Review of Fantasia 2000 (2000) by Matthew F — 03 Mar 2013

The first sign that the mighty Disney Feature Animation of the 90s was not going to retain its magnificence through the next decade; this film was lackluster, and led to a series of mediocre efforts for the remainder of the 2000s. While the idea of reprising the original 1940s classic music extravaganza was a wonderful idea, especially in the wake of an exciting new century (and millennium,) Fantasia 2000 fails to work for several reasons. 1)The film is so short, it ends as soon as the ball gets rolling. 2) The peaceful, memorizing musical interludes are jarred with annoying live-action commentary from celebrities. (Of all people, Steve Martin?!) 3) The animation was disappointing, as the studio relied on over usage of stiff computer graphics. 4)Unlike the original 1940 work of art, which paralleled each grace note, each melodious moment with visual equivalence, this version treated music as an afterthought.

On a positive note, a couple segments, Rhapsody in Blue and Carnival of the animals are wonderful to behold and quite humorous and colorful. But most impressive is the slam-bang Firebird Suite, which remains the ONLY segment that I can truly call "awe inspiring." Thank heavens it was played last.