Blu-ray Movie Reviews

This is the time-honored story of a princess (voiced by Adriana Caselotti) whose blossoming beauty disturbs her insecure stepmother, the Queen (Lucille La Verne). Each day, the Queen asks a mysterious magic mirror (Moroni Olsen) the question: "Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" For years, the mirror answers the Queen's name, but when it suddenly says Snow White, the evil woman begins her quest to kill the young girl so she may once again be the fairest of them all.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has the distinction of being the first full-length animated feature in movie history, which was a major milestone in 1937, and its success allowed Walt Disney to build an empire. Regrettably, I think it's a bore. From a technical perspective, I have to hand it to Disney for creating a masterpiece, but its glacial pacing puts me to sleep every time. In fact, from the time I was seven years old, I've referred to the film as "Snore White."

Dubbed by Disney as the first title in its "Diamond Collection," Snow White certainly impresses in 1080p with a fantastic AVC encode. Colors are very strong, particularly the blue and red in Snow White's dress, and black levels are inky and deep. Contrast wavers occasionally, which may be a result of the animated cells themselves, but the intricate details are mesmerizing, especially in the characters' facial expressions and the textures in the background.

The DTS-HD MA 7.1 soundtrack captures the essence of the original mono track. Dialog is clear and intelligible, although the shrill voice of Snow White can be excruciating, especially when she hits a high note. Surprisingly, the LFE channel packs some punch, especially during the rain storm, and the musical numbers have never sounded better. The surround speakers provide suitable ambience, and the occasional discrete effect and the pans around the room are smooth and natural.

Disney treats the cinematic masterpiece with a new twist on retail offerings. There are two three-disc sets available, one with DVD packaging and the other in a Blu-ray case, but each includes the same three discs—two Blu-rays and a DVD copy of the feature film. The first Blu-ray disc offers the movie with an optional commentary from film historian John Canemaker; the remainder of the supplements are on disc two. The DVD has the same commentary as well as an all-new music video from Tiffany Thornton and a sneak peak at The Princess and the Frog (also on the Blu-ray).

The Blu-ray supplements includes "Hyperion Studios," in which users are digitally transported to 1937 to learn firsthand where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was conceived. With 13 rooms to choose from, this interactive feature contains archival photos, never-before-heard animator recordings, archival transcripts, and rare footage of Walt Disney and his animators. Other supplements include newly found storyboards, which hint that Disney considered a sequel to the film, some games, and a retrospective featurette entitled "The One That Started It All," which explains the historical significance of Snow White.

I realize I'm in the minority with my feelings about the film, but even with its short 84-minute runtime, it drags too much. Still, considering when it was made, it certainly deserves praise as a pioneering film, and it looks outstanding on Blu-ray. Recommended for fans.

Release Date: October 6, 2009
Studio: Disney

Movie: 6/10
Picture: 9/10
Sound: 8/10

Review System

Source
Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray player

Display
JVC DLA-RS1 projector
Stewart FireHawk screen (76.5" wide, 16:9)

Electronics
Onkyo Pro PR-SC885 pre/pro
Anthem PVA-7 power amplifier
Belkin PF60 power conditioner

Speakers
M&K S-150s (L, C, R)
M&K SS-150s (LS, RS, SBL, SBR)
SVS PC-Ultra subwoofer

Cables
Monoprice HDMI cables (source to pre/pro)
Best Deal analog-audio cables
PureLink HDC Fiber Optic HDMI Cable System (15 meters) from pre/pro to projector

Acoustical treatments from GIK Acoustics