DVD Releases and News

DVD Review: "Peter Pan: Platinum Edition"

On Tuesday, March 6th, Disney is letting "Peter Pan" fly out of the vault again with a "2-Disc Platinum Edition." We've discussed this imminent release before, and now that the DVD is upon us, it's time to take a closer look at all the magical details of this children's classic.

THE FEATURE FILM:
Do we really need to go into the storyline? If you have not seen some version of the movie in its various iterations, or attended a play, or read the book, then it's time to put on some sunblock and venture out from under your rock and into the sunlight.

The digital restoration of the movie does look spectacular, and the new 5.1 home theater mix does what it can with the old source, but we really can't tell that it differs all that much from the previous "Special Edition" that was released in 2002. All in all, you're really buying this version for all the new special features.

Extras - Disc 1

- All New Movie Tinker Bell Sneak Peak: A trailer for another manipulation of the cash cow that is "Peter Pan." This movie looks highly questionable.

- Disney Song Selection: Actually a pretty neat feature, where you can listen to all the songs from the movie. Scenes from the movie play with an overlay of the lyrics.

- Peter's Playful Prank: Storybook: a semi-interactive short story where kids can read-along or listen as the story unfolds screen by screen.

- Audio commentary hosted by Roy Disney and more.

Extras - Disc 2

- Deleted Song: "A Pirate Song": Accompanied by storyboard sketches. Too bad this one got cut - it's a pretty good ditty.

- "Neverland": The Lost Song: A brief documentary on the discovery and writing of this song by Richard Sherman.

- Music video: "Never Land": A music video with Paige O'Hara (Belle from Beauty and the Beast) performing Richard Sherman's song, set to scenes from "Peter Pan," of course.

- Music video: "The Second Star to the Right": Another music video for the teens in your life (we guess), performed by T-Squad, Disney's latest teen pop group.

- English Read-Along: Peter Pan: This feature plays the entire movie with an animated subtitle layover, which is presumably good for teaching kids how to read.

- Camp Never Land: Train to be a Lost Boy: A series of interactive games where kids have to complete puzzles and activities in order for them to ultimately become a Lost Boy.

- Backstage Disney: Here's your DVD meat and potatoes. Some fascinating documentaries here that plop you into the time period when "Peter Pan" was hatched, including a Making Of, Disney's explanation of why he made Peter Pan, a feature on Tinker Bell's origins, art galleries, and a 1952 feature on Peter Pan.

- Peter Pan's Virtual Flight: A CGI flight through London and then to Never Land, led by Peter Pan himself.

Movie Grade: A
DVD Grade: A

"Peter Pan: 2-Disc Platinum Edition" flies into stores March 6th!

- Read our interview with Tinker Bell model, Margaret Kerry

- Official Site

---

Posted by on March 5, 2007 10:26 PM
Permalink | Email to a Friend | Add to del.icio.us | Digg This

Got something to say? Post a comment:

Subscribe to this post's comments feed   (What's this?)

Name:

Email Address:

URL:


Remember personal info?

Comments:

More Recent Stories:
• Fresh Fodder: New DVD Releases – 12/4/07
• "Newhart" Coming to DVD
• DVD Review: "Grey's Anatomy: The Complete Third Season - Seriously Extended"
• Fresh Fodder: New DVD Releases - 08/08/07
• DVD Review: "The Muppet Show - Season 2"
• DVD Alert: "Serenity" - Special Edition
• Fresh Fodder: New DVD Releases - 07/31/07
• Fresh Fodder: New DVD Releases - 07/24/07
• Fresh Fodder: New DVD Releases - 07/17/07
• Some DVD News to Tide You Over