll blabbing. The bonus features don't strike me as "Ooh, I need to have that". It's not like there's a making-of feature. Chances are, I'll just be getting the barebones, especially with my funds. Sorry for the blabbing...I just woke up and I don't think that my dogs would care to have a conversation about this with me. That's what you all are for.

[AwallaceUNC]

Check out my new review of "Desperate Housewives": The Complete Fifth Season! http://www.ultimatedisney.com/desperate ... ason5.html

-Aaron

[Escapay]

Hiya Luke,

After watching "Castle" tonight on ABC, I re-read your "Castle: Season One" review and just want to give it a and

albert

[slave2moonlight]

I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed in the latest review from U.D. about the new Christmas collection that includes "The Small One". Bothered enough to actually make a forum post, apparently. I just thought the site would be more "in the know", or something, and I'm always referring people here to get accurate info on Disney DVDs and their highpoints and flaws, so...

The fact is, "Small One" WAS edited, and it was after the VHS release. I own the original VHS, and I have kept it because of the changes, even after buying that first holiday DVD collection. The original version used to air on the Disney Channel all the time. I don't know anything about any visual changes, that rumor is new to me, but I know that the Merchant's song lyrics are different on the old VHS release vs. the first DVD release of Small One (and I guess this new release too). The song's last line used to say, "We never ever fail when we go to make a sale, weeee... simply cheat a little if we must." It now plays, "We work a little harder if we must." I first noticed the change the last few time Disney Channel aired it, shortly before the Channel made its drastic changes towards becoming a regular cable channel.

[AwallaceUNC]

New review just posted:

"30 Rock": Season 3 on DVD!

http://www.dvdizzy.com/30rock-season3.html

-Aaron

[The_Iceflash]

I wonder if Luke will get the 2-Disc Snow White DVD at all to review. (Since it isn't being released the same time as the BD.) I hope he writes a very very long rant if he doesn't.

[Escapay]

Were my ears deceiving me or does the new Hero: Special Edition review play a MIDI version of Enrique Iglesias' "Hero"?



albert

[Luke]

Thank you all for the feedback here and on the Facebook fan page. It's appreciated. I'm sorry for letting Kelvin's overly sexy <i>Dragonball Evolution</i> review get posted. Hopefully not reviewing <i>Monsters vs. Aliens</i> makes up for it.

[2099net]

Well, the Life on Mars review was interesting. I would never class the BBC version as sci-fi. If anything I would say the constant interruptions to Sam from the modern day were more "Twin Peaky" than Sci-Fi. Of course, at the end of the day, the BBC version didn't have a sci-fi ending though (more a philosophical ending) where as the ABC version did.

So it sounds like the biggest problem was the ending (which I can state is definitely not the ending to the BBC version). While the BBC pre-ending revelation was clearly signposted (and after two years, was about the right time to finally reveal it) the actual ending was both brave, shocking, depressing and life-reaffirming at the same time. It's honestly (IMO) the best ending to a TV series ever!

It's amazing how the strong ending of the BBC version, combined with the strong beginning gives the whole series form. In fact, the whole second half of the second series was leading up to the ending, and it gives the story of Sam a definitive beginning and end. It makes the show feel like a novel.

(Of course, they sort of spoiled it with Ashes to Ashes, which does dilute the ending to Life on Mars. But I greatly enjoyed the ending to S2 of Ashes to Ashes!)

But the basics of Life on Mars seem to hold in the ABC version. Strong procedural police drama spiced up by strong characters, humour, the odd bit of surrealism while comparing and contrasting attitudes/events/methods between 70's society and 00's society. It's a winning match (although, while a poorer series, examining the 80's in the same way in Ashes to Ashes results in more meaningful comparisons).

The thing is, both Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes are limited concepts. There's only so many things you can point out were better/worse in the 70's (or 80's) before you start repeating yourself. And the "mystery" of how Sam got there can only be dragged out so long before it becomes more than a tease and more like a sledgehammer. Perhaps a miniseries or two would have suited the format more?

[Luke]

The thing is, both Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes are limited concepts. There's only so many things you can point out were better/worse in the 70's (or 80's) before you start repeating yourself. And the "mystery" of how Sam got there can only be dragged out so long before it becomes more than a tease and more like a sledgehammer. Perhaps a miniseries or two would have suited the format more?

I agree. In the US version, you can really tell the difference between an episode meant to go somewhere and one simply designed to stand on its own with no regard to the ongoing mystery. Although both have their strengths, the premise just isn't well-suited to multiple seasons of 24 episodes.

I'm looking forward to seeing the UK version soon. The ending obviously sounds better (tough to find one worse than the US), but I'm not sure I'll enjoy the journey there as much. We'll see.

[BrandonH]

Thanks for an informative and helpful review of Up. One question I have is which DVD edition comes with the Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack. If it has the same discs that they included in the deluxe edition DVD plus the Blu-Ray discs, and it's selling for the same price or less money, then the combo pack is a no-brainer for those who don't mind the Blu-Ray packaging.