Disney DVDs

[pumpkin7]

i have to ask, why is it that Disney are currently going through a phase whereby they only release all the older films, such as The Little Mermaid, Jungle Book, Sleeping Beauty etc, every few years on special release? do they make more money this way? only releasing them every few years and then charging astronomical prices for these 'special editions' ?
it's just i'm in the process of trying to aquire a lot of the disney dvds, because i don't have many of the older movies, despite owning them all when i was little on VHS, but i absolutally refuse to pay £32 for a movie that is so old; and that's just a bog standard DVD! this is looking on amazon btw, and i'm from the UK, so i don't know whether they are doing the same in the US?
just, why?!?!?! :veryconfu

 

[POTC]

I was wondering the same thing too. I have almost every Disney Classic on VHS and I cant even watch them. And now since I have a Blu-Ray player, instead of buying them on DVD, I want to get the best use of my blu-ray. But when I look at a price for a 1930s movie on blu ray i have to think if i want to spend the money. So far I bought Bambi and The Fox and the Hound and planning to only buy the movies i really like since the prices are OUTRAGEOUS!!!

And to answer your question, I think they re-release them in special editions so the movies feel like "new" and they can charge the same price for a movie like tangled (the newer movies) and put it back into the vault so they can re-release it AGAIN.

 

[BalooChicago]

I remember seeing Bambi in theaters when I was little. It was a HUGE deal - here's your chance to see it before it's gone. Home videos changed all that. The "vault" approach is Disney's attempt to maintain some of it.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

There's nothing current about Disney's "Vault" practice on video, it's been going on since 1985. It just takes patience if you want to own them all.

The best way to combat prices is to join Disney Movie rewards (which is free) and print off coupons (usually between $5-$10) available during the first week of the Blu-ray's release. Amazon is also good for finding lower prices. The worst thing you can do is wait too long and end up paying close to full SRP at a physical retailer.

Edit: Saw in your post about Amazon UK, can't comment as I don't check prices there. I also don't know if DMR or an equivalent exists in the UK.

 

[pumpkin7]

yes! disney movie rewards... theres a little leaflet in all the DVD cases which i've never paid much attention too, so i'll have to start using them.
i usually buy all my DVDs off of amazon because they are cheaper, but even amazon, selling Bambi, Sleeping Beauty etc at £32 is extortionate.
it also said while i was searching for the older movies that alot of them are 'back in the disney vault' so i guess i'll have to scour ebay for a few.
i'm glad i'm not the only one who is frustrated by this. i think it's rediculous the price they want you to pay for a 60/70 year old movie. i get why they are trying to do it, as 'baloo' said, it's disney trying to maintain their exclusivity (if that's a word.. lol)
thanks for all the info though.

 

[sublimesting]

This has always been Disney's way. Prior to home movies they would release the films in theaters every 7 years or so. With the advent of home movies they do the same thing.

 

[prberk]

I was wondering the same thing too. I have almost every Disney Classic on VHS and I cant even watch them. And now since I have a Blu-Ray player, instead of buying them on DVD, I want to get the best use of my blu-ray. But when I look at a price for a 1930s movie on blu ray i have to think if i want to spend the money. So far I bought Bambi and The Fox and the Hound and planning to only buy the movies i really like since the prices are OUTRAGEOUS!!!

And to answer your question, I think they re-release them in special editions so the movies feel like "new" and they can charge the same price for a movie like tangled (the newer movies) and put it back into the vault so they can re-release it AGAIN.

As others have said, there is nothing new here. This is just the modern version of the re-release schedule they have followed for 70 years, just on video/DVD/Blu-Ray now instead of theatres.

But I would counter the "old movie" idea. Do you actually think that "Tangled" is worth more in hi-definition than the beautifully painted classics (like Bambi and Pinocchio and Fantasia and Snow White)? You might not be aware that film is actually higher resolution than most any form of modern home video. So, taking a classically painted film and transferring it to Blu-Ray in hi definition is like bringing a painting to life, more so than modern computerized animation.

So, consider that when you consider the value of the classics on video. They are classics for a reason. I doubt anyone will be looking for a "remastered" version of "Tangled" in forty years, but they will still be looking for copies of Bambi and The Lion King.

 

[POTC]

As others have said, there is nothing new here. This is just the modern version of the re-release schedule they have followed for 70 years, just on video/DVD/Blu-Ray now instead of theatres.

But I would counter the "old movie" idea. Do you actually think that "Tangled" is worth more in hi-definition than the beautifully painted classics (like Bambi and Pinocchio and Fantasia and Snow White)? You might not be aware that film is actually higher resolution than most any form of modern home video. So, taking a classically painted film and transferring it to Blu-Ray in hi definition is like bringing a painting to life, more so than modern computerized animation.

So, consider that when you consider the value of the classics on video. They are classics for a reason. I doubt anyone will be looking for a "remastered" version of "Tangled" in forty years, but they will still be looking for copies of Bambi and The Lion King.

After just watching Bambi and how beautiful the animation is, I completely understand what you're saying. It also looks so much better in hi-def and I understand them being timeless not like Tangled (even though it was a great movie).

But what I don't understand is why just have the classics available all the time so people don't have to wait, then finally release it on blu-ray (similar to what they're doing with Star Wars)?

And I just pre-ordered The Lion King!