Lion King DVD Release

[Sarangel]

Laughing Place reports that the Lion King will be released in October 2003 and will feature:

a new sequence with all new animation featuring the song Morning Report.

Anyone seen this, heard of it, have any more info?

Sarangel

 

[tfc3rid]

Morning Report is a song in the Broadway musical.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Hmmm...I just downloaded the broadway version and am I the only one who things it really doesn't fit with The Lion King? It's a good song but not for The Lion King, IMO.

 

[Tannerman]

Hopefully, they do a nice clean job breaking out the true original theatrical release along with the special edition when the do the DVD... Beauty and the Beast was kinda shady in this area

 

[SnackyStacky]

Actually, Morning Report is a song with circumstances similar to that of Human Again. It was originally written for the movie, but for whatever reason was dropped from the movie, and put into the stage version.

This whole let's-release-it-in-IMAX-followed-by-a-special-edition-first-time-ever-DVD gig is really starting to wear on my nerves. I love Beauty and the Beast, as well as the Lion King, but it really stinks that they're simply resting on their former achievements.

 

[DIGGER68]

Why can't they release the movie as it was? It did well didn't it? Adding all the extra "special" stuff cheapens the orginal somehow. JMO

 

[raidermatt]

The Beauty and the Beast DVD did have the original version, as well as the "special edition".

Hopefully, The Lion King will do that as well.

 

[Safari Steve]

Theatrical re-releases are much less frequent these days than they were in times gone by. Walt and Roy originally established a re-relase schedule of every 7 years for each animated feature, and Walt often used the Disneyland/Walt Disney Presents/Wonderful World of Color TV show to present feature films from years past. I don't think that the current IMAX/special edition system is any more "resting on past achievements" than those efforts... my, how quickly everyone forgets recent successes like Lilo and Stitch, Fantasia/2000, The Rookie, The Princess Diaries... just doesn't make sense...

 

[SnackyStacky]

my, how quickly everyone forgets recent successes like Lilo and Stitch, Fantasia/2000, The Rookie, The Princess Diaries... just doesn't make sense...

It seems that my opinion may have ruffled a few of your feathers Steve.

I'm talking about their feature animation department; not live action films, and not specialty pieces like Fantasia 2000.

In your list of successes, only one is from feature animation. If Fantasia is, then my mistake, but that's still only two. When was the last time that Disney released a feature animation piece of the calibre and quality of The Lion King? Or Beauty and the Beast? Cause while I love Lilo & Stitch, it is nowhere near neither the creative, nor the artistic achievement of those last two that I mentioned.

And if you still seem to believe that I'm off track, then why have rumors surfaced that Treasure Planet will be the last big budget feature animation piece?

Even if you don't agree with all of that, it is simply my opinion, and hasn't been stated as anything but.

 

[Another Voice]

“Theatrical re-releases are much less frequent these days than they were in times gone by.”

Way back in the dark and distant days when Evil Walt ruled the Kingdom, way back even before St. Michael took up his first silver spoon, way back in those dull, bygone, dreary days...we were all so stupid that we had yet to figure out how to program a VCR or run a television show through a cable. Yes, dark times indeed with just us, a small fire and a sharp stick to fend off the marauding saber-toothed tigers.

Indeed things were so horrible that whenever we actually wanted to see a movie, we had to go to a theater (when we didn’t want to attend the witch burnings). Yes, this was a special building with lots of seats, a machine that made popcorn through heat (not microwaves) and a strange mechanism called a pro-jec-tor. Since those machines required great skill, many artisans and much mule power to create deep in the forges of faraway lands – only the noblest of individuals could afford one of their own.

This meant a cruel and tragic fate for anyone who lived through that accursed age – you couldn’t see a movie whenever you wanted. Oh, the suffering! When my very own father spoke about seeing ‘Bambi’ and ‘Dumbo’ as a young child, I could not see the same film for myself for they were not shown at a theater. Nay, even films like ‘Gone With the Wind’, ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and ‘Casablanca’ went unseen by large groups of people.

Yes, the only way for a small child like myself to see films that our parents or older siblings had watched was for them to be put back into theaters again. Oh, and what a joy it was when that happened. Sure, we knew the movie from books and records (primative Flintstone-like versions of CDs) – but to actually see the movie itself. That was a wonder for our simple minds. Yes, my brother and I collected many goats to trade for admission into the theater to witness these spectacles. And it was a delight to find out that those Evil Walt movies that made my father and mother laugher could actually make me laugh as well. Of course, those were simpler times and we were ignorant of the light.

Now days, of course, we live in a civilized and glorious time. Long gone are the wicked ways of the past. When my children wish to see a movie, they need but to put in the cassette, or the laser disc, of the DVD, or order it from pay-per-view, or watch The Disney Channel, or download it, or recall it on TiVo, or watch it on cable, or watch it on a broadcast station.

About the only place they don’t want to watch it is at a theater. Those are for new movies these days.



Seriously – the reasons behind business strategies always change. Do not judge yesterday’s decision by today’s conditions, nor assume that past practices will lead to current success. The only thing that stands through time are standards.

 

[Safari Steve]

Let it be known that Mr. Voice is the only person on this thread who has ever refered to Eisner as a Saint. (I understand the irony, but I also understand the implication... Don't belittle me, I was only offering figures- I miss the 7-year plan.)

*Addendum after several hours of consciousness: It was quite thoughtless of me to only mention two recent projects from Feature Animation that were successful (yes, F2K was produced by WDFA)... I forgot to mention Mulan and Tarzan-which makes 4 well-done and successful WDFA releases in 5 years- (although the intention of my previous post was to point out that re-releases are nothing new).

 

[SnackyStacky]

I forgot to mention Mulan and Tarzan-which makes 4 well-done and successful WDFA releases in 5 years- (although the intention of my previous post was to point out that re-releases are nothing new).

I don't consider those nearly as successful as Lion King and before. It would probably take me pages and months to analyze exactly why I feel that way, but I do.

Fantasia 2000 was wonderful. It was an original project for the IMAX screen. They didn't simply take Fantasia, convert it to IMAX format, and then afterwards, come forward with a promotion to sell the crap out of it by saying "For the first time ever, on Disney DVD". (And I still don't feel it's in the same category as movies like The Lion King, Atlantis....it's a completely different type of movie)

Not to mention the whole concept of taking the sequels and putting them in theatres first. So the family has to pay for the kids to see it, and THEN they make even more money from selling it on video.

Regardless of how sarcastic his response was, Voice is right. Re-releases were just fine in the days of Walt himself. But I've had The Lion King on video for almost 10 years now. I paid my money to see it in theatres when it was originally released, and I paid money for it AGAIN when it was released on video.

I don't know if you meant it the way I'm interpreting, but your comments come across as saying that my opinions are wrong. Just as I respect your opinions as your own, please extend me the same courtesy. If I misinterpreted, forget what I wrote!

 

[Safari Steve]

Just offering information to back up my opinions more thoroughly. I certainly agree that you are entitled to your opinion as well... I think you read more meaning into my post.

You're right about Fantasia/2000 being a different type of movie than The Lion King and Atlantis. It's more like the episodic features of the 40s and 50s (Melody Time, Make Mine Music, Saludos Amigos, The Three Caballeros, etc.) It was also the most successful IMAX release ever.

Tarzan was not as successful as The Lion King in original release, but it was the #1 movie in the world for several weeks. Saying that a film wasn't the most successful WDFA release ever (TLK still hasn't been surpassed) and saying that it was not successful at all are two different things.

I'm not a big video person, and one of my pet peeves about Disney videos is that there are so many advertisements before the movie. I also don't like that there are so many different versions of each movie (classics edition, silver edition, gold classics.... my eyes are going to cross)... but I have no problem whatsoever with theatrical re-releases. I wish they were less of a rarity (like in years gone by), and that is what I was trying to say.

 

[SnackyStacky]

I think you read more meaning into my post.

Like I said, if I read more into it, ignore my whole last paragraph! Glad we're on the same page.

Saying that a film wasn't the most successful WDFA release ever (TLK still hasn't been surpassed) and saying that it was not successful at all are two different things.

Actually, I just thought that those you mentioned weren't AS successful. In fact, I did look up the figures. I'm not saying they weren't successful at all. But they're not up to the quality that the previous releases were, in my opinion.

I'm not a big video person, and one of my pet peeves about Disney videos is that there are so many advertisements before the movie. I also don't like that there are so many different versions of each movie (classics edition, silver edition, gold classics.... my eyes are going to cross)... but I have no problem whatsoever with theatrical re-releases.

Theatrical re-releases are one thing. BUT, Disney doesn't simply re-release a movie. They give it huge fanfare like it's a long lost classic that hasn't been seen in years. And then that's not enough. THEN, they have to take the opportunity for ANOTHER video release. It all just seems like a huge marketing gimmick.

And you're right, those stupid ads add insult to injury.

In fact, I think theatrical re-releases once in a while could be good, if used appropriately. I don't think that an animated movie a year is possible. At least not to have these movies be the best that they can be. So, if they invested a lot of time and money, every two or three years they could release a full-length, feature animation piece that is to the level of quality and art as Lion King. And in those two to three years, re-release some classics. I'd love to see The Jungle Book, or Cinderella, or The Sword in the Stone on the big screen.

But that's not what they're doing. They're using them as marketing gimmicks for DVD and video releases, and to boost the bottom line. And THAT'S what frustrates me.

A last thought I forgot to add: (not that this is unique to Disney) even if you want to avoid those ads, you STILL have to deal with trailers at the movie theatres too. And I don't know about central Florida, but in Buffalo, we now also have COMMERCIALS. I last saw Chicago and had to sit through ads for a charity for which Anthony Hopkins is the spokesperson, Coke, and the new Volvo SUV.

 

[Safari Steve]

Ugh, yes... TV commercials are now in movie theatres everywhere... blah! (Will Rogers Foundation is a "movie" charity, though, so that doesn't count... like war bond ads long ago)

 

[Beachangel]

Personally, it was a thrill to see Lion King at the IMAX last month! I don't care how big your TVs are, there's nothing like seeing it on "the big screen".

Look for Alladin to be re-released at IMAX theatres Christmas 2003.

Oh and btw, I've seen Lion King on Broadway seven times and Morning Report fits in just fine with the storyline.

 

[eeyore0062]

I think we who were around when some of those newer "classics" were released tend to forget that to a whole new generation, these are brand new movies, never experienced before in a large screen setting.

My DD wasn't born when Beauty and the Beast or The Lion King were 1st released. Yes, she had seen the video tape, because I have been a huge Disney fan from way back, and bought those videos. But no matter, when she saw Beauty and the Beast in all of its IMAX splendor, it was like seeing it for the 1st time... as it was for me, who had never seen it on big screen, either. We haven't had the opportunity to see TLK in IMAX, but hope to soon.

I have no problem at all with big screen releases every 10 years, as it opens up an opportunity for a new generation of viewers to appreciate it in the way it was filmed to be enjoyed. I hope they do the same with Aladdin! I think we tend to forget that although we may have been unindated with these movies, they are new to others... and just as special as they were when the were 1st released.

As for all of the different editions of videos, DVDS (Gold, Platinum, etc) I agree, that has been overdone. I think rereleases of the videos and DVDS are great every 7-10 years... I know that my video copies of the Disney Classics are on their last leg, and I look forward to replacing them.

If we really want to get on a rant... lets discuss the 2 years of the sequels, shall we?

 

[SnackyStacky]

In fact, I think theatrical re-releases once in a while could be good, if used appropriately. I don't think that an animated movie a year is possible. At least not to have these movies be the best that they can be. So, if they invested a lot of time and money, every two or three years they could release a full-length, feature animation piece that is to the level of quality and art as Lion King. And in those two to three years, re-release some classics. I'd love to see The Jungle Book, or Cinderella, or The Sword in the Stone on the big screen.

See? I'm not totally against rereleases!

BUT, re-releases in addition to this:

If we really want to get on a rant... lets discuss the 2 years of the sequels, shall we?

leads me to believe that the creative wells are running dry, and that's the bothersome part.