Waking Sleeping Beauty (2009) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I had the great opportunity to see this at a screening in NYC followed by a Q&A with the directors. It was a great look back at a bit of Disney history many people might not be familiar with. The behind the scenes turmoil, management style, and creative process, especially during the making of such great classics as The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, make it very interesting. As an animator myself, I truly enjoyed this film. Highly recommended.

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By the mid-1980s, the fabled animation studios of Walt Disney had fallen on hard times. The artists were polarized between newcomers hungry to innovate and old timers not yet ready to relinquish control. These conditions produced a series of box-office flops and pessimistic forecasts - maybe the best days of animation were over. Maybe the public didn't care. Only a miracle or a magic spell could produce a happy ending. Waking Sleeping Beauty is no fairy tale. It's the true story of how Disney regained its magic with a staggering output of hits - "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin," "The Lion King," and more - over a 10-year period.

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Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald, Vol. 4 - 1951-1961 (Collector's Tin) Review

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(More customer reviews)Some of these Donald cartoons have never seen a home video release, others got only released in Japan.
The CINEMASCOPE cartoons will be presented in widescreen here!
Unfortunately, WORKING FOR PEANUTS will NOT be presented in 3-D like it was filmed & shown in theaters.
1951
DUDE DUCK (new to DVD)
CORN CHIPS w/ Chip & Dale
TEST PILOT DONALD w/ Chip & Dale (new to DVD)
LUCKY NUMBER w/ Huey, Dewy & Louie
OUT OF SCALE w/ Chip & Dale
BEE ON GUARD (new to DVD)
1952
DONALD APPLE-CORE w/ Chip & Dale
LET'S STICK TOGETHER (new to DVD)
UNCLE DONALD'S ANTS (new to DVD)
TRICK OR TREAT w/ Huey, Dewy & Louie
1953
DONALD'S FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH w/ Huey, Dewy & Louie
NEW NEIGHBOR (new to DVD)
RUGGED BEAR (new to DVD)
WORKING FOR PEANUTS w/ Chip & Dale (NOT presented in 3-D)
CANVAS BACK DUCK w/ Huey, Dewy & Louie
1954
SPARE THE ROD w/ Huey, Dewy & Louie (new to home video)
DONALD'S DIARY w/ Daisy
DRAGON AROUND w/ Chip & Dale
GRIN & BEAR IT w/ Humphrey Bear (new to DVD)
GRAND CANYONSCOPE (in CINEMASCOPE)
FLYING SQUIRREL (new to DVD)
1955
NO HUNTING w/ Humphrey Bear (in CINEMASCOPE) (new to home video!)
BEARLY ASLEEP w/ Humphrey Bear (in CINEMASCOPE) (new to DVD)
BEEZY BEAR w/ Humphrey Bear (in CINEMASCOPE) (new to DVD)
UP A TREE w/ Chip & Dale
1956
CHIPS AHOY w/ Chip & Dale (in CINEMASCOPE) (new to DVD)
HOW TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AT HOME (new to DVD)
1959
DONALD IN MATHMAGIC LAND
HOW TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AT WORK (new to DVD)
1961
DONALD AND THE WHEEL (new to DVD)
THE LITTERBUG (new to DVD)
Bonus Features:
"Donald Goes to Press",
"The Unseen Donald Duck: Trouble Shooters",
Leonard Maltin and Jerry Beck audio commentaries on 2 shorts,
10 Mickey Mouseworks Cartoons from 1999:
BIRD BRAINED DONALD
DONALD & THE BIG NUT
DONALD'S CHARMED DATE
DONALD'S DINNER DATE
DONALD'S FAILED FORTH
DONALD'S ROCKET RUCKUS
DONALD'S SHELL SHOTS
DOANLD'S VALENTINE DOLLAR
THE MUSIC STORE
SURVIVAL OF THE WOODCHUCKS
It would have been nicer to get a seperate complete series set of these and include the three solo Chip n' Dale cartoons here instead.
The two 'accident' cartoons were previously released on VHS, edited together as one cartoon, on the Wonderful World of Disney show tapes. They do play well as one 15 minute cartoon. Those show tapes are interesting as they have new, exclusive to the TV show, animation not on these theatrical releases.
Hopefully those TV shows will get a DVD release some day.
The two other 2008 Disney Treasures releases are:
Dr Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (From The Wonderful World Of Disney show)
Dr Syn-Scarecrow of Romney Marsh
The Mickey Mouse Club Presents: Annette (the serial from season 3)
Mickey Mouse Club Presents-Annette

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In this final volume, our chronicle of Donald's solo-starring shorts wraps up with some of his rarely seen, feather ruffling adventures from 1951 through 1961. And, for the first time on DVD, Donald's CinemaScope cartoons are presented in their original widescreen format. This collection of classics includes two of Donald's Academy Awardr nominated Best Shorts -- "Rugged Bear" (1953) and "No Hunting" (1955); a retrospective of Donald's career in comic books; and a storyboard presentation for an unproduced Donald Duck cartoon pitched by famed Disney animator Eric Goldberg. From bit player to superstar, Donald gave voice to the frustrations of everyone and in the process endeared himself to the world. Featuring exclusive introductions by film historian Leonard Maltin, this is a timeless collection from generations past for generations to come.

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Oliver and Company (20th Anniversary Edition) (1988) Review

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(More customer reviews)During the 80's, the studio hit an artistic, creative, and commercial slump. However, I still find that I quite enjoy Disney's 80's films, many of which experimented with computer animation, non-musical storylines, and different source materials. One of my favorite pre-Little Mermaid 80's Disney films is Oliver and Company. Boasting a soundtrack filled with great songs and a wonderful cast of characters, Oliver and Company finally gets the DVD treatment, albeit a less-than-stellar one.
For one, the transfer is good, but it could be much better and it has a fair amount of grain.
The bonus features could have been much better as well. A few fluff EPK-type featurettes, which are nice, but still fluffy, are sadly enough the meat of the bonuses. Also included, fortunately, are the original trailer, original TV spot, and the 1995 re-release trailer. Two sing-alongs are included as well as two classic Disney short cartoons.
Overall, it's nice to see Oliver and Company on DVD at last. This is probably the best DVD edition Disney will give it for at least a while, so if you're considering picking it up, go for it.

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A timeless classic inspired by Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist, Oliver & Company is a fun-filled, action-packed musical adventure voiced and sung by one of the most talented casts in Disney history! The film artfully blends lovable characters, cool songs, and action-packed adventure into a contemporary classic. Disney's hip, high-energy tale begins in the concrete canyons of New York City, where Oliver, an adorable orphaned kitten, is befriended by Dodger, a carefree mutt with a certain street savoir faire. The mischievous little cat is welcomed by Dodger's pack of pickpocket pooches, including dim-witted Einstein, ravishing Rita, and live-wire Tito. This ragtag family of misfits runs into trouble when the evil mastermind Sykes -- aided by his two daunting Dobermans -- schemes to kidnap the lonely little rich girl who just adopted Oliver! It's up to the brave kitten and his newfound friends to race to the rescue in an electrifying chase through the city's subway system. Boasting five outstanding original songs and the musical talents of Billy Joel, Bette Midler, and Huey Lewis -- and overflowing with brilliant animation, Oliver & Company is a modern masterpiece.

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