Fantasia

Posted on December 6, 2010 at 7:00 am

A+

Lowest Recommended Age:	All Ages
MPAA Rating:	G
Profanity:	None
Alcohol/ Drugs:	None
Violence/ Scariness:	Some scary images
Diversity Issues:	None (15-second segment removed from the original film in the 1960's for racist imagery)
Date Released to Theaters:	1940
Date Released to DVD:	December 7, 2010
Amazon.com ASIN:	B0040QTNSK

Disney’s glorious “Fantasia” and its sequel, “Fantasia 2000” are out for a limited time in a spectacular 4-DVD blu-ray package.

Considered a failure on its original release, “Fantasia’s” eight-part combination of images and music is now indisputably a classic. Musicologist Deems Taylor explains that there are three kinds of music: music that paints a picture, music that tells a story, and “absolute music,” or music for music’s sake, and then shows us all three. Highlights include Mickey Mouse as The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, whose plan to save himself from a little work by enchanting a broom to carry the buckets of water gets out of control, the Nutcracker Suite’s forest moving from fall into winter (with the adorable mushroom doing the Chinese Dance), Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, with characters from Greek mythology celebrating at a festival and seeking shelter from a storm, and the Dance of the Hours, with ostrich and hippo ballerinas dancing with gallant (if overburdened) crocodiles.

It concludes with the scary Night on Bald Mountain followed by the dawn’s Ave Maria. The movie is perfect for blu-ray — it’s as though we can finally see the colors the way the artists could only dream of. The flying Pegasus family soars through the sky, the thistles kick like Cossacks to the Russian dance, the dinosaurs lumber to the Rite of Spring. This is one of the greatest movies in cinematic history, groundbreaking and timeless.

And there’s more. Disney planned another musical segment designed by famous surrealist artist Salvador Dali, who came out to the Disney studio for eight months to work on it. But it was canceled due to financial setbacks at the company at the time, and Disney always regretted that it was not completed. It has become a legend, much speculated about and sought after. This splendid set includes Destino, with Roy Disney at long last completing Dali’s original vision, 58 years after he began it.

Roy Disney also supervised “Fantasia 2000,” the sequel, which includes a charming Al Hirschfeld-inspired Manhattan saga set to George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and a wildly funny flamingo/yo-yo mix-up (more like a pile-up) to the music of Saint-Seans.

Fantasia/Fantasia 2000 is a genuine family treasure, guaranteed to inspire and entertain all ages. Grab it while you can.

Twelve Great Christmas Movies That Don’t Feature Clarence the Angel, Bing Crosby, Tiny Tim, or a Leg Lamp

Posted on December 3, 2010 at 3:59 pm

Reprising from 2007:

I love It’s a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, and A Christmas Story as much as anyone. I love the bittersweet struggles of George Bailey and never get tired of seeing him try to resist falling in love with Mary when they’re on that phone call to Sam “Hee Haw!” Wainwright. I love the way Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye as Wallace and Davis preserve the old general’s pride when they help him keep the resort going. And I love the way that Ralphie and his family find that Christmas is not about neatly wrapped gifts and perfectly harmonized carols or even a turkey dinner. That last scene, when they all laugh, knowing that this will be one of their best Christmas memories ever, is one of my favorite moments in any film I’ve ever seen. I’ve already written about how much I love every version of A Christmas Carol.

So, let’s assume you’ve seen all those already this year and are looking for something else. Here’s a list with one for each of the Twelve Days of Christmas. And I’d love to hear about your favorites, too.

(From #6, Will Vinton’s Claymation Christmas Plus Halloween & Easter Celebrations)

In Honor of William and Kate: Royal Wedding

Posted on November 16, 2010 at 4:58 pm

Cheers to Prince William and his bride-to-be, Kate Middleton! Celebrate with a classic Fred Astaire musical that features glimpses of his grandparents’ wedding back in 1951.

Fred Astaire and Jane Powell play a brother-and-sister act (inspired by Astaire’s real-life vaudeville performances with his sister, Adele). They go to London to perform and both fall in love, her with handsome Peter Lawford and him with Sarah Churchill, in real life the daughter of the prime minister, Winston Churchill. It doesn’t have much of a plot, but it has some sensational musical numbers, including a dance with a coat rack (showing that he always makes his partner look graceful) and the famous number that has Astaire dancing on the walls and ceiling, along with brief shots of the wedding of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. We’ll get a feature film take on the queen as a little girl next month with “The King’s Speech,” based on her father’s struggles to learn to manage his stutter so that he could address his subjects on the radio.

Movies for Veteran’s Day

Posted on November 11, 2010 at 8:00 am

As we remember and thank those who have served our country and defended our freedom, these movies help us begin to understand their contribution.
The Messenger One of the finest young actors working today, Ben Foster, stars with Woody Harrelson and Samantha Morton in this powerful story of an injured soldier assigned to visit the families of soldiers to deliver the news that they have been killed.
Gardens of Stone The detail assigned to Arlington Cemetery is responsible for honoring the war dead. James Caan, James Earl Jones, and D.B. Sweeney star in this moving tribute to the soldiers who pay tribute.
Taking Chance Kevin Bacon stars in this fact-based story of Lt. Col. Michael Strobl who volunteered to escort a fallen soldier’s remains when he found out they shared the same home town. It is a quietly touching drama about how the journey affected Strobl and the people along the way.

List: The Best Fall Movies

Posted on October 29, 2010 at 3:59 pm

Salon has a great gallery of the all-time best autumn movies, including “Rushmore” and one of Hitchcock’s most underrated films, “The Trouble With Harry,” Shirley MacLaine’s feature film debut. Here are some of my favorites:

1. “The Four Seasons” Alan Alda’s story of three middle-aged couples over the course of a year includes an autumn parents’ weekend at a New England college. The title composition by Vivaldi perfectly compliments the burnished colors as the characters struggle to hold onto their marriages and their friendships.

2. “Rudy” Fall means football and this true story of the inspirational dedication of a young man who had the heart, if not the talent, to play football at Notre Dame. The brilliant score mingles longing and triumph and Sean Astin shines in the title role. Watch for director Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”) as Rudy’s friend.

3. “Meet Me in St. Louis” Writer Sally Benson’s own childhood inspired this classic story of a year in the life of a turn-of-the-century family. In one evocative scene the youngest members celebrate Halloween in the custom of the day — by throwing flour at the neighbors for the honor of being the “most horrible.” The eerie thrill of their adventure is unforgettable.

4. “Picnic” It’s the end of summer and fall is in the air as the small town selects their Queen of Neewollah (that’s Halloween backwards). Kim Novak and William Holden play two people who are in the late summer of their own lives and who must decide whether they can take the risk of finding true happiness.

5. “The World of Henry Orient” Many movies use the autumn season to convey a sober, reflective mood. But in this, one of the best movies ever in conveying that moment when young girls are on the brink of womanhood, it is a time of opening up to the larger world as one of them develops a crush on a womanizing pianist. There is transformation and danger, but joy and growth and still time for some childish games.