Rating: 
Summary: Not the original but well worth your time
Review: Fantasia 1940 isn't simply the greatest piece of animation anyone ever made, it is one of world's greatest works of art. It's illustration of various pieces of classical music was as daring and innovative a move as any artist in any medium has ever made. It's animation was awe-inspiring and it even had a kind of coherence. Fantasia 1940 was almost the world's first animated opera. Fantasia 2000 merely follows in 1940's footsteps, with the aid of computers. It's a sequel and it looks it.That said, I had a wonderful time watching this. As in the original, some of the segments don't work as well as others. The Beethoven's Fifth segment is a bit of a bore, I thought the Respighi whales piece was excessive, and, given the choice, I wouldn't have included the Sorceror's Apprentice again. But some segments work extremely well. I've never cared much for Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, but its segment here gave me a whole new appreciation of that work. The Carnival of the Animals is hysterically funny, with almost a Chuck Jones feel to it. And Donald Duck is both very funny and very touching in the Pomp and Circumstance. Following a legend is an impossible task. But Fantasia 2000 is a worthy sequel to its illustrious predecessor.
Rating: 
Summary: Why did they have to be cute
Review: The animation to Rhapsody in Blue was the highlight of this feature. The music and images matched perfectly and kept my interest the entire time. The other segments were good but didn't quite live up to Rhapsody. The only unfortunate segment, is the grand reprise of The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Why did they have to be cute and insert this bit. I have never liked it anyways, and I have never like Mikey Mouse. What was the problem? Were they unable to develop another original segment?
Rating: 
Summary: Fantasia 2000
Review: Woe! Woe! Woe! Sixty years of technical animation improvement; sixty years of artistic atrophy! I wish I hadn't bought Fantasia 2000, then I could dream that it would be an extension of the original Fantasia. Now my fantasy is shattered. Why was it necessary for so many "celebs" to introduce the works? Their inane remarks lessened the impact of the musical skits. Also,why so much blue? The original Fantasia is bright, crisp and lively. Uncle Walt we sure do miss you; your new tribe can't compete with you.
Rating:
Summary: Doesn't quite have the charm of the original
Review: The music is still beautiful. The animation is still top-notch. It somehow doesn't catch the same emotions of the original but then again that's not the point. This is another version to experience as something brand new. Very worthwhile and a wonderful addition to your DVD collection.
Rating: 
Summary: Simply delightful
Review: "Fantasia 2000" is the same concept as "Fantasia": a kind of animated MTV for classical music. The movie tries to be more popular than the previous one, in terms of selecting recognizable music pieces (Symphony #5, Pomp and Circumstances, Rhapsody in Blue, etc...) as well as more segments with a "plot" (Donald as Noah's helper, the brave tin soldier, and other) and less subrealism, which apparently most of the public does not appreciates. The movie is delightful for the ear and the eyes (see the fantastical segment of whales "swimming" in the air and up to the space). A brief recommendation will be: if you liked the first one, buy "Fantasia 2000". If you hated the whole concept, probably you should rent this one before purchase.
Rating:
Summary: Fantasia 2000
Review: I saw Fantasia 2000 for the first time at the Imax Theater and it was simply fantastic. As a result, I decided to get it on DVD for myself and my grandchildren. The DVD was really great with good color, sound and clarity. However, I was disappointed in watching it in letterbox. My new Panasonic television has the capability of changing letterbox with the pan & scan but it said that if the DVD wasn't formatted to do this, it still has to be viewed in letterbox. With all the new technology out today, why couldn't this DVD be formatted to change from letterbox to full screen. I enjoyed Fantasia very much but would be reluctant to buy anything in widescreen where I can't change the letterbox. Letterbox viewing is so annoying.
Rating:
Summary: BEDAZZLED SHADOW OF THE 1940 ORIGINAL
Review: Maybe I've lived too long, but the real Walt Disney's high artistic standards in each painstakingly handmade cel of FANTASIA is practically nowhere to be found in this computer assembled Hollywood moneymaker. The big risk in competing with a classic, referring to Disney's original 1940 masterpiece, is that it invites comparison. FANTASIA 2000 tried to exploit the name and fame of the original .... but artistically failed (but not at the box office). At least the stable of directors for FANTASIA 2000 (Pixote Hunt, Hendel Butoy, Eric Goldberg, James Alger, Francis Glebas, Gaetan Brizzi and Paul Brizzi.) had the sense to keep the nearly original version of "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" from 1940 in FANTASIA 2000. Ah yes, FANTASIA 2000 is a sentimental yearning for a golden age. If you were brought up on the original, as I was, the new millenium version only increases nostalgia for the good old days when money was secondary to Art. For example, in 2000 the nervous (neurotic?) Donald Duck is now Noah on the Ark floating about to the tune of "Pomp and Circumstance." This fragment of Disney nostalgia is not funny. What is that? Walt Disney would have left that segment on his cutting room floor! The man liked to make money, but he had standards What made the original special was, for example, that the 1940s version began with images of violin bows bouncing on strings. Then it logically and artistically built upon this, recreating the images of experiencing an orchestra as a member of the audience. The imagry allowed your mind to wander. But in 2000 version, the public mind must be led, and so instead what do we get? Beethoven's Fifth Symphony is ridiculed by random shapes and colors, and an assortment of images without coherence that irritate us from one scene to the next. What a bummer! Originally, Walt Disney wished to entertain and EDUCATE masses of demoralized children emerging from the Great Depression of the 1930s. Most Depression kids were disadvantaged to the extent of never having heard Beethoven's music nor seeing a symphony orchestra. What great social or educational achievement was ushered in by the opening of FANTASIA 2000, decorated with random shapes that had nothing to do with music or Beethoven?! In the later parts of FANTASIA 2000 at least the scenes are not disrupted by gratuitous celebrity introductions that totally lacked entertainment value. The movie was partially rescued by the artistically pleasing whales dancing to "Pines of Rome," the"Rhapsody in Blue" segment, the sprite "Carnival of the Animals" that answers the age-old question of "What would happen if you gave a yo-yo to a flock of flamingos." Also, the time honored Bambi was resurrected with the "Firebird Suite." But the Tin Soldier story supported by Shostakovich's piano concerto was pretty awful. Although the good old " Sorcerer's Apprentice" was a sight for sore eyes, even that was a grainy piece of film. Ironically, with all the high tech gimmickry available to this group in 1999, the Technicolor FANTASIA created during the late 1930s was sharper and clearer. Poor Mickey ... must be doing cartwheels in his grave. In sorrowful conclusion: the original FANTASIA released in 1940 was a box office disaster. It took another 15 years for Disney's masterpeice to begin earning his studio a profit. But three generations later, young and old alike are uplifted by this work and can recognize its greatness ... and the film will probably live on forever. However, FANTASIA 2000 was merely an incredible moneymaker, not only at the box office, but also the peripherals: tee shirts, lunch boxes, toys, gadgets, books, foods and so on. Many people will become rich from it, and Walt Disney Inc. stock will go up. But it will take less than one generation for this new millennium cynical bamboozler to fade from cultural memory. In the current era of our materialistic millennium, FANTASIA 2000 may become a metaphor for the true meaning of the phrase du jour, "the bottom line." Artistically and esthetically, it can hardly sink lower.
Rating:
Summary: A worthy sequel
Review: I, like many others who have written reviews so far, was fortunate to see this movie at an IMAX theatre. Although not quite as good as the original, this is still a great movie. The pieces used were well picked and nicely animated in many contrasting styles, which was nice. With such great pieces as the firebird suite, the shostakovich piano concerto, and the pines of rome, mixed in with old favorites like rhapsody in blue and beethoven's 5th symphony, this is a sure bet for ALL music lovers. My only complaint was the shortness of the movie (90 mins as opposed to 120 mins in Fantasia). It seemed like it was rushed in a way, as there are only two complete pieces in the entire movie. A full 15 mins was cut out of the firebird suite, not to mention one movement of the pines of rome and the pomp and circumstance marches, 2 movements of the shostakovich, and all but one movement in the beethoven and carnival of the animals. I would still highly recommend buying it - you'll be pleasantly surprised
Rating:
Summary: Stands on its own!
Review: One of the biggest mistakes people make is comparisons...the new version of Fantasia is an entirely different entity from the original and stands on its own merits. The only things they have in common is they are both set to music and The Sorcerer's Apprentice is included. I took my mother to see this (no, we didn't get to see the IMAX version) since she went to the premiere of the original Fantasia in New York. She loved it as much as I did! The animation and the COLORS are extraordinary...the flamingos have blue backgrounds that would make Maxfield Parrish gasp. The whale sequence is breathtaking and the Donald and Daisy Duck sequence is amazing in its emotional and visual scope. The forest sprite is actually beyond description; I have NEVER seen anything to equal this! My personal favorite is the Rhapsody in Blue segment. I love the music and the addition of Hirschfeld illustration and the action and beautiful fluid animation make this one really stand out. I can't wait to get my own copy of this truly extraordianry Disney event! Don't miss out!
Rating:
Summary: Fantasia 2000 - A Masterpiece
Review: I was fortunate enough to see the IMAX version of this film. The original Fantasia has always been one of my favorites, but Fantasia 2000 surpasses even that. For me, the combination of the wonderful animation, the stories, and the great music made for an intense emotional experience. I experienced a sense of awe at the beauty and creativity of the animation and a number of times I discovered tears rolling down my face. This film is truly a masterpiece!
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