Change Your Image
davidkinney
Reviews
Bambi II (2006)
Fills in gaps in the original storyline( yes the original left storyline in the editing room)
Maybe the animation is computerized now and maybe the DTV Sequels are not going to hold a candle to the original art from the hearts of incredibly talented artists under Walts guidance, But Bambi II is much better than many of Disney's other Classic sequel attempts to make money on nostalgic baby boomers.
It may be blasphemy to say this but Bambi felt incomplete to me. Once I got over the misery of his mother being shot and watched it as an adult, I figured out why. The sequel answered the questions I didn't know to ask as a kid about the first movie. What happened after Bambi met his father in that heavy snowfall and before the spring he shook owls tree scratching his antlers? Why was the dancing on clouds moment after meeting Faline ruined by some buck challenging Bambi. Why did Thumper ask if Bambi remembered him, where had Bambi been, and for how long? He was teaching his dad how to loosen up. He was dealing with a big mouth bragger and unintentionally creating a rival that would later challenge him for Faline. Rondo, as far as I could tell was never named in Bambi, but the fight between him and Bambi makes more sense after the sequel.
If you stop the DVD of Bambi just as Bambi goes looking for his mother and you start Bambi II the story picks itself up almost seamlessly. I am still a little confused by how many springs go by before the birth of the twin fawns.
My only negative is a very minor one. Two new characters: The porcupine and the ground hog are funny and slapstick but I am not sure how essential they are to the plot and how much was an attempt to get a better running time.
Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin (1997)
Classic Pooh great grins for everyone Not a money grab rip off of an original
I just got the DVD for my 2 and a half yr old daughter. She loves the silly Ole bear as much as I did as a kid. With all of the sequels to really great classic Disney movies, you would think that the newer pooh would be really awful. (see the book of Pooh for example), however there is not a huge difference between this title and the academy award winning short: Winnie The Pooh and the Blustery Day, which is a bonus feature on the DVD. Rabbits singing voice sounds a bit forced and squeaky, But this isn't American Idol. My daughter sits and watches this one instead of checking in on it while playing or getting into mischief. There are great quote lines, already listed in other reviews, and sight gags that make me laugh and keeps my kids grins and giggles going even in the scarier parts. I don't believe that even young kids will have trouble with nightmares. On the other hand I myself am a Stephen King reader and my daughter is used to seeing movies based on his works, She doesn't really watch with me but she comes in and out of the room without being scared. I guess I would be sure I knew my child and watch with them the first viewing or screen it yourself first if being lost in an unknown woods and strange monster growling (Poohs hungry for honey tummy) might scare them.
I just wish everyone at Disney would stay closer to Walts original vision. Hopefully The Search for Christopher Robin and Bambi 2 are signs of good things to come.