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Pete's Dragon (Restored Edition)

Pete's Dragon (Restored Edition)

List Price: $29.99
Your Price: $23.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Pure Disney Musical Magic
Review: There's something about live-action, animation Disney films that just seem to fascinate me. For one, Disney can go beyond two hours of a movie, and still keep it G-rated. Now that's pretty impressive to me. Most companies would probably have rated it PG, but not Disney. They try and it keep for the whole auidience. Which is what everyone needs to see in a film. And the special effects isn't bad either.

This film also includes the legendary Mickey Rooney. The story of Pete's Drangon is pretty simple. Pete is a young orphan, who is running away from his abopted parents, and end up in Maine, a fishing town with his best friend, Elliott. Sometimes you can see him, and other times, you can't. A kind lighthouse keeper, Nora played by (Helen Rebby), and her father (Mickey Rooney), Elliott's pranks gets them into a whole lot of trouble.

The music in this film is Ocar-nominated beautiful. Like "The Happist Home in These Hills," "It's Not Easy," "Candle on the Water," & "Brazzle Dazzle Day." A simply marvoulous soundtrack for the whole family.

Now you must know, that Pete's Dragon was made in the late 70s, which was long before computer technology was invented. You know, like CGI grahpics and so forth. Which is another thing that impressive me, how Disney can create these images and actually make them work. Pete's Dragon is a wonderful story, that will be treasured for the next generation to come.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Loveable Pete's Dragon
Review: This is on of my favorite of the Disney Movies (next to Mary Poppins). The story is based around an orphan boy and his invisible/visible pet dragon, named Elliot. Jim Dale, who plays the Doc, does a wonderful job playing the part and has done several Disney movies before. He is definitely funny and so is Red Buttons, his partner. Helen Reddy sings as well in this movie (she was a favorite of my during the time of the movie). Mickey Rooney is a delight, as usual. This is one movie that is for the WHOLE family to sit together and enjoy. The movie is based in a small fishing down in Maine. The bad folks in here are the Gogans, with Shelly Winters (who is a delightful actress) being the head of the group who are coming back to claim Pete and for him to be their slave again. Elliot along with his new family are their to save him from the Gogans. Enjoy!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Woo-hoo! My kid likes it as much as I did!
Review: Yes, the animation is dated. Yes, the plot is kind of corny BUT my daughter is just as enchanted as I was (and still am). You can't miss with this one! Pete's Dragon shows you what it means to be a kid with an unbelievable (only to the grown-ups) best friend who helps you out when you think that there's no one else left to care. The songs are still catchy and the baddies are still scary. The DVD is sooooo much better than VHS; and unlike my VHS copy there is no fear of it wearing out from over-playing.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Reddy, Rooney and a dragon named Elliott
Review: The seventies were rough on the family entertainment market. Disney, once untouchable in this respect, found itself in a bit of a quandry, the likes of which the theatrical release of "Pete's Dragon" didn't help. Most critics found it hammy and, with the exception of Elliott, the dragon, discarded the movie as just a trite piece of fluff. Well, it was and it is - but why does anything so light-hearted, gay and original have to be anything but? In the intervening decades "Pete's Dragon has gone on to become a much loved Disney classic and for good reasons. Helen Reddy, Mickey Rooney, Red Buttons and Jim Dale are inspired casting choices, giving a depth to their characters that greatly enhances the film. True, the film's score doesn't match the staying power of Mary Poppins but 'Candle on the Water' is a great romantic ballad, 'Brazzle Dazzle Day' is a fun-loving feel good song and 'Passamaquadi' is ultra camp played in the best sense. Not much to complain about with Disney's transfer of the film. It's anamorphic, near pristine and remixed to 5.1 stereo. One note - 'Candle On The Water', for some inexplicable reason, may suddenly freeze frame in the middle of the song on some players the first run through. If you are worried about this, play the song first to see if it does this and if so, simply still frame advance to the next track, then go back and replay the song. This solves the problem for all subsequent times you choose to play the song. As I say, I'm at a loss to explain why this problem sometimes occurs. Over all, this is a wonder film experience no matter your age. One only regrets that there is no making-of documentary included.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Disney finally does DVD right; the reviewers don't get it...
Review: May I agree to disagree with the editorial review and the Maltin review?

Okay then.

I have always found "Pete's Dragon" to be an engaging family film. Though it pales in comparison to Disney's last musical effort, "Bedknobs and Broomsticks," it scores points with an entertaining song score (anchored by the Oscar-nominated "Candle on the Water") and some delightful voice work by Charlie Callas as the voice of Elliott the Dragon. Mickey Rooney, Red Buttons, Jim Dale, Helen Reddy (in all fairness to negative reviews about her performance, the role of Nora is pretty lightweight to begin with) and Shelley Winters make an endearing ensemble. Of course, it is Elliott who is the film's greatest delight.

This DVD has excellent picture and sound quality. The colors are sharp and grain is minimal (save for the process shots that mix the animated dragon with the live-action scenes), and the sound is pretty clear. The supplements include a re-issue trailer from 1984, pieces with background information on the myth of dragons and other such creatures, and more. Disney has given this film the proper DVD treatment the first time around; all I'd do differently was attempt to restore the film to its original length of 135 minutes.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of Disney's Best Live Action Films!
Review: This is one of those films that you never forget. I saw this movie when i was little and I am still a fan of it. Pete's Dragon is one of the first Disney films to use live action and animation together in a film. The story follows a boy who is on the run from his terrible adoptive family the Gogans (Shelley Winters, Rob Conaway)and his friend Elliot the dragon (voiced by Charlie Callas) who is sometimes invisible. Together, they are the best of friends until they come upon a quaint fishing town where they soon start to get into mischief.
Eventually Pete is taken in by Nora(Helen Reddy) a lighthouse keeper and her father(Mickey Rooney) where he soon becomes part of the family. But soon, the Gogans discover where he is living and are determined to get him back. There are many delightful performances in this film including Jim Dale who plays the terrible Dr. Terminus and his obnoxious side-kick Hoagie(played by red Buttons). The funny thing about this movie is that Mickey Rooney and Red Buttons are drunk through most of it. Lastly, I recommend this movie because of the music. This film has some of the best Disney songs. Most notably Helen Reddy's "Candle on the Water" and "There's Room For Everyone". Along with the singing and dancing, this is one great Disney film and it is not to be missed. If you've seen it, watch it again and if you haven't ,DO!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: For Pete's sake!
Review: Ah, I just wanted to use that title... I haven't seen this movie in over a decade... a childhood favorite. I should revisit it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Sorely Underated and Too Often Bashed
Review: It is really sad to see how cruel people can be out there. I will admit to you that this may be a little heavy for a kid's movie, but it has some excellent points to make. I continue to see this movie derided by people and press and it makes me very sad how people don't give it a chance. I wes very impressed with the music, I have all of the soundtracks, LP, Cassette and CD, I own the movie on VHS and DVD and it has always been my favorite movie of all time. Perhaps it's my favorite because it is such a step away from normal, lightheated children's movies. I read somewhere that Walt Disney was probably rolling in his grave when this movie came out, and I would like to say I believe that person to be sorely mistaken. While a bit flawed, this is truly an excelent Disney film. Remember, "There's Room for EVERYONE in this World" as the song states, give this movie a chance. This is a wonderful film to watch with your children and discuss afterwards, maybe even watch on your own. It is NOT strictly for children. While Pete's Dragon is based, derided, and generally forgotten, I urge all of you to at least rent this gem and bring it out of the obscurity it doesn't deserve.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Still an all time favorite
Review: One of my favorite Disney movies. I love the relationship between Elliot and Pete. The songs in the movie are unforgettable. I still find myself singing them now as an adult.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I'm Glad My Sister Took Me To See It!
Review: I Saw Pete's Dragon when it was in the movie theaters in 1977, I was 12 years old and my 25 year old sister took me to see it and even though she wasn't that impressed with it I loved it and thought it was an entertaining movie with cute music and I enjoyed the acting by Helen Reddy, Mickey Rooney and Sean Marshall plus many other good actors too and the animation of Elliot the dragon was good. This is a movie I could definitely see myself buying on DVD and I highly recommend it!


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