Recent Reviews for Fantasia
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MCT:July 24, 2008I know that its suppose to be a classic but I HATED this movie. Maybe I should have been high when I watched it.
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MCT:July 18, 2008Awesome. Can be loved by anyone at any age. You pretty much have to like classical music or at least have an appreciation for it to enjoy this.
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MCT:July 15, 2008Wow... I hadn't seen this movie since I was a wee lad. It was strange back then, and it's strange now, but since the days of Cogsworth and Mrs. Potts hinting that "there may be something there that wasn't there before," should always serve as a blueprint for the staging area of experiences everyone undergoes in their lifetime. Okay, that's pretty long-winded, but the point is; what I found to be boring and weird back then... I still find weird, but not necessarily boring, yet most of all, an amazing experience with both how the film presents itself, and the pain-staking process it underwent.
Seriously, whodathunk Walt Disney had a knack to think big, to think artistically, to experiment?? Although back in those days, he was always pushing himself, starting with Steamboat Willie and exploding with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Looking at and reading about Fantasia, I think Disney was at the top of his game. Hiring Leopold Stokowski to compose the music (note: I love classical music), utilizing the first multi-channel speaker system (Fantasound, the proto stereo/surround system), and allowing the artists to freely use colors... everybody must've had fun with the creation process. To think that this overambitious project was originally intended to be a Mickey Mouse short (which we all know as "The Sorcerer's Apprentice")... shoot, this is a film far ahead of its time, still not widely accepted nowadays. It's quite a feat considering it was created during the '30s and released in 1940. There is nothing like Fantasia before or even since then (maybe, just maybe, 2001: A Space Odyssey comes close)
So what does it offer? Eight animated shorts accompanied by classical pieces conducted by Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra. There's some semi-interesting narration that introduces each piece as well. The first on the program is "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" by Johann Sebastian Bach. Its purpose is to show off the (at the time) new sound system, and set the staging area for what's to come; Stokowski's back is to the audience (us), never showing his face, and same for the orchestra, whose instruments we can only make out through superimposed shadows in front of its conductor, or colored lights that shine down to give us a glimpse. Then slowly, the visuals dissolve into a rather abstract animated sequence meant to compliment its musical counterpart.
...and that's just the intro!
"The Nutcracker Suite" by Tchaikovsky soon follows, showing fluttering fairies, dazzling stardust, blooming flowers, and dancing mushrooms... but no Nutcracker. Beautiful and minorly whimsy, especially when the mushrooms come in. Overall, has a very natural feel...
Then comes the most famous segment of the movie: "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" by Paul Duka, featuring Mickey's triumphant comeback (that was the sole purpose of this whole concept in the first place). This is where I noticed the vivid detail of the animation; just looking at the splashes and ripples of the water, or Mickey noticeably licking his thumb to turn the book pages, or the animation of the walking brooms... wow! What happened to this kind of animation?? Anyway, it's a segment full of mischef and mayhem.
"The Rite of Spring" by Igor Stravinsky is an amazing epic piece that shows the creation of Earth (screw the naysayers that say these parts are boring, I love the animation!), the beginnings of life, and the rise (and fall) of the dinosaurs. Interesting to note is how it predates the theory that the dinos were wiped out by a meteor, so their demise depicted is an entirely different one. The music is triumphant in heightening suspense, and fits right at home with the whole segment's rather ominous tone.
We are then interrupted by an intermission, which is immediately followed by an introduction to the soundtrack. It's called "Meet the Soundtrack" which is portrayed as a line that displays sound through waveforms. In other words, a squiggly line that mimics different instruments' sounds and gives each a distinct personality. Cheesy, especially since the narrator Deems Taylor "talks" to it... but it's amusing nonetheless.
"The Pastoral Symphony" by Ludwig van Beethoven is the usual Greek mythology strewn in. Winged horses, gods, fauns, centuars, etc... things are all happy golighty in this piece, especially since butt-naked cupids play... cupid for these creatures. Soon they're joined by a drunken fat guy riding a donkey, probably the comic-relief. But soon, Zeus pops in to ruin these guys' day... what an asshole. But for the most part, it's a bright and vibrant piece. Quite controversial since there are topless centuarettes, and of course, the butt-naked cupids. There's also the hindered racist portions; the black centuarettes cut from the film. Racism is bad, but I wish these guys would restore the sequences. Just 'cause it's not there doesn't mean it didn't exist.
"Dance of the Hours" is the sole silly piece of this ensemble. Hippos, ostriches, elephants, and alligators attempt to pull off the ballet with hilarious results. The piece kinda reminded me of a Disney cartoon with Mickey and the gang performing some kind of composition that's met with catastrophe... it was pretty damn funny, too, and this piece is also funny. Sure to stick a smile on your face.
And lastly, the film ends on two pieces that are polar opposites meant to paint the everlasting battle between good and evil. First is the creepy as hell "Night on Bald Mountain" by Modest Mussorgsky, which has the demon Chernabog summoning other lowlife souls to gather for worship, and the unlucky ones disposed of at his will. I must say, this is the most amazing piece out of the Fantasia program, seeing as how the demon is shown with great life-like qualities and dark intensity. The animators didn't hold back, they went all out. They really did... the female souls were shown with nipples. But that's beside the point. Just for them to bring darkness rarely shown in the past is a big turning point for Disney. The piece ends with the chiming bells that sends these damned souls back to whence they came, and thus is introduced the flipside piece "Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert. The final absolution, the peaceful settlement of all the mayhem previously shown. Just a coupla monks in a forest gathering for worship at some cathedral. Not a bravura inclusion, but a fitting conclusion. Heh, that rhyme was unintentional.
So far, I've praised the film enthusiastically. Does it have faults? Sure... it does tend to get tedious, but even as I watched it in a tiring state, I didn't dare turn it off, nor glance at a watch or other timekeeper. The film does tend to fall into rather unconvincing interpretations (or thinking like, "Eh, they could've done something better"), and some musical sections were cut... and it pains me to say this, but "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" outshines everything else (but is tied with "Night on Bald Mountain"). But Fantasia was a risky experiment undertaken by one of the unlikeliest of candidates: Walt Disney. Seriously, the name Disney, those words "experiment"... is it possible for them to belong in the same sentence??
It's a shame Walt Disney never fully explored this avant-garde path (he did wanna make other similar Fantasia-esque flicks). But nothing could walk in its footsteps, nor even try to mimic its style. Fantasia 2000 is a film I never watched, but thinking of it now, it looks like a prettyful homage, nothing more. Fantasia is a one of a kind film, the film that dared to be different and possibly influenced others to not fret and do the same. A film that took animation to a whole new level that's, sadly, rarely seen.
Recently, the American Film Institute created a top ten animated films list. It's pretty friendly towards Disney films... Fantasia rests at number 4, behind The Lion King, Pinocchio, and list topper Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I'm baffled that The Lion King is rated so high, Pinocchio I have no beef with, and it's no surprise Snow White is chosen number one.
Anyways, Beauty and the Beast will always be my favorite Disney film (number 6 on the list). 'Tis a film that blends great storytelling, wonderful musical numbers, a strong princess (Belle would win over the Magic Mirror), and great animation that it's no wonder it was a nominee for the Best Picture Oscar (should've won anyway since The Silence of the Lambs is overrated). It was simple, yet full of quality. Looking at Fantasia recently, it certainly comes close to being my favorite Disney flick. If the AFI were ballsy enough, they'd pick Fantasia to be number one... or Beauty and the Beast, for that matter. But unlike that simple fairy tale, Fantasia jumps all over the place, and its sole purpose was to tingle your mind and touch your senses, something a lotta viewers fail to pick up on. Not a lot of animated films can achieve this... -
MCT:July 14, 2008
It was splendid idea and appreciated much more now than then for its daring to blend the high brow music of such composers as Bach, Shubert, and Beethoven. Its images are not fully fleshed out at times, but stylistic for each piece of music, which make it flow brilliantly together elevating the film into the area of high art to degree. Now it stands much more so for that and than the audiences? appreciation although it does offer the great Mickey Mouse in a charismatic role as the Sorcerer?s Apprentice and has him get into his usual shenanigans of trouble. Composer Leopold Stokowski does a fantastic job arranging the piecing and conducting and the through great movie magic he even gets to interact with Mickey on the screen. The true brilliance of the film though lies in the melding of images to the pieces of music offering a vision of the many visions that the music can conjure. In some cases they are abstract like when the lines match the tones of music or in other cases the pictures are of fairy tale creature and mythological characters like a giant demon or Bacchus. The newest fair from Disney Fantasia 2000 lacks much of the heart of this one for the reason that the imagination of the artists is not as daring as the groundbreaking ones who crafted this masterpiece. Even if I do not care for the Evolution elements in one part of the film the rest of the majesty of the film especially the artwork more than makes up for it.
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MCT:July 12, 2008
very funny and memorable. ANd ofcourse everyone knows the famous mop scene and the water crashing up in fabulous colors. Wonderful! The music is joyous and the cartoons are hilarious!
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MCT:July 11, 2008
Finally, I have completed the AFI's first list; watching all 100 of their Top American Films. Some say that Fantasia is Walt Disney's masterpiece, and although I wouldn't call it that, I would agree that it's technically one of the best. It's not one of my favorites, but one of the best. The music and animation go together marvelously in this beautiful film.
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MCT:July 8, 2008
The single coolest musical Disney movie ever put to animation, Fantasia is the crown jewel of the 40s era at Disney. The idea of putting animation to song was way, way, way ahead of its time. Actually a ode to silent serials before it. It's like a great dream inside a child's wonderland.
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MCT:July 3, 2008I think watching the film as a whole can be tiresome. I think this film shines with the animation and stories it tell with a single word of dialogue being said.
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MCT:June 28, 2008
I thought that this one wasnt as good as the first two Disney Classics Snow White and Pinocchio. Not as good as Dumbo but it was better than Bambi was. It was a good family musical but in my opinion it is a Disney disappointment. Mickey Mouse is cool in this film.
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MCT:June 24, 2008timeless brilliance that charms, amazes, and entertains just about any audience. classic, innovative animation centered around famous classical music pieces. dancing hippos, dinosaurs, vivacious mushrooms, greek mythology, and mischievous Mickey Mouse....awesome.
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MCT:June 18, 2008
An original and enthralling idea. The first movie that made me associate Mozart with mushrooms and dinosaurs.
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MCT:June 15, 2008
Should be required viewing for youngsters - and when they get older, they'll want to see it again. If only MTV had gone this direction.
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MCT:June 14, 2008
Brilliant. I always love film making that ignores all preconceived notions of right and wrong and abandons a company line that has served them for decades. Sometimes you get Fantasia, sometimes you get garbage, but it's always thrilling.
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MCT:June 3, 2008
Not a big fan of Disney stuff like I was as a kid, but I've always enjoyed this one for some reason.
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MCT:May 30, 2008
The proto-music video is still one of the best, and one of the best animated films of all time. From Fantasia's flights of fancy come every single computer animated film, image, or character. Mickey Mouse naturally makes a cameo, no surprise, but the real surprise is that depending on whom you ask, it might not be the universal favorite. There's something for everyone! Dinosaurs, Greek mythology, religious imagery, Demons and hellfire, anthropomorphic animal ballet dancers, and dancing flora and fauna! Somehow this flopped in 1940, but is now considered a classic. Ah well, sometimes a movie takes time to be appreciated properly.
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something as a child i never saw just like the excorcist and the nutcracker these are things my mom kept me away from
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MCT:May 26, 2008
1/2 saw it didn't like it & would never see again
1=would see it again if there was nothing else to do
3=liked
4-5=loved and then some -
MCT:May 15, 2008
Absolutely marvolous for a 1940 film. Set up as a concert in the movie theater it blends music and animation in an amazing way. Pioneered the way for music and animation to really be used. Mickey gives his greatest performance in the Sorcerer's Apprentice and the whole thing is a masterpiece for Walt Disney.
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MCT:May 9, 2008
Wow, I just can't say enough about this film. I remember seeing it at a showing at UCSD it was wonderful to view on the BIG SCREEN.
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MCT:May 7, 2008
Every person should see this movie at least once in my opinion. One of the best and the last piece is reason enough for me.
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MCT:April 17, 2008
Classical music tied with animation often, at times, dark enough to include minions and demons. Full-length orchestrations would've been great,
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MCT:April 4, 2008
Absulutly beautiful!
An amazing depiction of the peices of music which feature.
Stunning imagery and wonderfull movement, this film is one of the best disney films ever made, revolutionary and moving. -
MCT:March 10, 2008FANTASIA (1940)
supervised by Walt DisneyFantasia isnt really a movie its more a like a stage show. An orchestra performs classical pieces of music while you see what those pieces inspired some of the artists at Disney back then. Some are abstract, some tells like story and others are just pure imagination.Fantasia sure is good looking and the music is enchanting. Some of the drawings are simply great pieces of art. Its colorful, finely-shaded, sometimes funny, sometimes scary and maybe touching but its never boring. It might feels overlong sometimes but its worth seeing cause some of those numbers are amazing and the animation is still to this day the best you can get from Disney or any other studios.
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MCT:February 27, 2008
There's just something incredibly great about these films. We are all familiar with the ideat that certain pieces of classical music make us imagine different things, and this movie is comprised of what Disney cartoonists saw in their mind's eye. Both this film and its sequel are staples in children's film libraries because they inspire imagination and creativity while preserving and instilling a love for classical music for this generation of technology zombies. We need more films like this.
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MCT:February 24, 2008
My favourite Disney film, as an adult of course. I'm sure I would've been fairly bored as a kid. Still, great stuff.
