This is gonna
be an unusual movie review because I've already reviewed this movie. Read
my review of the IMAX
Version of "Fantasia 2000" if you want something more in-depth.
The purpose of this review is to let you know how the standard version of
"Fantasia 2000" stands up to the IMAX version. See, I saw the
IMAX version several months ago, and I was blown away. I absolutely loved
it. But I started thinking, what if I just got swept away by the moment?
The massive IMAX screen, the great sound, and also, "Fantasia 2000"
was the first feature-length film for IMAX. This wasn't your typical Friday
night at the movies, this was an EVENT. Every seat was filled in the IMAX
theater (tickets had to be ordered days in advance), and the crowd was great.
Also, I was with a girl who, well, let's just say that things were a lot
better back then as opposed to now. Everything was perfect that night. So
I wanted to see "Fantasia 2000" again, this time, without all
the hoopla, and without all the event-ness of the IMAX version.
As expected, it's not as good. That's not to say that it's terrible, I'm
not saying that at all. It's still a great movie, but seeing it in IMAX
was spectacular. It was so grand, so majestic, so... cool (sorry, I ran
out of mature adjectives).
Since I'd seen the movie already, I wasn't gonna be as blown away anyway
because I knew what to expect. Still, the animation is incredibly complicated,
and absolutely beautiful. After a second viewing, my favorite segment is
still the story of Noah's Ark done to the music of "Pomp and Circumstance,"
but the Al Hirschfeld-inspired "Rhapsody in Blue" segment is a
close second. Both of them are amazing.
One thing I didn't realize the first time I saw "Fantasia 2000"
is how short it is. It's just under an hour and fifteen minutes long! Interesting,
eh? So if you hate the movie, at least you know that you don't have to sit
there for a hell of a long time.
I feel bad for anybody seeing this movie who doesn't get to experience it
in an IMAX theater. The IMAX version is truly phenomenal. Then again, those
who don't know better wouldn't know the difference anyway, and why should
I piss on their parade? Regardless of which version you see, "Fantasia
2000" is a terrific movie. It's just that the standard version is a
little LESS terrific.