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DVD Anastasia
Stomping out their usual cuteness and carbon copying Disney's grand animation style to a T, directors Don Bluth and Gary Goldman (An American Tail) create a successful musical comedy from the story of the lost Russian princess. Adapting the story of imperialism and revolution is tricky, and subsequently the film's opening is weak. Once Anya (voiced by Meg Ryan, sung by Liz Callaway) is a teenager and on her own (suffering from some degree of amnesia), the film is quite pleasing though never refreshingly new.
Twentieth Century Fox's big-money gamble to horn in on Disney's realm is worthy. The songs, especially the recurrent "Once Upon a December," by Broadway team Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty are better than Disney's recent efforts. It's worth picking up the soundtrack. The mix of cell animation and computer work is vivid. The collection of vocal talent is also strong, from John Cusack (as Dimitri, who wants to earn the reward by bringing Anya to Paris) to Hank Azaria as an amusing albino bat. Kelsey Grammer helps turn a roly-poly sidekick into a warm and strong supporting character.
The biggest drawback is Bluth/Goldman's insistence on having a typical villain. Surprisingly, the story would be strong enough without one, and the undead corpse of Rasputin (Christopher Lloyd) is unneeded and unoriginal. --Doug Thomas
My 3 year old daughter LOVES this movie. The songs are beautiful and the story has all the elements of a "princess" story.
One Negative Point For Poor Music, One Negative Point For Ridicolous Story, 3 Negatives for Bad Concept
This movie was great in animation, specially in character design. It reminded me of old grat Diasney cartoons like Cinderella and Sleeping beauty. Anastasia was geart and pretty, which is rare in these days cartoons. anyway, It was a 5 star movie in animation and Character design. but despite of it's greatness in animation and characters, It has a ridicolous story which ah not at least a historical accuracy. It was wrong in Concept too. they tried to depict a good picture of royal family of Russia, Great picture of whom were bunch of selfish, ambitious, money lover. they were rule by killing people and when they were celebrating like that they've shown in this movie, millions of russians were struggling between live and death cause of famine and illness! now how dare they show such peoples good and show revolutioners bad and cruel? Everyone knows that the Soviet Union got russia revived! I Know, it was not a democracy but it was the best choice for poor russians! Revolution is not an ordinary event. it requires unification between all layers of people and when somewhere there is a revolution, whith no doubt, there is a Tyrant is was cruel and selfish enough to loose support of all layers of people!
passing that terrible concept, this movie had worst songs I've ever heard in a musical movie!
5 Stars!!
This is an amazing animated feature. The animation was so incredible, great story, interesting villian, some great songs-- awesome action scenes. I was blown away by the movie. BUT, I must say that the villian is pretty scary, so I'd highly recommend pre-viewing this film before showing your children because you will be the best judge if they can handle it or not, but believe me, you watching it alone will be worth the price because chances are, with or without your kids, you'll love it.
Things that stick out... I love the characters, the way they look, and the reluctant love story that blossoms-- great chemistry for animated characters! The animation is unforgettable. The three major action sequences were great, especially the train wreck-- wow.
I don't know when my kids will be old enough to view this (maybe around 8?), but after warning them that the spooky guy is only part of a cartoon, I hope they like this movie. Oh, and my favorite song is the one the scary guy does-- very fun.
Environmentally friendly animated film with a strong message that doesn't club anyone over the head--but it certainly can't be missed. Zak (voiced by Christian Slater) is a heavy-machine operator whose job is to push over any vegetation in his path. He's shrunken to wee size, however, when Crysta (Samantha Mathis), a fairy of the forest, not only finds him cute but wants him to see the results of his handiwork. They end up battling Hexxus, an evil force imprisoned in a tree, which now wants to destroy all of Ferngully. Robin Williams offers genuine comic relief as a bat named Batty Koda. Agreeable without making much impact, it's a piffle of a film for one that deals with such strong subject matter. --Keith SimantonMore Info about this DVD Actor(s): Tim Curry - Samantha Mathis - Christian Slater - Robin Williams Director(s): Bill Kroyer DVD Release Date: Released the 19 February 2002 This item is currently not available.
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Ranking just behind the best of animator Don Bluth's films (Anastasia and The Secret of NIMH), Thumbelina is a bubble-light version of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale. The finger-sized heroine goes about the old-fashioned trials of trying to find a good man, but the film is clever enough to make it endearing for the 3-6 set and more than passable for adult viewers. Barry Manilow provides much of the song score, which helps immensely. The ballad "Let Me Be Your Wings" is as good as Disney's best. Carol Channing and Charo have a good ol' time with their songs too. The voice of Thumbelina is none other than Jodi Benson, who gave voice to Ariel in Disney's The Little Mermaid. --Doug ThomasMore Info about this DVD Actor(s): Jodi Benson - Gary Imhoff Director(s): Gary Goldman - Don Bluth DVD Release Date: Released the 19 February 2002 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Following their animated/live action hit Space Jam, Warner Bros. jumped into the fully animated feature competition by playing it safe, giving the Arthurian legend a conspicuously Disneyesque facelift. Ingredients from Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and Pocahontas are evident in the tale of a girl named Kayley (Jessalyn Gilsig) whose father, a Knight of the Round Table, is killed by Sir Ruber (Gary Oldman), a maniacal brute who steals Excalibur and threatens to seize King Arthur's Camelot. Kayley enlists the blind, reclusive knight-aspirant Garrett (Cary Elwes) to brave the Enchanted Forest and retrieve the magic sword, and their adventure is (of course) fraught with danger. Adding extra punch to the movie's commercial appeal, the soundtrack songs... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Jessalyn Gilsig - Cary Elwes Director(s): Frederik Du Chau DVD Release Date: Released the 05 June 2001 Usually ships in 24 hours
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It's no secret that the popular animated feature release Anastasia played fast and loose with Russian Imperialist history. Never mind that the movie's debut coincided with DNA proof--provided by Britain's Prince Phillip, no less--that Anna Andersen was not Tsar Nicholas II's daughter Anastasia, and that Russian-discovered bones were indeed that of the Tsar and his brutally murdered family.
Anastasia's made-for-video sequel, Bartok the Magnificent, doesn't let historical fact get in its way either. Still, the animated adventure, which features Bartok the excitable albino bat (voiced again by Hank Azaria), is cute and funny, thanks to clever writing and great voice work. Bartok and his sidekick bear friend (an excellent Kelsey Grammer, who voiced... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Don Bluth - Gary Goldman DVD Release Date: Released the 17 December 2002 Usually ships within 24 hours
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