Disney's approach to handling its animated classics has been a careful one, even down to the inclusion of
Disney View to keep older features like
Pinocchio in their proper aspect ratio and keep viewers from stretching. In creating a Blu-ray version of the 1939 movie
Gulliver's Travels, E1 Entertainment has chosen.... a different way, cropping and zooming to make a widescreen picture where none existed before. Check the picture above for evidence of the transfer's issues, while
ToonZone has links to a few other reviews pointing out not only the problems (jerky movement, poor sound) created in this rerelease, but also E1's claims that it has been "restored" with lost images and safe areas, while the truly interested can check the AVS Forum thread for even more terrifying revelations of misleading 5-star Amazon reviews and false claims of ignorance or poor setup by those complaining about the quality.
Read - "Gulliver's Travels" Blu-ray, or How Not to Do Animation Squash and Stretch
Read - Gulliver's Travels 1.33:1 only please!
posted Apr 7th 2009 12:04PM
(Trying again - Engadget rejected my last posting attempt...)
Evidence has come to light of a possible conspiracy (perhaps by distributor insiders at Koch) to rig Amazon's rating system and artificially boost ratings for the "Gulliver's Travels" re-release. The discussion on the AVS Forum can be followed here - complete with an apparently incriminating e-mail by a porn actress who may be in on the plan.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16021736
E-mails from porn actresses usually are incrimidating to someone.
Sorry, but from the images posted, this is nothing more than stretch-o-vision, something that SHOULD carry criminal penalties as a felony.
It's far worse than just stretchovision. The noise filter removed a lot of the line detail and the video judders like a VCR with the tracking poorly adjusted. The quality of this release is about on par with a VHS tape, except the picture has been both stretched and cropped.
most people will still buy it. Other than the dedicated few on AVS (of which I am one), most people don't know the difference. In fact, even if you tell them, most people will say it looks fine. The average person doesn't care about OAR or artist intent or even proper transfer and encoding. If you put it on Bluray, the average joe is going to BELEIVE i is HD, even if the video was 480i on the disc. Most are being told and believe that if it's on Bluray, it is perfect and the best it could ever be.
My freinds are sick of me pointing out how the audio on this bluray is awful or the video has terrible transfer or dnr on that Bluray. To them, it all sounds and looks the same (or at least it looks and sounds better than anything they have- none of them have Bluray or even an HDTV, only one even has a surround system, which is a ten year old Pro Logic system!)
you need new friends. :)
This is definitely one of the best animations on BluRay ever. If it looks stretched, its because you don't know how to set your system up.. you've probably got your HDMI lead in upside down. The jiggling picture.. well, there's just nothing wrong with a bit of jiggling.. it's quite the rage at the moment! As for the sound.. you'll just be blown.. away! :P
Paul....what are you even talking about? You can't plug your HDMI cable in upside down...it's physically impossible. The image was stretched during the botched restoration process and has nothing to do with improper setup by the consumer. This is easily the worst looking blu-ray release in history.
This is what Comedy Central / Paramount did for the Blu-Ray of South Park Season 12 as well as Season 11 in HD from iTunes.
Okay, I'm sorry, I'm sure all of you videophiles are going to flame me for this, but I approve. I specifically went into Bluray optimistic that I'd never have to watch anything but high def, widescreen movies ever again Seeing video in 4:3 on my widescreen TV is going to piss me off a whole lot more than how bad the change made it.
HORRIBLE!
Ouch! the blueray remake hurts my eyes with the sharp color, this is horrible, i would be extremely disapointed if i spent the extra few dollars and ended up with a stretched, un-colorfriendly shadow of the original.
That alleged letter is an outright lie that was made up by someone and posted this garbage anonymously through a third party and is total baloney! It was fabricated to slander this wonderful product. If the film is jittery then your not watching the Blu Ray but the DVD and if you try a modern progressive scan DVD player the DVD was designed for this would not occur and there are no black bars if viewed on the proper full screen setting. Nothing was cropped or stretched, the color is terrific and so is the sound. It clearly says on the packaging that it's formatted to play full screen on todays 16x9 tv's. I bought this on Blu Ray and it's simply wonderful and the conspiracy has been from a few people who have an agenda and have not even seen the product. How come so many of the reviews are from ladies and from all over North America?
You're wrong on every single point.
By R. Pabis (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Best digital restoration on animated movie...full sound and Blu-Ray disk....what a combination...bravo...I love the 16x9 screen it is great.
Forgotten Classic Film restore to a masterpiece....thank you.
Let our Kids enjoy this wonderful story.....Video looks great just like new ... film.....this is collectors item..wow.
By Steven Froman - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
i recomend this it was amazing movie the story was great and joyful to watch i give it a five out of five.
By Dr. Thomas R. Reich (Orlando Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
I have wanted to see a really good copy of Gulivers Travels for a long time. The colors are bright and the sound, for the first time I have heard, crisp and clear, I can hear every word clearly! I wanted my kids to see this, its been a great memory from childhood, and I was not disapointed, they loved it! My 3 year old keeps saying "My Gulvrs" So, I would recomend it strongly as a bit of good clean fun, something we can all use right now!Max Fleischer's Gulliver's Travels [Blu-ray]
By Daniel G. Peters "Daniel G. Peters" (Fraser Lake, BC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Finally a version of this old film that looks and sounds great! Even
on TV it always looked washed out and the sound was fuzzy and full of
pops. This is clear bright, colorful and sounds like I would expect it
to sound today, I espically liked the 5.1 with the new effects! Very
Cool!
I would recommend this DVD to anyone that is a die hard Gulliver's Travel fan, this DVD is a must have production kudos to the production company that did the great work. I love this DVD and its perfect.
I would highly recommend this to any animation fans. What a treat, I loved it! Color sound, and now I can hear the jokes,
its even better than I remembered it!
By Niyi Ogunsanwo "BANEO" (Winter Park, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
What an awesome experience watching the original remade into a perfectly mastered blue-ray version.... Great Job...A must see
5.0 out of 5 stars WOW Absolutely AMAZING!!!!, March 21, 2009
By Joel B - See all my reviews
I have to say there is nothing wrong with this product it is perfect in every way Video is so crisp its phenomenal. The Sound is crazy good its like your in a theater. If you were going to buy only one movie for your kids let this be the one you wont be disappointed. My cousins loved every minute of it they cant get enough of it!!!! SO please ignore any bad reviews of this they are lies take it from me that your going to be extremely satisfied.
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely outstanding production, March 20, 2009
By Daniel Hanington "a critical viewer" (London, Ontario. Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This production is even better than I thought possible. Clear colours, sharp imaging, and clear audio. Almost better than my first viewing as a child. Very very good.
5.0 out of 5 stars This a really great movie!, March 18, 2009
By Wendi K. Raisig "grey girl" (Atlanta, Ga. USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Hands down, my kids loved this!!! It was purchased for my kids, and I rate high in their opinion now... therefore, this product is fabulous! I don't know about the other reviews mentioning koch or the aspect ratio, but for a really, really great movie-this is it... Don't shy away from all the negatives if you're a consumer purchasing because you want a good, (no-great product), because this is it!
5.0 out of 5 stars Great product!, March 22, 2009
By Frances Solomon "Mountainmom" (Davie, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
We just bought this DVD for our grand daughter and she loves it! It looks great. Best I've seen. The colors are fantastic, sharp and clear. I am very satisfied and highly recommend this product.
5.0 out of 5 stars great dvd, March 20, 2009
By Justin Ruscheinski "J-Dawg" (Richmond BC Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
I thought the Blue Ray version of Max Fleisher's Gulliver's Travels was remastered Execellent. i just watched it it was great.
I just bought myself a Blue Ray player and it works awsome on it will look forward to seeing many more that come out.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautifully Restored Classic!, March 17, 2009
By Joselle C. Gilvezan (Beverly Hills, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
I was so happy to find this beautifully restored version of an animated classic from my childhood. The colors are rich and vibrant, the sound is crisp, yet it still retains it's "old-timey" feel. Thank you!
5.0 out of 5 stars Forever!, March 17, 2009
By C. Green "Miss-Greenpolkadot" (Orlando, Fl USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
I thought the Blue Ray version of Max Fleisher's Gulliver's Travels was remastered considerably well. I found that the colors were done brilliantly (with the official Technocolor seal of approval) and, at times subtle yet still very vibrant. I enjoyed the fact that the film was able to retain it's older feel and not just redone using the brightest colors ever. I also appreciate how the story really spoke to what was going on around the at that particular time. So over all, the portrayal of the story was good and the remastering of the colors was great. Good job!
5.0 out of 5 stars Forever!, March 17, 2009
By C. Green "Miss-Greenpolkadot" (Orlando, Fl USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
I thought the Blue Ray version of Max Fleisher's Gulliver's Travels was remastered considerably well. I found that the colors were done brilliantly (with the official Technocolor seal of approval) and, at times subtle yet still very vibrant. I enjoyed the fact that the film was able to retain it's older feel and not just redone using the brightest colors ever. I also appreciate how the story really spoke to what was going on around the at that particular time. So over all, the portrayal of the story was good and the remastering of the colors was great. Good job!
5.0 out of 5 stars See for yourself, March 16, 2009
By Fred W. Armstrong (Maple Ridge, BC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
When BS goes to $100 a barrel I want the drilling rights to some of these reviews. My interest was peaked by reviews that claim that 25% of the image area was cut off in this version and the rather withering reviews. So I checked. First, the film is not presented in a true 16X9 aspect ratio, but something closer to 15X9. As I read the savage reviews about cropping i remembered that Michael Palin, in his diaries (available on Amazon), mentioned that they shot Monty Python's first films on 35mm stock. the ratio on those films, in their widescreen releases the aspect ratio was 1.85 to 1, which multiplies to 16.65 to 9. However I don't see all of these intrepid reviewers bitching about the top of the Black Knight's head being cut off. The film is presented in widescreen format the same way that the Monty Python films have been presented in widescreen, with black bars on either side of the screen and the image area from top to bottom determining the side to side ratio. 25% of this masterpiece is not missing, as claimed by some reviewers. This version is a beautiful conversion and would be a great addition to your collection. Be wary of the reviews that make unsubstantiated claims. My BS detector went off big time. This BluRay presentation is done with great affection for the source material. See for yourself. Show your kids this classic and see what they say.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic restoration!, March 17, 2009
By Djoser Garrison-quick "Djoser G-Q!" (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This is a classic film with an even larger impact on animation today than when it originally released. With 3d animation taking off in movies in more recent times such as Shrek and Finding Nemo, one can only reflect back on Gulliver's Travels and wonder if the more modern movies were influenced by this pre-World War II release. This movie not only looks incredible in its restoration, but watching it on 1/4th of the resolution amazes you just as much as watching it on Blu-ray. The color is an EXACT match to the original release, and the sound is impeccable. The dialogue and the music is just as crisp and clear as it was originally recorded. I can hear the warmth for the (ribbon quality microphone) as the grammy award winning love song between the prince and the princess warms the very core of my heart. The bottom line is that if you have never seen this movie before...NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY THIS CLASSIC! Your children will both be entertained, and educated as you teach them of the political storyline and reference that undertones the plot. It's a MUST HAVE! I RECOMMEND IT WHOLE HEARTEDLY!!
5.0 out of 5 stars Expert Restoration of Classic Feature Cartoon , March 16, 2009
By Kilroy Rogers "Kilroy Is Here" (West Hollywood) - See all my reviews
This restoration rocks, a hidden gem of a film is beautifully restored. I should know, as I've seen this film over the years in several incarnations. This one actually exposes the left and right images that have not been seen since the original release, albeit at the expense of some of the upper and lower frames. This is much closer to the way Fleischer would have wanted it, and true to his spirit. I am a film critic and cultural commentator for WeHoNews.com in West Hollywood, and see just about every film made. I think I can make a fair comparison to other features.
5.0 out of 5 stars Mas Fleischer's Gullivers Travels (Blue Ray) , March 30, 2009
By R. Rothband "NIGHT READER" (MARGATE, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Really enjoyed this verson of Gullivers Travels - the Color & sound was great. I would highly recommend it.
5.0 out of 5 stars Gulliver's Travels triumphs on Blu-Ray!, March 22, 2009
By fendemos "fhc" (Bowling Green, KY United States) - See all my reviews
Just recently purchased this version upon recommendation from a good friend. Never watched it before, but was amazed at the clarity and crispness of the print. If all Blu-Rays look this great, I'll definitely be buying more! Highly recommended!
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Satisfied Customer, March 30, 2009
By cartoonknowledge "cartoonknowledge" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
I just watched "Gullivers Travels Blu Ray" last night and it looked simply marvelous. The Color was bright and the image was sharp and clear. The sound tracks were clear and crisp. I also own the 60th Anniversary edition and this is the best Gullivers Travels i have ever viewed. It was great to see it so well done and in Full Screen for newer tv's and not letter boxed. Anyone who doubts this should purchased the Blu Ray and see for themselves. It simply looks great, and is terrific! I highly recommend this product.
5.0 out of 5 stars Finally!!!, December 23, 2008
By Compusurge (New York City) - See all my reviews
I dropped a note to KOCH VIsion about this release given the comments that are appearing, and received this morning a note back. I thought it contained some very useful info so here it is...
"January 5, 2009: The March 2009 KOCH Vision release of Max Fleischer's Gulliver's Travels on Blu-ray (and on standard-def DVD) has been restored and re-mastered from the original source 35mm film by North Hampton Partners, the same company that received universal acclaim for their restoration work on the 60th Anniversary Edition DVD ten years ago. These talented individuals have gone back to the same source materials and used the best technology available to present the film in a manner consistent with today's standards. This ambitious process included the decision to enhance the film, frame-by-frame, for 16x9 - so that it could be fully appreciated and enjoyed on HD televisions. North Hampton Partners firmly believes that their efforts have resulted in the best version of Gulliver's Travels ever available to the consumer market.
KOCH Vision is extremely proud to release these newly restored editions and stands behind them 100%."
Having personally seen the DVD in advance, the presentation in 16x9 is without any loss of image that I could pick up, along with no noticable distortion of characters or objects. Colors looked more vibrant than on the 60th anniversary Winstar edition that I also own. I am totally looking forward to seeing the Blu Ray and will certainly post my opinions after seeing it upon release (as requested by KOCH Vision in their note above).
Previously I had written...
I am thrilled to have heard that this release is coming in a format that will take advantage of our new big screen TV. I have long wanted to see it this way. Can't wait!
Just don't buy the crappy cartoon...
Well, I've already done my part - gave it a one-star rating on Amazon on principle, in the same spirit as a teacher hands out an F for a plagiarized term paper. Let's see if it shows up online yet...