Search - Sleeping Beauty [Special Edition] on DVD

MPAA Rating: G Content Advisory: Child Classic, Excellent For Children Movie Release: 1959 DVD Release: 09/09/2003 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV,Pan and Scan - Closed Captioned Edition: Dual Layered,Restored/Remastered,Special Collection Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 2 Number of Discs: 2 Run Time: 1 hrs 15 mins Studio: Walt Disney Video Members Wishing: 168 Genres: Fantasy, Children's/Family, Romantic Fantasy, Fairy Tales & Legends See Also: Sleeping Beauty [50th Anniversary Edition], Sleeping Beauty [50th Anniversary Edition] [Blu-ray/DVD]

Disney produced this lavish animated fairy tale, the most expensive cartoon ever made up to its release with a budget of $6 million. When the young princess Aurora is cursed at birth by the evil fairy Maleficent, the baby is kidnapped by a trio of good fairies who raise the girl themselves, hoping to avoid the spell's fulfillment. Nevertheless, at the age of 16, the beautiful Aurora falls into a deep sleep that can only be awakened by a kiss from her betrothed, Prince Phillip. Knowing that Phillip intends to save Aurora, Maleficent takes him prisoner. When the good fairies launch a rescue attempt, Maleficent transforms herself into a spectacular fire-breathing dragon, forcing Phillip to defeat her in mortal combat. Sleeping Beauty (1959) was Oscar nominated for its musical score, which featured adaptations of Tchaikovsky compositions. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

Mary Costa - Princess Aurora
Bill Shirley - Prince Phillip
Eleanor Audley - Maleficent
Verna Felton - Flora,

Disney's Sleeping Beauty continues the trend of superior DVD releases for their most treasured films. This two-disc set has it all, making it difficult to know where to begin. The transfer is a good place, as it might be the source of some controversy. It's not unusual to find that a film, especially an older one, has been restored, as is the case here. But is it possible that too much has been done, altering the original image? That is a valid argument, but the fact is, the 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen image (and the severely cropped pan-and-scan version, also on the disc) is absolutely gorgeous. Colors leap from the screen, while line detail is perfectly realized. Animator Eyvind Earle's magnificent backgrounds are of a quality that is rarely seen, either at the time of the film's original release or at the present. The sound, a new 5.1 Dolby Digital track, certainly has a full resonance, but doesn't take advantage of the sound fields, never really making use of the surrounds. Dialogue and the ever present sound effects, including the glorious adapted music of Tchaikovsky, come across without distortion, and are completely clear and discernible.

Where this set stands out though, is in the wealth of supplemental features. The first disc, with the movie, has the standard Disney sneak peaks, including Brother Bear and video releases for The Lion King, Finding Nemo, and The Santa Clause 2 (among others). Along with this is a commentary track that is not scene-specific. The participants include Jeff Kurtti, a Disney historian, and the host for this track; Eyvind Earle, Ollie Johnson, Marc Davis, and Frank Armitage, all of who were animators on the film; Mary Costa, the voice of Princess Aurora; and Mike Gabriel and Michael Giaimo, current animators who were influenced by early Disney animated projects. As mentioned, this isn't a track that follows the narrative, but covers all aspects of the production. While it won't appeal to younger viewers, it still holds plenty of referential and historical interest.

The second disc takes it all to a much higher level. The disc is divided into two sections, one for young children, and the other for anyone, but bound to appeal more to an older audience. The section for the younger set, entitled "Games, Music and Fun" is just that, six sub-sections to create art projects, play an adventure game, and find out which princess of Disney lore you are most like. Also, you can sing along to the classic "Once Upon a Dream," ink and paint characters from the film, or watch a excruciating video for "Once Upon (Another) Dream," from teenybopper pop "group" No Secret. The second main section, with the true bulk of the extra material, is entitled "History and Behind the Scenes," and there simply isn't enough room to go on about how much is offered. Suffice it to say, along with some very creative, and relatively easy-to-navigate menus, this immense area includes a brief documentary, extensive art and photo galleries (some with commentary), trailers, posters, original Disney television programming, and the Academy Award-winning live action, short film, Grand Canyon. There is no denying that the Disney artists and marketing department have done it again. After the early DVD releases of some significant titles, it looks as if Sleeping Beauty has become part of an illustrious collection. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide