Reviews
Lilo & Stitch (2002)
Great Job, Guys!
Next to "Emperor's New Groove", "Lilo & Stitch" is one of the funniest Disney films to come from the animation studio. Rated PG, this film is not really intended for small children and parents should be advised as on all films rated as such to view before taking their children to see the film.
However, this film is much more for children than "Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1996) or "Atlantis" (2001). Stitch is an adorable alien with one thing on his mind, to destroy. Once that mission is completed, he needs to find a purpose in his existence.
I could go on with the plot, but go see the film. It's fun, it's wonderfully drawn (as are all the Disney movies) and it's Surf's Up Dude!
Enjoy!
The Iron Giant (1999)
Great Film, I hope it does well
"Iron Giant" was indeed a great film. As much as I love Disney, I hope they take notes and get rid of the stupid animal sidekicks. "Tarzan" could have been one of their best since "Beauty & the Beast", but for two things stupid animal sidekicks and "Trashing the Camp" a worthless number that slowed the pace down. But this is not a review of "Tarzan". "Iron Giant" had wonderful characters that lended humor when called for without idoitic gags, tears (Yes, I was nearly crying at the end), and boundless joy that made the audience feel uplifted and like they were a kid again. And it was rated "PG".
A side note to parents, at the screening my husband & I went to, there were a lot of kids (we do not have children at this time). The parent who sat beside us had a boy about 7 or 8. the child was asking a lot of deep, good questions that the parent did not have time to really answer and discuss with the child. So, a word of warning... if you have young children you may want to screen this movie by yourself and then take your child. This does not mean that this is NOT a good movie for kids, I just think you need to enjoy it too and give yourself time before or after the movie to discuss issues with your child.
The animation was super and way beyond Warner's last attempt with "Quest for Camelot". I look forward to their next movie and hope it will be as entertaining as this. I give this movie four thumbs up (my husband's two and my two!). I really hope it does well in the box office.
Tarzan (1999)
Fantastic! Another Disney Classic
Again Disney shows they are the tops in animation. Great music, fun characters and breath-taking CGI work make one of the most true to Burroughs original story adaptations ever.
So what if you get the background of the story in a ten minute rap-up. Do you want to sit for hours getting the background so the story can finally begin? In media res, is the term I think that applies here.
Thank goodness there are no "cute fuzzy" sidekicks just for the kiddies. Terk and Tantor are very real characters that help move the plot and along and are not just comic releaf. Maybe Disney will get the hint that family entertainment is for all of the family to enjoy, not talk down to the kids. Bugs Bunny is a classic example of humor that grows on you and is funny at different ages for different reasons. The action is fast paced and the kids should not be bored with what is going on.
The music is by Phil Collins and Mike Mancia. Great, fantastic wonderful! Enough said. Buy the CD.
This is a fun, entertaining movie that I can't wait to own on Video. Two thumbs way up on this one....
The Prince of Egypt (1998)
Very Good, But Disney Still Invented Art
"Prince of Egypt" is NOT a kid's movie to take your 5 year old to see and expect that they will love it. Now I am not saying this is not a good movie, but I repeat it is NOT for children. If you note the rating in the US is "PG". This is material not suitable for small viewers and they would be more entertained by something like "Rugrats" or maybe "A Bug's Life".
Finally, someone and Maybe Disney will get the hint that adults can be entertained without cute fuzzy animals and stupid sidekicks for comedy relief. This is not Charlton Heston in "The 10 Commandments" for which I was glad, but of course it is the same story. It brings Moses and Ramases to human level instead of making them "so lofty they could **** marble" to quote "Amamdeus". The musical score was excellent and so were the songs, but I kept thinking of "Pocahontas" (Stephen Schwartz wrote the lyrics for that). Schwartz used a lot of the same musical techniques as he did in "Pocahontas", and I wished he made them different. Also some of the female characters reminded me of Pocahontas, I guess Dreamworks couldn't be a bit more original with their character design. The effects were truly unique and I enjoyed the details with which a lot of the backgrounds and small details were completed. Yes, I am a Disney fan and yes, "Prince of Egypt" was good, but I didn't come out of it with any kind of excitement for any part of the film as I did with "Anastatia" or "Mulan".
Again it was good, but wait until the next Disney or Pixar film. "Prince of Egypt" will seem old hat. And please, this movie is not for kids. They will be bored silly.
Cinderella (1965)
The Original for us Generation X-ers
This version of Cinderella as well as the 1997 version rank far above the 1950 Disney version of the film. The Prince has character, class, and a reason to fall in love with and find Cinderella, not just dance a dance at the Ball. Stuart Damon's voice is clear and unmatched in "The Loniness of Evening", mostly because other versions do not include this lovely song of romance and dreaming of true love. Leslie Ann Warren gives just the right amount of innocence and deception as she truly wins her prince, yet knows how to survive in the home of her step mother. Granted the production values are not up to par, but in 1964 they were state of the art. Unfortunately CBS stopped showing this wonderful story in the mid 70's and has never rebroadcast it since. However, the Disney Channel has broadcast it and of course it was redone by Disney 1997. This still proves that Rodgers and Hammerstein still are as fresh today as they were 40 years ago when they first penned this score.