Both the movie and this spanking-new Big Top Edition have a lot going for them, not the least being the bundle of bonuses found therein.
Video:
For their previous edition of "Dumbo," Disney gave us a picture that did not appear to have been the kind of re-cleaned, restored picture we find on "Snow White" or the latest "Lady and the Tramp," which was a little disappointing. This time, Disney engineers provide a new digital transfer that improves the situation. The image quality is generally crisp and sharp, the detail is vivid, and the colors, particularly reds and oranges, are bright. More important, I didn't notice as much grain as I did throughout the earlier transfer of the film. Nor does the screen show much evidence of the slightly flickering light and dark areas or minor age spots I saw before. I still don't think this is the best restoration Disney has done on one of their older films, but I cannot imagine anybody complaining about it. Indeed, it's quite lovely to look at.
Audio:
As before, the audio track is a Dolby Digital 5.1 remix that spreads the sound across the speakers, but it continues to seem like very narrow stereo or maybe an expanded mono. The result, though, is pleasing and sounds a lot like the audio work Disney did on "Snow White."
Extras:
For extras, the Disney folks provide more than ever. We get all of the things found on the previous edition and more. First, let me tell what's repeated. There is the commentary track with animation historian John Canemaker, a rather straight-faced fellow who provides a wealth of background information on the film. Then, there are two animated short subjects, "Elmer Elephant" and "The Flying Mouse" to further entertain youngsters in the home. For those so inclined, there's Uncle Walt's original TV introduction to the film. In addition, there are Sing-Alongs of "Look Out for Mr. Stork" and "Casey Junior." And there is an extensive gallery of "Dumbo" artwork; seventeen scene selections and a chapter insert; English, French, and Spanish spoken languages; and English captions for the hearing impaired.
Now, let me tell you what's new. There is a DisneyPedia feature called "My First Circus," a game of identifying and learning about various circus animals. Next is a DVD Storybook: "Dumbo's Big Discovery," that children can read for themselves or have read to them, followed by a music video, "Baby Mine," performed by Jim Brickman and Kassie DePaiva. After that is a fifteen-minute documentary on the film, "Celebrating Dumbo," hosted by Leonard Maltin and featuring various film critics, film historians, and Disney filmmakers. Finally, there are Sneak Peeks at nine other Disney titles, and in the keep case a "Dumbo Matching Game" of learning cards. The keep case is further enclosed in a beautifully illustrated and embossed slip cover.
If there's anything I'm still not happy about, however, it's Disney's so-called "Fast Play." At start-up, before going to the main menu, viewers can hit "Fast Play," thinking that it will take them directly to the movie. Instead, it takes them to a set of Disney movie trailers before the main feature begins. It strikes me as a deceptive ploy to get younger children to watch the promos.
Parting Thoughts:
After the experimentation Disney did in "Fantasia," some viewers will be glad that in "Dumbo" the Disney studios got back to their roots with a genuinely charming, innocent short feature. Nevertheless, I still find the daring "Fantasia" a more rewarding overall experience. But I'm an adult, not a kid, and for a kid, "Dumbo" is hard to beat.
For their previous edition of "Dumbo," Disney gave us a picture that did not appear to have been the kind of re-cleaned, restored picture we find on "Snow White" or the latest "Lady and the Tramp," which was a little disappointing. This time, Disney engineers provide a new digital transfer that improves the situation. The image quality is generally crisp and sharp, the detail is vivid, and the colors, particularly reds and oranges, are bright. More important, I didn't notice as much grain as I did throughout the earlier transfer of the film. Nor does the screen show much evidence of the slightly flickering light and dark areas or minor age spots I saw before. I still don't think this is the best restoration Disney has done on one of their older films, but I cannot imagine anybody complaining about it. Indeed, it's quite lovely to look at.
Audio:
As before, the audio track is a Dolby Digital 5.1 remix that spreads the sound across the speakers, but it continues to seem like very narrow stereo or maybe an expanded mono. The result, though, is pleasing and sounds a lot like the audio work Disney did on "Snow White."
Extras:
For extras, the Disney folks provide more than ever. We get all of the things found on the previous edition and more. First, let me tell what's repeated. There is the commentary track with animation historian John Canemaker, a rather straight-faced fellow who provides a wealth of background information on the film. Then, there are two animated short subjects, "Elmer Elephant" and "The Flying Mouse" to further entertain youngsters in the home. For those so inclined, there's Uncle Walt's original TV introduction to the film. In addition, there are Sing-Alongs of "Look Out for Mr. Stork" and "Casey Junior." And there is an extensive gallery of "Dumbo" artwork; seventeen scene selections and a chapter insert; English, French, and Spanish spoken languages; and English captions for the hearing impaired.
Now, let me tell you what's new. There is a DisneyPedia feature called "My First Circus," a game of identifying and learning about various circus animals. Next is a DVD Storybook: "Dumbo's Big Discovery," that children can read for themselves or have read to them, followed by a music video, "Baby Mine," performed by Jim Brickman and Kassie DePaiva. After that is a fifteen-minute documentary on the film, "Celebrating Dumbo," hosted by Leonard Maltin and featuring various film critics, film historians, and Disney filmmakers. Finally, there are Sneak Peeks at nine other Disney titles, and in the keep case a "Dumbo Matching Game" of learning cards. The keep case is further enclosed in a beautifully illustrated and embossed slip cover.
If there's anything I'm still not happy about, however, it's Disney's so-called "Fast Play." At start-up, before going to the main menu, viewers can hit "Fast Play," thinking that it will take them directly to the movie. Instead, it takes them to a set of Disney movie trailers before the main feature begins. It strikes me as a deceptive ploy to get younger children to watch the promos.
Parting Thoughts:
After the experimentation Disney did in "Fantasia," some viewers will be glad that in "Dumbo" the Disney studios got back to their roots with a genuinely charming, innocent short feature. Nevertheless, I still find the daring "Fantasia" a more rewarding overall experience. But I'm an adult, not a kid, and for a kid, "Dumbo" is hard to beat.
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[release]18595[/release]