Sleeping Beauty (Special Edition)
starring: Mary Costa, Bill Shirley, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton, Barbara Luddy
directed by: Charles A. Nichols, Clyde Geronimi, James Algar, Wilfred Jackson
directed by: Charles A. Nichols, Clyde Geronimi, James Algar, Wilfred Jackson
List Price: $29.99
as of 09/02/2010 13:08 EDT
Price: $18.49
You Save: $11.50 (38%)as of 09/02/2010 13:08 EDT
Amazon.com:
Disney's 1959 animated effort was the studio's most ambitious to date, a widescreen spectacle boasting a gorgeous waltz-filled score adapting Tchaikovsky. In the 14th century, the malevolent Maleficent (not dissimilar to the wicked Queen in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs taunts a king that his infant Aurora will fatally prick her finger on a spinning wheel before sundown on her 16th birthday. This, of course, would deny her a happily-ever-after with her true love. Things almost but not quite turn out that way, thanks to the assistance of some bubbly, bumbling fairies named Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. It's not really all that much about the title character--how interesting can someone in the middle of a long nap be, anyway? Instead, those fairies carry the day, as well as, of course, good Prince Phillip, whose battle with the malevolent Maleficent in the guise of a dragon has been co-opted by any number of animated films since. See it in its original glory here. And Malificent's castle, filled with warthogs and demonic imps in a macabre dance celebrating their evil ways, manages a certain creepy grandeur. --David Kronke
On the Blu-ray
Sleeping Beauty was the last and most lavish of Walt Disney's animated fairy tales. He told the artists not to hurry and to give him "a moving illustration": The film required almost four and one-half years and one million finished drawings. Instead of the 19th century storybook illustrations that had influenced the look of Snow White and Pinocchio, the artists adapted the flattened perspective and jewel-like colors of 15th century French illuminated manuscripts. The results remain unmatched for sheer visual opulence. However, Sleeping Beauty suffers from a weak story: the vision of an ageless princess slumbering in a vine-shrouded tower was replaced with elements of Snow White and a boy-meets-girl musical. The evil Maleficent and the three Good Fairies (Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather) dominate the film, rather than Princess Aurora and Prince Philip. Sleeping Beauty was originally released in 70mm, and the Blu-ray edition restores the film to its original splendor. (Many earlier releases trimmed the wide-screen images and/or muted the glowing palatte.) The Bonus DVD looks good on a flat screen monitor, but it pales in comparison to the richness of the Blu-ray. In addition to the commentaries and a making-of documentary, the set includes myriad extras that vary widely in quality. Nostalgia buffs will enjoy the recreation of the old Sleeping Beauty's Castle attraction in Disneyland, and the TV program "Four Artists Paint One Tree" provides a welcome showcase for key talents from the film. But the CG animation of the dragon and the voice imitations of the Good Fairies fail to capture the magic of the originals in the "Dragon Encounter"; the "Maleficent's Challenge Game"--a hi-tech Twenty Questions--sounds only vaguely like the redoubtable sorceress. The BD-Live features require an awful lot of bother: after wading through (or ignoring) 130 screens of legalese, participants must enter their Social Security number or other personal information in the drawn-out sign-on process. Once that's finally done, viewers can send special messages to pop up during the film, chat online with others who are watching, and view it in synch with others. The question is whether or not you want to. (Rated G: violence) --Charles Solomon
Stills from Sleeping Beauty (Click for larger image)
Description:
Heralded by audiences and critics alike, SLEEPING BEAUTY was the final fairy tale to be produced by Walt Disney himself. Now fully restored with revolutionary digital technology, its dazzling colors, rich backgrounds, and Academy Award(R)-nominated orchestrations shine brighter than ever. When an enchanted kingdom and the most fair princess in the land fall prey to the ultimate mistress of evil, the fate of the empire rests in the hands of three small fairies and a courageous prince's magic kiss. Their quest is fraught with peril as the fellowship must battle the evil witch and a fire-breathing dragon if they are to set the Beauty free. From spectacular action to the breathtaking pageantry of the princess and her kingdom, SLEEPING BEAUTY has something to charm every member of your family.
Disney's 1959 animated effort was the studio's most ambitious to date, a widescreen spectacle boasting a gorgeous waltz-filled score adapting Tchaikovsky. In the 14th century, the malevolent Maleficent (not dissimilar to the wicked Queen in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs taunts a king that his infant Aurora will fatally prick her finger on a spinning wheel before sundown on her 16th birthday. This, of course, would deny her a happily-ever-after with her true love. Things almost but not quite turn out that way, thanks to the assistance of some bubbly, bumbling fairies named Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. It's not really all that much about the title character--how interesting can someone in the middle of a long nap be, anyway? Instead, those fairies carry the day, as well as, of course, good Prince Phillip, whose battle with the malevolent Maleficent in the guise of a dragon has been co-opted by any number of animated films since. See it in its original glory here. And Malificent's castle, filled with warthogs and demonic imps in a macabre dance celebrating their evil ways, manages a certain creepy grandeur. --David Kronke
On the Blu-ray
Sleeping Beauty was the last and most lavish of Walt Disney's animated fairy tales. He told the artists not to hurry and to give him "a moving illustration": The film required almost four and one-half years and one million finished drawings. Instead of the 19th century storybook illustrations that had influenced the look of Snow White and Pinocchio, the artists adapted the flattened perspective and jewel-like colors of 15th century French illuminated manuscripts. The results remain unmatched for sheer visual opulence. However, Sleeping Beauty suffers from a weak story: the vision of an ageless princess slumbering in a vine-shrouded tower was replaced with elements of Snow White and a boy-meets-girl musical. The evil Maleficent and the three Good Fairies (Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather) dominate the film, rather than Princess Aurora and Prince Philip. Sleeping Beauty was originally released in 70mm, and the Blu-ray edition restores the film to its original splendor. (Many earlier releases trimmed the wide-screen images and/or muted the glowing palatte.) The Bonus DVD looks good on a flat screen monitor, but it pales in comparison to the richness of the Blu-ray. In addition to the commentaries and a making-of documentary, the set includes myriad extras that vary widely in quality. Nostalgia buffs will enjoy the recreation of the old Sleeping Beauty's Castle attraction in Disneyland, and the TV program "Four Artists Paint One Tree" provides a welcome showcase for key talents from the film. But the CG animation of the dragon and the voice imitations of the Good Fairies fail to capture the magic of the originals in the "Dragon Encounter"; the "Maleficent's Challenge Game"--a hi-tech Twenty Questions--sounds only vaguely like the redoubtable sorceress. The BD-Live features require an awful lot of bother: after wading through (or ignoring) 130 screens of legalese, participants must enter their Social Security number or other personal information in the drawn-out sign-on process. Once that's finally done, viewers can send special messages to pop up during the film, chat online with others who are watching, and view it in synch with others. The question is whether or not you want to. (Rated G: violence) --Charles Solomon
Stills from Sleeping Beauty (Click for larger image)
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Description:
Heralded by audiences and critics alike, SLEEPING BEAUTY was the final fairy tale to be produced by Walt Disney himself. Now fully restored with revolutionary digital technology, its dazzling colors, rich backgrounds, and Academy Award(R)-nominated orchestrations shine brighter than ever. When an enchanted kingdom and the most fair princess in the land fall prey to the ultimate mistress of evil, the fate of the empire rests in the hands of three small fairies and a courageous prince's magic kiss. Their quest is fraught with peril as the fellowship must battle the evil witch and a fire-breathing dragon if they are to set the Beauty free. From spectacular action to the breathtaking pageantry of the princess and her kingdom, SLEEPING BEAUTY has something to charm every member of your family.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Quality transfer ruined by ads, design
This is easily the worst disc we have ever watched.Not because of the movie itself, which is a faithful - even gorgeous - transfer.But in the battle to get to see it.
First off, this disc includes TEN ads in the beginning!Fortunately, depending your player you can chapter skip, and so I did.Over, and over, and over. And then the screen went black, and I had to do it all again.It took almost 5 minutes just to GET to the movie!
Second, and perhaps worse, is the ... Read More
Rating:
- Blu-Ray Technical Specs
Sleeping Beauty (Two-Disc Platinum Edition + Standard DVD and BD Live) [Blu-ray]
Feature film Blu-Ray technical specifications:
Video: 1080p, 2.55:1
Audio:
* English dts-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48 kHz/24-bit)
* "Restored Original Theatrical Soundtrack" (possibly English mono?)
I'm hopeful that Amazon's technical specifications listings will become more useful.
Rating: - Sleeping Beauty
I was very impressed with the quality of the video and how fast it arrived.It arrived way before the appointed time.My son was so happy when the package arrived.
Rating: - great and on time
I purchased this video for my Aunt whose DVD player broke and she is now back to a VHS scenario. She loves the video, it came on time and it was in perfect condition. Thanks!
Rating: - Mas hermosa que nunca
Si has actualizado tu equipo a blu-ray, esta película clásica no puede faltar en tu colección.
Vi esta película siendo muy chico y la verdad nunca me imaginé que me enamoraría de ella casi 30 años después de haberla descubierto en VHS.
Como creo que hay otras reseñas que hablarán de lo grandioso de la historia y su relevancia nostálgica, no hablaré mucho de eso. Yo les hablaré un poco de las aportacionés técnicas que tiene esta edición en blu-ray.
Si ... Read More
- Quality transfer ruined by ads, designThis is easily the worst disc we have ever watched.Not because of the movie itself, which is a faithful - even gorgeous - transfer.But in the battle to get to see it.
First off, this disc includes TEN ads in the beginning!Fortunately, depending your player you can chapter skip, and so I did.Over, and over, and over. And then the screen went black, and I had to do it all again.It took almost 5 minutes just to GET to the movie!
Second, and perhaps worse, is the ... Read More
Rating:
- Blu-Ray Technical SpecsSleeping Beauty (Two-Disc Platinum Edition + Standard DVD and BD Live) [Blu-ray]
Feature film Blu-Ray technical specifications:
Video: 1080p, 2.55:1
Audio:
* English dts-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48 kHz/24-bit)
* "Restored Original Theatrical Soundtrack" (possibly English mono?)
I'm hopeful that Amazon's technical specifications listings will become more useful.
Rating:
- Sleeping BeautyI was very impressed with the quality of the video and how fast it arrived.It arrived way before the appointed time.My son was so happy when the package arrived.
Rating:
- great and on timeI purchased this video for my Aunt whose DVD player broke and she is now back to a VHS scenario. She loves the video, it came on time and it was in perfect condition. Thanks!
Rating:
- Mas hermosa que nuncaSi has actualizado tu equipo a blu-ray, esta película clásica no puede faltar en tu colección.
Vi esta película siendo muy chico y la verdad nunca me imaginé que me enamoraría de ella casi 30 años después de haberla descubierto en VHS.
Como creo que hay otras reseñas que hablarán de lo grandioso de la historia y su relevancia nostálgica, no hablaré mucho de eso. Yo les hablaré un poco de las aportacionés técnicas que tiene esta edición en blu-ray.
Si ... Read More
