![Sleeping Beauty (Two-Disc Platinum Edition + Standard DVD and BD Live) [Blu-ray]](http://cdn.hometheaterforum.com/b/b8/50x50px-ZC-b89f85ac_B0013ND30W-61iAG58Xj-L.jpg)
Like many others, I was raised on Disney. Actually Disney, Hitchcock and Universal horror, viewing many of these fine films well before I probably should.
The first film that I ever saw in a theater was Bambi, in its initial re-issue, which would have meant that it was probably a nitrate print.
Later in re-issue, I would see Snow White, which I hated because of the mirror, as well as Fantasia and Pinocchio, a perennial favorite.
As new animated films were released I became more and more enthralled and amazed by the sheer excellence of the Disney feature animated productions.
Being raised, however, on the early Disney animated look, with layers of motion and detail and soft, smooth edges, I found Sleeping Beauty, albeit beautiful and brilliantly colored, never to be my cup of tea. It still isn't, and the overall style of the animation didn't help.
The first Disney feature animated film to be photographed in large format, in this case, Technirama, makes it a most interesting premiere release for Disney animation on Blu-ray. An image doesn't get any sharper or more finely honed that this one. Note: Mr. Monce has kindly reminded me that The Black Cauldron (1985) was also in TLA.
After going through the delicate work of harvesting an image from the original SE negative, Lowry Digital was asked to use their proprietary grain reduction programming to remove the grain, leaving what appears to be the pure original cells in motion.
While this is an interesting phenomenon, which will be heralded by most as a perfect rendition of the film, to my eye it is a blade that cuts both ways, and creates occasional problems.
For example, unlike the some of the earlier productions, SB has many shots that are stagnant, with little or no movement, especially in long shots. Tthis becomes even more apparent, when the grain is removed, and we are left with what is essentially a naked image of cells -- and even more so presented in large format.
Beyond this, as both a restored image via the digital scans, through clean-up and color correction, the job done toward the creation of this Blu-ray is nothing less than a stellar achievement by all invovled.
Those unfamiliar with the history of Disney the studio, or Walt, the artist, might wish to pay a visit to abebooks.com, to order a copy of the out of print tome by Christopher Finch, The Art of Walt Disney. The book, although expensive in original printings, has been re-printed several times, and can be had very inexpensively. This is an oversize art book and a work of art in its own right.
Sleeping Beauty on Blu-ray expands on the ethic previously set forth by Disney, in re-working their animated classics into more modern looking works, shorn of grain, and with occasionally re-imagined color. Everything that those earlier SD DVDs were, Sleeping Beauty is even more so. Those who could not abide the earlier releases will have even bigger problems with Sleeping Beauty. Those who were untroubled by the new look -- what I consider to be a new edition -- will most likely love this latest incarnation.
Regardless of which position one takes, there is no getting around the fact that this first Blu-ray release of a Disney animated classic looks both gorgeous and at the same time unlike anything that came before it.
Pinocchio is on the boards for release on Blu-ray in early 2009, and that will be one with which I'll look forward to spending some quality time.
Sleeping Beauty is a beautiful Blu-ray that comes Highly Recommended.
RAH
The first film that I ever saw in a theater was Bambi, in its initial re-issue, which would have meant that it was probably a nitrate print.
Later in re-issue, I would see Snow White, which I hated because of the mirror, as well as Fantasia and Pinocchio, a perennial favorite.
As new animated films were released I became more and more enthralled and amazed by the sheer excellence of the Disney feature animated productions.
Being raised, however, on the early Disney animated look, with layers of motion and detail and soft, smooth edges, I found Sleeping Beauty, albeit beautiful and brilliantly colored, never to be my cup of tea. It still isn't, and the overall style of the animation didn't help.
The first Disney feature animated film to be photographed in large format, in this case, Technirama, makes it a most interesting premiere release for Disney animation on Blu-ray. An image doesn't get any sharper or more finely honed that this one. Note: Mr. Monce has kindly reminded me that The Black Cauldron (1985) was also in TLA.
After going through the delicate work of harvesting an image from the original SE negative, Lowry Digital was asked to use their proprietary grain reduction programming to remove the grain, leaving what appears to be the pure original cells in motion.
While this is an interesting phenomenon, which will be heralded by most as a perfect rendition of the film, to my eye it is a blade that cuts both ways, and creates occasional problems.
For example, unlike the some of the earlier productions, SB has many shots that are stagnant, with little or no movement, especially in long shots. Tthis becomes even more apparent, when the grain is removed, and we are left with what is essentially a naked image of cells -- and even more so presented in large format.
Beyond this, as both a restored image via the digital scans, through clean-up and color correction, the job done toward the creation of this Blu-ray is nothing less than a stellar achievement by all invovled.
Those unfamiliar with the history of Disney the studio, or Walt, the artist, might wish to pay a visit to abebooks.com, to order a copy of the out of print tome by Christopher Finch, The Art of Walt Disney. The book, although expensive in original printings, has been re-printed several times, and can be had very inexpensively. This is an oversize art book and a work of art in its own right.
Sleeping Beauty on Blu-ray expands on the ethic previously set forth by Disney, in re-working their animated classics into more modern looking works, shorn of grain, and with occasionally re-imagined color. Everything that those earlier SD DVDs were, Sleeping Beauty is even more so. Those who could not abide the earlier releases will have even bigger problems with Sleeping Beauty. Those who were untroubled by the new look -- what I consider to be a new edition -- will most likely love this latest incarnation.
Regardless of which position one takes, there is no getting around the fact that this first Blu-ray release of a Disney animated classic looks both gorgeous and at the same time unlike anything that came before it.
Pinocchio is on the boards for release on Blu-ray in early 2009, and that will be one with which I'll look forward to spending some quality time.
Sleeping Beauty is a beautiful Blu-ray that comes Highly Recommended.
RAH
. I was almost relieved that Disney would've changed their previous course (Cinderella and Peter Pan had color issues as well) but I guess they didn't.
