I told myself that I was not going to buy any software, computer or DVD, until after the end of the year. But along comes the “Beauty and the Beast” DVD and I’m standing in line. So much for resolutions. It’s not my favorite modern-era Disney by any means (that would be “The Little Mermaid”), but there’s some fantastic art and music in it. The extras seem a little thin for a two-disk set, but a lot of space has to be taken up by “games” and such that irritate more than entertain me.
I want some real meat in the extras about the animation process, and in the ones I’ve seen so far it’s been really fluffy. While computer animation like “Monsters Inc.” fascinates me, I’m even more in awe of the artists who sit down and draw these complex characters frame by frame. “Beauty” got a Best Picture nomination, and I still think animation shouldn’t be in its own category. If it holds up, it holds up. And I’d rather watch this movie than most of the Best Picture winners of the last few years.
Been thinking of picking up the new Beauty and the Beast DVD — the only reason being, since I have it on VHS, would be the “extras”. I’m big on the Extras/ Shrek had a good extras disc — lots of insight into the making of the movie. Disney’s “Atlantis”, surprisingly enough, had a fantastic commentary track (The whole movie was developed over burritos). Of course, “extras” are a big ol’ marketing ploy now. Not every movie HAS anything “extra” worth seeing.
Anyone got any DVD recommendations with decent ‘extras” on ’em?
Been thinking of picking up the new Beauty and the Beast DVD — the only reason being, since I have it on VHS, would be the “extras”. I’m big on the Extras/ Shrek had a good extras disc — lots of insight into the making of the movie. Disney’s “Atlantis”, surprisingly enough, had a fantastic commentary track (The whole movie was developed over burritos). Of course, “extras” are a big ol’ marketing ploy now. Not every movie HAS anything “extra” worth seeing.
Anyone got any DVD recommendations with decent ‘extras” on ’em?
Fight Club!
Lord of the Rings!
Donny Darko!
Got the Geek version of LotR on order (5 disks worth!). Dunno about donny darko — what da heck is dat?
‘Weird Al’ Yankovic’s classic, “UHF” has about the best extra features I’ve ever seen. Absolutely hilarious. The Simpsons DVDs are ecellent as well.
Those ‘hand-drawn’ Disney classics from the early ’90’s are hardly that. Of course you notice the computer-animated ballroom sequence (you’re supposed to,) but don’t believe the hype that the rest is all redrawn a frame at a time (hence, no behind-the-scenes spoilers on the DVD!) Computers were essential to Disney’s animation studios being able to crank out those feature-length cartoons a year at a time without overstaffing (and, therefore, at lower cost.) Scanning the original artwork into their computers saved thousands of working hours over the production schedule of a single film; color balance, continuity and correction are almost entirely computer-controlled; character design & enhancement methods are nearly indistinguishable between 2-D and 3-D projects; and even “The Great Mouse Detective” and “Rescuers Down Under” had computer-assisted design elements — not that I would ever deny them the ‘artisan’ status, nor ‘painstaking’ descriptors they wish to offer.
If you want to yearn for the real lost days of artists suffering frame by frame, recall those of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Pinocchio,” and “Fantasia.” Denying them the shortcuts that computers have inflicted upon the artisans of ink would deny us the entire Pixar production line and just about every major studio animated feature film since 1988.
Why not just say you like the look of 2-D animation better? (:
“Spirited Away”, we await you.
Allow me to 2nd the nominations for “Fight Club” DVD’s extras and the commentary track for “UHF”, and to add “T2: Ultimate Edition” & “This is Spinal Tap” to the pool for great extra stuff.
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I go now.
Matt
Hear, hear! And for Sherri’s questiopn about Donny Darko: try to remember your adolescence, when you felt like you didn’t belong anywhere and your strange, proto-adult behavior didn’t make sense. What if something really was wrong?