New 'Sleeping Beauty' Special Edition is Simply Aurorable

Here's something trivial about me that you might not know: Yes, horror movies are my first passion. Gory, scary, shriek-filled horror movies. But (not very far behind) in second place is ... animation. My parents made sure I got to see the classic Looney Tunes, the hilarious Rocky & Bullwinkle stuff, and all the annual treats involving the Peanuts gang and/or The Grinch. But when a new Disney flick hit the theaters, hoo boy was that a big-time family treat in my household. I had no idea that Snow White was so old or that 101 Dalmatians had been released long before I was born; these were NEW movies to my sister and me -- and we devoured 'em like starving little monkeys.

Despite the fact that it had kind of a "girly" title, Sleeping Beauty was always a favorite with my family. My mother loved the songs, my sister adored the silly little fairy godmothers, my dad appreciated the art design (whatever that meant), and I went loony for the big dragon battle at the end. Plus we all agreed that Maleficent was the coolest Disney villainess since at least Cruella De Vil.

Like I said, I love the Disney Classics, which is why I'm pretty geeked up for the new Sleeping Beauty 50th Anniversary Platinum Edition, which hits stores next week. "But Scott," you're probably thinking, "didn't Disney release a two-disc Special Edition of this film on September 9, 2003??" And if you're not thinking that, then don't worry -- because I was. But of course this new set has enough to make it worthy of a fresh investment -- especially if you'd like to see this brilliant piece of animated entertainment in full-bore BLU-RAY AMAZINGNESS.

Anyway, enough blather. After the jump we have a breakdown on the new features AND a bunch of video treats...

The 2-disc set (available in standard and Blu-Ray) comes with an all-new audio commentary (Leonard Maltin, John Lasseter, Andreas Dejas), the Oscar-winning short Grand Canyon, and various documentaries, featurettes, and goodies for the kids. (Some of which actually look pretty cool...) Hardcore fans of the film will be pleased to note that most of the supplemental features are NEW, which always lessens the sting of a double-dip purchase. Deleted songs, an alternate opening, and some sort of Blu-Ray exclusive niftiness.

And check out some of these clips!

(A section from the disc 2 documentary that focuses on "Sequence 8.")



(A really cool look at the unused "dungeon" sequence.)




(And another cool piece on Walt Disney himself.)


(And finally, some really nifty pics of Eleanor Audley, voice and character inspiration for ... you know who!)





(Next March: Pinocchio gets a similar treatment. Yay.)