Year of Release: 1940
Rated: G
Director(s): James Algar (segment "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"), Samuel Armstrong (segments "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" and "Nutcracker Suite, The"), Ford Beebe (segment "The Pastoral Symphony"), Norman Ferguson (segment "Dance of the Hours"), Jim Handley (segment "The Pastoral Symphony"), T. Hee (segment "Dance of the Hours"), Wilfred Jackson (segment "Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria"), Hamilton Luske (segment "The Pastoral Symphony"), Bill Roberts (segment "Rite of Spring"), Paul Satterfield (segment "Rite of Spring"), Ben Sharpsteen
Animation Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Approx. Running Time: 120 minutes
Format(s): DVD
My Rating: 3 stars (Out of 5)
From Back Cover:
Walt Disney's most celebrated, most acclaimed and most requested film is finally here... FANTASIA! This extraordinary blend of magnificent music and classic Disney animation is an exhilarating sight and sound experience that has emerged as a milestone in the history of motion pictures. Featuring a host of unforgettable images, including Mickey Mouse as The Sorcerer's Apprentice, FANTASIA has captivated generations of moviegoers all over the world. The breathtaking beauty, electrifying power and very special magic of this timeless masterpiecve are now yours to enjoy in this meticulously restored version of the original, full-length film. See the music, hear the pictures and share Walt Disney's triumph ...FANTASIA!
My Comments:
This is, of course, classic Disney and I loved this movie as a child. It's not such my cup of tea anymore (I prefer the new-school animation) but it's still good.
As a side not the "From Back Cover" description was taken from my old VHS copy of the film.
Go Back:
F
Rated G (MPAA)
3 Stars
1940's (Year Of Release)
Animation
Main Index
Year of Release: 1999
Rated: G
Director(s): James Algar (segment "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"), Gaëtan Brizzi (segment "Firebird Suite, The"), Paul Brizzi (segment "Firebird Suite, The"), Hendel Butoy (segments "Pines of Rome", "Piano Concerto No.2"), Francis Glebas (segment "Pomp and Circumstance"), Eric Goldberg (segments "Rhapsody in Blue", "Carnival of the Animals, The")Don Hahn (host sequences), Pixote Hunt (segment "Symphony No. 5")
Animation Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Approx. Running Time: 74 minutes
Format(s): DVD
My Rating: Not Yet Seen
Amazon.com Review:
More ambitious in scope than any of its other animated films (before or to come), Disney's 1940 Fantasia was a dizzying, magical, and highly enjoyable marriage of classical music and animated images. Fantasia 2000 features some breathtaking animation and storytelling, and in a few spots soars to wonderful high points, but it still more often than not has the feel of walking in its predecessor's footsteps as opposed to creating its own path. A family of whales swimming and soaring to Respighi's The Pines of Rome is magical to watch, but ends all too soon; a forest sprite's dance of life, death, and rebirth to Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring too clearly echoes the original Fantasia's Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria sequence. But when it's on target, Fantasia 2000 is glorious enough to make you giddy. Hans Christian Andersen's "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" is a perfect narrative set to Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2, and Donald Duck's guest appearance as the assistant to Noah (of ark fame) set to Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance marches is a welcome companion piece (though not an equal) to The Sorcerer's Apprentice, the one original Fantasia piece included here. The high point of Fantasia 2000, though, is a fantastic day-in-the-life sequence of 1930s New York City set to Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and animated in the style of cartoonist Al Hirschfeld; it's a perfect melding of music, story, and animation. Let's hope future Fantasias (reportedly in the works) take a cue from the best of this compilation. The music is provided by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by James Levine, interspersed with negligible intros by Steve Martin, Bette Midler, Itzhak Perlman, James Earl Jones, and others.
My Comments:
Haven't watched it yet.
Go Back:
F
Rated G (MPAA)
Not Yet Seen
1999 (Year Of Release)
Animation
Main Index