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

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!

Disney's 1967 animated feature The Jungle Book seems even more entertaining now than it did upon first release, with a hall-of-fame vocal performance by Phil Harris as Baloo, the genial bear friend of feral child Mowgli. Loosely based on Rudyard Kipling's original, the film goes its own way as Disney animation will, but the strong characters and smart casting (George Sanders as the villainous tiger, Shere Khan) make it one of the studio's stronger feature-length cartoons. Songs include "The Bare Necessities" and "Trust in Me". --Tom KeoghOne of the very best animated films that the Walt Disney Studio has ever released (and the last to be produced by Walt Disney himself), and as downright brilliant as it was on its debut in 1967, The Jungle Book makes a very welcome return to DVD in this excellent 40th anniversary double-disc set.

Based loosely on the Rudyard Kipling's book of the same name, the film tells the story of man-cub Mowgli, and the friends he makes in the jungle. And it's these friends who ignite the film, with some of the most memorable characters and songs that Disney has ever put on the screen. Kings of The Jungle Book are the likes of Baloo the Bear, King Louie the villainous Shere Khan the Tiger, while supporting characters such as Colonel Hathi are just as memorable. It's astonishing that it packs so much and so many into its relatively short running time.

It's an amazing achievement too that The Jungle Book bristles with such energy and fun, and that it's just as likely to enthral the current generation of youngsters as well as those of us who saw it first time round. And when those songs start playing--from Bare Necessities through to I Wanna Be Like You--it'll take some effort to not start tapping your feet. A brilliant, brilliant film, and as vintage as the Disney back catalogue gets. --Simon Brew

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!

Look for the bear necessities, 27 Jul 2008
In one of Walt Disney's classics, Bagheera the panther offers to take Mowgli, a young boy, to the man village before the evil tiger Shere Khan gets to him.

This family adventure is a classic, made so by a beautiful sentimental plot about human emotions, including loyalty, sensitivity and most importantly love. And these human emotions are decoded through the animals of the jungle.

With the enchanting and fun loving actions of Baloo the bear and the honest and hard actions of Bagheera, do audiences get that true feel of the human spirit, and the facts of life, to have fun, but to face the truth as well, which is also reflected in some of the most catchy and enjoyable songs ever created for a Disney picture.

"The Bear Necessities", "Trust in me" and "That's what friends are for" are the brightest gems to have ever been written and are beautifully directed and told through humorous and delightful techniques by the team.

Though the plot can be a little slow at times, the characters are all joys to watch, particularly the bad guys Khan and Kaa, who light up the film in their own dark way. Khan's dialogue is perhaps the best ever written for an animated villain and even in my adult years I find him chilling to watch.

The film explores the depths of the jungle with a keen interest in different animals, which are explored in a comic fashion from the forgettable elephant to the bored vultures, the Jungle Book simply has everything.

From an excellent plot, to the wonderful sing-along songs, it is a true landmark in the animation genre.

9/10

Get in Quick!, 05 Jun 2008
This is definitely the edition of the Jungle Book DVD to buy! The DVDs themselves are the same as in the standard 40th anniversary edition and there are many reviews covering that aspect of this set under that items Amazon listing. So I won't cover that part in detail I'll just say that it is a five star DVD production in its own right!

This limited edition collector's item won't be around forever so get in quick! At the time of writing there is only a couple of pounds difference in price between this and the standard edition - a small price for collectors to pay.

This set comes in a book-shaped box containing the DVDs themselves and the bonus book. The book is about the same size as a DVD box and tells the Jungle Book story in illustrations from the film. Some reviewers may have preferred a copy of the Jungle Book itself but it is this charming little book is what actually makes this set collectable! It is only available as a part of this package.

For those who want a copy of the book of the Jungle Book Amazon have them starting from about £1.50 - so it won't break the bank to have both! If you know what to expect you won't be disappointed, and you won't be disappointed with this edition.


A Great Disney Film..., 26 Mar 2008
This film is very enjoyable!
I would say this is the best Disney film made so far because it has a really good storyline, which is: Mowgli a little baby in a basket was found by a panther called Bagheera, who gave this man cub (as the animals call it) to the wolf pack to raise.
Years go by and the man cub, Mowgli had gotten so used to the jungle. Bagheera the panther realised that one day he had to take him to the man village.
When Bagheera tries to take Mowgli to the man village, Mowgli runs away and meets a friendly, whacky bear called Baloo.
After meeting Baloo, Mowlgi and the bear start to become friends and now Mowgli wants to live with him in the jungle.
Baloo and Mowgli sing a nice happy song about the 'Bear Necessities' which you might have heard of and then Mowlgi lies on Baloo's stomach in the water and suddenly a monkey grabs Mowgli and starts to tease Baloo.
It gets worse.
He takes him to the crazy, loony monkey king called King Louie who wants to know the key to make fire and this funny character is played by none other than Louie Prima.
There is also another song but this time is sung by Louie Prima.
This scene with the monkey king is my favourite part of the film.
After this scene Bagheera explains to Baloo why mowgli should go to the man village, after this Baloo realises that he should have took him to the man village with Bagheera.
When he tries to Mowgli runs away again and this time he runs into some vultures who sing him an entertaining song about friends.
Now it's the exciting bit.
Shere Khan the tiger finishes off the last part of the song which is quite humorous and then he gives 10 seconds to Mowgli to run and instead of running Mowgli picks up a stick with some fire on it and scares Shere Khan with it.
After this is Kipling's ending to a great story which is: A girl with a container for some water goes to get some water and Mowgli gets curious and interested.
She then drops her container on purpose so Mowgli goes to fill it up for her... he does.
Baloo says: 'She did that on purpose!'
'Obviously' said the wise panther.

The Bottom Line: Shere Khan the tiger has returned to the jungle and hates man with a vengeance, he is also afriad of fire + Mowgli does not want to go to the man village.

I would recommend buying this spectacular, animated film.
This would make a fantastic Christmas gift and is fun for all ages.



Magical and Timeless, a joy from start to finish !, 06 Feb 2008
Enchanting and wonderful story about a boy who lives in the jungle and comes across some brilliant characters along the way from a posh panther to a fun loving bear, clumsy elephants, swinging monkeys, seductive snakes and a ferocious tiger. The songs are timeless and will live forever and this special DVD has some great extras from deleted songs to lost characters !

A classic to be enjoyed by everyone !

King of the Swingers, 04 Feb 2008
I was never a massive Jungle Book fan. When I was a kid it just wasn't one of the films I'd really seen much of. Disney's Robin Hood was the main Disney film I experienced. But recently I watched this DVD and realised how fantastic the film really is....

...The style of this film seems more akin to a detailed Japanese anime film than an American animated feature. The backgrounds are so detailed and the colours vivid (helped in this release by the digital remastering). But let's face it, this film isn't necessarily about the visuals - it's the music that has ensured this film has secured iconic status.

The tracks are catchy, and genuinely so - they aren't childish songs, they are proper musical tracks performed by esteemed artists at the time. The music seems to match up perfectly with the characters. Instead of trendy pop songs, you get classic numbers which have never dated.

This release has plenty of additional features; I enjoyed these, but long term Jungle Book fans will love them. From a decent `making of' to a deleted additional character - the DVD has the kind of features DVDs *should* have.

Perfect for the whole family to enjoy, the issues are adult ones, the themes are quite serious - so parents don't feel they are `lowering themselves' when watching. If you watch this and then don't find yourself singing "The Bare Necessities" as a result, then you must have a medical condition preventing you to do so - or you're in a library and would get chucked out.

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

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!

Look for the bear necessities, 27 Jul 2008
In one of Walt Disney's classics, Bagheera the panther offers to take Mowgli, a young boy, to the man village before the evil tiger Shere Khan gets to him.

This family adventure is a classic, made so by a beautiful sentimental plot about human emotions, including loyalty, sensitivity and most importantly love. And these human emotions are decoded through the animals of the jungle.

With the enchanting and fun loving actions of Baloo the bear and the honest and hard actions of Bagheera, do audiences get that true feel of the human spirit, and the facts of life, to have fun, but to face the truth as well, which is also reflected in some of the most catchy and enjoyable songs ever created for a Disney picture.

"The Bear Necessities", "Trust in me" and "That's what friends are for" are the brightest gems to have ever been written and are beautifully directed and told through humorous and delightful techniques by the team.

Though the plot can be a little slow at times, the characters are all joys to watch, particularly the bad guys Khan and Kaa, who light up the film in their own dark way. Khan's dialogue is perhaps the best ever written for an animated villain and even in my adult years I find him chilling to watch.

The film explores the depths of the jungle with a keen interest in different animals, which are explored in a comic fashion from the forgettable elephant to the bored vultures, the Jungle Book simply has everything.

From an excellent plot, to the wonderful sing-along songs, it is a true landmark in the animation genre.

9/10

Get in Quick!, 05 Jun 2008
This is definitely the edition of the Jungle Book DVD to buy! The DVDs themselves are the same as in the standard 40th anniversary edition and there are many reviews covering that aspect of this set under that items Amazon listing. So I won't cover that part in detail I'll just say that it is a five star DVD production in its own right!

This limited edition collector's item won't be around forever so get in quick! At the time of writing there is only a couple of pounds difference in price between this and the standard edition - a small price for collectors to pay.

This set comes in a book-shaped box containing the DVDs themselves and the bonus book. The book is about the same size as a DVD box and tells the Jungle Book story in illustrations from the film. Some reviewers may have preferred a copy of the Jungle Book itself but it is this charming little book is what actually makes this set collectable! It is only available as a part of this package.

For those who want a copy of the book of the Jungle Book Amazon have them starting from about £1.50 - so it won't break the bank to have both! If you know what to expect you won't be disappointed, and you won't be disappointed with this edition.


A Great Disney Film..., 26 Mar 2008
This film is very enjoyable!
I would say this is the best Disney film made so far because it has a really good storyline, which is: Mowgli a little baby in a basket was found by a panther called Bagheera, who gave this man cub (as the animals call it) to the wolf pack to raise.
Years go by and the man cub, Mowgli had gotten so used to the jungle. Bagheera the panther realised that one day he had to take him to the man village.
When Bagheera tries to take Mowgli to the man village, Mowgli runs away and meets a friendly, whacky bear called Baloo.
After meeting Baloo, Mowlgi and the bear start to become friends and now Mowgli wants to live with him in the jungle.
Baloo and Mowgli sing a nice happy song about the 'Bear Necessities' which you might have heard of and then Mowlgi lies on Baloo's stomach in the water and suddenly a monkey grabs Mowgli and starts to tease Baloo.
It gets worse.
He takes him to the crazy, loony monkey king called King Louie who wants to know the key to make fire and this funny character is played by none other than Louie Prima.
There is also another song but this time is sung by Louie Prima.
This scene with the monkey king is my favourite part of the film.
After this scene Bagheera explains to Baloo why mowgli should go to the man village, after this Baloo realises that he should have took him to the man village with Bagheera.
When he tries to Mowgli runs away again and this time he runs into some vultures who sing him an entertaining song about friends.
Now it's the exciting bit.
Shere Khan the tiger finishes off the last part of the song which is quite humorous and then he gives 10 seconds to Mowgli to run and instead of running Mowgli picks up a stick with some fire on it and scares Shere Khan with it.
After this is Kipling's ending to a great story which is: A girl with a container for some water goes to get some water and Mowgli gets curious and interested.
She then drops her container on purpose so Mowgli goes to fill it up for her... he does.
Baloo says: 'She did that on purpose!'
'Obviously' said the wise panther.

The Bottom Line: Shere Khan the tiger has returned to the jungle and hates man with a vengeance, he is also afriad of fire + Mowgli does not want to go to the man village.

I would recommend buying this spectacular, animated film.
This would make a fantastic Christmas gift and is fun for all ages.



Magical and Timeless, a joy from start to finish !, 06 Feb 2008
Enchanting and wonderful story about a boy who lives in the jungle and comes across some brilliant characters along the way from a posh panther to a fun loving bear, clumsy elephants, swinging monkeys, seductive snakes and a ferocious tiger. The songs are timeless and will live forever and this special DVD has some great extras from deleted songs to lost characters !

A classic to be enjoyed by everyone !

King of the Swingers, 04 Feb 2008
I was never a massive Jungle Book fan. When I was a kid it just wasn't one of the films I'd really seen much of. Disney's Robin Hood was the main Disney film I experienced. But recently I watched this DVD and realised how fantastic the film really is....

...The style of this film seems more akin to a detailed Japanese anime film than an American animated feature. The backgrounds are so detailed and the colours vivid (helped in this release by the digital remastering). But let's face it, this film isn't necessarily about the visuals - it's the music that has ensured this film has secured iconic status.

The tracks are catchy, and genuinely so - they aren't childish songs, they are proper musical tracks performed by esteemed artists at the time. The music seems to match up perfectly with the characters. Instead of trendy pop songs, you get classic numbers which have never dated.

This release has plenty of additional features; I enjoyed these, but long term Jungle Book fans will love them. From a decent `making of' to a deleted additional character - the DVD has the kind of features DVDs *should* have.

Perfect for the whole family to enjoy, the issues are adult ones, the themes are quite serious - so parents don't feel they are `lowering themselves' when watching. If you watch this and then don't find yourself singing "The Bare Necessities" as a result, then you must have a medical condition preventing you to do so - or you're in a library and would get chucked out.


A Spoon full of pure delight !, 06 Feb 2008
This film follows the character of Mary Poppins the nanny who's practically perfect in every way. This timeless classic has magical and unforgettable songs for the whole family to enjoy. And this special 40th anniversary edition has some brilliant extras from a new short story with Julie Andrews, cut songs and a documentary of the making of the film.



"Most delightful in every way", 22 Nov 2007
This 40th Anniversary Edition on Mary Poppins is a credit all the re-releases that have both boggled (with odd cuts/features) and enhanced our experiences. Packed with extras and the restored film, its a bargain!
The first thing you'll notice, if like me you've been stingy enough to stick to your VHS version when it was on TV, is that the sheer clarity makes it appear like it was filmed yesterday. Bright, bold colours, not a single defect in clarity, it could easily pass as a new release. Theirs no 'cell' shake like on original features too, were it would appear as if the screen was a bit shakey at times.
If you've taken an interest into this film (and you've never seen it) then it's likely you've gathered the storyline by now, so I won't pound on with what happens. But as far as Disneys go, this is on level with Bed Knobs and Broomsticks when it comes to superior technicality and animation.
I have to admit, this is the first time i've seen the film for over 10 years, and it's never looked so good. As a kid, we hammered the video it was so magical, and as an adult you only appreciate the work that's been put in it further. The merging of cell animation with the acting is truly seamless, and entertaining in its own right because is just so clever. Though this is actually a rare Disney in that the animation is spread through the film - its only used for a few scenes in the first half of the film. And perhaps this allowed Disney to concentrate their time better on producing such tight and accurate merges with the actors, from Dick van Dyk seemingly dancing around the penguins (while they dance around him) to the incredible horse chase scene. But in an of the instances, most credit goes to the actors for their sheer ability to percieve how they're going interact with the animation, in the latter stages of production. This must have been incredibly time consuming, but it was worth it, because this is something no computer generated film can copy. The combining of art and acting.
The dance scenes are perfect as usual - in time, and incredibly (almost cringingly!) impossible, as the chimney sweepers smoothly dart about all over the place. The musical score ties in nicely, and gives the extra edge to the animated sequences.
Favourite scene? Has to be Berts (Dick van dyk) and May Poppins (Julie Andrews) jolly outing as they group enter the summery animated world. The way they interact with their surroundings is truly amazing, from Bert picking a bunch of cell animated flowers and giving them to Mary, to the general composition and landscape, to which both actors ramble about in the perfect directions that don't look un-real at all. You may think I'm hapring on about this theme, but it has to be seen, thought of, and the realised that this is film making at its creative peak.
This 2 disc edition contains fantastic extras that explain in great detail how the many wonderful effects were created, and a fab commentary in the film too. I can't recommend this DVD enough. I had to laugh though at the only 1 star review for this film.. why not check it out for yourself!

The movie every kid on earth should wacth, 31 Oct 2006
Mary Poppins is undoubtedly among the most terrific stories ever told on celluloid for children. It has it all: comedy, music, values, colours, dreams all packed in 2 hours together with the beautiful Julie Andrews. If you wacthed it when you were young the memory will stay with you for the rest of your life, if you didn't you still have the chanche to come back in time and enjoy it for the first time. GO AND GET A COPY.

Someone wrote that they found it boring, lacking in plot and full of cheesy music. My opinion is that you would have liked it as a kid, but growing up you simply lost your capability of astonishment.

SuperWonderfullcalifragilisticExtraordinary, 16 Apr 2006
I love Disney filmas a lot. Well I have Disney in all my veins. Mary Poppins is a wonderful film. Well written, well acting, adn animated as well. The songas are among the best of Disney. What can I say more... Buy it!

A Disney classic, 02 Mar 2006
Mary Poppins (40th Anniversary edition) is truly a classic movie and a real treat for Disney fans, to experience watching and reliving the magical moments of Disney at your home.

What make it a great movie? An all round cast featuring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke (with his rather dodgy London accent). A great setting based in a dark and gloomy London. Not forgettinng Disney's trademark of musical songs. Remember songs like A Spoonful of Sugar, that just a simple and nice worded song. A good mix of animation , which is pretty amazing. The extra featured are excellent with rare and exclusive interviews with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. For the kids, you can sang along to the songs featured in the movie.

The perfect treat for Dinsey fans and a good collector item.

Now perhaps the most beloved American film, It's a Wonderful Life was largely forgotten for years, due to a copyright quirk. Only in the late 1970s did it find its audience through repeated TV showings. Frank Capra's masterwork deserves its status as a feel-good communal event, but it is also one of the most fascinating films in the American cinema, a multilayered work of Dickensian density. George Bailey (played superbly by James Stewart) grows up in the small town of Bedford Falls, dreaming dreams of adventure and travel, but circumstances conspire to keep him enslaved to his home turf. Frustrated by his life, and haunted by an impending scandal, George prepares to commit suicide on Christmas Eve. A heavenly messenger (Henry Travers) arrives to show him a vision: what the world would have been like if George had never been born. The sequence is a vivid depiction of the American Dream gone bad, and probably the wildest thing Capra ever shot (the director's optimistic vision may have darkened during his experiences making military films in World War II). Capra's triumph is to acknowledge the difficulties and disappointments of life, while affirming--in the teary-eyed final reel--his cherished values of friendship and individual achievement. It's a Wonderful Life was not a big hit on its initial release, and it won no Oscars (Capra and Stewart were nominated); but it continues to weave a special magic. --Robert Horton

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!

Look for the bear necessities, 27 Jul 2008
In one of Walt Disney's classics, Bagheera the panther offers to take Mowgli, a young boy, to the man village before the evil tiger Shere Khan gets to him.

This family adventure is a classic, made so by a beautiful sentimental plot about human emotions, including loyalty, sensitivity and most importantly love. And these human emotions are decoded through the animals of the jungle.

With the enchanting and fun loving actions of Baloo the bear and the honest and hard actions of Bagheera, do audiences get that true feel of the human spirit, and the facts of life, to have fun, but to face the truth as well, which is also reflected in some of the most catchy and enjoyable songs ever created for a Disney picture.

"The Bear Necessities", "Trust in me" and "That's what friends are for" are the brightest gems to have ever been written and are beautifully directed and told through humorous and delightful techniques by the team.

Though the plot can be a little slow at times, the characters are all joys to watch, particularly the bad guys Khan and Kaa, who light up the film in their own dark way. Khan's dialogue is perhaps the best ever written for an animated villain and even in my adult years I find him chilling to watch.

The film explores the depths of the jungle with a keen interest in different animals, which are explored in a comic fashion from the forgettable elephant to the bored vultures, the Jungle Book simply has everything.

From an excellent plot, to the wonderful sing-along songs, it is a true landmark in the animation genre.

9/10

Get in Quick!, 05 Jun 2008
This is definitely the edition of the Jungle Book DVD to buy! The DVDs themselves are the same as in the standard 40th anniversary edition and there are many reviews covering that aspect of this set under that items Amazon listing. So I won't cover that part in detail I'll just say that it is a five star DVD production in its own right!

This limited edition collector's item won't be around forever so get in quick! At the time of writing there is only a couple of pounds difference in price between this and the standard edition - a small price for collectors to pay.

This set comes in a book-shaped box containing the DVDs themselves and the bonus book. The book is about the same size as a DVD box and tells the Jungle Book story in illustrations from the film. Some reviewers may have preferred a copy of the Jungle Book itself but it is this charming little book is what actually makes this set collectable! It is only available as a part of this package.

For those who want a copy of the book of the Jungle Book Amazon have them starting from about £1.50 - so it won't break the bank to have both! If you know what to expect you won't be disappointed, and you won't be disappointed with this edition.


A Great Disney Film..., 26 Mar 2008
This film is very enjoyable!
I would say this is the best Disney film made so far because it has a really good storyline, which is: Mowgli a little baby in a basket was found by a panther called Bagheera, who gave this man cub (as the animals call it) to the wolf pack to raise.
Years go by and the man cub, Mowgli had gotten so used to the jungle. Bagheera the panther realised that one day he had to take him to the man village.
When Bagheera tries to take Mowgli to the man village, Mowgli runs away and meets a friendly, whacky bear called Baloo.
After meeting Baloo, Mowlgi and the bear start to become friends and now Mowgli wants to live with him in the jungle.
Baloo and Mowgli sing a nice happy song about the 'Bear Necessities' which you might have heard of and then Mowlgi lies on Baloo's stomach in the water and suddenly a monkey grabs Mowgli and starts to tease Baloo.
It gets worse.
He takes him to the crazy, loony monkey king called King Louie who wants to know the key to make fire and this funny character is played by none other than Louie Prima.
There is also another song but this time is sung by Louie Prima.
This scene with the monkey king is my favourite part of the film.
After this scene Bagheera explains to Baloo why mowgli should go to the man village, after this Baloo realises that he should have took him to the man village with Bagheera.
When he tries to Mowgli runs away again and this time he runs into some vultures who sing him an entertaining song about friends.
Now it's the exciting bit.
Shere Khan the tiger finishes off the last part of the song which is quite humorous and then he gives 10 seconds to Mowgli to run and instead of running Mowgli picks up a stick with some fire on it and scares Shere Khan with it.
After this is Kipling's ending to a great story which is: A girl with a container for some water goes to get some water and Mowgli gets curious and interested.
She then drops her container on purpose so Mowgli goes to fill it up for her... he does.
Baloo says: 'She did that on purpose!'
'Obviously' said the wise panther.

The Bottom Line: Shere Khan the tiger has returned to the jungle and hates man with a vengeance, he is also afriad of fire + Mowgli does not want to go to the man village.

I would recommend buying this spectacular, animated film.
This would make a fantastic Christmas gift and is fun for all ages.



Magical and Timeless, a joy from start to finish !, 06 Feb 2008
Enchanting and wonderful story about a boy who lives in the jungle and comes across some brilliant characters along the way from a posh panther to a fun loving bear, clumsy elephants, swinging monkeys, seductive snakes and a ferocious tiger. The songs are timeless and will live forever and this special DVD has some great extras from deleted songs to lost characters !

A classic to be enjoyed by everyone !

King of the Swingers, 04 Feb 2008
I was never a massive Jungle Book fan. When I was a kid it just wasn't one of the films I'd really seen much of. Disney's Robin Hood was the main Disney film I experienced. But recently I watched this DVD and realised how fantastic the film really is....

...The style of this film seems more akin to a detailed Japanese anime film than an American animated feature. The backgrounds are so detailed and the colours vivid (helped in this release by the digital remastering). But let's face it, this film isn't necessarily about the visuals - it's the music that has ensured this film has secured iconic status.

The tracks are catchy, and genuinely so - they aren't childish songs, they are proper musical tracks performed by esteemed artists at the time. The music seems to match up perfectly with the characters. Instead of trendy pop songs, you get classic numbers which have never dated.

This release has plenty of additional features; I enjoyed these, but long term Jungle Book fans will love them. From a decent `making of' to a deleted additional character - the DVD has the kind of features DVDs *should* have.

Perfect for the whole family to enjoy, the issues are adult ones, the themes are quite serious - so parents don't feel they are `lowering themselves' when watching. If you watch this and then don't find yourself singing "The Bare Necessities" as a result, then you must have a medical condition preventing you to do so - or you're in a library and would get chucked out.


A Spoon full of pure delight !, 06 Feb 2008
This film follows the character of Mary Poppins the nanny who's practically perfect in every way. This timeless classic has magical and unforgettable songs for the whole family to enjoy. And this special 40th anniversary edition has some brilliant extras from a new short story with Julie Andrews, cut songs and a documentary of the making of the film.



"Most delightful in every way", 22 Nov 2007
This 40th Anniversary Edition on Mary Poppins is a credit all the re-releases that have both boggled (with odd cuts/features) and enhanced our experiences. Packed with extras and the restored film, its a bargain!
The first thing you'll notice, if like me you've been stingy enough to stick to your VHS version when it was on TV, is that the sheer clarity makes it appear like it was filmed yesterday. Bright, bold colours, not a single defect in clarity, it could easily pass as a new release. Theirs no 'cell' shake like on original features too, were it would appear as if the screen was a bit shakey at times.
If you've taken an interest into this film (and you've never seen it) then it's likely you've gathered the storyline by now, so I won't pound on with what happens. But as far as Disneys go, this is on level with Bed Knobs and Broomsticks when it comes to superior technicality and animation.
I have to admit, this is the first time i've seen the film for over 10 years, and it's never looked so good. As a kid, we hammered the video it was so magical, and as an adult you only appreciate the work that's been put in it further. The merging of cell animation with the acting is truly seamless, and entertaining in its own right because is just so clever. Though this is actually a rare Disney in that the animation is spread through the film - its only used for a few scenes in the first half of the film. And perhaps this allowed Disney to concentrate their time better on producing such tight and accurate merges with the actors, from Dick van Dyk seemingly dancing around the penguins (while they dance around him) to the incredible horse chase scene. But in an of the instances, most credit goes to the actors for their sheer ability to percieve how they're going interact with the animation, in the latter stages of production. This must have been incredibly time consuming, but it was worth it, because this is something no computer generated film can copy. The combining of art and acting.
The dance scenes are perfect as usual - in time, and incredibly (almost cringingly!) impossible, as the chimney sweepers smoothly dart about all over the place. The musical score ties in nicely, and gives the extra edge to the animated sequences.
Favourite scene? Has to be Berts (Dick van dyk) and May Poppins (Julie Andrews) jolly outing as they group enter the summery animated world. The way they interact with their surroundings is truly amazing, from Bert picking a bunch of cell animated flowers and giving them to Mary, to the general composition and landscape, to which both actors ramble about in the perfect directions that don't look un-real at all. You may think I'm hapring on about this theme, but it has to be seen, thought of, and the realised that this is film making at its creative peak.
This 2 disc edition contains fantastic extras that explain in great detail how the many wonderful effects were created, and a fab commentary in the film too. I can't recommend this DVD enough. I had to laugh though at the only 1 star review for this film.. why not check it out for yourself!

The movie every kid on earth should wacth, 31 Oct 2006
Mary Poppins is undoubtedly among the most terrific stories ever told on celluloid for children. It has it all: comedy, music, values, colours, dreams all packed in 2 hours together with the beautiful Julie Andrews. If you wacthed it when you were young the memory will stay with you for the rest of your life, if you didn't you still have the chanche to come back in time and enjoy it for the first time. GO AND GET A COPY.

Someone wrote that they found it boring, lacking in plot and full of cheesy music. My opinion is that you would have liked it as a kid, but growing up you simply lost your capability of astonishment.

SuperWonderfullcalifragilisticExtraordinary, 16 Apr 2006
I love Disney filmas a lot. Well I have Disney in all my veins. Mary Poppins is a wonderful film. Well written, well acting, adn animated as well. The songas are among the best of Disney. What can I say more... Buy it!

A Disney classic, 02 Mar 2006
Mary Poppins (40th Anniversary edition) is truly a classic movie and a real treat for Disney fans, to experience watching and reliving the magical moments of Disney at your home.

What make it a great movie? An all round cast featuring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke (with his rather dodgy London accent). A great setting based in a dark and gloomy London. Not forgettinng Disney's trademark of musical songs. Remember songs like A Spoonful of Sugar, that just a simple and nice worded song. A good mix of animation , which is pretty amazing. The extra featured are excellent with rare and exclusive interviews with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. For the kids, you can sang along to the songs featured in the movie.

The perfect treat for Dinsey fans and a good collector item.

A film that really warms your heart, 01 Nov 2008
I'm one of the many people who get depressed around Christmas time, i get stressed out and just cant handle it. When i feel like giving in, i watch its a wonderful life. This film can bring me back from the brink of despair, and makes me remember what Christmas is actually about! Being with family, enjoying each others company. Its a truly amazing film, that really warms your heart. Any other humbugs out there like me, should watch this, and remember the true spirit of Christmas!

Best film ever?, 22 Oct 2008
I was lent this by a colleague at work and was pretty sceptical as I really didn't think it would be my kind of film... how wrong could I be! I have since watched it many times and it is arguably my favourite film of all time.

I suggest you watch this once even if you don't think it is for you... and if you don't shed a tear at the end you probably need to check your pulse!

Best Feel Good Film EVER!, 18 Jul 2008
This is one of my all time favourites. This film has the best feel good factor of any movie I have ever watched. Definitley one for the family at Christmas time! I too have a tradition with this film. Chritmas Eve, Children in Bed, Husband & I wrapping presents, glass of Wine & watching It's a Wonderful Life.............If you have NEVER seen this film, please buy it, you will never regret it. I have never met anyone who doesn't like this movie!!!!

Magical; changed my life, 22 Jun 2008
Good films have the power to inspire, amaze and leave audiences captivated.
Legendary films have the power to change lives and the way we as humans look at the world forever.
This is an unforgettable film. All Christians (who are devout and religious) ought to watch this film.
I am not Christian, nontheless this film had not only left me crying by the end, completely moved, but ultimately like George (the lead character)it prompted and encourgaed me to understand that all our lives no matter who we are or what we do are truly worth living. Maybe like George (and I know I may be spoiling it here), we should ask ourselves how many peoples' lives have 'I 'changed or influenced for the better. Maybe like George, we would only truly begin to appreciate life and see it as a miracle after our 'guardian angels' have descended from heaven and showed us what the world would be like if we hadn't been born.
A fundamentally simple, yet phenomenal film. It's power and beauty lies in utterly convincing us that life is worth living no matter what; as well as the potential, innate kindness, compassion laying deep within all our hearts as humans, and I can think of no higher praise for any film.

I would give this film a million stars if I could; I would 'lasso the moon' and give it not just stars but the whole moon if I could. I cannot recommend it highly enough.


A Timeless Classic Feel Good Film for All the Family a gem, 09 Jun 2008
George Bailey played by James Stewart is an ordinary guy who wants to rid himself of his home town of Bedford Falls and see the World......Fate however has it that he stays in Bedford Falls and gets married to Mary aka the beautiful Donna Mills and has kids taking on his fathers Building and Loan small business struggling to make ends meet he comes up against a ruthless business shark in Mr Potter played with perfection by Lionel Barrymore....what transpires from here is a desperate man at his wits end looking for an answer only to find it in an angel named Clarence.....will George survive and see the light? It's a Wonderful Life is undoubtedly the best film ever to hit celluloid and probably James Stewart's greatest ever role...This film inspires you to a higher level when watching it ...taking you on an emotional roller coaster ride of life which there is a lot of identification.....The cast is exemplary the storyline oozes class and this film will still be popular in another 100 years it's a gem...

Peter Pan has a special place in the realm of classic animated Disney films: it instills an element of childlike wonder. The 1953 version of James M. Barrie's story is colourfully told and keeps on the straight and narrow of the book. Barrie's wondrous focus on child's play is the key to its longevity: kids who don't grow up, shadows that run away from their owners, pirates, a fairy, and the magic ability to fly. In short, you can't help wishing the adventure would happen to you. Fueled by a few memorable songs (the stunner being "You Can Fly") and the strong impression of the pixie fairy Tinkerbell and the goofy Captain Hook, Disney's version of this story neither supplants nor lessens the Broadway version with Mary Martin that was produced for television the same decade. Unlike some classics, Peter Pan never ages along the way. --Doug Thomas

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!

Look for the bear necessities, 27 Jul 2008
In one of Walt Disney's classics, Bagheera the panther offers to take Mowgli, a young boy, to the man village before the evil tiger Shere Khan gets to him.

This family adventure is a classic, made so by a beautiful sentimental plot about human emotions, including loyalty, sensitivity and most importantly love. And these human emotions are decoded through the animals of the jungle.

With the enchanting and fun loving actions of Baloo the bear and the honest and hard actions of Bagheera, do audiences get that true feel of the human spirit, and the facts of life, to have fun, but to face the truth as well, which is also reflected in some of the most catchy and enjoyable songs ever created for a Disney picture.

"The Bear Necessities", "Trust in me" and "That's what friends are for" are the brightest gems to have ever been written and are beautifully directed and told through humorous and delightful techniques by the team.

Though the plot can be a little slow at times, the characters are all joys to watch, particularly the bad guys Khan and Kaa, who light up the film in their own dark way. Khan's dialogue is perhaps the best ever written for an animated villain and even in my adult years I find him chilling to watch.

The film explores the depths of the jungle with a keen interest in different animals, which are explored in a comic fashion from the forgettable elephant to the bored vultures, the Jungle Book simply has everything.

From an excellent plot, to the wonderful sing-along songs, it is a true landmark in the animation genre.

9/10

Get in Quick!, 05 Jun 2008
This is definitely the edition of the Jungle Book DVD to buy! The DVDs themselves are the same as in the standard 40th anniversary edition and there are many reviews covering that aspect of this set under that items Amazon listing. So I won't cover that part in detail I'll just say that it is a five star DVD production in its own right!

This limited edition collector's item won't be around forever so get in quick! At the time of writing there is only a couple of pounds difference in price between this and the standard edition - a small price for collectors to pay.

This set comes in a book-shaped box containing the DVDs themselves and the bonus book. The book is about the same size as a DVD box and tells the Jungle Book story in illustrations from the film. Some reviewers may have preferred a copy of the Jungle Book itself but it is this charming little book is what actually makes this set collectable! It is only available as a part of this package.

For those who want a copy of the book of the Jungle Book Amazon have them starting from about £1.50 - so it won't break the bank to have both! If you know what to expect you won't be disappointed, and you won't be disappointed with this edition.


A Great Disney Film..., 26 Mar 2008
This film is very enjoyable!
I would say this is the best Disney film made so far because it has a really good storyline, which is: Mowgli a little baby in a basket was found by a panther called Bagheera, who gave this man cub (as the animals call it) to the wolf pack to raise.
Years go by and the man cub, Mowgli had gotten so used to the jungle. Bagheera the panther realised that one day he had to take him to the man village.
When Bagheera tries to take Mowgli to the man village, Mowgli runs away and meets a friendly, whacky bear called Baloo.
After meeting Baloo, Mowlgi and the bear start to become friends and now Mowgli wants to live with him in the jungle.
Baloo and Mowgli sing a nice happy song about the 'Bear Necessities' which you might have heard of and then Mowlgi lies on Baloo's stomach in the water and suddenly a monkey grabs Mowgli and starts to tease Baloo.
It gets worse.
He takes him to the crazy, loony monkey king called King Louie who wants to know the key to make fire and this funny character is played by none other than Louie Prima.
There is also another song but this time is sung by Louie Prima.
This scene with the monkey king is my favourite part of the film.
After this scene Bagheera explains to Baloo why mowgli should go to the man village, after this Baloo realises that he should have took him to the man village with Bagheera.
When he tries to Mowgli runs away again and this time he runs into some vultures who sing him an entertaining song about friends.
Now it's the exciting bit.
Shere Khan the tiger finishes off the last part of the song which is quite humorous and then he gives 10 seconds to Mowgli to run and instead of running Mowgli picks up a stick with some fire on it and scares Shere Khan with it.
After this is Kipling's ending to a great story which is: A girl with a container for some water goes to get some water and Mowgli gets curious and interested.
She then drops her container on purpose so Mowgli goes to fill it up for her... he does.
Baloo says: 'She did that on purpose!'
'Obviously' said the wise panther.

The Bottom Line: Shere Khan the tiger has returned to the jungle and hates man with a vengeance, he is also afriad of fire + Mowgli does not want to go to the man village.

I would recommend buying this spectacular, animated film.
This would make a fantastic Christmas gift and is fun for all ages.



Magical and Timeless, a joy from start to finish !, 06 Feb 2008
Enchanting and wonderful story about a boy who lives in the jungle and comes across some brilliant characters along the way from a posh panther to a fun loving bear, clumsy elephants, swinging monkeys, seductive snakes and a ferocious tiger. The songs are timeless and will live forever and this special DVD has some great extras from deleted songs to lost characters !

A classic to be enjoyed by everyone !

King of the Swingers, 04 Feb 2008
I was never a massive Jungle Book fan. When I was a kid it just wasn't one of the films I'd really seen much of. Disney's Robin Hood was the main Disney film I experienced. But recently I watched this DVD and realised how fantastic the film really is....

...The style of this film seems more akin to a detailed Japanese anime film than an American animated feature. The backgrounds are so detailed and the colours vivid (helped in this release by the digital remastering). But let's face it, this film isn't necessarily about the visuals - it's the music that has ensured this film has secured iconic status.

The tracks are catchy, and genuinely so - they aren't childish songs, they are proper musical tracks performed by esteemed artists at the time. The music seems to match up perfectly with the characters. Instead of trendy pop songs, you get classic numbers which have never dated.

This release has plenty of additional features; I enjoyed these, but long term Jungle Book fans will love them. From a decent `making of' to a deleted additional character - the DVD has the kind of features DVDs *should* have.

Perfect for the whole family to enjoy, the issues are adult ones, the themes are quite serious - so parents don't feel they are `lowering themselves' when watching. If you watch this and then don't find yourself singing "The Bare Necessities" as a result, then you must have a medical condition preventing you to do so - or you're in a library and would get chucked out.


A Spoon full of pure delight !, 06 Feb 2008
This film follows the character of Mary Poppins the nanny who's practically perfect in every way. This timeless classic has magical and unforgettable songs for the whole family to enjoy. And this special 40th anniversary edition has some brilliant extras from a new short story with Julie Andrews, cut songs and a documentary of the making of the film.



"Most delightful in every way", 22 Nov 2007
This 40th Anniversary Edition on Mary Poppins is a credit all the re-releases that have both boggled (with odd cuts/features) and enhanced our experiences. Packed with extras and the restored film, its a bargain!
The first thing you'll notice, if like me you've been stingy enough to stick to your VHS version when it was on TV, is that the sheer clarity makes it appear like it was filmed yesterday. Bright, bold colours, not a single defect in clarity, it could easily pass as a new release. Theirs no 'cell' shake like on original features too, were it would appear as if the screen was a bit shakey at times.
If you've taken an interest into this film (and you've never seen it) then it's likely you've gathered the storyline by now, so I won't pound on with what happens. But as far as Disneys go, this is on level with Bed Knobs and Broomsticks when it comes to superior technicality and animation.
I have to admit, this is the first time i've seen the film for over 10 years, and it's never looked so good. As a kid, we hammered the video it was so magical, and as an adult you only appreciate the work that's been put in it further. The merging of cell animation with the acting is truly seamless, and entertaining in its own right because is just so clever. Though this is actually a rare Disney in that the animation is spread through the film - its only used for a few scenes in the first half of the film. And perhaps this allowed Disney to concentrate their time better on producing such tight and accurate merges with the actors, from Dick van Dyk seemingly dancing around the penguins (while they dance around him) to the incredible horse chase scene. But in an of the instances, most credit goes to the actors for their sheer ability to percieve how they're going interact with the animation, in the latter stages of production. This must have been incredibly time consuming, but it was worth it, because this is something no computer generated film can copy. The combining of art and acting.
The dance scenes are perfect as usual - in time, and incredibly (almost cringingly!) impossible, as the chimney sweepers smoothly dart about all over the place. The musical score ties in nicely, and gives the extra edge to the animated sequences.
Favourite scene? Has to be Berts (Dick van dyk) and May Poppins (Julie Andrews) jolly outing as they group enter the summery animated world. The way they interact with their surroundings is truly amazing, from Bert picking a bunch of cell animated flowers and giving them to Mary, to the general composition and landscape, to which both actors ramble about in the perfect directions that don't look un-real at all. You may think I'm hapring on about this theme, but it has to be seen, thought of, and the realised that this is film making at its creative peak.
This 2 disc edition contains fantastic extras that explain in great detail how the many wonderful effects were created, and a fab commentary in the film too. I can't recommend this DVD enough. I had to laugh though at the only 1 star review for this film.. why not check it out for yourself!

The movie every kid on earth should wacth, 31 Oct 2006
Mary Poppins is undoubtedly among the most terrific stories ever told on celluloid for children. It has it all: comedy, music, values, colours, dreams all packed in 2 hours together with the beautiful Julie Andrews. If you wacthed it when you were young the memory will stay with you for the rest of your life, if you didn't you still have the chanche to come back in time and enjoy it for the first time. GO AND GET A COPY.

Someone wrote that they found it boring, lacking in plot and full of cheesy music. My opinion is that you would have liked it as a kid, but growing up you simply lost your capability of astonishment.

SuperWonderfullcalifragilisticExtraordinary, 16 Apr 2006
I love Disney filmas a lot. Well I have Disney in all my veins. Mary Poppins is a wonderful film. Well written, well acting, adn animated as well. The songas are among the best of Disney. What can I say more... Buy it!

A Disney classic, 02 Mar 2006
Mary Poppins (40th Anniversary edition) is truly a classic movie and a real treat for Disney fans, to experience watching and reliving the magical moments of Disney at your home.

What make it a great movie? An all round cast featuring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke (with his rather dodgy London accent). A great setting based in a dark and gloomy London. Not forgettinng Disney's trademark of musical songs. Remember songs like A Spoonful of Sugar, that just a simple and nice worded song. A good mix of animation , which is pretty amazing. The extra featured are excellent with rare and exclusive interviews with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. For the kids, you can sang along to the songs featured in the movie.

The perfect treat for Dinsey fans and a good collector item.

A film that really warms your heart, 01 Nov 2008
I'm one of the many people who get depressed around Christmas time, i get stressed out and just cant handle it. When i feel like giving in, i watch its a wonderful life. This film can bring me back from the brink of despair, and makes me remember what Christmas is actually about! Being with family, enjoying each others company. Its a truly amazing film, that really warms your heart. Any other humbugs out there like me, should watch this, and remember the true spirit of Christmas!

Best film ever?, 22 Oct 2008
I was lent this by a colleague at work and was pretty sceptical as I really didn't think it would be my kind of film... how wrong could I be! I have since watched it many times and it is arguably my favourite film of all time.

I suggest you watch this once even if you don't think it is for you... and if you don't shed a tear at the end you probably need to check your pulse!

Best Feel Good Film EVER!, 18 Jul 2008
This is one of my all time favourites. This film has the best feel good factor of any movie I have ever watched. Definitley one for the family at Christmas time! I too have a tradition with this film. Chritmas Eve, Children in Bed, Husband & I wrapping presents, glass of Wine & watching It's a Wonderful Life.............If you have NEVER seen this film, please buy it, you will never regret it. I have never met anyone who doesn't like this movie!!!!

Magical; changed my life, 22 Jun 2008
Good films have the power to inspire, amaze and leave audiences captivated.
Legendary films have the power to change lives and the way we as humans look at the world forever.
This is an unforgettable film. All Christians (who are devout and religious) ought to watch this film.
I am not Christian, nontheless this film had not only left me crying by the end, completely moved, but ultimately like George (the lead character)it prompted and encourgaed me to understand that all our lives no matter who we are or what we do are truly worth living. Maybe like George (and I know I may be spoiling it here), we should ask ourselves how many peoples' lives have 'I 'changed or influenced for the better. Maybe like George, we would only truly begin to appreciate life and see it as a miracle after our 'guardian angels' have descended from heaven and showed us what the world would be like if we hadn't been born.
A fundamentally simple, yet phenomenal film. It's power and beauty lies in utterly convincing us that life is worth living no matter what; as well as the potential, innate kindness, compassion laying deep within all our hearts as humans, and I can think of no higher praise for any film.

I would give this film a million stars if I could; I would 'lasso the moon' and give it not just stars but the whole moon if I could. I cannot recommend it highly enough.


A Timeless Classic Feel Good Film for All the Family a gem, 09 Jun 2008
George Bailey played by James Stewart is an ordinary guy who wants to rid himself of his home town of Bedford Falls and see the World......Fate however has it that he stays in Bedford Falls and gets married to Mary aka the beautiful Donna Mills and has kids taking on his fathers Building and Loan small business struggling to make ends meet he comes up against a ruthless business shark in Mr Potter played with perfection by Lionel Barrymore....what transpires from here is a desperate man at his wits end looking for an answer only to find it in an angel named Clarence.....will George survive and see the light? It's a Wonderful Life is undoubtedly the best film ever to hit celluloid and probably James Stewart's greatest ever role...This film inspires you to a higher level when watching it ...taking you on an emotional roller coaster ride of life which there is a lot of identification.....The cast is exemplary the storyline oozes class and this film will still be popular in another 100 years it's a gem...

A big hit with kids, 03 Mar 2008
My personal view of this is that Pan is an arrogant self obsessed oik ... but I'm pushing 30 so what would i know ?!!!
My son got it for his 3rd birthday and loves it and despite watching several times isn't bored of it.

Peter Pan, 15 Jan 2008
Timeless - joyous - hilarious - moving. First time for me (41), my wife (34) daughters (7 and 4) and 9 month old son - family entertainment - 5 stars!

charmless, 19 Dec 2007
perhaps one of the less attractive of the disney animations.

walt disney himself disliked the final product, feeling it cold and unlikable and to this end i have found it to be that too. despite the apparent lightness of the plot, the jollity seems forced, the characters jaded and the dialogue too upbeat and so far-removed from the original play that the real essence of that play is lost completely. disney was able to completely reinvent other works (e.g. "the jungle book" animation bears so little resemblance to the book that it's almost a completely new but brilliantly inventive work that appeals to young and not-so-young alike). the play "peter pan" has been reinvented, but the new creation is an inferior piece. having said that, there will be much to entertain the younger viewers, but older ones may lose interest quickly.

to me the real star of the film is the music, which, as in most disney animations, remains second to none.

cherished childhood memories, 24 Nov 2007
I remember my fifth birthday more vividly than any other from my youth. It was on that birthday my godmother bought me peter pan and snow white on VHS. To watch this movie again is like revisiting so many happy memories of wishing peter would come and take me away. It is true Disney magic. It has all of disney's trademarks from the time, beautiful hand drawn animation (that has been colour graded to make it look even better) and catchy songs that have become part of everyday cultural knowledge. I would advise anyone to get this for their child or teen or better yet buy it for yourself and relive days gone by like i did.

A GREAT DISNEY FILM, 11 Oct 2007
If Walt Disney had never made another cartoon feature after BAMBI in 1942 he would still be remembered as the man who transformed the animated full length film into an art form. SNOW WHITE , PINOCCHIO , FANTASIA and BAMBI all belong on the list of the greatest achievements in American Film. Disney's next phase in full length animation took place after World War 2 and although these subsequent works may not match the brilliance and creativity of the earlier films, they still possess the superb craftsmanship the Disney artists are famous for. Missing from the new batch of films was the meticulous background detail that distinguished the earlier projects. Starting with Cinderella in 1950, the animators seemed to concentrate more on clean, uncluttered backgrounds but the drawing was just as professional as before , characters still brought to life with fluid, lifelike movements. Colors tended to be bright and splashy, but the cartoonists also knew when subtlety was called for, and scenes occurring at night were done with convincing atmosphere and shadows. The success of Cinderella confirmed that the movie-going public was still willing to be entertained and moved by a cartoon movie, and Disney and his artists forged ahead with an impressive array of animated features that to this day remain models of the Art Form. Perhaps the greatest of these was PETER PAN, first released in 1953. Based on J.M. Barrie's immortal play and novel about the little boy who doesn't want to grow up, PETER PAN had been a project stewing in Disney's mind for years. It wasn't until after the War that work on the film really took off. When the movie was completed and finally released to theaters, Disney seemed rather ambivalent about its achievement. He had a hard time defining who Peter actually was as a character but to millions of children in movie theaters all over the world, that didn't seem to matter. PETER PAN is not very deep story-wise. It lacks the heart and sentiment of the Barrie original, which to some degree is a good thing. Past stage versions and the spectacular 1924 Paramount film version could be cloyingly sentimental at times.

The Disney version is light and breezy and moves at a clip. The London sequence which opens the picture is spectacular in both the backdrops and the animation itself. When Peter, Wendy, John and Michael leap out of the Darling nursery window and fly over nighttime Edwardian London the viewer is treated to some of the most thrilling animation ever created for the movies. Later sections of the movie are equally enchanting, and the personage of the villainous Captain Hook is brought to great comic life by Disney animators and the marvelous vocal talent of Hans Conried. As with past Disney efforts, the song score is superb. "Second Star to the Right", "You Can Fly" and "Your Mother and Mine" are highlights in a tuneful soundtrack created by Sammy Cahn and Sammy Fain.

PETER PAN holds a special place in my heart. It was the first movie I ever saw. As a 4 year old sitting with my father in an ornate, red carpeted movie palace in Cincinnati, Ohio, looking up at that big screen watching Peter and his friends swooping and flying over the roofs and spires of London was an overwhelming experience. I was hooked, so to speak, and it is an image that has stayed with me ever since. This is the film that initiated my love affair with movies. PETER PAN is one of the iconic films of the Baby Boom Generation