Medu

EDIT: There has never been a movie like this that I didn't like but I really wanted to read and talk more about with other people. I guess Darren Aronofsky at least got people talking about his movie, even if people didn't like it.

What a weird movie. I really thought the sound design was great. Really creepy and creates great tension.

So Jenifer Lawerence is Mother Earth and Javier Bardem is God? Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer are Adam and Eve and the heart crystal is the apple of eden? I don't know much about the bible but that is what I got. I guess the message Daron Aronofsky is trying to say is we treat the Earth like shit. It is going to kill us all but its bound to repeat again? I don't know, it is a weird movie.

EDIT2: So after seeing this after a long time of not thinking about it I realized that Darren Aronofsky really hates humans. The bat shit crazy third act can not make up for the boring first two acts. And knowing that this is just the bible made it even worse. I don't hate this movie but I'm definitely not a fan.

Disney Classics Marathon :pound_symbol:3

Fantasia is an odd one, isn’t it? And I mean that in the most positive way. It’s clearly a passion project and a bold choice for Disney’s third animated feature film. It is so out of the box that’s almost unbelievable today that it was released third in line, after two movies based on children’s stories.

Despite gorgeous animation it is a tough movie to sell to children after all. The only pieces of dialogue are provided by Deems Taylor, who guided audiences through the movie explaining the music that’s being played and what animated sequences are chosen to represent them and that’s it. The movie is also very long compared to previous outings "Snow White" and "Pinocchio." I remember enjoying "Fantasia" as a kid for its colorful sequences and images, but I also believe it’s a movie you'll probably enjoy way more as an adult.

I‘m not gonna pretend to know anything about classic music at this point, I do know some pieces but I couldn’t tell you anything about them that is even closest to being profound, so my opinion on this film is probably pretty "basic."

Segment 1: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach

Obviously I know Bach, so yay me! The opening sequence already pulls you right in, with shots of the Philadelphia Orchestra and conductor Leopold Stokowski with mesmerizing animated shapes and shadows. The animation slowly becomes the more dominating part and Taylor’s narration suggest to let yourself fall and imagine what you see while listening to the music, which works perfectly fine.

Segment 2: The Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky

I actually really love the Nutcracker Suite and I believe this movie was my first introduction to it. The music is accompanied by various animations of fairies, flowers, fish and other things related to nature and it’s gorgeous. It has always been one of my favorite parts of the film and it still is.

Segment 3: The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Paul Dukas

Fantasia‘s most famous segment and the one everybody thinks about when the movie is mentioned, which probably has a lot to do with Mickey Mouse being so recognizable (and hey it’s his feature film debut) and Apprentice Mickey being used as one of Disney’s most used promotional images for years to come. The "story" is also mostly recognizable if you are familiar with Goethe's poem "Der Zauberlehrling." While Mickey and the broomsticks are als an image burned into my mind and one of the most memorable Disney movie moments, I also admit that this is not and has never been my favorite segment. I don’t know exactly what it is, maybe it has become too overplayed after a while? Too hyped up to stand the rest of time? I do enjoy it, I just think the film has more to offer.

Segment 4: Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky

This piece chronicles the beginnings of Earth, from Life in the water to first creatures on land to different kind of dinosaurs and their extinction in the end. It is beautifully done and the first appearance of the T-Rex another very memorable moment from the movie. I do think it feels a little bit lengthy at times. While I enjoy the music, it it’s probably my least favorite piece. Shocking, since I love dinosaurs.

Segment 4.5: Intermission/Meet the Soundtrack

This little intermission "introduces" the Soundtrack an the instruments by animating them briefly into shapes and forms. It’s really just a cute segment.

Segment 5: The Pastoral Symphony by Beethoven

Welcome to the beautiful Word of Greek Mythology (and that long before "Hercules" would grace our screens)! This used to be my favorite segment as a kid, mostly because of the adorable Pegasi. And oh, I still love them so much. I generally enjoy the first half of this segment more then the latter half, with Diyonisus (Bacchus) and Zeus's wrath, but I still think it’s beautiful to watch. And no, I have never watched the uncensored version, at least not that I‘m aware of. I don’t think I even knew about the controversy surrounding this segment until much, much later on.

Segment 6: Dance of the Hours by Amilcare
Ponchielli

Everybody remembers the dancing hippos! Even if you don’t remember the rest of the movie, I assure you, you remember the dancing hippos. Or the elephants. Or alligators. Or even the ostriches. This is the "wild" ballet segment where every piece showcases a different hour of the day, with dancing hippos as the grand finale. It’s just as much fun as I remembered it.

Segment 7: Night on Bald Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky and Ave Maria by Franz Schubert

Final segment of the movie and the one that had children cry in terror and parents writing angry letters to Disney. Honestly, I don’t remember if Chernabog terrified me as a child or not, but rewatching some of these movies (or other animated ones, Secret of Nimh, anyone?) really shows how cookie cutter these movies have become, compared to the nightmare fuel they used to offer. I‘ll be honest, I absolutely love Bald Mountain. It’s expressive and dark and the animation exceptional.

"Fantasia" is not a movie to rewatch a lot. It’s not one of those to put on a rainy day and just watch to escape the world for an hour or two. It’s not a funny adventure or fairytale. It’s something you need to be in the mood for. Compared to all the other movies (Fantasia 2000 being the exception) this one really is to enjoy as a piece of art to get lost in. It’s also a very early testament to what animation is capable of and it remains absolutely stunning, even for today’s standards. It is one of the most beautifully animated movies ever made.

Favorite Segment: Night on Bald Mountain

8 out of 10 Stars