Region 1 Disney (USA)
NTSC, 2.55:1 16x9 enhanced
75 minutes
Audio: DEHT DD 5.1 English; DD 5.1 English; DEHT DD 5.1 French; DEHT DD 5.1 Spanish
Subtitles: Optional English, French, Spanish
Extras: audio commentary by John Lasseter, Leonard Maltin, Andreas Deja; Princess Fun Facts trivia track; Grand Canyon; The Peter Tchaikovsky Story; Disney Song Selection; “Once Upon a Dream” music video; Picture Perfect: The Making of Sleeping Beauty; Eyvind Earle: The Man and His Art; Alternate Opening; deleted songs; art galleries; Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough Attraction; Sequence 8 (Forest Scene); Publicity; Four Artists Paint One Tree; storyboard sequences; interactive games
Released: 7 October 2008
slim double keepcase
A couple of years ago, Disney released its version of Sleeping Beauty on DVD with great fanfare. However, the movie was not a part of the Platinum Edition line of releases. Now, Disney is re-releasing the movie on DVD and Blu-ray as a Platinum Edition title. Is this really an “upgrade”? The answer depends on how you account for several factors.
The previous DVD version offered both a 2.35:1 widescreen transfer and a 1.33:1 Pan-&-Scan butcher job. This time around, you get a 2.55:1 widescreen transfer that adds quite a bit of information to all sides of the frame. The surround sound options have also been sweetened into Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mixes (DEHT), which means that all of the audio channels are now hyper-energetic even though the movie was originally released with mono sound.
All things considered, the loss of substantive extras will lead many collectors to keep both the 2003 and 2008 DVD versions. This is true even if you get the new Blu-ray version (which includes a copy of the 2008 version’s first disc). The “Platinum Edition” label is simply a marketing gimmick, even if the video and audio are noticeably improved.
As for the movie itself...there is no doubt that the visuals are among the most-gorgeous and most-inspired of any animated movie. The aesthetics were clearly derived from stained-glass windows in majestic churches, and the dark designs associated with Maleficent look breathtakingly malignant indeed. Unfortunately, the movie is also downright stagnant and boring--not in the “I’m an adult and can’t get into it” sort of way but in the “I just don’t care” sort of way. With the exception of Aurora’s fairy godmothers, the characters are flat and dull in terms of personality. Since Aurora and the Prince really don’t know each other, the viewer has no emotional stake in whether or not the Prince manages to save the day. Sleeping Beauty runs for only 75 minutes, but it’s best absorbed in small doses.
Video:
The 2.55:1 anamorphic widescreen image is generally very pleasing to watch. The bright hues look like candy, and the dark shadows look appropriately menacing. However, the image also suffers from the lack of resolution and fine-object detail that one inevitably encounters with standard-definition media, even with short programs such as this movie.
Audio:
As already mentioned, the DEHT DD 5.1 English track is a sweetened audio mix that yields quite a bit more activity in the surrounds and front mains. Bass presence is also heavily aggressive. In fact, the DEHT presentation may startle viewers unaccustomed to huge sound.
You can also watch the movie with a non-boosted DD 4.1 English track, which is a glorified version of the movie’s original mono audio track. Furthermore, you can also watch the movie with DEHT DD 5.1 French and DEHT DD 5.1 Spanish dubs. Optional English, French, and Spanish subtitles support the audio.
Extras:
--Disc 1--
Upon loading, the disc plays previews for other Disney products.
There’s an audio commentary by John Lasseter, critic Leonard Maltin, and animator Andreas Deja that’s not the same as the audio commentary offered by the 2003 DVD set. The new audio commentary covers the broad details of the movie’s production and “historical place”, and the previous commentary focuses closely on production minutiae.
You can watch the movie with the “Princess Fun Facts trivia track”, which has factoids appearing on the screen from time to time.
“The Peter Tchaikovsky Story” is a vintage Disney program.
“Grand Canyon” features footage of the Grand Canyon set to instrumental music.
Music fiends can get their kicks with “Disney Song Selection” (direct access to some of the songs) and the “Once Upon a Dream” music video.
--Disc 2--
The extras on Disc 2 have fairly self-explanatory titles--“Picture Perfect: The Making of Sleeping Beauty”, “Eyvind Earle: The Man and His Art”, Alternate Opening, deleted songs, art galleries, “Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough Attraction”, “Sequence 8 (Forest Scene)” (a detailed look at the creation of a difficult scene), Publicity (trailers/TV spots), “Four Artists Paint One Tree”, storyboard sequences, and interactive games.
--Miscellaneous--
There are several insert booklets, including a DVD Guide, promotions for contests/giveaways, and coupons.
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