There's a lot to like about this movie, which we all watched together on Roxy's 41st birthday. The early 20th-century New England setting (Passamaquoddy!), the young boy Pete, who looks a lot like my son Sebastian; his resistance to his abusive adopted parents, and positive relationship with Nora; and the traveling healer/huckster/magician Dr. Terminus. The songs definitely added to the show, but were not particularly memorable. Maybe the show's greatest interest--ironically, given the live action remake--is its rare genre of mixed live-action and animated motion picture: beyond Pete's Dragon, the only other examples I can think are the much more famous Mary Poppins and Roger Rabbit. Here the animation is used to great effect because at first glance it suggests that Eliot the dragon isn't real, merely Pete's fantasy, his imaginary friend whom no one else can see: but we soon learn that everyone else can see the physical effects of Pete's actions. It invites us to put faith in children's imaginations, and movies which encourage them.
109 Reviews
Slow, but still magical
cricketbat1 June 2020
Pete's Dragon may be a little slow, but this memorable movie was one of my favorites when I was a child. What kid doesn't like to imagine having a magical dragon as a best friend? Plus, the songs are catchy, whimsical, and even touching. This is a Disney classic that should be revisited every so often.
Solid but forgotten Disney family fare
neil-47612 February 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Pete is a small boy running away from slavery with an abusive hillbilly family who have "bought" him. He falls in with an invisible dragon and a lighthouse keeper and his daughter, and assorted good and bad things happen.
This Disney offering is one of the more forgotten live action movies despite the fact that it has quite a lot going for it. It is colourful, daft, has a good moral heart, some excellent villains, decent songs, and decent effects (both physical effects and traditional animation).
The performances are all good, with Helen Reddy doing well in her only movie lead role, and young Sean Marshall's sincerity outweighing his winsome cuteness.
This is still a good family film.
This Disney offering is one of the more forgotten live action movies despite the fact that it has quite a lot going for it. It is colourful, daft, has a good moral heart, some excellent villains, decent songs, and decent effects (both physical effects and traditional animation).
The performances are all good, with Helen Reddy doing well in her only movie lead role, and young Sean Marshall's sincerity outweighing his winsome cuteness.
This is still a good family film.
What A Kids Movie Should Be
animalchain22 March 2004
Too many people spend too much time comparing Disney movies to each other, as if to say that every Disney movie made should unfold in such a way as to easily identify it as a "Disney Movie." That's a shame, as each movie should be judged on it's own contributions to the motion picture lexicon. Fortunately for Pete's Dragon, it contributes something that is essential and valuable to a child's world: fun.
There's nothing too serious in Pete's Dragon. Granted, the catalyst for the action in the film is a boy running away from an abusive family, only to encounter an equally abusive society (not to mention a scheming charlatan who wants to capture - and kill - Pete's Dragon for his own monetary gain), but all involved in the production are aware that their target audience is children, and so all of the aforementioned is handled with kid gloves. The best example of this is the acting.
The cast does their best to have fun with their character and, as such, contributes greatly to the light-hearted tone of the film. In particular, the villains are played with great, over-the-top gusto, which is exactly what is needed in a kids movie. You want to teach children a lesson, not scare the crap out of them. As such, Shelley Winters as Ma Gogan and Jim Dale as Doc Terminus are classic kiddie villains: Winters stomps through her scenes in a bluster of hilarious hillbilly kookiness, while Dale steals every scene he's in - and nearly the whole show - in a deliciously maniacal role that should have one him an oscar - seriously!
Any actor can bring on the tears and boo-hoo their way through an "emotionally intense" role; they're a dime a dozen. It takes a real actor to come up with the kind of performance Dale did, in which every line of dialogue is nailed, and his voice and his body seem to be in completely in synch with each other and with the character. There is not one word left untouched by his genius. Especially fun are his interactions with his sidekick, Hoagy, played by Red Buttons. The two are perfect comic foils. They are no matches, however, for the straight-shooting Nora.
Nora (Helen Reddy), along with her father Lampie (Mickey Rooney) tend to the local lighthouse. It is in these two characters that children find their protectors. In any kids movie, there needs to be at least one character on screen with which children can find comfort and solace. Reddy plays Nora as a down-to-earth, take no bull lady who becomes a mother figure to Pete. Rooney plays Lampie as a drunken old coot who rides the fence about Pete until about halfway through, at which time he, too, joins the side of good. There's a lesson in this movie for adults, too.
Nora and Lampie both learn a little about life from Pete. Nora had decided to keep people at arm's length for fear of losing them (as she did her beau, a seaman who was lost at sea). Through her encounters with Pete, she learns to open up and allow love back into her life, this time in the form of motherly love. Lampie, too, becomes attached to the kid, and, throughout the process of his daughter and Pete bonding, learns that there's more to life than the bottle: there's family. These, really, are important lessons for adults, and ones that are never dated, rather, always applicable to any time and place. So is the lesson for children.
At the heart of Pete's Dragon is a simple message for children: hold tight to all that is right, no matter how bad life gets, and good things will come. Pete escapes a horrid life slaving away for the wretched Gogan family, only to run into the arms of a civilized society that looks down on him because of he's an outsider. He's anything but welcomed, and when things start going wrong, he's the first one to be blamed. No matter how hard he tries, society won't believe him, or accept him. He could easily make the wrong choice: give in and become the ruffian they all think he is or, worse, do what society did to him, and turn his back on his friend, Elliot, who is partly to blame for Pete's predicament, as he pulls pranks while he's invisible, leaving Pete to take the rap. In the end, his perseverance pays off: the town embraces him and he gets a family. This lesson is learned, as is to be expected in a musical, with a song and a dance.
The musical numbers are by far the weakest element in the movie. The songs are simple, yet they work (believe me, after you watch the movie, you'll find yourself spontaneously singing the choruses the next day). The dancing is the most difficult to digest, as it is often stiff and pointless. That's okay, though, as the story and the acting more than make up for it. When all is said and done, Pete's Dragon is everything a kids movie should be: educating and entertaining.
There's nothing too serious in Pete's Dragon. Granted, the catalyst for the action in the film is a boy running away from an abusive family, only to encounter an equally abusive society (not to mention a scheming charlatan who wants to capture - and kill - Pete's Dragon for his own monetary gain), but all involved in the production are aware that their target audience is children, and so all of the aforementioned is handled with kid gloves. The best example of this is the acting.
The cast does their best to have fun with their character and, as such, contributes greatly to the light-hearted tone of the film. In particular, the villains are played with great, over-the-top gusto, which is exactly what is needed in a kids movie. You want to teach children a lesson, not scare the crap out of them. As such, Shelley Winters as Ma Gogan and Jim Dale as Doc Terminus are classic kiddie villains: Winters stomps through her scenes in a bluster of hilarious hillbilly kookiness, while Dale steals every scene he's in - and nearly the whole show - in a deliciously maniacal role that should have one him an oscar - seriously!
Any actor can bring on the tears and boo-hoo their way through an "emotionally intense" role; they're a dime a dozen. It takes a real actor to come up with the kind of performance Dale did, in which every line of dialogue is nailed, and his voice and his body seem to be in completely in synch with each other and with the character. There is not one word left untouched by his genius. Especially fun are his interactions with his sidekick, Hoagy, played by Red Buttons. The two are perfect comic foils. They are no matches, however, for the straight-shooting Nora.
Nora (Helen Reddy), along with her father Lampie (Mickey Rooney) tend to the local lighthouse. It is in these two characters that children find their protectors. In any kids movie, there needs to be at least one character on screen with which children can find comfort and solace. Reddy plays Nora as a down-to-earth, take no bull lady who becomes a mother figure to Pete. Rooney plays Lampie as a drunken old coot who rides the fence about Pete until about halfway through, at which time he, too, joins the side of good. There's a lesson in this movie for adults, too.
Nora and Lampie both learn a little about life from Pete. Nora had decided to keep people at arm's length for fear of losing them (as she did her beau, a seaman who was lost at sea). Through her encounters with Pete, she learns to open up and allow love back into her life, this time in the form of motherly love. Lampie, too, becomes attached to the kid, and, throughout the process of his daughter and Pete bonding, learns that there's more to life than the bottle: there's family. These, really, are important lessons for adults, and ones that are never dated, rather, always applicable to any time and place. So is the lesson for children.
At the heart of Pete's Dragon is a simple message for children: hold tight to all that is right, no matter how bad life gets, and good things will come. Pete escapes a horrid life slaving away for the wretched Gogan family, only to run into the arms of a civilized society that looks down on him because of he's an outsider. He's anything but welcomed, and when things start going wrong, he's the first one to be blamed. No matter how hard he tries, society won't believe him, or accept him. He could easily make the wrong choice: give in and become the ruffian they all think he is or, worse, do what society did to him, and turn his back on his friend, Elliot, who is partly to blame for Pete's predicament, as he pulls pranks while he's invisible, leaving Pete to take the rap. In the end, his perseverance pays off: the town embraces him and he gets a family. This lesson is learned, as is to be expected in a musical, with a song and a dance.
The musical numbers are by far the weakest element in the movie. The songs are simple, yet they work (believe me, after you watch the movie, you'll find yourself spontaneously singing the choruses the next day). The dancing is the most difficult to digest, as it is often stiff and pointless. That's okay, though, as the story and the acting more than make up for it. When all is said and done, Pete's Dragon is everything a kids movie should be: educating and entertaining.
Amusing and entertaining film that combines live adventure with animation
ma-cortes3 April 2011
Endearing animated monster movie about a lively dragon and his little friend . The story takes place in Maine circa 1908 , the starring are an orphaned 9-years-old boy named Pete (Sean Marshall) and his sympathetic dragon Elliot . Freckly Pete flee the overbearing foster Gogan family (Shelley Winters , Charles Tyner), who all utilize him as a slave instead of a kind child. When Pete can successfully escape from them with his protective dragon , his only friend , that only can see , then they stumble into the town of Passamaquaddy- an ocean front dock town plenty of fishermen, drunks and rare people . Pete's arrival does not fit well with the townsfolk , as his pale green dragon Elliott accidentally causes town destruction and rioting among the school teacher , the Mayor (Jim Backus) , the citizens , among others . Expecting to be an outcast yet again, Pete is cared by the loved Nora (Helen Reddy) who lives in a lighthouse with her daddy Lampy (Mickey Rooney ). And when a phony con disguising as a Dr. Terminus (Jim Dale) and his pal (Red Buttons) arrive in the little town , they see Elliott the Dragon as the ultimate profit to his fortune and money.
Enjoyable story that mingles animation with live action . This is a likable sort of a kiddies' adaptation of ¨Harvey¨ and another attempt for repeat the Mary Poppins magic . The dragon Elliott steals the show , as itself grins, grunts and botchers around.The primitive but efficient animation is by Don Bluth who subsequently would direct successes as Nimh , Anastasia and Titan A.E. .Colorful and evocative cinematography by cameraman Frank Philips . Agreeable choreography and beautiful songs and musical score by Irwin Kostal. The motion picture is professionally directed by Don Chaffey (Jason and the Argonauts, Lassie , million years B.C ).The children will get a kick out of this Disney musical . Rating : Acceptable and passable.
Enjoyable story that mingles animation with live action . This is a likable sort of a kiddies' adaptation of ¨Harvey¨ and another attempt for repeat the Mary Poppins magic . The dragon Elliott steals the show , as itself grins, grunts and botchers around.The primitive but efficient animation is by Don Bluth who subsequently would direct successes as Nimh , Anastasia and Titan A.E. .Colorful and evocative cinematography by cameraman Frank Philips . Agreeable choreography and beautiful songs and musical score by Irwin Kostal. The motion picture is professionally directed by Don Chaffey (Jason and the Argonauts, Lassie , million years B.C ).The children will get a kick out of this Disney musical . Rating : Acceptable and passable.
The Best Disney Dragon
afonsobritofalves13 September 2018
Live-action Disney flick with a splash of animation. Well-made, entertaining, but slightly overlong.
barnabyrudge11 January 2005
You can be fairly sure with the animated Disney films that you're going to get something good. But with the studio's live-action films there are no guarantees. On the one hand, you might get something like Mary Poppins or 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea - in which case you'd be plenty satisfied. On the other hand you could get something as terrible as Popeye, in which case you'd need a great deal of willpower to make it to the end. Pete's Dragon is one of Disney's live-action ventures (though it features one animated character in Elliot, the dragon of the title). Though a little overlong and rambling, it is on the whole a well-made and entertaining film, and it is certainly a gulf ahead of the likes of Condorman, Popeye and Herbie Goes Bananas.
Scruffy young orphan Pete (Sean Marshall) is on the run in the woodland of Maine from the Gogan family, a bunch of abusive rednecks led by Lena Gogan (Shelly Winters), who claims that she owns Pete because she bought him at a market. Pete escapes from them, and sets off for Passamaquoddy, a nearby coastal town where he hopes to find safety. Accompanying Pete is an animated dragon named Elliot, who can make himself invisible and who has come to look after Pete until the kid has got his life sorted out. Once in Passamaquoddy, Pete and Elliot inadvertently cause havoc, including scaring the wits out of lighthouse-keeper Lampie (Mickey Rooney). They hide out in some nearby caves, but Pete is found by Lampie's daughter Nora (Helen Reddy), who decides to take him in. Elliot's job seems done (Pete is now safe and wanted, after all) but then con-man Dr. Terminus (Jim Dale) arrives in town.... and soon he's got his mind set on capturing the dragon.
Like I said, the film is rambling, and from this synopsis it's clear that the plot wanders around a lot, introducing probably more events and characters than necessary. Nonetheless, Pete's Dragon is still entertaining. Jim Dale as the unscrupulous Dr Terminus, and Red Buttons as his dim side-kick, are genuinely funny villains. The blending together of animated Elliot and the living, breathing actors is very good - especially for 1977 - though in a shipwreck sequence near the end the special effects are utterly dreadful. Kids will find a lot to like in Pete's Dragon as long as they can sit still for over 2 hours, and adults too will find pleasures along the way. It's certainly one of the better live-action offerings to come from the Disney studio at a time when their output was quite indifferent in quality.
Scruffy young orphan Pete (Sean Marshall) is on the run in the woodland of Maine from the Gogan family, a bunch of abusive rednecks led by Lena Gogan (Shelly Winters), who claims that she owns Pete because she bought him at a market. Pete escapes from them, and sets off for Passamaquoddy, a nearby coastal town where he hopes to find safety. Accompanying Pete is an animated dragon named Elliot, who can make himself invisible and who has come to look after Pete until the kid has got his life sorted out. Once in Passamaquoddy, Pete and Elliot inadvertently cause havoc, including scaring the wits out of lighthouse-keeper Lampie (Mickey Rooney). They hide out in some nearby caves, but Pete is found by Lampie's daughter Nora (Helen Reddy), who decides to take him in. Elliot's job seems done (Pete is now safe and wanted, after all) but then con-man Dr. Terminus (Jim Dale) arrives in town.... and soon he's got his mind set on capturing the dragon.
Like I said, the film is rambling, and from this synopsis it's clear that the plot wanders around a lot, introducing probably more events and characters than necessary. Nonetheless, Pete's Dragon is still entertaining. Jim Dale as the unscrupulous Dr Terminus, and Red Buttons as his dim side-kick, are genuinely funny villains. The blending together of animated Elliot and the living, breathing actors is very good - especially for 1977 - though in a shipwreck sequence near the end the special effects are utterly dreadful. Kids will find a lot to like in Pete's Dragon as long as they can sit still for over 2 hours, and adults too will find pleasures along the way. It's certainly one of the better live-action offerings to come from the Disney studio at a time when their output was quite indifferent in quality.
Strenuously magical...and what happened to Elliott?
moonspinner5525 November 2006
Musical opus from director Don Chaffey and the Disney Studios mixes animation with live-action in the possible hope of creating another "Mary Poppins". Plot concerns turn-of-the-century orphan (Sean Marshall, who is both too old and too modern) escaping from villains with help from a lighthouse keeper, his daughter, and a goofy 50-foot dragon (who mostly stays invisible!). Harmless family film isn't especially inventive or witty, opening with a big production number featuring Shelley Winters dressed as a singing hag. The infrequent animated dragon may lure youngsters, but the picture seldom comes together and is woefully overlong. Another piece of heavy-handed whimsy from mid-'70s Disney. *1/2 from ****
Originals are Better
Hollywood_Yoda14 August 2016
With the release of the newly updated version out this past Friday, I wanted to write about the original Disney masterpiece, Petes Dragon. It was a great memory as a child, watching this magical film and singing the songs. I realize that not everyone is a fan of musicals or Disney films in general, but this was one of the last true musicals, up there with Bedknobs and Broomsticks and Mary Poppins.
I like the original, it has depth and feeling. Remakes just make me feel like I'm paying for a story I already know. Some remakes can be good, but the original Petes Dragon isn't even that old of a film. And I know Disney has a history of remaking a lot of their own films, but Petes Dragon? It's a classic.
This film has so many memorable moments, from the characters to the sets to the music. Mickey Rooney as Lampie was great, probably his most remembered role ever. And Helen Reddy as Nora was excellent, and her song Candle on the Water is beautiful. And Doc Terminus, played by Jim Dale was hilarious and charming. He is a real treat to watch in any Disney film.
If you love Disney films, watch the classic and give it credit where it's due.
I like the original, it has depth and feeling. Remakes just make me feel like I'm paying for a story I already know. Some remakes can be good, but the original Petes Dragon isn't even that old of a film. And I know Disney has a history of remaking a lot of their own films, but Petes Dragon? It's a classic.
This film has so many memorable moments, from the characters to the sets to the music. Mickey Rooney as Lampie was great, probably his most remembered role ever. And Helen Reddy as Nora was excellent, and her song Candle on the Water is beautiful. And Doc Terminus, played by Jim Dale was hilarious and charming. He is a real treat to watch in any Disney film.
If you love Disney films, watch the classic and give it credit where it's due.
Do not Watch the Streaming/DVD/Bluray version!
GuilhermeOggioni23 June 2023
This enchanting film that marked the childhood of many was tragically damaged by Disney, where 20 minutes of the film was removed in releases from 2000 onwards.
Therefore, if you want to watch the true version that this film deserves to be watched, look for the VHS version containing 129 minutes.
Disney completely recut the film to omit scenes that would not fit the present day, damaging the work as a whole and its continuity. While some scenes may not be considered appropriate for today's world, the film should be seen as a product of its time. Altering the work detracts from the artistic and creative vision that was executed by the director in the film's original release.
Therefore, if you want to watch the true version that this film deserves to be watched, look for the VHS version containing 129 minutes.
Disney completely recut the film to omit scenes that would not fit the present day, damaging the work as a whole and its continuity. While some scenes may not be considered appropriate for today's world, the film should be seen as a product of its time. Altering the work detracts from the artistic and creative vision that was executed by the director in the film's original release.
Too overbearing if you're over 7 years old.
gridoon20 October 2002
I completely agree with Leonard Maltin's review for this film: the animated dragon is indeed a charming character, but when he's off-screen, watch out! Most of the actors (but especially the nauseatingly cute kid and the seriously neurotic Mickey Rooney) seem to be participating in an overacting competition. When Shelley Winters is not even the most over-the-top person in a film, you know you're in trouble. In short, this is STRICTLY for kids. Leave the room and let them see it alone. (**)
One of the best underrated live-action Disney films
Atreyu_II23 January 2008
"Pete's Dragon" is an enchanting Disney tale that combines live-action and animation. The dragon is the only animated character, but that doesn't change the fact that this is a perfect combination of live-action and animation. This is definitely one of the best live-action movies produced by Disney. One of my favorites. It's cute and charming.
It looks dated, but that's not a major flaw. Actually, that's part of its charm (which is timeless). There are plenty of beautiful vistas: a lighthouse, mountains, green places, the endless sea and more. Passamaquoddy is a strange name, but the village is nice.
The dragon Elliott is cute and lovable. He almost resembles Puff the Magic Dragon and has a funny way to communicate. His sounds are awesome. Elliott is a good and innocent dragon, but big and clumsy. Pete is a cute and lovable kid. I enjoy his friendship with the animated dragon.
There is a nice cast in the film. Sean Marshall is excellent as Pete - he is a very underrated former child actor. Helen Reddy is great as Nora. Mickey Rooney is funny as the silly but comical Lampie. Jim Dale is priceless as Doc Terminus. Red Buttons is very convincing as Doc Terminus's sidekick Hoagy. Shelley Winters plays well her role (the wicked Lena Gogan, the leader of the Gogans).
This is an underrated film. Yet, it's a nice old-fashioned one. And nostalgic too because it's a reminder of other times and also of my own childhood.
There are some cheesy moments, but nothing too serious or enough to ruin the movie. One of the few things I don't like about this movie is Pete's teacher. She is so mean, even more when she does that corporal punishment thing to Pete.
Hoagy is one of my favorite characters. I don't consider him a villain. He's not a bad guy, he's just a poor devil who chose the wrong friend. He is hilarious even in his name. I don't know why, but 'Hoagy' sounds funny to my ears. Classic humor is another solid point of this movie. Many of Doc Terminus's lines are funny, as well as the fact that he never says "Passamaquoddy" correctly.
About the songs, I like most of them very much. My personal favorites are "Brazzle Dazzle Day", "It's not easy", "Candle on the Water", "Boo Bop Bopbop Bop (I love you, too)", "There's Room for Everyone" and "Bill of Sale". These songs are great. Timeless classics.
This motion picture is one among many examples of great underrated films. Many times I get more surprised with a less popular and less appreciated film than with one of those films that most everybody loves. It doesn't always happen, but most of the universally loved films end up being overrated and turn out to be disappointing because we create too much expectations on them, while a not so known and valued movie I may not expect that much from it but turns out to be a pleasant surprise. That only makes me respect and admire these less valued movies even more.
This should definitely be on Top 250.
It looks dated, but that's not a major flaw. Actually, that's part of its charm (which is timeless). There are plenty of beautiful vistas: a lighthouse, mountains, green places, the endless sea and more. Passamaquoddy is a strange name, but the village is nice.
The dragon Elliott is cute and lovable. He almost resembles Puff the Magic Dragon and has a funny way to communicate. His sounds are awesome. Elliott is a good and innocent dragon, but big and clumsy. Pete is a cute and lovable kid. I enjoy his friendship with the animated dragon.
There is a nice cast in the film. Sean Marshall is excellent as Pete - he is a very underrated former child actor. Helen Reddy is great as Nora. Mickey Rooney is funny as the silly but comical Lampie. Jim Dale is priceless as Doc Terminus. Red Buttons is very convincing as Doc Terminus's sidekick Hoagy. Shelley Winters plays well her role (the wicked Lena Gogan, the leader of the Gogans).
This is an underrated film. Yet, it's a nice old-fashioned one. And nostalgic too because it's a reminder of other times and also of my own childhood.
There are some cheesy moments, but nothing too serious or enough to ruin the movie. One of the few things I don't like about this movie is Pete's teacher. She is so mean, even more when she does that corporal punishment thing to Pete.
Hoagy is one of my favorite characters. I don't consider him a villain. He's not a bad guy, he's just a poor devil who chose the wrong friend. He is hilarious even in his name. I don't know why, but 'Hoagy' sounds funny to my ears. Classic humor is another solid point of this movie. Many of Doc Terminus's lines are funny, as well as the fact that he never says "Passamaquoddy" correctly.
About the songs, I like most of them very much. My personal favorites are "Brazzle Dazzle Day", "It's not easy", "Candle on the Water", "Boo Bop Bopbop Bop (I love you, too)", "There's Room for Everyone" and "Bill of Sale". These songs are great. Timeless classics.
This motion picture is one among many examples of great underrated films. Many times I get more surprised with a less popular and less appreciated film than with one of those films that most everybody loves. It doesn't always happen, but most of the universally loved films end up being overrated and turn out to be disappointing because we create too much expectations on them, while a not so known and valued movie I may not expect that much from it but turns out to be a pleasant surprise. That only makes me respect and admire these less valued movies even more.
This should definitely be on Top 250.
Disney's live action mixed with animation with a dragon.
Aaron137527 February 2010
This is not Disney's first film to feature a mixture of live action and animation, but it was one of the few that I have seen. I enjoyed this movie a bit as a child, but mainly because I liked things like dragons and Godzilla movies. Granted this one features a rather friendly dragon, it still was fun for me to watch as a child. The songs though are a bit silly and not very good, the plot goes here and there a bit to much and it has one of those sad endings like a lot of Disney movies from this era seemed to have (though nothing compares to the ending of "Old Yeller"). The story has a boy who is befriended by a dragon and at the start of the film he is trying to escape his strange family. He is an orphan and I think he is basically a foster child as they have a bill of sale on him so it is almost a case of him being a slave. Well he ends up in a town where he is taken in by a local who happens to live in a lighthouse. Her husband I believe is out to sea at the moment and this sets up a plot point that occurs during the end of the film. Pete gets in all sorts of trouble thanks to his dragon at times, but the dragon also gets Pete out of trouble at times as well and really comes through in the end. There is also a plot point involving a sort of medicine man who actually sees the dragon at one point and wants to chop him up and use him in potions. The dragon is invisible for a lot of the film and this is why Pete gets in so much trouble because of him. It has its moments, but it is kind of lame and sappy at the same time.
Another Poor Disney Offering
Theo Robertson4 January 2005
In my review of THE CAT FROM OUTER SPACE I mentioned that that the Disney studio were chugging out a lot of rather poor family orientated movies in the mid to late 1970s and PETE'S DRAGON is another example What struck me is once again relatively poor production values . Watch 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA to see a Disney movie made by master craftsmen who love their art and compare it to this movie which feels like it was churned out in order to simply fill some Summer schedule .
The film is too brightly lit for one thing and as for the cast .... well Mickey Rooney was a big name but that was when no one made movie in colour , equally Red Buttons had been appearing in not very good disaster movies while Jim Dale as a con man selling snake oil to gullible customers isn't exactly the most memorable villain seen in a Disney film . It should also be pointed out that a movie that has a friendly dragon seems doomed from failure from the start . Say what you like about REIGN OF FIRE but at least in that film we saw dragons do what dragons are supposed to do and that's burn people to death with their fiery breath .
PETE'S DRAGON can't be described as being charming or innocent , it can only be described as naive and that's not a compliment
The film is too brightly lit for one thing and as for the cast .... well Mickey Rooney was a big name but that was when no one made movie in colour , equally Red Buttons had been appearing in not very good disaster movies while Jim Dale as a con man selling snake oil to gullible customers isn't exactly the most memorable villain seen in a Disney film . It should also be pointed out that a movie that has a friendly dragon seems doomed from failure from the start . Say what you like about REIGN OF FIRE but at least in that film we saw dragons do what dragons are supposed to do and that's burn people to death with their fiery breath .
PETE'S DRAGON can't be described as being charming or innocent , it can only be described as naive and that's not a compliment
One of my childhood favorites.
pfalvey50021 February 2002
Though it has the words "Walt Disney's Classic" above the title on most of its video incarnations, this charming story of a boy and his pet dragon gets overlooked more often than not when lists are made about people's favorite Disney films. And though it's always on mine - I can understand why.
A. It's too long and slow. At over two hours, the movie is paced like an elephant moving through a vat of mud. Long sections drag - 30 minutes could have been cut and no one would really notice.
B. Technical merits are dire. Though everyone in it speaks English and the film is in English, it appears some post production work has been done as the voices and mouths don't always match up completely, and foley noise is overemphasized. Also, the mixture of live action and animation is pretty rough - though technically good for the time, one can see the strings and seams showing almost always, and there is no doubt the actors are reacting to air.
C. Speaking of actors - the acting is terrible. The cast overacts with glee, and Sean Marshall, as young Pete, has the dubious distinction of being a poor actor AND singer. Not a good thing when he is given most of the major songs.
But all this aside, I LOVE this movie. I remember when VHS was new and we used to rent this movie every weekend and I would watch it four or five times. The songs never fail to touch me or move me to sing along even today. "Candle on the Water," "Brazzle Dazzle Day" and the rest get me every time, and I will often slip this movie in as a pick me up.
It's one of my most treasured DVDs. And in this high tech era of family filmmaking, if you haven't seen this film - rent it, and return to a time when "kids films" were about the story, the songs, and imagination.
A. It's too long and slow. At over two hours, the movie is paced like an elephant moving through a vat of mud. Long sections drag - 30 minutes could have been cut and no one would really notice.
B. Technical merits are dire. Though everyone in it speaks English and the film is in English, it appears some post production work has been done as the voices and mouths don't always match up completely, and foley noise is overemphasized. Also, the mixture of live action and animation is pretty rough - though technically good for the time, one can see the strings and seams showing almost always, and there is no doubt the actors are reacting to air.
C. Speaking of actors - the acting is terrible. The cast overacts with glee, and Sean Marshall, as young Pete, has the dubious distinction of being a poor actor AND singer. Not a good thing when he is given most of the major songs.
But all this aside, I LOVE this movie. I remember when VHS was new and we used to rent this movie every weekend and I would watch it four or five times. The songs never fail to touch me or move me to sing along even today. "Candle on the Water," "Brazzle Dazzle Day" and the rest get me every time, and I will often slip this movie in as a pick me up.
It's one of my most treasured DVDs. And in this high tech era of family filmmaking, if you haven't seen this film - rent it, and return to a time when "kids films" were about the story, the songs, and imagination.
An inoffensive family film
freemantle_uk30 May 2020
The original Pete's Dragon is one of those films that a lot of people have nostalgic feelings for. I only watched it as an adult and I can honestly say it was a sweet family film. The humour was clearly designed for children and the child acting was questionable, but these issues were overcome by Pete's friendship with Elliot, Pete getting accepted by a family and the double conflict of Pete's abusive adopted family trying to take back Pete, and Dr. Terminus trying to capture the dragon. There were plenty of solid song and dance numbers to please fans of Disney style musicals.
fine 70's kiddie Disney
SnoopyStyle22 December 2017
Orphan boy Pete has only his giant cartoon dragon friend Elliott who can make himself invisible. He runs away from his foster hillbilly family Gogans who claims to own him. He arrives in the coastal town of Passamaquoddy, Maine. Elliott appears to drunken Lampie (Mickey Rooney). Nobody believes him including his daughter Nora who lives with him in the lighthouse. Nora takes in Pete while Elliott stays in the local caves. Dr. Terminus and his sidekick Hoagy (Red Buttons) come to town peddling their quark cures.
There is a charm in 70's kiddie Disney which isn't really classic Disney. They often feel old fashion and childish. There may not be anything groundbreaking but it has an innocence about them like they're too naive to renew the genre. There are no great songs in this but it's nice music. I really love invisible Elliott wrecking havoc on the town. It's all very nice but strictly for a kiddie audience.
There is a charm in 70's kiddie Disney which isn't really classic Disney. They often feel old fashion and childish. There may not be anything groundbreaking but it has an innocence about them like they're too naive to renew the genre. There are no great songs in this but it's nice music. I really love invisible Elliott wrecking havoc on the town. It's all very nice but strictly for a kiddie audience.
Disney puts its money where its mouth is
Neonsamurai4 October 2002
I love dragons! I think they're great, and I think it's all probably because of this fun-filled Disney movie. Now I'm not normally one to sing the praises of Disney films but this time I have to tip my cap to them. Why? Well, this film does exactly what it says on the box. It's about this boy called Pete who has an invisible dragon for a friend. Wonderful!
Okay, so the dragon is invisible, but we do get to see him from time to time and he's quite a funny fellow too! But, there are a lot of other films out there who love to insinuate that there'll be a dragon somewhere in the movie; Red Dragon, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Enter the Dragon, The Last Dragon and the list goes on. But guess what? No dragons!
When will Hollywood learn that they can't keep cheating the movie going public, with blatant misnaming of their films? Imagine if I'd taken my 8-year-old son to watch Red Dragon? Can you imagine how upset and traumatised he'd be, when by the end of the film there was no dragon? Come on Ridley Scott, if you want to see how to make a proper dragon movie, I suggest you watch Pete's Dragon and learn something about filmmaking!
Okay, so the dragon is invisible, but we do get to see him from time to time and he's quite a funny fellow too! But, there are a lot of other films out there who love to insinuate that there'll be a dragon somewhere in the movie; Red Dragon, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Enter the Dragon, The Last Dragon and the list goes on. But guess what? No dragons!
When will Hollywood learn that they can't keep cheating the movie going public, with blatant misnaming of their films? Imagine if I'd taken my 8-year-old son to watch Red Dragon? Can you imagine how upset and traumatised he'd be, when by the end of the film there was no dragon? Come on Ridley Scott, if you want to see how to make a proper dragon movie, I suggest you watch Pete's Dragon and learn something about filmmaking!
Generally unsatisfactory musical numbers blend in with the other major flaws
Beta_Gallinger16 April 2011
I remember at one point in my childhood, I heard about a movie called "Pete's Dragon", maybe when it was about to come on TV, and also remember seeing some of it, though I can't remember how much I saw. There was another part of the film I remember seeing some years later (the part where the Dr. Terminus character manages to win over the initially angry people), but I didn't know what movie I was seeing. After many years, I could still remember the title of this mostly live action Disney film (but one with a cartoon dragon), and finally decided to watch it from start to finish this week. It's far from one of the most highly regarded Disney productions in the long history of the company, and I wasn't expecting it to be among the great ones, but I was expecting it to be better than I found it to be, which is not good at all for the most part.
With the help of his magical dragon, Elliott, a young orphaned boy named Pete manages to escape from his cruel adoptive family, the Gogans, but they are still determined to find him somehow or other. The boy and his dragon friend travel together and soon come to a village called Passamaquoddy. Before they enter, Pete tells Elliott that he must make himself invisible (a magical power of his) in order to avoid scaring the people, so the dragon reluctantly does so, but even in his invisible form, he soon causes a lot of trouble in the village, and since nobody can see him, it looks like Pete is responsible! After Pete gets away from an angry mob and Elliott scares Lampie, the drunken lighthouse keeper, the two of them go to a cave near the lighthouse, where Nora, Lampie's daughter, finds Pete and decides to give him shelter in her home. He often talks to her about Elliott, and she doesn't believe that this dragon actually exists, but plays along. Unfortunately, the dragon continues to cause trouble for Pete, and the village of Passamaquoddy has another problem when medicine showman Dr. Terminus and his assistant, Hoagy, are back to swindle the villagers again with their fraudulent formulas!
This live action/animation crossover is a musical, and unfortunately, the songs generally don't have much effect. I think this already shows with the first song, sung by the Gogans as they pursue Pete, but it gets worse after the boy and his dragon friend get away from them and we hear the next musical number, "Boo Bop Bopbop Bop (I Love You, Too)". During this song, I felt like I was watching something strictly for the very young. Basically, the rest of the songs also fail, including the "I Saw a Dragon" one featured in the part where Lampie tells the people in the tavern what he saw, a notably clumsy segment of the film. The musical numbers are only one of the significant flaws in the film. Most of the cast performances failed to impress me, especially Jane Kean overacting in the role of Miss Taylor, the strict teacher of the village. It doesn't seem that Sean Marshall, who plays the title character, was a very good child actor. "Pete's Dragon" does have some pretty funny parts, but not enough to make it really work as a comedy, either. Also, while I certainly didn't find myself not caring what happened to any of the characters, I still didn't find most of the story too entertaining for some reason, but that might have been largely because of the other problems.
This is a mainly live action family musical, and maybe I'm not usually into movies like this, but that hasn't stopped me from finding "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory", a live action family musical from six years before this one, to be a great film, so it's definitely not like "Pete's Dragon" would look bad to me regardless of quality. This particular Disney piece came out the same year as "The Rescuers", an all animated feature which disappointed me when I first saw it last year (I actually found its 1990 sequel, "The Rescuers Down Under", to be much better, as rare as that is with sequels and as much as many Disney fans would probably disagree), but even that film I found to be better than this very lacklustre live action/animation crossover. I gave "Pete's Dragon" a try, and realize that it has a following (not a huge one, but it is a following), but simply put, I just didn't like it. I guess I can still recommend it for kids and won't say adults should avoid it at all costs, but I also still think there are good reasons for all the criticism.
With the help of his magical dragon, Elliott, a young orphaned boy named Pete manages to escape from his cruel adoptive family, the Gogans, but they are still determined to find him somehow or other. The boy and his dragon friend travel together and soon come to a village called Passamaquoddy. Before they enter, Pete tells Elliott that he must make himself invisible (a magical power of his) in order to avoid scaring the people, so the dragon reluctantly does so, but even in his invisible form, he soon causes a lot of trouble in the village, and since nobody can see him, it looks like Pete is responsible! After Pete gets away from an angry mob and Elliott scares Lampie, the drunken lighthouse keeper, the two of them go to a cave near the lighthouse, where Nora, Lampie's daughter, finds Pete and decides to give him shelter in her home. He often talks to her about Elliott, and she doesn't believe that this dragon actually exists, but plays along. Unfortunately, the dragon continues to cause trouble for Pete, and the village of Passamaquoddy has another problem when medicine showman Dr. Terminus and his assistant, Hoagy, are back to swindle the villagers again with their fraudulent formulas!
This live action/animation crossover is a musical, and unfortunately, the songs generally don't have much effect. I think this already shows with the first song, sung by the Gogans as they pursue Pete, but it gets worse after the boy and his dragon friend get away from them and we hear the next musical number, "Boo Bop Bopbop Bop (I Love You, Too)". During this song, I felt like I was watching something strictly for the very young. Basically, the rest of the songs also fail, including the "I Saw a Dragon" one featured in the part where Lampie tells the people in the tavern what he saw, a notably clumsy segment of the film. The musical numbers are only one of the significant flaws in the film. Most of the cast performances failed to impress me, especially Jane Kean overacting in the role of Miss Taylor, the strict teacher of the village. It doesn't seem that Sean Marshall, who plays the title character, was a very good child actor. "Pete's Dragon" does have some pretty funny parts, but not enough to make it really work as a comedy, either. Also, while I certainly didn't find myself not caring what happened to any of the characters, I still didn't find most of the story too entertaining for some reason, but that might have been largely because of the other problems.
This is a mainly live action family musical, and maybe I'm not usually into movies like this, but that hasn't stopped me from finding "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory", a live action family musical from six years before this one, to be a great film, so it's definitely not like "Pete's Dragon" would look bad to me regardless of quality. This particular Disney piece came out the same year as "The Rescuers", an all animated feature which disappointed me when I first saw it last year (I actually found its 1990 sequel, "The Rescuers Down Under", to be much better, as rare as that is with sequels and as much as many Disney fans would probably disagree), but even that film I found to be better than this very lacklustre live action/animation crossover. I gave "Pete's Dragon" a try, and realize that it has a following (not a huge one, but it is a following), but simply put, I just didn't like it. I guess I can still recommend it for kids and won't say adults should avoid it at all costs, but I also still think there are good reasons for all the criticism.
Love this Movie
velacortavia15 June 2020
One of my old favorites...
eeyorechica6 October 2005
I realize a lot of people do not like this movie. When I first saw all of the negative reviews, I was shocked, because this is one of my favorite movies. I love the music, the characters, and the use of animation and live action (which I found incredibly fascinating as a child). What I realize though, is that I grew up watching this movie, and a lot of others haven't.
Perhaps this is just the kind of movie that people have to see growing up to enjoy. I don't know if I'd like it so much or not if I watched it the first time as an adult. Let your kids see it now and ask them if they still like it in 15 years.
Perhaps this is just the kind of movie that people have to see growing up to enjoy. I don't know if I'd like it so much or not if I watched it the first time as an adult. Let your kids see it now and ask them if they still like it in 15 years.
Not Mary Poppins, not Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and not much of anything worthwhile
clydestuff9 February 2004
After having found success in earlier films such as Mary Poppins and Bedknobs And Broomsticks mixing live action with animation and musical numbers, Disney foisted this tale of a boy named Pete(Sean Marshall) and his Magic Dragon on us. They should have stopped with Mary Poppins.
Pete is a young lad who's run away from the family that bought him(I think it may have been from an orphanage, details are sketchy)as their own personal slave. It seems Pete has taken up residence in a cave with the animated Dragon, Elliot(voice by Charlie Callas), who is also Pete's best and only friend. Only Pete can see the dragon because Elliott has this habit of making himself invisible whenever anyone but Pete is around. This also helped conveniently cut down on animation costs as well. I mention this because Pete's Dragon is also notable for the film that caused Don Bluth(animation director), who wasn't too pleased with the restraints of working on Pete's Dragon, to leave Disney and strike out on his own. Then again it could be Elliott just wants to hide from this mess of a film.
Nora(Helen Reddy), owns and operates a nearby lighthouse with her father Lampie(Mickey Rooney). Her husband, you see, has been lost at sea, so owning and operating a lighthouse is a good occupation for her if he ever decides to journey home. The lighthouse also enables songwriters Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn to throw in a song, so when Nora sings "I'll be your candle on the water" we are aware of it's double meaning. Cute.
Of course, Nora finds Pete, and takes him into her home. Since she can't see Elliott, we know that Nora will spend most of the film thinking Pete's invisible dragon is an imaginary playmate made up by Pete because he has no real family. Stir into all this the villainous Dr. Terminus(Jim Dale), who believes there is a dragon and wants to capture him for his own nefarious purposes. If that's not enough villainy for you, there's the Grogans headed by Lena Grogan(Shelley Winters) who "owns" Pete and comes looking for their lost property.
Having made her big screen debut three years earlier in a silly role as a nun in Airport 75, Helen Reddy tries to extend her acting chops in this film. She doesn't extend them very well, and the less said about it the better. As for her vocal talents, Reddy managed some good pop hits with songs like I Am Woman, Delta Dawn and Angie Baby, but her range is limited, and the awful songs she is given here only emphasize that fact.
The adults aren't the only offenders in this film. Sean Marshall as Pete demonstrates no acting ability, no singing ability, and isn't cute enough that we care to let those deficiencies slide by. In a duet called "Boobob bobbob bob (I love you too)" that he sings with Elliot, Elliot clearly overshadows him even though he's only required to sing the "Boobob bobbob bob" line.
Jim Dale is wicked enough as "Dr. Terminus" I suppose, though he plays it way over the top which seems to be a prerequisite of being a villain in a Disney film. You'll find his shtick more than a little annoying after a few minutes of his screen time.
There are a few good things in this film. The animated Elliot steals every scene he is in. When he is on the screen is about the only time the film comes alive. The film would have been a lot more fun and immensely more whimsical if they had done away with the invisibility bit and given the dragon more screen time. Since the film is called Pete's Dragon, one would have thought that would be a no brainer.
Shelley Winters seems to be having a lot of fun as the villain Lena Grogan. Next to Elliot, she gives the best performance of anyone associated with this production. She also has the best musical number in the film with a little ditty called "Bill of Sale". I would have voted to can Dr. Terminus and just have the film center around Lena and the Grogans as being the villains. Mickey Rooney as Lampie isn't too awful, playing the kind of outlandish character Mickey Rooney can do well. Let's face it, if it were Mickey Rooney playing Mickey Rooney we wouldn't have minded because that would have been infinitely more fun than anything else going on in this debacle. Maybe Lampie should have told his daughter Nora to get out of the house and get a life before the film started. Red Buttons as Hoagy, plays the same Red Buttons character he plays in almost every film since Sayonara. Everybody else in this film is there for window dressing.
As for the rest of the musical numbers, besides the ones I mentioned earlier, they are painful to listen to and sit through. How painful? They would make a Barney song sound like Beethoven.
If you have a child watching this film, they'll be entertained during those few moments when Elliot is on the screen. When he is not, they may become restless and revolt. Come to think of it, that about sums it up for adult viewers too.
My Grade D
Pete is a young lad who's run away from the family that bought him(I think it may have been from an orphanage, details are sketchy)as their own personal slave. It seems Pete has taken up residence in a cave with the animated Dragon, Elliot(voice by Charlie Callas), who is also Pete's best and only friend. Only Pete can see the dragon because Elliott has this habit of making himself invisible whenever anyone but Pete is around. This also helped conveniently cut down on animation costs as well. I mention this because Pete's Dragon is also notable for the film that caused Don Bluth(animation director), who wasn't too pleased with the restraints of working on Pete's Dragon, to leave Disney and strike out on his own. Then again it could be Elliott just wants to hide from this mess of a film.
Nora(Helen Reddy), owns and operates a nearby lighthouse with her father Lampie(Mickey Rooney). Her husband, you see, has been lost at sea, so owning and operating a lighthouse is a good occupation for her if he ever decides to journey home. The lighthouse also enables songwriters Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn to throw in a song, so when Nora sings "I'll be your candle on the water" we are aware of it's double meaning. Cute.
Of course, Nora finds Pete, and takes him into her home. Since she can't see Elliott, we know that Nora will spend most of the film thinking Pete's invisible dragon is an imaginary playmate made up by Pete because he has no real family. Stir into all this the villainous Dr. Terminus(Jim Dale), who believes there is a dragon and wants to capture him for his own nefarious purposes. If that's not enough villainy for you, there's the Grogans headed by Lena Grogan(Shelley Winters) who "owns" Pete and comes looking for their lost property.
Having made her big screen debut three years earlier in a silly role as a nun in Airport 75, Helen Reddy tries to extend her acting chops in this film. She doesn't extend them very well, and the less said about it the better. As for her vocal talents, Reddy managed some good pop hits with songs like I Am Woman, Delta Dawn and Angie Baby, but her range is limited, and the awful songs she is given here only emphasize that fact.
The adults aren't the only offenders in this film. Sean Marshall as Pete demonstrates no acting ability, no singing ability, and isn't cute enough that we care to let those deficiencies slide by. In a duet called "Boobob bobbob bob (I love you too)" that he sings with Elliot, Elliot clearly overshadows him even though he's only required to sing the "Boobob bobbob bob" line.
Jim Dale is wicked enough as "Dr. Terminus" I suppose, though he plays it way over the top which seems to be a prerequisite of being a villain in a Disney film. You'll find his shtick more than a little annoying after a few minutes of his screen time.
There are a few good things in this film. The animated Elliot steals every scene he is in. When he is on the screen is about the only time the film comes alive. The film would have been a lot more fun and immensely more whimsical if they had done away with the invisibility bit and given the dragon more screen time. Since the film is called Pete's Dragon, one would have thought that would be a no brainer.
Shelley Winters seems to be having a lot of fun as the villain Lena Grogan. Next to Elliot, she gives the best performance of anyone associated with this production. She also has the best musical number in the film with a little ditty called "Bill of Sale". I would have voted to can Dr. Terminus and just have the film center around Lena and the Grogans as being the villains. Mickey Rooney as Lampie isn't too awful, playing the kind of outlandish character Mickey Rooney can do well. Let's face it, if it were Mickey Rooney playing Mickey Rooney we wouldn't have minded because that would have been infinitely more fun than anything else going on in this debacle. Maybe Lampie should have told his daughter Nora to get out of the house and get a life before the film started. Red Buttons as Hoagy, plays the same Red Buttons character he plays in almost every film since Sayonara. Everybody else in this film is there for window dressing.
As for the rest of the musical numbers, besides the ones I mentioned earlier, they are painful to listen to and sit through. How painful? They would make a Barney song sound like Beethoven.
If you have a child watching this film, they'll be entertained during those few moments when Elliot is on the screen. When he is not, they may become restless and revolt. Come to think of it, that about sums it up for adult viewers too.
My Grade D
Not much to say, other than...
clm1270414 June 2012
This is one of the best musicals of all time, right up there with The Sound of Music. Yes, I have a lot of nostalgia as I had this on Betamax growing up and wore it out... but now I'm watching it with my own kids and they love it just like I did. This movie holds up and translates well to all generations.
The songs are fantastic, but my least favorite is the one it may be most known for (Candle on the water). Lampie... Doc Terminus... they're all just really, really good performances of well written songs.
It has everything a musical needs. Great acting, great singing, great choreography, great story, and a lot of heart. The live action/animation is really good for the time, so there's no reason to get hung up on that. Plus Elliot is awesome.
I honestly can't understand how this is under 9 stars.
The songs are fantastic, but my least favorite is the one it may be most known for (Candle on the water). Lampie... Doc Terminus... they're all just really, really good performances of well written songs.
It has everything a musical needs. Great acting, great singing, great choreography, great story, and a lot of heart. The live action/animation is really good for the time, so there's no reason to get hung up on that. Plus Elliot is awesome.
I honestly can't understand how this is under 9 stars.
A carefree, but long movie.
OllieSuave-0074 April 2014
In the tradition of Mary Poppins and Bedknobs and Brooksticks, this movie combines live action and animation, courtesy of the animated Pete's dragon friend called Elliott. Set in New England in the early 20th century, nine-year-old Pete escapes his abusive adoptive parents, the Gogans, with Elliott and journey to Passamaquoddy, Maine, where they indirectly cause of ruckus among the townspeople. Pete and Elliott are taken in by lighthouse keeper Nora (Helen Reddy) and her father, Lampie (Mickey Rooney), but Elliott is spotted by con artist Dr. Terminus (Jim Dale), who wants to use Elliott for fame.
The interaction between Pete and Elliott were quite touching and the special effects for animation and live action were neat. The location of the story - in the ocean/harbor sides of Maine - gives you a carefree and lazy-day feel, making you want to relax and contemplate things you've done in your life. The acting is a little off-the-wall, which coincided with a long, drawn-out and excitement-lacking plot that made this movie more on the boring side.
The song, "Candle on the Water," sung by Helen Reddy, is a breath of fresh air in the film - soothing and emotionally connecting that gives a strong message of treading on despite hard times.
Overall, this film is far too long for its lack of intrigue, and more on the whimsical side that is best left for the little kids to watch.
Grade C
The interaction between Pete and Elliott were quite touching and the special effects for animation and live action were neat. The location of the story - in the ocean/harbor sides of Maine - gives you a carefree and lazy-day feel, making you want to relax and contemplate things you've done in your life. The acting is a little off-the-wall, which coincided with a long, drawn-out and excitement-lacking plot that made this movie more on the boring side.
The song, "Candle on the Water," sung by Helen Reddy, is a breath of fresh air in the film - soothing and emotionally connecting that gives a strong message of treading on despite hard times.
Overall, this film is far too long for its lack of intrigue, and more on the whimsical side that is best left for the little kids to watch.
Grade C
Campy, Creepy Classic
smc7129 May 2007
I know I loved this movie as a child, but I can't really understand why. Of course, it is meant to appeal to children, so perhaps it's only natural that it's lost its ability to charm me. On the other hand, there are plenty of kids' movies that are fun for the grown-ups in their lives. I think the main problem with this one is that it just seems awfully dated. And creepy. Now that's one thing about it that has never changed.
For starters, there are the Gogans. I can watch Deliverance without breaking a sweat, but years after I first saw Pete's Dragon the Gogans still make me feel all icky. They are impossibly dirty hill-folk who want to enslave a young child. Their antics, I'm sure, are meant to have a cartoonish quality to them, but they fall short of that goal and land squarely in the realm of "unsettling."
The same is true of the way-over-the-top medicine show duo of Dr. Terminus and Hoagie. For example, Dr. Terminus offers Pete a potion that will "bring on puberty two years early" if he turns over the dragon. That proposition is just loaded with ick factor, not to mention the fact that the word "puberty" is vile and should be used in a clinical or classroom setting ONLY.
Finally, there's the abusive school teacher who humiliates and beats her pupils. I realize that a lot has changed in the field of education, but I don't think there was ever a time when that was considered funny.
Actually, any of these plot elements could be funny, if handled correctly. Here they have too much of a inappropriate or nightmarish quality to pass as such. A person who is especially emotionally fragile would do well to steer clear of this one.
It is fun to play "film school" with Pete's Dragon, trying to figure out what the director/producers were thinking and trying to figure out what it was about that era that led to the birth of such a bizarre bit of movie-making.
For starters, there are the Gogans. I can watch Deliverance without breaking a sweat, but years after I first saw Pete's Dragon the Gogans still make me feel all icky. They are impossibly dirty hill-folk who want to enslave a young child. Their antics, I'm sure, are meant to have a cartoonish quality to them, but they fall short of that goal and land squarely in the realm of "unsettling."
The same is true of the way-over-the-top medicine show duo of Dr. Terminus and Hoagie. For example, Dr. Terminus offers Pete a potion that will "bring on puberty two years early" if he turns over the dragon. That proposition is just loaded with ick factor, not to mention the fact that the word "puberty" is vile and should be used in a clinical or classroom setting ONLY.
Finally, there's the abusive school teacher who humiliates and beats her pupils. I realize that a lot has changed in the field of education, but I don't think there was ever a time when that was considered funny.
Actually, any of these plot elements could be funny, if handled correctly. Here they have too much of a inappropriate or nightmarish quality to pass as such. A person who is especially emotionally fragile would do well to steer clear of this one.
It is fun to play "film school" with Pete's Dragon, trying to figure out what the director/producers were thinking and trying to figure out what it was about that era that led to the birth of such a bizarre bit of movie-making.
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