Peter Pan: Platinum Edition DVD Press Release and Discussion

[MadonnasManOne]

IGN.com has posted their three page review. Click the following link, if interested.

http://dvd.ign.com/articles/770/770864p1.html

It's funny. The reviews have mostly been positive, with most of them saying the bonus features are extensive. However, the UD community seems to feel otherwise. I, for one, haven't put my copy in, yet. I plan to do that, this weekend. I just find it odd that so many review sites seem pleased with the bonus features, while the UD community feels they are lacking. I guess it's just because we have come to expect more?

[2099net]

Well, we certainly expect more. Its supposed to be a Platinum edition, the best of the best, the tip of the top etc. The fact that the Christmas Show is missing is inexcusable in my opinon. The fact it was mentioned on the UK press release shows somebody considered it at some point.

Secondly, most of us already have the Special Edition (and in my case I have the French and Japanese 2 Disc editions too). There's not much been added once you take the Special Edition contents away from the new release, unless you count games and songs. Oddly, the documentary on the Nine Old Men from the overseas 2 disc releases hasn't been included either. (Peter Pan was the last film all 9 worked on together, which is why it is significant).

This Peter Pan is a disappointment. The London Trip write up on DVDTalk makes me think some reviewers have been... shall we say "groomed"? ... to give the release a little slack.

[gardener14]

I think more people were upset that the Disney Movie Rewards logo is on the cover of the dvd (aside from the slipcover) and that portion is obviously NOT removable.

I misunderstood. I thought people disliked the sticker on the slipcover cover because it is placed over the main picture. That's why I remove them. To be honest, I didn't even notice the one printed on the case until I read your response. It's small and in the corner and no more obtrusive than the Fastplay logo on most discs. Besides, it's not on the slipcover which is much more attractive with it's 3d relief and shining colors. However I guess I'm in the minority, and I understand other people's view. It would be just as fine with me if it wasn't there.

I see the logo's presence as one of those things that marks a place in time. If I look at this disc years from now, it will remind me that one time Disney offered this rewards program, and I may remember that I got a "free" copy of A Tiger Walks because of it. That's kind of neat to me. It's like finding an old toy, magazine, comic, movie poster or some other pop culture item and seeing how things were marketed in the past.

[mariadny]

very interesting

http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2007/03/0 ... 90963.html
http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2007/03/0 ... 62888.html
http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2007/03/0 ... 86124.html

[Escapay]

It's funny. The reviews have mostly been positive, with most of them saying the bonus features are extensive. However, the UD community seems to feel otherwise. I, for one, haven't put my copy in, yet. I plan to do that, this weekend. I just find it odd that so many review sites seem pleased with the bonus features, while the UD community feels they are lacking. I guess it's just because we have come to expect more?

I think the main reason other sites are praising this release is because not many of them are doing their homework. Sure, they'll compare the video quality, commentary, and two older featurettes from the SE, but I've still yet to see a review saying, "Yet the excellent Nine Old Men documentary from Region 2 is still a no-show here", or "Isn't it sad that we only get a glimpse of the Walt Disney Christmas Show in the short making-of featurette, but Disney won't give us the whole thing?" or "What a difference a year makes, when Lady and the Tramp gets an excellent 52-minute documentary and then some, while Peter Pan has to settle for their 10-year-old 17-minute laserdisc piece and a couple new featurettes".

At a glance, the Peter Pan set could look impressive. A commentary, deleted songs, four featurettes (amounting to about 46 minutes), one vintage featurette, and a still gallery sounds mighty nice to the Average Joe who hasn't seen the film in years and isn't too gung-ho about having to buy a second disc that'll take him a day to watch. But when you ask a fanatical Disney fan, "What do you think of this release?", they can honestly say it's a huge letdown compared to previous two-disc releases, and for the following reasons (reason a, reason b, reason c, etc.).

Of the various non-UD reviews I've read for Peter Pan, none of them even make comparisons to previous Platinums, like how at one point, the Snow White and Aladdin bonus discs had about 3 hours of worthwhile and in-depth material, while Peter Pan has only about a third of that. None of them say, "Well, the bonus material isn't as extensive as other titles with the Platinum banner, but what we get is a nice set of features." Instead, most will just gloss over them with lines like "these features cover the film nicely" or "it's a great featurette sure to get repeat viewings". I never like reading those types of lines because they're far too broad and makes the review sound like it came off an assembly line. Like there was a template and you simply change the titles in certain areas.

Example:

(insert film title) is a joyful (insert genre) film that has remained a favorite for (insert number) years, and (insert studio) is revisiting the title in a new (insert banner name) edition, chockful of bonus features.

On Disc Two, we have a nice documentary called (insert title). This covers the making of the film and includes great interviews by (insert person), (insert person), and (insert person). Also, there's a couple shorter featurettes like (insert title) and (insert title), which are more specific and worth watching a couple times over.

All in all, this is a great set for (insert title), and worth owning, even if you already have the earlier (insert banner name) edition.

I think my main bone of contention with the Peter Pan release is that it's an impressive set, had it come four years ago as a regular Special Edition. It shares the same qualities as the Sleeping Beauty: Special Edition, in that it delivers a nice amount of bonus material, but isn't quite as exhaustive as other titles, and could do with a serious revisit a few years later. To release Peter Pan today when people expect so much more when they hear "two-disc special edition", it makes it look so disappointing.

From the IGN review, I just have to give my non-praise to the following lines...

Newly released in a Platinum Edition boasting a new transfer and plenty of new bonus-material bells and whistles

Excuse me while I go off and pound my head against the wall...

...then I'll go off and cry after reading this...

As mentioned above, much of the content on the discs is designed exclusively for youngsters - save perhaps the sudoku game, which smacks of timeliness; but overall there isn't anything significant missing from this set that will leave fans new or old unsatisfied.

If only they visited UD...

Escapay

[Luke]

It was a tasteless poor choice by the marketing dept that hopefully wont occur ever again

Apply that to <i>Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Great Clubhouse Hunt</i> and I'm sure the next few Disney DVD releases that follow it too...

[drsd2kill]

I explored more of my 2007 DVD set late last night, and I made an interesting discovery. I encourage everyone to check out the "You Can Fly" featurette on disc 2. This was on the 1997 Laserdisc release [and I think on a previous DVD release], and it appears it was edited using footage from the 1991 transfer! Check out the scenes from PETER PAN as shown in that featurette. Yes, there is some dot crawl owing from its analog origins, but other than that you tell ME if the color and balance is not far better and far more natural.

[goofystitch]

Did anybody else by the 3-disc set at Wal Mart? I thought the third disc would have more to do with Peter Pan than the Disney Fairies line. Out of the "80 minutes" of things to do on the DVD, only 3 of them had anything to do with Peter Pan. One was a treasure hunt game, which was ported over from the 2002 Special Edition. Then there was a storybook called "Neverland's New Hero" which was taken from the "Return to Neverland" DVD. And the third thing was a 2.5 minute making of the T-Squad music video, which lets you know that (surprise surprise) 3/4 members feel they are better at dancing than singing. The rest of the DVD? It's all about the fairies. In fact, even the menues involve the fairies, not Peter Pan. There are 4 stories, not read alongs but semi-animated tales spanning about 5 minutes each. Each one concentrates on a different fairy and uses artwork similar to that seen in the book that is available. You can watch about a minutes worth of information about each fairy, where they live, and what they like to do. This feature reads almost like a dating service hotline, but for fairies. There is a quiz to find out which fairy you are most like. One bonus feature in particular made me mad: a picture of a Tinker Bell doll informing you that the huge line of Disney Fairies merchandise is now readily available on store shelves. The funny thing is that it didn't specifically mention Wal Mart, even though the stores name appears all over the case letting you know that it is exclusive. I paid $19.99 for the 3-disc version. I think they were charging $16.99 for the 2-disc. It's really annoying. The Wal Mart 3rd disc for "Cars" had featurettes and stuff. Disney really should have made a store exclusive 3rd disc with at least the missing 9 0ld Men featurette, if not also with the Christmas show. So basically, if you were considdering buying the 3-disc set at Wal Mart, don't unless you are a.) very excited about the Disney Fairies and can't wait for the Tinker Bell movie, or b.) are buying it you a kid between 3-10 who has an interest in Disney Fairies. Otherwise, this 3rd disc is useless.

P.S: The story about Tinker Bell introduces a male fairy, something Disney has avoided showing in all previews for the film and merchendise.

[Escapay]

Disney really should have made a store exclusive 3rd disc with at least the missing 9 0ld Men featurette, if not also with the Christmas show.

If Disney ever plans on issuing the Nine Old Men featurette or the Christmas show, it should have been in the regular two-disc release, not slapped onto a store-exclusive disc forcing consumers to have to support one store in order to get it. That's one reason I hate store-exclusive bonus discs. The added material *should* be on the regular release, but instead they're separated and made store-exclusive just so Wal-Mart/Target/BestBuy/CircuitCity/whathaveyou can get consumers to want to go to their store for that particular bonus disc. While I'm forever grateful that BestBuy's store-exclusive for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest included the elusive trailers, trailers should already be a part of the regular DVD, not some limited-edition featurette available only at one store. Likewise, the featurettes on the two Cars bonus discs (Wal-Mart and Target) should have been a regular part of the release (as it is in Australia), rather than making consumers decide if they want to support Wal-Mart or Target in their purchase of the film.

Hmm. I was planning on picking up Peter Pan at either Wal-Mart or Target, but I'm sure Target's pin will get more use out of me than a silly Fairies DVD.

P.S: The story about Tinker Bell introduces a male fairy

Ryan Evans is going to be rendered in CGI animation with Tinker Bell and friends? Cool!

Escapay

[Escapay]

What 9 Old Men featurette are you talking about? I swear I have a 9 Old Mean featurette on at least 2 DVDs

In the original French and Japanese two-disc sets for Peter Pan, there's a 27-minute "Nine Old Men" featurette hosted by John Canemaker that's never seen the light of day in R1, though in the Cinderella Platinum we get a wholly different featurette about the Nine Old Men, where present day animators discuss them, interspersed with vintage interviews as well.

Escapay

[2099net]

To be fair Escapay, the Australian 2 Disc Cars was a retailer exclusive (EzyDVD) and limited at that.

I was never expecting the silent movie version to be included in the US set, but if they can put a read-along version on the second disc, why not? Its B/W so although its longer, I'm sure it will take up approx. the same disc space.

And the Nine Old Men documentary is just 1 talking head, with the odd clip illustrating certain points. (But is good, one of the best Disney docs I've seen)

I guess Disney just didn't think these would appeal to the children. Or the Christmas special. Its OK to put a 10 minute or so featurette on the disc in B/W, but the little <strike>brats</strike> treasures wouldn't sit through a whole hour of B/W would they?

So why do they think the French and Japanese will? (the Silent movie and talking head documentary. The talking head isn't even in their own native language!)

[goofystitch]

Escapay wrote:

Ryan Evans is going to be rendered in CGI animation with Tinker Bell and friends? Cool!

I had to look up who Ryan Evans was. When I saw that it was Lucas Gabriel's character in "High School Musical," I had a pretty good laugh. He's deffinatley the most questionable Disney Channel main character in terms of sexuality. "Everyone loves a good jazz square!"

[Nandor]

He's deffinatley the most questionable Disney Channel main character in terms of sexuality.

Dude, there's no question about that

I wanted to wait for PP to be in a buy-two-get-one-free-deal, which we often have during the summer holiday here, but I got tempted and gave in to the temptation.
I've only watched the movie and the TinkerBell-preview so far. The movie is in my Bottom-three of the PE-titles (along with Snow White and Pinocchio), but enjoyable as a whole. I'm glad I read the UD-interview with Margaret Kerry, since that actually made Tinkerbell a more likable character to me.
The PE is a bigger step up from the SE here, as the SE didn't have the audio commentary (in fact, it wasn't even labelled as a SE here. There never was a LE released). I think I'll save that for last, seeing how it's probably the most worth while bonus feature.

[Ting Ting]

So as far as bonus features go, this was the worst Platinum Edition release to date, and it could have easily been one of the best! And I know I've seen the You Can Fly!: The Making of Peter Pan featurette somewhere before. I know it's on the Special Edition DVD, but I don't own that. In fact, I had never watched Peter Pan on DVD in my life until yesterday. Perhaps it was on Vault Disney or something a few years back, or maybe even on the 1999 VHS release. Does anybody know? Well, either way, I'm highly disappointed.

Oh well, it's the movie the counts. Plus, I would have bought it even if there weren't any bonus features at all, so I can't complain.

[PixarFan2006]

This image gives me the creeps.

[brotherbear]

Hey guys!

I know I'm a little late, but I actually bought Peter Pan Platinum Edition last night! I also watched the film as well as the bonus features last night. I must admit, I'm OK with this Platinum. Yes, it's very skimpy on features, but I personally don't own the SE, so everything was new to me! Oh, and I got the Hook figure, which is pretty cool I guess...


-BB

[Jungleprince_55]

I just watched the Platinum Edition and for some reason I actually still prefer the Special Edition's picture over the PE's. I guess I'm just used to seeing it that way, I also felt that this was the weakest of the Platinum Editions.

[Flanger-Hanger]

can anybody post the trailer for the Aristocats DVD?

[xxhplinkxx]

Ok, 3 things:

1. I just finished watching Peter Pan. As I was watching it, I realized that I had never really seen it. I'd only seen bits and pieces of the more popular scenes. Hm. 20 years of life and you'd think I would have completely seen it.

2. I'm uber excited about Disney's upcoming releases! The Aristocats, The Jungle Book, Return to Neverland, The Little Mermaid III (And most likely II... or else...), Tinker Bell (still iffy about Tink talking), and 101 Dalmations. It looks like it's gonna be a great year for me and Disney.

3. I've mostly had the slip cover on my PP DVD. It was just five minuts ago that I had the case coverless on top of my table when I realized something: the Disney Movie Rewards logo on the bottom left corner of the case is f-ing annoying.

[Disneykid]

And I know I've seen the You Can Fly!: The Making of Peter Pan featurette somewhere before. I know it's on the Special Edition DVD, but I don't own that. In fact, I had never watched Peter Pan on DVD in my life until yesterday. Perhaps it was on Vault Disney or something a few years back, or maybe even on the 1999 VHS release. Does anybody know? Well, either way, I'm highly disappointed.

You're right, actually. The "You Can Fly" featurette premiered on both the 1999 VHS and laserdisc. So people who have been collecting every release of the movie to date should be peeved that they've been given the same featurette three times on three different releases. I really hope the prediction someone in this thread made earlier about the Christmas show appearing Return to Never Land comes true. I'd buy that release in a heartbeat, and the film itself is decent enough for me to not feel embarrassed having it in my collection (though I don't plan on buying it otherwise).

Did anyone else notice that The Aristocats trailer is edited exactly the same way as the trailer for the original 90s VHS? I remember seeing the old trailer attached to various VHS tapes of mine; I think Pocahontas and Cinderella both had it. They didn't simply port over the trailer itself, though. Besides being matted, the picture quality looks better in this trailer, and a different announce was used. That just makes the fact that it's editing the same even more bizarre. If I find the old one online, I'll post it.