Rating: Summary: This is wonderful movie, but an awful release of it Review: Let me start by saying that The Last Unicorn is my favorite movie of all time. I have loved it since I was very, very young. However, I truly wish I had never bought this DVD.First off, the movie is full screen and not widescreen--this could easily be forgiven if the DVD didn't have numerous other problems. The picture quality is awful and looks as though they ripped the movie from the old VHS master. There are also some scenes where the contrast seems to be up too high. I know that these are not simply issues with the original movie because I have the German release and its picture is flawless (not to mention widescreen) and beautiful. This release also has one of the worst menus I have ever seen. The DVD says it has special features, but I can't find them! If you're a hardcore Last Unicorn fan, don't buy this DVD. Your old VHS version is just as good.
Rating: Summary: My First Love So True Review: Loved this film when I was a kid, loved it again as a young adult. I am now the proud owner of a brand new copy. Along with Flight of Dragons, the Last Unicorn has got to be one of the most underappreciated animated masterpieces ever (but not for much longer, I hope). While Flight of Dragons was more intellectual, the Last Unicorn was more poignant and emotional. A wonderful fairy tale with heart and soul for people of all ages. The animation is simple yet graceful and elegant, filled with rich beautiful basic colors. It has a surreal and dreamlike quality (even more so than Flight of Dragons). The character designs for the most part were excellent, particularly Lady Amalthea whose exotic beauty is breathtaking. I especially love the way her long beautiful, willowy hair flows in the wind... The music is quite memorable, although the singing voices for Lady Amalthea and Prince Lir were a bit warbly at times (though the songs themselves were rather nice). The background music fits and complements the scenes perfectly. And who can ever forget the voice acting. God, such absolute pure star quality!!! You can almost imagine as if these were real live flesh and blood people (especially Molly Grue). The story is one of the most original I have ever come across. Based on the classic novel by Peter S. Beagle (who also did the screenplay), a lonely immortal unicorn goes out in search for others of her kind, meets some very interesting humans (some good, some bad, and some in between) along the way. She is later unwittingly given a taste of mortality and love in a way she could have never imagined when she is accidently transformed into a beautiful human maiden by a bungling magician. This is a fairy tale with dramatic and emotional depth of Shakespearean proportions. Deeply moving, moody, and atmosperic. They just don't make such powerful, thoughtful stuff like this anymore. Now that they are in the process of developing a live action version of this film with several of the original voice actors participating in it (some even reprising their roles), it's more important than ever to own this beautiful masterpiece for your collection. I give the Last Unicorn my highest recommendation.
Rating: Summary: Wonderful Movie, lousy DVD Review: This is an amazing, beautiful cartoon, but it DVD treatment borders on calous. It suffers from lousy video quality and a brutal pan-and-scan fullscreen treatment that frequently leaves both characters in a converstaion hanging off the edge of the screen. Still, it's the only Last Unicorn we're likely to get, so go buy it anyway.
Rating: Summary: Great movie, shoddy DVD Review: The Last Unicorn was my favorite movie when I was a kid. The story is sweet, the animation lovely. I eagerly bought a copy on VHS when I saw it some years ago and awaited the release of the DVD with glee. Unfortunately, my glee was somewhat unfounded. While the movie itself is still as wonderful as ever, the DVD itself is shoddy work. The movie is only presented in fullscreen (though there was a widescreen laser disc available), there are no extras -- even the picture quality is less than outstanding. If you're looking to replace a worn VHS, this is certainly a good option. If, on the other hand, you are waiting for a DVD treatment worthy of this beautiful movie, you have more waiting ahead of you.
Rating: Summary: A gem Review: WOW! WOW! This is one of my three favorite animated films, along with Flight of Dragons and the Black Cauldron. Original idea, and great character designs. If only it were longer........ Jeff Bridges fits in nicely as Schmedrick. Christopher Lee is wonderful as King Haggard. About characters. The Unicorn is an interesting character, even though it's a unicorn. Schmedrick is not as interesting, but worth a few laughs. Molly is such a straight character, she is almost boaring. The butterfly is funny. Mommy Fortuna is a great idea. I enjoy that sequence a lot. Her stupid helper is also a laugh. The band of thieves is not as good, I guess since that is a transition from Mommy Fortunas to King Haggards. The tree is tasteless. King Haggard is a great villain, since he is not actually evil, just greedy. Prince Leer is a romantic fool. The cat is very good. The red bull is a good, menacing monster. However, maybe my favorite character is the skeleton who demands the wine. Maybe its just me, but I feel this is SUCH a good movie. Don't wonder. Don't rent. Don't even consider. BUY!!
Rating: Summary: I loved it...but then...I didn't love it... Review: Let's put it this way, I absolutely loved this movie before I read the book, and I discovered that something very important that was in the book was missing in the movie. In itself, The Last Unicorn was a fantastic movie but it (like all movies) was not precise nor was it true to the book. However, with this particular story, a very important part (in my opinion) was left out in the movie. That part was the curse that the witch had put on King Haggard's land. The curse was a big part of the story, for it said that the sea would rise up and crumble his castle. The sea was, of course, all the unicorns that raced out of the ocean after the Red Bull retreated into it. To some people this may seem of little concern but to me it answered a lot of questions that I would have had if I hadn't read the book. Don't get me wrong, I loved the movie and I still do, it's just the fact that a large part of the book was taken out and should not have been. I'm really looking forward to the reproduction of this tale, and I hope they will include the witch's curse in that one.
Rating: Summary: Video and Audio Quality Issues??? Review: I don't know what the previous reviewers are talking about -- I just received this DVD the other day, and am watching it as I write. The video and audio quality are just fine! In fact, they are excellent, especially considering the fact that the initial release of this incredible movie was over 20 years ago! I highly recommend this movie to people of all ages. It is a truely touching movie, and has held a special place in my heart since the first time I saw it well over a decade ago -- even now that I am 22, the story and characters still captivate me. This is one of those movies that I get something different out of each time I watch it. In addition, let me recommend the novel of the same name by Peter S. Beagle. This story, movie and novel both, is something that will stay with you for the rest of your life.
Rating: Summary: The Last Unicorn Review: This incredible movie deserves so much better. I don't think the people that are releasing the movie understand the devotion of the fans. I've bought the pirated version and it's better than this crap. Artisan. Please step up and give this movie the treatment it needs. Americans have only been waiting years for the release. The audio is unbearably bad as well. It must be a VHS copy.
Rating: Summary: continues to be beautiful.... Review: The Last Unicron continues to be a beautiful and magical movie. Loved it as child, simply because I loved unicrons. Last week I toke the risk of buying the DVD after reading the other reviews of poor quality. I was not disapointed, keeping in mind that the movie is almost 20 years old and cinamatography then was not what it is today. Anyone who loves the story of The Last Unicorn will not be disappointed.
Rating: Summary: This Release to DVD is Shameful Review: This is my ALL TIME FAVORITE Animated film. I'm eagerly awaiting the LIVE ACTION film. And I was anticipated this US release to see if it would be as good or better than the UK one. Sadly.. that is not the case. The Quality is horrible not to mention the kiddie targeted artwork from the vsh release is still used. Shameful. I shall be picking up the UK version with all its glorious extras, widescreen format, and beautiful artwork. This US release should make every animation and Last Unicorn love sick.
|