Every time the Disney Studios release the so-called “Walt Disney Treasures,” I’m as happy as any film collector.  As I have said before, these sets feature the “most historical and valuable collection of archived material ever produced by the studio, the ones that slowly built the reputation and powerful library that the Disney Empire has achieved through times. This is the real Disney, the one that every serious collector and fan should have.” The new series being released, Wave VIII, is no exception. As the previous ones, the present wave also includes three formidable sets of DVDs, all enclosed in tin containers, and individually numbered, with authenticity certificates and exclusive lithographs.

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 “The Sword in the Stone” is the latest DVD release from the Disney Studios’ vault. And, unlike many of the other animated classics generated there, this little gem is a lesser known one, undeservedly so. This film is highly entertaining and very funny, and truly deserves a second chance.

It is medieval England, and it is announced that the king is dead. A new one should be named soon; otherwise, war is imminent. Since there is no inheritor to the throne, it is decided that the person that can pull out a sword that is imbedded in a stone, shall be named king. At about the same time, we meet Merlin, an old wizard, whose only companion is a “highly educated owl” named Archimedes. Like good friends, they are always fighting and arguing over different things. It is then that we meet young Arthur, who accidentally lands in Merlin’s hut. Arthur dreams to be a knight’s squire. Merlin has predicted that Arthur would come to him, because that was his destiny. From then on, the wizard takes care of the young man, and teaches him everything to be successful, and eventually, as we all know, become more than a knight’s squire. 

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The Disney Studios are keeping themselves busy in releasing their invaluable catalog. Their magnificent DVDs are really collector’s items, not only because of the movie itself, but also for the generous amount of extras that they include. Following that fine tradition, we now have the charming and precious “101 Dalmatians: Platinum Edition,”the latest animated Disney to be released from the archives, before it is sent back to the vault.

It all begins when Pongo, a beautiful and proud Dalmatian, decides that his owner, Roger, a talented musician, needs a girlfriend. He succeeds in setting Roger up with Anita, whom Roger eventually marries. Pongo also wins in the transaction, because he gets beautiful Perdita, Anita’s Dalmatian. They all settle down in a modest home in London, and live happy for a while. However, Perdita gets pregnant and gives birth to fifteen puppies at once. This event makes everybody in the family happy — that is, until the appearance of Cruella De Vil, one of Disney’s most famous villains. Cruella wants all the puppies, and Roger tells her that she can’t have them. Cruella, of course, has plans for the little guys, and won’t rest until she gets the puppies. It’s up to Roger and Perdita, as well as a loyal network of friends, to find their children and impede Cruella’s plan.

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The folks at the Pixar Animation Studios are always busy with ideas, and their creativity seems to have no end. You would think that they were going to take a well-deserved break after the massive success of "Cars" and "The Incredibles." However, here they are again, with the exquisite and charming "Ratatouille," which has been described as the "best reviewed film of the year."

Remy, a country rat, is not happy scavenging the garbage for food. Influenced by books by the great Chef Gustaeu, and armed with a great sense of smell, he prefers to eat fine food. He has memorized Gusteau’s techniques to perfection. However, life at the countryside takes a dramatic turn when he and his buddies are discovered playing around the house of the old lady that owned Gusteau’s books and in which Remy watched Gusteau’s TV show. She chases them with a gun, and, while escaping, Remy is separated from the rest of his friends and family. He ends up, of all places, in Paris, home of Gusteau’s restaurant.

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