Free Willy SE Due January!

[JakeLipson]

One word: Finally! From today's Disc News at the main DVDFile pages:

Has it really been ten years since poor little Willy was finally let back out to sea? To celebrate a decade of whale wonder, Warner Home Video will release a 10th Anniversary Edition of the family classic Free Willy on January 28th. The previous, largely movie-only edition of the flick is now discontinued, with this new version presented in anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 Dolby surround, and a bunch of new extras including a video conversation with wildlife cinematographer Bob Talbot, the "Escape from the Nets" featurette, something called "Whale Ballet," two set-top games "Reef Maze" and "Willy's Aquatic Show," the Michael Jackson music video for "Will You Be There," and trailers. Retail is $19.95. (Warner will also release Free Willy 2 and Free Willy 3 on the 28th, as already announced.)

Come January 28 I will be a very happy DVD nut. All of the Free Willys and Fox's Denace the Menace on one day, and widesceen no less. Wonder if there will be a 3-pack on the Free Willy movies. If there is, I'm completely sold. And if not, retail on each is just $20, so it shouldn't be a problem.

[LBPound23]

So, essentially they're raising the SRP by $5 and adding
-video conversation with wildlife cinematographer Bob Talbot,
-the "Escape from the Nets" featurette
-something called "Whale Ballet,"
-two set-top games "Reef Maze" and "Willy's Aquatic Show,"
-and the Michael Jackson music video for "Will You Be There,"

[fuser]

That's not enough! I want a commentary with Keiko!

[sub780lime]

YEEEEH! oh wait, i meant to say, "who Cares?"

[JakeLipson]

I'd like more too. A commentary would've been a really nice suprise. But at least it's better than the completely bare current release, right?

[SolidSnakeASS]

It should include an apology to everyone that actually watch it.

[dvdfan]

Don't they already have that in The Postman? Or was that just the Simpson's episode?

[mtcarmel00]

Free Willy just isn't for me. I saw the first one and knew not to spend any time watching the other two. I can see how it could be a good movie for the kids though. I won't be getting it, but I hope eveyone that does enjoys it

[SolidSnakeASS]

Yeah, little kids like it and I can sort of see why. They don't have the experience or tastes to know better.

[brian]

Guys, please don't bomb Jake's thread. He didn't ask for you to mock his choice of movies. If you'd like to start your own thread discussing the pros or cons of this movie, go ahead. Or bring it to "film class" Thanks.

[cardaway]

I have the original and this is one title I won't be double dipping on. It is an OK movie for it's genre but I'm very disapointed that this title is getting better treatment over so many other more worthy titles, even ones in the same family genre like the The Little Princess and The Secret Garden.

[LBPound23]

Originally posted by JakeLipson
I'd like more too. A commentary would've been a really nice suprise. But at least it's better than the completely bare current release, right?

Yep, certainly better...and it's widescreen, even though it's a 'family' title. P&S of 2.35:1 titles are the worst. Hope Disney doesn't P&S "Tom and Huck" next spring.

[JakeLipson]

Originally posted by LBPound23
Yep, certainly better...and it's widescreen, even though it's a 'family' title. P&S of 2.35:1 titles are the worst. Hope Disney doesn't P&S "Tom and Huck" next spring.

Amen to the Tom and Huck wish, but I doubt it.

As for Willy...will Parts II and III be widescreen? I remember reading specs for it somewhere on DVDFile but can't find them in the news archieve. I hope WB will be decent and give them wide treatment to go along with the first.

Also makes me wonder if the 10th Anniversary Edition will get a new transfer. I believe the first release had wide and full, which would make it easy for them to just port over the transfer from the last one. But at least they're ditching the P&S version. That'll mean better overall video quality at least.

Now the challenge is to wait almost three months for this one to street. I almost feel like running out and getting the current release now, but must hold out for the better disc....

[asphodel5]

Originally posted by JakeLipson

Now the challenge is to wait almost three months for this one to street. I almost feel like running out and getting the current release now, but must hold out for the better disc....

Come on Jake, you can make it three months without buying the current edition! After all, you waited much longer for Beauty and the Beast and Lilo and Stitch didn't you? if it makes you feel any better, I've put off buying Goodfellas (one of my favorite Scorsese films) for at least three years. At this point the non-flipper version probably won't be out for close to a year anyway . Anyway, good luck holding out for the SE!

[SolidSnakeASS]

Originally posted by JakeLipson

Now the challenge is to wait almost three months for this one to street. I almost feel like running out and getting the current release now, but must hold out for the better disc....

Rent it!

[LBPound23]

Originally posted by asphodel5
if it makes you feel any better, I've put off buying Goodfellas (one of my favorite Scorsese films) for at least three years. At this point the non-flipper version probably won't be out for close to a year anyway . Anyway, good luck holding out for the SE!

Goodfellas is the DVD I've been holding off buying for the longest too! It just seems ridiculous that the Special Edition still won't even be coming until late next year, but I'm not buying the crappy disc out there.

[dvdjedi]

[Icon769]

Free Willy? I'd rather have Meteor Man (which coincidently I snuck into right after Free Willy, and Dazed and Confused when it was in theaters years ago.)

[Indyphantom]

I thought this was a bad joke. Maybe it is.

[JakeLipson]

Originally posted by brian
Guys, please don't bomb Jake's thread.

Amen. I don't like Star Trek, but you don't see me bombing the Star Trek threads, now do you?

Thanks.