Common Sense Note
Parents should know that some scenes are probably too intense for the youngest viewers ("The Rite of Spring" features a battle to the death between a Stegosaurus and a Tyrannosaurus Rex; "Night on Bald Mountain" briefly shows outlines of nude women in the smoke emerging from hell.)
Families may want to use this movie as a launching point to research different classical musicians, or get to know more about ancient Grecian mythology.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Paul Trandahl
Walt Disney's groundbreaking feature combining classical music with extravagant animation retains its status as a landmark in animation history. "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (starring Mickey Mouse), "The Rites of Spring," and "Night on Bald Mountain" are unforgettable highlights. Disney's most experimental movie may bore kids used to more straightforward storytelling, and preschoolers may need to skip the scary parts.
When Donald Duck began to eclipse Mickey Mouse in popularity in the late 1930s, Disney conceived of a lavish comeback vehicle for his first cartoon star. "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," set to the music of Paul Dukas, was the end result, and no expense was spared to make this a crowning jewel in the mouse's career. When Disney realized that the company couldn't possibly recoup its investment releasing the piece as a short subject, he conceived of Fantasia, an entire animated feature set to pieces of classical music, of which "Sorcerer's Apprentice" would now be a part.
Seen decades later, much of the film's imagery continues to astonish, even when compared with modern, computer-enhanced extravaganzas. At the time the movie was made, the Disney factory was at the absolute peak of its powers. Flush with the success of Snow White and Pinocchio, Fantasia exhibited a stunning attention to detail that would never again be duplicated (a result of the movie's initial box office failure).
"The Sorcerer's Apprentice" remains a tour de force of music, character animation, and photographic effects. Both "The Rite of Spring," with its realistic recreation of the age of the dinosaurs, and "Night on Bald Mountain," with its vividly spectacular depiction of evil personified, took animation into realms that were unimaginable just 10 years earlier.
Nevertheless, there are some dry spots. "Dance of the Hours," with its dancing hippos and alligators, is funny, but drags on longer than necessary. The "Pastoral" is the blandest sequence; its scenes of teenage centaurs courting one another are more reminiscent of prom night than ancient mythical worlds. However, these are minor quibbles when confronted with the breathtaking artistry that dominates the movie.
This release of Fantasia is touted as being the "original uncut version." The restored footage consists of added commentary about each piece from emcee Deems Taylor. While it adds little to the overall experience, it does provide more educational background about the music and its composers. Those who like this film may want to check out the follow up, Fantasia 2000.
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Sexual ContentThe "Pastoral" segment begins with scenes of topless female centaurs bathing. "Night on Bald Mountain" briefly shows outlines of nude women in the smoke emerging from hell. |
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Violence"The Rite of Spring" features a battle to the death between a Stegosaurus and a Tyrannosaurus Rex. |
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Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco"Pastoral" features scenes of a drunken Bacchus, the god of wine, and his equally inebriated donkey. |
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