Mary Poppins [2 Disc 40th Anniversary Special Edition] [DVD] [1963]

By the end of 2004, fans had become weary of re-releases of previously available DVDs. Often these new DVDs were stuffed with fluff. This 40th anniversary edition of Mary Poppins, the third DVD release in six years, is a welcome exception, with a second disc stuffed with excellent extras and a vivid new print and sound presentation of the film. The commentary track is an excellent combination of new tracks (including Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews having a jolly time) along with archival materials. There's a 50-minute documentary older kids will enjoy as much as their parents, and the created-for-kids "Movie Magic" is a treat. The red carpet footage of the world premiere has been seen in previous releases, but here it's been restored with eye-popping color. A standard type of featurette--deconstructing a special-effects sequence--is reborn here with a simplistic approach: we switch back and forth from the final print of two musical numbers with rehearsal footage, animation, etc. The final results are far more watchable--and entertaining--than their usual DVD counterparts. Superlatives go around with this disc that includes a total reconstruction of the sound that picks up "lost" complexities not heard but never overpower this gem. There's even more archival material (including some remarkable meetings with author P.L. Travers) on the new CD soundtrack that also boasts the never-before-available complete score. --Doug Thomas