Fantasia 2000
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Movie Reviews of Fantasia 2000
Movie Review: This Disney film that couldn't... just did
Summary: 5 Stars
Most people will look at Fantasia 2000 as the Disney film that couldn't, and we are left with is a film that is superior in music, animation, and story in almost every conceivable way. Most people will criticize the film for one reason or another, whether it's the much talked about flying whales, or yo-yo flinging flamingos, when looked into the actual depth compared to the original, it succeeds, and very well. The animation is excellent, no film has had such well done animation, compared to Fantasia 2000. most people wowed when they saw Toy Story and Dinosaur, this simply has you awe-ing the entire way through. You will be in laughter, or in tears, as the movie is so interactive it feels like you're there. Music, is another triumph, from Rhapsody in Blue, to Pomp and Circumstance, they seemlessly blend with their animation in a way even the original Fantasia couldn't compare.
The story, now the original Fantasia wasn't to keen on story. Most of the stories were very simple, and so is true in Fantasia 2000, or in the begginning anyway. After the third section, Rhapsody in Blue, you will be amazed at the stories. Rhapsody in Blue's story, is the most interesting, and the only one that you will watch just because of the Story. While you will watch all of them for the story and animation, this truly is a landmark on how to blend story, with animation.
Of course you get the unbelievably well animated The Steadfast Tin Soldier, which will keep you enticed with is wonderful animation, arguably the best ever seen. The Carnival of Animals with some flamingos, and a yo-yo is probably the most enjoyable for it's unbelievable amount of quirkiness. What else would make this a near perfect film, you get the original Sorcerer's Apprentice, which has Mickey mouse playing with magic that he knows he shouldn't. Donald Duck enters his first theatrical hit with Pomp and Circumstance which is a Noah's Arch interpretation, which will get you emotionally caught up as he believes Daisy is dead.
The Pines of Rome, or the Flying Whale sequence, which shows off extreme detail in shadows, and other forms of animation. The final scene Firebird Suite is arguably the best in the entire film. Life, death, re-birth is the theme, and is an excellent ending to an excellent film. While yes, in between you get to see Steve Martin, and other recognizable faces, they give you a good background information on what Disney has done in it's past. A must see for Disney fans, but the taste is very selective, you may find yourself liking all, some, or none of the scenes through the film. Times have changed, and so have tastes, this film is a testament of animation. Abstract, stream-line, 3-D virtual space, Impressionism, surrealism, all used to make this film, and it all succeeds well. If you remember that it's Fantasia, and only Fantasia, you will enjoy just as much if not more.
Movie Review: Disney still remains an animation powerhouse
Summary: 5 Stars
Like Apollo 13, one can say the original Fantasia was a successful failure. Re-release after re-release, it became a classic with great music and artistic animation but dumbfounded people, calling it pretentious and "un Disney-like". It hurt Disney, the company and Walt, as it was his labor of love and in spent lots of money to finance the Fantasound, a precursor to what we now call "Surround sound". And with World War II just right outside, people didn't exactly want to see an animation movie. Walt's dream for the film was for it to be a continuing work in process: re-released every 2-4 years with new showcases and returning favorites but died before doing this. His nephew Ron Disney decided to make true on his dream and so on January 1st, 2000, Fantasia 2000 was released in IMAX theatres. Here is a showcase-by-showcase rundown.
Beethoven's Fifth Symphony: I have a hunch there isn't a single person(besides people born hearing impaired) that hasn't heard the infamous 4 note intro. And it's all set to black and purple Dorito chips? Okay I'll buy it. 9/10
Peghnini's Pines of Rome: Somehow a piece about the Roman army turned into flying whales in the Arctic circle. But man does it look gorgeous. Definately a highlight. 10/10
Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue: Meh, this is ok. It's unique for Disney granted but I didn't care for it much. 7/10
Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2 Allergo Opus 102: Boy that's a long title. It's set to the story of the Steadfast Tin Soldier and it's quite good. In the original version, it's a sad ending but Disney went and "disneyfied" it for a more happy ending. Bah. 8/10
Saint-Saen's Carnival of the Animals, Finale: What happens when you give a yo-yo to a flamingo? A cute funny little scene in the same vein as Dance of the Hours. 8/10
Dukas's The Sorceror's Apprentice: The only original from the first one and still recognizable. The best version is on the original dvd as they changed the format from full to widescreen. Still good. 8/10
Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance Marches 1-4: If you've ever graduated or at least been to a ceremony, you heard this song. It features Donald and Daisy in a Noah's Ark type story. I liked it, not technically brilliant but still cute. 8/10
Stravinksy's Firebird Suite(1919 version): This must've been a jawdropper on the IMAX screen and it's still a marvel on dvd. A theme of life/death/rebirth set in the forest. If you want to show off your dvd/sound system, cue this in. 10/10
While it probably wouldn't be considered a classic right away, even the original didn't get that overnight, it's still great to see Disney churn out something other than tepid direct-to-video sequels. Watch the original too, as it started it all.
Movie Review: Disney, consumed sorcerer
Summary: 5 Stars
In 1940, when Walt Disney conceived Fantasia as a project that would marry classic music with animation, he also wanted to expand it, alter it or make it better every year.
"It is our intention to make a new version of Fantasia every year. Its format is very flexible and fun to analyze -it's not really a concert, not a variety theater or a magazine, but a great mix of comedy, ballet, drama, impressionism, color, sound and epic fury-"
Walt Disney, 1941.
I bet Mr. Disney never thought about a 60 year wait. Better later than never.
Taking as a starting point the original film, this new Fantasia presents 8 incredible animated segments accompanied by 8 classical compositions:
An abstract celebration of movement and color, choreographed by Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, with flying figures that simulate butterflies and bats.
An astounding vision of blue whales that fly the limits of reality and go to the sky, accompanied with "Pines of Rome" of Ottorino Respighi.
An interpretation of the famous Rhapsody in Blue, by George Gershwin, with an excellent animation made by Al Hirschfield, that begins with a point until it creates the vibrant city of New York and its colorful people.
The Piano Concert N° 2 by Dimitri Shostakovich supports the Hans Christian Andersen's story of The Steadfast Tin Soldier.
A gracious group of Flamingos flying across the sea and playing with a yo-yo are presented with a segment of Camile Sait-Sains' Carnival of the Animals.
Pomp ad Circunstance, by Edgard Elgar gives life to a picaresque version of the Noah's Arc story, with Donald and daisy Duck starring.
The The Rite of Spring suite, by Igor Stravinsky, narrates the death and resurrection of nature in a forest destroyed by a volcano.
And for those nostalgia ones that long for a classic, The Sorcerer's Apprentice returns, digitally restored, with Paul Dukas' music and conducted by Leopold Stokowski, the same director from the first Fantasia.
Fantasia 2000 is a banquet of delicatessens to our senses. Music, colors, textures, forms and stories are sew and given to our restless imagination. Each segment provokes different reactions, capable of stripping away sensations and intense emotions.
For Disney, Fantasia was a vehicle to pay tribut to his favorite composers: Beethoven, Dukas, Saint-Sains. The return of their music in Fantasia 2000 confirms the immortality of such creations. The magic hasn't expired. It transcends animation, time and generations. It's life, dream, it's beauty and endless ecstasy.
Movie Review: Dumbed down sequel still shines.
Summary: 5 Stars
By far the best sections of the film are Shostakovich's 2nd Piano Concerto and Stravinsky's Firebird Suite, both in terms of the musical performance and animation. It's just a shame these (and other) sections couldn't have been longer.Worst sections of the movie are the celebrity introductions and the truly awful Pomp and Circumstance section. Who thought it fit to have random female warblings at the end?. I must say, as an Englishman, I was perhaps naive in expecting 'Land of Hope and Glory' in an American production, but some discernable words would have been better than none at all.
And why did they include an entire sequence from the original Fantasia? It is the most over-played section of the original film and yet hardly the most remarkable. This part as well as the Donald Duck sequence was merely to 'dumb down' the film for audiences with sort attention spans. It's a shame, but then I suppose, at least you are getting people to 'appreciate' classical music. A necessary evil, then...
Rhapsody in Blue sits rather uneasily amongst the other pieces, both in terms of musical and animation styles, however that may be becasue I'm not a particular fan of Gershwin.
Also, the opening sequnce (Beethoven's 5th - well, what there was left of it) was disappointing. It looked more like an exercise in showing off Disney's computer processing power than anything creative. And the colour scheme used was an awful mess of Blacks and purples that did nothing to evoke the musical score (unlike the wonderful Toccata and Fugue piece from the first film).
The best thing about this DVD however is the sound. The original Fantasia's Achilles heal was the dreadfully slushy, portamento-laden and often doctored performances of classical works, to the point at which Stokowski must have scribbled extra notes in the musician's scores. On the Fantasia DVD the dreadful sound quality further ruins the mood - I can't think why no one has ever thought to re-record the soundtrack.
Fortunately the Fantasia 2000 DVD excels in the sound department and really shows off the DVD format with 'crystal-clear' recording. For this reason and for the truly stunning image quality, I give it 5 out of Five.
Movie Review: Stunning artwork, astounding music
Summary: 5 Stars
Wow.
I'm astonished to read some negative reviews on this piece--some people don't like it period, some don't like the animation, some don't like the music (shortened), and some just don't think it was as good as the Fantasia.
Remember that this is a concert. Wasn't Fantasia originally titled "The Concert Feature" anyway? It's a concert, and the pieces cannot flow directly between, so there are pauses. Unfortunately, in this case they are distracting (Penn & Teller, Bette Midler) but many of them sufficiently introduce the pieces and animation so they may be more enjoyable to a first-time viewer. It is a DVD--you can always skip the intros if you've seen them before.
Familiarity with the pieces may either enhance or dampen the overall experience--but I'm sure it made the experience more wonderful for me. Especially since I did not actually enjoy some of the pieces included. For example, having heard Stravinsky's The FireBird Suite a number of times in the past, and not enjoying it at all, hardly prepared me for the delightful experience of watching Disney's short. I have a new love for the piece, and cannot forget the imagery displayed, which is not even close to what I had imagined upon previously hearing the piece.
The Pines of Rome, by Ottorino Respighi, is another song with which I was familiar. This sequence with the flying whales is delightful and refreshing, the music perfectly suited with the animation.
Truly, in each of the musical pieces, the music and animation flowed together so seamlessly, that they only make eachother more appealing.
One does not sit in front of Fantasia or Fantasia 2000 to see one film, one plot with action or romance or what-have-you, but instead, sits as he would in an auditorium, in front of a tremendous orchestra, and allowed a brief glimpse into another's imagination. Let the music and images take you away...
This is truly delightful to watch and hear, and I reccommend it for anyone, at any age.