Fantasia is a bit of a strange one for me. I remember loving the Mickey
Mouse sequence when I was younger but also being terrified by some
sections of it. However all these years later I can appreciate what a
real masterpiece this film is, especially on the recent Blu-ray which
features a stunning picture and audio transfer. The sheer existence of
this film is impressive, and the history of its creation by Walt Disney
and company is a fascinating piece of cinema history. Each of the
segments are really impressive works of art in their own way but my main
problem with the film is that there is just so much of it! I’ve never
seen the second film but at 72 minutes it seems as though it may be a
lot easier to consume than this 2 hour long behemoth. It would be great
to see Walt’s legacy of Fantasia continue someday; perhaps through short
films before main feature presentations. Oh and the final number Night
on Bald Mountain is as scary today as it was to me when I was 7 years
old, powerful stuff!
4/5
