DVDizzy Forum

I really think this beatiful film is underrated. I think it was the best Disney film from the Dark Era. I also love The Black Cauldron and The Fox and the Hound. Well, the Rescuers was the biggest hit since the Jungle Book (or so I'm told) but it lost control in 1999 when they discovered the horrible truth. I'll never forget that date "January 8th, 1999". Well, do you think the Rescuers should be treated like Disney garbage???

I def think this film is underrated because it does came from a rather down time in Disney history. For me it's always been one of my all-time favs because it was the first disney film I ever saw in the theatres.

The current DVD release, however, is garbage. Poor transfer, less-than-acceptable colors, etc., etc., etc. I was extremely disappointed in this release, especially for a film that deserves so much better.

I don't consider it one of Disney's best works, but it is a very good film and certainly underrated as far as the animated features go.

Luke wrote:I don't consider it one of Disney's best works, but it is a very good film and certainly underrated as far as the animated features go.

Yup. Not THE best thing IMO, but still a sentimental fave.
Deserves more of a rap, as it is lots of fun.

And without the Rescuers, we wouldn't have the Rescuers Down Under and nobody would have ever heard of Australia...

I wouldn't put it in my Disney top 20 but it would be close behind. I also agree about the current DVD being pants. Hopefully we'll get a Special Edition sooner or later with better features, picture quality etc.

Loomis don't be so tough on Australia. What about Neighbours or Crocodile Dundee?

Matty-Mouse wrote: Loomis don't be so tough on Australia. What about Neighbours or Crocodile Dundee?

Sorry, not familiar with those.....

i actually got a copy of the Rescuers when it came out on January 8th 1999. i never knew about the horrible truth until about 2001 and i wonder why would the Disney animators do such a thing.

What is everybody talking about?
Discovering the truth?? January 8th, 1999?
Please explain!

Well, Disney animators really did kidnap a yound girl, and have her mine down a dark well, just so that could get some reference film to animate from. Being as it takes a number of years to create an animated film, she was imprisioned in a damp cave for over three years.

There was a big fuss at the time when this was made public. Surely you remember - lots of headlines in the news.

It caused many people to question the whole art/reality/experience trinity that has been the basis for art since civilisation began, namely you cannot create art without first experiencing/creating suffering in reality. Now many people question this acceptance - all because of the Rescuers. So it really was a landmark film. It certainly changed Disney animation practices, as well as at many other hollywood studios. However, I understand PDI still do regularly kidnap people to film for animation reference. You don't want to know what was done to one small child as reference for the Gingerbread man scene in Shrek. However, Dreamworks' head Katzenberg (perhaps due to his Disney experience) is commited to phasing out this practice over the next few years, and by 2007 PDI will be a non-kidnapping animation studio.

I cannot say I was surprised that the Rescuers DVD made no mention of this scandal in it's supplements. I'm sure if a 2-disc set is made, this too will be ignored. It's almost as if Disney think the affair never happened, and would like us to think the same.

I haden`t heard about that before..
That was really a shock for me, I can`t belive it..
That is sick, did Disney go to court because of this?

2099net wrote:Well, Disney animators really did kidnap a yound girl, and have her mine down a dark well, just so that could get some reference film to animate from. Being as it takes a number of years to create an animated film, she was imprisioned in a damp cave for over three years.

There was a big fuss at the time when this was made public. Surely you remember - lots of headlines in the news.

It caused many people to question the whole art/reality/experience trinity that has been the basis for art since civilisation began, namely you cannot create art without first experiencing/creating suffering in reality. Now many people question this acceptance - all because of the Rescuers. So it really was a landmark film. It certainly changed Disney animation practices, as well as at many other hollywood studios. However, I understand PDI still do regularly kidnap people to film for animation reference. You don't want to know what was done to one small child as reference for the Gingerbread man scene in Shrek. However, Dreamworks' head Katzenberg (perhaps due to his Disney experience) is commited to phasing out this practice over the next few years, and by 2007 PDI will be a non-kidnapping animation studio.

I cannot say I was surprised that the Rescuers DVD made no mention of this scandal in it's supplements. I'm sure if a 2-disc set is made, this too will be ignored. It's almost as if Disney think the affair never happened, and would like us to think the same.

I personaly don't have a problem with the research methods Disney used for "The Rescuers". The little girl got bread and water every other day and got lots of experience talking to animals. So what if the crocodiles bite a few of her limbs off? She can now become Steve Urwins sidekick.

I guess I'll kill 2099net's naughty joke , but nonetheless, for the sake of those particularly from whom English might be a second language...

January 8, 1999 was when Disney issued a recall on VHS copies of "The Rescuers"...the why and how can be found here if you'd like to know more:

http://www.snopes.com/disney/films/rescuers.htm

I think the Rescuers is VERY underrated. Although it's not one of my favorites, it's quite high in my "middle class" section of Disney movies, and that's a good thing. This films deserves more attention than it gets, and it bugs me that lots of people know about/seen Rescuers Down Under but have never heard about/seen the original.

Haha 2099net..
You really got me there
It was a bit strange..
I guess I`m an easy target for jokes..

Todd_star wrote:Haha 2099net..
You really got me there
It was a bit strange..
I guess I`m an easy target for jokes..

2099net I can't BELIEVE you would do that!!! But I WAS laughing! Anyway, I love Rescuers, is the DVD that bad? I was really looking forward to buying it.

Captain Hook wrote:
2099net I can't BELIEVE you would do that!!! But I WAS laughing! Anyway, I love Rescuers, is the DVD that bad? I was really looking forward to buying it.

If you love the movie...I mean really love the movie...buy it.
But if you're a casual fan of the movie but love Disney Film in general, skip it and wait for a much deserved better release.

2099net wrote: I cannot say I was surprised that the Rescuers DVD made no mention of this scandal in it's supplements. I'm sure if a 2-disc set is made, this too will be ignored. It's almost as if Disney think the affair never happened, and would like us to think the same.

You crack me up....

hahaha

If only research like this were done for films like Tarzan and Treasure Planet.

Captain Hook wrote:2099net I can't BELIEVE you would do that!!! But I WAS laughing! Anyway, I love Rescuers, is the DVD that bad? I was really looking forward to buying it.

Well, I thought it was pretty obvious it was a joke, but I do understand English is not everybody's first language and I sometimes forget this. Sorry.

As for the DVD quality the picture quality is pretty bad on the UK PAL release. Lots of scratches and dirt. From reading the reviews of the R1 release I thought it was the same, but apparently it is not as bad (I have been informed - I cannot comment having only seen the UK release). However, most reviews state that the film is presented poorly. In addition, the Waterbirds short supplement is in appaling condition and shouldn't have been included on any DVD without clean up.