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Summary: One of the best reasons to become an animator!
Review: Since I was young, Disney animation has been a staple of some of my favorite watchings. With the reniassance of disney in 1989 with "The Little Mermaid," my hope to one day work for the Walt Disney Studios and become part of that greaty legacy of animators has kept with me. Fantasia 2000 was the greatest movie recently that showcased the talents of Disney and what animation truly can be! I saw Fantasia 2000 6 times in IMAX and regular theaters. The first Fantasia was the earliest film I remember seeing. And Disney's plans to make this 3 disc set was the greatest idea so far (along with the Tarzan Collector's Edition). I've always been keen to the special effects and making of aspecials for movies on TV, and this DVD set has all. Most notable I'm looking forward to is the reinstatement of "Claire De Lune," a deleted sequence from the original, fully restored (and hopefully with original intro by Deems Taylor, Fantasia's first host). As well as the storyboards, concept art and more. Fantasia 2000 I can't wait for because of the additional commentary by Roy Disney, conductor James Levine as well as each segment's supervisor and art director. My favorite has been the "Steadfast Tin Soldier," followed by "Firebird Suite." Both seem to feel like they could have been conceived in the time of the 1940's, and the classic feel of their animation works well. "Carnival of the Animals," is the animal segment that replaces the "Dance of the Hours" segment from the first Fantasia. "Pines of Rome" has that great feel of having someone let their imagination "soar" while daydreaming. "Rhapsody in Blue" has the edge of being the most original because it deals moreso with the art style of master caricaturist Al Hirschfeld, and it's minimalist style leaves room for very spastic motion. "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" and "Pomp and Circumstance" have Mickey and Donald doing things from bringing brooms to magical life and helping Noah get the animals aboard the ark. "Symphony No 5" takes the feel of a "living painting," with the touches of giving a triumphant story of good and evil. Needless to say, I recommend this to everyone. I can stil remember seeing it in IMAX on January 3, and the impulse to see it again (saw it 3 times in 2 days, and I was from out of town).
Rating:
Summary: A Work of Art
Review: There are movies that you watch to be entertained... there are movies that you watch for the action, story, and characters. This is a movie that is to be appreciated... It's the animated equivelant of going to an art museum.Fantasia, first realized in 1940, is several beautiful vignettes set to music, with no dialogue. Some times it is funny, often it is amazingly drawn. This movie is meant for those who enjoy art for art's sake. While there are some sections with a plot to them, Fantasia is more of a "music video" for classical music than a feature film. I highly recommend this DVD. It is a timeless classic that should not be missed.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Movie Comes to DVD -- 6 stars are in order
Review: The original 1940 "Fantasia" has to be one of the greatest animated films ever and was made with an unbelievable level of creativity by all participants. The animation in the film is fantastic, whether it it is fairly abstract (as in the Bach Tocatta and Fugue) or more represenational (as in the "Rite of Spring" segment). My belief is that visually speaking, the original Fantasia is a stunning film, with a level of artistry that has never been equalled. The colors of the early Disney film were wonderfully rich (I am thinking of Pinocchio). In Fantasia, images were drawn in very fine detail and there are lots of very fine colors and effects (e.g., reflections from pools of water) here. The film was years and years ahead of its time and is way ahead of the corner-cutting animation that is too common today. I think Fantasia 2000 is a good film too, but can't quite reach the greatness of the earlier film. Although all of the pieces are set to classical music, they are appealingly presented. The kids will love most of the segments of the film, especially the brilliant "Sorcerer's Apprentice" with Mickey Mouse that are included in both films. These films are great ways to get kids interested in music. The original had Stokowski conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra at its peak and the sequal has Metropolitan Opera conducting the Chicago Symphony. In terms of the music, Disney and conductor Leopold Stokowski made a multi-track recording that could only be played in very few theaters at the time (I think 40 speakers were needed). It will be very interesting to see how the original film's soundtrack is presented on the DVD. The sound for the sequel was of course excellent and performances were good too. Disney's DVD releases of its cartoons have been very good in the past. If any films need to be well presented on DVD (in terms of sound and picture quality), they must include Fantasia and its sequal. It sounds like the DVD is going to have lots of extra background features for the fans of these films, and I for one am really looking forward to getting features about the background of the films, including music pieces that were not included. My only complaint here (common when it comes to some really great older movies) is why does it take so long to get them to DVD when there surely is an audience for them? Let's hope more great films make it to DVD.
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Summary: Why there is a classical section in your record store....
Review: No, it's not there to stock copies of The Eagles or Cream. It's there for timeless pieces of music with a rich feel. It's really hard to describe classical music with anyone word save for emotional. Composers created the music to express personal emotion, and to stir that same emotion in the listener. Disney decided to supplant that emotion, in a good way, with imagery. Disney's early experiment with animation and music resulted in Fantasia. Originally concieved as a constant work in progress, the film was to be a film/concert piece that would be continously updated every so often with a few new pieces replacing some of the elder pieces. Kind of like a rotating schedule, some pieces would stay others would leave. Well, the film opened to little fanfare and Disney move onto bigger and better soon after. Some 55+ years later, Roy Disney resurrects the Fantasia concept to be updated with new segments. The two films, hopefully to be the first two in a more frequently visited series, blend incredible pieces of classical music with varying cartoon images. Some pieces carry entire stories with them and others serve merely as background music for freaky shapes and objects. There are memorable piece in both films, most notably, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, starring Mickey in his tour de force, The Nutcracker Suite as told in nature's settings, and in the new version, Rhapsody in Blue circa 1930's NYC, and a retelling of Noah's Ark (starring Donald and Daisy Duck!) with Pomp and Circumstance (The Graduation Song...). Finally, after nearly ten years of it's supposed final release ever (on any format....) on VHS and LD, Disney gets the idea in their head that Fantasia is a good film to release on DVD, and it goes even better with Fantasia 2000 with bonus supplements. Enter the 3 disc set which looks to be quite promising.... The good thing about the two films which make them as good as they are is that there's no need for the film at all to pander to a child's point of view, and the film never has to beef itself up with smarmy (read: for parents sitting through the film) inside or "grownup" jokes. It's all visual, and the stories, where one exists, are universal and simple. It's one downside is that neither film is easily approachable by all. Despite the simple stories and great music, some just do not have the patience for classical music, or a film with no dialog. Bear this in mind as for all but the most patient children will get ansty or bored with this at times. They can only watch so many volcanoes blow or whales fly before they have to give up and flip in a Pokemon DVD or Tarzan. But for those who appreciate animation of all kinds as completely as I do, this is an essential set of films that cannot be missed.
Rating:
Summary: The greatest work of Walt Disney!
Review: Everywhere you look, you can see the comment "This is not your classical Disney production", and they are all right. Fantasia (and his fellow, fantasia 2000) are movies that don't search for money but to give us the reason that explain why cinema is named "the 7th art". This movie is a piece of art. And if you see all the extras that come with it (incluiding a Walt Disney's commentary! ) you will agree that this is a must to own DVD.
Rating: 
Summary: The Anthology Rules
Review: The Fantasia Antholgy is good for people who like special features, like me. It is not so good if you have already seen the first two.
Rating:
Summary: If there were 10 stars, this would have it
Review: Not only is this the greatest piece of animation Walt Disney ever made, it is also one of the most original and daring works of art in all of history. Perhaps only Manet's Olympia, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring or Kubrick's 2001 approach it in terms of artistic risk. The abstract animation of the opening sequence is an amazing step for a mere "cartoon." There is humor, real drama, and even death. And the whole thing has a peculiar coherence. Some of the segments don't work as well as others; I didn't particularly enjoy the interpretation of Night on Bald Mountain and I've never been all that much of a fan of the Sorceror's Apprentice segment. But, ultimately, that doesn't matter; Fantasia is as innovative a work of art as anyone has ever made, it remains my favorite movie of all time, and I'm delighted that it's finally on DVD.
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Summary: Classic marriage of sound and imagery (and hippie freakout)
Review: No wonder it took until the Sixties for people to appreciate this 1940's classic. This mindblowing trip through time and space, death and rebirth was at least a generation ahead of its time (and it takes a good head to fully appreciate this psychedelic masterwork). Don't let the kiddie sequences fool you -- they're also a vital part of the experience -- this is an Adult film (and I'm not talking about those topless centauresses) that works on many different levels of perception. What WAS ol' Walt smokin' or droppin'?
Rating:
Summary: BUY THIS
Review: This is, in fact, a miraculous disc. I can't wait to get my copy... Both these films are masterpieces, and compliment each other well. The sequences from 1940 and 2000 differ but both show an amazing amount of talent across the generations of animators. In the end, it's worth it just for the Rhapsody in Blue and Firebird Suite segments. Add in all the amazing extras on this disc and you're set. If you buy only one disc this year... well, you know the drill...
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Summary: FANTASIA FANS REJOICE
Review: During my daily look at DVD Review.com I found out that both FANTASIA and FANTASIA 2000 will be coming to DVD on November 14!! Finally the majesty, sheer beauty, and the awe of Fantasia will be ours again. Only this time on DVD with some generous goodies. Bravo Walt Disney Home Video---Your catching on!
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