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Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of my Favorites!
Review: Mary Poppins is not only one of my favorite Disney movies but also one of my favorite movies period, I think this movie is fantastic and just a real joy to watch, I like it a lot more than Chitty Chitty Bang! I highly recommend Mary Poppins! I wish they would also release the Gnome Mobile to video and DVD it was a really cute movie that also starred Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber who played Jane and Michael in Mary Poppins, we used to have the Gnome Mobile on tape it was tape off of The Disney Channel but unfortunately it was taped over.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Disney's Triumph
Review: Standing strong beside its major competition in the 60's is Walt Disney's classic adaptation of the Mary Poppins books. I enjoyed it as a kid; I LOVE it as an adult.

I will quickly acknowledge that it is flawed: Flying wires are visible; the "exterior" sets are obviously indoors in studios; etc. But the creative storytelling, fun adventures, big stars (Who couldn't enjoy watching Ed Wynn laugh himself onto the ceiling?), and brilliant songs cause the objective viewer to forget its shortcomings and lose himself in the magic.

It is the story of Jane and Michael, two children who love their father dearly; but the father has formed his own hard views of how life is to be lived, and can't see the love and joy his children want to share with him. When Mary Poppins breezes in (literally) to apply for the job of nanny, she brings with her a firm commitment to living life to its fullest. The infectious atmosphere of joy she spreads touches everyone she meets, changing the heart of the father, and opening him up to the wonders life has to offer to him, particularly through his children.

Parents with any soul at all will be touched. Children with any imagination at all will be enthralled. I personally have laughed and cried, even at age 27.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Classic, Brilliant, Funny, Touching - Magical
Review: Mary Poppins is one of those classic and magical movies that will never go out of style. Each time I watch it, it gets better and I see something new in the film. Julie Andrews is perfectly cast as the "practically perfect" nanny for the two Banks children in her very first movie (She won an Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of Mary Poppins in 1964). Dick Van Dyke is absolutely wonderful as the comical and charming Bert, one of the best roles he would ever portray on screen. Backed by an amazing supporting cast including Ed Wynn (he loves to laugh!), Glynis Johns as Mrs. Banks, David Tomlinson as the domineering and punctual Mr. Banks, and Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber as the adorable Banks children Jane and Michael. With amazing musical numbers and award winning songs and special effects this film is wonderful from start to finish with never a dull moment and something to offer for everyone. A truly magical film that once you have seen, you can never forget.
The DVD version of this timeless classic is a must have. Complete with special segments on the making of the film, clips of the stars arriving at the premier, and games, it too has a little something for everyone.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Mixed review
Review: My 3 yr old son loves so many movies. But Mary Poppins just isn't one of them for him. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Muppet Movie were even a hit with him.

I still love this movie myself though. It's a beautiful movie!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: THE DEFINITIVE FAMILY MUSICAL OF THE 60's!
Review: "Mary Poppins" has been around so long that it is hard to review objectively. I saw the film in the movie theatre in 1980 when I was 14 years old, and all my expectations were surpassed. There is so much to love about it, it's hard to analyze it without evoking sentimental memories of childhood.
While not quite in the same caliber as "The Wizard of Oz", yet much better than "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", the movie does have irresistable assets: a lovely score, great sets and costumes, as well as infectious acting, singing and dancing by all the leads. The movie itself is somewhat episodic, with no real tension or conflict (unlike the tense and scary scenes of conflict in "Wizard"), and is about 45 minutes too long for contemporary audiences (1960's audiences didn't have short attention spans as they do today, and lumbering musicals could just take their own sweet time). Despite the accolades regarding the film's special effects, some of the blending of live-action and animation is just not on par with Disney's earlier classic "Song of the South" (1946). Even the wires used to fly Mary and her cohorts are sometimes glaringly visible, especially on a great DVD print, not to mention in the movie theater. Perhaps some of these shortcomings caused the film to not receive mention on the AFI's 100 Greatest Films list. Nevertheless, "Mary Poppins" is a bona fide Disney classic, with a wonderful message about life and family.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Practiculy perfect in every way
Review: This is an all time classic that is absolutely fabulous. Mary Poppins is not only entertaining for young children, but is filled with british humor for parents/adults as well.

It is an excellent video, which everyone person and child should see at least once.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Mary Poppins Gold Collection DVD
Review: I can't believe that I hated this film when I was a kid, you would think that I would have liked it more back then. But about 3 months ago, I bought this DVD and saw the film for the first time in around a decade. I cannot believe it's the same movie, in fact, I started to wonder if I was even paying attention to it back then as it was playing.

The film is nothing less, and probably a lot more than a classic. Julie Andrews completely submerges herself into the character. She definitely deserved the Oscar that she got. The song's are strong, but a few stand out above the rest. Such as, "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and "``Chim-Chim-Cheree".

I hope a Special Edition DVD will be released in the future, becuase I am very interested in seeing more behind the scenes documentaries, detailing the Visual Effects that were created for the movie. The Gold Collection DVD, does offer a good documentary that gives a lot of insight, but there has to be a lot more, and I would like to see it. The "Hollywood Goes to a World Premiere" featurette, is a great extra.

I do agree that this was Walt Disney's greatest LIVE ACTION film, but I do not think it's his greatest acheivement. That goes to "Snow White", which influenced motion picture history a lot more than "Mary Poppins" did (and I'm not trying to lessen this film, in anyway).

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: VCR or DVD as nanny...
Review: Ok,so everyone parks the kids in front of the tube now and again. Nothing wrong with that when you can pop in one of the most cheerful children's classics ever. (Even grownups love the music--ok, admit it, you do.) The songs are brilliant, Julie Andrews sings like an angel, and Dick Van Dyke was a stroke of genius as Bert the chimney sweep--as lucky as can be!

Other than the risk of hearing "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" to excess around the house after playing this film, what's not to like? The funny thing is that the movie is not exactly true to the more acerbic style Poppins of the P. L. Travers novels (she was NOT all sweetness and light, just read it.) But who cares, this is one kids' film that everyone loves. Up there with the Wizard of Oz.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Pratically Perfect in Every Way
Review: I was nine years old when Walt Disney produced the first movie I remember being a "must see": Mary Poppins. After seeing it numerous times as a child, I bought the new DVD - thought I might enjoy seeing it again and sharing it with my nieces and nephews.

Mary Poppins retains the same magic and wonder that I remember experiencing as a child. She still remains this enigma - who was she really? Where did she come from? What was really going on between her and Bert? The movie answers none of these questions - it just lets them float in the air like it's magical heroine. And that's part of its charm. The film seems to live by Mary's maxim: "I never explain anything".

Technically - the film holds up as well, even in this age of digital everything. I was amazed to learn (in the "Making of" documentary that's included on the CD) that the film was shot entirely on the Disney soundstages in Burbank. They never went on location; they never even went outside. London is "painted in" in a series of beautiful matte glass paintings. (If I remember correctly, even today, it is the largest number of glass background paintings ever used in a film.)

Julie Andrews, of course, is "practically perfect in every way" as Mary - a much more idiosyncratic character than the governess she famously played in "Sound of Music" a year later. And that clear soprano voice - never showy, always in character - just lifts the film. Dick Van Dyke is wonderful as Bert - though accents are clearly not his strong suit. But as a comic, a mime, a singer and a dancer he is charming as the Jack-of-all-trades friend of Mary.

The DVD looks great. It's letterboxed - but it wasn't shot in wide screen format - so you don't loose much on your TV screen. The colors are snappy and true. There is a new "Making of" feature, produced especially for the DVD hosted by Dick Van Dyke and featuring interviews with Julie, and some of the other technical team that are still around. There is some great home movie footage of the chimney sweep dancers rehearsing "Step in Time" outside in the California heat stripped down to their skivvies.

The one thing on the DVD I do NOT appreciated is a long series of promos for other Disney video releases that you can't cancel out of easily and skip to the film. I think it's rather shameless forcing kids to sit through those commercials to see their favorite movie.

All in all - a beautiful presentation of a classic film that adults and children can enjoy together.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
Review: This movie is "practically perfect in every way" with great acting, signing and some well done animation/live action footage (way before Roger Rabbit hit the scene). One of my all time favorite movies, I still love to hum "Chim Chimmney" a song from a wonderful song and dance scene on the rooftops. This is a really great movie and can be enjoyed over and over, belongs in any family movie collection, a very strong recommendation.


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