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The Black Cauldron: 25th Anniversary Special Edition
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Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
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- Ship it!
Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
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Additional DVD options | Edition | Discs | Price | New from | Used from |
DVD
October 3, 2000 "Please retry" | — | 1 |
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| $15.81 | $3.52 |
DVD
November 10, 2014 "Please retry" | Limited Edition | — |
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| $46.99 | $46.99 |
DVD
August 4, 2009 "Please retry" | 25th Anniversary Edition | 1 |
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| — | $6.00 |
DVD
August 4, 2009 "Please retry" | 25th Anniversary Edition | 1 |
—
| — | — |
Watch Instantly with | Rent | Buy |
Purchase options and add-ons
Genre | Animation |
Format | Multiple Formats, AC-3, Subtitled, Animated, Dubbed, Dolby, NTSC, Color, Special Edition, Closed-captioned, Widescreen See more |
Contributor | Ted Berman, Freddie Jones, Richard Rich, Vance Gerry, Adele Malis-Morey, Peter Renaday, Billie Hayes, Lindsay Rich, Joe Hale, Wayne Allwine, Eda Reiss Merin, Nigel Hawthorne, Peter Young, David Jonas, John Byner, Grant Bardsley, Gregory Levinson, Art Stevens, Roy Morita, Arthur Malet, Brandon Call, Phil Fondacaro, Steve Hale, Susan Sheridan, James Almanzar, Al Wilson See more |
Language | English |
Runtime | 1 hour and 20 minutes |
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From the manufacturer
The Black Cauldron DVD
The fearsome Horned King's quest for power is challenged by an unlikely adversary: a young assistant pig keeper who dreams of being a hero, in Disney's animated adaptation of Lloyd Alexander's novels.
Product Description
Fantasy, magic and fun are all brewed together in Disney’s legendary adventure The Black Cauldron. Created from a new digital master this 25th Anniversary Edition features vibrant picture presentation and includes exciting new bonus features!
Whoever releases the mysterious Black Cauldron’s power will be invincible! The fearsome Horned King will do anything to possess it, but he is challenged by the most unlikely adversary: a young assistant pig keeper named Taran, who dreams of doing heroic deeds. With a motley team of the brave Princess Eilonwy, a minstrel named Fflewddur Fflam and Hen Wen, a remarkable pig who can predict the future, Taran embarks on a quest to stop the Black Cauldron’s evil once and for all. Will he have the courage to succeed?
Now with The Black Cauldron- 25th Anniversary on DVD, you can share more magical adventures with your family!
Product details
- Aspect Ratio : 2.35:1
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- MPAA rating : PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
- Product Dimensions : 0.56 x 5.42 x 7.47 inches; 2.72 ounces
- Item model number : WD05741700DVD
- Director : Ted Berman, Richard Rich
- Media Format : Multiple Formats, AC-3, Subtitled, Animated, Dubbed, Dolby, NTSC, Color, Special Edition, Closed-captioned, Widescreen
- Run time : 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Release date : September 14, 2010
- Actors : Grant Bardsley, Susan Sheridan, Freddie Jones, Nigel Hawthorne, Arthur Malet
- Dubbed: : French, Spanish
- Subtitles: : French, Spanish
- Language : English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French, Spanish, Unqualified
- Studio : Walt Disney Studios Home Entertianment
- ASIN : B003RACGZM
- Writers : David Jonas, Al Wilson, Vance Gerry, Roy Morita, Ted Berman
- Country of Origin : USA
- Number of discs : 1
- Best Sellers Rank: #6,968 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #682 in Kids & Family DVDs
- Customer Reviews:
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Anyone who ever read the "Chronicles of Prydain" will tell you that the story is geared more towards teenagers and beyond. Think of this series as JRR Tolken and CS Lewis meets Edgar Allen Poe. The film is not near as dark as the books; and, Disney did take some artistic license with the film to present it towards children and pre-teens. (For instance, the character Gurgi is presented as a cute mammalian gopher kind of creature where in the book he was presented as a huge troll-like being whom smelled powerfully [though, Fleuder-Flam does refer to Gurgi as "pugent"]. Obviously, Disney was going after the cuteness factor. And it worked! At age 8, I would identify with the Disney version before the literary one.)
It was a ballsy leap by Disney at the time to release a film with this type of plot; for, their features were rote and had a reputation for fun, feel-good, family romps. (Think Sword in the Stone, Cinderella as well as the hybrids like Pete's Dragon.) But, this one feature was different. Several of the animators had worked on United Artists' "Secret of NIMN" back in 1982 - and it showed. NIMN was also quite dark. Disney hoped to target an older crowd (13-18) in an attempt to bring in that demographic. Unfortunately, it blew-up in their face.
Back then, I remember my mother being seriously ticked-off by this movie, as she had no idea it was so dark and foreboding. "Here come the nightmares," she thought. And, after what my parents went through with me after I watched "Poltergeist" on HBO that night a couple years before this, I wouldn't blame her! :-P But, I actually liked Black Cauldron. It would not be released on video until the turn of the Century, however.
Disney did a very good job of finding enough of a balance that both those 7-18 and adults would find it a good experience, especially members of the "Lord of the Rings" crowd. The ending (no spoilers) regarding Gurgi - and Taran's reaction to it - was so not Disney. And THAT is what made the film so special, and made me identify with the characters so deeply. But, hang in there. Disney will throw the kids a bone - it will be happy, soon. Yet, it was very fast-paced and hokey.
Technically speaking, there were good and bad things regarding the production of this feature. On the good side, this was the first Disney feature to FINALLY be presented in Dolby Surround, instead of the very dated RCA-Victor. The theatrical version contained six tracks of audio - Front L and R, Rear L and R, and Between L and R (Similar to the THX Format). This would set the stage for the wonderful and rich-sounding tracks of "The Little Mermaid," "The Lion King," and all those after them. Thankfully, the DVD's (The 1999 release and then this one) artfully represent the theatrical Dolby Surround soundtrack in Dolby Digital 5.1. And, it works well.
This feature was also originally shot in 60mm (similar to TODD-AO), instead of the standard 45mm. This makes the film wider than the standard 16x9 ratio we think of, today. This was only the second film to that time that was shot in 60 when it was released in theaters in 1986 - Fantasia being the first, I think. And, thankfully, it was presented in Anamorphic Widescreen for the 25th Anniversary DVD Release. (The 1999 release was presented in 60mm; however, it was Letterboxed instead of Anamorphic - would not fit the entire screen on a 16x9 television set.)
Disney mixed several special colors for this film - most notably the "radioactive green" used for the birth of the cauldron born. Also, several unique reds were used when the powers of the cauldron were ultimately stopped. The soundtrack was SUPERB, and was conducted by Elmer Berstein - the same musician who conducted the soundtrack for "The Ten Commandments" in 1956, as well as "To Kill a Mockingbird" and even "Ghostbusters." The orchestration of "The Black Cauldron" is truly one of his best, most rare works. And, being presented in Dolby Surround was the true icing on the cake!
But with the good also came the bad. This film had some downright sloppy animation in it - especially towards the beginning during the first seen in Kal Dahlbin (the farm). Not since the "shimmering cape" on the prince in Sleeping Beauty (back in the 1950's) did these errors show back up. It could be excused when the full-color animated features appeared less than 10 years ago at that time - but certainly not in 1986! The 25th Anniversary DVD *DID* clean that problem up successfully, however. If you have the 1999 DVD or VHS tape, you will see what I am talking about. Finally, the plot seemed a tad too rushed, especially towards the end. But, it still worked.
The bottom line is if you love epic fantasy plots like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit, you will also love The Black Cauldron. (If your kids are old enough to watch LOR or HP, they can handle TBC, as well. After all, I did as an 8-year-old in the mid-eighties.) The Black Cauldron holds a special place in my heart, as I am of Welsh ancestry. (The author - Lloyd Alexander, who was also Welsh - placed the story in Wales.) But, if you are looking for a feel-good typical "put it in to shut the kids up" Disney flick, this ain't it. The Black Cauldron truly is a very unique cult classic.
This film is now cult, for its story (with quite a few writing flaws) of fantastic adventure without the addition of songs, and for the attraction of some scenes of great technical virtuosity. An attempt to remake Snow White, but for a less childish audience, and more attracted to tales like “The Lords of the Rings”. And darker like certain live-action films such as "Dragonslayer" or "Something wicked this way comes". The latter title of which was also released on Disney Exclusive Blu-ray.
Regarding The Black Cauldron blu-ray, it is one of the rare ones to offer, in addition to the films, extras: deleted scenes and a short of Donald & The Witch in HD. Bonuses already existing on DVD.
A plus which makes the acquisition more enviable for this blu-ray, difficult to order at a reasonable price.
Thanks to the Amazon staff for helping me find this title on blu-ray. :-)
Top reviews from other countries
The film centers around the evil Horned King who attempts to secure the Black Cauldron in order to rule the world. The Horned King is opposed by the heroes Taran, Princess Eilonwy, Fflewddur Fflam and Gurgi.
The film is directed by Ted Berman and Richard Rich, and stars the voices of Grant Bardsley, Susan Sheridan, Freddie Jones, Nigel Hawthorne, and John Hurt. A video game based on the film was released in 1986. The film is notorious for being a major box office disaster for the Disney company and being considered one of the worst entries in the Disney Animated Canon (along with Home on the Range and Chicken Little). Though, the film has gained a cult following.