RESCUERS & RESCUERS DOWN UNDER dobule feature on BluRay/DVD Combo

Now for the first time ever on Disney Blu-ray, to commemorate the 35th Anniversary of an original classic, Disney proudly presents a special 2-movie collection featuring all-time family favorites, THE RESCUERS and THE RESCUERS DOWN UNDER! Join two of the world’s bravest mice – Bernard and Bianca – as they set out on two thrilling rescue missions full of comic adventures while soaring through the Devil’s Bayou and flying sky-high in the Australian outback. Buckle up for the ride of your life as these tiny heroes with great big hearts outrun and outwit their rivals to save the day. Brimming with lovable characters and unforgettable music, this 2-movie collection is high-flying fun for the entire family!

With the recent economy, to get a double-feature of two great Disney film’s on one Blu-ray/DVD combo, is appreciated. Though one of Disney’s darker animated features, the original THE RESCUERS has held up well over time and it’s sequel RESCUERS DOWN UNDER continues the adventure and thrills it set out to achieve. The subject of kidnapped kids is never one a parent wants to hear, or should hope to ever experience, yet the Disney RESCUER films embody a sense of safety and danger that is sugar-coated enough with color and fun that the focus is more on the adventure and rescue than the real world consequences that the subject matter truly disquises. The characters are charming and loveable and the underlining moral always echoes through and that’s, no matter how big or small you are, we all have a calling, we all have a sense of responsibility to fulfill and team-work gets the job done!

The Rescuers Now on Blu-ray for the FIRST TIME!

THE PICTURE: 

THE RESCUERS: As with many of the recent transfers to Blu-ray, Disney has made the efforts to clean-up, yet still preserve the look and feel of their classic library titles, and this one is no different. Back before the sharp and clean look of the digitally computer generated animation boom, there was a defining look in the feel of hand-drawn animation that is truly evident in this. As with our recent review of THE ARISTOCATS, this film holds true to the subtle but endearing imperfections of it’s time. From scratches, sketching, brush strokes, muted colors and graininess, it’s a calling-card for what was then, the standard and being Disney, the BEST standard! But to kids who are seeing this for the first time, they won’t care, the characters are just as wonderful and imaginative as any of Walt Disney’s characters are. The color palettes, the rich backgrounds, the contrasts of light and dark are all beautifully restored and looking better than ever in this latest release!

THE RESCUERS DOWN UNDER: Not much to say here, but WOW…being Disney’s very first, theatrically-released animated sequel was a big deal for this film, but it was the first 100% completely-digital feature film ever produced and released and it looks as good now as it did then! Comparable to Dreamworks or PIXAR’s latest, maybe not, but as a groundbreaking visual film from over 20 years ago, it’s hard to really be too critical of it’s flaws. The rotoscoping and multi-plane camera useage in the movie was also quite impressive and there’s nothing more exciting than watching Cody leaping off a cliff and riding upon Maraute the giant golden eagle!!!

THE SOUND:

On both of these films, the 5.1 HD Dolby Theater Sound is impressive. Not only are the voices clear and defined, but the ambient noise and sound effects really create the mood. Whether you’re in the swampy bayou with Madamme Medusa or soaring across the Australian outback on the back of a Golden Eagle, the audio is rich, pure and encompassing. Not to mention the music drives the film, more so with the sequel than the orignal in my opinion, but still an audible treat for the whole-family who truly appreciate the movie watching experience at home.

Fun Features await with Bianca and Bernard

SPECIAL FEATURES:

TIP: It took me a long time to realize that the double feature of THE RESCUERS DOWN UNDER could be found in the “Scene Selections” of the Blu-ray Menu (this is a 3-disc cet and both original and sequel have their own DVD disc)

“Peoplitis” is a deleted song featuring Louis Prima as a singing bear, which was a lot of fun, a shame it never made the final cut. Again, always fun to hear character voice cross-overs from one Disney film to another, for those who love Jungle Book, Louis Prima was King Louie the Orangutan!

“Three Blind Mouseketeers” is a cute little Silly Symphony Animated Short

“Water Birds” A Walt Disney True Life Adventure, if you like Egrets and Pelicans…this is for you, but I don’t think it adds anything by being on the disc.

The hauntingly beautiful song of “Someone’s Waiting For You” has a sing-a-long for fans

and “The Making of the Rescuers Down Under” is about the only bonus-feature for that film, though visually dated and grainy, it explores the inspiration and technological advances of the film from filmmakers and producers, with an intro by animation legend Ron Clemments.

CLOSING THOUGHTS:

Despite a darker theme across the board for both films that should be viewed by kids maybe 5 and up, I do think these are classics that should not go unnoticed or forgotten for a home-video collection of Disney’s greatest. Add the The Rescuers & The Rescuers Down Under to your collection today!

Available to buy on AMAZON now!

RESCUERS & RESCUERS DOWN UNDER dobule feature on BluRay/DVD Combo