101 Dalmatians (Two-Disc Platinum Edition) Reviews

• Sadly never included when reviewing Disney's best work...

  
  By A1OL4KPWG2794I on 2000-06-15
  I have recently rediscovered 101 Dalmations as my 18 month old son insists on watching it every single day. What has surprised me is that I have not even remotely grown tired of it and it grows in appeal with each watch.

  Never really up there when people consider the best Disney animated features - Jungle Book, Snow White etc. usually take the acclaim - I think it is one of the finest and more subtle of the Disney movies.

  The story is wonderful and well adapted for a wider audience. Cruella is evil personified and there are great comic moments - slapstick for the kids and cunning wordplay for the adults.

  Some of the animation is not of the highest quality - check out some of the snow scenes and they don't quite ring true. But overall the movie has a endearing tone and feel.

  One major criticism, as with nearly all Disney and Beuna Vista DVDs, is that there are no good extras. What is the point of this excellent new format if idiots in huge companies don't use it to its full potential?
  
  

• Disney unleashes the hounds!!

  
  By A5VI800QMKE8 on 2007-11-15
  Disney has announced the release of 101 Dalmatians, one of the most cherished Disney classics, on 2-disc Platinum edition dvd on March 4, 2008. Rather than speaking about the film I would rather share the details about this upcoming Platinum Edition dvd. The film has been digitally remastered for this release which also boasts of many previously unseen bonus features. The best part, however, is that unlike the recently cropped "Jungle Book", 101 Dalmatians will be presented in its original fullscreen aspect ratio. Here's a list of bonus features based on the press release published by UltimateDisney:
  
  Disney's Virtual Dalmatians: Adopt, name, train and care for your very own virtual puppy where there are over 101 possibilities.
  
  Puppy Profiler: Find out which dog you're most like!
  
  101 Pop-Up Trivia Facts For The Family & Collector: Discover 202 amazing things You Never Knew about the movie as you watch it - with 101 pop up facts for the family and 101 for the collector
  
  All-New "Cruella De Vil" Music Video: The classic song "Cruella De Vil" gets a contemporary twist when multitalented teen Disney Channel star Selena Gomez performs the song in a brand new video!
  
  Redefining The Line: The Making Of 101 Dalmatians
  101 Dalmatians is considered by critics to be one of the best and most innovative Disney animated films. Go behind the scenes with its creators to find out about everything - including the technological innovation of the Xerox process in animation.
  
  Cruella De Vil: Drawn To Be Bad: Inspired by flamboyant actress Tallulah Bankhead, Cruella De Vil has become a villain that movie fans love to hate. Marc Davis, an animation legend and one of Disney's immortal "Nine Old Men" reveals how this iconic character came to be.
  
  Sincerely Yours, Walt Disney: Experience Walt Disney and Dodie Smith's (author of the book The Hundred and One Dalmatians) actual correspondence during the movie's production.
  
  Deleted Songs: Songs written for the film - finally come to life!
  
  .....And Much More!
  
  

• This Movie Saved a Life!

  
  By A1ZF2MSBDUM5SF on 2005-05-08
  My kids watched this movie one hundred and one times. I have it memorized. Well, one day it saved a life.
  
  My dog, Keesha, was expecting pups, and a few days early, she had the first one on my son, Kyle's bed. He was shocked and surprised, and didn't know what to do. I was out shopping for groceries. The father was asleep in front of his newspaper.
  
  That first pup didn't move, our dog wasn't the best mother, and she didn't take care of it. My older son, Joel, upon seeing the lifeless, wet pup - and having watched "101 Dalmatians" so many times - knew exactly what to do!
  
  He took the pup in a towel and rubbed it, bringing circulation to the wee babe's tiny body. Just like he saw the dad do on the movie! And it worked!
  
  Four more puppies later, the mom and all the babies were in good health. thanks to my smart son and this movie!!! Thank you Disney!
  
  PS - I guess I should add - it is a nice Disney Classic movie - every house should have one or more. good story, good fun!!
  
  
  

• Buyer Beware - Are you buying the real deal?

  
  By A1SZ9VQDL6DGVT on 2005-10-12
  This movie is wonderful, but wait for Disney to release the Platinum version, and then purchase it directly from Amazon or another authorized seller. There are fake copies being sold through 3rd party sellers. They look new packaged and sealed. It is a violation of Amazon rules for a 3rd party seller to knowingly sell fake copies. If you have received a fake copy you must send it back to the seller. If they do not refund your money immediately you can use Amazon's a-z guarantee to get your money back. This is regardless whether you have opened the copy or used it. Do not let a seller force you to leave good feedback in order to receive a refund that is also a violation of Amazon's polices. BUYER BEWARE.
  
  
  

• A delightful dog of a film

  
  By A10G4BPT5MGBHY on 2007-12-12
  It's uneven, cheaply produced and its story is so basic as to be almost mechanical. There are long stretches with little humor or music. The hackneyed chase scene seems straight from a TV cartoon. And most of the puppies look exactly alike.
  
  So why five stars? Because, in this case, the good more than makes up for the mediocre.
  
  A large dose of Disney magic -- here, a combination of cute animals, touching sentiments, tremendous villain and many carefully crafted extra touches -- simply makes you forget the movie's weaknesses. To write this review I sat through this film dutifully noting all of its flaws, then immediately wanted to watch it again.
  
  In short, kids will love this DVD set, and you'll like watching it with them.
  
  I was viewing, of course, the 1999 release, and let me tell you if there's one Disney classic that could benefit from a digital restoration, this is it. The older DVD just doesn't capture the beauty of the film's pastel backgrounds, detailed interiors and storybook-style outdoor scenes. I haven't seen this new transfer yet, but Disney always does a good job with restoring these Platinum Editions, so I imagine it will look fantastic.
  
  Speaking of art, I should note that unlike earlier Disney films, "101 Dalmatians" is not completely hand-drawn. Much of the art was created through Xerography, a technique that, in essence, used a copy machine to reproduce the frame-by-frame line art. Surprisingly, though, it hardly matters. Sometimes the backgrounds are too flat or static, but the foreground figures are fully animated, and have the same fluid, three-dimensional movements Disney was already famous for.
  
  BONUS FEATURES
  
  The set includes Disney's typical varied collection of bonus features, none of which are subtitled. Those for adults include:
  * An option to have trivia tidbits pop up on your screen as you watch the film.
  * A documentary focusing on the movie's innovative use of the Xerox animation process.
  * An interview with the late Disney animator Marc Davis regarding the character Cruella De Vil.
  * A featurette that recreates the correspondence sent between Walt Disney and Dodie Smith (author of the book "The Hundred and One Dalmatians") during the movie's production.
  * Deleted songs
  
  Extras geared to kids:
  * A Virtual Dalmatians game that lets you adopt, name, train and care for your own computer canine.
  * A Puppy Profiler quiz which reveals which dog you're most like.
  * A music video of Disney Channel star Selena Gomez performing "Cruella De Vil."
  
  TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
  
  * Sound: Disney-enhanced Home Theater Mix, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
  * Close captioning: English only
  * FastPlay enabled
  
  By the way, Disney has just published a companion Little Golden Book, 101 Dalmatians.
  
  Like Disney classics about animals? Don't forget the essential The Lion King, moving Bambi and surprisingly good Lady and the Tramp. Topping them all however, at least in my opinion, is Dumbo.
  
  
• Truly classic, truly entertaining
  By ASMXWECF2HR6H on 2005-11-25
  A real departure for the Disney studios, and one of their most ingratiating animated features. The villainess, Cruella De'Vil, may frighten younger children, but somehow, her fearsome presence elevates this cleverly designed and animated adventure. A sketchy, edgy visual style and some endearingly offbeat characterizations combine to create a unique, mature, funny, and suspenseful cartoon film. Sad to report that modern features have abandoned (for the time being) this traditional, hand drawn approach: this film is a great example of something whose look perfectly suits its sensibilities.
  The special 2-disc edition features a bright, crisp print of the film, in its original 1:33-1 aspect ratio. Some Amazon fans seem to be under the impression the film was shot wider: not so. This edition preserves the intended framing, and contrary to some reports does not censor the smoking scenes (though there is a public service announcement against indulging before the film runs--odd). Games and "making-of" features are plentiful, but many of the participants are gone now, and interviews are archival in some cases.
  Avoid the poorly-conceived live action versions, and cherish this original instead. The novel, by Dodie Smith, is also a treat, and is available on Amazon.com. This may not be the most elaborate cartoon feature from the Disney studios, but it's certainly among the most memorable and likable.
  
  
• Fabulous, Revolutionary, and Fun!
  By A31I3HXMD5H1EL on 2008-03-06
  "101 Dalmatians" may be the most unfairly slighted of Walt Disney's 'classic' animated films, as this dog-napping adventure literally saved the studio, introduced the ultimate Disney villainess, Cruella De Vil, and ushered in a visually graphic 'style' that would set the industry standard for a decade. Oh, and it's great FUN, too!
  
  Based on Dodie Smith's 1956 novel (inspired by her own Dalmatian pets), Disney knew it would be a 'natural' for the screen, at a time when he desperately needed a blockbuster. Despite the huge success of "Cinderella", in 1950, the decade, with the studio's resources stretched between both live and animated features and shorts, television, and the opening of Disneyland, had been a costly one, and the skyrocketing cost of producing animation, after a string of less successful cartoons (culminating in the failure of "Sleeping Beauty"), threatened to curtail any future animated films. It was a desperate time (most of the major studios were shutting down their animation departments, and the 'limited animation' of Hanna-Barbera, which Disney detested, appeared to be the 'future' of cartoons), and he turned to production manager Ken Anderson to find a way to make the film cost-effective while maintaining the 'Disney' look.
  
  Anderson's solutions didn't please Walt, but would create a film revolutionary in style, and far less expensive to produce. Utilizing xerox technology to copy original artwork directly onto cels, he eliminated the huge staff of painters who had traditionally inked and colored each frame. The line work had a scratchier quality, which he complimented by more stylized, linear backgrounds, with splashes of color. As the story would be the first 'contemporary' Disney feature (with far less music, and a more dramatic plot), the new 'look' worked perfectly (especially in the brilliant conception of the scene-stealing De Vil, who quickly achieved 'legendary' status among Disney villains). The technique did have shortcomings (the climactic chase between De Vil's hot rod and a Dalmatian-filled moving van, as she plows into a snow bank, looks artificial, particularly as snow covers her car), but the film, as a whole, was an astonishing achievement.
  
  Despite Walt's misgivings, the film was exactly the blockbuster the studio needed, becoming the top-grossing film of 1961, and, for years, the highest grossing animated film of all time. Critically praised, it became such a fan favorite that it was re-released frequently, always successfully. Blessed with a rich, funny plot, unforgettable characters, and 101 of the cutest dogs you'll ever see, it certainly has earned a place beside "Snow White", Pinocchio", "Bambi", and "Cinderella".
  
  While I wish somebody had invited Rod Taylor (the voice of Pongo) to share his experiences of the production, I was blown away by the extraordinary quality of image and sound of this remastered edition, and enjoyed the second disc of special features (did you know TWO actresses voiced Perdita?)
  
  This Platinum Edition is an absolute ESSENTIAL for every Disney collection!
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Warning certain Images have been cut from this two-disc edition.........
  By AT6XNDIZ7W91W on 2008-03-17
  The original release version has the cigarette smoking from cruella.Disney cut the smoke image from cruella so they would not have to release this special edition as unrated...So you are better off buying the original limited Edition as it was meant to be seen nothing is cut from the original print..........This version is defintely not for collectors of Disney especially with certain Images cut from this great Film.......You have been warned this is a edited version...........not the version Walt would have wanted issued.........
  
  
• One of Disney's funnest films!
  By A39GB8QKJDWKRK on 2000-09-16
  Pongo and Perdita are the proud parents of 15 dalmatian puppies. When an old friend of the family, Cruella De Ville, shows up offering to buy all the pups, the trouble begins. Soon it's a madcap, fun-filled race to find 99 missing puppies before they're turned into coats!

  This is a classic Disney animated film. It contains several wonderful, memorable moments... such as Cruella's confrontation with Roger, and the courtship of Roger and Anita.

  The animation is bar none. As far as stylized, caricaturized animation goes, this is one of the top five to watch for believable, fluid movement. The characters, mostly, are unique and unforgettagle.

  The score is par for the course, though it has the same feel as the score for Jungle Book. (Dalmatians actually came out first...) The three actual songs in the film are quite hummable and entertaining, but this is definitely not what one may categorize as a musical.

  For sheer entertainment, 101 Dalmatians is at its best during the suspense scenes, of which there are many. Quite an interesting (and somewhat scary...) movie.

  Anyone who is picky about their animation will notice the re-use of many "cycles", which was pretty much a necessity when you're talking about drawing 99 puppies running through the snow.

  In addition, there are a few points in the movie where the action wanes and the plot slows down a little too much. That's about the worst thing I can say about the story...

  Overall impression: 101 Dalmatians is a must-have for your movie library. Though the video is currently out of production, it is still available on DVD. Animators and hopeful in particular will find a great reference piece in this film.

  And Cruella DeVille is cool...
  
  

• Disney at its best
  By A12O8XHVCMETNI on 2005-07-18
  Unfortunately there have been some negative reviews towards this film, which in my opinion is one of Disney's best motion pictures. The art is gorgeous and sets a tone that is lacking in the newest Disney films. Even with the advent of computer generated images and improved techniques for classic animation, the old Disney art presents a certain character and feel that I prefer over the newest animation. I've watched this multiple times with my 2 year old cousin and he enjoys it quite a bit. It's a classic that follows the tradition of films such as Lady and the Tramp, the Sword in the Stone, and Robin Hood.
  
  
• ALWAYS ENTERTAINING!
  By A1XJOSJN6FHFO0 on 2003-09-21
  I just got to share this movie with my 4 year old granddaughter and just like the one before her (who is now 8) we had a great time viewing it.
  Her eyes widened as she met the evil Cruella, who wanted those poor little puppies so she could have a coat. "Why would someone want to do that Grammie?" her little voice asked me.
  How cute is that? This is a great movie, full of enough action for the little one, not a complicated storyline so they can easily follow along, sprinkled with chuckles here and there and ending on a very happy note. Lots of fun!
  
  
• Restored, retaining the correct screen aspect ratio of 1:33-1!
  By A42GFMF12V7XR on 2008-03-04
  After goofing up the aspect ratio of the re-mastered Jungle Book DVD, Disney got this one right.
  101 DALMATIANS was shot in the old 1:33-1 aspect ratio & projected that way at theaters. For the many theatrical re-issues it had, Disney produced special "window-boxed" 35mm prints so that the theaters would not mask off the top & bottom. I saw this in a theater in 1991 with black bars on the left & right side of the picture.
  
  Once and for all, there is no question. This was produced and intended to be seen in 1:33-1 aspect ratio.
  
  I am also glad that this movie has finally gotten the respect of a two-disc DVD release. I don't remember Walt promoting the film much during its original release like he did many others. With the stigma of being the first "Xerography" processed Disney animated film, this title often gets overlooked when talking about the classics.
  
  
• Disney's hatred of consumers is showing (again)
  By A2JHYW5V7UFIQ2 on 2008-03-21
  "101 Dalmatians" is a classic Disney film and one of their better efforts. Complaints about the animation style arise from failure to appreciate that it IS a style. It's wonderful for its clarity and lack of clutter and arises from a cartooning style popular during the late `50s and early `60s.
  
  It must be admitted that the "good side" characters are a little bland, especially the parent dogs' owners. The Disney people should probably have employed some better voice talent for these people and given them a few interesting crochets - assuming this wouldn't be too great distortion of the original book.
  
  However, Cruella De Vil and her nincompoop sidekicks more than make up for this deficiency. In the 1996 live-action version, the brilliant Glenn Close is even nastier and funnier. However, Betty Lou Gerson, the voice actress here, gives her Cruella plenty of bite and venom. Also making up for so many pallid characters are the "Cruella De Vil" song and Cruella's own number about pelts.
  
  On the whole, the film is a good romp. Young children may be apt to take Cruella's threat to the puppies seriously ... although Cruella is painted in such broad strokes that a moderately intelligent 5-year-old will probably realize that she's all smoke and mirrors. Teen-agers and adults will relax and enjoy the fun without worrying.
  
  The extras included in this set are on occasion interesting, even meaty. They are some inducement to buy the new edition even if you have one of the old ones. Also an inducement is the restoration work on the film itself, which makes it look as fresh as it did in the theaters. Well, almost (see below).
  
  You may at this point wonder at my rating for this offering, since my verbiage seems to be working toward a tepid mid-range score. No such luck. This edition of 101 lies at the bottom of the barrel. I don't know why anyone would want to buy it, much less rent the thing. The reason is its disastrously mutilated visual aspect.
  
  The Disney people have had a vile and pernicious prejudice against widescreen aspects from the get-go. The only reason they even make widescreen films for theaters is that's what audiences expect. But they know there are a lot of Luddite fools out there who want films to "fit" their oh-so-1960s little-screen TV sets. And this plays right into their hatred of the widescreen medium. Getting them to put out a DVD with a film showing its original dimensions sometimes amounts to pulling their teeth with rusty pliers. This latest travesty really takes the cake.
  
  "101 Dalmatians" was filmed at an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. Every single VHS and DVD edition of it that I know of has mutilated the original down to a disgusting 1.33:1 ... with a coy little note that it's been mutilated to "fit your television screen". WELL, IT DOESN'T FIT MINE. Welcome to the 21st Century, stupid stupid Disney people. Yes, people still buy antiquated little screens ... save those pennies, guys! But half the programs on many channels are already in widescreen, and it doesn't fit YOUR screen, ha-ha-ha. It fits mine. Most widescreen films are produced on DVD only in widescreen, and it's about time.
  
  If Disney wants to wallow in the last Century, that's their business. However, I don't see why we should enable them by buying their old-fashioned, creakily antiquated products. Once they produce a widescreen DVD of 101, I'll buy it. Used ... that way they don't get my money. Until then, I'll just keep my VHS tape. Yes, Disney, I can still be even more-antiquated-than-thou. As to this issue of the film: what a rip-off!
  
  
  
  
  
• Classic!
  By A281NPSIMI1C2R on 2001-08-20
  Told from the dalmatians point of view, we find Pongo and Perdita talking about their owners as "their pets."
  
  They meet in a park and help to bring their owners together in an amusing way. Cruella De Vil enters the scene with frightening flair. She is so evil, even Perdita hides in fear.
  
  Cruella De Vil only has evil intentions for the poor pups, that are still to be born. While Pongo and Perdita are taking their "pets" for a walk, two kidnapers steal the puppies and take them to a secret location.
  
  Through the magic of "the twilight bark" every dog in the country helps to find the puppies.
  
  This movie is filled with humor and English flair. The courageous puppies outsmart their evil captor and are so well behaved.
  
  ~The Rebecca Review
  
  
  
• Best Ever!
  By on 2006-03-14
  Everyone nags on this film for stupid little pointless things like smoking, however, this is probably one of the greatest Disney films of all time!
  
  
• Fast-moving film in a new style
  By A7OBFVHNJGI2A on 2002-03-15
  The technical innovation of "Xerography" is on prominent display in this film, the first animated feature to use the process. As a result, this film looks very different from previous Disney efforts; character designs are looser and more caricatured, with solid, detailed draftsmanship. The backgrounds, consisting of black lines and flat areas of color, are carefully crafted pop-art masterpieces that possess an almost abstract beauty. From the scrawny, angular form of villainess Cruella de Vil, to the hundreds of individually designed, black-and-white spotted puppies, the visual design of this film is extremely sophisticated -- unmatched, I think, by any mainstream animated feature before or since.

  For _101 Dalmatians_ Disney opted to throw out the strict photorealism of earlier films, and in doing so pushed the artistic barrier of animation. Had Disney decided to pursue this approach further, this film could have had as great an impact on animation as UPA's shorts of the '50s. Still, even as a one-shot deal, this witty, graphically savvy effort is a major achievement.

  The DVD is short on extras, but what's there, as they say, is "cherce." The video transfer is full-frame and flawless; audio is solid throughout. The English subtitle feature (ostensibly for the hard-of-hearing) reveals the unexpected complexity of the film's dialogue, which is peppered with local slang and obscure but amusing in-jokes.
  
  

• LOVED IT!!!
  By A1QH4G8IZ46VRU on 2005-05-23
  I bought this for my daughter 8 years ago when she could only say a handful of words, one of them "dog". We watched it almost everyday for about a year and it was known at our house as "the doggy movie". Did you ever notice that during the midnight bark, all of the dogs from "Lady and the Tramp" (one of the other favorite movies at our house) are shown? Yes, there is smoking and and implied drinking (not to mention the word "idiot" more than once), but this film was made in a different time with different standards of political correctness. Don't let other people's overly PC reviews shy you away from this movie. It's great!
  
  
• Good Movie, Terrible DVD
  By A237X9JQE7ETCQ on 2008-06-04
  I bought this movie because my then 15-month-old daughter was obsessed with the ad (she kept pointing at it and barking at the dalmations). She really does love the movie, but here's my big problem: there are NO LESS than three minutes of crappy Disney and Disney-partner advertisements at the beginning, after putting in the DVD, and you are not allowed to fast-forward nor skip through them. You watch about five or six of them, then get to the menu where you get to finally push play, at which point you're treated to three more before the opening credits begin to roll. It's worse than a rented movie from Blockbuster, and at least with those you have the option of skipping through them!
  
  Overall, though my 19-month-old daughter loves watching the movie (in short segments), I loathe having to load it up for her because by the time the opening credits are rolling, she's usually lost interest and is playing with something else.
  
  
• Excellent
  By on 1999-08-31
  Not quite as good as the book, but that's to be expected. Vastly superior to the more recent live action movie based on the same story.
  
  
• AMAZING
  By A3U8C7QPY4W8GL on 2002-12-13
  101 dalmations is hands down the best and most underrated disney animated film in existence. The "live" version with Glenn Close was a complete insult and disgrace and did not even deserve to be made. And to go as far as "102" dalmations is a complete and utter disgrace. Skip those "versions" if you can even call them that, and please, please watch the cartoon version! It is amazing...the drawings are incredible and i respect the fact that this was created without computer assistance--i admire the artists so much. At times i forget that i am watching a cartoon. Not only is the art amazing, the characters a so well-developed (particularly cruella de vil) and the voices are suited perfectly to the characters. The story in itself is so clever and i never tire of watching it. This movie is AMAZING and should not be pushed aside.
  
  
• GREAT movie
  By on 1999-04-23
  But don't believe the Amazon.com quote "flat Saturday Morning style." It's a very graphic style, but derives it's influence more from the graphic movement in print ads and UPA cartoons rather than "Saturday Morning" animations which had not yet made ANY impact. The quote from Amazon.com cheapens the memory of the most successful stylized feature length endeavor Disney has ever made.
  
  
• Woof woof!!!
  By on 1999-09-21
  This movie is a classic flim, and I say this is a good movie for kids and adults.Add this movie to your collection!!!!!
  
  
• I Like This Movie!
  By on 2005-10-16
  One Hundred and one Dalmations is a really good Disney movie and it's a cute story that everyone in the family can enjoy and I highly recommend it! Though this is a good movie for everyone the parts with Cruella may be scary for some little children.
  
  
• 1.33:1??
  By A3QDSUYP66RX4Y on 2008-02-07
  No sale. With all the technical tweaks available today it's a pity we have to deal with 1.33:1 AR videos. That element alone makes this DVD a 'no purchase' for my collection...
  
  
• Marvelous restoration of a Disney classic
  By A16QODENBJVUI1 on 2008-02-29
  This new Platinum Edition of Disney's 101 DALMATIANS is a great DVD set, but let me start off with an ongoing beef I have with the Disney Company. Will you guys stop putting the previews at the beginning of all your DVDs?! It is irritating even the first time you watch the DVD, but it gets inconceivably tiresome the 30th or 40th time your kid watches the disc.
  
  Here is what I had to go through to avoid seeing these intrusive and unwelcome previews: first I kept hitting a combo of skip to the next chapter and hitting the menu button. Once I finally got to the main menu, it is essential NOT to hit the option to play the movie. That will just kick you back to the previews. What you have to do is go to the chapter menu and select the opening credits. That is apparently the only way to avoid all the commercials . . . uh, I mean previews.
  
  Apart from that one failure, this is a great pair of discs. The restoration is incredible. When my daughter was younger we had this on VHS, but the difference in quality between that and this is eye popping. The sound is also pristine and pure. Let me add that if you have pets, this will definitely get a reaction. In the scene where Pongo barks to notify the Great Dane about his missing puppies, barking for a few minutes follows. My cats were actually, truly alarmed. I can only imagine the reaction of a dog.
  
  101 DALMATIANS is a lovely film, but to be honest, it is more a film for kids than for grown ups. There really are three kinds of animated films: 1) those that primarily appeal to children, 2) those that appeal to children and adults, and 3) those that appeal mainly to adults. Miyazaki's SPIRITED AWAY is a great example of 2, while Satoshi Kon's PARANOIA AGENT is an example of 3. 101 DALMATIANS is an example of 1. For adults, this is going to be more enjoyable watching it with a child than watching it either alone or with other adults. Having said that, this is an incredibly good movie for kids. My daughter was a huge fan during the VHS era and we even had a sizable collection of the various dogs. I know she had a Pongo and a Lucky, and I believe we had one or two others as well.
  
  For me the real joy of the set is the second disc. There are a host of wonderful special features that add a great deal to appreciating the particular achievement of the film. For instance, I was fascinated to learn that this was the first film to use the Xerox process. Sadly, it was also the first film to dispense with Disney's army of pencillers and colorists and there is no question that for a couple of decades Disney films simply were not as lovely. This film actually looks a lot better than several that followed, like the truly ugly ROBIN HOOD. The features explain that the switch to the Xerox process, while in many ways lamentable, was also inevitable. It meant that they could make animated films that were still high quality, but with a considerably smaller budget. The only other option would have been to stop making animated films entirely. I was also interested to learn -- something I should have known but didn't -- that this was the first Disney film not set in a fantasy setting, but instead set in a contemporary time and place. Even though "contemporary" here means the early 1960s, it retains that feeling of being "now" rather than "once upon a time."
  
  I also love the credit that the various features give to the great Bill Peet. I've been very conscious of his contribution to the major Disney films for quite some time, but too often other individuals at the Disney Company seem to have received more attention. I think the features here will help correct that some. As one commentator points out, today a Disney movie will have up to 15 people working on the story. Bill Peet did the same thing all by himself. And he was instrumental in character design. They offer many shots of storyboards Peet produced and it is clear that a great deal of his vision was transferred to the screen. One person points out that his storyboards were hardly deviated from through the entire film. You need only see his drawings of Cruella De Vil to appreciate how crucial he was to the production. Three others were listed as director, but Peet was clearly the heart of the film.
  
  There are also some games that I'm sure small children will find fascinating. My daughter loved computer programs that would allow her to adopt and care for a pet and that is one of the games included here.
  
  I do have one complaint. For us adults, I would have enjoyed a commentary. There are some pop ups you can look at if you rewatch the film, but I would have appreciated something going into more depth. One last thing. The film was originally made in the standard 1.33:1 ratio, but matted for widescreen in theaters. I do not have a widescreen television, but one non-widescreen TVs this should appear as a "full screen" DVD.
  
  All in all, this is a terrific new release. I would have liked a commentary track and would have been ecstatic if they had decided not to force those commercials on us, but overall it does a good job of providing a highly entertaining movie for kids while providing some additional features that will interest adults. And if you have kids, this would definitely fall into the "must get" category.
  
  
• A timeless classic restored to look even better
  By A1IANEBSMVGHS9 on 2008-03-04
  "101 Dalmatians" marked a point when Disney's movies started exploring a style away from castles, princesses, princes and enchanted apples, bringing the story of Pogo, Perdita and their fifteen pups to life in modern life London. Yet the elements of all great Disney stories are there, including one of the most brilliant villains of all time, Cruella De Vil.
  
  Disc 1 of this 2-disc edition shows the movie with restored color and audio, making it a hard-to-pass collectors item, specially for those who don't yet own a previous edition of the movie.
  
  Disc 2 offers a plethora of goods. Standing out particularly are the games and activities for the youngest in the family (ideally for 4-year olds and younger), a documentary on the making of the movie which you will find extremely informative, deleted songs from the movie (something I had not run into in any other movies) and a fact-packed segment showcasing the exchanges between Dodie Smith (author of the book that the movie is based on) and Walt Disney himself.
  
  For both the Disney movie lover and those unfamiliar with the movie (if there is anyone in that category), this can be a great gift or a treat to yourself, to enjoy with your family or watch by yourself if you prefer. Just don't forget the popcorn... and the food for the dogs!
  
  
• One Hundred and One Dalmations
  By A7Y6AVS576M03 on 2000-08-23
  That is the way the title is read, not 101, according to my dad. It is my favorite Disney film, no matter how you spell it.I really like the way they did the artwork. It looks alike "Jungle Book" and "The Sword In the Stone" which I also like. I remember seeing it in the show with my mom and dad and I had a really good time. We saw it 3 times. I liked the way Pongo and Perdita did not give up on their pups. It has a real good feeling about it. Why don't they issue a sountrack to this film? The DVD is great. I remember we got it on Laser disc last year, but this looks a little sharper and sounds really good.
  
  
• Classy, Classical, Classic movie ever!
  By on 2002-02-17
  I have seen 101 Dalmatians in cartoon and the one by Glenn Close and I also saw 102 Dalmatians in theather and I rented 102 Dalmatians and this is just the Classy, Classical, Classic movie ever!!!!!

  The bad guys Horace (Frederick Worlock) & Jasper (J. Pat O'Malley) the cartoon men stole the puppy's.

  This is the best movie I loved!

  This is a cool good movie I loved!!!!

  I loved it alot!!!
  
  

• A rare animated told from the dogs' point of view!
  By A1C9GCHR99WX3F on 2002-11-22
  One Hundred and One Dalmatians runs 79 minutes. And yet this movie is told by dogs. The movie starts out with Pongo (Rod Taylor) and his "pet" Roger Radcliff (Ben Wright) who are both single, and Pongo wanders why his human "pet" can't have a mate. Until when day when he sees a dalmatian and a young woman. Even though Roger doesn't finsih wring songs/playing hte piano til after 5:00. So Pongo changes a clock, and barks to be taken off for walk, and starts walking fast every time, Roger is starting his pipe. Which leads to Pongo taking of Roger's hat, and tossing it on a bench with the same woman and her dog is, but when they live, Pongo does not give up, and causes both Roger and the young woman to be tied up. The woman's name is Anita (Lisa Davis) and her dogs name is Perdita (Cate Bauer). Roger and Anita get married. They hire a housekeeper/nanny/cook (Matha Wentworth). But the story doesn't pick it ip again until 6 weeks to 6 months later after the wedding.
  
  
• 101 Thumbs Up!!!!
  By A3RMANNZSNV8A4 on 2003-11-24
  The animated version of this is tremendous. This is the first Disney movie that I have ever owned, and I still have it after 10 or more years. I'm 18 now, but I can't stop loving this movie. I think it is my favorite Disney movie, and one of the most enchanting, and enduring movies of all time. I just watched it the other day, and i still think it is brilliant. It's a movie for kids and adults alike to love and cherish forever.
  
  

• The Aristocats (Special Edition)
• Sleeping Beauty (Two-Disc Platinum Edition)
• The Jungle Book (40th Anniversary Platinum Edition)
• Enchanted (Widescreen Edition)
• Dumbo (Big Top Edition)