Castle in the sky (Laputa) Disney release

[timemachine1]

I'm confused about something. I had to replace my copy of Laputa about a year ago. (Same version), BUT, this latest version has Joe Hisaishi's original music score, Not the newer Orchestral score he did on the other version I had. Any sound track people have any info on this? There's no audio selection to choose which version to listen too.I would like to find the Blu ray I had.. The new score Joe did was, to me much better.

[timemachine1]

I would like to find the Blu ray I had.. The new score Joe did was, to me much better.

[MifuneFan]

First I'm hearing of an alternate track. Does your disc have extras?

[atamo]

Disney did the rescore for the English dub and added a lot of lines where the Japanese version had no dialogue. It seems you can get the rescored English dub on the Australian, Japanese or UK releases, although dvdcompare says that some of the additional dialogue has been removed.

[svenge]

I only have info on the US and Japanese releases, but the UK/AU BD releases are all locked to Region-B and would require a region-free player anyhow. Here's what I know about their respective English tracks:

• 2002 JP DVD - Streamline Pictures dub using original scoring (Dolby 2.0)
• 2003 US DVD - Disney dub w/ rescored music + extraneous dialogue (Dolby 5.1)
• 2010 JP BD - Disney dub w/ rescored music but without extraneous dialogue (Dolby 5.1 @ 640 kbps)
• 2010 US "Special Edition" DVD - Disney dub w/ original score but without extraneous dialogue (Dolby 5.1)
• 2012 US BD - Same as 2010 US SE DVD. (DTS-HD MA 24-bit @ 3685 kbps)

Based on OP's preference for the rescored audio, the only Region-A release that would fit the bill is the 2010 Japanese BD.

[MifuneFan]

So is the op just mistaken when he claims his original disc had the rescore?

[shinobipopcorn]

The Japanese blu-rays are rather pricey... I bought the Only Yesterday one while I lived there and it set me back a fifty used. They're wonderful cases, but I was on a poor teacher's budget so I had to settle for one with a sun faded cover.

OP, is this what yours looked like? That's the one with the new score, I believe.

[JTurner]

Originally Posted by atamo

Disney did the rescore for the English dub and added a lot of lines where the Japanese version had no dialogue. It seems you can get the rescored English dub on the Australian, Japanese or UK releases, although dvdcompare says that some of the additional dialogue has been removed.

As someone who has investigated all three releases, I can indeed confirm that it's true.

The Disney dub, with the new score and added in dialogue (I personally didn't mind it; yes, there were some added in lines I could have done without, but I thought the pirates' lines were funny and added to their characters), is available in its original guise on the 2003 DVD release.

However, the 2010 DVD re-issue and the U.S. BD release both dial back the new score and the added in dialogue (presumably because purists NAPALMED both of them -- same with Kiki). Oddly, though, the international BD releases contain the Disney dub with the new score minus the added in dialogue and sound effects. The Japanese BD, thankfully, does have Joe Hisaishi's rescore, just not the added in dialogue. (It also has literal subtitles; I agree that that was one area that I think Disney could have done better on for fans who want to see the movie as it originally was with subtitles.)

Hope this helps.

Personally, I like both the Japanese AND Disney dubs. Each have their pros and cons.

Japanese Version:
+ Interesting uses of silence, and of course the music is lovely.
- But the old score does sound a bit dated at times and I'm honestly not all that fond of the Japanese VAs for Pazu and Sheeta (this is my opinion).

Disney version:
+ The newer score sounds arguably superior in its new orchestration IMO (if a bit longer), the performances are great across the board (Hamill and Leachman in particular are better than their Japanese VAs).
- The leads are a bit too mature (albeit competent IMO), and at times the added in dialogue is a bit overdone.

At least both are MILES better than the '80s dub that was done for JAL airlines.

+ Script is more literal and it maintains the original score (for those who disliked it).
- But the performances are absolutely BAD across the board, and the dialogue sounds choppy and stilted.

The argument that this version was the only to retain the original score was nullified from the moment Disney reissued the dub without the added in chatter or extra music.