Movies

In 1940, Walt Disney released "Fantasia", the third feature of his studio and maybe his most ambitious project, with a beautiful combination of classical music conducted by Leopold Stokowski and animation. The result is a movie that has been worshiped by every generation. Yesterday I saw "Fantasia" again, now on the Special 60th Anniversary Edition DVD, restored and remastered with audio in THX inclusive with intermission. The program, for those that have eventually never seen or want to recall, is composed by the following: (1) Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach.(2) Nutcracker Suite by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.(3) The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Paul Dukas.(4) Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky.(5) Intermission/Meet the Soundtrack.(6) The Pastoral Symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven.(7) Dance of the Hours by Amilcare Ponchielli.(8) Night on Bald Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky.(9) Ave Maria by Franz Schubert.My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Fantasia"

This is one of the truly rare, one of a kind movie going experiences, kind of in the same league as watching 2001: A Space Odyssey. I like to watch this film repeatedly; often times I'll just close my eyes and daydream, letting my own imagination go in place of whats on the screen. My favorite part is the opening sequence, with its dramatic music and free flowing imagery foreshadowing the state of the world in 1940. The end of Ave Maria is the perfect bookend to this masterpiece; death has withdrawn and peace has finally arrived. It would, but not for another five years and millions of lives. I can never watch this movie without seeing it in this context; for me its a work of art, both a part and ahead of its time.

Disney's "Fantasia" is a pure classic. What we are shown are a few animated musicals, filled with grand splendor and vivid colors. "Fantasia" is one of those films that everyone knows by heart, and has watched since being a child. My personal favorite was always the Mickey Mouse short - one of the darkest Mickey cartoons I've ever seen. If you haven't seen "Fantasia" yet, then you must be from another planet. It is one of the best Disney musicals ever, which some push aside and forget too easily. 5/5 stars-John Ulmer