102 Dalmatians | 
 enlarge | Actors: Tony Bluto, Jim Carter, Glenn Close, Ron Cook, Hugh Futcher
Studio: WALT DISNEY VIDEO
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.99
Buy New: $9.16
You Save: $20.83 (69%)
New (62) Used (25) Collectible (1) from $8.02
Rating:  4 reviews
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Ntsc, Special Edition, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: G (General Audience)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 100 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: DISD57818D
UPC: 786936768978
EAN: 7869367689784
Theatrical Release Date: 2000
Release Date: September 16, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW FACTORY SEALED AND THIS IS NOT A CHINESE INTERNATIONAL KNOCK OFF, THIS IS THE REAL MCCOY. All items are guaranteed to work.
Tell A Friend
| |
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 09/16/2008
|
| Customer Reviews:
 102 Dalmatians November 19, 2008
James R. Williams (Cleveland, TN)
Usually, sequels and remakes are unnecessary and so it is no surprise that "102 Dalmatians", the sequel to the 1996 remake, "101 Dalmatians", is no exception. Cruella De Vil (Glenn Close) is back, but this time around the script has left the character stuck in the middle somewhere between heavy villainess and slapstick antagonist. The end result is borderline pathetic.
The story begins with Cruella De Vil being brainwashed by scientists to feel love and affection when she sees a dog much like Dr. Pavlov conditioned his canine subjects to salivate at the sound of a ringing bell. She is released on probation under the skeptical eye of her parole officer Chloe (Alice Evans), who incidentally loves Dalmatians. When Cruella becomes involved with a local animal shelter run by Kevin (Ioan Gruffudd), it seems that she has become completely reformed, but upon the ringing of Big Ben (the biggest Pavlovian bell of them all) she inevitably reverts to her old ways and is soon scheming and screaming for the Dalmatian coat she has wanted for so long and the main frame of the original plot comes back into focus.
I will never know why movies like this use this method of storytelling. Of course money plays a big role, but if film sequels and remakes broke free of the originals they are based, who knows what the story possibilities could hold for the industry. Instead of using the original as a crutch, the film-makers could have turned "102 Dalmatians" into a character study of Cruella De Vil, or taken the story to new heights instead of reusing old plot devices or even, dare I say, brought it back into animation.
Another crucial flaw has been carried over from the previous film. Instead of getting top billing, the animal characters are turned into secondary characters and used either as MacGuffins or slapstick. Even Oddball, a Dalmatian puppy who grows insecure due to a lack of spots, does not generate the same wattage as the original cartoon puppies did back in 1961. This affects not only the suspense, but also the overall participation of the audience. If nobody cares for the animals, the entire story is derailed.
"102 Dalmatians" is not a bad film. Like all Disney productions, there is an inherent charm throughout and fun is never lacking. Gerard Depardieu as Monsieur Le Pelt, whose outlandish costumes give Cruella's a run for there money, is a brilliant addition to the saga. The production, itself is also worthy of praise, particularly the scenes in Cruella's gothic home, which is unfortunately underused.
Everything else, however seems to fall in the shadow of Cruella De Vil. Glenn Close gives it her all, but the character seems to take over in the end. Ultimately, Ms. De Vil is a star in her own right and cannot be embodied by an actress of flesh and blood. She belongs in the animated world.
 Buy it for the extras! September 12, 2008
Dave (San Diego, CA)
I really had high hopes for this one; Glenn Close reprising her role as Cruella and Gerard Depardieu as her costar. However, it really is just more of the same, and sadly even sillier than the first. This time, Close is just too over-the-top to really be as delicious as she was in the first outing. Even the slapstick at the end as she gets her comeuppance from the animals (again) is not as funny. The romantic leads are duller than dishwater as well, and there is no Joan Plowright to add an extra dollop of much needed class and humor. Still, from reading the other reviews on Amazon, there must be a place in people's hearts for this film...I would guess that children (very young children) might find it amusing, although some of the plot material is a little unsettling: plenty of talk about killing animals and taxidermy, red paint thrown at a fur coat to simulate blood during an animal protest, as well as some of the prison/makeshift psychiatric hospital scenes thatare also disturbing.
On to the plot: years after the first movie, Cruella has spent time in a prison facility where she has been undergoing psychiatric treatment (including electro-shock therapy) to make her have an aversion to fur coats. Her successful treatment allows her to be paroled, and she is back on the streets. Coincidentally, her parole officer Chloe owns Dipstick, one of the Dalmatians that Cruella terrorized in the first movie. During her first appointment with Chloe, Cruella coincidentally notices a photo of an animal shelter on Chloe's desk and decides to be its benefactor. Dipstick & Dottie (Chloe's other dalmatian) also (coincidentally) are about to have a litter of pups...just in time for Cruella's treatment to wear off during visit #2 to Chloe, when the sounding of Big Ben's clock chimes (which coincidentally happens just as she is sitting in Chloe's office where her dalmatians just coincidentally happen to be roosting at the moment). Who wrote this crap?!?
Now that she is back into fur coats again, Cruella drags out Anita's sketch of the infamous dalmatian fur coat from movie #1 and decides she wants 102 dalmatians this time...enough to make a hood, too. She teams up with furrier Jean-Pierre LePelt (Depardieu). Jean-Pierre is a cross between a punk-rocker and Liberace...not really sure where the writers were going with this character.
Naturally, there is chemistry between Chloe and the owner of the animal shelter (at least on script there is), and they team up to keep Cruella from killing the dalmatians for her new coat.
Although the story is lacking, the special effects are wonderful. The costume, hair, and set designers did a spectacular job as well...if only the story had been as carefully planned. Sigh...
On a bright note, this DVD really has some amazing extras, which is surprising since the new release of the live action 101 Dalmatians is totally devoid of extras. Here's what you get:
*Deleted scene: "Cruella's Release," which shows more details about what happens as she is getting out of prison...amusing, but not really missed from the movie.
*3 featurettes: "Creating Cruella" (includes interviews with Close), "Animal Actors," and "Designing Dalmatians."
*Audio commentary w/director Kevin Lima and the animal coordinator/trainers
*"Puppy Action Overload" music video with puppy auditions, outtakes, and scenes from the film
*"Dalmatians 101": featurette on how to pick a dog that fits your personality, covered with scenes from the film, narrated by Eric Idle, who voice Waddlesworth the parrot who thinks he's a rotteweiler in the film.
*Theatrical Trailer
*"Visual Effects 102" shows how spots were digitally removed, how they made the parrot talk, and more.
*DVD-Rom feature: "Cruella's Costume Creator."
Specs: DTS 5.1 Digital Surround Sound (THX-Certified) and Widescreen (1:85:1), enhanced for 16x9 TVs.
Overall: mildly (emphasis on mild) amusing film (as long as you leave all skepticism behind) and FANTASTIC extras.
 FINALLY!!! September 10, 2008
charlotte vibble
I am SO EXCITED that this movie has finally been released on DVD. I think it was released on DVD, maybe 8 years ago, but it has been GONE since, and trying to find it online has resulted in serious sticker shock. (The cheapest I had seen it was in the neighborhood of fifty dollars!) and I have been looking for this movie since my daughter was born 6 years ago because I love this movie. This movie is incredibly cute, and though I love the first movie (the live action 101 Dalmations), I actually like this one more. Glenn Close is brilliantly evil, the animal talent is adorable, and Gerard Depardieu is hilarious as a fur favoring fashion designer. This movie is full of pratfalls and physical comedy, but never "mean" or inappropriate or tasteless. This is a perfect family film that everyone can laugh at, and the comedy shines through to every age group.
An Awesome Sequal July 23, 2008
Brandin McMillen (Washington, DC USA)
I have to start this by saying that I am usually not a fan of sequals, but 102 Dalmatians is definitely an exception. I am happy that it is being released again as it is one of my favorite movies. Most reviews tend to have no-name actors who you might seeing doing a TV commercial, but this has a great cast including Glenn Close, Ioan Gruffudd, Tom McInnerney, Ian Richardson, Eric Idle (as a talking parrot who thinks it is a dog) and Gerard Depardieu. I would highly recommend this movie to any who has small children and loves a cute transformation story gone wrong.
|
|
|
