The delirious sight of Meryl Streep leading a river of multigenerational women singing "Dancing Queen" is one of the high points of Mamma Mia!, the musical built around the songs of the hugely popular pop group ABBA. The plot sets in motion when Sophie (Amanda Seyfried, Mean Girls), daughter of Donna (Streep), sends a letter to three men, inviting them to her wedding--because after reading her mother's diary, she suspects that one of them is her father. When all three arrive at the Greek island where Donna runs a hotel, Donna flips out and finds that passions she thought she'd laid aside are coming back to life. But let's face it, the plot is not the point--it's a ridiculous contrivance that provides an excuse for the characters to sing the massive hits of ABBA. Regrettably, first-time film director Phyllida Lloyd (who directed the original stage production) has drawn over-the-top performances from everyone involved, even Streep; every production number hammers its exuberance into your eyeballs. Which is too bad, because Mamma Mia! is a rarity: A middle-aged love story. The kids start things off, but the story is really about Streep and the three guys (former James Bond Pierce Brosnan, former Mr. Darcy Colin Firth, and Swedish star Stellan Skarsgard), as well as Donna's best friends (Christine Baranski, best known from the TV show Cybill, and Julie Walters, Calendar Girls). It's a romantic comedy aimed at the people who were around when all these songs were new, and that's an age group Hollywood largely ignores. For that alone, Mamma Mia! deserves to find an audience. --Bret Fetzer

Clearly missing something, 21 Nov 2008
Am I only the person out there who found this film dull and annoying? Pierce Brosnan's singing was painful rather than funny. I enjoy a bit of cheesy music as much as the next man but 105 minutes of ABBA ended up feeling like 180 minutes.

Mamma Mia is Brilliant Amazing, Film of 2008 , 20 Nov 2008
Mamma Mia is amazing and incredible film, one of the best musicals ever to hit a Film Contains Fun, Laughts, Sexy Voices and more, I loved it so much i seen it in the Cinema 8 times alone and now ordered the DVD, Amanda Seyfried brings out the passion to her music and Sexy style from Honey Honey song, to the powerful Meryl singing The Winner Takes it all and the ballad surprise Great vocals from Pierce Brosnan with when all is said and done, the film will not disappointed you, You Will love it

BRILLIANT, 18 Nov 2008
A FEEL GOOD SMASHING MOVIE. I GOT DRAGGED TO THE CINEMA BY MY MUM AND SISTERS I WASNT LOOKING TOO FORWARD TO IT AS I DIDNT THINK I WOULD LIKE IT HOWEVER AFTER THE FIRST 15MINS I WAS CLEARLY WRONG. I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS FILM. ITS PERFECT FOR A DULL DAY WHEN ALL YOU NEED IS A BIT OF SUNSHINE!!

i am the dancing queen !!, 16 Nov 2008
The NHS should forget giving out out the huge amount of anti depressants that they do and buy mama mia in bulk and prescribe them with that instead.... this is the most feel good film i have ever know!!! great for nights in with the girlies as you can have a good old boogie and a sing song around the room, great if you have just been dumped altho is has romantic scenes in the fun factor and the comedy will soon make you forget your heartache.A totally cheesy but very vibrant, well put together, funny, exciting, camp, happy, positive film, seriously from the second you put in on you will be tapping your feet in time to the music and by the end of the film your be on your sofa throwing shapes and reliving your youth. GO ON YOU KNOW YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO........

The best movie ever, 16 Nov 2008
This is a brilliant movie and has alot of comedy in it. The producer has put all of the sngs in the perfect place so they make sense. This film is very funny and I would advise you watch it or if you already have then buy the dvd and cd.
Charlotte Tyson

Disney's 1959 Sleeping Beauty was the studio's most ambitious effort to date, a lavish spectacle boasting a gorgeous waltz-filled score adapted from the music of 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 sixteenth birthday. This, of course, would deny her a happily-ever-after with her true love. Fortunately, some bubbly, bumbling fairies named Flora, Fauna and Merryweather are on hand to assist.

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, alongside Maleficent's castle, which, filled with warthogs and demonic imps in a macabre dance celebrating their evil ways, manages a certain creepy grandeur. --David Kronke, Amazon.com

Clearly missing something, 21 Nov 2008
Am I only the person out there who found this film dull and annoying? Pierce Brosnan's singing was painful rather than funny. I enjoy a bit of cheesy music as much as the next man but 105 minutes of ABBA ended up feeling like 180 minutes.

Mamma Mia is Brilliant Amazing, Film of 2008 , 20 Nov 2008
Mamma Mia is amazing and incredible film, one of the best musicals ever to hit a Film Contains Fun, Laughts, Sexy Voices and more, I loved it so much i seen it in the Cinema 8 times alone and now ordered the DVD, Amanda Seyfried brings out the passion to her music and Sexy style from Honey Honey song, to the powerful Meryl singing The Winner Takes it all and the ballad surprise Great vocals from Pierce Brosnan with when all is said and done, the film will not disappointed you, You Will love it

BRILLIANT, 18 Nov 2008
A FEEL GOOD SMASHING MOVIE. I GOT DRAGGED TO THE CINEMA BY MY MUM AND SISTERS I WASNT LOOKING TOO FORWARD TO IT AS I DIDNT THINK I WOULD LIKE IT HOWEVER AFTER THE FIRST 15MINS I WAS CLEARLY WRONG. I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS FILM. ITS PERFECT FOR A DULL DAY WHEN ALL YOU NEED IS A BIT OF SUNSHINE!!

i am the dancing queen !!, 16 Nov 2008
The NHS should forget giving out out the huge amount of anti depressants that they do and buy mama mia in bulk and prescribe them with that instead.... this is the most feel good film i have ever know!!! great for nights in with the girlies as you can have a good old boogie and a sing song around the room, great if you have just been dumped altho is has romantic scenes in the fun factor and the comedy will soon make you forget your heartache.A totally cheesy but very vibrant, well put together, funny, exciting, camp, happy, positive film, seriously from the second you put in on you will be tapping your feet in time to the music and by the end of the film your be on your sofa throwing shapes and reliving your youth. GO ON YOU KNOW YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO........

The best movie ever, 16 Nov 2008
This is a brilliant movie and has alot of comedy in it. The producer has put all of the sngs in the perfect place so they make sense. This film is very funny and I would advise you watch it or if you already have then buy the dvd and cd.
Charlotte Tyson

They don't make 'em like this any more, 13 Nov 2008
This has always been my favourite Disney film, and I am so glad it's been given the loving restoration it deserves.

The fantastic detail and 1950s graphic take of gothic and medieval styles is positively breathtaking. For Walt Disney it was ground breaking (and almost bankrupting) to create something so meticulously detailed and stylistically consistent right down to the backgrounds, and the result is beautiful and atmospheric. The extras are all interesting, detailing the conceptual side of things, and added a whole new perspective on what was always my favourite childhood film (even though I was terrified of Maleficent and convinced she was under my bed).

Amazing as the new computer technology is, it just doesn't for me have the artistic soul and wonder of this kind of traditional animation (no offence to those talented folk who work long and hard creating it, it's just not my bag). Now we strive for 3D realism, in movies like this it was for a blending of styles/genres and a stylistic vision that I feel lost in the computer age. I doubt we'll see animation like this again, and for me that's a crying shame.

And on the character side of things... Flora, Fauna and Merriweather still crack me up, twenty years later.

Pink! Blue! Pink! Blue! PINK!, 10 Nov 2008
My daughter, like many others, is obsessed with Disney Princess and has watched this a few times now.

I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the transfer. The picture quality is superb - and the animation is the smoothest I've seen in a hand-drawn feature. It's probably wrong of me to assume that an animated film released 50 years ago wouldn't have the same level of animation quality as a modern film, and this has certainly quashed my preconceptions.

The story is simple, and the humour is basic - but there's a real charm to this early Disney film. Maybe it's the flawless animation, or the jaunty songs - but you soon see past the cheesy Prince Charming and enjoy this for the fairy tale that it is.


Sleeping Beauty , 31 Oct 2008
This region 2 UK 50th anniversary 2 disc edition has I'm sad to say, an authoring fault. It is not properly flagged as anamorphic 16x9, it appears the initial batch as I have had two copies now, are non anamorphic, resulting in the main feature playing with black bars on all four sides of the screen, rather than the usual widescreen bars top and bottom.

And before anyone asks, I have my dvd player and screen set up correctly.



Simply a remarkable and truely inspirational Disney film, 25 Oct 2008
very few animations can meet this standard of film making.
this was Walt Disneys' final fairy tale before his tragic death (r.i.p Walt...you are a true inspiration).
Sleeping Beauty had a complex style of animated style never ever before done to make it look extremely realistic.
and it all definately paid off to a great level...it is Disney (yet again) at its very best.
very few can beat it.
it blends its horror, fantasy, action and comedy together extremely well which earns it a high place on my list of ultimate films by Disney only beaten by The Little Mermaid and The Lion King.
a quality film that introduced us to the ultimate Disney villain ever created...Malefecent.
for me the fairy godmothers just steal it every time.
masterpiece is an understatement...well it beats Snow White and Pinocchio(not being controversial).
a well deserved re-release...i've been waiting and now i can watch it in high-definition...i can't wait till it gets to my doorstep:).
sheer movie magic.

After 50 years, even more dazzling and more delightful animation, 15 Oct 2008

This is a new release of a Disney classic that first appeared in 1959. As is my custom, I much prefer to watch an animated feature film with several of my younger grandchildren (ages 3-7) and did so again with Sleeping Beauty on its 50th anniversary. Once again, they were engrossed in the story line whereas I was somewhat more interested in how the quality of animation measures up (after 59 years) when compared and contrasted with recent films such as Toy Story and Toy Story 2, the three Shreks, Ratatouille, Cars, and Wall-E. It measures up remarkably well. Just as there is a certain charm in black-and-white classic films from the 1930's and 40's (e.g. Casablanca, The Little Shop Around the Corner, and It Happened One Night), the same is true of older Disney features (e.g. Dumbo, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Pinocchio) despite relatively less sophisticated animation.

There were also generational differences when my companions and I examined the special features that include "Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough (a fully immersive virtual tour), an all-new "Enchanted Dance Game," the "Dragon Encounter Audio Sensory Experience," and an all-new "Making of Sleeping beauty." Predictably, my grandchildren much preferred the supplementary games whereas I was (as always) intrigued by the "behind the screen" material such as a discussion of the film by John Lasseter of Pixar, the film critic Leonard Maltin, and the Disney animator Andreas Deja. The production values in this new edition are superb, especially in the Blu-ray version. The running time of 75 minutes seems just about right. Whatever the ages of those who see this film and one or more of its numerous special features, they will find much to enjoy and appreciate.

The story line is strikingly similar to the one in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. A daughter named Aurora is born to royal parents and then cursed to die by her 16th birthday by an evil fairy, Malificent. To protect her, three good fairies take her away, re-name her Briar Rose, and raise her themselves. A handsome prince meets her by chance, they fall in love, and agree to meet again soon. However, on the night of her 16th birthday, as she prepares to return to her parents and be crowned a princess, the evil fairy locates her and then.... Fortunately, everything eventually works out for Aurora as it also does for Snow White, Belle, and other Disney heroines.

I highly recommend this 50th anniversary celebration of one of Disney's most delightful animated films. Under-appreciated when first released, I think it will now receive the praise it so clearly deserves. Bravo!

The delirious sight of Meryl Streep leading a river of multigenerational women singing "Dancing Queen" is one of the high points of Mamma Mia!, the musical built around the songs of the hugely popular pop group ABBA. The plot sets in motion when Sophie (Amanda Seyfried, Mean Girls), daughter of Donna (Streep), sends a letter to three men, inviting them to her wedding--because after reading her mother's diary, she suspects that one of them is her father. When all three arrive at the Greek island where Donna runs a hotel, Donna flips out and finds that passions she thought she'd laid aside are coming back to life. But let's face it, the plot is not the point--it's a ridiculous contrivance that provides an excuse for the characters to sing the massive hits of ABBA. Regrettably, first-time film director Phyllida Lloyd (who directed the original stage production) has drawn over-the-top performances from everyone involved, even Streep; every production number hammers its exuberance into your eyeballs. Which is too bad, because Mamma Mia! is a rarity: A middle-aged love story. The kids start things off, but the story is really about Streep and the three guys (former James Bond Pierce Brosnan, former Mr. Darcy Colin Firth, and Swedish star Stellan Skarsgard), as well as Donna's best friends (Christine Baranski, best known from the TV show Cybill, and Julie Walters, Calendar Girls). It's a romantic comedy aimed at the people who were around when all these songs were new, and that's an age group Hollywood largely ignores. For that alone, Mamma Mia! deserves to find an audience. --Bret Fetzer

Clearly missing something, 21 Nov 2008
Am I only the person out there who found this film dull and annoying? Pierce Brosnan's singing was painful rather than funny. I enjoy a bit of cheesy music as much as the next man but 105 minutes of ABBA ended up feeling like 180 minutes.

Mamma Mia is Brilliant Amazing, Film of 2008 , 20 Nov 2008
Mamma Mia is amazing and incredible film, one of the best musicals ever to hit a Film Contains Fun, Laughts, Sexy Voices and more, I loved it so much i seen it in the Cinema 8 times alone and now ordered the DVD, Amanda Seyfried brings out the passion to her music and Sexy style from Honey Honey song, to the powerful Meryl singing The Winner Takes it all and the ballad surprise Great vocals from Pierce Brosnan with when all is said and done, the film will not disappointed you, You Will love it

BRILLIANT, 18 Nov 2008
A FEEL GOOD SMASHING MOVIE. I GOT DRAGGED TO THE CINEMA BY MY MUM AND SISTERS I WASNT LOOKING TOO FORWARD TO IT AS I DIDNT THINK I WOULD LIKE IT HOWEVER AFTER THE FIRST 15MINS I WAS CLEARLY WRONG. I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS FILM. ITS PERFECT FOR A DULL DAY WHEN ALL YOU NEED IS A BIT OF SUNSHINE!!

i am the dancing queen !!, 16 Nov 2008
The NHS should forget giving out out the huge amount of anti depressants that they do and buy mama mia in bulk and prescribe them with that instead.... this is the most feel good film i have ever know!!! great for nights in with the girlies as you can have a good old boogie and a sing song around the room, great if you have just been dumped altho is has romantic scenes in the fun factor and the comedy will soon make you forget your heartache.A totally cheesy but very vibrant, well put together, funny, exciting, camp, happy, positive film, seriously from the second you put in on you will be tapping your feet in time to the music and by the end of the film your be on your sofa throwing shapes and reliving your youth. GO ON YOU KNOW YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO........

The best movie ever, 16 Nov 2008
This is a brilliant movie and has alot of comedy in it. The producer has put all of the sngs in the perfect place so they make sense. This film is very funny and I would advise you watch it or if you already have then buy the dvd and cd.
Charlotte Tyson

They don't make 'em like this any more, 13 Nov 2008
This has always been my favourite Disney film, and I am so glad it's been given the loving restoration it deserves.

The fantastic detail and 1950s graphic take of gothic and medieval styles is positively breathtaking. For Walt Disney it was ground breaking (and almost bankrupting) to create something so meticulously detailed and stylistically consistent right down to the backgrounds, and the result is beautiful and atmospheric. The extras are all interesting, detailing the conceptual side of things, and added a whole new perspective on what was always my favourite childhood film (even though I was terrified of Maleficent and convinced she was under my bed).

Amazing as the new computer technology is, it just doesn't for me have the artistic soul and wonder of this kind of traditional animation (no offence to those talented folk who work long and hard creating it, it's just not my bag). Now we strive for 3D realism, in movies like this it was for a blending of styles/genres and a stylistic vision that I feel lost in the computer age. I doubt we'll see animation like this again, and for me that's a crying shame.

And on the character side of things... Flora, Fauna and Merriweather still crack me up, twenty years later.

Pink! Blue! Pink! Blue! PINK!, 10 Nov 2008
My daughter, like many others, is obsessed with Disney Princess and has watched this a few times now.

I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the transfer. The picture quality is superb - and the animation is the smoothest I've seen in a hand-drawn feature. It's probably wrong of me to assume that an animated film released 50 years ago wouldn't have the same level of animation quality as a modern film, and this has certainly quashed my preconceptions.

The story is simple, and the humour is basic - but there's a real charm to this early Disney film. Maybe it's the flawless animation, or the jaunty songs - but you soon see past the cheesy Prince Charming and enjoy this for the fairy tale that it is.


Sleeping Beauty , 31 Oct 2008
This region 2 UK 50th anniversary 2 disc edition has I'm sad to say, an authoring fault. It is not properly flagged as anamorphic 16x9, it appears the initial batch as I have had two copies now, are non anamorphic, resulting in the main feature playing with black bars on all four sides of the screen, rather than the usual widescreen bars top and bottom.

And before anyone asks, I have my dvd player and screen set up correctly.



Simply a remarkable and truely inspirational Disney film, 25 Oct 2008
very few animations can meet this standard of film making.
this was Walt Disneys' final fairy tale before his tragic death (r.i.p Walt...you are a true inspiration).
Sleeping Beauty had a complex style of animated style never ever before done to make it look extremely realistic.
and it all definately paid off to a great level...it is Disney (yet again) at its very best.
very few can beat it.
it blends its horror, fantasy, action and comedy together extremely well which earns it a high place on my list of ultimate films by Disney only beaten by The Little Mermaid and The Lion King.
a quality film that introduced us to the ultimate Disney villain ever created...Malefecent.
for me the fairy godmothers just steal it every time.
masterpiece is an understatement...well it beats Snow White and Pinocchio(not being controversial).
a well deserved re-release...i've been waiting and now i can watch it in high-definition...i can't wait till it gets to my doorstep:).
sheer movie magic.

After 50 years, even more dazzling and more delightful animation, 15 Oct 2008

This is a new release of a Disney classic that first appeared in 1959. As is my custom, I much prefer to watch an animated feature film with several of my younger grandchildren (ages 3-7) and did so again with Sleeping Beauty on its 50th anniversary. Once again, they were engrossed in the story line whereas I was somewhat more interested in how the quality of animation measures up (after 59 years) when compared and contrasted with recent films such as Toy Story and Toy Story 2, the three Shreks, Ratatouille, Cars, and Wall-E. It measures up remarkably well. Just as there is a certain charm in black-and-white classic films from the 1930's and 40's (e.g. Casablanca, The Little Shop Around the Corner, and It Happened One Night), the same is true of older Disney features (e.g. Dumbo, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Pinocchio) despite relatively less sophisticated animation.

There were also generational differences when my companions and I examined the special features that include "Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough (a fully immersive virtual tour), an all-new "Enchanted Dance Game," the "Dragon Encounter Audio Sensory Experience," and an all-new "Making of Sleeping beauty." Predictably, my grandchildren much preferred the supplementary games whereas I was (as always) intrigued by the "behind the screen" material such as a discussion of the film by John Lasseter of Pixar, the film critic Leonard Maltin, and the Disney animator Andreas Deja. The production values in this new edition are superb, especially in the Blu-ray version. The running time of 75 minutes seems just about right. Whatever the ages of those who see this film and one or more of its numerous special features, they will find much to enjoy and appreciate.

The story line is strikingly similar to the one in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. A daughter named Aurora is born to royal parents and then cursed to die by her 16th birthday by an evil fairy, Malificent. To protect her, three good fairies take her away, re-name her Briar Rose, and raise her themselves. A handsome prince meets her by chance, they fall in love, and agree to meet again soon. However, on the night of her 16th birthday, as she prepares to return to her parents and be crowned a princess, the evil fairy locates her and then.... Fortunately, everything eventually works out for Aurora as it also does for Snow White, Belle, and other Disney heroines.

I highly recommend this 50th anniversary celebration of one of Disney's most delightful animated films. Under-appreciated when first released, I think it will now receive the praise it so clearly deserves. Bravo!

strictly fans here is your christmas present!, 03 Nov 2008
if you are a fan of strictly or of dancing then this is the dvd for you! full of beautiful dances, even if you dont watch the show you will enjoy it!

The delirious sight of Meryl Streep leading a river of multigenerational women singing "Dancing Queen" is one of the high points of Mamma Mia!, the musical built around the songs of the hugely popular pop group ABBA. The plot sets in motion when Sophie (Amanda Seyfried, Mean Girls), daughter of Donna (Streep), sends a letter to three men, inviting them to her wedding--because after reading her mother's diary, she suspects that one of them is her father. When all three arrive at the Greek island where Donna runs a hotel, Donna flips out and finds that passions she thought she'd laid aside are coming back to life. But let's face it, the plot is not the point--it's a ridiculous contrivance that provides an excuse for the characters to sing the massive hits of ABBA. Regrettably, first-time film director Phyllida Lloyd (who directed the original stage production) has drawn over-the-top performances from everyone involved, even Streep; every production number hammers its exuberance into your eyeballs. Which is too bad, because Mamma Mia! is a rarity: A middle-aged love story. The kids start things off, but the story is really about Streep and the three guys (former James Bond Pierce Brosnan, former Mr. Darcy Colin Firth, and Swedish star Stellan Skarsgard), as well as Donna's best friends (Christine Baranski, best known from the TV show Cybill, and Julie Walters, Calendar Girls). It's a romantic comedy aimed at the people who were around when all these songs were new, and that's an age group Hollywood largely ignores. For that alone, Mamma Mia! deserves to find an audience. --Bret Fetzer

Clearly missing something, 21 Nov 2008
Am I only the person out there who found this film dull and annoying? Pierce Brosnan's singing was painful rather than funny. I enjoy a bit of cheesy music as much as the next man but 105 minutes of ABBA ended up feeling like 180 minutes.

Mamma Mia is Brilliant Amazing, Film of 2008 , 20 Nov 2008
Mamma Mia is amazing and incredible film, one of the best musicals ever to hit a Film Contains Fun, Laughts, Sexy Voices and more, I loved it so much i seen it in the Cinema 8 times alone and now ordered the DVD, Amanda Seyfried brings out the passion to her music and Sexy style from Honey Honey song, to the powerful Meryl singing The Winner Takes it all and the ballad surprise Great vocals from Pierce Brosnan with when all is said and done, the film will not disappointed you, You Will love it

BRILLIANT, 18 Nov 2008
A FEEL GOOD SMASHING MOVIE. I GOT DRAGGED TO THE CINEMA BY MY MUM AND SISTERS I WASNT LOOKING TOO FORWARD TO IT AS I DIDNT THINK I WOULD LIKE IT HOWEVER AFTER THE FIRST 15MINS I WAS CLEARLY WRONG. I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS FILM. ITS PERFECT FOR A DULL DAY WHEN ALL YOU NEED IS A BIT OF SUNSHINE!!

i am the dancing queen !!, 16 Nov 2008
The NHS should forget giving out out the huge amount of anti depressants that they do and buy mama mia in bulk and prescribe them with that instead.... this is the most feel good film i have ever know!!! great for nights in with the girlies as you can have a good old boogie and a sing song around the room, great if you have just been dumped altho is has romantic scenes in the fun factor and the comedy will soon make you forget your heartache.A totally cheesy but very vibrant, well put together, funny, exciting, camp, happy, positive film, seriously from the second you put in on you will be tapping your feet in time to the music and by the end of the film your be on your sofa throwing shapes and reliving your youth. GO ON YOU KNOW YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO........

The best movie ever, 16 Nov 2008
This is a brilliant movie and has alot of comedy in it. The producer has put all of the sngs in the perfect place so they make sense. This film is very funny and I would advise you watch it or if you already have then buy the dvd and cd.
Charlotte Tyson

They don't make 'em like this any more, 13 Nov 2008
This has always been my favourite Disney film, and I am so glad it's been given the loving restoration it deserves.

The fantastic detail and 1950s graphic take of gothic and medieval styles is positively breathtaking. For Walt Disney it was ground breaking (and almost bankrupting) to create something so meticulously detailed and stylistically consistent right down to the backgrounds, and the result is beautiful and atmospheric. The extras are all interesting, detailing the conceptual side of things, and added a whole new perspective on what was always my favourite childhood film (even though I was terrified of Maleficent and convinced she was under my bed).

Amazing as the new computer technology is, it just doesn't for me have the artistic soul and wonder of this kind of traditional animation (no offence to those talented folk who work long and hard creating it, it's just not my bag). Now we strive for 3D realism, in movies like this it was for a blending of styles/genres and a stylistic vision that I feel lost in the computer age. I doubt we'll see animation like this again, and for me that's a crying shame.

And on the character side of things... Flora, Fauna and Merriweather still crack me up, twenty years later.

Pink! Blue! Pink! Blue! PINK!, 10 Nov 2008
My daughter, like many others, is obsessed with Disney Princess and has watched this a few times now.

I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the transfer. The picture quality is superb - and the animation is the smoothest I've seen in a hand-drawn feature. It's probably wrong of me to assume that an animated film released 50 years ago wouldn't have the same level of animation quality as a modern film, and this has certainly quashed my preconceptions.

The story is simple, and the humour is basic - but there's a real charm to this early Disney film. Maybe it's the flawless animation, or the jaunty songs - but you soon see past the cheesy Prince Charming and enjoy this for the fairy tale that it is.


Sleeping Beauty , 31 Oct 2008
This region 2 UK 50th anniversary 2 disc edition has I'm sad to say, an authoring fault. It is not properly flagged as anamorphic 16x9, it appears the initial batch as I have had two copies now, are non anamorphic, resulting in the main feature playing with black bars on all four sides of the screen, rather than the usual widescreen bars top and bottom.

And before anyone asks, I have my dvd player and screen set up correctly.



Simply a remarkable and truely inspirational Disney film, 25 Oct 2008
very few animations can meet this standard of film making.
this was Walt Disneys' final fairy tale before his tragic death (r.i.p Walt...you are a true inspiration).
Sleeping Beauty had a complex style of animated style never ever before done to make it look extremely realistic.
and it all definately paid off to a great level...it is Disney (yet again) at its very best.
very few can beat it.
it blends its horror, fantasy, action and comedy together extremely well which earns it a high place on my list of ultimate films by Disney only beaten by The Little Mermaid and The Lion King.
a quality film that introduced us to the ultimate Disney villain ever created...Malefecent.
for me the fairy godmothers just steal it every time.
masterpiece is an understatement...well it beats Snow White and Pinocchio(not being controversial).
a well deserved re-release...i've been waiting and now i can watch it in high-definition...i can't wait till it gets to my doorstep:).
sheer movie magic.

After 50 years, even more dazzling and more delightful animation, 15 Oct 2008

This is a new release of a Disney classic that first appeared in 1959. As is my custom, I much prefer to watch an animated feature film with several of my younger grandchildren (ages 3-7) and did so again with Sleeping Beauty on its 50th anniversary. Once again, they were engrossed in the story line whereas I was somewhat more interested in how the quality of animation measures up (after 59 years) when compared and contrasted with recent films such as Toy Story and Toy Story 2, the three Shreks, Ratatouille, Cars, and Wall-E. It measures up remarkably well. Just as there is a certain charm in black-and-white classic films from the 1930's and 40's (e.g. Casablanca, The Little Shop Around the Corner, and It Happened One Night), the same is true of older Disney features (e.g. Dumbo, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Pinocchio) despite relatively less sophisticated animation.

There were also generational differences when my companions and I examined the special features that include "Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough (a fully immersive virtual tour), an all-new "Enchanted Dance Game," the "Dragon Encounter Audio Sensory Experience," and an all-new "Making of Sleeping beauty." Predictably, my grandchildren much preferred the supplementary games whereas I was (as always) intrigued by the "behind the screen" material such as a discussion of the film by John Lasseter of Pixar, the film critic Leonard Maltin, and the Disney animator Andreas Deja. The production values in this new edition are superb, especially in the Blu-ray version. The running time of 75 minutes seems just about right. Whatever the ages of those who see this film and one or more of its numerous special features, they will find much to enjoy and appreciate.

The story line is strikingly similar to the one in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. A daughter named Aurora is born to royal parents and then cursed to die by her 16th birthday by an evil fairy, Malificent. To protect her, three good fairies take her away, re-name her Briar Rose, and raise her themselves. A handsome prince meets her by chance, they fall in love, and agree to meet again soon. However, on the night of her 16th birthday, as she prepares to return to her parents and be crowned a princess, the evil fairy locates her and then.... Fortunately, everything eventually works out for Aurora as it also does for Snow White, Belle, and other Disney heroines.

I highly recommend this 50th anniversary celebration of one of Disney's most delightful animated films. Under-appreciated when first released, I think it will now receive the praise it so clearly deserves. Bravo!

strictly fans here is your christmas present!, 03 Nov 2008
if you are a fan of strictly or of dancing then this is the dvd for you! full of beautiful dances, even if you dont watch the show you will enjoy it!

excellent fun, 11 Nov 2008
This is a fun family film with excellent music. What more do you want?

Reviewers who bleat on about bad directing and wooden acting are totally missing the point of the film and need to lighten up a bit.


Ignore the critics and just enjoy it!, 31 Oct 2008
When I saw this in the cinema quite a few people were sniggering at Pierce Brosnan's singing and some critics have been quite scathing. But it's a valiant effort by non-singers and I applaud them for it.

There are very few movies that I watch more than once or twice, but I've seen this four times already. It's a hugely enjoyable feel-good movie, full of brilliant ABBA songs and just altogether great fun.

So ignore the critics, turn up the volume, soak up the beautiful Greek locations and enjoy. I can hardly wait for the Blu-ray DVD.

Moma mia - Daddy- DON'T!!, 27 Oct 2008
I really, really enjoyed watching this film because I am a pathetic, purile, idiot who who is easily amused by people singing a jolly song or two. I also enjoyed the bright colours and I ate some nice sweaties while I was watching it. I fully recommend a full labotmoy, I feel great.

Remember your hankies!, 15 Oct 2008
I went to see this film two weeks ago after resisting all summer, despite the nagging of my mother, sister, best friend and daughter to go and see it! Now I wish I had gone in the summer as it is really a light and frothy sweet rose wine of a film. Despite having made up my mind not to enjoy it, I left the cinema very glad that I had gone. I agree with some other contributors that the acting is not great given the quality of previous films made by some of the stars, and the plot is not exactly brain aching, but that's not the point of this film. The underlying messages of Mamma Mia seem to me to be about discovering what is important in life and seizing the moment...maybe its just my age, but I find myself reliving little moments in my memory and considering my decisions differently. I took my 11 year old daughter (who has just moved up to high school) to see this film; one of the times when we fulfilled the plans we had made before she 'slips through my fingers', and although the scene where Meryl Streep helps her daughter prepare for her wedding had us both in buckets of tears, they were very 'mother-daughter bonding' tears ...On reflection, definitely a film for the 'girls'!

Not a review of this product, 28 Sep 2008
I haven't yet seen the film, and as this blu-ray disk is yet to be released, I can't review that either. That doesn't stop me from being able to write a review here, which strikes me as completely pointless. I'm giving 5 stars as it wouldn't be fair to under-rate it based on the good things I've heard about the film. Amazon, please restrict reviews to customers that have actually purchased and experienced the actual product. i.e: the Blu-ray disk, the quality of the encoding, the sound, the extra features and the packaging, not the film itself! Amen

Camp Rock is a Disney Channel original movie about a rockin' teen summer camp that's highly appealing to tweenies and young teens despite the movie's failure to favourably compare with truly great Disney Channel movies like High School Musical. Joe Jonas (of the Jonas Brothers stars as Shane Gray, a member of the rock band Connect 3, who is compelled to serve as an instructor at Camp Rock in order to counteract his increasingly negative public image. Tess Tyler (Meaghan Jette Martin) is the camp diva whose self-absorption defies description, Caitlyn (Alyson Stoner) is a past Tess groupie who's now ostracised from the popular kids at camp, and Mitchie (Demi Lovato) is a camp newcomer whose mother is the camp cook. Caitlyn initially befriends Mitchie, but the friendship wanes when Mitchie makes up an elaborate story about her family to get accepted into Tess's exclusive clique. As Mitchie struggles to maintain her façade around camp, Shane begins to reform his bad-boy ways and find his own personal voice and he and Mitchie become friends--unfortunately, their new relationship is based partially on Mitchie's lies. In the end, Mitchie's deception is exposed as is Tess' true villainy and the perfect summer camp experience threatens to turn into the worst summer ever for everyone involved. Camp Rock is infused with lots of energy, fun choreography, and a ton of good, if not particularly memorable, music. Add in the cast of generally unlikable characters with extreme characteristics whose changes of heart at the end of the film are not particularly believable, and Disney's got an entertaining film for tweenies and teens that adults might just as well skip. --Tami Horiuchi

Clearly missing something, 21 Nov 2008
Am I only the person out there who found this film dull and annoying? Pierce Brosnan's singing was painful rather than funny. I enjoy a bit of cheesy music as much as the next man but 105 minutes of ABBA ended up feeling like 180 minutes.

Mamma Mia is Brilliant Amazing, Film of 2008 , 20 Nov 2008
Mamma Mia is amazing and incredible film, one of the best musicals ever to hit a Film Contains Fun, Laughts, Sexy Voices and more, I loved it so much i seen it in the Cinema 8 times alone and now ordered the DVD, Amanda Seyfried brings out the passion to her music and Sexy style from Honey Honey song, to the powerful Meryl singing The Winner Takes it all and the ballad surprise Great vocals from Pierce Brosnan with when all is said and done, the film will not disappointed you, You Will love it

BRILLIANT, 18 Nov 2008
A FEEL GOOD SMASHING MOVIE. I GOT DRAGGED TO THE CINEMA BY MY MUM AND SISTERS I WASNT LOOKING TOO FORWARD TO IT AS I DIDNT THINK I WOULD LIKE IT HOWEVER AFTER THE FIRST 15MINS I WAS CLEARLY WRONG. I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS FILM. ITS PERFECT FOR A DULL DAY WHEN ALL YOU NEED IS A BIT OF SUNSHINE!!

i am the dancing queen !!, 16 Nov 2008
The NHS should forget giving out out the huge amount of anti depressants that they do and buy mama mia in bulk and prescribe them with that instead.... this is the most feel good film i have ever know!!! great for nights in with the girlies as you can have a good old boogie and a sing song around the room, great if you have just been dumped altho is has romantic scenes in the fun factor and the comedy will soon make you forget your heartache.A totally cheesy but very vibrant, well put together, funny, exciting, camp, happy, positive film, seriously from the second you put in on you will be tapping your feet in time to the music and by the end of the film your be on your sofa throwing shapes and reliving your youth. GO ON YOU KNOW YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO........

The best movie ever, 16 Nov 2008
This is a brilliant movie and has alot of comedy in it. The producer has put all of the sngs in the perfect place so they make sense. This film is very funny and I would advise you watch it or if you already have then buy the dvd and cd.
Charlotte Tyson

They don't make 'em like this any more, 13 Nov 2008
This has always been my favourite Disney film, and I am so glad it's been given the loving restoration it deserves.

The fantastic detail and 1950s graphic take of gothic and medieval styles is positively breathtaking. For Walt Disney it was ground breaking (and almost bankrupting) to create something so meticulously detailed and stylistically consistent right down to the backgrounds, and the result is beautiful and atmospheric. The extras are all interesting, detailing the conceptual side of things, and added a whole new perspective on what was always my favourite childhood film (even though I was terrified of Maleficent and convinced she was under my bed).

Amazing as the new computer technology is, it just doesn't for me have the artistic soul and wonder of this kind of traditional animation (no offence to those talented folk who work long and hard creating it, it's just not my bag). Now we strive for 3D realism, in movies like this it was for a blending of styles/genres and a stylistic vision that I feel lost in the computer age. I doubt we'll see animation like this again, and for me that's a crying shame.

And on the character side of things... Flora, Fauna and Merriweather still crack me up, twenty years later.

Pink! Blue! Pink! Blue! PINK!, 10 Nov 2008
My daughter, like many others, is obsessed with Disney Princess and has watched this a few times now.

I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the transfer. The picture quality is superb - and the animation is the smoothest I've seen in a hand-drawn feature. It's probably wrong of me to assume that an animated film released 50 years ago wouldn't have the same level of animation quality as a modern film, and this has certainly quashed my preconceptions.

The story is simple, and the humour is basic - but there's a real charm to this early Disney film. Maybe it's the flawless animation, or the jaunty songs - but you soon see past the cheesy Prince Charming and enjoy this for the fairy tale that it is.


Sleeping Beauty , 31 Oct 2008
This region 2 UK 50th anniversary 2 disc edition has I'm sad to say, an authoring fault. It is not properly flagged as anamorphic 16x9, it appears the initial batch as I have had two copies now, are non anamorphic, resulting in the main feature playing with black bars on all four sides of the screen, rather than the usual widescreen bars top and bottom.

And before anyone asks, I have my dvd player and screen set up correctly.



Simply a remarkable and truely inspirational Disney film, 25 Oct 2008
very few animations can meet this standard of film making.
this was Walt Disneys' final fairy tale before his tragic death (r.i.p Walt...you are a true inspiration).
Sleeping Beauty had a complex style of animated style never ever before done to make it look extremely realistic.
and it all definately paid off to a great level...it is Disney (yet again) at its very best.
very few can beat it.
it blends its horror, fantasy, action and comedy together extremely well which earns it a high place on my list of ultimate films by Disney only beaten by The Little Mermaid and The Lion King.
a quality film that introduced us to the ultimate Disney villain ever created...Malefecent.
for me the fairy godmothers just steal it every time.
masterpiece is an understatement...well it beats Snow White and Pinocchio(not being controversial).
a well deserved re-release...i've been waiting and now i can watch it in high-definition...i can't wait till it gets to my doorstep:).
sheer movie magic.

After 50 years, even more dazzling and more delightful animation, 15 Oct 2008

This is a new release of a Disney classic that first appeared in 1959. As is my custom, I much prefer to watch an animated feature film with several of my younger grandchildren (ages 3-7) and did so again with Sleeping Beauty on its 50th anniversary. Once again, they were engrossed in the story line whereas I was somewhat more interested in how the quality of animation measures up (after 59 years) when compared and contrasted with recent films such as Toy Story and Toy Story 2, the three Shreks, Ratatouille, Cars, and Wall-E. It measures up remarkably well. Just as there is a certain charm in black-and-white classic films from the 1930's and 40's (e.g. Casablanca, The Little Shop Around the Corner, and It Happened One Night), the same is true of older Disney features (e.g. Dumbo, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Pinocchio) despite relatively less sophisticated animation.

There were also generational differences when my companions and I examined the special features that include "Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough (a fully immersive virtual tour), an all-new "Enchanted Dance Game," the "Dragon Encounter Audio Sensory Experience," and an all-new "Making of Sleeping beauty." Predictably, my grandchildren much preferred the supplementary games whereas I was (as always) intrigued by the "behind the screen" material such as a discussion of the film by John Lasseter of Pixar, the film critic Leonard Maltin, and the Disney animator Andreas Deja. The production values in this new edition are superb, especially in the Blu-ray version. The running time of 75 minutes seems just about right. Whatever the ages of those who see this film and one or more of its numerous special features, they will find much to enjoy and appreciate.

The story line is strikingly similar to the one in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. A daughter named Aurora is born to royal parents and then cursed to die by her 16th birthday by an evil fairy, Malificent. To protect her, three good fairies take her away, re-name her Briar Rose, and raise her themselves. A handsome prince meets her by chance, they fall in love, and agree to meet again soon. However, on the night of her 16th birthday, as she prepares to return to her parents and be crowned a princess, the evil fairy locates her and then.... Fortunately, everything eventually works out for Aurora as it also does for Snow White, Belle, and other Disney heroines.

I highly recommend this 50th anniversary celebration of one of Disney's most delightful animated films. Under-appreciated when first released, I think it will now receive the praise it so clearly deserves. Bravo!

strictly fans here is your christmas present!, 03 Nov 2008
if you are a fan of strictly or of dancing then this is the dvd for you! full of beautiful dances, even if you dont watch the show you will enjoy it!

excellent fun, 11 Nov 2008
This is a fun family film with excellent music. What more do you want?

Reviewers who bleat on about bad directing and wooden acting are totally missing the point of the film and need to lighten up a bit.


Ignore the critics and just enjoy it!, 31 Oct 2008
When I saw this in the cinema quite a few people were sniggering at Pierce Brosnan's singing and some critics have been quite scathing. But it's a valiant effort by non-singers and I applaud them for it.

There are very few movies that I watch more than once or twice, but I've seen this four times already. It's a hugely enjoyable feel-good movie, full of brilliant ABBA songs and just altogether great fun.

So ignore the critics, turn up the volume, soak up the beautiful Greek locations and enjoy. I can hardly wait for the Blu-ray DVD.

Moma mia - Daddy- DON'T!!, 27 Oct 2008
I really, really enjoyed watching this film because I am a pathetic, purile, idiot who who is easily amused by people singing a jolly song or two. I also enjoyed the bright colours and I ate some nice sweaties while I was watching it. I fully recommend a full labotmoy, I feel great.

Remember your hankies!, 15 Oct 2008
I went to see this film two weeks ago after resisting all summer, despite the nagging of my mother, sister, best friend and daughter to go and see it! Now I wish I had gone in the summer as it is really a light and frothy sweet rose wine of a film. Despite having made up my mind not to enjoy it, I left the cinema very glad that I had gone. I agree with some other contributors that the acting is not great given the quality of previous films made by some of the stars, and the plot is not exactly brain aching, but that's not the point of this film. The underlying messages of Mamma Mia seem to me to be about discovering what is important in life and seizing the moment...maybe its just my age, but I find myself reliving little moments in my memory and considering my decisions differently. I took my 11 year old daughter (who has just moved up to high school) to see this film; one of the times when we fulfilled the plans we had made before she 'slips through my fingers', and although the scene where Meryl Streep helps her daughter prepare for her wedding had us both in buckets of tears, they were very 'mother-daughter bonding' tears ...On reflection, definitely a film for the 'girls'!

Not a review of this product, 28 Sep 2008
I haven't yet seen the film, and as this blu-ray disk is yet to be released, I can't review that either. That doesn't stop me from being able to write a review here, which strikes me as completely pointless. I'm giving 5 stars as it wouldn't be fair to under-rate it based on the good things I've heard about the film. Amazon, please restrict reviews to customers that have actually purchased and experienced the actual product. i.e: the Blu-ray disk, the quality of the encoding, the sound, the extra features and the packaging, not the film itself! Amen

Camp rock Rocks, 15 Oct 2008
Bearing mind this is a kids movie it was well made and the songs and storyline were good for the target audiernce. As I parent I even enjoyed and the songs are catchy and fun.

..., 01 Oct 2008
Well I Absolutley HATED high school musical the entire film just irritates me. But i have to admit , the signing in this movie was actually really good and the songs were pretty catchy. The storyline wasnt particually original but it was still worth watching. I'd recommend renting this movie or watchig it on disney channel before you buy it though.

Camp Rock , 22 Sep 2008
If you love High school musical you are sure to like camp rock. Camp rock makes more sense. The story it self is not that great i was disapointed in this movie as it could have been alot better than it is.
The film should of been called Camp PoP as it is not rock music.
The songs are cheesie but catchy.

Camp Rock rocks?, 19 Aug 2008
I'm a die hard Jonas Brothers fan but I have to admit I was disopointed by it's corny-ness and writing. The actors could have done so much better but Disney can't seem to make it anymore
Despite this it still rocks and has some amazingly catchy songs and the Jonas Brothers so look fine :]

Clearly missing something, 21 Nov 2008
Am I only the person out there who found this film dull and annoying? Pierce Brosnan's singing was painful rather than funny. I enjoy a bit of cheesy music as much as the next man but 105 minutes of ABBA ended up feeling like 180 minutes.

Mamma Mia is Brilliant Amazing, Film of 2008 , 20 Nov 2008
Mamma Mia is amazing and incredible film, one of the best musicals ever to hit a Film Contains Fun, Laughts, Sexy Voices and more, I loved it so much i seen it in the Cinema 8 times alone and now ordered the DVD, Amanda Seyfried brings out the passion to her music and Sexy style from Honey Honey song, to the powerful Meryl singing The Winner Takes it all and the ballad surprise Great vocals from Pierce Brosnan with when all is said and done, the film will not disappointed you, You Will love it

BRILLIANT, 18 Nov 2008
A FEEL GOOD SMASHING MOVIE. I GOT DRAGGED TO THE CINEMA BY MY MUM AND SISTERS I WASNT LOOKING TOO FORWARD TO IT AS I DIDNT THINK I WOULD LIKE IT HOWEVER AFTER THE FIRST 15MINS I WAS CLEARLY WRONG. I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS FILM. ITS PERFECT FOR A DULL DAY WHEN ALL YOU NEED IS A BIT OF SUNSHINE!!

i am the dancing queen !!, 16 Nov 2008
The NHS should forget giving out out the huge amount of anti depressants that they do and buy mama mia in bulk and prescribe them with that instead.... this is the most feel good film i have ever know!!! great for nights in with the girlies as you can have a good old boogie and a sing song around the room, great if you have just been dumped altho is has romantic scenes in the fun factor and the comedy will soon make you forget your heartache.A totally cheesy but very vibrant, well put together, funny, exciting, camp, happy, positive film, seriously from the second you put in on you will be tapping your feet in time to the music and by the end of the film your be on your sofa throwing shapes and reliving your youth. GO ON YOU KNOW YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO........

The best movie ever, 16 Nov 2008
This is a brilliant movie and has alot of comedy in it. The producer has put all of the sngs in the perfect place so they make sense. This film is very funny and I would advise you watch it or if you already have then buy the dvd and cd.
Charlotte Tyson

They don't make 'em like this any more, 13 Nov 2008
This has always been my favourite Disney film, and I am so glad it's been given the loving restoration it deserves.

The fantastic detail and 1950s graphic take of gothic and medieval styles is positively breathtaking. For Walt Disney it was ground breaking (and almost bankrupting) to create something so meticulously detailed and stylistically consistent right down to the backgrounds, and the result is beautiful and atmospheric. The extras are all interesting, detailing the conceptual side of things, and added a whole new perspective on what was always my favourite childhood film (even though I was terrified of Maleficent and convinced she was under my bed).

Amazing as the new computer technology is, it just doesn't for me have the artistic soul and wonder of this kind of traditional animation (no offence to those talented folk who work long and hard creating it, it's just not my bag). Now we strive for 3D realism, in movies like this it was for a blending of styles/genres and a stylistic vision that I feel lost in the computer age. I doubt we'll see animation like this again, and for me that's a crying shame.

And on the character side of things... Flora, Fauna and Merriweather still crack me up, twenty years later.

Pink! Blue! Pink! Blue! PINK!, 10 Nov 2008
My daughter, like many others, is obsessed with Disney Princess and has watched this a few times now.

I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the transfer. The picture quality is superb - and the animation is the smoothest I've seen in a hand-drawn feature. It's probably wrong of me to assume that an animated film released 50 years ago wouldn't have the same level of animation quality as a modern film, and this has certainly quashed my preconceptions.

The story is simple, and the humour is basic - but there's a real charm to this early Disney film. Maybe it's the flawless animation, or the jaunty songs - but you soon see past the cheesy Prince Charming and enjoy this for the fairy tale that it is.


Sleeping Beauty , 31 Oct 2008
This region 2 UK 50th anniversary 2 disc edition has I'm sad to say, an authoring fault. It is not properly flagged as anamorphic 16x9, it appears the initial batch as I have had two copies now, are non anamorphic, resulting in the main feature playing with black bars on all four sides of the screen, rather than the usual widescreen bars top and bottom.

And before anyone asks, I have my dvd player and screen set up correctly.



Simply a remarkable and truely inspirational Disney film, 25 Oct 2008
very few animations can meet this standard of film making.
this was Walt Disneys' final fairy tale before his tragic death (r.i.p Walt...you are a true inspiration).
Sleeping Beauty had a complex style of animated style never ever before done to make it look extremely realistic.
and it all definately paid off to a great level...it is Disney (yet again) at its very best.
very few can beat it.
it blends its horror, fantasy, action and comedy together extremely well which earns it a high place on my list of ultimate films by Disney only beaten by The Little Mermaid and The Lion King.
a quality film that introduced us to the ultimate Disney villain ever created...Malefecent.
for me the fairy godmothers just steal it every time.
masterpiece is an understatement...well it beats Snow White and Pinocchio(not being controversial).
a well deserved re-release...i've been waiting and now i can watch it in high-definition...i can't wait till it gets to my doorstep:).
sheer movie magic.

After 50 years, even more dazzling and more delightful animation, 15 Oct 2008

This is a new release of a Disney classic that first appeared in 1959. As is my custom, I much prefer to watch an animated feature film with several of my younger grandchildren (ages 3-7) and did so again with Sleeping Beauty on its 50th anniversary. Once again, they were engrossed in the story line whereas I was somewhat more interested in how the quality of animation measures up (after 59 years) when compared and contrasted with recent films such as Toy Story and Toy Story 2, the three Shreks, Ratatouille, Cars, and Wall-E. It measures up remarkably well. Just as there is a certain charm in black-and-white classic films from the 1930's and 40's (e.g. Casablanca, The Little Shop Around the Corner, and It Happened One Night), the same is true of older Disney features (e.g. Dumbo, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Pinocchio) despite relatively less sophisticated animation.

There were also generational differences when my companions and I examined the special features that include "Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough (a fully immersive virtual tour), an all-new "Enchanted Dance Game," the "Dragon Encounter Audio Sensory Experience," and an all-new "Making of Sleeping beauty." Predictably, my grandchildren much preferred the supplementary games whereas I was (as always) intrigued by the "behind the screen" material such as a discussion of the film by John Lasseter of Pixar, the film critic Leonard Maltin, and the Disney animator Andreas Deja. The production values in this new edition are superb, especially in the Blu-ray version. The running time of 75 minutes seems just about right. Whatever the ages of those who see this film and one or more of its numerous special features, they will find much to enjoy and appreciate.

The story line is strikingly similar to the one in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. A daughter named Aurora is born to royal parents and then cursed to die by her 16th birthday by an evil fairy, Malificent. To protect her, three good fairies take her away, re-name her Briar Rose, and raise her themselves. A handsome prince meets her by chance, they fall in love, and agree to meet again soon. However, on the night of her 16th birthday, as she prepares to return to her parents and be crowned a princess, the evil fairy locates her and then.... Fortunately, everything eventually works out for Aurora as it also does for Snow White, Belle, and other Disney heroines.

I highly recommend this 50th anniversary celebration of one of Disney's most delightful animated films. Under-appreciated when first released, I think it will now receive the praise it so clearly deserves. Bravo!

strictly fans here is your christmas present!, 03 Nov 2008
if you are a fan of strictly or of dancing then this is the dvd for you! full of beautiful dances, even if you dont watch the show you will enjoy it!

excellent fun, 11 Nov 2008
This is a fun family film with excellent music. What more do you want?

Reviewers who bleat on about bad directing and wooden acting are totally missing the point of the film and need to lighten up a bit.


Ignore the critics and just enjoy it!, 31 Oct 2008
When I saw this in the cinema quite a few people were sniggering at Pierce Brosnan's singing and some critics have been quite scathing. But it's a valiant effort by non-singers and I applaud them for it.

There are very few movies that I watch more than once or twice, but I've seen this four times already. It's a hugely enjoyable feel-good movie, full of brilliant ABBA songs and just altogether great fun.

So ignore the critics, turn up the volume, soak up the beautiful Greek locations and enjoy. I can hardly wait for the Blu-ray DVD.

Moma mia - Daddy- DON'T!!, 27 Oct 2008
I really, really enjoyed watching this film because I am a pathetic, purile, idiot who who is easily amused by people singing a jolly song or two. I also enjoyed the bright colours and I ate some nice sweaties while I was watching it. I fully recommend a full labotmoy, I feel great.

Remember your hankies!, 15 Oct 2008
I went to see this film two weeks ago after resisting all summer, despite the nagging of my mother, sister, best friend and daughter to go and see it! Now I wish I had gone in the summer as it is really a light and frothy sweet rose wine of a film. Despite having made up my mind not to enjoy it, I left the cinema very glad that I had gone. I agree with some other contributors that the acting is not great given the quality of previous films made by some of the stars, and the plot is not exactly brain aching, but that's not the point of this film. The underlying messages of Mamma Mia seem to me to be about discovering what is important in life and seizing the moment...maybe its just my age, but I find myself reliving little moments in my memory and considering my decisions differently. I took my 11 year old daughter (who has just moved up to high school) to see this film; one of the times when we fulfilled the plans we had made before she 'slips through my fingers', and although the scene where Meryl Streep helps her daughter prepare for her wedding had us both in buckets of tears, they were very 'mother-daughter bonding' tears ...On reflection, definitely a film for the 'girls'!

Not a review of this product, 28 Sep 2008
I haven't yet seen the film, and as this blu-ray disk is yet to be released, I can't review that either. That doesn't stop me from being able to write a review here, which strikes me as completely pointless. I'm giving 5 stars as it wouldn't be fair to under-rate it based on the good things I've heard about the film. Amazon, please restrict reviews to customers that have actually purchased and experienced the actual product. i.e: the Blu-ray disk, the quality of the encoding, the sound, the extra features and the packaging, not the film itself! Amen

Camp rock Rocks, 15 Oct 2008
Bearing mind this is a kids movie it was well made and the songs and storyline were good for the target audiernce. As I parent I even enjoyed and the songs are catchy and fun.

..., 01 Oct 2008
Well I Absolutley HATED high school musical the entire film just irritates me. But i have to admit , the signing in this movie was actually really good and the songs were pretty catchy. The storyline wasnt particually original but it was still worth watching. I'd recommend renting this movie or watchig it on disney channel before you buy it though.

Camp Rock , 22 Sep 2008
If you love High school musical you are sure to like camp rock. Camp rock makes more sense. The story it self is not that great i was disapointed in this movie as it could have been alot better than it is.
The film should of been called Camp PoP as it is not rock music.
The songs are cheesie but catchy.

Camp Rock rocks?, 19 Aug 2008
I'm a die hard Jonas Brothers fan but I have to admit I was disopointed by it's corny-ness and writing. The actors could have done so much better but Disney can't seem to make it anymore
Despite this it still rocks and has some amazingly catchy songs and the Jonas Brothers so look fine :]

One for all the family!, 12 Nov 2008
We bought this on Monday and watched it last night with our eldest daughter - who is getting into ballet. She was totally transfixed by Darcey Bussell, who just shines in this. It was such a delight to see her perform like this, as a full blown ballet is a bit hard for kids to sit through. We loved it too! Katherine Jenkins sparkles, and her voice is in fine form. For a credit crunch night in this is hard to beat for all round family entertainment, and will be lovely at Christmas for the whole family to get together to watch.

Something for everyone, 12 Nov 2008
I saw the production of Viva La Diva at the 02 and thought it was a great nights entertainment. I watched the DVD of the show last night and thoroughly enjoyed it all over again. Viva La Diva is a spectacular traditional musical variety show, good choice of songs from Katherine Jenkins (I especially loved her rendition of The Man Who Got Away)some great dance numbers from Darcey Bussell and Gary Avis (Bandwagon, The Flamenco were my favourites) and you have to take your top hat off to a great orchestra and company of dancers and singers too. Loved it. If you are looking for a stocking filler for Christmas, make sure you give it to someone you will be spending the day with. Enjoy your turkey, watch the Queen's Speech and then sit back and get ready to be entertained. If you time it right you can then go straight into the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special!!
Apologies, just read a couple of the other reviews, particularly the comments on production. I used the word 'traditional' with regard to the production, I think it also applies to the filming, which I felt was very good, it was simply done certainly, but in a good way with no irritating and overly clever edits etc and the sound was good too. I think the style of filming gives the viewer control over what they focus on, the cameras stay back quite a lot so you can see the scale and spectacle and goes in close to draw you in to the individual performance etc. and the energy of the show really comes across, which is often what dissapoints when you re-visit something on film that you have already seen live. I had no issues with the quality at all. I think that the DVD may not appeal to the viewer who is used to a more 'MTV music video' style of entertainment where the energy comes from the edit rather than the performer. A sweeping generalisation I know, but hope you get my point. Those of you who already know what you are going to get with Katherine Jenkins, Darcey Bussell and Gary Avis will enjoy this DVD as it delivers it in abundance. Those of you who are less familiar with them, I think, will enjoy getting to know you them by watching this production. Katherine Jenkins proves she is more than a great singer, Darcey Bussell dances in so many styles that we have not seen from her before and Gary Avis, well if there was ever a re-incarnation of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly in one human being, he must surely be it. Fabulous. Hope this helps.
Viva La Diva - Darcey Bussell and Katherine Jenkins

Just like the stage play..., 12 Nov 2008
We went to see the show and WOW, We could not wait for the DVD to be released and its the WOW all over again....well worth the wait and well worth watching it again and again. If you saw the show or missed it this DVD is just amazing!


Absolutely Brilliant , 11 Nov 2008
This is such an amazing DVD. I pre-ordered it ages ago and the family sat down to watch it last night. Katherine and Darcey look amazing and the singing and dancing is really fabulous. Guess what my mum's getting for Christmas? Viva La Diva!!

Has Anyone Actually Seen The DVD??, 11 Nov 2008
I'm sorry but thus far there are just reviews of the live show which will always be better than a DVD. Only one review has described the DVD so far, which is what we are looking to buy, NOT tickets to the show. Anyone got anything positive to say about the DVD to counter the poor review the production got? Is it worth buying this product or waiting until a better re-edited version appears?

There is only one word that comes close to accurately describing the enchanting Mary Poppins, and that term was coined by the movie itself: supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Even at 2 hours and 20 minutes, Disney's pioneering mixture of live action and animation (based on the books by P.L. Travers) still holds kids spellbound. Julie Andrews won an Oscar as the world's most magically idealized nanny ("practically perfect in every way," and complete with lighter-than-air umbrella), and Dick Van Dyke is her clownishly charming beau, Bert the chimney sweep. The songs are also terrific, ranging from bright and cheery ("A Spoonful of Sugar") to dark and cheery (the Oscar-winning "Chim-Chim Cheree") to touchingly melancholy ("Feed the Birds"). Many consider Mary Poppins to be the crowning achievement of Walt Disney's career--and it was the only one of his features to be nominated for a best picture Academy Award until Beauty and the Beast in 1991. --Jim Emerson A pioneering film within Animation, Musicals and Fantasy, Walt Disney's Mary Poppins is possibly one of the warmest and dearest films ever made. Based on a story by PL Travers we find Julie Andrews on fine form in her debut lead role (for which she would win the "Best Actress" Oscar). She is practically perfectly teamed with Dick Van Dyke as the lovable chimney sweep Burt, whose cockney accent is endearingly inaccurate. Along with a fine supporting cast, where even the child actors hold their own without appearing like stage school wannabes, Poppins and her crew take you on a magical ride through chalk pictures, the roof tops of London and show you that laughter is not always the best medicine (even with a spoon full of sugar) when you can't get down. In total Mary Poppins clocked up five Academy Awards including Best Song and Best Visual Effects and has made it into the staple diet of family viewing across the world.

On the DVD: Mary Poppins has certainly cleaned up a treat, restoring her to 1.85:1 widescreen glory and 5.1 Dolby digital sound--which is guaranteed to be music to your ears. The special features are "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" with the "Sing Along with the Movie" subtitles for all your favourite songs when they appear in the movie and the "I Love to Laugh" game offering Uncle Albert flying high in his parlour once more. "The Movie Magic of Mary Poppins" lets you look behind the scenes at how the magic was done and is fun, informative and easily understandable--pity the same cannot be said about the narrator. "Hollywood goes to a World Premiere" is a warm and amusing reminder about how premieres and stars used to be in 1964. The only disappointment is the lack of commentary--Dick Van Dyke would surely have offered a gem of a cockney voice-over! --Nikki Disney

Clearly missing something, 21 Nov 2008
Am I only the person out there who found this film dull and annoying? Pierce Brosnan's singing was painful rather than funny. I enjoy a bit of cheesy music as much as the next man but 105 minutes of ABBA ended up feeling like 180 minutes.

Mamma Mia is Brilliant Amazing, Film of 2008 , 20 Nov 2008
Mamma Mia is amazing and incredible film, one of the best musicals ever to hit a Film Contains Fun, Laughts, Sexy Voices and more, I loved it so much i seen it in the Cinema 8 times alone and now ordered the DVD, Amanda Seyfried brings out the passion to her music and Sexy style from Honey Honey song, to the powerful Meryl singing The Winner Takes it all and the ballad surprise Great vocals from Pierce Brosnan with when all is said and done, the film will not disappointed you, You Will love it

BRILLIANT, 18 Nov 2008
A FEEL GOOD SMASHING MOVIE. I GOT DRAGGED TO THE CINEMA BY MY MUM AND SISTERS I WASNT LOOKING TOO FORWARD TO IT AS I DIDNT THINK I WOULD LIKE IT HOWEVER AFTER THE FIRST 15MINS I WAS CLEARLY WRONG. I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS FILM. ITS PERFECT FOR A DULL DAY WHEN ALL YOU NEED IS A BIT OF SUNSHINE!!

i am the dancing queen !!, 16 Nov 2008
The NHS should forget giving out out the huge amount of anti depressants that they do and buy mama mia in bulk and prescribe them with that instead.... this is the most feel good film i have ever know!!! great for nights in with the girlies as you can have a good old boogie and a sing song around the room, great if you have just been dumped altho is has romantic scenes in the fun factor and the comedy will soon make you forget your heartache.A totally cheesy but very vibrant, well put together, funny, exciting, camp, happy, positive film, seriously from the second you put in on you will be tapping your feet in time to the music and by the end of the film your be on your sofa throwing shapes and reliving your youth. GO ON YOU KNOW YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO........

The best movie ever, 16 Nov 2008
This is a brilliant movie and has alot of comedy in it. The producer has put all of the sngs in the perfect place so they make sense. This film is very funny and I would advise you watch it or if you already have then buy the dvd and cd.
Charlotte Tyson

They don't make 'em like this any more, 13 Nov 2008
This has always been my favourite Disney film, and I am so glad it's been given the loving restoration it deserves.

The fantastic detail and 1950s graphic take of gothic and medieval styles is positively breathtaking. For Walt Disney it was ground breaking (and almost bankrupting) to create something so meticulously detailed and stylistically consistent right down to the backgrounds, and the result is beautiful and atmospheric. The extras are all interesting, detailing the conceptual side of things, and added a whole new perspective on what was always my favourite childhood film (even though I was terrified of Maleficent and convinced she was under my bed).

Amazing as the new computer technology is, it just doesn't for me have the artistic soul and wonder of this kind of traditional animation (no offence to those talented folk who work long and hard creating it, it's just not my bag). Now we strive for 3D realism, in movies like this it was for a blending of styles/genres and a stylistic vision that I feel lost in the computer age. I doubt we'll see animation like this again, and for me that's a crying shame.

And on the character side of things... Flora, Fauna and Merriweather still crack me up, twenty years later.

Pink! Blue! Pink! Blue! PINK!, 10 Nov 2008
My daughter, like many others, is obsessed with Disney Princess and has watched this a few times now.

I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the transfer. The picture quality is superb - and the animation is the smoothest I've seen in a hand-drawn feature. It's probably wrong of me to assume that an animated film released 50 years ago wouldn't have the same level of animation quality as a modern film, and this has certainly quashed my preconceptions.

The story is simple, and the humour is basic - but there's a real charm to this early Disney film. Maybe it's the flawless animation, or the jaunty songs - but you soon see past the cheesy Prince Charming and enjoy this for the fairy tale that it is.


Sleeping Beauty , 31 Oct 2008
This region 2 UK 50th anniversary 2 disc edition has I'm sad to say, an authoring fault. It is not properly flagged as anamorphic 16x9, it appears the initial batch as I have had two copies now, are non anamorphic, resulting in the main feature playing with black bars on all four sides of the screen, rather than the usual widescreen bars top and bottom.

And before anyone asks, I have my dvd player and screen set up correctly.



Simply a remarkable and truely inspirational Disney film, 25 Oct 2008
very few animations can meet this standard of film making.
this was Walt Disneys' final fairy tale before his tragic death (r.i.p Walt...you are a true inspiration).
Sleeping Beauty had a complex style of animated style never ever before done to make it look extremely realistic.
and it all definately paid off to a great level...it is Disney (yet again) at its very best.
very few can beat it.
it blends its horror, fantasy, action and comedy together extremely well which earns it a high place on my list of ultimate films by Disney only beaten by The Little Mermaid and The Lion King.
a quality film that introduced us to the ultimate Disney villain ever created...Malefecent.
for me the fairy godmothers just steal it every time.
masterpiece is an understatement...well it beats Snow White and Pinocchio(not being controversial).
a well deserved re-release...i've been waiting and now i can watch it in high-definition...i can't wait till it gets to my doorstep:).
sheer movie magic.

After 50 years, even more dazzling and more delightful animation, 15 Oct 2008

This is a new release of a Disney classic that first appeared in 1959. As is my custom, I much prefer to watch an animated feature film with several of my younger grandchildren (ages 3-7) and did so again with Sleeping Beauty on its 50th anniversary. Once again, they were engrossed in the story line whereas I was somewhat more interested in how the quality of animation measures up (after 59 years) when compared and contrasted with recent films such as Toy Story and Toy Story 2, the three Shreks, Ratatouille, Cars, and Wall-E. It measures up remarkably well. Just as there is a certain charm in black-and-white classic films from the 1930's and 40's (e.g. Casablanca, The Little Shop Around the Corner, and It Happened One Night), the same is true of older Disney features (e.g. Dumbo, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Pinocchio) despite relatively less sophisticated animation.

There were also generational differences when my companions and I examined the special features that include "Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough (a fully immersive virtual tour), an all-new "Enchanted Dance Game," the "Dragon Encounter Audio Sensory Experience," and an all-new "Making of Sleeping beauty." Predictably, my grandchildren much preferred the supplementary games whereas I was (as always) intrigued by the "behind the screen" material such as a discussion of the film by John Lasseter of Pixar, the film critic Leonard Maltin, and the Disney animator Andreas Deja. The production values in this new edition are superb, especially in the Blu-ray version. The running time of 75 minutes seems just about right. Whatever the ages of those who see this film and one or more of its numerous special features, they will find much to enjoy and appreciate.

The story line is strikingly similar to the one in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. A daughter named Aurora is born to royal parents and then cursed to die by her 16th birthday by an evil fairy, Malificent. To protect her, three good fairies take her away, re-name her Briar Rose, and raise her themselves. A handsome prince meets her by chance, they fall in love, and agree to meet again soon. However, on the night of her 16th birthday, as she prepares to return to her parents and be crowned a princess, the evil fairy locates her and then.... Fortunately, everything eventually works out for Aurora as it also does for Snow White, Belle, and other Disney heroines.

I highly recommend this 50th anniversary celebration of one of Disney's most delightful animated films. Under-appreciated when first released, I think it will now receive the praise it so clearly deserves. Bravo!

strictly fans here is your christmas present!, 03 Nov 2008
if you are a fan of strictly or of dancing then this is the dvd for you! full of beautiful dances, even if you dont watch the show you will enjoy it!

excellent fun, 11 Nov 2008
This is a fun family film with excellent music. What more do you want?

Reviewers who bleat on about bad directing and wooden acting are totally missing the point of the film and need to lighten up a bit.


Ignore the critics and just enjoy it!, 31 Oct 2008
When I saw this in the cinema quite a few people were sniggering at Pierce Brosnan's singing and some critics have been quite scathing. But it's a valiant effort by non-singers and I applaud them for it.

There are very few movies that I watch more than once or twice, but I've seen this four times already. It's a hugely enjoyable feel-good movie, full of brilliant ABBA songs and just altogether great fun.

So ignore the critics, turn up the volume, soak up the beautiful Greek locations and enjoy. I can hardly wait for the Blu-ray DVD.

Moma mia - Daddy- DON'T!!, 27 Oct 2008
I really, really enjoyed watching this film because I am a pathetic, purile, idiot who who is easily amused by people singing a jolly song or two. I also enjoyed the bright colours and I ate some nice sweaties while I was watching it. I fully recommend a full labotmoy, I feel great.

Remember your hankies!, 15 Oct 2008
I went to see this film two weeks ago after resisting all summer, despite the nagging of my mother, sister, best friend and daughter to go and see it! Now I wish I had gone in the summer as it is really a light and frothy sweet rose wine of a film. Despite having made up my mind not to enjoy it, I left the cinema very glad that I had gone. I agree with some other contributors that the acting is not great given the quality of previous films made by some of the stars, and the plot is not exactly brain aching, but that's not the point of this film. The underlying messages of Mamma Mia seem to me to be about discovering what is important in life and seizing the moment...maybe its just my age, but I find myself reliving little moments in my memory and considering my decisions differently. I took my 11 year old daughter (who has just moved up to high school) to see this film; one of the times when we fulfilled the plans we had made before she 'slips through my fingers', and although the scene where Meryl Streep helps her daughter prepare for her wedding had us both in buckets of tears, they were very 'mother-daughter bonding' tears ...On reflection, definitely a film for the 'girls'!

Not a review of this product, 28 Sep 2008
I haven't yet seen the film, and as this blu-ray disk is yet to be released, I can't review that either. That doesn't stop me from being able to write a review here, which strikes me as completely pointless. I'm giving 5 stars as it wouldn't be fair to under-rate it based on the good things I've heard about the film. Amazon, please restrict reviews to customers that have actually purchased and experienced the actual product. i.e: the Blu-ray disk, the quality of the encoding, the sound, the extra features and the packaging, not the film itself! Amen

Camp rock Rocks, 15 Oct 2008
Bearing mind this is a kids movie it was well made and the songs and storyline were good for the target audiernce. As I parent I even enjoyed and the songs are catchy and fun.

..., 01 Oct 2008
Well I Absolutley HATED high school musical the entire film just irritates me. But i have to admit , the signing in this movie was actually really good and the songs were pretty catchy. The storyline wasnt particually original but it was still worth watching. I'd recommend renting this movie or watchig it on disney channel before you buy it though.

Camp Rock , 22 Sep 2008
If you love High school musical you are sure to like camp rock. Camp rock makes more sense. The story it self is not that great i was disapointed in this movie as it could have been alot better than it is.
The film should of been called Camp PoP as it is not rock music.
The songs are cheesie but catchy.

Camp Rock rocks?, 19 Aug 2008
I'm a die hard Jonas Brothers fan but I have to admit I was disopointed by it's corny-ness and writing. The actors could have done so much better but Disney can't seem to make it anymore
Despite this it still rocks and has some amazingly catchy songs and the Jonas Brothers so look fine :]

One for all the family!, 12 Nov 2008
We bought this on Monday and watched it last night with our eldest daughter - who is getting into ballet. She was totally transfixed by Darcey Bussell, who just shines in this. It was such a delight to see her perform like this, as a full blown ballet is a bit hard for kids to sit through. We loved it too! Katherine Jenkins sparkles, and her voice is in fine form. For a credit crunch night in this is hard to beat for all round family entertainment, and will be lovely at Christmas for the whole family to get together to watch.

Something for everyone, 12 Nov 2008