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The Last Unicorn by Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
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Canada
DVD detailsActor: Alan Arkin, Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Robert Klein, Tammy Grimes Director: Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass Brand: ARKIN,ALAN DVD: Region Code 1 Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0; German (Original Language); English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled) Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen Picture Format: 2.35:1 Running Time: 93 minutes DVD Release Date: 2007-02-06 Audience Rating: G (General Audience) Studio: Lions Gate
DVD Reviews of The Last UnicornDVD Review: Beautiful fantasy Summary: 5 StarsThis is a magical movie. The basic plot is that the last unicorn must rescue the other unicorns from the red bull. It's very similar to the more-detailed book.
The characters are varied and rich and far from being stereotypical and one-dimensional. We even sympathize a little with the villains as we understand why they do what they do.
I really enjoyed the songs, which were performed by America.
The movie is generally clean, although some of the frightening scenes may be too intense for young children. The violence is without gore and usually happens away from view. There is a small part with a nude woman, but her long hair covers the essentials. I can't tell you why she's clotheless without giving away some of the plot, but that small part is tastefully done.
The film could have used a little restoration. Oh well.
DVD Review: Wonderful Addition to DVD Library for my Children! Summary: 5 StarsGreat job by the seller! Package arrived as described and professionally wrapped. The DVD was in perfect working order with no flaws! Would definitely order again from this seller!
DVD Review: Rated G - really? A terrifying movie Summary: 1 StarsI read so many great reviews of this DVD and decided to get a copy for my children. This is a G -rated movie, but is scary as hell. The witch, the Harpy,and the overall storyline is very scary and not kid friendly at all. I still have not seen the entire movie because my children were terrified when the Harpy ate the witch, and took its time doing so. Had to turn it off. Should be at least rated PG or PG-13. This is no Smurfs movie.
DVD Review: "The Last Unicorn" - an enduring classic Summary: 5 Stars4.5* I love Peter S. Beagle's works, especially "The Last Unicorn", "Tamsin", and "A Fine and Private Place". I watched this a long time ago, and remember loving the story, and today I was finally able to share it with my 5-year-old daughter. In the screen adaptation (the screenplay was also written by Peter S. Beagle), Mia Farrow plays the Last Unicorn who inadvertently learns that she is the last of her kind. Curious to discover the fate that has befallen the rest of the unicorns, the last unicorn learns from a Butterfly (Robert Klein) that an entity known as the Red Bull has herded the unicorns to the ends of the earth. Unfortunately, she finds herself captured by the witch Mommy Fortuna (Angela Lansbury)as part of the witch's Midnight Carnival. The unicorn is able to escape with the help of a novice magician Schmendrick (Alan Arkin) and proceeds to the seaside castle of King Haggard (Christopher Lee) and meets the dreaded Red Bull, a fire elemental, but is once again saved by Schmendrick when she is transformed by his magic into a mortal woman, Lady Amalthea. Here is where Amalthea's/the last unicorn's quest gets really interesting and complicated, for it is at the castle of King Haggard that Amalthea meets and eventually falls in love with Haggard's adopted son, Prince Lir (Jeff Bridges).
The rest of this magical story explores what happens to Amalthea and Lir, will their mortal love survive the revelation of Amalthea's true identity, and will Amalthea fulfill her real quest to find the rest of the unicorns, and defeat the evil Red Bull? The story itself is magical, but what makes it compelling are the various themes explored, regarding friendship, self-discovery, faith, courage, love, and mortality. The anime (Japanese animation) is beautiful, and I will always consider this a classic. The songs are also melodious and meaningful. Highly recommended, though I would advise caution for the under-5s since there are some scary depictions in this movie.
DVD Review: The are no happy endings, because nothing ends. Summary: 5 StarsProbably one of the most cherished non-Disney animated family movies from the last century, The Last Unicorn was based on the book of the same name by Peter S. Beagle. This was one of the few theatrical movies produced by Jules Bass and Aurthur Rankin Jr., better known as Rankin/Bass, the creators of nearly every Christmas holiday TV special, and other hit shows like Thundercats and Silverhawks.
Set sometime during the middle ages, a unicorn discovers from a passing butterfly that she is the only one left in the world. She leaves her forest in search of them, but gets captured by a witch for her travelling carnival. The unicorn is set free by the novice magician Schmendrick. Along the way, they are accompanied by the ex-bandit wench Molly Grue. The trio make their way to realm of King Haggard where the other unicorns are supposed to be. Once there, Haggard's menacing Red Bull appears to drive the unicorn into the sea. In order to protect her, Schmendrick taps into his true magic and turns the unicorn into a human female, which makes the Red Bull give up on her. Our heroes then enter into Haggard's castle under the guise of looking for work, with Schmendrick claiming that the now-human unicorn is his niece, Amalthea. Schmendrick keeps Haggard entertained, while Molly searches for a way into the Red Bull's lair which is supposed to lead to the missing unicorns. Haggard's son Lir has meanwhile has fallen in love with Amalthea, believing her to be just a beautiful girl, while at the same time Amalthea is growing fond of him and growing to forget her former life as a unicorn. Molly and Schmendrick eventually find the secret entrance, and with Alamathea and Lir into tow, they confront the Red Bull. Amalthea is changed back into a human, who because of her newfound human feelings is able to defeat the Red Bull and free all the unicorns that were trapped in the sea. Amalthea the unicorn then heads back for her forest, with Schmendrick and Molly apparently hooking up together in the end.
This film features some of the best animation by the Rankin/Bass group since their animated version of The Hobbit. The studio responsible for most of the actual animation though was Topcraft, whose work also includes the anime movie Nausicaa. The character designs are very unique and original too. The movie features an odd assortment of voice actors, like Mia Farrow doing a wonderful job as the unicorn, Christopher Lee as the mad Haggard, Alan Arkin as indifferent Schmendrick, and Rene Auberjonois steals his scene as a laughing skeleton. There have been two DVD releases of this movie, the original, and the 25th Anniversary Edition which has way better quality. If you haven't seen this yet, treat yourself to a truly epic animated fantasy.
Description of The Last UnicornBrought to life by the luminary voice talents of Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Angela Lansbury and Rene Auberjonois (STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE, "Boston Legal"), this animated treasure is the story of a lonely unicorn who sets out on an extraordinary quest to find her lost brothers and sisters. Along the way she meets a colorful cast of characters, including a bumbling wizard who magically transforms her into a beautiful damsel. When a handsome prince falls in love with her, he challenges the evil foe who holds her captive. But the task proves harder than imagined, and the unicorn soon discovers that real magic comes from believing in the impossible. Featuring songs performed by America. A story line that truly deserves the A-list treatment, The Last Unicorn is memorable for its attempts to stay faithful to its origins, the Peter Beagle novel of the same name. The animation is vintage Rankin/Bass, and that's too bad; but there's an undeniable strength in this tale and telling. A unicorn (Mia Farrow)--she believes herself the last--searches for any others of her kind, while avoiding the malevolent Red Bull, the agent believed to have destroyed the rest of the herd. Along the way, she is mistaken, ignored, attacked, and obsessed about, finally finding help from a magician named Schmendrick (Alan Arkin) and a knight named Prince Lir (Jeff Bridges). A haunting film that pays homage to mythology and the people who love it. --Keith Simanton
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