Comments on: Disney Canon Countdown 38: ‘Fantasia 2000’

By: Dan Siciliano

Dan Siciliano — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 00:59:00 +0000

As of 2016, “Fantasia 2000” was the first, and ONLY film right now, that I have seen on IMAX. I remember walking into the theatre with my parents, sister and best friend at the time and listening endlessly to the soundtrack of the film, along with a CD medley of Cartoon Network. As of that memory, “Fantasia 2000” feels like you’re entering a large cathedral for the first time and the music helps you pray and sing at the same time.

My favorite segment is the “Pines of Rome” segment because of how Disney threw out what the original tone poem was saying (pine trees in Ancient Rome) and did it in a much epic and better way: flying humpback whales in the Arctic at night!! And Respighi, the composer of “Pines”, did a prequel and a sequel to the piece: “Fountains of Rome” and “Roman Festivals”. Someday I wanna make a hybrid-film with those pieces of music.

As for the rest, even though I enjoyed Quincy Jones and Itzhak Perlman’s turns, I feel that the celebrity interstitials were a major letdown, especially Steve Martin being such an ego and Mickey Mouse interrupting James Levine. And the worst segment to me is “Pomp and Circumstance”. I’m not a fan of the Disney cartoons but I somehow liked it for the heart-warming and dramatic moments.

By: Jonathan J. North

Jonathan J. North — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 06:52:00 +0000

In reply to Jackson Staninger. Dorito butterflies. That is literally the best description for them I have ever heard. I am in awe. Amazing. :)

By: Jackson Staninger

Jackson Staninger — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 05:07:00 +0000

This movie is like Fantasia on training wheels,
the beauty of the original is that it was composed in 3 types of stories
Abstract Art (Chorus Line)
No Story, but vibrant animation (Bald Mountain)
Story (Sorcerer’s Apprentice)

They’re all the ladder in the sequel. Even the one at the beginning with the Dorito butterflies. Might be more accessible, but overall, not a match for the original.

By: pretto

pretto — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 03:42:00 +0000

In reply to Jonathan J. North. The celebrity hosts definitely has Eisner's fingerprints all over it. I guess we are lucky he didn't decide to star in the movie himself.

By: pretto

pretto — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 03:34:00 +0000

“This piece is fun, cute, well animated, and has great character design, but is probably one of the weakest of the movie, due to how short it is.”

This makes no sense. Brevity is the soul of wit. The short (and they’re called “shorts” for a reason.) is exactly as long as it needs to be.

Ironically I have to disagree on the “Pomp and Circumstance” segment. I love Donald Duck, but the music choice is a poor match. Elgar’s March completely messes up the pacing and emotion of the story.
(If they wanted to give Donald a segment, couldn’t they have hooked him up with Joe Carioca and some Afro-Cuban Jazz Fusion piece?;-)

By: Rachel Barton

Rachel Barton — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 23:48:00 +0000

I don’t like this film as much as the original Fantasia, mainly due to the shorter runtime and celebrity hosts. With the exception of the Piano Concerto, I really like the animated segments, especially Rhapsody in Blue and Firebird Suite. I’m going to have to disagree with you on the Carnival of the Animals segment – the bright colour palette and expressive flamingos feel so right for the piece.

By: Rachel Wagner

Rachel Wagner — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 06:04:00 +0000

In reply to Jonathan J. North. That would be so great if they did that

By: Rachel Wagner

Rachel Wagner — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 03:30:00 +0000

In reply to Jonathan J. North. Very cool. I guess there is something for all different artistic tastes within both Fantasias.

By: Jonathan J. North

Jonathan J. North — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 00:37:00 +0000

In reply to Phoenix Wright. I think everyone's problem with the movie is the celebrity introductions. :p Seriously, it was just not a good choice! I keep hoping that one day they'll release an updated, much-improved version without them, and maybe cut in the few shorts that were made for a proposed third Fantasia, that never got completed. (The Salvador Dali short, The Little Match Girl, etc.)

By: Jonathan J. North

Jonathan J. North — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 00:35:00 +0000

In reply to Rachel Wagner. Rhapsody in Blue grows on me each time I watch it. I wasn't too into it the first time I saw it, but I really like it now. It's very unique, in a really good way. It's still not my favorite when compared to The Pines of Rome and The Firebird, but it's now way higher than The Steadfast Tin Soldier, or Carnival of the Animals.