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Another Blu-Ray Don't

Another Disney animated classic has received the Blu-Ray treatment. The Sword in the Stone release is labelled "restored," although "ruined" would be nearer to the mark. The linework of the original art is gone, replaced with heavy black outlines more akin to a coloring book than an animated feature, while the bright, solid blocks of color complete the effect. Do yourself a favor and skip this title.

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Disney Blu-Ray Does It Again

Disney's latest "restored" Blu-Ray release once again ruins the unparallelled art of a classic, this time Mickey's Christmas Carol. The new version has lost every scrap of subtlety and looks like it was traced with Magic Marker and poster paint. Beware! Better to find yourself an old copy and pass on this one.

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Disney's Blue-Ray Blues Update

Disney has finally responded positively to the problem of the switched scenes during the Part of Your World sequence of it's new "restored" Blu-Ray version of The Little Mermaid. Unwary fans who purchased either the Blu-Ray or the DVD (excluding the 3-D version) can send for a new, corrected movie, free of charge. Here is the contact information:

800-723-4763 (U.S.)
888-877-2843 (Canada)

http://www.disneystudioshelp.com/ContactUs More...

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Warning! Disney's Got the Blu-Ray Blues

If you buy Blu-Rays, you need to know how Disney is destroying their films and calling it 'restoration.' Clean off the dirt, yes. Clear the noise from the soundtrack, of course. But re-edit the order of scenes Not on my Little Mermaid. View a side-by-side comparison to see the best reason not to buy The Little Mermaid on Blu-Ray.

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Blu-Ray, or Not Blu-Ray part 6

Parts 1-5 are just the "improvements" listed by Disney, to which I will add a few of my own.

Increased Price

Blu-Rays aren't too much more money, but they are more, so it must be considered by all of us working stiffs.

Lack of Availability

Not only are there hundreds of movies and TV series not available on Blu-Ray, but many are released every day, even by Disney, on DVD only. So the new format and new player would still only be used and/or needed for a tiny fraction of my library.

And finally, I mustn't forget that I only switched to DVD in 2001. That may seem like a long time to some of you younger readers, but consider that I still own and watch VHS videos. I enjoy them on my combo player, gradually replacing them with DVDs as the opportunity presents itself relatively cheaply. Disney sometimes forgets that not all their fans are wealthy.

For the time being, I'll stay with DVD. And, if I'm lucky, I'll be able to skip Blu-Ray entirely for the next new format. Whatever that will be.

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Blu-Ray, or Not Blu-Ray part 5

Complete Compatibility

The Blu-Ray players play all standard DVDs. When a Blu-Ray disc plays on my standard desktop computer, then call me. We'll talk.

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Blu-Ray, or Not Blu-Ray part 4

Enhanced Picture and Sound

Always a plus. You can't argue against a better picture. Of course, if your TV is only so-so, you can't enjoy these options to the fullest. And then there are the folks who prefer to watch on a portable device. How many of those minute details can you see on a 1" screen?

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Blu-Ray, or Not Blu-Ray part 3

Next Generation Interactivity

This feature gives viewers the ability to access the menus and bonus features while the movie is playing, via the old picture-in-a-picture schtick. No. No. Just...no. I don't need an excuse for somebody to shrink Sleeping Beauty down to postcard-size while they look at a different screen. No.

To be fair, under this same category would fall the new menu that makes it way easier to find a particular scene with a slide bar, as opposed to choosing one of twenty or so scenes and hoping to hit the right one.

That's one for their side.

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Blu-Ray, or Not Blu-Ray part 2

Advanced Durability

Blu-Ray discs have a new scratch-resistant coating. This is a true benefit, and highly desirable. But I have to ask myself: can't the same coating be applied to DVDs? Isn't this another case of making DVDs inferior on purpose to try to force consumers to switch? Maybe not, but it certainly seems that way.

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Blu-Ray, or Not Blu-Ray part 1

That is the question, isn't it? Disney has put all their resources behind Blu-Ray, either assuming that consumers wanted a new format or, as it seems, attempting to make them think they do.

So, why have I resisted all sales tactics? Let's look at the benefits of Blu-Ray, as listed in Disney's own brochure.

Unsurpassed Capacity

Each disc holds five times more information than a standard DVD. This sounds wonderful at first glance. As someone who actually watches and enjoys bonus features, I ought to call this a plus. But consider the facts. What DVD has ever been sold filled to capacity? I've got discs in my library, Disney-made, of course, with nothing on them but the movie. No, not even a menu screen. Zip.

Increased capacity is a bogus perk; factual, but misleading. Yes, the discs have more space. No, we will not guarantee that we will fill that space, any more than we filled it on our DVDs.

But, you say, Disney is loading Blu-Rays with bonus features. And all their recent DVD releases are as bare of extras as a naked mole rat. This is an artificial improvement. When early Blu-Ray sales tanked, the bonus features began to mysteriously drop off newly-released DVDs. If we can't make Blu-Ray desirable enough, let's make the alternative worse, and Blu-Ray can't help but shine by comparison.

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