Fantasia 2000 (DVD, 2000)

Fantasia 2000 is a classic Disney film based on the original Fantasia movie and was first realeased to IMAX theaters on December 31, 1999, and later to regular theatres in June 2000. The film uses a similar format to Walt Disney's 1940 Fantasia - visualizing classical music compositions with various forms of animation.

Fantasia 2000 is beautiful - revamping the graphics, the music and visuals of the also beautiful Fantasia. Both DVDs are essentials to any Disney collector or DVD collector. Fantasia 2000 looks amazing on big screen TVs or a home theater system with some powerful sound!

The music is performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and conducted by James Levine. The composers and their works, in the order they are used in the film, are:

* Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No. 5 (abstract patterns resembling butterflies)
* Ottorino Respighi - Pines of Rome (frolicking humpback whales)
* George Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue (an episode of New York City 1930s-era scenes drawn in the style of Al Hirschfeld)
* Dmitri Shostakovich - Piano Concerto No. 2: Allegro (a portrayal of the Hans Christian Andersen tale The Steadfast Tin Soldier)
* Camille Saint-Saëns - The Carnival of the Animals: Finale (a flock of flamingos, one with a yo-yo)
* Paul Dukas - The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Mickey Mouse, from the original Fantasia)
* Edward Elgar - Pomp and Circumstance Marches (The story of Noah's Ark, with Donald Duck as a first mate to Noah)
* Igor Stravinsky - The Firebird. The story of a spring sprite and her companion Elk.

The second of the Disney Fantasia movies, this one is far more compelling than the first on several levels. First, the music is more interesting than the music selected for the first Fantasia movie. There are more well known pieces in this movie, and they are often pared down to lengths that keep the attention of even my young children.

The imagery is also superior in this one with each piece telling a short story that is compelling. My 4 year old daughter loves the story about the whales that occurs during Respighi's "Pines of Rome," and is always happy when the baby whale reconnects with its parents.

In short, this is a great DVD which gets a good amount of play time in our home.

This title is sheer "eye candy" for the viewer! Superbly produced by Walt's nephew Roy Edward Disney, it is top professionalism all the way. Nice to see the Disney "animation Department" stimulated again with projects like this one!
The adapted score of the masterworks by James Levine is first class...nicely tailored from the original Stowkowski 1940 edition...but in today's THX dolby fidelity. For today's "digital" home theatre this is a perfect "test" for optimal picture and audio. Consider this one a "must see" for your video repertoire! MPS

I bought Fantasia 2000 because I loved the original Fantasia so much. This full length feature Disney classic does not have any one particular story line, or words for that matter. This would not be a good movie to hold a four year old's attention, however it IS a great movie for babies because it's so visually stimulating. I also love to put this movie on as a background for parties. I would easily rate this movie 5 out of 5 stars because of the utter beauty of the scenes and the classical music.

Loved Fantasia (the original made in 1940)--- love this one too (from year 2000). Great for kids to introduce them to music - classical/jazz. Cartoons are great. Both Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 feature Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer's Apprentice - Mickey in the magician's hat as seen at the entrance to Epcot Center. Fantasia 2000 also has Donald Duck on Noah's Ark.