Review of Fantasia 2000 (2000) by Kyle M — 11 Apr 2015

Walt Disney's wish for his finest masterpiece to get re-released with new expressive animated segments following in syncs of more classic music notes alongside old favorites gotten re-granted/resurrected 60 years after the 1940 original. The time of the new release was opportune with the advanced technologies that enhances film effects and project films on bigger screens that are often the IMAX experiences. That was the time for Disney to start off the year with the follow-up to continue on that imagination legacy that'd resulted to be the finest masterpiece in films. But there were some hits and misses when mainly focusing on their abilities and fixing up any flaws that were sort-of pointed out in the original Fantasia.

The magic of the orchestra and the expressive art in sync of the symphonies are still the same throughout most of the experience. As the orchestra (and the stage) was being formed, the opening intro by Deems Taylor from before was reused through archived recording, alongside mini clips of the original animated segments appearing on the stage's plates flying by. That nostalgia feeling returns and went down a little as we're being prepared to watch some new attractions that the film's about to offer. Mickey's best-known symphony short "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" returned remastered with an already enlarged reputation that the Parks did with the concept, which makes this the senior of the fresh new segments.

About 4-5 of the new segments fits the large scale of the IMAX experience while being in the sync - the best are "Pines of Rome" by Ottorino Respighi and "Firebird Suite - 1919 Version" by Igor Stravinsky - but the other 2-3 shows some unfitting while in sync. But the best of that latter bunch that was still acceptable for viewing pleasure during the fine presentation was "Rhapsody in Blue" by George Gershwin as it'd showed different steps of the social ladder during the Depression era as each of the four individuals want to go to a higher step. In that same little bunch is "The Carnival of the Animals, Finale" by Camille Saint-Saëns as it'd showed a flamingo irritating his flock as he plays with a yo-yo, which makes this the least of the scaled showcase while at least being in sync. The other is Donald Duck's Noah's Ark symphony with "Pomp and Circumstance - Marches 1, 2, 3 and 4" by Edward Elgar showed some mixed fitting to matching the overall scale while being the similar way for a Disney character to star in a new short film in such showcase, a nod to Mickey Mouse in the original.

These segments were just Disney's way of communicating the meaning specifically on those segments. Even though they weren't scaled for astonishment, it was all about the ability of Disney presenting a meaningful belief while wanting to present those music notes. "Rhapsody in Blue" may be the most expressive of the little bunch, while the one with the flamingos was just goofy with perfect syncing when Disney's known of animating animal stories, and the Donald Duck symphony was just putting a character in a tale without any total interference with the story. Like always Disney do their creations with heart, fun yet goofy animation, and giving one of their best-known characters a fresh spotlight.

One of the presenters Bette Midler pointed out that there were lots of ideas brought up but didn't and one of those (nicely) rejected was about a baseball representing the meaning of life and she was surprised Disney didn't go for that. When James Earl Jones was introducing the flamingos segment, he thought it was about a relationship between a man and nature and animals, but he was corrected by animator Eric Goldberg that it was about answering the question what would happen if a flamingo plays with a yo-yo; and then asked him who wrote this. A baseball representing life and a nature relationship between a man and animals would sure be something and better than and would've replace both the flamingos and Donald Duck. But it was all about the availability of the music notes Disney was able to possess for this film and creating the right animation in syncing.

"Fantasia 2000" went from the original's visionary musical extravaganza to more a spectacle extravaganza. The original's flaws were improved, but this second showcase created another flaw by their tastes in deciding what to create and show. However, that can be refuted since it was all about the ability and creating a meaning. Walt Disney would be proud of his brother for continuing on the Fantasia innovation to the next century and generation. It's unknown whether there'll be a third Fantasia showcase. If there's going to be another one, it'll be perfect and probably the best by how much Disney's imagination have evolved and expanded, including the more advanced technology. (B+).