Rating: 
Summary: Dark, classic animation
Review: DUMBO is my favorite Disney film. Although is it barely 1 hour long, it is packed with complex themes and gorgeous animation, far beyond what was being done 60 years ago. DUMBO is a dark film, with echos of film noir. It is frequently raining or snowing, and much of the action takes place at night. Although much has been written about the hallucinatory "Pink Elephants on Parade" number, my favorite sequence (in fact, my all-time favorite Disney animated sequence) is the erecting of the circus tent scene. During the pouring rain, the circus workers, assisted by the elephants, put up the tent in a fantastic ballet of social realism, echoing the best of Ben Shahn and Diego Rivera. The animation swings around the scene, taking in only an arm here, a swinging hammer there. Topped by that swirling soundtrack, this scene is the best that Disney has ever done. The story may, at times be a bit too intense for younger viewers, but no more so than other Disney films where parents die (e.g., Bambi), or tense moments occur. On top of it all, the main character never speaks a word. This ain't no "bare necessities" film, rather, it is simply a work of art.
Rating: 
Summary: Too old but bought it anyway
Review: I'm a college student and have begun rebuying all my old disney favorites. I can understand why parents of younger children(7 and under) would not want them to watch Dumbo, although the movie is a classic and it is an amazing experience to go back and look at the old animation and compare it to today's standards. I actually wrote an english paper on this movie this year- comparing my views on it from when I was little to my current age. NOTE TO CONCERNED PARENTS- I owned Dumbo when I was little (I'm 19..so...) and I only remembered the vaguest parts of it- I knew his mom tried to protect him and got taken away, he learned to fly with a feather, he made friends with a mouse, and I remembered the creep pink elephants he sees. Other than that- nothing. As long as you watch it with them and say, "Thats not very nice of them is it? What would you say?" They're really not going to remember the details of it in the long run anyway. :)
Rating: 
Summary: Why must we torture our kids with this disturbing stuff?
Review: This is not an appropriate movie for children. We do not own a copy. Dumbo being separated from his mother is sad enough. then the teasing he endures is more than a viewer should have to bear--especially a small one.
Rating:
Summary: what a disturbing movie!!! really!
Review: i know this movie is a "classic"... but come on! this is one horrible movie for this day and age. i'm refusing to let my son watch this anymore!
#1- those mean, horrible elephants who pick on baby dumbo... because of a deformatity (?sp)! would you do that to someone you first meet who may have something wrong with him. and to snub the mother...!...
#2- there is no way on this earth that they would let kids touch an elephant! let along grab it and pick on it. of course the mother elephant gets mad... WOULDN'T YOU if it was your child!
#3- taking away the mother from her child! how dare they! and for so long!
#4- showing the dumbo drunk! pink elephants! come on! do you really want your child to ask you about that?
#5- those rude, obnoxious(?sp) clowns!
#6- portraying the crows as "blacks" just because they are black. shamfull!
disney movies are to show our kids a fun time about sorta real life things to other creatures! this is one movie that disney should be ashamed of!
i can't believe all the other reviewers gave it 5 stars, just 'cause it's an old disney movie.
WAKE UP! don't buy this movie... and DO NOT let your kids watch it!
if i could give it negative stars, i would! it doesn't even deserve 1 star, but you have to put something.
Rating:
Summary: 20,000,000 Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong
Review: There is nothing I can add to all of the heartfelt and insightful reviews I've seen on this site. But I've yet to see a sample of its international reknown. Check it out! At the 1947 Cannes Film Festival DUMBO won the Palm D'Or. Not too shabby. Even though the animated classic was 5 years old at that time it was still honored. I believe that the French judges wanted to catch up on all of the films they would have recognized had not a little thing called WWII begun on the eve of the first scheduled Cannes Film Festival, causing it to be sort of postponed (yet another decent thing those wretched goose-steppers messed up!). Disney has not received that honor a second time, putting DUMBO truly in a class by itself.
Rating:
Summary: Special!!!!
Review: I enjoyed this cartoon it is so cute I think that Dumbo was so cute especially when his ears would flop open he is so adorable I really did like Dumbo he is a cute and sweet elephant and helps out whenever he is needed . Dumbo was very shy but he was so cute !!!!!
Rating:
Summary: The best Disney film ever !
Review: Other films might have more fluid animation or more memorable songs, but no Disney animated film hits it on all cylinders like Dumbo. All it once you will laugh, cry, be delighted and scared, and cheer alongside the exploits of little Dumbo and his pal Timothy. This is one of the most heart-warming (and at times heart-rendering) tales ever told. A magnificent movie and a thoroughly entertaining classic, you must see Dumbo. Twice, if necessary. Bring peanuts and a box of tissues.
Rating:
Summary: They were dumb when they made it....
Review: Oh sure, everyone has said what a fine animated classic, but I think it's the dumbest thing ever made. Stupid looking elephant learns he can fly by the end of the movie. But you can see that coming ten minutes into the film. If this is a classic, I've seen MTV videos that were better then this.
Rating:
Summary: The One...The Only...The FABULOUS...DUMBO!
Review: 'Dumbo' is one of my all-time favorite Disney classics. It's timeless! Everytime I watch it the story never gets old. There isn't another sweeter movie to match it. It's a darling story of how a little elephant with unusally big ears finds that no matter how unique you are you're always have a purpose in life. Who says that a character gotta speak in an animated film or any film for that matter? It's the emotion and facial expressions that speak louder than words. The innocence and sentiment surpasses it peers to a priceless treasure. You'll fall in love with the characters Dumbo and his circus companion, Timothy Q. Mouse. Other highlights of the movie is the scenes with the Crows and the music score (won an Academy Award in 1942 for Best Music Score), "When I see an Elephant Fly" sung by the Hall Johnson Choir, the pink elephant (could this be an 1941 anti-alcohol message?). You'll find yourself shedding a tear to "Baby Mine" (nominated for an Academy Award in 1942 for best song). If not, I pronounce you clinically brain dead. I always feel lulled into a calm state-of-mind every time I hear it. Try it sometime! In my honest opinion, the Top 10 all-time greatest Disney classics would be: 1. Dumbo, 2. Mary Poppins, 3. The Jungle Book, 4. Winnie the Pooh, 5. Pochantas, 6. Tarzan, 7. The Lion King, 8. Lady and the Tramp, 9. The Love Bug, 10. Fantasia.
Rating:
Summary: Lighten up, people! This is a GREAT movie!
Review: I am really not sure where to begin writing a decent sophisticated review with proper transitions, etc. ya da ya da- but I got to open up and say I LOVE this movie! It is quite possibly my favorite movie period. I am 17 and I have loved this movie for as long as I can remember; it's even better now, because I am old enough to appreciate its wonderful messages and morals. It's an anti-animal cruelty flick seen from the animals' point of view and pointing out the ignorance of the humans, and a realistic depiction of how cruel and unjust the world can be, and what can be done to overcome despite it all. Anyway, for those of you who aren't familiar with the plot (get your heads out of your rears and watch this, PLEASE) it's the story of a baby elephant delivered to Jumbo on a circus train from a stork. He is immediately derided by the fellow elephants and human audience because of his oversized ears. The only ones who who show any compassion are his mother Jumbo, and his friends-a mouse named Timothy and a flock of crows who give him support and encouragement.
I love the cleverness and depth of this movie- the mother and friends that stick up for him even if it results in sacrifices for themselves (Jumbo being confined from the other elephants for "disorderly conduct"), the loving bond between mother and son, and the anti-discrimination messages. By the way, this movie isn't racist, I know for a fact that it's ANTI-racist (uncountable reasons why that would require an entire separate review) and the crow scene was not intended to demean black culture but embrace it, (with a black cast); many people misread the content and took it the wrong way, seeing as most things at the time were condemnable and ignominious. Pretty outstanding for 1941 when there was still so much bigotry in the US. The same thing happened with the 1942 cartoon "Coal Black the Seven Dwarfs". And the "Roustabouts" scene wasn't bigoted, either. It's just a fact that in those days it was common for brothers to be willing to take the [bad] jobs if better ones weren't available, am I right? I am black myself telling you all of this, so does that make any of this more convincing? I'm not naïve and I discern racism when I see it. The completely different selection of writers and blackless cast for the monkey scene in the Jungle Book, however, is an entirely different situation, but lets not get into that. If you are one of the neurotically oversensitive people who DO thing this movie's racist, your kids won't know anyway unless you rub it in their faces; you're only aggravating things.
Anyway, the parts of the movie that will delight people of all ages are the quaint and adorable animation of the animals and the classic catchy songs. My faves are the cute "Look Out For Mr. Stork", the clever pun-filled soul song "When I See An Elephant Fly", the hypnotic "Elephants On Parade", the catchy tunes "Casey Junior" and "Roustabouts"... they're all so good. The few good characters are lovable- benevolent Jumbo, cute little Dumbo/Jumbo Jr., the witty and hilarious (and cute may I add-I love cartoon birds) crows, the charismatic Timothy, and "good ol'" Mr. Stork. I detest the rest of the characters. The heartless elephants, that awful red-haired kid teasing Jumbo Jr., the selfish Mussoliniesque circus trainer who had disregard for the well-being and proper husbandry of the animals, and the *cough* clowns. Those are the most hideous clowns I have ever seen and have lurked in my nightmares as a child. What I also don't like about this film are the alcohol/drug references, anti or not. Although it may not do too much harm being that to the younger naive audience it will have no significance and to the older audience simply amusing and humorous, I still find the idea of an infant elephant getting drunk in a children's movie a little disturbing. And that psychedelic pink elephant scene- try and tell me that there weren't stoners involved in the writing and production of that part of the movie. As a little kid I thought it was entertaining on the eyes, now it makes me laugh, but I still can't help but wonder why that didn't frighten me as a small child. And how the neglecting elephants all of sudden started respecting Dumbo just because he was famous? That always made me outraged.
Despite of the film's few blunders, there are many times more good qualities that could make me care less. This movie literally is a classic.
|
