Yesterday, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment opened their vault to release Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in an industry first – the release arrived in stores as a Disney Blu-ray + DVD combo pack seven weeks before the release of the standard DVD (available November 24th).
I love Disney and there’s always a bit of excitement that rumbles inside when I hear that Disney is opening their vault to release a classic animation film. And it’s not because I’m a fanatical Disney movie collector. Instead, my business mind marvels, “Disney sure is smart about marketing and capitalizing on their films long after its initial release. Note to self…figure out how to model that for my business…” But I digress. This post isn’t about how my mind turns everything into a business concept or idea, though it’s where my thinking goes every single time.
I received a copy of the movie the day before it was available in stores. And while the euphoria of having something brand spanking new is exciting, the moment was fleeting because…well…I don’t have a Blu-ray player, so I wasn’t able to enjoy the film in this amazing technology everyone raves about.
But beyond that minor detail, Snow White isn’t my favorite Disney film. As a modern, culturally aware mother raising children in the 21st century, I’m forced to temper my automatic reaction to a film made when people were far less sophisticated about issues related to women and race (1937). The whole idea of the “fairest of them all” dubbed “Snow White” and then rescued by a prince to live happily ever after conjures underlying beliefs that just get under my skin.
“Stop being so serious. It’s just a cartoon. Plus, it’s a classic!” you might respond. That’s true. But let’s get real. Many moms (including me!) use movies to distract and entertain their children while they busy themselves with other matters. And for better or worse, our kids soak in the beliefs and ideals presented in the films. Maybe I’m a hyper-discerning parent, but I do take an active interest in what my children watch. The innocent play-acting and mimicking that comes after they watch anything is endearing today but can easily translate into unacceptable teen and adult behaviors later. So, I’m sensitive and aware, even if the movie is labeled with a trusted name like “Disney.”
At the same time, my goal isn’t to shelter my children from my opposing beliefs. That would be foolish and only contribute to a growing population of narrow-minded thinkers who are only willing to see one side of a multi-faceted dialogue. I’m thrilled to have Snow White included in our movie collection. I always appreciate Disney and how they invest time to accurately depict the era and time their movies take place, while still leaving room for creative entertainment. In some ways, their films are historical references from which my family can learn and grow.
When I sat down with my children to watch Snow White, we enjoyed the film for it’s sheer entertainment value. Though my son (he’ll be 4 this weekend) lost interest in the film in less than 20 minutes. He prefers movies with swash-buckling action sequences and adventure. My girls – age 6 and 8 – watched the entire movie; they had never seen it before. When I asked them what they thought about it, they both responded, “It was okay, but when does The Princess and the Frog come out?”
A word about the Blu-ray/DVD combo
If you’re not familiar with Blu-ray technology, it’s said to boast up to six times better quality than a DVD. You’ll notice it in the improved picture and sound quality. And as my daughters immediately demonstrated by sliding the Blu-ray disc along our tile floors, “Look Mom, these discs don’t scratch!” Kid-proof is always a positive thing! So thumbs up to Disney for presenting Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in this first-ever Blu-ray/DVD combo. It’s definitely piqued my interest in a Blu-ray player. Plus, I appreciate having the DVD since it’s not likely I’ll convert both our in-home player and the one in the SUV at the same time. It’s nice to have both versions handy.
Disclosure: A complimentary copy of the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Diamond Edition was provided by One2One Network for the purpose of this review, which contains my honest and candid opinion of the movie release.
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