Lady and the Tramp (1998, VHS)

My fiancee just got the new Platinum Edition DVD of Lady and the Tramp, because of course we have to get it quick before Disney locks it back in the vault, which is a practice I find borderline criminal. But enough of that rant, I'm going to get into the movie.

I watched this movie tonight for the first time in years. I think the last time I watched it was at school in second grade, so I wasn't exactly sure if the story would hold up over time. I find that it still does.

Lady and the Tramp is the story of a pampered dog named Lady who meets a dog from the other end of the social spectrum. He shows her what life is like on the other side of the tracks, and she of course falls in love with him. This is an old story used countless times, but in this movie it's with dogs.

The conflict in this story begins when Lady's owners leave on a trip and leave Aunt Sarah, who brings her nasty Siamese cats, in charge of Lady and the baby. Of course, the Siamese cats cause some trouble and Lady is blamed, so she leaves, and she meets her tramp.

Disney stories are usually based on an old idea, so the real question is in reviewing these movies is whether or not the story is treated respectfully, and if it's entertaining. Having not watched this movie in years, I found it to be every bit as great as it was years ago, and in many respects more enjoyable. The characters are memorable (the dogs anyway), and the songs are good, and the story moves along at a nice brisk pace, leaving little room for boredom. This is one of the great Disney classics for a reason.

That being said, a lot of the great Disney classics have some disturbing moments, especially the older ones, and this is no exception. You'll see Lady get muzzled, a rat try to attack a baby, said rat fight with Tramp, and a dog get dragged off to be euthanized, not to mention a lovable old bloodhound get smashed under the wheel of a carriage. However, these moments in this movie are briskly followed up by lighter, happier ones, so it's nothing to get too worked up about, but it could still scare younger kids. I mean, the Siamese cats still scare me, which brings me to the one major flaw in the movie: the Siamese cats never really get their comeuppance.

The new DVD has a stunning remastering, so everything looks bright and new. As far as the special features go, it's mostly kids' stuff, but it is a kid's movie, so no quibbles there. To sum it all up, buy this movie, before the powers that be at Disney lock it back up.