1161 WALL•E

[bearcuborg]

It’s been awhile since I’ve looked at my discs, they’re in a cardboard sleeve that opens in weird childproof way-like an edible chocolate bar. But I do know it’s pretty stacked with extras…

I guess there is hope for Song of the South, being that Disney would never want that streaming.

[Never Cursed]

I mean, I understand why Criterion would do this, but what does Disney get out of it?

Some $$ for a catalog title on a medium (physical discs) they no longer care for all that much.

I guess so. Really gives you an idea of where companies like Disney are expecting physical media to go

[captveg]

I mean, I understand why Criterion would do this, but what does Disney get out of it?

Some $$ for a catalog title on a medium (physical discs) they no longer care for all that much.

I guess so. Really gives you an idea of where companies like Disney are expecting physical media to go

No coincidence that Criterion is announcing this today, when the Disney company is doing "Disney+ Day" to kick off D23 this weekend.

[Saturnome]

No Presto?

The best thing about Wall-E was Presto.
I haven't seen a single Pixar/Disney animated feature since 2010. I used to think of Wall-E as the pinnacle of CGI animation, but looking at the trailer on Criterion's website some shots look a bit rough (like the single shot in space near the end). CGI animation age in a way 2D animation does not.

[Roscoe]

I would happily gladly eagerly shell out for a Criterion edition of PINOCCHIO, 4k UHD and all. Alas, I fear the Zemeckis CGI horror will put a stop to that.

[Quote Perf Unquote]

Are they going to add a Criterion ride to Disney World

"You must be this tall to go on the SALO ride. No children allowed unaccompanied by parents or guardians."

[hearthesilence]

I think I posted this here, but I just saw Wall•E again earlier this year. I think it holds up more than fine, and while I don't doubt the technological advances that have happened since then, it's still an amazing looking film. I've had some mixed feelings about their recent work - some fine films, some that left me cold - but this still feels like a great one to me.

As for Disney's other films, I'd be up for Pinocchio and Dumbo. Maybe Bambi. I wasn't a fan of Sleeping Beauty, but I've never even seen it in its proper aspect ratio (even missed MoMI's 70mm screening this past weekend due to other commitments) and I know some people have argued that it's a masterpiece, so I'll probably give it another chance. Same with Alice in Wonderland - that's another one I need to re-evaluate.

[Finch]

I'm with roscoe. I'd kill for a Pinocchio 1941 UHD. Ditto Dumbo.

Other than that, I hope this means Fox titles are available again. (oh never mind, their email said their first collaboration with Pixar in which case, Monsters Inc next please)

[therewillbeblus]

Why not go for their best and most psychologically-insightful film, Inside Out (and yes Criterion, I am available to contribute to an extra on the relationship with IFS therapy)

[Peter McM]

I would happily gladly eagerly shell out for a Criterion edition of PINOCCHIO, 4k UHD and all. Alas, I fear the Zemeckis CGI horror will put a stop to that.

Personally, I'm looking forward to the stop motion effort being helmed by Guillermo del Toro.

[beamish14]

No Presto?

Destino was supposed to get a release with a feature-length documentary ages ago

[colinr0380]

OK, this is comfortably the second biggest shockingly inconceivable news of the day. I'm not sure that my heart is going to take much more. But I am very glad to finally see more animation (and Peter Gabriel!) join the collection.

[Boosmahn]

Allow me to say... holy shit.

On one hand, I like WALL•E. On the other, I don't like 1. Disney and 2. the questionable decision of choosing to release, out of all animated films, one this readily available. But if this opens the door to more animation, so be it.

[solaris72]

Not mad about this, and I think it's a great film, but is it only the third feature length animated film in the collection? (Not counting laser, or live action films that have animated sequences, or Brakhage)

[beamish14]

Not mad about this, and I think it's a great film, but is it only the third feature length animated film in the collection? (Not counting laser, or live action films that have animated sequences, or Brakhage)

They’ve always had a weird ambivalence about animated films. I still can’t believe they turned down Martin Rosen’s offer to release The Plague Dogs

[Boosmahn]

I believe it's the fourth. They've released Fantastic Mr. Fox, Watership Down, and Fantastic Planet.

(I should clarify that I'm most likely going to buy this. I don't dislike Disney that much... maybe I've been conflating them with Amazon?)

[swo17]

No Presto?

Destino was supposed to get a release with a feature-length documentary ages ago

To be clear, the reason I'm asking specifically about Presto is that it has always accompanied WALL•E, both theatrically and on home video. In fact, many of us probably already have WALL•E on UHD with Presto on it, and the prospect of a new edition is much less tempting if it excises the latter. Put another way: I own the Disney UHD 80% for WALL•E and 20% for Presto

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

I've hung onto numerous Disney laserdiscs over the years precisely because they retain the original film grain and colors of these animated classics from their original release. I don't like Disney's practice of removing the grain and bringing up the saturation of their classic titles. If Criterion does for some reason gets access to choice classics (still not holding my breath, but who knows?), I am sure they'll release these sorts of transfers a la the questionable Fox ones they license from Disney. I'd love to get Sleeping Beauty or Cinderella scanned in 4K.

I would like to note that WALL-E was a tremendous critical success at the time as well. I actually still remember Kent Jones excellent essay in Film Comment where he basically equated the first portion of the film (prior to the spaceship) as being on par with the best of silent cinema. I grew up as a Pixar fanatic, but at the age I'm at now and having revisited quite a few, I do think there's some great ones (as therewillbeblus mentioned, Inside Out), some entertaining minor films (Toy Story 4), and some true stinkers (Soul). I welcome a surprise release like this even if it isn't necessarily for me.

[swo17]

I was with you until you put Soul in the stinker category

[Boosmahn]

Minor antagonist Terry alone should take it out of that category!

[knives]

Eh, I could just watch Hunt for the Wilderpeople again instead.

[Finch]

If they only do Pixar films that have had no sequels like Wall-E and have been well received critically, it doesn't leave much on the table: Ratatouille and Up are the best reviewed while Inside Out, Coco and Soul have a lot of supporters too. Of the most recent ones, they might be interested in Turning Red.

[therewillbeblus]

some entertaining minor films (Toy Story 4)

This is a hot take (and one I only feel comfortable making after being less enamored with the third on my last revisit) but I thought this was the best entry yet, and maybe the second richest Pixar in terms of thematic execution

[Kracker]

What this means in the context of Disney's long history with physical media aside, i was definitely blindsided by this announcement, but pleasantly unsurprised its WALL-E. I've always considered Ratatouille - WALL-E - Up to be Pixar's golden trilogy: The peak of what the studio was able to accomplish which captured everyone's imagination as what an animated film could achieve let alone a CG film. Since then the only film from the studio that has come close to that level in terms of significance and cultural impact is Inside Out, though Soul is as powerful as Up imo. Pete Docter really is their current MVP.

I had said that Citizen Kane would be my only 4K but this is something i'd be remiss if I didn't experience it in this format, not that i have a choice since the 4K package is the only option.

[ryannichols7]

If they only do Pixar films that have had no sequels like Wall-E and have been well received critically, it doesn't leave much on the table: Ratatouille and Up are the best reviewed while Inside Out, Coco and Soul have a lot of supporters too. Of the most recent ones, they might be interested in Turning Red.

I am conflicted, since my thought too was that they'd do non-franchised ones that Disney don't seem to care about much, but I'd honestly be very surprised if Stanton and Brad Bird did not make Finding Nemo and The Incredibles happen if this is an ongoing thing. whether the sequels do is another question (I enjoyed Incredibles 2 but obviously not as much as the original, nor have I seen Finding Dory), but those are just as much acclaimed films

I think Ratatouille is a logical next step, both Brad Bird and Patton Oswalt are very vocal Criterion fans