Rating: Summary: Took Me About 25 Years to Say It, but..... Review: "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" is a lot better than I remembered it being, though it is still far from perfect. I saw this as a child during its initial release in Radio City Music Hall. I didn't like it then because I thought it made fun of the Nazis (my dad was in World War II, so I always was taught the seriousness of the Nazi threat). Later, there used to be something called "Disney Summer Film Festival" where you had the opportunity to see many older Disney cartoons and movies (very important in a time before VCRs!), but the downside was everything I ever wanted to see was always accompanied by "BandB" as a double feature. We had to be certain to make sure we saw the preferred film first, so that if we wanted to see it again, we only had to sit through "BandB" once. THAT's how much I and my brothers disliked this movie as children. Only a few years back, I took it upon myself to rent "BandB" with my own money, to see if I still felt as strongly. Well, the passage of time does wonders, sometimes. BEST PARTS: Hands down, its best special effects Oscar was well earned. Witch Angela Lansbury casts a spell to animate all the armor in an old weapons museum to combat the invading Nazi forces. Frankly, it is quite creepy to see the faceless helmets turn to regard their foes. The other part that especially pleases my now-adult tastes are the opening titles, which are done in the style of the Bayeux Tapestry. This is because the movie concerns itself with another threatened invasion of England, this time by the Nazis. At the end of the sequence, the image of a woman on a broomstick is worked in, to give a foretaste of Angela Lansbury's role. WORST PARTS: "Mary Poppins" did an excellent job with two reluctant children. Now we have three--totally unnecessary. Also, these children are somewhat charmless. The movie is overly long at times. It had best not be compared to "Mary Poppins" because it will lose in every category, but most children's films would anyway. Otherwise, "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" is not as awful as it struck me years ago. Should do the trick for you.
Rating: Summary: great for kids Review: this is a classic movie for kids. i used to like it when i was younger. recently i saw it again, and was pretty bored by it. i thought i would enjoy it through nostalgia and reminiscence, but i didnt. still, it is a great story and great movie for those with kids under 15.
Rating: Summary: Better than.... Review: Mary Poppins. Bedknobs and Broomsticks is one of the ultimate kid movies. Ride along on the magic bed with Eglantine, Charlie, Paul, Carrie and Prof. Emelius Brown in search of the spell for substitutiary locomotion, the ability to make inanimate objects come to life. The best thing about this DVD version is it is uncut and runs about 2 1/2 hrs. You can finally find out why Roddy McDowell's character is so shady! New songs mean new fun for viewers. This is definitely my favorite children's movie, first fiddle to my other favorite Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Rating: Summary: A great Disney classic to add to your collection Review: Although Mary Poppins is the best known musical produced by Disney combining live action and animation, Bedknobs and Broomsticks is excellent as well. The DVD has extra features that Disney fans will enjoy.
Rating: Summary: Not as good as "Mary Poppins" Review: The storyline in "Bedknobs and Broomsticks"lagged a bit,and the songs aren't too memorable(the only song I ever remember from this movie is"Substitutiary Locomotion").However,the animated sequences in "Bedknobs"was done a lot better than the animated sequences in"Mary Poppins"(the soccer match was funny!).David Tomlison was funny in the animated sequences,but his performance was disappointing in the live-action scenes.(David was a LOT more convincing in "Mary Poppins").
Rating: Summary: Bedknobs and Broomsticks Gold Collection DVD Review: Not as good as "Mary Poppins", but still a great Disney musical. The film's basic story is about a witch taking a correspondence course in witch craft, but when the course is canceled, she searches for "the professor" in hopes of obtaining the remaining piece of a spell that she needs. The best part of the movie is the Soccer game, where animated creatures are mixed in with live action. Many of the songs are great to, and also mix animation in with the live actors at times. Like the number that took place on the bottom of the sea, where the actors mingle with fish and other sea creatures. The DVD contains two classic animated shorts starring Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse.
Rating: Summary: The soccer match is great fun Review: One of my favorite movies as a kid, I will enjoy this again when my baby girl gets a bit older. This movie is a lot of fun and has one of my favorite all time animated scenes, the soccer match. While today's computer aided animation could certainly make a this scene more polished and up to date, I don't think the charm of it could be improved upon. A thoroughly enjoyable movie and family classic, a good solid recommendation.
Rating: Summary: Fun for the whole family Review: I have loved this movie since I was a child. I remember the first time I saw it with my family for it's initial release. I love that, for this DVD, Disney has included scenes that were cut before. It's too bad that the audio for them was lost and they had to re-loop the dialogue. Angela Lansbury's "new" song is a wonderful treat. Disney won a well-deserved Oscar for the special effects of the armour army.
Rating: Summary: I WANT MY 2 HOURS BACK Review: My son and myself were bored witless by this movie. It drags on and on and on. The musical numbers are pointless and do nothing to advance the plot. The story is spotty and chaotic. After this I am very surprised they ever got Angela Lansbury to do Beauty & the Beast. It must have taken her the full 15 or so years to recover from the embarrasment of being associated with this treacle.Don't waste your time and money.
Rating: Summary: One of the best Disney films ever made Review: In "Bedknobs and Broomsticks," an apprentice witch (Angela Lansbury) is just learning how to be successful at performing spells, flying on a broom, and other things that witches do. However, the book she has been learning from is missing its last page and she's real eager to learn the rest about witchcraft, especially after she finds out that it could be helpful in defending the British against attacks of war. She and her friends will get to where they need to go with the aid of a magical bedknob. "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" had everything going for it at the time of its release, and it still does 30 years later. The story is interesting, it has good acting, some parts are hilarious, and much more. Another thing I really liked about it was its oscar-winning effects. Most of the movie is in real-time action, but some parts are also animated. In the animated parts, Angela Lansbury and her friends all interact with the cartoons, a lot like you see in "Space Jam," only better. If you like great classic movies from Disney, I definitely recommend getting "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" while you can!
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