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Oliver & Company (Special Edition)

Oliver & Company (Special Edition)

List Price: $29.99
Your Price: $26.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Oliver & Company Special Edition DVD
Review: Disney's 27th animated classic does suffer from the fact that it was the last feature from the studio to hit before "The Little Mermaid." Of course this caused inevitable comparisons, and of course there is no competition between the two an any way.

"The Little Mermaid" is in fact a superior film, but the comparisons are unjust because each film is supposed to be very different.

The characters are all likable, with the exception of Tito the chiwaua who just goes over the top sometimes to the point of annoyance. The story is very contemporary, simple, and it works very well. The songs, although every 80's, are still catchy.

The animation in "Oliver & Company" consists of stylized backdrops of New York City and characters that seem flat and hard edged. The best older classic that you could compare it to was 1961s 101 Dalmatians. The film makers made a commendable effort in making this film feel true to it's setting, and moreover give us NYC through a dog's perspective. The film's artists actually endured strange glances from New Yorkers, as they squatted or laid down on the sidewalks to draw the city from a dog's eye level. It's also a great kick to see all the animated human characters on the streets in 80's fashions. ( O/T Seriously, what were designers thinking back then? ) The Twin Towers also make a bittersweet appearance.

"Oliver & Company" also was the first Disney film to extensively use computers. Whereas "The Great Mouse Detective" used computers for the impressive Big Ben sequence, in "Oliver" the computer is used more. The cars, the subway and many other elements are impressive uses of the new technology, which led the way for everything from The Flying Carpet in "Aladdin" to the ballroom sequence in "Beauty and the Beast."

"Oliver & Company" is a fun way to kill 80 min of your time. It has many things to appreciate, it does what it was meant to do. I do not think it was meant to be a classic of Bambi-proportions. And because of it's humble roots, I find this movie to be well worth the purchase.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Movie with Great Heart
Review: Disney's Oliver and Company fully deserves the five stars. I first saw the movie on video in the early nineties, and I must have been in a bad mood, because it didn't stick with me. But I just saw it again, in fact I watched it two times in a row. My husband watched it the second time with me, and he loved it. I think that this video should be in every child's personal collection. It has such a wonderful message of believing in yourself during tough times, compassion, friendship, love, and doing the right thing.

Set in Manhattan, the backgrounds and art of Oliver and Company are a treat. I did not appreciate the art of this movie the first time I saw it. The backgrounds and scenery are brushed with dark browns and blues, evoking the simultaneous urban grit and inexplicable pull of New York City.

Based on Charles Dicken's Oliver Twist, Oliver is a homeless kitten who falls in with a gang of stray dogs. The gang is led by Fagan, voiced by the irreplaceable Dom Deluise. (What would animated movies be without Dom Deluise?) Oliver soon meets Jenny, a lonely, loving little rich girl, and he is torn between his two families. The evil Sykes, to whom Fagan owes money, has plans to hold Jenny for ransom.

Billy Joel and Bette Midler provide their speaking and singing voices as Dodge and Georgette. The original songs in this movie are so special.



Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Disney animation in transition
Review: Disney's retelling of _Oliver Twist_ contains equal parts street smarts and kiddie schmaltz. Although the film starts out with energy and attitude to spare, it slowly runs out of steam.

The film is worth a rental for the terrific voice talent: Billy Joel as a scruffy "Artful Dodger," Bette Midler as a diva doggie, and Cheech Marin as a bug-eyed chihuahua. Too bad the film's other characters -- including, sadly, the nominal protagonist -- are so bland and colorless in comparison.

_Oliver & Company_ marks several "firsts" for the Disney studio. It was the first cartoon feature to make extensive use of computer animation. It was also the first Disney film to feature a song with lyrics by Howard Ashman (and for all you trivia buffs, that song is the unmemorable "Once Upon a Time in New York City," sung by Huey Lewis).

I'll end this review with a warning: Cheech Marin's performance takes every negative Hispanoamerican stereotype known to humankind and works it to the wall. Most of the shtick is clearly improvised, a lone-gun variation on Cheech and Chong's infamous "stoner" comedy of the '70s and early '80s. Is it funny? Yes, but it's still deeply offensive. Buyer beware.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Once upon a time in New York City
Review: Great disney movie! Great songs by Billy Joel, Huey Lewis and The News and others. Oliver, a homeless kitten, meets Dodger (voiced by Billy Joel) and his gang. Soon, Oliver is living on 5th Avenue living the life until he is "rescued" by Dodger and the others.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: I hate it,
Review: I happen to be a huge Disney fan but no one can deny the studio was at its all-time low (their only low, actually) during the 70's and most of the 80's. Of all the animated Disney features of that era, The Fox and the Hound is the only one worth mentioning. However, the worst one must be "Oliver & Company" (equaled with The Aristocats). Poor quality animation, substandard songs and a weak plot make this among the worst Disney movies ever made. One cannot believe this is the same studio that only a year later brought the masterful The Little Mermaid with its stunningly detailed animation, lush colors and appealing music.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I love this movie . . . I should be too old for this . . .
Review: I love this movie, it's wonderful. I've read Dickens's Oliver Twist, and I like this better, though I'm ashamed of that.

The songs are great, the animation is prime, it's all good! This is one of my all time favorite non-anime movies! Oliver is so cute, and all of the characters -- well, the dogs, Fagin, and Jenny -- are easy to love.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A great movie, with lots of action!!
Review: I loved the movie, it had great songs, it was funny, I know all their names - but I'm not telling! (Tristan 7yrs. old) END

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: not bad
Review: I must say that Oliver & Company is a pretty hip movie about a cat finding a gang of dogs to hang with. The story and music are good, but I felt that this movie was just a little too short. It needed more footage and a little more action as well. Overall, this is a movie that everyone should see once or twice.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Good Movie, Great Songs
Review: I really adore this movie. It's been one of my favorites for a while. The songs are really good and I've memorized them all. My favorite song is definitley "Once Upon a Time in New York City". It matches my voice perfectly which is odd because it's also my favorite song.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Better than the first time!
Review: I saw this movie last night ( Again) and I loved it!I hadn't seen since I was little, and I'm 12 now. My favorite song is, "Why should I worry?" but I think the 1st song dragged on and on ( and I don't like songs that do that) You may be suprised, but Dodger's not my favorite dog! I love Rita because she reminds me of my best friends, Callie and Kirstie. I can't believe someone called Tito annoying! he's my 2nd favorite!


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