Just a couple of months before Disney has its big Finding Nemo 3D release planned, the studio is putting together a brand new release for one of its less well-known films. On September 18, the home entertainment department will release The Great Mouse Detective on Blu-ray for the first time, giving the famous mouse detective Basil Rathbone and his partner, Dawson, a high definition makeover.
The Great Mouse Detective was released theatrically in 1986, which should have been prime real estate for my viewing pleasure during childhood, but somehow, I missed out on this one. Regardless, the plot looks fabulous, with a mouse emulating a detective à la Sherlock Holmes. With Holmes making a comeback on the big and small screen, now seems to be a good time to try to sell his animated counterpart to a younger audience.
Shockingly, however, Disney does not seem to be going all out with the Great Mouse Detective Blu-ray release. The film was given a DVD makeover for the first time in 2010, and the Blu-ray release will actually feature less bonus features than the 2010 release. The extras, too, are the same as those that appeared on the DVD set, including a sing-a-long and a “Making Of” segment, but the relatively low cost of the set should make up for this (it’s running at $29.99 in the U.S.). If you already own a copy, it may not be worth trading up, but if you don’t have a copy, the Blu-ray may still be your best bet.
The Great Mouse Detective Blu-ray Extras
- “So You Think You Can Sleuth”
- “The World’s Greatest Criminal Mind” Sing-A-Long Song
- “The Making of the Great Mouse Detective”
