Friday, February 6, 2015

Blu-ray Review - 101 Dalmatians: Diamond Edition


101 Dalmatians: Diamond Editon
Director: Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, Wolfgang Reitherman
Voice Cast: Rod Taylor, Cate Bauer, Betty Lou Gerson
Ben Wright, Lisa Davis, Martha Wentworth
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Retail: $36.99
ASIN: B00OZLF4AG
Running Time: 79 minutes
Rating: G
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Getting the Diamond Edition Blu-ray treatment on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 is the classic Disney animation film 101 Dalmatians!

The film is based on the 1957 book by Dodie Smith, which was adapted to the screen by Bill Peet.  Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske and Wolfgang Reitherman co-directed the film, which was original titled One Hundred and One Dalmatians. It arrived in theaters in 1961 to critical acclaim and was re-released several times to theaters over the years. A live-action version was released in 1996, followed by a sequel in 2000. A short-lived animated series aired in 1997 and in 2003 the direct-to-video sequel, 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure, was released.

101 Dalmatians centers on a male dalmatian, Pongo, and his bachelor owner, Roger, whom run into a single woman, Anita, and her female dalmatian, Perdita, while out for a walk on the streets of London. Roger and Anita fall in love and get married and so do their dalmatians, Pongo and Perdita. The dalmatians eventually have their own pups, fifteen to be exact - Patch, Lucky, Rolly, Penny, Freckles and Pepper. (The names for the other pups are never mentioned in the film.)

Anita's old schoolmate, Cruella De Vil, is wanting to purchase all fifteen puppies, but Roger and Anita decide to keep all the dalmatians. Everything seems to be perfect for the family until the puppies are kidnapped...

Bonus Features include:

NEW Animation Short - "The Further Adventures Of Thunderbolt' - Pick Up The Action Where The Movie Left Off In The Pups' Favorite Show
Dalmatian 101 - Hosted by Disney Channel's Cameron Boyce
Lucky Dogs - Conversations With The Disney Team!
Walt Disney Presents "The Best Doggoned Dogs In The World" (1961 Version)
Disney View - Expand Your Viewing Experience
Plus a Selection of Classic Bonus Features




I wasn't aware that the film was 53-years-old until I did a little "googling" for the review. I recall watching the theatrical releases in 1985 and 1991 when I a kid, so I was eagerly looking forward to seeing the movie again. The film looks pretty decent on Blu-ray, but the aspect ratio is only in 1:33:1. There are plenty of extras including animated short "The Further Adventures Of Thunderbolt." Despite the film's age, it has held up well over the years and it is one my favorite Disney animated films. Overall, 101 Dalmatians: Diamond Edition is a wonderful family film and it would make a great addition to any Blu-ray collection.



*Disclaimer - I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.


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