Cheap Fantasia 2000 (Video) (James Levine) (Paul Brizzi, Hendel Butoy, Eric Goldberg, James Algar, Francis Glebas, Don Hahn, Pixote Hunt) Price

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Customer Reviews of Fantasia 2000

The Art Form Of The Future
It's interesting to note that while the entertainment industry is bellyaching about piracy and the copying of DVDs, Disney being among the loudest bawlers, you can't buy a new copy of this marvelous DVD for love or money, either here or at Disney's own store, and the price for a used copy is higher than that of most new movies. Apparently the demand is there, but Disney doesn't care about supply. Disney is said to put their movies in "a vault," bringing them out only every ten years, but other animated features such as "Kronk's new Groove" (2005) and "Mickey's House of Villains" (2002) are readily available. Meanwhile, free segments of "Fantasia 2000" are being given away on YouTube. Smart. <
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>I may've paid top dollar for my copy of "Fantasia 2000" but I have no buyer's remorse, as it's a great show. Those who remember the original (1940) "Fantasia" as something suitable only for children and the anile would be well advised to take a look at this production. The quality of the animation is at Disney's highest standards, but the concepts and the images depicted are far more sophisticated than almost any other animated feature I've seen, the sole exception being Tomek Baginski's "The Cathedral." <
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>This sets the standard of what can be done in presenting visuals to serious music. When classical music is shown on television, there is absolutely nothing original or creative about the camera work, as they use the same shots they've used since the 1940s. There is the master shot of the orchestra, and each time an individual instrument or section makes an entrance, there is a close-up, as if to assure you that, Yah, dot iz ah trumpet. There is always the mandatory close-up of the mallets whenever the timpani has a roll, and you get to see the conductor waving his arms and making faces at the orchestra - none of which augments my enjoyment of Beethoven at all. The Naxos company is selling videos of rustic European towns and landscapes providing the visuals for the classics, but such a slide show is as dull as . . . as a slide show. <
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>But this is different. The combination of images in motion, coordinated to the music, and intelligent story lines really do compliment the great music, and the most popular chapter, Respighi's "The Pines of Rome," is especially inspired. If your idea of "aht" is Jackson Pollock or Karen Finley, you may not feel exhilarated by it, but for the rest of us, it is American art at its finest. <
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>Of interest to audiophiles is the astonishing sound of this DVD. As CDs were an obvious improvement over the sound of LPs (disputed only by the senile), the sound of the best DVDs is as much an improvement over CDs, and the sound here is spectacular. There is, I would judge, no compression and no limit to the frequency response. My 18-inch Velodyne HGS subwoofer has trouble reproducing the ultra-low frequencies at the beginning of "The Pines of the Appian Way," so those playing it on toy computer speakers should take caution. <
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>This is a genuine work of art fit for grownups - now if only Disney would market it.

Walt Disney originally meant Fantasia to evolve
I don't see anything wrong with the Disney Studio's attempts on relishing the Disney legacy. Walt Disney meant to have his Fantasia concept expand, explore, and evolve. . from time to time. And it was done, and it was good! <
>I grew up with the original Fantasia in full spectrum. First seeing the dinosaur excerpt in school and narrated as primeval documentary. Later I discovered it was from Walt Disney's Fantasia, and bought the special (back then) 3 vinyl album released by Buena Vista. I still have it in storage, because I loved it. It contained illustrated insert program introducing all the sequences, and had incredible photos of Mr. Walt Disney and the conductor, Leopold Stokowski. I never drew on the program, although I was no more than 13. I saw the special re-releases of Fantasia on the movie big screen, and have been to Disneyland countless times to view the Main Street techniques of ancient art. During all this course, I pretty much saw nearly all of Walt Disney movies, and was a devoted watcher of his "Wonderful World Of Color", plus the infamous Mickey Mouse Club five days a week in the afternoons. I have also met Mr. Walt Disney briefly on rare occasion back in the very early 60's. I would sit and listen to Julie Andrew's original "Mary Poppins" soundtrack so much, I wore it out. Finally I bought a digitally remastered two volume cassette of the original Fantasia at the Tomorrowland souvenir shop back in 1990, and when I visit Disneyland the 20th Century Music Shop on Main Street (by the cinema) is a must stop for me. <
>The original Fantasia was classic, revolutionary art form, and a milestone for Walt Disney, and incredibly "gutsy." I have absolutely no ill feelings, or misgivings for this particular sequel, because at least it's earnst. The only critical thing I had was the unusual focus on the piano play, but other than that (I first saw this in Imax), I now own it on video (VHS original copy issue) and place it with all my other Disney showcases. I like it, simply put, and I don't even mind the star pre-commentary because at least they get on with it. The music is fabulous, and it can grow on you on special days of the year. My favorite piece is the Magic Bird Of Fire. I almost cry on this one, those sultry violins hit me real hard having lived the Disney life. Plan to go again, this summer (Disney Resort, Ca.). Anyone ready for Fantasia 2050?