Disney MOD program begins - Disney Generations

Great news, I think? I'd love to see Disney start releasing some of their deep catalog titles through this program, but unfortunately Disney's track record on catalog releases is to put out decades-old transfers with no OAR. I hope they rectify this with some decent new MOD DVDs. I would love to see "The Light in the Forest" and the CinemaScope version of "Westward Ho the Wagons."

I wouldn't mind getting my hands on "The Ernest Green Story" and "Not Quite Human" "Mr. Boogedy" and a few others

This site and Facebook Page are aiming to persuade Disney into using this service to exploit their vast TV and film library.

If they go with some of their Wonderful World of Disney stuff I'll probably bite. Any of this post-Walt stuff is just a pass for me.

Maybe CHILD OF GLASS and the remainder of FIVE MILE CREEK (which stars Nicole Kidman, so Disney kinda bungled releasing the first season only when the second season would have been more marketable with Kidman being in it) could appear on this as well.

Maybe I'll finally be able to get a copy of "The Blue Yonder" Loved this movie when I was a kid, would rent it time and time again.

I picked up Amy, so I'll be letting you know how it looks (the preview was not promising).

I definitely would like to see more Walt-era material and some of the 1970s and 1980s stuff. Child of Glass, which held up better than a lot of the studio's contemporary theatrical releases, would be perfect for this program, although there are rumors the negative is shot due to vinegar syndrome, as discussed here:

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/forum/thread/185535/child-of-glass-disney-movie-on-dvd

Even so, their track record with remastering niche material is all over the place. I'm just glad I won't have to pay absurd sums for the VHS tapes from the 1980s anymore.

One Disney Channel movie that I'd really like to see as part of this program is Spot Marks the X. It featured Barret Oliver from the first NeverEnding Story movie, and much like The Blue Yonder, was also directed by Mark Rosman. Unfortunately, it has never once been released on any home video format here in the United States, but it was released in Europe in PAL format.

How about UNCUT "Mickey Mouse Club" episodes - the original & the 1960's re-issues with new wrap arounds.

My sister would get an absolute thrill out of having Mr. Boogedy on DVD, along with Fuzzbucket, so count me in if they hit MOD.

 

My #1 wish is for the last volume of Ducktales.

Seconded, and if they're going to do TV (and they already have), there's nearly 3 decades of the original Wonderful World of Disney as well as the late 1980s revival to do.

Texas John Slaughter series from Disneyland. I believe it was filmed in color but broadcast in B/W.

Meanwhile, these first announced titles...  I don't know any of them.  Are they worthwhile?

 

I remember Amy being pretty good. 

I ordered the DVD and reviewed it. The movie is good, but, sadly, the DVD isn't. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come.

Matthew's review of Amy on Disney MOD DVD is up and let's say its not a great start for the generations program.

SOTS

??
 

 

^ Song Of The South

Even if Disney does have plans to release it, there's a good chance they might cut the Tar Baby scene out. I think that was the one scene that many who found the film racist complained about the most. Why else would they change the trap on Splash Mountain from a Tar Baby to a beehive?

They will not release it under the current management, and I doubt that it would be as an MOD in the currently unlikely instance that they changed their mind. It's partially animated and historically significant, so they'll go all out or not at all. Of course, there's that one character from Fantasia who was whitewashed from the film (no pun intended, I seriously stress this).

 

And the complaints were not just about the Tar Baby. They were about the film as a whole. And I wouldn't be a bit surprised that the volume of the complaints in the audio sense was greater than the volume of the complaints in the numerical sense. Frankly, I'd rather they not release it at all than try to cut it or alter it in any way. No one who wants it wants a bowdlerized version.

 

I agree with you whole heartily.  The powers that be do not want anything that could happen to upset them in these poor financial times.  A major boycott would reach from the Parks, to ABC, to ESPN and the possibility of black sports players refusing to appear on any of the the networks as is their right. To the lowering of film, DVD, Blu-ray, and stream income.  The affect could be disastrous.  On the other hand if handled right, it would advance the fortunes of the company three fold.

 

 

On the other other hand I applaud their effort to get into the MOD program, especially if it brings us Mooche and Sammy The Way Out Seal.  And I did not forget Gallagher.
 

 

Or it could just be much ado about nothing. I don't even think the NAACP cares one way or the other. There is no more ground to cover on this topic, but yes, I am glad to see Disney finally doing an MOD program. But if we see more slapdash discs like Amy then I'm not going to bother.

 

Is there any way to get through to Disney to advocate for better quality releases?

One would think that they could get out in front of it, get the NAACP or similar group on board, do a few PSAs to run on the front of it explaining that it was a product of its time, etc.
 

 

Hey, MatthewA, just out of curiosity, do you have the Japanese laserdisc of SOTS (or at least a homemade copy of said Japanese laserdisc)? The home video releases from Japan are the only way to see the film in its true form, given that they're not sped-up like the PAL copies are.

I have the SOTS Japanese laser with the burned in subs.

It's a harmless film that is more about the stories being told to the children then anything else.

My Laser copy is treated as gold in my house and have a couple of DVD-r backups.  And your right it is a very harmless story, it just has a reputation that will not go away by a lot of people that have never seen the film. 
 

 

Same here, and agree all the way.