Amazon.co.uk Review
Disney's 1992 animated feature Aladdin is a triumph of wit and skill. The high-tech artwork and graphics look great, the characters are strong, the familiar story is nicely augmented with an interesting villain (Jafar, voiced by Jonathan Freeman), and there's an incredible hook atop the whole thing: Robin Williams's frantically hilarious vocal performance as Aladdin's genie. Even if one isn't particularly moved by the love story between the title character (Scott Weinger) and his girlfriend Jasmine (Linda Larkin), you can easily get lost in Williams's improvisational energy and the equally entertaining performances of Freeman and Gilbert Gottfried (as Jafar's parrot). --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews:
A shoddy reprsentation of arabia!.......2007-11-15
I honestly ask you why do disney still think that kids will beleive anything. For one thing this movie is totally out of date, travel to this region of the world today and your more likely to find flying body parts than a flying carpet. on the plus side lady lamond seemed to enjoy it and why not this is quite a magical film for kids and alsohas quite a strong moral of poor can marry royalty.
Overall View: more entertaining than hamlet or hitler on a night out in jerusalem.
A GREAT DISNEY CLASSIC.......2007-10-18
This was one of many Disney flicks that I watched as a kid in the '90s, but I watched it more than most of the others (if not all of them). From what I remember, I enjoyed every Disney animated feature I saw in those days to a certain extent (with the exception of "Pocahontas"), but for a while, I was pretty much obsessed (I don't know whether that's too strong a word or not) with "Aladdin"! Since rediscovering animated family films about a year ago, I have seen "Aladdin" again twice, and have found that it's still very enjoyable!
Aladdin is a street urchin in the city of Agrabah, who has to steal food in order to eat. His only friend is a monkey named Abu. However, his life is about to change. Jafar, the secretly evil grand vizier of the good Sultan, wants to get the lamp from the Cave of Wonders, so he can get the power he longs for! The vizier learns that the only one who can get this lamp from the cave is the "Diamond in the Rough," which he discovers is Aladdin! Meanwhile, Princess Jasmine, the Sultan's daughter, is tired of being pressured by her father to marry, so she runs away in disguise, and goes to the marketplace, where Aladdin sees her and quickly falls in love. These two factors are about to lead Aladdin on a life-changing adventure, where he has a lot to learn!
There are several things that make "Aladdin" memorable. One of these things is the amazing animation, probably some of the best I've ever seen! The movie also has a memorable bunch of songs, starting with "Arabian Nights" at the beginning, followed by the likes of "One Jump Ahead", "Friend Like Me", "Prince Ali", and the Oscar-winning "A Whole New World". We certainly can't forget the humour, starting during the opening scene, with the merchant who introduces the story, followed by so many other funny (sometimes hilarious) scenes, sometimes slapstick (like in the "One Jump Ahead" sequence). The Genie, voiced by comedian Robin Williams, is a huge part of the humour, acting like a maniac and doing many impressions! Iago, voiced by Gilbert Gottfried, another comedian, is also notable. Aside from all that, "Aladdin" is an excellent adventure overall! In brief, this is one memorable film for animation fans of all ages!
Lack of Information.......2007-09-22
I bought this DVD thinking i could watch it in England as it didnt have the notice about having the correct television. Very disappointed and will be trying to get my money back from this person.
Wow!.......2005-03-16
For me, this is the best of all Disney's - and they do have quite an impressive CV to choose from! Robin Williams is as good as everyone says and Jonathon Freeman equally good (it would have been nice to see him a little more). The story is pretty typical Disney, that is, romance against the odds but done better than usual, with great animation and fantastic songs (although why 'Whole New World' was nominated for the Oscar when there are at least two better songs in the film, both sung by the genie I will never know.
One of the best things about this film is the realism. Yes, I know, it's a story about a genie in a lamp, but bear with me. When you watch the Lion King, during 'I just can't wait to be King', all the animals start dancing in weird ways, the colours go crazy, the whole thing seems to go out of control and to an extent it starts to resemble one of the old cartoons - you know the ones where someone runs off the edge of a cliff, doesn't realise, and keeps running. With Aladdin, you're required to make a leap of faith at the start, by accepting the existence of the genie, but once you have done that, everything makes sense, and all the wild activities and colours created by the genie just seem logical. You don't find yourself questioning what is happening as is so easy to do in many films.
If you love cartoons, this is one of the best. If you don't own any - this is where you should start.
A Magical Movie.......2005-01-29
Aladdin is an orphan stealing what he needs to eat. Jasmine is the princess, but is unhappy to be forced to marry. One day, they meet in the market, and its love at first sight. But Jasmine can only marry a prince. Meanwhile, Jafar's schemes to go from advisor to Sultan bring him across Aladdin's path. But when Aladdin finds the Genie of the lamp, things really get interesting.
And fun. As anyone who has seen this movie will tell you, Robin Williams as the Genie absolutely makes this movie. I still haven't caught all his characters and impersonations, but they still make me laugh. The plot itself is better then their usual fairy tale romance with Jafar making a truly evil villain. The songs are some of their best and most memorable, especially the romantic song "Whole New World." And the climax is one of my favorites because of how cleaver it is. The animation is beautiful with vibrant colors bringing the story to life.
I've been looking forward to this DVD release since it was announced. And let me tell you, it looks and sounds great. Perfect widescreen, and the immersive audio mix is truly breathtaking. Extras include two commentary tracks and a fun pop-up trivia option. The story got quite an overhaul from the original version they were thinking of, and some of the original material is presented here, including a song recorded by Clay Aiken. Disc two features a reunion of the producers, animators, and voice cast interspersed with behind the scenes material. Honestly, this felt like it was leaving stuff out and could have been more in depth. There's also a tribute to composure Alan Menken, games for kids, and the usual art galleries. Most noticeably missing from the extras is Robin Williams. With all the other principle voice cast returning for the extras, I was really disappointed not to hear from him.
This is a great movie in every sense of the word that everyone will enjoy watching many times. While the extras don't seem quite as impressive as previous Platinum Edition titles, there's still plenty here for fans. A disc well worth getting.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic horror film and don't worry about the region code.......2007-12-31
The only thing I can add is that I bought this and it plays just fine on my region 2 only DVD player. I have found that quite often DVD's from the USA don't seem to be region coded despite saying region 1 on the box. No guarantees that your copy will be region 0 but mine does seem to be.
my favourite film of all time.......2007-12-26
there are many qualities to the film:
1. the atmosphere is perfect - eerie, credible, shocking
2. the plot follows a track in a logical sequence without holes or gaffs
3. the acting is second-to-none - dana andrews in fine sceptical form, peggy cummins the perfect piece of totty, niall maginnis the sinister foil
4. the photography, often overlooked, but here it's gorgeous
5. the music - actually quite brutal and effective
6. the direction - perfect, absolute perfection - show me any modern horror film which manages to intrigue, shiver or shock like this one manages to. you'll have a hard job
7. the golden test: can you watch this film again and again? yes. i have done so many times and it still remains fresh.
watch this film. you will love it.
A very good, creepy B Movie. Niall MacGinnis is first-rate.......2007-12-24
Night of the Demon is a first-rate B movie that some consider a classic, or at least a cult film. I'm not sure I'd go that far, but it is consistently interesting. I wouldn't call it a horror movie exactly, but it works up a good head of steam in the eery department.
Dr. John Holden (Dana Andrews) arrives in England to help debunk a cult leader, Dr. Julian Karswell (Niall MacGinnis), who says the devil can be raised through the ancient spells and incantations he has discovered...and this evil can be directed toward individuals. Karswell and his mother live very well from the donations given to him by his cult followers, who live in fear. Holden is absolutely sure Karswell is a charlatan, and when a colleague is found dead and mutilated, he is even more determined to expose Karswell.
What makes the movie work for me is three elements:
First, Tourneur's direction. He was a hugely experienced director who took on many assignments, some of them, in my view, second rate. He also was capable of outstanding work. He was the director of Out of the Past and Cat People. Here he keeps things moving tightly; there are no slow spots. And he builds up a sense of unease and dread. He does this partly though atmosphere and camera work, but also through set pieces that stay with you. There's a seance scene which is slightly funny and very weird. In one scene (cut, I believe from the American version) Holden visits an isolated, ramshackle farm house to get written permission from the mother of a catatonic cult member to use hypnosis on him. The scene isn't long, but it builds suspense when it turns out the aged mother has many sons and they all join her while Holden tries to explain what he wants. It seems they are all members of the cult. The climax in a train and in the train yard at night is all shadows and light. And the thing in the forest, while small potatoes in this age of Computer Generated Overkill, is still worth watching.
Second, the script. This is not a corny movie. The usual cliches are gone. In the scenes where Holden and Karswell verbally duel -- there are four or five -- the dialogue is good.
Third, the performance of Nial MacGinnis as Dr. Julian Karswell. MacGinnis gives the role a hefty dose of charm and irony, but also is convincing as a man who believes in what he has discovered and how it can be unleashed. Or is he really just a shrewd charlatan after all? MacGinnis gives the role enough shading that, now and then, I wasn't sure. One scene has Holden going to meet Karswell at Karswell's country home, where he and his mother are giving a party for the village children. Karswell is dressed as a clown with full clown makeup, but their discussion is serious and a bit tense. MacGinnis plays the part absolutely straight, and his seriousness combined with his clown makeup make for a very odd and effective sequence.
The DVD looks first rate and the disc includes the cut version (by about 14 minutes) of the movie retitled and shown in the U.S. as Curse of the Demon. I didn't bother to watch this one.
''its in the trees''.......2007-12-10
wonderful, intelligent horror film that has lost none of its appeal,
first class acting and screenplay, a simple plot, dana andrews turns his attention to a devil cult to try to debunk it, which then turns its attention to him to make him 'go away'...niall macginnis steals the show as the seemingly mild mannered leader of the cult...the rest is history.
point of interest..the medium when in a trance shouts the words ''its in the trees, its coming'' which is the start of 'hounds of love' by kate bush....and if you go on youtube and search 'night of the demon' there is a wonderful mix of hounds of love and scenes from the film all beautifully put together.
a classic m.r. james adaptation , must have for your dvd collection.......2007-10-15
many great reviews of this movie already so i won,t elaborate on the storyline at all as it has been done far better before by the other reviewers i just wanted to explain how i first saw this classic as a youth in the late 70s early 80s on the saturday night horror double bill season shown on BBC2 shown during the summer holidays , and thanks to the good old beeb they introduced me to such classics as the original universal studios versions of frankenstein , dracula , the mummy etc etc the list goes on and then this little marvel . my dad had told me about this movie and had looked forward all week to watching it with me ,i think it was because it was an old black and white movie from the 50s that i figured it would probably be lame as lame can be , but for me anyway it was a classic , from the opening scene the story drew me in and the sceance scene is still one that sends a little shiver down my back even now , i know the effects are dated now with cgi avaialble but , it still doe,snt stop it being a fantastic piece of work , and again well done for inc the british version and u.s. version both on the disc , obviosly the british longer version is the better , as has been said before m. r. james was a truly gifted horror writer as many of his adaptations have shown especially from the bbc ghosts at christmas series which are i think in places truly disturbing in that shiver facter i mentioned earlier , so let me ask you this why why why are,nt they all available on dvd ???? come on BBC give as a treat put them all on dvd or better still all of them in a boxset with tons of extras , wow thats one christmas prezzie i would want , anyway a classic movie and a must for anyone into supernatural stories , and a definate must for any m. r. james fan i think .
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful film?.......2007-09-08
This film is a very different version of Beauty and the Beast but shows more about the feelings of the main characters. I really enjoyed this and I recommened this to everyone!
Amazon.co.uk Review
The film that officially signalled Disney's animation renaissance and the only animated feature to receive a Best Picture Oscar nomination, Beauty and the Beast remains the yardstick by which all other animated films should be measured. It relates the story of Belle, a bookworm with a dotty inventor for a father; when he inadvertently offends the Beast (a prince whose heart is too hard to love anyone besides himself), Belle boldly takes her father's place, imprisoned in the Beast's gloomy mansion. Naturally, Belle teaches the Beast to love. What makes this such a dazzler, besides the amazingly accomplished animation and the winning coterie of supporting characters (the Beast's mansion is overrun by quipping, dancing household items) is the array of beautiful and hilarious songs by composer Alan Menken and the late, lamented lyricist Howard Ashman, (winning the 1991 Oscar for Best Song and Menken's score won a trophy as well). The downright funniest song is "Gaston", a lout's paean to himself (including the immortal line, "I use antlers in all of my de-co-ra-ting"). "Be Our Guest" is transformed into an inspired Busby Berkeley homage. Since Ashman's passing, animated musicals haven't quite reached the same exhilarating level of wit, sophistication and pure joy. --David Kronke, Amazon.com
On the DVD: Beauty and the Beast's regular DVD release still offers some special features, but doesn't hold a candle to the Collector's Edition. The "making-of" featurette is informative charting the production from Walt Disney's original idea to the final musical version. "The Story Behind the Story" shows the origins of many of Disney's adapted fairy tales. The two games are fun, if a little slow to load. Celine Dion's original video is slightly on the dull side, but Jump 5's remixed version of "Tale as Old as Time" is just ridiculous. As always the sing-along track is great fun for all budding Belles or Beasts in the house. The transfer is as pristine as could be expected from a 1991 release.
On the DVD: Beauty and the Beast's two-disc Collector's Edition really is the stuff of fairy tales. Disc 1 has three versions of the movie, the best being the "Work in Progress" edition which offers the unfinished film, sketch lines and all. The theatrical cut has a pristine transfer and the sound is immaculate. The director's commentary relies on a lot on name-dropping and you'll find more interesting insight in the "making-of" feature on the second disc. The sing-a-long track (as with all Disney releases) is fantastic, particularly for such a well-loved score.
Disc 2 is packed full of information, fun and games. The best of the informative features is "Animation Magic", an intelligent look into the production of Disney cartoons. In the games section you'll need to head straight for the West Wing to continue an adventure with Chip (Tip: finish the game "Maurice's Workshop" first), but get your fingers warmed up as it needs a little remote control action. This disc only really falls down on the slowness of some of its games and the appalling remix video of "Tale as Old as Time". --Nikki Disney
Customer Reviews:
Just lovely.......2008-01-16
This is by far my favourate Disney Film. It's innocence is a joy to see in comparision to other more violent childrens films. The annimation is lovely, the songs are a joy and the scene of Beauty and the Beast dancing together never fails to leave both my children singing the tune and asking to go to Disney Land too!
This is a disney film that will not be forgotten as others such as pocahontus were. It is also probably the last good Disney film of it's kind, as they have now elected to focus on computer annimation.
Suspend cynicism and see it through the eyes of a child- it is a truelly beautiful film
What have they done to the colours?!.......2007-08-28
My sister still has the original 1992 video and it is by far superior. Whoever was responsible for the colours on this version should have lost their job - they are not the original colours from the film. Maurice's eyes have been coloured green instead of black, the west wing has been brightened so much it is no longer mysterious and I HATE IT when they put sequences that weren't in the film in the movie, as they did with 'Human Again' This is NOT the film I saw! This scene should have been an extra. They did the same with The Lion King. Thank God The Little Mermaid wasn't messed about with. Restorations should simply preserve what was in the original release, not mess about with it like this. A great shame as it is a fabulous film. I wonder if the 2-disc red box set was better?
An achievement .......2007-04-21
Everyone has a childhood memory and mine is sitting near the fire in winter munching on popcorn/chips/sweets watching the magic of beauty & the beast unfold. I'm still a big kid at heart so give me this movie any day and I will be a very happy person. The beauty of this movie can't be distinctly pin pointed because so many aspects that contribute towards it like the great music (they sing & dance to almost anything) the great characters (beautiful Belle, moody Beast/handsome, joyous prince, the flirtatious candle, the pompous clock, the busty wardrobe are just such a pleasure to watch. The graphics are/were incredible for its time, so Disney has done well! This is a story hopefully many generations will continue to enjoy down the years & the magic of Beauty & the Beast will live on!
My most loved film of all time.......2006-10-06
If theres ever been a film to include such beautiful artwork, enchanting script and music, then Beauty and the Beast fills that catergory. Its been the only film i've ever cried to, simply because of the breathtaking impact it has on you. Its not just the storyline thats compelling, its the way its put on film, and put across. And of course, it proves that loving someone for who they are is far more important than their appearance..
Not to be missed. This is, without a doubt, one of the finest productions of our time..
best Beast of them all.......2006-06-25
I've been ever so slightly obsessed by this fairytale since seeing the 1930s version by Cocteau (from which Disney borrows quite a bit, including the animated suits of armour). However, this version has the genuine element of gothic that sends a little shiver down the spine and takes the edge off Disney cuteness. It begins with a series of stained-glass windows, telling the tale of how a young prince turns away a poor old woman who begs for shelter from a storm, offering a single rose in exchange. She turns into a powerful enchantress, and tells him he will become a hideous Beast unless he can find a maiden to love him before the last petal of the rose falls...
Nine years pass, and Belle, the bookish daughter of an inventor comes to live nearby. She is being courted by the appalling Gaston, a man whose coarse, conceited advances she doesn't deserve (as she puts it wittily, letting him down into a pig's puddle). Gaston is a great comic character, swooned over by the local girls but (as in the Cocteau) he's the true Beast. Belle's father gets lost, and taking shelter in the Beast's castle gets imprisoned by him. This scene is truly frightening for infants, as is the following scene in which Belle, finding his horse Philippe (by far the most sensible and romantic male in the story), sets out through wolf-infested forests to find him.
The Beast agrees to exchange her father for Belle...but only after his wise butler Lumiere hints that she might be "the girl" to break the spell. One of the great joys of this inspired cartoon is the part played by the servants, now tranformed into furniture. Lumiere, the wise and sentimental candlestick, and Mrs Potts (sung by the adorable Angela Lansbury) persuade the good side of the Beast to show itself; but his valet, the conceited clock, is vain and cowardly. The original fairytale only required Belle to reaise she has fallen in love with the Beast, but Disney's scriptwriters improve on this by making the real struggle about the Beast's mastery of his temper and bad manners. ALl the songs are hilarious, with my family favourite being Gaston's song of self-praise, but underneath that is a seriously intelligent script.
Belle is one of the most inspiring heroines (alongside Mulan) that a small girl can have, the opposite of inspid Disney versions of Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. However, the Beast is equally important for small boys to internalise. Of course, most adults will find the beastly Beast rather sexy, and the handsome Prince the tiniest bit of a let-down.... This funny, exciting, enchanting and joyous cartoon is far too expensive in its double disc version (though interesting for film buffs.)However, if there's one Disney you should buy, it's this.
Amazon.co.uk Review
Disney's 1959 Sleeping Beauty was the studio's most ambitious effort to date, a lavish spectacle boasting a gorgeous waltz-filled score adapted from the music of Tchaikovsky. In the 14th century, the malevolent Maleficent (not dissimilar to the wicked queen in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) taunts a king that his infant Aurora will fatally prick her finger on a spinning wheel before sundown on her sixteenth birthday. This, of course, would deny her a happily-ever-after with her true love. Fortunately, some bubbly, bumbling fairies named Flora, Fauna and Merryweather are on hand to assist. It's not really all that much about the title character--how interesting can someone in the middle of a long nap be, anyway? Instead, those fairies carry the day, as well as, of course, good Prince Phillip, whose battle with the malevolent Maleficent in the guise of a dragon has been co-opted by any number of animated films since. See it in its original glory here, alongside Malificent's castle, which, filled with warthogs and demonic imps in a macabre dance celebrating their evil ways, manages a certain creepy grandeur. --David Kronke, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
A Real Visual Beauty.......2007-08-22
This is my favourite Disney movie. The backgrounds are detailed and stylised like a series of medieval tapestries. The intergration of the characters in what look like the best sets ever designed for a semi-swashbuckling musical/comedy/thriller is stunning.
I still get frightened when the fire goes out and Maleficent appears to tempt Aurora through the back of the fireplace (Maleficent being a truly evil villainess). The score is superbly used in these scenes. Brilliant stuff.
Outstanding.......2007-07-01
Like "Cinderella" and "Snow White", "Sleeping Beauty" has gained a rather negative reputation over recent years. It represents, some critics might argue, everything that is wrong with the traditional Disney film: the princess is a brainless sweetheart who requires rescuing by a dullard of a prince, who is very brave and noble but not much else. The villain - shrouded in black and bearing a deep grudge against the princess - is treated mercilessly by the story, but somehow manages to be more interesting than all the other characters put together. Scattered among this motley crew are various cutesy animals, fairies, jamjars, etc., and everyone goes home, smugly saying, "Well! There goes Disney, ruining another classic fairy tale!"
There is, of course, an element of truth in all of this. Certainly Maleficent is the most interesting character in the film, and I'd go so far as to say that she's the greatest Disney villain ever. She is incredibly creepy and reminds the viewer of the Devil with her horned costume and dancing fiends in her castle. Her death, to be quite honest, is something of a tragedy. There are also plenty of the aforementioned cute woodland animals and fairies - although the former are really one of the most entertaining elements of the entire film.
It is impossible to talk about "Sleeping Beauty" without mentioning the artwork, and I personally think that Disney here reached a peak which they have never yet managed to equal. The visuals, quite simply, are gorgeous. Every scene looks like a Medieval painting brought to life. It is literally impossible to do the overall look of the film justice in words. The art is complemented by Tchaikovsky's score, the use of which was a real stroke of genius. Together, the two work together to wonderful effect, making "Sleeping Beauty" probably the most beautiful of all Disney films. There are perhaps too few songs for my liking (I have a weakness for full-on Disney musicals), but the ones that are there are entertaining and well-placed. The DVD extras are great, to the point that I don't think that Disney has ever included better ones. All the documentaries were interesting and well-informed - I really can't speak highly enough of them.
Oh, yes, it's not perfect. Aurora, as charming as she is, is not one of the most interesting princesses - her emotional struggles are regrettably shallow and she spends half the film fast asleep. Philip, too, is slightly more interesting than other Disney princes of this era - but only slightly. But in spite of the film's title, the film isn't really about either of them - the fairies and Maleficent are the key movers here. I suppose, furthermore, that the film lacks a complex plot, and the jokes are on the gentler, more old-fashioned side - although I think that both these points are made up for by the quality of the art and music.
I'm aware that Walt Disney himself was disappointed with the finished result, feeling that it lacked the heart of "Cinderella". He does himself a huge disservice. "Sleeping Beauty" is outstanding stuff, and probably one of the best films in the Disney canon. Full marks.
Beautiful :D.......2007-02-08
As a child, this edition of sleeping beauty was my favourite film. I loved it and watched it over and over again. I especially liked the evil mallificent, her raven and the dragon. This film is a childrens classic that will live forever.
I just wish amazon were still selling this item :( I'd love to buy it on dvd.
Gorgeous artwork, lovely rendering of the classic tale.......2003-09-19
It took Disney's animators six years to create "Sleeping Beauty" and the effort really shows in this magnificent rendering of the German fairy tale "Dornroeschen" or "The Little Briar Rose." The fairy tale is variously transcribed from European folktales by Perrault and The Bros. Grimm. (My favorite part in the Grimm rendering is how the arrival of the long-desired child is announced to the Queen-- she gets the news from a talking crab that jumps out of her bathwater. Now, what kind of crab would that be?)
Disney recreates the old tale with new characters--giving the good and evil fairies much more of a role--in fact, they steal the show. The good fairies are Flora, Fauna and Merrywether, three chubby, bell-shaped sprites, who were inspired by housewives the artists observed in grocery stores. And Maleficent, the stylish, Goth baddy who is tall, slim and has a bit of a smoker's rasp in her deliciously evil voice (played by Eleanor Audley.)
The fairies, good or evil, have so much to do, in fact, that Princess Aurora only gets to sing a bit (by an exceptional operatic soprano Mary Costa) and Prince Philip is equally reticent. The Prince gets a shocker early on in the tale--he has somehow been betrothed to Aurora since early childhood, but this interesting fact wasn't communicated to him until just before the wedding is to go off.) He is understandably miffed, gee, a guy should have SOME say in the matter, even if he doesn't get to pop the question, and after a set-to with Mom and Dad, he never says another word.
The real star here is the production, with the stylish Scandinavian Sixties art by Ervind Earle. Earle looked to folk art, Medieval art and tapestries for inspiration and mixed it with a fine modern sensibility to make a stunning set. The animation owes a lot to Fantasia, which is especially noticible in the automated mops (Night on Bald Mountain) and Maleficent's domain. The artists wanted to avoid a repeat of "Snow White" and they certainly achieved a completely different look and feel. And taking the best of "Fantasia" was a good idea--as "Fantasia" itself was way ahead of its time and underappreciated until much later than its release in the Forties.
As to quality of the DVD, there was a glitch just as Philip is delivering the wakeup kiss to Aurora, the film jumps as if a few frames were cut. A glitch on this particular DVD? Strange that this happens at a critical moment. The extras are well worth looking at, especially the interview with Earle and getting a look at the exquisite detail of the background artwork, giving any parent or grandparent a reason to enjoy the film for their own reasons while it runs for the umpteenth time on the DVD player.
An Enchanting Restoration.......2003-08-28
Keyed to the style of Disney artist Ervind Earle, SLEEPING BEAUTY has long been renowned as one of Walt Disney Studio's most artistically beautiful films--and now with this meticulous restoration Earle's vision comes to the home market in a DVD package that is sure to win praise from every fan of hand-drawn animation.
The story, of course, is the time-honored fairy tale. Princess Aurora is cursed at birth by the evil Maleficent, who declares that on her sixteenth birthday the princess shall prick her finger on a spinning wheel's spindle and die--but fortunately the powers of good are able to mute the effect of the curse; the princess shall not die, but shall instead fall into a deep sleep from which she can be only awakened by love's first kiss.
Earle's vision for the story is drawn from a host of sources, some of them more immediately apparent than others. The result is a curious mixture of flat illustration and meticulous detail that imparts both a modernist edge and the quality of an ancient illuminated manuscript--a truly remarkable concept that gives the film a visual style completely unlike any other among the Disney classics. The DVD offers the option of viewing the film in either its original widescreen ratio or pan-and-scan format--but why any one would elect pan-and-scan is completely beyond me; if ever there was a film that made good and full use of the widescreen ratio, this is it, and you'll want to see every inch of Earle's remarkable work.
Earle's style aside, SLEEPING BEAUTY has been influenced by a number of films that are worth noting. In terms of plot detail, it has been very clearly influenced by Disney's earlier SNOW WHITE, and the designs for the evil Maleficent and her "goons" are very clearly influenced by FANTASIA's "Night on Bald Mountain" sequence--and to magnificent effect; Maleficent is easily among the darkest characters ever created for film. Interestingly, many visual set-ups also seem to have been influenced by MGM's THE WIZARD OF OZ, most notably in the scenes in which the three good fairies rescue Prince Philip from Maleficent's nightmarish castle.
Unlike some animated films, the voices are beautifully matched to the characters, with Mary Costa as Princess Aurora and Eleanor Audley (who also performed the Wicked Stepmother in Disney's CINDERELLA) as Maleficent standouts among the cast. The score, which is based on the brilliant Tchaikovsky ballet score, is also extremely well handled and includes the memorable "Once Upon a Dream."
All of this has been lovingly, shining restored, and quite frankly even if you saw the film in its first release the result here will no doubt surpass it. There is not a blip, a glitch, or a sound-surge to be found. And as is usual with Disney "limited release" DVD editions, the package includes a host of extras, some designed to appeal to the younger set (there are two simple games, neither of which require a CD-ROM) for children and a host of interviews and documentaries. Fortunately, many of the people involved in SLEEPING BEAUTY are still with us--including Ervind Earle and Mary Costa--and their various contributions make the bonus package truly superior.
All of this said, it should be noted that like FANTASIA, SLEEPING BEAUTY is more likely to appeal to adults who can fully appreciate the visual charms of the film than to children, who may find the film's tendency to linger over visuals a bit too much for a limited attention span. But this is indeed a Disney masterpiece, and it belongs in your collection.
Amazon.co.uk Review
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was nicknamed "Disney's Folly" by contemporary observers; they doubted that the short cartoons shown before the main film could ever successfully make the transition from filler to feature presentation. Surely, no one would sit still for over an hour to watch an animated film, their eyes smarting from the bright colours on screen? Fortunately, Walt Disney and his army of artists persisted and the world's first full-length animated feature was finally released in 1937 to widespread acclaim.
Adapted from the Grimm fairytale, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is chillingly dark in places, reflecting its roots in European folklore, but the deft Disney touch ensures that the overall tone remains light and the story develops apace, swept along on the perfect musical score. Any lingering gloom is quickly dispelled by the superbly characterised dwarfs and by the humorous antics of the various irresistible fauna that threaten to steal the show in several scenes. The pioneering animation is breathtaking and songs such as "Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho" and "Whistle While You Work", now firmly embedded in popular culture, are seamlessly interwoven with the action.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs happens to be an interesting technological milestone in cinema history--it is also an enduring masterpiece of family entertainment. To the millions who have fallen under its spell over the years, this magical fairy tale remains one of Disney's most enchanting and best-loved films. Only Grumpy could resist. --Helen Baker
On the DVD: the video quality on this DVD is stunningly clear. Though it is noticeable that the film is nearly 65 years old, Disney has done a great job in the cleaning process: the bright colours shine clearly, the blacks are deep and the whites clear. There is little to no visible wearing on the film and the digital transfer has done wonders in restoring Snow White and her seven little pals. The sound is very clear and you get a real sense, in places, of the newly mastered 5.1 Dolby Sound enhancements that have been added, making for enjoyable listening to the well-loved songs.
The extras on disk one are plentiful and give a real insight into the making of Snow White. Little was done in 1937 for the filming of behind-the-scenes documentaries, but what could have been included has been. The audio commentary is strung together from interviews with Walt Disney himself, all of which are fascinating, and to keep the kids happy there is a familiar Disney sing-along and a Dopey game to play.
The disk two extras are packed with information on the movie and Disney, from the 3-D virtual tour of the Snow White kingdom, that also has some documentary information, to an outtakes section showing abandoned footage and ideas that were never included in the final movie. There is also an informative timeline of the creation of the Walt Disney Studios that includes some deleted scenes from the movie. Altogether, great additions to a classic film. --Robert Hyde
Customer Reviews:
Snow White.......2007-11-07
Very impressed with the speed and effeciency of delivery. Watched it this afternoon, it has not lost any of its magic - well worth the money.
The best Disney movie of all time.......2007-10-31
This is the movie that established Walt Disney's reputation as the master of children's cartoons. Even by today's exacting standards, the animation is top notch.
Perhaps the best test of Snow White's enduring charm and beauty is to sit a variety of children between the ages of 5 and 10 in front of it and watch how they become spellbound by it. Visually there is so much to see and enjoy. The detail is stunning. A collection of hugely talented and imaginiative people have vividly brought a stunning array of characters to life in a magical way - magical is truly the perfect word to describe this work of genius.
Of course, adults can enjoy Snow White again and again too. One of the joys of this movie is seeing your sons and daughters enjoy it as much as you did, when you first saw it. And, when you see it again after a gap of 25 years, its power still amazes you.
You could describe this movie as a rite of passage, something that every child should see, and why not - we all love a well-told story, which this unquestionably is. This is film that connects one generation to the next. Perhaps the only other movie that does this is "The Sound of Music".
My only gripe is that Disney releases it so rarely to preserve its value. So next time it comes out, I recommend you buy two copies because younger children will quickly damage the DVD in their eagerness to watch the film umpteen times.
What else can I say but thank you, Walt. It is a masterpiece.
The start of Disneyfication.......2007-10-22
It's quite funny that today, as I trudged into University, the module we would be studying in the lecture was Animation, and the history behind it. As a young kid, I had seen Snow White many times, with varying experiences (mostly scared!) and so it was great to bring it all back this morning in what would normally be a few hours of boredom.
Snow White, released amazingly way back in 1938, could easily be one of the most important films ever created. That might sound ambitious, considering the other advances in life at the time, but to even dare and ask the audience to sit back and watch over an hour of animation was a gamble itself. In the early 1930's, a 'cartoon' was up to 6 minutes of black and drawings that could take months and months to make.
The reason this film actually was a milestone is because of Walt Disney's quick thinking....
1. Copyrighting Technicolour - The ability to master videos in full colour, which no other company could use)
2. Rota-scope - The ability to create life-like animations of people by tracing an original video of an actor. This was filmed with 2 actors and then drawn! This is how such life-like movements could be drawn by Snow White (just a young actor) and of course the evil queen.
3. "Disneyfication" begins - The original Snow White story was a grim and dark tale that had a clear moral. Walt Disney wanted this film to appear to an audience that could be entertained, hence for the first time, we get the 'happy ever after' ending. Note also how the whit, glamour, and humour normally associated with animations at the time was lost.
4. Technological advances - Disney had made a special machine (almost as high as a house) that generated the 3-D effects in the movie, and enhanced such features as wind, rain, and room-spiral actions. A massive machine separated the cells, and then could allow for precise arrangement to make shakey pictures and movements a thing of the past. Every movement, as you'll see, is 100% precice thanks to this clumbersome contraption.
Of course, we should all know the tale of Disney's Snow White by now, and even if you don't it'd be a shame to spoil the film. While in typical Disney fashion, its fun and suitable for the family, with plenty of 'simple' gags and funny moments from the 7 dwarfs, it does have its scary moments. I'm not trying to sound like a wet-blanket - it's just a fact, and even now looking back I can understand why I hid by the couch cushions at certain scenes. But this surely proves how animation has changed - what was once an attempt to bring a watcher into the film and let them experience a moral, now is just a cheap attempt at making money at School Half Terms, when Mr and Mrs Average clogg up the roads with 4x4's, and head down the cinema's!
It reeks of elements from it's time, whether it be the Mask that speaks in the Queens mirror (its actually a voodoo style mask, as people at the time was fascinated by cultures abroad, especially Egyptology), or the character of the Evil Queen that was actually a spiff off a celeb at the time, Better Davis, who herself played evil characters.
Snow White is a milestone in animation history with beautiful artwork, and though its later counterparts may have easily exceeded it in terms of entertainment (the 40's/50's were a good era) they all still kept the roots of teaching morals up until the funny but lame 60's (The Jungle Book, with its laughably bad spiff of The Beatles. Still a great film!). If you've seen all the other Disney films and think they can't be topped, this should be watched anyway for the education of how perfect animation can be, and what we miss today.
DISNEY'S FIRST FEATURE LENGTH ANIMATED FILM IS AN ALL TIME CLASSIC.......2007-10-11
To call Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs a classic goes without saying that practically everyone has called it such. It is a great film, but there are certain factors that make it so, and without them the film could've gone the other way and become important more for its technical breakthrough(s) than for the content. The fact is a story with the utmost simplicity like Snow White, the chief characters- Prince Charming, the wicked Queen/witch, and of course Snow White- are all very basic, simple, if not one dimensional than basely two-dimensional characters. It's appropriate, to be sure, as it is based off a Grimm fairy tale. Despite the beauty and charm of the early scenes, its really on par entertainment-wise with the Silly Symphonies Walt Disney produced in the 30's.
This also goes without saying that Snow White's run through the woods is one of the highlights of the film, still bringing a sense of terror and the surreal for the adults in the audience (if you're a little kid it could be one of the scariest things you've ever seen). But then- just as Snow White settles into her little 'hide-out' in a house she thinks occupied by messy, orphaned children- we're introduced to the seven dwarfs, and this is where the film picks up most of its energy, laughs, and complete and total balance. In a way, not to analyze too deep for a filmed fairy tale, they each represent the different sides of men, and so it gives the film the appropriate human dimensions it needs (in this, also setting up practically all the hand-drawn Disney films of the next seventy years or so). It's tempting to say which are my favorite, or whom I got the most enjoyment out of. There would be three, two for more obvious reasons, one for subtle ones.
Dopey, who is almost a perfect re-incarnation (in Disney Dwarf form of course) of Harpo Marx- he's a lovable idiot, with barely two sounds in the course of the film, who (and I hate to sound sappy) brings out the laughing kid in anyone. Grumpy, who I found to be maybe the most complete character in the film, has attitude to spare, and gets comic bit after comic bit happen to him from the animators- and yet, there is heart behind him, and when its revealed in key parts of the film, they act as the most emotional points. There is also Sleepy, who also barely says a word, but who's physical movements are really divine little moments among the big, inspired musical numbers. Indeed, there are little moments throughout the film that help make up the greatness: the mood and atmosphere in the Queen's dungeon of witchcraft; the scene where the dwarfs go to sleep (a fly that rests on Sleepy's nose); the traits given to the animals in the forest (that little turtle is hilarious).
All these parts help to add to the basic structure of the story- Queen wants the good looks, goes after her once the hunter fails, gives her the poison apple, then it goes even more predictable from their (though in a good way). The detail of the animated scenes, the backgrounds, the visual effects, are often mesmerizing. And the songs, which were some of the most standard I heard from the Disney oeuvre as a kid (they were always on those Disney 'Sing-along' videos) are still whimsical most of the time. Then there is also the icing on the cake- the voice of Snow White, Adriana Caselotti (who got contracted into this being her only film role, based of producer/uncredited director Disney's insistence), brings something to the film that's hard to describe, except to say that it's, well, serene.
Even if she's not the strongest character, her main goal of making people around her feel good and inspiring happiness makes her watchable, and in a way lovable. It's a very curious, though important, factor that she (and Prince Charming and the Queen pre-witch) are animated very traditionally, apart from the cartoon-like dwarfs and animals. Its a reminder of the film's, and Disney's, strongest success- that as an imagined and visualized fairy tale, the representation is strong, and touching. In the new century studios move away from hand-drawn animated films, but it's a good idea to look back to the early Disney films, if not for just nostalgia (or to watch with your kids) to get a sense of the experimentation, the purity of it. It remains one of only several animated films, from any country or style, to have the crucial elements come together- music, voice-talent, usage of colors, and cinematography.
enchanting yet twisted disney picture.......2007-09-11
To date, this is is still one of my favourite Disney films alongside 'Jungle Story' and 'My Mother's A Cat'. Back in 1932, Walt Disney had just discovered animation and was testing it out with some sample footage...that sample footage was to become 'Snow White'.
An elegant film, shot originally in black and white, then with the color restored in the eighties, it is supposedly a family film but I would advise not letting anyone under about fifteen see it as it has some deeply disturbing themes.
Snow White is seemingly a nice helpful young girl, but many people gloss over how she breaks and enters into a property not belonging to her. She also strikes up a very suggestable friendship with seven small men who she meets in the woods, which I found rather sinister.
Then there is the issue of the queen trying to kill Snow White in various evil ways, another very adult theme in my eyes. It is rumoured in the original version the queen kills one of the dwarves in a rage of frenzy.
The seven dwarves, Grumpy, Bashful, Dopey, Happy, Sneezy, Sanchez and Sleepy are overused in the film and are confusing. It is hard telling which drawf is which and there were times I had to leave the room because I was finding it too stressful working out who was who.
Snow White is voiced by Margot Kidder and all of the Dwarves are played by Burl Ives, both actors turn in adequate performances but are upstaged by the Queen, voiced by the great Fay Wray.
The DVD has been withdrawn I understand people were questioning the 'U' certificate and there has been talk of raising it to at least a '12'. When this move is made I for one will be a lot happier and might start enjoying the film again.
Customer Reviews:
crap.......2006-07-12
Don't believe the other reviews of this film..im a massive horror fan but this was just plain crap..cant believe quentin Tarantino rates this so highly,he's usually got very good taste..Almost zero gore,atrocious acting,intersting idea but just badly done..the only good thing is the funky 80's soundtrack,especially at the beginning!!. Save your money for someting like dawn of the dead,or zombie flesh eaters. if you want a good/bad (if you know what i mean!) cannibal fim ..check out cannibal holocaust or cannibal ferox..but dont get this.
Curious Horror film with a social commentary.......2006-02-04
I agree with previous reviewer that it is cheesy in parts but I was intrigued with the mix of the Zombie/Cannibal genre with the alienated vietnam vet substory that was the central theme of The Deer Hunter and would appear in a few years as Rambo:First Blood.
If I could be so bold, First Blood could have been influenced in part by this!!!
Even though it was unrealistic gore, I was really impressed by it especially the grate sewer scene towards the end of film, seeing is believing!!!
I was also impressed by the script which strangely for a film of the genre concentrated on plot and characterisation. It was great how the film changed from a slowing burning character study of John Saxon's traumatised Vietnam vet to Cannibal/action sequences and how Saxon's character changed. I did not expect that to happen.
Don't be put off by the Cannibal Horror aspect, this is a great film to watch. It is no Deer Hunter but still good nevertheless.
Splatter classic from cheese master Margheriti.......2004-03-29
This film is a masterpiece, first I'll start with the story. John Saxon rescues then get bitten by some Vietnam P.O.W.'s and becomes a cannibal himself, then the story forwards a couple of years to Atlanta where he is a normal family man until he recieves a call from one of his cannibal buddies and his own suppressed cannibal urges start to come back. Later John Saxon and cannibal comrades form a cannibal gang and wreak havoc in the city spreading the cannibal disease!
Thoroughly entertaining, this film is so silly its good. Part of the infamous video nasties contingent, it was previously banned and is still unavaliable on region 2 today, although if it was submitted to the BBFC today it would have problem getting through uncut as the gore is highly unrealistic and the film is more or less a comedy(although unintentional!)
The DVD I'm reviewing here is fully uncut and the picture quality is excellent and comes with tons of extras including an hour long documentry so your getting your moneys worth.
This is an excellent horror (comedy!) film and according to the director on the documentry it is one of Quentin Tarrentino favourite films. Can't get a better recommendation than that!
Customer Reviews:
Comedy greats!.......2007-08-15
I'm not usually used to like a teenage comedy but this proves to be hilarious. Rob Schneider does an extremely good job playing a typical American teenage girl. In a quick breifing the story is about two earings containg a curse which caused anybody to switch bodies when each earing is being worn by two people.
The movie itself is very basic but improves vastly on the comedy sketches through out the movie. Definatly one worth seeing if it is not your usual choice.
Hillarious!.......2007-08-15
I will not bother to discribe the plot as there are already many reviews that do so here. I just wanted to add my vote with all the other 5* reviewers. I was about to turn off the tv when I discovered this movie, I had missed the start but it looked interesting. Am am so glad I did not just turn off the tv and go to bed, this is the funiest thing I have seen in ages! My face has not ached so much since smiling for my wedding photos! Yes the plot is ridiculous but it is so funny that is does not matter. If you want a movie to have a laugh at and leave you feeling good then get this one. I am on Amazon now to order a copy so I can watch it again but with the beginning that I missed on TV. Well woth a fiver, you will be missing out if you don't watch this one.
If i could id give it 100 stars!!!.......2006-08-13
That guy who gave this film a 1 is an idiot! this is the funniest film i have ever seen!!!!!i watched this movie like 15 times in 2 days and it was still funny. Adam Sandler's small part in this movie makes it worth getting alone, while watchin this i can't go 5 minutes without laughing my head off!!! If you love stupid retarted films that make no sense you have to watch this film.
i split my sides.......2006-05-18
Every one i know who has seen this film just loved it. It has some great laugh out loud moments and fun cameos. The idea of a teenage girl body swapping with a 30 yr old thief is completely daft but I think thats why it works so well! This is an easy watch fun film you can put on anytime. A must see.
excellent.......2006-02-14
This film is so funny i've seen it loads of times but keep watching it. Its the kind of film you can watch over and over again without getting bored. I took this film to a m8s sleepover and now they al have it on dvd. Its worth buying or hiering. Its one of the funniest films i've seen.
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