The current "The Little Mermaid" DVD is TERRIBLE
07-07-03, 11:17 AM
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The current "The Little Mermaid" DVD is TERRIBLE
I have owned this disc since release day and up until yesterday have never watched it. I am aware of its' OOP status and sold an unopened copy of it on EBAY a little over a year ago (I won it in a contest)
Upon looking at the back of the dvd I noticed it was non-anamorphic but was not too put off by it figuring that at least it was OAR and since it has no extras and is on a dual-layered disc I also expected a very nice looking transfer....
It looks AWFUL. I've got an widescreen HD set, the 34XBR800, though being a small one, still shows great detail. The picture on this disc is an absolute mess. For starters, the EE is horrendous. There's pixelation all over the place. Overall, it just looks BLAH. This is a highly sought after disc and I feel sorry for those who don't know what they are getting themselves in for if they are paying close to 100 bucks for the disc.
My Lion King 2: Simba's Pride disc, which was also part of the limited issue release looks a LITTLE better but not by much. Namely, the EE is reduced but the pixelation problems remain. I also own Hercules and Mulan from the same limited issue line and am expecting similar problems with them. I have viewed both of them before and thought they looked fine but that was on a 14 inch television....
But why has disney placed The Little Mermaid on moratorium until 2008? This was a well recieved movie, not as much so as Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King but still well-liked! Why not give it a similar special edition treatment? Beauty and the Beast has an unfortunately lackluster transfer but still leagues better than The Little Mermaid was given. Judgement is still out on The Lion King dvd release since it is months away but I am expecting it to be pretty darn good. Why would Disney have made the claim that it's going to be gone until 2008 and shot itself in the foot in terms of potential profits?
Peter Pan has already been released twice as has Hercules. There are most likely several more like this though I can't think of them offhand. Why not do the same double dip with The Little Mermaid? Fans of the movie would be glad to purchase a dvd copy with a better transfer! Disney gets no money from collectors paying ridiculous amounts of money to people through Ebay for the disc....
Just some thoughts.
Upon looking at the back of the dvd I noticed it was non-anamorphic but was not too put off by it figuring that at least it was OAR and since it has no extras and is on a dual-layered disc I also expected a very nice looking transfer....
It looks AWFUL. I've got an widescreen HD set, the 34XBR800, though being a small one, still shows great detail. The picture on this disc is an absolute mess. For starters, the EE is horrendous. There's pixelation all over the place. Overall, it just looks BLAH. This is a highly sought after disc and I feel sorry for those who don't know what they are getting themselves in for if they are paying close to 100 bucks for the disc.
My Lion King 2: Simba's Pride disc, which was also part of the limited issue release looks a LITTLE better but not by much. Namely, the EE is reduced but the pixelation problems remain. I also own Hercules and Mulan from the same limited issue line and am expecting similar problems with them. I have viewed both of them before and thought they looked fine but that was on a 14 inch television....
But why has disney placed The Little Mermaid on moratorium until 2008? This was a well recieved movie, not as much so as Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King but still well-liked! Why not give it a similar special edition treatment? Beauty and the Beast has an unfortunately lackluster transfer but still leagues better than The Little Mermaid was given. Judgement is still out on The Lion King dvd release since it is months away but I am expecting it to be pretty darn good. Why would Disney have made the claim that it's going to be gone until 2008 and shot itself in the foot in terms of potential profits?
Peter Pan has already been released twice as has Hercules. There are most likely several more like this though I can't think of them offhand. Why not do the same double dip with The Little Mermaid? Fans of the movie would be glad to purchase a dvd copy with a better transfer! Disney gets no money from collectors paying ridiculous amounts of money to people through Ebay for the disc....
Just some thoughts.
07-07-03, 12:25 PM
#5
It will be a 2 disk special edition like Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, and the upcoming Lion King. Beginning next year Disney will release 2 of its classic animated films each year one in March and one in October as 2 disk special editions .
They want to release them all before HD becomes the norm and then release them again in HD format.
They want to release them all before HD becomes the norm and then release them again in HD format.
07-07-03, 05:39 PM
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Originally posted by folgersnyourcup
No need to wait SCHMEGGA! Don't you want to purchase mine for cheap after all the glowing things I've said about it?
LOL to Darkside's post.
No need to wait SCHMEGGA! Don't you want to purchase mine for cheap after all the glowing things I've said about it?
LOL to Darkside's post.
07-07-03, 10:16 PM
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(slightly off-topic, and maybe even a threadcrap)
I recently watched this with my nieces, and I realized that it was really a pretty
movie, compared to other Disney films (especially when Uncle Walt was at the helm.)
Some of the songs (IMHO) were fairly poor.
The heroine is disobedient and rebellious, makes a deal with an evil witch, and gets rewarded for it.
There were several plot holes, as well.
I am probably going to sell off my (OOP) copy of this version, and I don't think I will pick up the 2-disc set when it comes out.
It is questionable whether I will get many of the current Disney movies on DVD (1990s on...) Some of them are enjoyable, but few of them are really worthy of the title "Classic" like Sleeping Beauty & Snow White. Beauty & The Beast was good, but I feel Lion King is overrated, and Mulan, Hercules, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Tarzan, Atlantis, & Treasure Planet are mediocre at best (If they were released by Don Bluth, etc., instead of Disney, most people wouldn't care about them.) To me, Disney's current films seem to be more about the $$$ than the story, as evidenced by the direct to video sequels.
I recently watched this with my nieces, and I realized that it was really a pretty
movie, compared to other Disney films (especially when Uncle Walt was at the helm.)Some of the songs (IMHO) were fairly poor.
The heroine is disobedient and rebellious, makes a deal with an evil witch, and gets rewarded for it.
There were several plot holes, as well.
I am probably going to sell off my (OOP) copy of this version, and I don't think I will pick up the 2-disc set when it comes out.
It is questionable whether I will get many of the current Disney movies on DVD (1990s on...) Some of them are enjoyable, but few of them are really worthy of the title "Classic" like Sleeping Beauty & Snow White. Beauty & The Beast was good, but I feel Lion King is overrated, and Mulan, Hercules, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Tarzan, Atlantis, & Treasure Planet are mediocre at best (If they were released by Don Bluth, etc., instead of Disney, most people wouldn't care about them.) To me, Disney's current films seem to be more about the $$$ than the story, as evidenced by the direct to video sequels.
07-08-03, 10:28 AM
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Originally posted by littlefuzzy
[B](slightly off-topic, and maybe even a threadcrap)
Some of the songs (IMHO) were fairly poor.
[B](slightly off-topic, and maybe even a threadcrap)
Some of the songs (IMHO) were fairly poor.
The Little Mermaid Oscar Winner Best Music, Original Score
"Under the Sea" Oscar Winner Best Music, Song
"Part of Your World"
"Kiss the Girl"
Beauty and the Beast Oscar Winner Best Music, Original Score
"Be Our Guest"
"Beauty and the Beast" Oscar Winner Best Music, Song
"Something There"
Aladdin Oscar Winner Best Music, Original Score
"A Whole New World" Oscar Winner Best Music, Song
"One Jump Ahead"
"Friend Like Me"
"Prince Ali"
I checked, Hans Zimmer and Tim Rice/Elton John won the catagories for Lion King, but to be 3 for 3 (or 6 for 6) with Ashman and Menken is a feat no one has done since then.
07-08-03, 10:35 AM
#18
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Originally posted by Bluebomber
Anybody know is Aladdin will be released as a trilogy?
Anybody know is Aladdin will be released as a trilogy?
I am sure it will be like Beauty and the Beast where you buy the separately, but send away for a box.
07-08-03, 10:52 AM
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To somewhat answer the original question of the poor quality of Little Mermaid, if you've been around this forum for a while, you might remember that originally Disney only put a half-hearted attempt into their DVD releases. Non-anamorphic, and the only special feature was "full color artwork on disc". Then they stick a ridiculously (radiculos) high MSRP on it. In the past few years, however, Disney has done a complete turnaround and really gotten behind the DVD format, as evidenced by their Platinum collection.
It's still way better than the old VHS copy.
It's still way better than the old VHS copy.
07-08-03, 11:07 AM
#20
DVD Talk Special Edition
for the record--
ridiculously is correct
is = if (I think that was probably a keystroke error)
You will now be taken back to your regularly scheduled program already in progress..
Thank you...
Dr. Obvious
ridiculously is correct
is = if (I think that was probably a keystroke error)
You will now be taken back to your regularly scheduled program already in progress..
Thank you...
Dr. Obvious
07-09-03, 07:47 AM
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I think most people are aware that the current The Little Mermaid disc was part of the big Disney animated classics "intro" into DVD that occurred from late October of 1999 through early January of 2000. During that 90 day period Disney released Pinocchio, Peter Pan, 101 Dalmatians, Mulan, Hercules, The Lion King 2, Lady and the Tramp, The Jungle Book, and The Little Mermaid.
These discs were significant in that even though the DVD format began in mid-1997, these were the first animated Disney classics to make it to the format. (Disney had released the direct-to-video Beauty and the Beast:The Enchanted Christmas to the format the prior year, but that effort can hardly be classified as an animated classic.)
In any event, the current The Little Mermaid disc does sport a fine, new, DD 5.1 audio mix and a "passable" non-anamorphic 1.66:1 transfer. There are no extras of any kind. (Of course, being able to randomly access the songs in itself was a big "extra" in those days.) The initial MSRP was $34.95 (the same as all the discs released during this period.) However, about 18 months later, it was available for free with a pre-order of the first Disney Platinum Collection release, Snow White, from one of the Disney stores.
As the owner of a FPTV system, and as somebody who never owned LD, I can tell you that I have enjoyed the heck out of this release. It's a great movie, with great songs, and it's provided my daughter (who was just three when this was released in January 2000) and I many hours of enjoyment. It's at least 10 times better than the VHS release; especially when viewed on a FPTV system.
The movie is currently scheduled to be released as a two-disc Platinum Collection in March 2005.
These discs were significant in that even though the DVD format began in mid-1997, these were the first animated Disney classics to make it to the format. (Disney had released the direct-to-video Beauty and the Beast:The Enchanted Christmas to the format the prior year, but that effort can hardly be classified as an animated classic.)
In any event, the current The Little Mermaid disc does sport a fine, new, DD 5.1 audio mix and a "passable" non-anamorphic 1.66:1 transfer. There are no extras of any kind. (Of course, being able to randomly access the songs in itself was a big "extra" in those days.) The initial MSRP was $34.95 (the same as all the discs released during this period.) However, about 18 months later, it was available for free with a pre-order of the first Disney Platinum Collection release, Snow White, from one of the Disney stores.
As the owner of a FPTV system, and as somebody who never owned LD, I can tell you that I have enjoyed the heck out of this release. It's a great movie, with great songs, and it's provided my daughter (who was just three when this was released in January 2000) and I many hours of enjoyment. It's at least 10 times better than the VHS release; especially when viewed on a FPTV system.
The movie is currently scheduled to be released as a two-disc Platinum Collection in March 2005.
07-09-03, 08:08 AM
#23
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March 2005? Are you sure.. from what I gathered, The Little Mermaid was going to be released to IMAX screens Christmas of 2004, making the Platinum set a better canidate for October 2005.
07-09-03, 09:00 AM
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from what I gathered, The Little Mermaid was going to be released to IMAX screens Christmas of 2004, making the Platinum set a better candidate for October 2005
07-09-03, 10:30 AM
#25
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Alot of people are going to be bummed when the 2 disk version comes out and they see how bad these first set of DVDs from Disney are.
It really is not Disney's fault, most DVDs at that time where not the greatest, no one really knew DVD was going to take off like it did and the demand for high quality (HDTV and bigger screens) was going to kick in.
Once the studios saw the trend, most started pumping out above average DVDs.
It really is not Disney's fault, most DVDs at that time where not the greatest, no one really knew DVD was going to take off like it did and the demand for high quality (HDTV and bigger screens) was going to kick in.
Once the studios saw the trend, most started pumping out above average DVDs.