"Alice in Wonderland" goes Platinum

[Joe Carioca]

Hello there! I know I haven't posted here in a long time, even though I've always been around. I really miss you!

Anyway, I thought this was big enough to warrant a post. The Brazilian branch of Buena Vista has released some information on the future of the Platinum editions, and there are some surprises along the way. According to BV, a research made in the USA proved that the public doesn't think that "Aladdin" is big enough a classic to stand alongside the 14 greatest films in the Disney cannon. So, "Aladdin" has been replaced by "Alice in Wonderland" in the Platinum line. The current edition is set to go out of print this January, alongside "Cinderella".

As for the future of the line, after "Sleeping Beauty" we're getting "Pinocchio" (finally!) and "Snow White" in 2009, "Fantasia" and "Beauty and the Beast" in 2010 and "Alice" and "The Lion King" in 2011. We all know this is subject to change, and that there have been some inconsistencies from BV to BV regarding the schedule for the Platinum editions.

Well, I do think that "Aladdin" is a better movie than "Alice in Wonderland", but I'm glad that "Alice" (also a great movie) will no longer be the underrated classic that is always in print.

This is the Platinum schedule that Buena Vista has released to Brazilian retailers:



This is my source: http://www.animatoons.com.br/dvds/alice ... -platinum/

[blackcauldron85]

But "Aladdin"'s Platinum Edition already came out, so it's not like "Alice in Wonderland" is replacing it. If this is true, I'll only be buying the March Platinums until 2010 (and I may not even get "Fantasia" if it's not fully restored)- at least I can save my money.

I wonder, even more than what Platinums are coming out, what non-Platinum DACs will be coming out. Have we really seen the end of the 2-disc special edition? Once I get "101 Dalmatians" and "Pinocchio" on DVD, I'll have all the DACs on DVD, so I may never double-dip again, unless they release amazing 2-disc versions...

But, good for those who missed out on "Alice in Wonderland", I guess.

Thanks, Joe, for posting!

[Disney's Divinity]

Well, if that's true, it doesn't matter to me--I've already got the Aladdin Gift Set. And I've had the Alice: Masterpiece Edition for a while now, so I don't think I'll be re-dipping for that movie (especially considering that release already had plenty of extra material).

I can kind of understand why people don't consider Aladdin "classic"; it's more along the lines of The Emperor's New Groove. Good comedies though.

[2099net]

Aladdin's not considered popular enough for a Platinum release. What rot.

I've been thinking it for a long time, but I'll go out on a limb and say it. The only reason Aladdin "underperformed" on DVD was because of its setting and its closeness release-wise to 9/11. As far as I'm concerned its sales were just a knee-jerk reaction from the American Public.

As for not popular enough, but Alice is? My mind truely boggles. Can to hear it boggling? Forget about all that Princess merchandise with Jasmine promidently displayed, because apparently it means bugger all.

[Jack Skellington]

Aladdin's not considered popular enough for a Platinum release. What rot.
I've been thinking it for a long time, but I'll go out on a limb and say it. The only reason Aladdin "underperformed" on DVD was because of its setting and its closeness release-wise to 9/11. As far as I'm concerned its sales were just a knee-jerk reaction from the American Public.

Oh and I guess it was his magic carpet that hit the world trade center, right ?
Frankly, George Bush is an idiot, because he is responsible for the deaths of many people and partially because he thinks that the main language in Mexico is Mexican !
But that doesnt mean that I'm going to boycott American companies like Disney or McDonald's, or I'm going to give negative generalizations about Americans, coz there are smart and dumb people regardless of their race, and there are also good people and evil people wherever you go.
So don't point your finger at Aladdin or the middle east, just coz Bin Laden is a heartless bastard.

[disneyboy20022]

Aladdin's not considered popular enough for a Platinum release. What rot.
I've been thinking it for a long time, but I'll go out on a limb and say it. The only reason Aladdin "underperformed" on DVD was because of its setting and its closeness release-wise to 9/11. As far as I'm concerned its sales were just a knee-jerk reaction from the American Public.

Oh and I guess it was his magic carpet that hit the world trade center, right ?
Frankly, George Bush is an idiot, because he is responsible for the deaths of many people and partially because he thinks that the main language in Mexico is Mexican !
But that doesnt mean that I'm going to boycott American companies like Disney or McDonald's, or I'm going to give negative generalizations about Americans, coz there are smart and dumb people regardless of their race, and there are also good people and evil people wherever you go.
So don't point your finger at Aladdin or the middle east, just coz Bin Laden is a heartless bastard.

Am I the only one confused about how a post about future platinum editions..(and very informative one at that) turned into a Bush- Bashing Politics 9/11 thread???

Stay On Topic please...

Also I think what 2099net meant was people were depressed about 9/11 and given that Aladdin came out a month after 9/11... people didn't want to go and buy Disney Movies because people set that back... and maybe that is why Aladdin didn't go back into the vault right away to give everyone a chance to get it and recooperate emotionally and physically from the stress of 9/11... also I think all dvd's sales suffered from 9/11 and shortly after that...heck Barry Bonds became the new homerun king on 9/11 or around that date and had the terrorists not attacked that would be the big story about the date of 9/11

[blackcauldron85]

9/11 happened in 2001, though, and the "Aladdin" PE came out in 2004...

Maybe some people were associating "Aladdin" with terrorism, but people know that Disney is an American company, who made a movie back in 1992 about a fairy tale/legend.

Maybe a lot of people were just content with their VHS copy back then...?

[Disney-Fan]

I could care less since we all know BV is made out of piles of bullsh*t. I know which movie is superior, and the fact that sales aren't there to prove it mean nothing to me!

[2099net]

9/11 happened in 2001, though, and the "Aladdin" PE came out in 2004...

Maybe some people were associating "Aladdin" with terrorism, but people know that Disney is an American company, who made a movie back in 1992 about a fairy tale/legend.

Maybe a lot of people were just content with their VHS copy back then...?

I think many Americans associated Aladdin with both 9/11 (it came out close to the 3rd Anniversary) and the Iraq war (but I'm not sure if the war had started then. But if not, talk of war was definitely in the air).

Its not so much a Bush bashing comment, but I guess it is politics (and full of generalisations), but really Disney would have been better off saving Aladdin for the final DVD in the series (which is when, 2012, 8 years on?)

[Simba3]

To me, this is really strange news. I am kind of surprised to hear that Aladdin would be dropped from the Platinum Edition line. However, I do recall hearing that the DVD sales were a bit under par. I mean just think, the DVD has been out since October 2004 and it is just now going to go into the vault in January of 2008. IF this is the case though, I am rather disappointed to see Alice in Wonderland taking it's place. I know there are a lot of Alice fans here that would love to see it earn the Platinum banner, but the film is not one of my personal favorites. I've said many time that if Disney were going to add another title to the Platinum Edition line that it should be Dumbo.

I am also surprised that Disney is choosing to continue with the Platinum Edition line. I wish they would just finish it off and then have all future re-releases have a different title. I can't say whether of not I would be interested in double dipping or these future releases. By then I might own a Blu-Ray player, and if the difference between DVD and Blu-Ray is as wonderful as I've heard it is, I might have to transfer my Disney DVD collection to Blu-Ray down the road.

[Widdi]

Bah, I don't believe it. Last year we got a similar looking calendar that listed Pinocchio and Snow White for 2008. And well that certainly didn't happen.

It's probably all just guess work. Or it could be my reluctance to except them reissuing Platinum Editions as Platinum Editions again. I really don't think it'll happen.

Though I would be ecstatic if Alice and other titles are added to the line (preferably other titles that don't have good 2-disc sets already) because it looks like the PE's are the only way we'll get good 2 disc releases anymore.

[Jack Skellington]

Am I the only one confused about how a post about future platinum editions..(and very informative one at that) turned into a Bush- Bashing Politics 9/11 thread???

Stay On Topic please...

Also I think what 2099net meant was people were depressed about 9/11 and given that Aladdin came out a month after 9/11... people didn't want to go and buy Disney Movies because people set that back... and maybe that is why Aladdin didn't go back into the vault right away to give everyone a chance to get it and recooperate emotionally and physically from the stress of 9/11... also I think all dvd's sales suffered from 9/11 and shortly after that...heck Barry Bonds became the new homerun king on 9/11 or around that date and had the terrorists not attacked that would be the big story about the date of 9/11

2001 was the year Snow White's platinum DVD got released !
I'll stay on topic, as long as you write accurate info !

[SpringHeelJack]

I would wait until you hear from more sources to come to any conclusions. The image on the website literally looks like someone whipped it up in MicrosoftWord, given the spelling error line under the word "Platinum". Personally, I don't buy it, and I won't until I hear other sources confirming this.

[Simba3]

I would wait until you hear from more sources to come to any conclusions. The image on the website literally looks like someone whipped it up in MicrosoftWord, given the spelling error line under the word "Platinum". Personally, I don't buy it, and I won't until I hear other sources confirming this.

Very true about the spelling error line, I didn't catch it. I'm a little more skeptical now. Hmmm.....?

[candydog]

I'll say why I think about Aladdin's sales, seeing as everyone else is and it's relevant, in a way, to the overall topic.

I didn't buy the Platinum (or "special" as it is here) Edition of Aladdin. Why? To be honest, at the time I wasn't as serious a Disney collector as I am now so I was content with my Disney classics on VHS. I now wish I'd got it, as it disappeared in Europe in 2005. I'd oreder the region 1 version while it's available, but I'd rather have all my Disney Classics in region 2 so there's a uniform.

Back in 2004, I was really only buying DVDs which I didn't have on VHS, so Aladdin was just really an oversight. During the first few years of DVDs they were "the new thing" to buy. Now that VHS has pretty much disappeared from stores, Everyone gets DVD. Around 2004 though, people were content to have both. Since Aladdin was generally owned in most Disney-collecting households, at the time, people just didn't see the need to update, as DVD and VHS were still popular.

[disneyboy20022]

Am I the only one confused about how a post about future platinum editions..(and very informative one at that) turned into a Bush- Bashing Politics 9/11 thread???

Stay On Topic please...

Also I think what 2099net meant was people were depressed about 9/11 and given that Aladdin came out a month after 9/11... people didn't want to go and buy Disney Movies because people set that back... and maybe that is why Aladdin didn't go back into the vault right away to give everyone a chance to get it and recooperate emotionally and physically from the stress of 9/11... also I think all dvd's sales suffered from 9/11 and shortly after that...heck Barry Bonds became the new homerun king on 9/11 or around that date and had the terrorists not attacked that would be the big story about the date of 9/11

2001 was the year Snow White's platinum DVD got released !
I'll stay on topic, as long as you write accurate info !

Man... I must be getting old... Because I am getting my years confused of the Platinum Edition...Disney DVDs... Sorry About that.... I'm Already 2 decades old and my mind is not what it was like in 2001 or 2003... I forget years....

I didn't mean to write inaccurate info... It was an honest (but silly and I should have looked it up before posting) error on my part

I guess I was just so surprised to see you bashing Bush in this thread (even though I myself and not a fan of the Bush Admin. or Bush Himself) I suppose I am just getting old and as they say the memory is the first thing to go...

[Joe Carioca]

I would wait until you hear from more sources to come to any conclusions. The image on the website literally looks like someone whipped it up in MicrosoftWord, given the spelling error line under the word "Platinum". Personally, I don't buy it, and I won't until I hear other sources confirming this.

Actually it is from a Power Point file, which Disney generaly uses here to send information and news to clients, retail stores, etc.
The spelling error is due to the fact that the word "Platinum" doesn't exist in Portuguese.

I can asure that this information was released by Disney, I just can't say how closely they are going to stick to it (and we all know we've seen many different release callendars like this released by Disney themselves).

[2099net]

I'll say why I think about Aladdin's sales, seeing as everyone else is and it's relevant, in a way, to the overall topic.

I didn't buy the Platinum (or "special" as it is here) Edition of Aladdin. Why? To be honest, at the time I wasn't as serious a Disney collector as I am now so I was content with my Disney classics on VHS. I now wish I'd got it, as it disappeared in Europe in 2005. I'd oreder the region 1 version while it's available, but I'd rather have all my Disney Classics in region 2 so there's a uniform.

Back in 2004, I was really only buying DVDs which I didn't have on VHS, so Aladdin was just really an oversight. During the first few years of DVDs they were "the new thing" to buy. Now that VHS has pretty much disappeared from stores, Everyone gets DVD. Around 2004 though, people were content to have both. Since Aladdin was generally owned in most Disney-collecting households, at the time, people just didn't see the need to update, as DVD and VHS were still popular.

But the same is true for Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King. More so for the Lion King. I can't imagine anyone who had half and interest in Disney not having The Lion King on VHS. Yet these sold more than Aladdin. Remember there were less DVD players installed in homes when those were released too!

Perhaps the "two versions" and "original new song" marketing worked for the earlier two?. Or perhaps not. Who knows?

As for Aladdin, I stand by my earlier post. Marketing for the release will have started around the 3rd anniversary of 9/11, and the Iraq War (which started in March 2003) had reached the point where things weren't going so well (2004: The Insurgency Expands according to Wikipedia, and don't forget the ongoing issue of Abu Gharib and Falluja in 2004 too). It seems clear to me that certain people in the US would be less inclinded to buy a film with a middle-east setting and arab hero, and I believe that is what happened.

European Sales for Aladdin seem to have gone as expected. Evidenced by the fact it went OOP pretty quickly and actually was OOP and hard to find soon after.

[Jack Skellington]

So is that how The Sleeping Beauty cover art is going to look like ? If so I feel disappointed !

[2099net]

So is that how The Sleeping Beauty cover art is going to look like ? If so I feel disappointed !

I don't see why it should be. The 101 Dalmatians cover on the chart isn't the upcoming cover. And that's sooner.