If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The original versions of movies are usually the best ones: they shouldn’t have been meddled with just because our TVs keep getting bigger, wider, and fancier. That’s what some people think, especially when it comes to Disney classics.
The sad reality is that some restorations and remakes of old animated movies completely ruin the atmosphere, details, and ‘spirit’ of the originals. Take for instance one of Disney’s animation classics—’Cinderella.’ Many fans agree that the original on tape is far superior to the modern Blu-ray movie edition.
Some Disney fans were disappointed that the restoration of 'Cinderella' for Blu-ray reduced the quality of the movie, here are some examples:
Image credits: stephen_duignan
1.
Where are her arms, where is the detail in her gown!? Even parts of sparkles are gone
2.
Big parts of the Fairy Dust in the sky are missing
Imgur user i124nk8, who is one of the critics of the 'Cinderella' movie Blu-ray restoration, had this to say to Bored Panda: "They misnamed ‘Cinderella’ if they think they restored it. Restored should restore detail and not remove it completely.”
They continued: “The live-action Disney movie remakes are soulless. Don’t ask me, ask my 4 and 6-year-old daughters. They will always choose the animated original over the live-action remakes.”
However, they conceded that Disney “did a good job with ‘Fantasia.’”
3.
Where is his right hand touching her arm? Where is the red of his trousers?
4. The lining on his shoulder parts is the same color but darker as the parts themselves
Here the lining on the shoulder parts is blue instead of the brownish color it should be
Some ‘Cinderella’ fans lament the loss of details, as well as the changes in color, hue, and lighting. While other Disney fans think that the changes are not that bad and people are getting angry without a sufficiently good reason.
While restorations, remasters, and remakes aren’t exact synonyms, they do have one thing in common—they fiddle around with what works and usually make it worse. For example, some Disney fans who grew up with ‘Beauty and the Beast’ were disappointed by the live-action remake starring Emma Watson. According to some fans, the remake was ‘soulless’ and ‘boring.’ Then again, others enjoyed seeing the famous characters in the new movie.
5. Here the sparkles are bright white and the lines in the red curtains are dark red as they should
Where are all the creases in the fabric of her grown? Where are the lines in her left hand?
6. Here she has arms, her gown sparkles and shows detail and the stairs are royally red
Left marble staircases yellow!? Blue spots around her head and yellow lines on the stairs?
7.
The Fairy's light blue blouse is missing
8. Bright sparkles and a detailed gown. Detail on street. Warm glow coming put of the palace
Everything cold greenish. Blue shadows on stair cases, green shadow on carriage top piece?
9. Pumpkin lines on the carriage and copper brasses on the horses' harnesses
Blue and Green horses!? With no detail and Pink tales!? No driver's jacket slip
10.
Where is the warm glowing light coming out of the palace?
Restoring movies is similar to restoring artwork. It takes patience and dedication to restore a masterpiece to its highest possible visual quality. You don’t start ‘painting’ whatever you want and messing with the colors.
Restoration should never, ever be about turning a classic into “a crayon sketch of a very hairy monkey Jesus in an ill-fitting tunic,” which is exactly what happened to the 19th-century fresco ‘Ecce Homo.’ While not as drastically bad, the Blu-ray edition of ‘Cinderella’ is, according to some, atrocious.
Image credits: stephen_duignan
Image credits: stephen_duignan
Image credits: stephen_duignan
Image credits: stephen_duignan
What do you think of restoring and remaking movies? What’s your favorite Disney animation? Do you think that we should try to improve films that are already beautiful and lauded as being classics? Do you think that the Disney live-action remake of ‘Mulan’ made a mistake by not including Mushu the legendary animated character of a dragon spirit in the trailer (“Dishonor on you, dishonor on your cow”)? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
The story's similar with other Disney classics
Image credits: Freddy2
Look at the loss of detail in the grass on the BD. Look at the fuzziness of every single line. Look at the loss of detail and shades on the trees
Image credits: Freddy2
Image credits: Freddy2
The wanted poster looked like old paper with sharp printing on it. Now it looks flat and out of focus. Not to mention the DNR effect on the wood structure and the loss of contrast in the closet
Image credits: Freddy2
Other Disney fans noticed the same drop in detail after animated movies were restored
Image credits: Chewi105
Image credits: rachaelccamp