Who Framed Roger Rabbit [25th Anniversary Edition] [2 Discs] [Blu-ray/DVD] [1988]

It was entertaining. I kept laughing. I enjoy good a well done cartoon.

The 25th anniversary edition of Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a two-disc blu-ray/dvd combo with different features on each. The blu-ray disc has a commentary that explains in detail the challenge in making this movie syncing animation and live action with a story line that was more than just a funny exercise. Steven Spielberg insisted that a strong plot with urgency had to drive the film, and the writers found a real incident that also meant life or death to the toons, as the cartoon characters in Roger Rabbit are called. The director, Robert Zemeckis, had two financial flops before he did RR, so this $70 million live-action cartoon might have sunk his Hollywood career for good, had it failed. Happily, it was a box-office smash and still holds up 25 years later. Roger Rabbit is the first cartoon noir film, combining a murder mystery that involves animated characters, human beings, and a well-blended mix of humor and pathos. The late, great Bob Hoskins really made this movie work, playing alcoholic detective Eddie Valiant, whose partnership with his brother ended tragically when a toon dropped a piano on his brother's head. Other cast members include Stubby Kaye, Joanna Moore, Christopher Lloyd, and the voices of Charlie Fleischer as Roger, Kathleen Turner as Jessica, and the iconic Mel Blanc doing some of his classic characters. Mae Questal does the voice of Betty Boop, which she made famous in the 1930s, and June Foray also adds another role to her literally hundreds of audio achievements. (She was most memorable as Rocky the Flying Squirrel.) After you see the movie, watch it again with the commentary. Numerous plot changes occurred during the production; you can watch a cut clip of Bob Hoskins with a cartoon pig head. Don't skip seeing the dvd, devoid of commentary but containing pop-ups on the side of the screen, acting as footnotes to elaborate on dialogue. For example, a producer asks Bob Hoskins what he knows about show business. Hoskins replies, "Only that it's like no business I know." The pop-up explains the reference to the hit show tune, "There's No Business Like Show Business." One more reason to grab up this special edition is the price. Best Buy has or had it for under $7. It originally listed for much more and will probably show up on eBay for a Benjamin once copies disappear. Kids loved this movie, but it's intelligent and entertaining for adults as well. Just as in the golden age of animated short cartoons, Roger Rabbit contains jokes that will go over the heads of the youngsters, while their folks will chuckle at the double-entendres. (The Disney Channel cut a few of the "risqué" remarks when the movie first aired on TV.)

Blu-ray has really reinforced how cutting edge the effects were for this film. When you think of all of the physical effects that had to be maneuvered and synced with animation, from a time when CGI wasn't really a widely used tool if the trade, it is a remarkable achievement. This disc has a great slew of extras and the whole package is well worth the now budget cost!

Nice anniversary edition with some good extras in the blue ray. Relive old film in new way. Like the commentary extras and to know they did all the cartoon love interactions without modern day technology still blows my away.

a classic movie and very funny, it looks very good and the product is quite resistant

This movie deserves the same respect Disney gives The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and The Lion King.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit has to be the absolute best movie ever made that combines live action and animation together. The late Bob Hoskins stars as Jimmy Valiant... Private investigator long with his brother who is killed by a toon. Anyone who seen this movie knows this is the best of it erie. This is the only cartoon when you get a mixture of some of the most famous toons of all time. You get a mix of Disney, Louneytoons and others altogether. Like watching Daffy Duck,and Donald Duck sharing the stage playing pianos. You even get and old classic like Betty Boop. Anyone who has seen this before knows it's a rip roaring good time of a movie. A definitively must have in anyone's collection.

This has always been one of my childhood favorites!!