- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,379
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
I've got to be honest. With all of the re-imagining going on at Disney the past few years with their animated classics, inclusive of the removal of film grain, my initial reaction as the new Blu-ray of Mary Poppins began to reach speed was simple.Fear. Absolute and totally definable fear.Then the original logo hit the screen.And it was correct, with proper film grain. But were they toying with me?No.From the fade in of the main title sequence to the close of the end credits, the archival staff at Disney have given us the gift of the season.An absolutely, brilliant, sparkling, film-like representation of Mary Poppins, one of the more difficult films to bring to Blu-ray.Filled for its entire 139 minutes with effects shots, mattes, animation combined with live action, and any manner of potential problems, the Disney staff has pulled a rabbit out of a hat and created, well...Perfection.The film has been beautifully digitally cleaned. Color, densities, shadow detail (even a bit limited in dupes), and the goddess of grain, are all precisely where they should be, in director Robert Stevenson's 1964 classic. Those of you who have viewed Twilight Time's Jane Eyre have seen another side of the filmmaker.Audio is equally as exciting. I viewed with the new 7.1 DTS-HD MA. The original monaural mix is also included for those who seek the original experience, although many prints in 1964 were magnetic stereoI've not seen the film in a number of years, was wondering if the intermission might be included, but the lead in is there with Feed the Birds. The final appearance of the extraordinary Jane Darwell, as the Bird Woman, never fails to bring a tear to my eye.Ms Darwell enchanted us for for six decades (she began in 1913) with some of the greatest supporting performances captured on film, and to see her in her final shot...What can I add.One of the greatest films ever produced, and certainly a jewel in the Disney crown, the new Blu-ray will be on my short list for best classic titles released in 2013, and also on that even shorter list of beautifully restored classic titles.As my friends Mr. Siskel and Mr. Ebert might have said, "Two thumbs up, and they couldn't possibly be raised higher!"For those who love the cinema, this is one of those Blu-rays that will make the hair on the back of your neck rise to attention.Image - 5*Audio - 5Absolutely magnificent, and Very Highly Recommended.RAH