Originally posted by TheSecondCook
d-r - I too am I wondering what Lion King 1 1/2 is...maybe it's a double pack of the original and the direct to video sequal. Otherwise, I haven't heard of any other lion king project, direct to video or otherwise.
Weird, huh? My first hope was that it would be something like the ultimate toy box or the three disc fantasia one and two (a three disc box set of Lion King and Simba's Pride). A new direct to video. Melissa just said "Lion King 1.5, the travesties continue."
As far as your comments about the re-releases as special editions, all I can say is you must not have had a dvd player as long as I have. This is one of Hollywood's, and Disney's, favorite games. They release a movie-only dvd with little to no special features and the rerelease it 2 years later as a special edition.
Actually, we are on a second dvd player. We didn't buy the first "wave" of Disney DVDs. The "limited editions." You may remember that Disney was a little late getting into the DVD game, and the first wave were these very bear bone DVDs that came out at the same time "for a limited time only." I remember being particularly insulted that the Pinochio release didn't contain a special feature documentary that was on the videotape release at the time. We did get a jungle book out of that release as a gift; the transfer of it is pretty awful actually. We also ended up with a LK2 out of that set later on as a freebie. We knew they were crappy and that something better would come along.
I also didn't buy the original anchor bay release of who framed roger rabbit, and was rewarded for that a few years later (just recently). I did buy the anchor bay release of Black Hole though.
They've done it to me with Star Trek, they're doing it again with the Alien films. Of course, there's all kinds of making-of and deleted material that you're compelled to eat the cost of the original and buy the new one. It's how they make money and continually renew sales in their home video divisions.
Disney got me with "A Bug's Life" and then the later special edition, and then got me again with Tarzan, and then the later special edition. I ended up with both of each. I swore they wouldn't get me again. I went around and around with the
disney store cms about Lilo and Stitch. They assured me up and down that there would be a two-disc release with the initial release, then, when it wasn't, they assured me that there never would be one and if there ever was one then I could call the 800- number that said "if you aren't satisfied for any reason" to return it. I just looked and I've never even opened my alice in wonderland dvd. I swear to god I will return it if they come out with a new one. We now have three versions of Mary Poppins, I can't wait for another one.
It isn't so much that they are releasing them, it is that I was already burnt by it and they told me up and down there wouldn't be another release. It also the change in the distribution plan that was promised (that I talk more about below).
My advice to you: go to a site like thedigitalbits.com . They have inside knowledge and contacts within the various film companies liek the many people on this board do with disney. They usually know what's going on with dvd releases months, if not years in advance. Most of their rumors/news do come out to be true. They usually know if an elaborate two-disc special edition of a movie will be released sometime after the initial release before the initial release is...well, released.
Think back to Lilo and Stitch. The rumors about the on again, off again 2-dvd set changed everyday. I still don't believe Jim Hill about it, frankly, because he was bald wrong about it the first time. Listen. Disney is NOT consistent with their announced dates and what they actually release. Let's see. The Rescuers was announced for last year...why isn't that one in my spice cabinent?
I've known about the 2-disc for 20Klots for sometime before it was announced, and now it has been announced, but the Disney Store still doesn't know about it - will it be released on May 20? I dunno. Of course I'm a little burned that this one won't be in the "Vault Disney" line like last year's releases; more orphaned release lines.
Just be informed Disney is notorious for this. Their first wave of
DVD's, have already or will be getting the SE treatment. If one of their films comes out with a movie-only disc, don't rush out to buy it the day it hits stores. Do some research and see what might be comign down the pipeline.
It was after the first wave (the really crappy ones) that they announced that they were going to the Platinum/Gold editions. The Platinum titles would be released one per year, the Gold would be out permanently. That hasn't been the case. I think you can still get all of the Gold editions from on-line, but certainly not the Disney store. The last several releases of the "Gold" titles have been "special editions" - Peter Pan, Dumbo, etc.
I think it is nice of you to offer me the advice, thank you.
DR
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