Rating: 
Summary: 5 stars for the film, 1 star for the edited DVD
Review: Originally conceived as an elaborate Mickey Mouse short (only to blossom into a 2-hour feature film), Fantasia is one of the most ambitious movies ever, animated or otherwise, with its perfect marriage of classical music and animation (something that began with Disney's Silly Symphonies in 1929 and would continue to appear in Disney and Warner Bros. cartoons well after Fantasia's release in 1940). However, the film was a commercial and critical failure for the Disney studio, not picking up steam until the '60s, when it was a popular choice for college students (via 16mm prints) as a "head" film.However, the film hasn't been treated well at all despite being popular for the past 30-40 years. Firstly, the film's dynamic "Fantasound" soundtrack (which was an optical surround-sound soundtrack printed on a separate 35mm reel from the actual video portion of the film) quickly deteriorated, and was eventually transferred to a vastly inferior magnetic tape (which has become garbled as that too has begun to decay). Additionally, Fantasia was re-edited after the initial roadshow version had run its course in an effort to increase the film's popularity with filmgoers in 1940. And finally, the Pastorale Sequence was sloppily edited in the late '60s in order to remove the black centaurettes who serve their white companions. With this in mind, there was much hope in 2000 for a fully restored Fantasia for the film's 60th Anniversary (and the release of the sequel, the excellent Fantasia 2000). Hyped as being fully restored and uncut, it seemed as if Fantasia would finally be seen as it was supposed to be once again. However, the Pastorale sequence remained edited, and the Deems Taylor segments were redubbed by veteran voice actor Corey Burton. While the latter change is understandable (since the audio for the expanded segments has come up missing), the former is quite disturbing, particularly since Fantasia is best viewed in an academic environment-which is also the perfect place to discuss the (thankfully outdated) social stereotypes involved in the Pastorale sequence. Given this editing, it's impossible to ecommend this DVD. However, given that Fantasia is such a vital part of Walt Disney's legacy (and also about to return to the studio vaults until as late as 2010), it's hard to imagine that anyone could hold off from buying this altered version of Fantasia before it gets discontinued.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun fro all ages
Review: I noticed that a lot of the reviews for Fantasia say it's for adults or older children. I disagree. I think it depends on the child. We have this VHS tape and my 3 1/2 year old has almost worn it out from playing it so much. He adores about 90% of the film (although the dinosaur part and the Dance of the Hours are his favorites) and does not seem particularly scared or bothered by "Night on Bald Mountain" which he will watch by himself. He also loved to listen to the audiotape in the car. At this point if any of the Fantasia or Fantasia 2000 music comes on the classical radio station we listen to he can recognize it and tell you which film and what part it's from. I think that some small children will really like this movie and you need to give them a shot by exposing them to it rather than assuming they will be bored.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic
Review: Originally intended as the first in a series of projects blending animation with classic music, FANTASIA proved dissapointing for Walt Disney (although its box office still made it the year's second most popular picture). Plans for a sequel were abandoned, but the original grew steadily more popular during subsequent releases... particular with the counterculture crowd, which embrass the new 70mm prints and Dolby sound of it's 1970 reissue. FANTASIA was first conceived as a feature-length vehicle for Mickey Mouse, but his comedic segment is far from the film's most popular sequence. Fans generally cite "The Nutcracker Suit," or genuine terror inflicted by the dark figure of evil in Mussorgsky's "Night on Bald Mountain."
Rating:
Summary: Get Swept Away Into A Fantasy World
Review: Fantasia is truly worth owning on DVD, a crown jewel among a treasured collection. The first time I watched Fantasia was when I was a kid. I was sick with some virus and my dad borrowed from the library and borught it home for me to watch in bed. Even then, alothough the music did not mean much to me at the time, the wonderful illustrations were stuck in my mind for days afterwards. Today, I own the DVD and it is the precious jewel that ties my personal collection together. I can not imagine not having it now, I have grown extremely fond of it. The Greek mythological scenes with the centuars and the gods and goddesses are absolutely breathtaking designed and are drawn with such graceful skill. Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony ties in with the illustrations perfectly, it makes me think of a gentle and more romantic time. The Night on Bald Mountain is frightening, though, and morbid. For the Nutcracker Suite, the illustrations include dew fairies, dancing mushrooms, graceful fish, and frost and snowflake fairies. this images tranport the viewer from their world and draws them into a new world, perhaps a better one. Also, do not miss The Dances of the Hours, with dancing elephants and hippos in tutus, along with an odd couple dancing ballet together. Even, just close your eyes and drift away on the music. I would recommend this DVD for adults, though, and not for children. Adults would seem to appericate the music and the illustrations more. Watch this DVD, you won't be sorry that you did.
Rating: 
Summary: Devestating disappointment
Review: As a lifelong musician and artist, Fantasia has been one of my all time favorite movies since I first saw it in theaters as a child. My wife, knowing my great love for this movie, bought the DVD version for me as a birthday gift. When I put the DVD on, however, my excited anticipation quickly turned to depressed disappointment. I immediately realized that the voice of the narrator, Deems Taylor, whose wonderful and soothing voice spans the entirety of the movie, had been overdubbed with someone else's voice! Deems Taylor was a widely known and respected music critic in his time. He had a beautiful, deep sonorous and expressive voice. The sound of his voice was an essential part of the aural and musical magic of this film. Yet, the new owner's of Disney saw fit to overdub his voice with that of some squawky and squeaky sounding unknown, thereby ruining the entire film. I did some research to find out why, in the name of "preservation", Disney studios would destroy this film in the way that they have. The reason, supposedly, was because they found old footage (which was NOT in the version we all knew and loved as kids) which they wanted to insert - but the audio on that obscure footage had been damaged. They felt they had to redub those voice overs. Fine. But then, in the process, they re-dubbed the entire film, even the parts that had not been damaged! I understand, for historical interest, that some people might be interested in seeing the extra, obscure footage which had been edited out long ago , but that extra footage easily could have been put on a special features disc, not in the actual movie that millions of fans have come to know and love. This was a horrible decision by a studio which increasingly seems to have lost all sense of artistic taste and common sense. What a sad, sad disappointment. Soon, I'll be buying a DVD recorder and I hope to preserve the original VHS version I have in that way.
Rating:
Summary: "Hear the pictures! See the music!"
Review: In order for progress to be made, experimentation is a must. In cinema, there are times when experimentation helps to redefine how films are made by introducing new techniques that are embraced by future filmmakers. Then there are times when experimentation produces problematic results as in the case of Walt Disney's "Fantasia." "Fantasia" was a noble attempt to advance the animation medium and turn it into something more sophisticated. Disney sought to redefine the rules of the game by using animation to represent the essence of music. That is, animation was employed to help give tangible form to the myriad emotions that different types of musical compositions stirred within its listeners. This was not an attempt to tell a story in order to display the extent of creative ability but an attempt to capture the essence of creative ability itself. For example, Mickey Mouse's exploits in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" mirrors the mischievous rhythms of Paul Dukas's piece while the emergence of the winged demon in "Night on Bald Mountain" echoes the bold power of Modest Mussorgsky's music. What is the end result of this effort? A definite mixed bag. "Fantasia" gets points for taking chances and trying something new but loses points for its inability to captivate the viewer. What is seen on screen is a work that can be admired but which comes across as distant. Since "Fantasia" is meant to be something to be experienced, the viewer is not invited to follow along with the proceedings as a participant like he or she would in a film with a conventional narrative. Rather, "Fantasia" is meant to be absorbed and having to digest two hours of sensation can become tedious. The film failed to find an audience upon its initial release but the fact that it is kept alive in conversation today is proof that there is merit to it. Yet, the legacy of "Fantasia" is a qualified one. It is a different viewing experience but not a totally satisfying one.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, Classic Feature Animation of Music and Dance
Review: Fantasia has always been my favorite Walt Disney film, and I was delighted when I found it on DVD. The DVD release features the original 125 minute form with narrators' introductions between the acts, in a full screen 1.33:1 aspect ratio which is the same as the original film. The style of this film is quite varied, ranging from the traditional Disney animation used in the "Sorceror's Apprentice" to the almost impressionistic artwork used with the Nutcracker suite and the abstract art used with Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. There is beautiful artistry throughout, and Disney clearly took pains to make the visual work appropriate for each selection of music. In order, the selections are: - Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by J. S. Bach: a symphonic form of this classic work is accompanied with animated abstract artwork. - The Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky: to this ballet suite, leaves, flowers, and even mushrooms dance, illustrated with ethereal artistry. Those familiar with the ballet will see that the character of each dance in the suite is captured beautifully. - The Sorceror's Apprentice by Paul Dukas: this piece of program music is accompanied by an animated version of the story illustrated by the music - with Mickey Mouse as the protagonist who animates ensorcelled brooms, but then is unable to control them. - The Rite Of Spring by Stravinsky: in a mild departure from the traditional ballet interpretation, the animation uses the music to accompany a trip through prehistoric earth, from the formation of the planet, through the volcanic period, to the development of the dinosaurs. While the technique is traditional Disney animation, the style is much more realistic - an interesting mix. - Symphony No. 6, Pastorale, by Beethoven: a movement of this symphony is accompanied by an animated interpretation of fantastic creatures - unicorns, centaurs, and pegasi - along with half a dozen greek gods in their traditional role. The action reflects the program of the music, including the storm. - Dance of the Hours, Amilcare Ponchielli: This ballet music is used by some very nontraditional ballerinas - ostriches, hippos, elephants, and crocodiles. They still dance elegantly, with rather humorous effect. - Night On Bald Mountain, Moussorgsky / Ave Maria, Schubert: Traditionally, the devil and his worshipers gather on Bald Mountain on Walpurgisnacht - and here, we get an impressive demon and a raft of profane followers. As the night ends, the Moussorgsky piece segues into the sacred music of the Ave Maria, with a holy procession ending in a beautiful dawn. Perhaps the best summary of this movie is that it's like an animated evening of dance or ballet - some dances abstract, some with story lines - with the added freedom that the use of animation brings. This timeless classic will appeal to lovers of animation, music, and dance alike.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Classic Disney Movie Finally On DVD
Review: I bought my DVD of this a few months ago. I had always been a Fan of Fantasia. This movie is an Animated Musical. And I highly suggest this movie to any one who likes classic Disney Anime. TItles. I really love this DVD. Here is a brief Description: This movie has lots of songs in it and each one is told by a Animated Story. The most famous story on here is the Sorcer's Aprrentice with the one and Only Mickey Mouse. THis is a 5 Star DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Fantasia will Amazia !
Review: The two-fold achievement of the 1940 film Fantasia -- breaking new ground in the art of film-making while evoking the essence of another art form (music) -- was profound and unparalleled. This groundbreaking Disney feature comprises of eight individual animation sequences, each with an abstract or concrete theme and accompanied with a well-known piece of music -- with the music often seemingly having little in common with the animation. The Nutcracker Suite, for instance, is paired with images of the passing of the four seasons, and Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony is used for depicting mythological creatures. The result may upset music purists, but it shows vividly and effectively how pictures and music can enhance one another -- how pictures can offer interpretation (or re-interpretation) of a piece of music, and how existing music can be used to enhance a film with a totally different context (such as in 2001: A Space Odyssey, Brief Encounter, and the many films that make use of Wagner's Rides of the Valkries). Fantasia 2000, the "sequel" made in 1999, only manages one animation segment that is close to achieving the lofty goal set by the original film. In the "Rhapsody in Blue" segment, the Al Hirshfield-style animation is a perfect fit for the jazzy Gershwin's tune, with one capturing the spirit of the other almost note for note, frame by frame. The rest of the segments are pretty unexceptional, with the exquisitely drawn "Firebird Suite" segment perhaps the best, and the nonsensical interpretation of Beethoven's 5th Symphony perhaps the worst. The 3-disc DVD collection THE FANTASIA ANTHOLOGY includes Fantasia and Fantasia 2000, as well as an enormous amount of extra material that reveals the history, craftsmanship, and artistic achievements of the two films (and also of Disney animation itself). The first disc, the Fantasia DVD, contains what Disney claims to be the uncut, original theatrical version of the 125-minute film, but it isn't exactly so. Although the introductions that begin each segment have been restored in full on this disc (5 minutes of Deems Taylor's introductions have been restored since the 1990 re-release version), their soundtracks couldn't be fully recovered. So Taylor's voice has been re-dubbed entirely with someone else's. Also, some footage was cut from the Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony segment in the 1960s due to its stereotypical depiction of African Americans. It remains cut on this disc. Hence, this is "almost" the uncut, original 1940 version. The disc contains both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.0 audio. The restored Taylor introductions describe each segment more fully, both in terms of the underlying story of the animation and the significance of the music. Extras on the Fantasia disc include a 30-minute featurette "The Making of Fantasia" that recounts production history and provides technical and artistic insights on all 8 animation segments, and an audio track of Walt Disney's comments on the film, either straight from his mouth from old recordings, or read by others. On the Fantasia 2000 disc, all the music is extraordinarily recorded with Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 sound. The 74-minute movie was originally shown in IMAX theaters, so the picture quality (depending on the monitor you see it on) is startling clear and sharp. The disc also includes 2 cartoon shorts from the 50s that teach kids the basic principals of music. It is the third disc, titled "The Fantasia Legacy", that should please animation fans. Its main attraction is the hundreds of still-frame concept arts, storyboards, cel drawings for all 15 segments in the 2 movies. All the images were scanned at a very high quality, and many of them almost full screen. The images are well-organized into sections: "Visual Development", "Character Designs", "Abandoned Concepts", etc. None of the images is captioned, but their artistry and purpose pretty much speak for themselves. Other noteworthy material on the disc include: a film clip demonstrating that music from one segment could easily be made to fit another segment (hence, the subjectiveness of music), a tongue-in-cheek segment showing artists studying a ballerina's movements while sketching elephants and hippos on their drawing pads, a still-frame comparison of Al Hirschfeld's original cartoons and the animation used in the "Rhapsody in Blue" segment, a fully-animated but never used segment from Fantasia titled "Clare de Lune", a chronology of theatrical showings of Fantasia from 1940 to 2000 that also notes how the film was altered for each release. The original "Roadshow Program" for Fantasia is also reproduced in the still-frame section, but unfortunately the words are too tiny to be legible. Also present are the usual supplements such as trailers, TV commercials, posters, filmmakers' bios.
Rating:
Summary: A beautiful Disney classic!
Review: I totally love this Disney classic. Disney did a great job on this one. It had different scenes about animals, music, and people. Each of these scenes have great performances with dancing, colors, music, designs, and a lot of magical action. I would recommend this movie to anybody. It is a very well done movie. My favorite scene is with Mickey Mouse the wizard.
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