Bambi (2-Disc Special Platinum Edition)
Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 222
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 On: 2009-09-06
The movie was in good shape and played well,but the case was in poor shape and the dvd was loose inside the case.
 On: 2009-09-04
I have seen this video as a little kid many times... when Disney released its 2-disc version, of course I wanted to own it. But as time goes by, these dvds get lost to the point where all you have left are the special features disc (the disc that some kids have no interest in as it does not contain the movie) and the case. Recently I came across the VHS version of this movie. But of course the tape broke right after the movie finished. I hope to get another version, VHS or DVD soon as the movie is a favorite of mine. Those who do not like seeing characters "leave" even though it is merely a movie may not get full enjoyment of this animation. However, those who do not mind a sad turn in movies can admire the lovely backgrounds and the cute storyline.
Spring comes around and a new "young prince" arrives in the thicket. When Bambi learns how to walk, he follows Thumper, learning a few new words along the way. At first when he learns how to say "Bird", a butterfly attracts his attention, then he calls it a bird.
When Bambi goes to the meadow, he learns of MAN, and it causes Bambi and his mother to flee to the thicket.
As winter comes around, Bambi and his mother have to strip bark from trees for food.
During the beginning of spring, Bambi and his mother find new grass in the meadow, but unfortunately MAN comes. Bambi is told to run back to the thicket and not look back. Bambi reaches the thicket and his mother does not arrive.
The next spring that comes, Bambi is full-grown along with Thumper and Flower (a skunk). Friend Owl tells the trio about how everyone is twitterpaited since it is springtime and tells them about it. But slowly Thumper and Flower get "twitterpated" and leave Bambi to find his childhood friend, Faline. Bambi has to fight off another deer trying to get to Faline. Bambi also saves Faline from a group of hunting dogs. MANs camp causes a big forest fire that all the forest animals have to escape to an island to keep from the flames. At the end, 2 new deer arrive at the thicket.
Those who like the movie will want to watch it again and again.
On: 2009-07-30
"Bambi" is one of my all-time favorite Disney animated movies, and I have been longing to share it with my young daughter. I was so glad that she loved it, because of all the gaudy and garish animated features out there that have been the staple of television these past years. "Bambi" has universal themes that many of us can relate to - the love between a parent and a child [Bambi and his mom], the camaraderie between friends [as epitomized by Bambi, Thumper the rabbit, and Flower the skunk], sadness and grief in the face of death [when Bambi loses his mother to hunters], and the bond between father and child, amongst others.
My preschooler did wonder what happened to Bambis mother, so I had to explain [in the movie, this scene is very tastefully done, so that the actual death scene is only alluded to but not explicitly portrayed]. There are so many valuable lessons in this movie that can be mined for either family discussions or even classroom use. The movie may have been made in the 1940s, but the lush colors and heartwarming story will ensure this remains a classic in the stable of animated features for years to come!
On: 2009-07-02
This is a fantasitc DVD for children and any adult would enjoy it as well. One of Disneys best.
On: 2009-06-10
The kids of today might have The Incredibles, Wall-E, Chicken Little, and Cars. We adults, though, will always remember the classics that made Disney an animation empire. Films like Fantasia, The Lion King, Bambi, and Aladdin are considered some of our childhood favorites. Bambi, specifically, is one that deals with Mother Nature and the troubles with Man. You really care for Bambi, Thumper, Flower, and the others. Personally, I never cried during the fateful scene that changes Bambis life forever, but its still one of the most heartbreaking moments in Disney history.
Despite its short length, this animated film is still fantastic in terms of animation. Its not as visually stimulating as Fantasia, but its still beautiful to look at. The songs may not be as interesting nor as memorable as "Hakuna Matata" or "Poor Unfortunate Souls," but they do fit the scenario of this picture very well. Oh, and my favorite character, the Owl, still makes me laugh whenever he explains the definition of being "twitterpated."
Disney continues to go downhill, but we can always cherish Bambi, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and other numerous classics.
On: 2009-04-20
One of the greatest Disney movies ever. Except the trauma Bambi goes through as a young fawn. After a good cry, the rest of the movie is absoultely adorable. You will inveitable hate humans and hunters after watching.
On: 2009-04-13
What a great present for my grandson for Easter! Arrived early! So many of my movie memories are Disney movies and Amazon has them all at a price I can afford! My grandaughter is into music: Just go to Amazon, purchase it and the postman will deliver it. I do not have to search the stores for anything! Click on Amazon and there it is! Bambi is a treasure for me!
Great condition! Fast delivery! I am so pleased to have Bambi to share with my grandchild! Thankyou!
On: 2009-04-05
I was very impressed with not only the quality of the product, but also the timing of delivery. I was told it could take up to 22 days to arrive and I received it in 5. It was a joy to have it arrive before my daughter and grandson arrived home for spring break. Its my daughters favorite movie and I wanted to have it returned to my video library so my grandson could enjoy the same movie his momma and his mawmaw both enjoyed as girls.
On: 2009-04-04
disney movies are desired by anyone with children, especially girls, the problem is they are very difficult to find. i looked in all the major stores for dvds to purchase and asked around, and was always told the same thing, they only come out during certain times, they arent produced anymore etc. so i got the next best thing, vhs. Vhs movies are easy to find online and considerably cheaper than purchasing a dvd. most are used, but in very excellent condition depending upon which seller you choose. i have purchased about 10 disney vhs movies through amazon.com, and am pleased with all. the only thing that is sort of ironic is usually the shipping costs more than the product itself!:P
On: 2009-03-28
I havent seen this movie since I was a kid of about seven or eight. I didnt realize that I was just a couple of years younger at that point than my dad was when the movie was originally released in 42.
The beginning shows the superior artistry in telling the story. It comes across as real woods. For the most part, the animals behaved like animals (though I dont think deer talk to rabbits in real life).
The best part of the DVD is the story board, where they go through the movie with the creators telling their thoughts about what to do and comparing it with previous movies.
One part of the movie that is fantasy is that man is the only predator. In real life, the old wise owl and Flower would be preadators as well. Coyotes and wolves and mountain lions and bob cats were all absent from this forest.
I found this a very scary movie when I was young. Parents would want to watch this with their kids, especially young ones.
 On: 2009-03-23
The disc itself worked fine but the case it came in was broken. The center piece that holds the disc in place is what is broken. This causes the disk to slide around in the case.
On: 2009-03-18
product received was as advertised, and in great condition. Would buy from this vendor again.
 On: 2009-01-19
The watercolor-type animation in here is tough to beat, even over 65 years after it was made (1942).. It still looks good, very good. I dont know if this kind of artwork was ever duplicated so the film is worth owning for that alone. The best news: this restoration-job "special platinum edition" brings out the artwork and makes it really look spectacular.
The story is fairly simple: a deers life, from birth to experiencing life in the forest and then having a fawn of his own. He has two cute friends: "Thumper" the rabbit and "Flower," the squirrel. We share their adventures.
Critics all love this film because it had a strong anti-hunting message Even though they are never shown, the hunters kill the nice animals and set fire to the forest! However, to be fair, they dont dwell on this. Overall, its a positive film with the usual happy ending.
A child will enjoy the story best; for me, it was the artwork.
On: 2008-12-30
The product came really fast and is in GREAT shape for being used!! Thank you!!
On: 2008-12-09
While this is one of my all time favorite films it is totally an allegory. If you dont explain to your kids that nearly everything about this move is totally out of context with nature you are doing them a great disservice. It is an awesomely made movie and a great story but it is make-believe. It has nothing to do with the way nature is. Im sure the animal rights people love this film because it can be used to twist around peoples ideas of deer and give them a totally false view of their habits. A mature buck never interacts with his male offspring, (except when male are hanging together in bachelor groups), unless it is to run him off so he can have his way with its mother the following season, but usually mom runs him off before this! Yes, I am a hunter and have been for years and Ive studied and observed deer behavior for years. I dont feel I have to make a kill every year to be successful but if Bambis dad comes by my tree he will get an arrow flung at him! Deer are infinitely more interesting in real life than what Hollywood and the antis would have you believe. This is an awesome movie but it is just a story. When your children get old enough explain to them that they are wild animals and nothing like people. It can be dangerous if you dont, specially for some other species! If you dont want to hunt or are against it, thats fine with me. I respect your right to not hunt.
One final closing example: Did you know that whitetail deer are responsible for more human fatalities than any other animal in the US. I could make that look like they are a dangerous animal that attacked humans if I didnt explain myself further. While rutting bucks do attack people every year the statistics are from mostly traffic accidents. I hate being led astray, cartoons are cute but let your kids know theyre not real life, they are for entertainment and allegory use occasionally. Their lives could depend on it! lp
On: 2008-07-27
This movie is a classic and one of the first movies I remenber have seen In my ilfe.
On: 2008-07-11
Bambi is a classic story that makes you laugh and cry. The DVD arrived in
excellent condition and plays great. I am very happy with my copy of Bambi.
On: 2008-07-01
My granddaughter loves this movie. The DVD version is so much more colorful and now we can watch it in the car in the portable DVD player.
Everyone with children should have this movie. It was the first movie that I remember going to see and I enjoy it even more now in the new format.
On: 2008-05-08
Something is wrong with the DVD to where the dvd freezes at the end when Bambi is in the fight with the other deer. Its been forever since Ive seen the movie and I dont even remember and will never know how it ended. Everything was fine until that point.
On: 2008-04-17
this movie is awesome. it brought back childhood memories. it was in great condition and it was a really easy process
On: 2008-02-08
This is a classic movie every family of Disney fan should have in their collection.
On: 2008-02-05
I own this dvd and love it and I am 67 yrs young But gave this one, along with Bambi II for christmas to the great grand babies Babies love it
On: 2008-01-29
It arrived in a good amount of time. The product was in great condition.
On: 2008-01-14
DVD was in excellent condition (no dif than new) and delivered b4 xmas so i could give as a gift to my neice! Thanks!
On: 2008-01-11
This is the film we all will someday show our kids and hopefully inculcate many morals to live by: "Now, children, remember, life isnt always fair. Dont start forest fires, and tell all your hunter friends that Bambi misses his mommy."
I liked the film. I really did. My mother...well, shes a mother, so she understands the "sacrifices" (Ive never seen anyone so passionately cry for Dumbos mother, either).
Its a Disney classic, so if you plan to have kids someday, and you want to get the above messages across, this movie pretty much does the trick.
On: 2007-12-18
Great movie, loved it when I was a little kid. Had it on tape, but I lost it. Remastered version looks so much better. Bambi is a must in your movie collection.
Worth buying!!
On: 2007-12-07
This DVD was exactly what I wanted and it was delivered in only a very few days.
 On: 2007-11-27
Movie is overrated by customers. The movie might of been good back then but compared to the movies now, it is horrible. Lion king has a similar plot and is much much better. I made a mistake buying this film. Now I have to sell it to someone. I am probably spoiled by the great technology of the modern animation films but dont expect this movie to even compare to the modern animation films now.
On: 2007-11-21
I first saw Bambi during WWII. I loved it then and I love it now.
On: 2007-11-17
This movie is an animated classic!!! Bambi is still a great film all these years later!!! This great 2-DVD set is filled with extras,including a beautiful restored version of the movie,documentaries,games and more!!! Absolute classic Disney that teaches and entertains!!! Two thumps up(no pun intended),five stars!!! A+
by: Anonymous On: 2007-10-13
Its nice to see that some of the Disney classics get treated with the respect they deserve. After Dumbo got passed over, I wasnt sure it they would do any more deluxe 2 disc sets for these national treasures. Bambi is the studios 5 full length animated feature film and is a testament to the animation, storytelling and loving care that when into these amazing features. Though Bambi is not one of my personal favorites it is a beautiful film. The restoration is fantastic and the film looks better than ever! The second disc is full of interesting extras, too many for me to go through in one sitting. I didnt see any trailers, but I would hope they are on this deluxe set.
On: 2007-08-10
I dont know what to say, except for the amazing bonus content and mini-games. The picture is so clean, you dont even remember how the original version looked.
On: 2007-08-10
This Bambi DVD arrived in a timely fashion.
There was a slight problem with the rest of the order. I ordered Sleeping Beauty; instead I got a 2nd copy of Sleeping Beauty. I sent it back and weeks later the distributor send a postage paid envelope to return the DVD. I had sent this back much sooner than that and the item ended up costing me more.
by: Anonymous On: 2007-07-05
Ok im not really a kid Im just in disguise. Ok I loved bambie as a little kid I grew up on one of these disney movies and finally they came out with a special edition dvd which made the grapics better than before. They show the before and after image of the cover and some games. Im too old for this movie so I wanted to buy this for my little sister and she loved it I watched the movie with her and it took me back to my childhood years. And also I was scratching my head when they were releasing a sequel to bambie I found no interest in that and I think they should have left the first one alone bambie came out in 1942 jeez.
On: 2007-06-30
Uno de mis clasicos favoritos, nos muestra cuanto debemos proteger y cuidar la belleza de nuestra naturaleza, la flora, la fauna y la ecologia en general; aqui no hay animales malos , el unico criminal y depredador, que mata y destruye es el hombre mismo, mostrandose sobre todo en la inolvidablemente triste escena de la muerte de la madre de Bambi (nunca dejo de llorar cuando veo esta escena, y eso que soy muy hombre, conste); peliculas como esta me hacen ver cuan sensible debo ser hacia la creacion de Dios, cuanto debemos amar a nuestro mundo y cuanto debemos crear conciencia en salvar este mundo tan bello en que vivimos... ¡UNA PRECIOSA JOYA DE DISNEY!!!
by: Anonymous On: 2007-06-09
This movie is just incredible. The animation is great-the animators really captured the movement of deer and other animals perfectly; its so graceful. The music is unbelievably beautiful. It gives me chills to hear it. The backgrounds are equally amazing. I hate the stereotype that its "too childish". People who say that obviously have never seen it or havent seen it in years. Ive read the novel, and I like the novel better when it comes to storytelling, but the film is great, too.
On: 2007-06-08
From the opening scene where the multiplane camera glides through a quiet forest until the stirring forest fire climax, a viewer has to be aware he is watching one of the all-time great films. So much of the cycle of life is covered that its hard to realize the film is a mere 69 minutes. In a book called The Making of Bambi, Ollie Johnston reveals that originally there was much more footage that Disney eventually trimmed, cutting out whole sequences before the film previewed. Obviously, he made a wide decision.
There is no extraneous scene here, it moves seamlessly through its cycle of life story with the charming animal creatures carrying the story to its logical conclusion. The background music complements all of the drama and comedy. The storm sequence is the most beautiful blend of music and drawings ever achieved by the Disney artists. The naturally drawn deer are the result of months of careful preparation and study, giving the entire film the feel of a nature study as well as giving the audience great entertainment.
The choral work is extremely effective, particularly on songs like Love Is A Song (Oscar nominated), I Bring You A Song and Little April Shower. The impressionistic forest glows with a life of its own and is the real star of the film, thanks to the influence of Japanese artist Tyrus Wong. No wonder this was Disneys favorite film. It will stay fresh and young forever. An awesome achievement!
In conclusion, having done some choral work myself as a glee club singer, I especially appreciated the great contribution made by the mixed chorus (male/female) that does such a wonderful job on all of the choruses that blend so seamlessly with the rich background score. Truly exceptional choral vocals conducted by Charles Henderson.
On: 2007-05-24
The beginning of the movie tells you a lot about how great this film is. It has a drama, it has a fun and above all its about how important is to have friends all around you. Stunning animation, great voices, nice songs. What else I can add...
by: Anonymous On: 2007-05-09
Disney classic on DVD. What does one write that hasnt already been written.
by: Anonymous On: 2007-03-24
I love Bambi soooooooooooooooooo much!!!!! Hes so cute, so is Flower and the other characters. Its very sad when Bambis mother dies, and the story is a little dark and maybe a little scary. Some say Bambi is for 5 year olds, but if you watch the film closely you will see animals die on screen (except for Bambis mother) like phesants. Some of the film is funny too, especially when Bambi, Thumper and Flower get "twitterpated" as Friend Owl calls it. Friend Owl is the funniest out of the lot though.
ABOVE ALL A REALLY COOL MOVIE WITH LION KING STILL BEING FIRST WITH ME. BUT STILL, ITS STILL COOL!!!!!!!!!
by: princesspumkin On: 2007-03-23
When I was a little girl I saw the release of Bambi in the Paradise Thearte
in the mid80s ! When I was a little girl Bambi maded me cry especaily the scene where the mother had died in the foster ! That mother dieing by a hunter in the forrest maded me feel very emotional as little girl in the mid
80s ! When I saw this with My mother and a friend as a little girl of Disney s Bambi in the mid80s ! This was my first emotional scene as a little girl watching Bambi in the mid 80s !
First time I felt for a carttoon in a flim as a little girl but still a great classic of one disney greatest animation with emotion !
On: 2007-03-22
When I was a little girl I saw the release of Bambi in the Paradise Thearte
in the mid80s ! When I was a little girl Bambi maded me cry especaily the scene where the mother had died in the foster ! That mother dieing by a hunter in the forrest maded me feel very emotional as little girl in the mid
80s ! When I saw this with My mother and a friend as a little girl of Disney s Bambi in the mid80s ! This was my first emotional scene as a little girl watching Bambi in the mid 80s !
First time I felt for a carttoon in a flim as a little girl but still a great classic of one disney greatest animation with emotion !
by: Anonymous On: 2007-03-15
A Disney classic with all the goodies. Anybody with kids should get this while they can, you know how Disney is with their "Vault" thing. Great movie, worth every penny.
by: Anonymous On: 2007-03-15
OMG I LUV THIS MOVIE! Its one of my fave disney movies out there! I watch it alot and love it. The orchestra music is beautiful. the animation is lovely
On: 2007-03-09
This is an enjoyable movie. It must have been remastered but the content stayed the same. The same charm as it had during my childhood. The games on the separate disc were tricky to work, so we dont use the disc, just the movie.
On: 2007-03-08
I bought this for my daughter abd granddaughter. It was my daughters favorite movie when she was a child.
On: 2007-02-26
I bought this product and I loved it, up until when my brother shot it with an Airsoft gun. After that, it was like, totally scratched up, so now theres this wierd "pfpfkgjsakdfjgasldfjsdafkljdask" sound that keeps coming from the DVD player whenever I play the DVD. Anyway, I like when Bambi dies. WOOHOO!
On: 2007-02-20
This is one of our all time favorite Disney movies. It isnt filled with all the new animation, but is loved by all in our family. We wore out our original VHS copy of Bambi with our 2 children, now 16 and 19, and now have the new one for our grandson, who loves it just as much!
It is also fun to watch the segments about how the movie was made. It is really an amazing piece of animation considering how long ago it was made!
On: 2007-02-13
I loved seeing it again because of the grand memories I have of seeing it the first time in the 1940s. But it is more than nostalgia! It is still one of the best ecology films and one I hope every generation of children will see!
On: 2007-02-06
Ive been reading some of the reviews of "Bambi" and find myself astonished by some of them. It appears that at least a generation has grown up and are now parents who have never seen this movie themselves. If they had, they would have been aware of the well-known terror that is evoked in small children by the death of Bambis mother. It also appears that these same parents do not review what they are about to show their children to see if the material is appropriate for their child. Apparently, they just pop the DVD into the player and let it run.
That said, I think the restored platinum version is terrific, with all the color, excitement and terror that fascinated and frightened me more than 50 years ago. I am, as ever, in awe of the work of the animators, who did all of the scenes of this film through hand-made cells.
On: 2007-01-14
My six year old daughter would not stop asking for this. She watched it once and has not asked to watch it again. It is a very sad movie and not as much fun as most of her other Disney movies.
by: michaelbutts On: 2007-01-12
Without trying to be a real scrooge, I think BAMBI, although one of his most endearing films, is not one of his best. While beautifully animated, the movie itself is slim on plot with a heavy handed message against mans pillaging of the forests. But basically the story is Bambi is born, Bambi is a clumsy youth and Bambi becomes a noble prince. The supporting characters, including Thumper, are not utilized effectively and there are too many long shots of the forest with accompanying choral background. Small kids should have fun, but older ones may end up yawning.
by: timjer On: 2006-12-08
Bambi, Thumper, Flower, characters that will stay with you for a lifetime. One of the most moving stories ever brought to animation. A story of tenderness, heartbreak, growing-up, and learning to move on. Can be extremely funny, but also a bit strong for small children too. This is classic Disney.
On: 2006-11-16
"Bambi" is Walt Disneys 1942 animated feature about a young deers first year of life. There is fun, there is joy, there is sadness and theres love. It was one of the first films my Gran ever saw back when it originally came out, and a favorite of mine when I was little. I loved the golden book too...
Its a pretty simple plot, a deer (Bambi) growing up over a year, but thanks to the animation and the score, it feels pretty dramatic. I remember when I was little, having this feeling that there was something signficant and special in the changing of the seasons, and of the growing-up of the animals. Slipping across a frozen pond, eating clover in a meadow, two bucks battling over a mate, a forest fire, the morning chorus of birds its all made to feel so momentous, and it does actually feel that way. A lot of characters (particularly the birds) are very cute, in that unique way that they were when Walt was still alive. Theres a lot of humour out of the cuteness too (the skunk Flower going all red and tumbling backwards when he gets kissed by Ms. Flower, for instance, as well as Thumper the bunny in general.)
The version of the film I saw on DVD (the two-disc special edition) has been restored, and I think it looks pretty good. Its colourful and crisp, as is the soundtrack and score. I did actually think to myself, regarding the score, "this was recorded back in the 1940s, wasnt it?". Its pretty clear sounding.
The special features are nicely done too. Theres two "deleted scenes" from the winter sequence, which are basically storyboards with audio of the script. Theres a "Walts Story Meetings" feature, which is as close as well get from getting an audio commentary from Walt Disney himself. Introduced by Patrick Stewart, its basically the film, mixed with rough drawings and the like passing around, while a dramatization of the transcripts of Walt Disneys meetings are acted out. Its interesting to get a feel for what Walt was aiming for, and its a unique way theyve gone and shown it. Theres also a few other making of documentaries on the second disc. Theres a sequence of games based around the seasons, where you play Bambi, and the owl (whose a lot friendlier than he is in the film) shows you round to games and puzzles. Its point and click remote control stuff, pretty standard DVD games, though its very nicely presented. The games in this feature are for kids, and are loosely educational (memory games, counting games, matching games, etc). Its pretty playable, the only problem with it I think is in the flower matching game, where you have to match the colours of the flowers. The owl asks you to find the yellow one, when the ones that are yellow look kind of light green to me. Id find that a bit frustrating if I was younger, but anyway. Theres also a "DisneyPedia" mini-documentary on deer.
Definitely worth a look for fans of kids films and fans of animation.
On: 2006-10-26
An animated oil painting; a feast for the eyes and for the soul.
This film is deceptively simple. It is the story of a deer who loses his mother by a human hunter; it is also a story about rebirth and spring. It is a story about furry animals and a story about man as the most terrible of the beasts.
But it is also about all life; it is about love, loss, wonder, play, responsibility, time, open spaces, friendship, niches, sacrifice, wisdom, folly, courage, fear, conflict--and beauty.
I will offer a few snippets: When the great prince first warns the other deer that man is approaching, the other deer turn as the color of autumn leaves as they flee in terror. When Bambi defends his mate from the advances of a rival deer, he fights for the first time, and the fighting deer become silhouettes against flashes of color. He fights for the second time to defend the same mate--from black hunting dogs. Then Bambi and the great prince become as colored leaves as they try to flee the forest man has set on fire.
The film seems like an anthropomorphism, but it entails the decisive irony of never showing human beings--even though they are involved and part of the story. The anthropomorphism is only apparent, for Bambi retains his original mute innocence and his connection to his childhood, even though he loses his mother; Bambi met his mate as a fawn at his mothers prodding as they were frolicking on the meadow; it is on the same meadow that Bambis mother will later get shot; it is on the same meadow that Bambi will know the ecstasy of seeing again his childhood friend as a young stag. He struggles against man but in the same sense that he struggles against a rival deer who only pushes and shoves. Man is mute--but he is a part of nature, too.
Yet all of nature celebrates the deer that lives the longest, as a prince, because of the basic gentleness of the deer; it is as a crescendo in a symphony where there is symbiosis as well as dissonance. In learning to speak, Bambi mistakenly calls a little skunk "flower"--a name that sticks. According to the project notes for Bambi, nicely read out while showing sketches and clips as part of this 2 DVD release, the skunk is the only character given anthropomorphic license; the others are intended as poetic portrayals only of true animal characteristics.
As the skunk explains, "all us flowers sleep in the winter;" man, in hibernation, merely awaits his Spring.
This is a beautiful, beautiful film. The best animated feature ever made; perhaps the best movie ever made.
A meaningful film for all ages.
by: has_his_own_corner On: 2006-09-17
If film makers could figure out how to make a film like "Bambi" every time, the art of film making would be just that; an art. "Bambi" is a tale that is for children. However, that tale contains every element present in the life of a typical child: friendship, love, parental protection, loss, fear of the unknown, and, of course, growing up. I am still astonished at how a film that clocks in at 69 minutes can capture the essence of life.
"Bambi" is born into the world of the forest. Everyone calls him a prince. Bambi learns quickly that his world is full of friends, but he also soon learns that portions of the world are scary and unknown, with the scariest thing of all, the creature we never see, man. "Bambi" alternates between humor and fear, and yet, the theme of the movie is that all these things are a part of life.
Of course, we know that in the end Bambi will overcome, giving children and adults everywhere a message of hope. No matter the traumas that we face in life, we have the ability to persevere. We have the ability to change our world. We have the ability to love and hope. We too can be Bambi.
Few movies can touch "Bambi" in the skill of animation and direction. The plotting is phenomenally focused and fast-paced. This movie is one that every home should own, regardless of whether you have children or not.
Enjoy!
by: Anonymous On: 2006-09-14
They worked very hard on bambi.Its not like the new movies.The animators work hard to make it good.Efforts the key.And the dvd has great bonus features.And the movie itself is way better on dvd.The sound is 5.3.The best sond.Especially when you hae a sterio.They remastered it great.They didnt just rush and put it on.So you would love this movie.Especially on platinum edition.So I highly reccomend Bambi the best Disney film ever.
by: Anonymous On: 2006-09-10
Its the best movie to me.Its amazing how real and how hard they worked on it.Anybody from 1 to 100 would like this movie.
by: _bernie On: 2006-09-02
Designed in the Disney hay-day of great movies like "Fantasia" and "Song of the South" this shows what animation and great music was and could be now with a little effort.
The story which is a little easer to take than the book chronicles the life of a young prince "Bambi" his friends and how he grew and matured. He passes through many rights of passage and takes his place in the forest society.
The down side of the story is the demise of Bambis mother which though innovative for the time traumatized many children. To this day you hear it is a classic "but I can not bring my self to watch it." How ever this presentation is more of a symphony based on the characters from the story in the Disney tradition.
Many of the uncredited voices were of famous people; many of them were famous after this film was made.
On: 2006-09-01
Designed in the Disney hay-day of great movies like "Fantasia" and "Song of the South" this shows what animation and great music was and could be now with a little effort.
The story which is a little easer to take than the book chronicles the life of a young prince "Bambi" his friends and how he grew and matured. He passes through many rights of passage and takes his place in the forest society.
The down side of the story is the demise of Bambis mother which though innovative for the time traumatized many children. To this day you hear it is a classic "but I can not bring my self to watch it." How ever this presentation is more of a symphony based on the characters from the story in the Disney tradition.
Many of the uncredited voices were of famous people; many of them were famous after this film was made.
Lady and the Tramp (50th Anniversary Edition)
On: 2006-08-02
This is an excellent release of an all time classic. Made durring the golden age of animation, this is a must for anyone who appreciates excellence. The animation art has changed over the decades, but this is Disney at its best.
We will never see classic quality like this again. This is for every collector, and anyone who wants entertainment for the entire family. You cant go wrong.
On: 2006-07-25
Bambi is a story of a deer who tries to survive in the forest. Bambi meets Feline, a young deer and he falls in love with her. They make babies and Bambi becomes King of the Forest. This is a sweet movie with an impresive soundtrack and wonderfull characters now restored to its original brilliance. Buy it. Its worth every penny.
by: Anonymous On: 2006-04-21
I am obsessed with Bambi! The animation is wonderful and the music is so beautiful! The movie gives me tingles and touches me! The features tell you how much thought was put into it! Whoever hates Bambi is stupid and absurd! The restoration amazed me, better than I expected! You can even compare the restoration to the Unrestored Original Theatrical Trailer! BUY IT THIS INSTANT!!!!!!
On: 2006-04-14
When I first saw the cover of this special edition, I anticipated that it would be the best ever. When I received and watched it, I found it was perfect, even better off than my anticipation! It was perfect, glorious, wonderful, splendid, fantastic... Oh, I think it can be described with many, many good words!
When I received this special edition, I was a little disappointed to the surface of the discs, because the pattern on them were not so pretty. But needless to say, the movie is, and will always be classic. However, in this special edition, the movie tableaux became more clear, but, in my opinion, the original tableaux were better, because they gave me very classic feeling. I had watched this movie when I was very, very young, and I had almost forgotten what was it about! But now, this platinum edition reminded me not only the plots of the movie but also some beautiful memories in my childhood!
Just as my anticipation, many wonderful things were in disc 2! My favourite parts were Deleted Scenes and The Making of Bambi. Bambi was one of the cutest Disney characters in my opinion, and through these 2 parts, I knew how Bambi was created and something Ive never known about Bambi. The part which attracted me most was The Legacy Continues, the trailer of "Bambi-2". I was excited to see this! If it wasnt for this, I wouldnt know "Bambi-2" which was so wonderful would be published! The part which entertained me much was the personality profile game called Whats Your Season. Just like the fact, my season is summer, my favourite season! And the animated short named The Old Mill was so beautiful too!
There were many interesting and attractive things in this 2-disc special edition, everything in it will entertain you much. It will make you to love this beloved movie more and more! And I think it will make you to wait for "Bambi-2" expectantly!
On: 2006-03-28
the animation in this production is outstanding. you just cant compare todays computer enhanced art graphics with the real thing - God gifted artists using their intellect and talent and disipline to create thought provoking master pieces such as this. the beautiful back-drops in the film only add to this classic disney story, filled with all of the usual components that make disneys cachet of the animation market of this vein so successful : a morality story of some sort for young and old alike , lots of snappy characters and music, and lots and lots and lots of "crayons" !
On: 2006-03-25
I had the VHS copy of Bambi for many, many years. The picture and sound quality on the Special Edition DVD is much better. I would recommend it to any Disney fan.
On: 2006-03-23
clearly this movie is awesome. the dvd is nice, too, great sound (the simulated surround mix is a bit forced, i watch it in stereo) and picture. luckily i know from experience with dumbo that disney dvds are the WORST in the way of previews and horrible menu screens. heres what i do: put the dvd in, make a milkshake, pop some corn, turn on the tv (in that order). it really works.
On: 2006-03-21
This movie has its value only by the perfect animation itself with the most beautiful perfect oil painted backgrounds.
But along with that you have a wonderful script that take us to dive so deep into what life is about, how much we loose and gain and from those experiences, we grow up.
Simply wonderful at any age.
A must have to anyone, always and always. A real classic.
On: 2006-02-27
My children love this movie...a classic that has lasted throughout the generations.
by: Anonymous On: 2006-02-25
Bambi 2 is filled with joy and happiness. Every age will enjoy this awesome exciting and funny film. I cannot believe how great this movie is. It gets a little sad but the creators have found to make you laugh and cry at the same time. My 3 year old brother was have non-stop giggle fits. Its the coolest movie EVER! I have watched it 10 times already. I LOVE IT! Thumper is just too funny. IF you want to laugh this is such a good chance. As a 12 year old year old kid this has to be the best movie I have seen. Trust me, this movie is really worth it. Its safe for kids and curse-free.
On: 2006-02-19
They always release a special edition DVD of a Disney classic when the direct to video sequal comes out, it just seems like a quick cash-in
Then they will say "buy it before it goes back into the Disney vault" yeah, whatever Disney...
On: 2006-02-18
They always release a special edition DVD of a Disney classic when the direct to video sequal comes out, it just seems like a quick cash-in
Then they will say "buy it before it goes back into the Disney vault" yeah, whatever Disney...
On: 2006-02-02
I rate "Bambi" with 5 stars because it is a wonderful story about an orphaned deer, and his fun-filled adventures with his friends, a skunk named Flower and a cute bunny named Thumper.
The beginning is extremely sad, but the rest of the film is fun and light-hearted; especially, when Bambi tries to ice skate on a frozen pond in the forest.
I highly recommend this film to children ages 10 and older because there is a death scene involved, which younger children may find rather disturbing because of the connotation of death.
I know when I first saw Bambi I was only about 6 or 7, maybe even 5 and found this scene to be rather sad.
In conclusion, this film is a wonderful Disney classic, but recommended for children ages 10 and above due to a death scene. Children being younger than 10 if they were to see this, may become visibly upset due to the connatation associated with death.
The scene is not graphic, by any means, but the idea that something has died and isnt returning to the forest may upset young children.
Buy it or rent it, youll be pleased that you do!
On: 2006-02-01
One of disneys all time best film is now one of the best dvds ever. The film is one of disneys best goldena ge films. As some of its old films get old over time this one dose not. the film is the most emotion film ever made and will still put tears in your eys. One of disneys best films is great to watch over and over again espesially with this great new dvd edition.
On: 2006-01-17
I love classic disney movies, and this is one of them! Other than being digitally restored(original is still beautiful), it is a great classic story that every child should grow up knowing. Disney had always beaten others when it came to animation, they very carefully sketched picture after picture, to simulate the smoothest moving animation of its time.
I love Bambi
by: dave_42 On: 2006-01-17
Another of Disneys Platinum Editions; "Bambi" is certainly a Disney classic, and quite unique in their catalogue. This is a 2 DVD package, with the first DVD containing the 1942 movie in its original format (1.33:1, the same as a standard television) with an enhanced 5.1 enhanced sound mix (THX certified). It also contains a feature entitled "Bambi: Inside Walts Story Meetings" where we are able to listen to the comments of those involved in making the film. It also contains a preview of the second disk.
The second DVD is packed with extras as is the case with all of the Platinum Editions. It includes a couple of deleted scenes (Winter Grass, and Bambis First Snow), some games and activities for the younger viewers, and a lot of behind the scenes features as well, called Backstage Disney. These include a making of feature, a restoration features, a sneak peak at the new Bambi movie, a time capsule for 1942, a feature on the multi-plane camera, a feature on the Disney archives, "The Old Mill" animated short (in which many of the techniques that were used in "Bambi" would be tried), the original trailer, and artwork from the movie.
It has been said that "Bambi" is the animated feature with the fewest lines of dialogue, and it is amazing how they combined movement and music to effectively tell the story while keeping the dialogue to a minimum. The movie also is known for its very stylistic or impressionistic backgrounds. Lastly, as far as I know this is the only Disney movie where the main villain (Man) never appears on the screen. Instead we see and hear the tools of man, such as gunshots, his hunting dogs, and his campfire which gets out of control and starts a forest fire.
The movie was based on the 1923 book of the same name by Felix Salten, although I think it is safe to say that most people now think of the movie when they hear the name. It premiered in London on August 8th of 1942, in the midst of World War II. It was the only civilian project which Disney continued during the war years. The rest of the studio was dedicated to helping the war effort. Not surprisingly, given the circumstances, the movie lost money in its initial release but has subsequently made millions for the company.
The movie was nominated for three Academy Awards in 1943, including Best Music, Original Song (Frank Churchill & Larry Morey), Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture (Frank Churchill & Edward H. Plum), and for Best Sound, Recording (C. O. Slyfield). In 1948 it won a special Golden Globe award for Walt Disney for futhering the influence of the screen with the Hindustani version of the movie. In 1988 it won the Genesis award for classic feature films. Lastly this DVD was nominated for the Satellite Award for Outstanding Youth DVD in 2005.
On: 2006-01-06
Its cute Im sure everyone knows that. I wanted to own the DVD or whatever it takes to see it all I wish to right here in my home. Thanks to Amazon for giving me the chance and for many others along the way. yet to come.
On: 2006-01-05
This is so sweet...a must have!!!
by: Anonymous On: 2005-11-12
I got this DVD for my birthday, and I watch it alot now on my DVD player! It doesnt get old! Im a big fan of Disney, so after re-watching this movie on DVD, I was entertained. This movie is really enjoyable to watch and also shows friendship between Bambi, Thumper, and Flower.
The games on the special features menu for really for younger kids, but it was still enjoyable. I believe that any good Classic Disney movies fan is sure to enjoy this movie.
On: 2005-11-05
The tale of BAMBI is timeless. Heartwarming and heartbreaking it endures the test of time as nature itself. Ill admit that when I was growing up I had little affection for BAMBI but some of the vivid images have remained with me up to this day. The Great Prince all alone as the hard snow falls in a deafening silence is unnerving and almost unbearable to watch. Yet, his father is there to finish his upbringing and they walk off to his adulthood. As I return now I see the tenderness and harsh lesson we all must endure. Simply told through a brilliantly visual medium this film is so appropriately conceived for its honesty and celebration of life and nature. It has now become a favorite.
On: 2005-11-03
The newly released DVD brings shine and beauty to a true Disney Classic. The music score is beautfuly enhanced with your surround system to make you feel as if you were in the theater watching it for the first time. I would recommend this to anyone for a true heart story that we can all relate to.
by: Anonymous On: 2005-10-12
Finally, Bambi makes its DVD debut. Out of print for eight years now, Bambi is one of the most beloved Disney movies ever. And this, the fifth installment in Disneys prestigious Platinum Edition series, like most of the others previously released in this line, doesnt fail to amaze me.
First of all, the video and audio have been drastically digitally restored and remastered BEYOND their original brilliance. Most imperfections are gone, leaving a clean, pristine picture and crisp sound. This transfer rivals even that of the fantastic Snow White transfer.
This DVD also has excellent bonus features. Fortunately, unlike on past Platinum Editions, were not subjected to yet another Raven music video. Instead, were treated to sill galleries, an in-depth making-of docu, classic animated shorts, and more. The best bonus feature, however, is the Bambi: Inside Walts Story Meetings. Better than any audio commentary you could have.
Please do not let this movie slip back into Disneys vault without having a chance to own it. Snatch it today and add this timeless classic to your DVD collection.
by: gobirds2 On: 2005-10-06
BAMBI is one of my favorite animated films produced from Walt Disneys creative genius. However, this DVD presentation of BAMBI somehow does not look true to Walts original vision. The colors look over-enhanced and seem to alter the intention of the original filmmakers. My VHS and Laserdisc copies look much better than this DVD. You can see the original brush strokes if you look hard enough at those copies. Digital restoration seems to be getting to the point where restoration is now becoming recreation. There was a subdued natural look to the original BAMBI. This DVD looks too vibrant to the point where the colors seem to bleed into each other and become a distraction. Some of the innovations like the multiple plane shoots seem to lose their effectiveness. BAMBI is still an outstanding film exploring such themes as love, loss, coming of age and responsibility. These themes are artistically and dramatically represented here and they remain timeless.
On: 2005-10-05
As I stated in the title, I consider Bambi to be the last animated classic that Walt Disney would oversee.
Cinderella just came out on dvd today and I will buy it for my kids to watch. But I dont have anywhere near the same fondness for Cinderella that I do for Snow White, Pinocchio, Dumbo and, of course, BAMBI. Disney made innovative, addictive shorts in the 1930s. The Band Concert, starring Mickey Mouse, and Three Little Pigs are guaranteed to become my kids kids favorites. Then Disney decided to expand and make features and they were the best animated features ever made. (At least up until Bambi.) Fantasia had great sequences--particularly the Scorcerers Apprentice--but just try to watch the whole thing without the urge to nap.
So why not five stars for Bambi? Well, its a little difficult to explain. The first thing is the absence of a memorable song such as Some Day My Prince Will Come or When You Wish Upon a Star. The second is the somewhat less anthropomorphised animals in this film. The animators were so amazingly accurate in their portrayal of forest creatures that it almost seems too real. Disney animation is somewhat about fantasy.
That said, this film is so visually enjoyable that I kinda feel the need to go ahead and give it that extra star. My personal favorite sequence is the rain storm. I am an amateur photographer and I hang my head in shame when I compare my work to what these people achieved. Disney really had a knack for finding and employing the most talented animators.
As for the dvd. It looks great. Dont know if Ill ever watch the extras. The movie is plenty good enough.
On: 2005-09-29
BEAUTIFUL. One of my favorite Disney classics preserved for the ages.
On: 2005-09-26
Today, when I was at Circuit City, I was wondering whether or not to get this DVD. The choices I had were "Lilo and Stitch 2!" or "Bambi: Platinum Edition". Now, I chose "Bambi", because it had 2 discs and was $19.99, and "Lilo and Stitch 2!" was $19.99 for its (only) 1 disc. I got home and scanned through the movie (I have the original VHS version from the 90s), and I think that Disney couldve done a better job on the restoration. Now, you can disagree with me, because I am comparing this to the Platinum Edition of "Snow White" (which was the first Platinum Edition of its series, so you can tell that Disney put more work into "Snow White" than "Bambi"). The colors werent as bright and upbeat, where as "Snow White"s color was amazing! Also (I am comparing this next thing to Snow Whites special features), I dont think Disney really needed a whole seperate disc for bonus features. There arent really many, and they all couldve fit on disc one. To sum it up, I think Disney couldve done a better job on this Platinum installment.
On: 2005-09-26
My grandson is only two. We watched about 45 minutes of it. He seemed to enjoy all the characters. He got a bit antsy after a while. I think he would enjoy it much more when hes a bit older. I was around when the movie first came out and I enjoyed watching it as much now as when I was much younger. I think its a heart-warming story. I definitely give it 5 stars -how could you not?
On: 2005-09-21
As described, the DVD was fine, and it arrived within 3 days!. Thanks,
by: Anonymous On: 2005-09-06
OK, this is a great film. I love the Forest Adventure activities on disc 2, but one game is sorta bad - maybe even frustrating! Its the Winter Ice Slide game. My mom, JaneLovesJesus, agrees. (My sisters are Chocolate Dog and Russian Blue Witch, but in C Dogs review, "Drip drip drop (No, that does not mean its bad!)" says its great because she reviewed it before we noticed the bad thing.) You have absolutely NO CONTROL over Bambi except his speed is the basic thing that annoys mom. (I dont like it either!) We kept going farther then Thumper but they said we didnt! And Friend Owls Knowledge about the ice is always, "Looks like theres a little frost on top. Id go a little faster so you dont have to stop!" Its great - worth the money - only one crummy game! If you hate that crumminess, then dont buy it. Signed, StoryMaker. "Gotta trust the kids review!"
by: Anonymous On: 2005-09-02
A helpless little dear is born by the name Bambi. He is born among the forest to a gratful mother. Bambi meets some animal friends for himself, a rabbit named Thumper and a skunk named Flower. Bambi falls in love while he grows up along side his friends. The troubles of wild life strike when a hunter kills Bambis mother. The troubles of the emotional for every animal in the forest. A beautiful ending concludes this masterpiece.
On: 2005-08-10
In my view, "Bambi" contains the most subtly beautiful animation ever created by Disney. Story itself mingles moments of playfulness with high drama to create a timeless masterpiece. Worthy introduction to Disney animated classics.
by: Anonymous On: 2005-08-05
It is good. Its called "Drip drip drop (No, that does not mean its bad!)" because theres a song in it that goes "Drip drip drop little April shower!" and I cant sing all of it in this review. Its a very good song. The games on disc 2 are fun! Why they are fun will be listed. Their names will show above the reasons why they are fun. I dont have the names at my fingertips so they probaly wont be the correct names. The games are in the forest adventure game.
SPRING MEMORY GAME
It is fun because memory games where something happens and you have to repeat it in the right order are fun. I dont know why.
SUMMER COUNTING GAME
Boring. Tiny bit fun. Its boring because its a counting game but its fun trying to keep track of the bunnies that pass.
FALL ACORN CATCH
Fun because theres really no guiding and you have to keep track what order they come in.
WINTER MATCHING GAME
Same as spring game, its a matching game and I dont know why matching games are fun.
WINTER SLIDING GAME
Its fun because you get to pick how much speed you get and I dont know why its fun. NOTE: In every season (except winter) theres a nature knowledge game. (you have to see the movie first) Its where theres a scene and they ask you a question about the show and you select the answer.
THE SHOW
The show is very nice cuz its very funny and active. Especially when Bambi and Phaline are together you say "Two rocks," and when Bambi pops up you say, "And one has a head!" Signed, Chcolate Dog.
On: 2005-07-26
I bought this movie and had my three plus yr old watch it and I couldnt believe how terrified he was. I had to keep forwarding the scary scenes. I had no idea this was such an old movie. The music sounds like church music and is not something I consider for kids (Remember it is rated G). The video may be remastered but the audio quality is poor and one has to turn up the volume to listen to the dialogue which makes the scary scenes even more so. I think this is an age old format of story telling which needs to revised. Unfortunately Disney keeps repeating it through movies like Incredibles.
On: 2005-07-25
I bought this movie and had my three plus yr old watch it and I couldnt believe how terrified he was. I had to keep forwarding the scary scenes. I had no idea this was such an old movie. The music sounds like church music and is not something I consider for kids (Remember it is rated G). The video may be remastered but the audio quality is poor and one has to turn up the volume to listen to the dialogue which makes the scary scenes even more so. I think this is an age old format of story telling which needs to revised. Unfortunately Disney keeps repeating it through movies like Incredibles.
by: _askmanny On: 2005-07-11
I grew up watching several Disney movies: Dumbo, Sleeping Beauty, Pinocchio, you name it. But as odd as it may sound, I never saw Bambi. So, I had regular expectations about it when we recently bought it: I had heard great things about it, but it wasnt on the same level as the other Disney classics I already knew by heart. Well: I was floored and enchanted like a child, when I saw it.
The quality of this movie was unbelievable. It took animated features to a whole new level, with the introduction of new shooting techniques to provide a more realistic feel of depth. The storyline was simple, yet touching, like most early Disney movies. Actually, one of the best features the DVD offers is a recreation of the storyboarding/storywriting sessions between Walt Disney and his team, which gives you a feel for the understanding of the audiences they had, and how the final product came about.
I tip my hat to Disney once more, with a movie that is bound to become another classic in our collection, one that our son will grow up watching.
On: 2005-07-06
This movie is so wonderfully depicted and drawn... The animation and music is beautiful. When I really sit down to watch this film, I always end up crying. Heck, I even cry when they first run after the gallop of the stags. Ive always been strongly against hunting. Perhaps this film is the reason why... I cant really remember.
A lot of people, especially the ones used to todays action-packed films, may see this as boring. But if you actually take the time to value the classic animation and think over it, I see this film as the best Disney creation of all time.
On: 2005-07-06
Any problem with the transaction, shipping, and the product purchased. This is my first experience buying in amazon, and it was easy and fast. Certainly I will do it again.
On: 2005-07-05
I on the other hand, liked the fact that they didnt have the owl singing the twitterpated song. It simply seems corny to me, and out of character with the rest of the film. I disagree with most of the reviews here when they say the brigher colours were a plus. The DVD version of Beauty and The Beast has the same "plus" which actually killed the dark mood of the film. In Bambis case, the bright colours gave it a more kiddish feel to it - the colours almost cartoonish instead of that rich realism we get from the origonal. But then thats just my preference. If you like bright colours... which most little kids do, youll like this DVD version.
On: 2005-06-11
Adapted from the story by Felix Salten by Walt Disney for America and the world of 1942. It opens on a gray murky world that soon changes to bright colors. Small furry animals appear, without any cares of concerns. What an idyllic world! How different from the events in front of the screen. This colorful land has only happy times. There is no unemployment, poverty, or hunger. The April showers are followed by the suns warmth.
Bambi soon learns that there are places that are not safe, like the meadow (no mention of the danger). The scenes of the animal movements show artistic excellence; they must have cost a fortune. A flight of crows signal an alarm, and the deer flee into the forest. The danger is "man in the forest". [Isnt this just brainwashing young children?]
The snows of winter arrive. More scenes of animal movements pad out this story. The tough times show the hungry deer stripping bark from the trees (doesnt this kill trees and damage the forest?). Shots ring out, and Bambis mother is gone. Spring brings singing birds in preparation for the summer. Bambi has grown antlers, and has matured. He battles and wins his mate. But men have come into the land, and there is danger. A pack of hounds chase poor Feleen. Bambi arrives to save her, and they escape. But a shot hits Bambi, and he falls. Fire spreads from the camp into the forest, destroying their habitat. Most of the animals escape to an island in the lake. Bambi is reunited with Feleen, and twins are born.
The excellent draftsmanship doesnt mask a weak storyline. I saw this as a child over 60 years ago, but remember little. This story was designed to be anti-hunting, and anti-human. Is such a perverse film fit for children? The depiction of those dangerous dogs may disturb some pet owners. What does this say about Walt Disney?
On: 2005-06-09
do you think walt disney shoud come back? I do now disney went from disney to teen disney.they made up somting called zoog disney.its a bunch of teeny bops with love problems like thats so raven.you can hardy tell its disney.and american dragon jake long is so....I dont know. trixis words like when she talksI cant tell what shes saying. and spud? what kind of name is that?.the animals on the shows talk like brandy and mr. wishkers.brandy acts like a snob .it is bad childern.they are useing words like tottlay,she ya,boo ya,any hoo.what does that mean? I think zoog disney can move its ass to abc famliy and walt disney is back.
by: Anonymous On: 2005-06-06
I can take it when someone says that the movie Bambi is boring and so on, but I can NOT take it when that person goes as far as to accuse parents who show it to kids of bad parenting, and so on. Apparently, some people have some problem against being sad when an animal dies. Its retarded for a kid to cry when a mother deer dies? Please... Me? I just dont like this movie. Anyways, the DVD sucks, but if you like it, you can get it.
On: 2005-06-05
I can take it when someone says that the movie Bambi is boring and so on, but I can NOT take it when that person goes as far as to accuse parents who show it to kids of bad parenting, and so on. Apparently, some people have some problem against being sad when an animal dies. Its retarded for a kid to cry when a mother deer dies? Please... Me? I just dont like this movie. Anyways, the DVD sucks, but if you like it, you can get it.
On: 2005-05-28
I was disappointed in this updated version - I have seen this movie since I was a young child every year it was shown in the theaters. I looked forward eagerly to when it came out on video. But was very disappointed as they had cut out several parts of the movie that had been shown in the theater version. I figured that when they remastered it digitally on DVD, they would add those parts back. But they didnt. They cut out the part where Bambi is fighting with Rono in the clouds - no loss there. But they also cut out one of the very best parts where the Owl is talking to the youngsters about being Twiterpaited then starts singing the twiterpaited song. "Everybodys twiterpaited in the spring, skunks smell sweet, rabbits sing, daffodils go daffy when the bluebells ring, the whole wide worlds in love. When you cant control a grin, when your heads inflated. Love just socked you on the chin, pal your twiterpaited! Anyway. It is one of the best parts and I was really saddened that they didnt include it in the movie.
But the color is good and it will always be a classic. Just wish they had included "ALL" of it.
On: 2005-05-27
I was disappointed in this updated version - I have seen this movie since I was a young child every year it was shown in the theaters. I looked forward eagerly to when it came out on video. But was very disappointed as they had cut out several parts of the movie that had been shown in the theater version. I figured that when they remastered it digitally on DVD, they would add those parts back. But they didnt. They cut out the part where Bambi is fighting with Rono in the clouds - no loss there. But they also cut out one of the very best parts where the Owl is talking to the youngsters about being Twiterpaited then starts singing the twiterpaited song. "Everybodys twiterpaited in the spring, skunks smell sweet, rabbits sing, daffodils go daffy when the bluebells ring, the whole wide worlds in love. When you cant control a grin, when your heads inflated. Love just socked you on the chin, pal your twiterpaited! Anyway. It is one of the best parts and I was really saddened that they didnt include it in the movie.
But the color is good and it will always be a classic. Just wish they had included "ALL" of it.
On: 2005-05-23
I saw this one as a child when the 55th anniversary edition of the VHS was released because a friend had it and thought that it was a great movie. When I found out that the Platinum Edition of the movie was coming out on DVD, I knew that I had to get it because I thought that it was such a good movie even though I couldnt remember everything about the movie. I remembered more things about the movie as I watched it after I purchased it and thought that it was better the 2nd time around than it was the 1st time around.
On: 2005-05-19
This is just beautiful. Its been cleaned up visually and the sound is like being in a theatre. Dont worry about it being too sad for kids, that scene is subtle and you dont see anything. It was like looking at a modern animated film in a peculiar way, but its Bambi larger than life and with his world clearer than day. Im going to just mention one of the many in-depth extras:
Walts story meetings
Ive always liked the inspirational art for this film and wondered why there wasnt much in the gallery section. Then discovered in Walts story meetings, you get taken through the whole film and get to see every pastel sketch, line drawing and piece of gorgeous artwork used for the scene as you watch it in a very pleasing to the eye fashion. Not only that, you hear Walt and the (astoundingly intelligent and educated sounding) animators and specialists discussing the scene. Ive often found it a drag to go back and watch a film with a simple directors commentary over the top. But this is done so well and is not boring at all to watch. It makes you want to watch this perfect film again straight away!
Dont let this perfect film out of your sights!
On: 2005-05-13
I recently watched Walt Disneys film Bambi for the first time in many years. What a joy it was. I first saw this beautiful movie as a child in grammar school. What I most remember is a teacher comforting me while I cried as Bambi called out to his mother, I heard the shot and realized his mother was dead. I thought that I had remembered the whole movie. What I did not remember was the brutality, but that shows just how powerfully positive this movie really is. Early on in the movie Bambis mother alerts him to dangers of man and his guns. You see Bambi cowering before coming out to play in the meadow. Later his mother is killed; the forest is burned. A bird panics and is killed on the fly. Oh My! Of course, Spring arrives and all is right with the world again. If your little one is going to watch this video, it would do well to stay nearby, just in case he or she has questions. That being said, there are many positives in this beautiful animated movie. Although you never see Thumpers dad there is a lot of sage advice from him. When Thumper says that baby Bambi "doesnt walk very good, does he?", his mother replys "What did your father say?" Thumper lowers his head and responds "If you cant say somethin nice, dont say nothin at all." There are other bits of wisdom because Thumper, the little rabbit, just has to say what he thinks and feels.
This movie has everything we hold dear; family, a parents love, enduring friendship, death, rebirth of nature and becoming adult and having your own family. Walt Disneys Bambi is about the circle of life.
Each of the animated characters have their own larger-than-life personalities, and all are quite beautiful. Each one has an outstanding feature that makes him memorable and perhaps your favorite character. Bambis beautiful eyes when he looks up for the first time, Flowers (the skunk) blush when he meets his lady love, the wise owl when he becomes grumpy and puffs out his huge chest. If you are interested in the how and why of film-making buy the digital restored 2 disc version, the second disc has good inside information on Disneys meetings, his notes, etc. This disc also has eight interactive games and more for children.
This is definitely a must see movie.
[...]
On: 2005-05-12
I recently watched Walt Disneys film Bambi for the first time in many years. What a joy it was. I first saw this beautiful movie as a child in grammar school. What I most remember is a teacher comforting me while I cried as Bambi called out to his mother, I heard the shot and realized his mother was dead. I thought that I had remembered the whole movie. What I did not remember was the brutality, but that shows just how powerfully positive this movie really is. Early on in the movie Bambis mother alerts him to dangers of man and his guns. You see Bambi cowering before coming out to play in the meadow. Later his mother is killed; the forest is burned. A bird panics and is killed on the fly. Oh My! Of course, Spring arrives and all is right with the world again. If your little one is going to watch this video, it would do well to stay nearby, just in case he or she has questions. That being said, there are many positives in this beautiful animated movie. Although you never see Thumpers dad there is a lot of sage advice from him. When Thumper says that baby Bambi "doesnt walk very good, does he?", his mother replys "What did your father say?" Thumper lowers his head and responds "If you cant say somethin nice, dont say nothin at all." There are other bits of wisdom because Thumper, the little rabbit, just has to say what he thinks and feels.
This movie has everything we hold dear; family, a parents love, enduring friendship, death, rebirth of nature and becoming adult and having your own family. Walt Disneys Bambi is about the circle of life.
Each of the animated characters have their own larger-than-life personalities, and all are quite beautiful. Each one has an outstanding feature that makes him memorable and perhaps your favorite character. Bambis beautiful eyes when he looks up for the first time, Flowers (the skunk) blush when he meets his lady love, the wise owl when he becomes grumpy and puffs out his huge chest. If you are interested in the how and why of film-making buy the digital restored 2 disc version, the second disc has good inside information on Disneys meetings, his notes, etc. This disc also has eight interactive games and more for children.
This is definitely a must see movie.
[...]
On: 2005-05-09
Sweet as can be! a story of timeless beauty, wonder, life, and love. Walt was way ahead of his time on this one. this is a Classic that should be in every household. (video or DVD)
i saw Bambi in the theater as a kid, and my kids have the video and the new DVD. all the kids and grandkids love it as i did. the simple joys of nature. we love the part when Bambi is on the ice pond... funny! we all can learn something from Thumper - the classic quote we all know - "if you cant say something nice, dont say anything at all."
of course, we all cry every time Bambis mother is killed... sniff...
when my dear hubby, Norman brings home a deer after going hunting with the boys, my kids all cry, "You killed Bambis mother!" they are used to it by now, and its like a family joke, cause they say that even when its a buck.
we love Flower, the skunk, and the owl, and Faline, and all the sweet characters. we even had a bunny named "thumper" a while back. (no we didnt eat him!) and, we enjoy the sweet music and artistic scenery. just lovely.
On: 2005-05-08
I saw Bambi as a kid when it was re-released in theaters. I havent bought any of the other Disney platinum DVDs, but I knew I had to buy Bambi. Since it had been so long since Id seen the movie, I had forgotten most of what happened in it. The only major things I remembered were that Bambis mother died and the forest fire. So when I watched the DVD, I felt like I was watching Bambi for the first time. I think this is the most adorable animated film ever. All of the main characters are endearing and even though I knew Bambis mother would die, I still couldnt help but shed a few tears when it happened. The extras are great. I loved watching "The Old Mill". It was kind of refreshing to watch an animated film with no dialogue. I was fascinated by how Disney came up with the multi-plane technique of animation, it definitely adds realism! I was also interested in how the Disney studios have preserved the old Bambi drawings. I definitely understand why Bambi is considered a classic and deservedly so. It has a sweet innocence to it despite the death of Bambis mother and some violence. After all, animals DO fight and die in nature. A wonderful movie!
On: 2005-04-29
having been an avid disney collector since the age i was when i first opened my eyes, i felt it was my duty to at least own a copy of bambi. god, i wish i hadnt.
Bambi is towards the top of the top ten worst films category.
theres only hype about it because mummy deer gets shot and it was disneys favourite film.
the plot is terrible, the characters are boring and the music is tripe.
one of my friends said that her fiance was going to buy the new disney dvd for valentines day - and was gushing about how sweet it was.
i was like, WHY????????
bambi is the worst disney film ever made, very closely followed by fanatasia.
sorry, but its true.
On: 2005-04-26
Disney sure knows how to put together one awesome DVD. Not only is this a great classic film, but it is loaded with extras (so much that you need a map in the little booklet inside to help you navigate). When you get this DVD, youre not only getting the great movie, but the packaging is awesome as well. The booklet that comes inside covers sooo many things and is just as exciting as the movie itself!
On: 2005-04-24
This movie is a must have for any DVD collection. Children and adults can enjoy this movie over and over again.
by: Anonymous On: 2005-04-18
This is NOT a childrens film. The review calling parents whose children cried at this film bad parents is completely ignorant, close-minded, two-faced and immature. thats why Im writing this review. Thank you to those people who didnt find that childish review helpful.
First of all, like I said, the film wasnt for children alone. With the themes of hunting, it has a message aimed at adults.
Young Bambi lost his mother. Thats a harsh reality many children have faced. Its time the rest of the world face it. In case you dont notice, many children live in poor, third-world, war-torn countries where parents are killed by PEOPLE WITH BIG BUTT-UGLY GUNS and children left alone to fend for themselves. Thats a reality. We should try to educate children about this, and help those in need, not hide our own children from this difficult truth.
Second of all, as for the sexual innuendo, what do you expect? Bambis mother was a deer! Deer dont wear clothing. In fact, in the entire movie, no animal wore clothing! Its their nature! No anthromorphisism, please! Its no different from going into a hospital and seeing a new mother nursing her baby. If you ask me, a bit of knowledge on sexuality is healthy for children. Then theyll understand it better later on when they have to.
And as for Bambis name, complaining about it is childish, especially when you consider the fact bambi in Indian means baby. If you have a problem against strippers using this name, complain to the strippers, not the people at Disney Studios.
The final fall; people complaining about the animation. Face it: the animation is beautiful. Dont forget; its from 1942. Really impressive for 1942. Besides, its character development, and the story, not the animation, that makes a movie a good movie. Think: Shark Tale?
The message of Bambi is that although there may be bad in this world, there is always hope, and good to oppose it. In Bambi, that hope came in the forms of bravery and sacrifice. The Prince of the Forest delivered all the animals from Humans once, and did it for his son again when Bambi was shot. Bambi saved Faline from the dogs. Although Bambis mother was shot, with her shooting, her son was saved. Frankly, I dont see how this differs much from what we saw on battlefields during wars, or even what is happening in third-world countries today. In fact, the Messiah Himself was sacrificed for the sake of Mankind, for love, and for eliminiating evil.
I know how many parents wish for their children to live a perfect, unspoiled existence, with no films on reality to mar that dream. We all want that sort of unmarred world. But wait now: that perfect, unspoiled world does not exist. It never has, as long as civilization has existed. There was bad in the world before, and there is now. Thats the message the film is sending at us. Bambis careless childhood was quickly run over with the responsiblilties of adulthood, and all the evil leaking in. But bravery and sacrifice can help to make this world better. That is the message of Bambi, and it is a good one. If children are not educated about the bad things in the world, they will find it difficult to cope with such things in real life. Showing your children this film and the realities of the world, and possibly making them cry at this is NOT BAD PARENTING. Keeping your children safe from knowing about these things is BAD PARENTING.
So thanks to all those who placed this film on the best viewing lists.
On: 2005-04-17
This is NOT a childrens film. The review calling parents whose children cried at this film bad parents is completely ignorant, close-minded, two-faced and immature. thats why Im writing this review. Thank you to those people who didnt find that childish review helpful.
First of all, like I said, the film wasnt for children alone. With the themes of hunting, it has a message aimed at adults.
Young Bambi lost his mother. Thats a harsh reality many children have faced. Its time the rest of the world face it. In case you dont notice, many children live in poor, third-world, war-torn countries where parents are killed by PEOPLE WITH BIG BUTT-UGLY GUNS and children left alone to fend for themselves. Thats a reality. We should try to educate children about this, and help those in need, not hide our own children from this difficult truth.
Second of all, as for the sexual innuendo, what do you expect? Bambis mother was a deer! Deer dont wear clothing. In fact, in the entire movie, no animal wore clothing! Its their nature! No anthromorphisism, please! Its no different from going into a hospital and seeing a new mother nursing her baby. If you ask me, a bit of knowledge on sexuality is healthy for children. Then theyll understand it better later on when they have to.
And as for Bambis name, complaining about it is childish, especially when you consider the fact bambi in Indian means baby. If you have a problem against strippers using this name, complain to the strippers, not the people at Disney Studios.
The final fall; people complaining about the animation. Face it: the animation is beautiful. Dont forget; its from 1942. Really impressive for 1942. Besides, its character development, and the story, not the animation, that makes a movie a good movie. Think: Shark Tale?
The message of Bambi is that although there may be bad in this world, there is always hope, and good to oppose it. In Bambi, that hope came in the forms of bravery and sacrifice. The Prince of the Forest delivered all the animals from Humans once, and did it for his son again when Bambi was shot. Bambi saved Faline from the dogs. Although Bambis mother was shot, with her shooting, her son was saved. Frankly, I dont see how this differs much from what we saw on battlefields during wars, or even what is happening in third-world countries today. In fact, the Messiah Himself was sacrificed for the sake of Mankind, for love, and for eliminiating evil.
I know how many parents wish for their children to live a perfect, unspoiled existence, with no films on reality to mar that dream. We all want that sort of unmarred world. But wait now: that perfect, unspoiled world does not exist. It never has, as long as civilization has existed. There was bad in the world before, and there is now. Thats the message the film is sending at us. Bambis careless childhood was quickly run over with the responsiblilties of adulthood, and all the evil leaking in. But bravery and sacrifice can help to make this world better. That is the message of Bambi, and it is a good one. If children are not educated about the bad things in the world, they will find it difficult to cope with such things in real life. Showing your children this film and the realities of the world, and possibly making them cry at this is NOT BAD PARENTING. Keeping your children safe from knowing about these things is BAD PARENTING.
So thanks to all those who placed this film on the best viewing lists.
On: 2005-04-15
While watching the DVD, I grew upset because I thought they had changed it. I remembered certain phrases and things that I wasnt seeing.
But I also own a 55th anniversary VHS copy of the film that I hadnt seen in years.. I popped it in to compare the two.
There is no change that I can see except for the color/sound.
If you liked the original Bambi, youll like this ;)
Mystmoon
by: audrey_the_librarian On: 2005-04-06
Bambi deserves this terrific two-disc platinum edition, and its as wonderul as youd come to expect if youve seen other Disney platinum edition DVDs. I received this DVD set gratis from Disney and was widely held in high esteem in our household, as everyone is thrilled with the film and the special features.
The movie itself has been restored and looks and sounds great, in full-screen mode on Disk One.
Disk Two contains the special features, which are plentiful and quite well done. These include a making-of featurette as well as a featurette about the restoration and the animation process, including a story board meeting with Walt himself; a "time capsule" for 1942, the year of Bambis release; an animated short; deleted scenes; a virtual forest to wander through; a story about Thumper; a Disneypedia of the forest animals; a game and a personality quiz.
Subtitles are available in English.
On: 2005-04-04
Although the animation is incredible. In fact, Walt Disneys gorgeously drawn paean to Nature is one of the most beautiful animated films ever made. And there are important Life lessons to be learned here as well, about love, loss, growth etc. Kids weaned on "The Incredibles" and "Finding Nemo," however, might be a bit bored. Theres no plot to speak of, the music is corny, the humor quaint. Older kids in particular will probably want to switch to "Spider-Man 2" or their Nintendo. To be honest, as an adult Disney fan I much prefer "Pinocchio" and "Dumbo" from this period, both of which have great humor, plot and lots and lots of heart. (And theyre beautifully animated as well.) My humble opinion: "Bambi" is obviously an important and significant achievement in animation. Its sweet, pretty to look at, but thats about all.
On: 2005-04-03
Although the animation is incredible. In fact, Walt Disneys gorgeously drawn paean to Nature is one of the most beautiful animated films ever made. And there are important Life lessons to be learned here as well, about love, loss, growth etc. Kids weaned on "The Incredibles" and "Finding Nemo," however, might be a bit bored. Theres no plot to speak of, the music is corny, the humor quaint. Older kids in particular will probably want to switch to "Spider-Man 2" or their Nintendo. To be honest, as an adult Disney fan I much prefer "Pinocchio" and "Dumbo" from this period, both of which have great humor, plot and lots and lots of heart. (And theyre beautifully animated as well.) My humble opinion: "Bambi" is obviously an important and significant achievement in animation. Its sweet, pretty to look at, but thats about all.
On: 2005-04-02
It is a wonderful Disney movie that kids still enjoy today. It is a well told story with lots of positive values for kids and adults. Be prepared to shed a tear or two if you havent seen it.
by: Anonymous On: 2005-04-01
My mom bought this for me because she knows I love Bambi. Im normally a dog person so people that know me would say I liked 101 Dalmatainas or Lady and The Tramp. Nope. Bambi takes the cake! I love this one! It is sad but Its so cute too! I love when Bambi meets Feline! So cute!^_^
On: 2005-03-31
This movie is heartbreaking. The only thing sadder is when Dumbo is separated from his mother.
On: 2005-03-31
My mom bought this for me because she knows I love Bambi. Im normally a dog person so people that know me would say I liked 101 Dalmatainas or Lady and The Tramp. Nope. Bambi takes the cake! I love this one! It is sad but Its so cute too! I love when Bambi meets Feline! So cute!^_^
On: 2005-03-29
Disney, ever fond of formulas, long ago settled into a set presentation of DVD bonus content. Buena Vista discs serve up extras with consistency and efficiency, like digital happy meals. As with the studios feature films, however, the creative team occasionally bolts from the paddock, with delightful results.
For the DVD debut of the seminal "Bambi" (1942), the studio unearthed transcriptions of Walt Disneys story meetings and had capable actors work them like scripts. The audio gets visual accompaniment from scenes from the film, inset shots of those speaking, sketches, storyboards and docu footage. Fascinating, even for hard-hearts who cant sit through the film.
Walt Disney says "swell" a lot and delights in the possibilities of his project. "Its Bambi, Thumper and Flower -- thats your story," Disney tells his collaborators. "What youre really selling the public is the personality." Sometimes "the story gets in the way." He says working on "Fantasia" attuned him to the power of music in animation. "Youve got to keep the music in mind when youre building it."
Animal anatomy consultant Rico Lebrun urges the group to break out of its "Snow White" mindset. "We want to characture animals as animals, not as humans. Not as though some human was dressed up in a deer suit."
Story man Perce Pearce notes that the mother deer being shot by a hunter is the first death in a Disney picture. "The whole audience is gonna say, Oh, shes going to get up. But she doesnt." (Walt: "Heavy.")
The rest of the double-disc set features a dazzling restoration and an appealing suite of extras. The making-of shows how much "The Lion King" owed its ancestor. Here we find "the original circle of life" -- its descendant high-concepted as "Bambi" in Africa.
by: Anonymous On: 2005-03-29
First off, I would like to congragulate Disney for making such a wonderful movie. The scenery was magnificent and the colorful charctors were spectacular! Of course, with every movie their always is minor setbacks. One thing for sure was the use of the word "Twitterpated". When Friend Owl explains the word to Teen Bambi, Teen Thumper, and Teen Flower. They are shocked beyond words. What Friend Owl was trying to explain was "Love". Of course, Teen Bambi, Teen Thumper, and Teen Flower take things way too seriously and one by one, they fall head over heels in love. First Teen Flower, then Teen Thumper, and it finishes off with Bambi and the return of Faline. Of course, Bambi still is mad at Faline for continously teasing him in their childhood but soon, Teen Bambi falls in love. A word of caution: For those who havent seen Bambi yet, ignore what I just said..But above all: The disney Studios plan on making a another Bambi! It starts right after Bambis mom dies and The Great Prince of The Forest takes the innocent fawn as his son. But dont hold your breath, Bambi and The Great Prince of The Forest wont be coming out untill 2006.
On: 2005-03-28
I cant tell Disney how happy I am that they have decided to restore each classic film and sell it on DVD its opening up a whole new generation to watch and enjoy personally, I cant be anymore thrilled.
Bambi in this DVD is still just as precious and as timeless but, has been dutifully and loving restored by the animators at Disney and it amazes me how with their pain-staken effort the animation stays the same yet manages to out-shine the orginal version.
The DVD features are really wonderful the kids will enjoy some of the games on the second and I love looking through the orginal sketches as well as listening to the story-board meetings and hearing what Disney had to say.Few people know how close Bambi was to Disneys heart he began work for it when Snow White was still in production and it took him many years to complete.
The story has stayed the same and as much as I love it now as an adult I cant say I was too fond of it when I was a kid. Bambis mother being killed was a little too hard for me to deal with. Now, as an adult I am happy to own this in my DVD collection and be able to share it with the next generation. The characters manage to seem so precious and sweet(My favorites are Thumper and Flower)... the story is still as timeless as it was when the movie was made and still just as sweet. This is the movie done in a time when Disney got animation right.
The great thing about these two-disc DVDs is it shows that through time no matter what your age that these classic will be here for generations and the breed the next group of Disney fans.Watch this movie with your kids and let them now enjoy the magic of Disney done right.
On: 2005-03-28
I didnt see Bambi in the theaters until I was in college and I remember being blown away by the animation in it. This restoration has renewed my admiration for the animators who worked on this film. The animation looks almost 3-D in its use of the multiplane camera technique. The colors are brilliant and the soundtrack is even more glorious than I remembered. Yes, there are a few slow parts to the film, but scene of Bambi on the ice is hilarious and the excitement of the forest fire and Bambi and his fathers escape from it will keep you riveted to the screen. One very curious thing I noticed in the extras disc, the film was originally marketed as a love story. Anyway, the extras keep you interested in the techniques used to draw the film and how it was restored. A must have for any family, or kid at heart like me.
On: 2005-03-28
I already owned Bambi on VHS, but when I saw the DVD edition was going to come out, I had to own it. The difference when compared to the VHS is amazing. Add the features and this 2-disc set is well worth it. The hand-restoration is just gorgeous, it brings the film to life with vibrant color, as it was so long ago on those screens in 1942, but still preserves the spark and innocence of the film as well, even keeping a little bit of grainy feel to it.
One can also really appreciate the care and technique of this set due to the fact that Disney has fired all of their 2-d animators, instead relying on computers for animation now.
First, when I was viewing the trailer of the movie, I realized that the fight scene between Bambi and the other buck was nearly similar to the animation style of The Lion King, showing its timelessness and influence today. And of course, there is the birth/circle of life scene influence as well.
Anyhow.
Inside Walt Disneys Story Meetings is a fascinating look at the conception of Bambi. Disney well-known to act out the entire story for his animators and share with them his vision. Here, a recording ( with actors ) of the meeting is played and the artwork he is speaking about is shown as the recording plays. You get to see the process of idea translate to final product and the whole piece is really worth a look. This is to replace an audio commentary, and includes split-screens and this really is a gem to see, especially for any hard-core animation fan or Disney fan.
Deleted Scenes contains two sequences that are comprised of storyboards, animated, and pulled from the Disney archives.
Games and Activities is just that. A collection of games. Each clustered under a season, they range from catching falling objects, to manuvering Thumper off the ice before time runs out.
DisneyPedia is a segment of real-life nature clips interspersed with clips from the film, and provides various nature facts and trivia.
Whats Your Season is a personality quiz that lets you take a simple test and determine your season much like other personality quizzes.
Thumper Goes Exploring is another addition for the children. It consists of a read-a-long about Thumper.
Virtual Forest is a segment of a forest animated throughout the seasons.
Making of Bambi: The Prince is Born is a great documentary that is divided into segments about the construction of the film. The Lion King parallels are touched on here, as is the importance of story, the loss of life, etc, as well as the revolutionary ( at the time ) animation process, the voice casting, the score, backgrounds, etc. It employs film clips, interviews, audio, animation and more to be a very interesting piece.
Restoring Bambi is a look on how the film was hand-restored for DVD from an original print.
The Legacy Continues is basically a teaser for straight-to-video release of what is essentially Bambi 2. The film will fill the gap between his relationship with his father and will be out in 2006.
Disney Time Capsule: The Year of Bambi is a look at the events of 1942, the year the film was released.
The Art of Bambi is a collection of images, 100s, of storyboards, sketches, concept art, backgrounds, posters, character design, etc. Pretty and worth a look.
Tricks of the Trade features Walt Disney introducing and explaining the mechanics of the multi-plane camera which was a revolution in animation, allowing the artists/camera operators to split cels into different planes, and achieve better performances with panning scenes - such as Bambis opener sequence. It is best to watch this, then the Old Mill or the opening of Bambi, to really appreciate this innovation.
Inside the Disney Archives features another look into the archives, with cut art and concepts from the movie.
The Old Mill is a classic cartoon that features the use of the multi-plane camera, and is just fun to watch, being one of the great Silly Symphonies from way back when.
The Original Trailer is the 1942 technicolor trailer that lured audiences to the film. It shows a great number of clips from the film and is a nice gem to have on DVD, considering its age.
All in all, if youre a Disney fan, an animation fan, Bambis 2 disc set was well worth the wait. The discs are a treasure trove of things for adults and kids alike, and really provide some great insight into this classic. Without which we wouldnt have films like The Lion King of Finding Nemo.
On: 2005-03-28
This was my favorite movie when I was little! I watched almost everyday!
On: 2005-03-24
From the first few moments of the new DVD of "Bambi", as the camera weaves through a forest, you realize you are in for a treat.
Recently, on another Disney DVD, they had a documentary about the camera that Disney Studios created to achieve this shot. It contained different levels of glass on which the various parts of the forest were painted. The levels of glass could move up and down, side to side, giving the illusion of a camera panning through an actual forest, weaving between trees.
This shot is simply remarkable. On the DVD, it is also restored, giving the shot the illusion of a photograph.
As the camera moves into the thicket, all of the other forest creatures are excited. The new Prince has been born. Soon, we see Bambi, a new fawn, sleeping at his mothers side. As the other animals approach, Bambi wakes up and tries to stand on his wobbly legs. As he grows, he meets Thumper, a rabbit, and Flower, a skunk and they have all manner of adventures together.
"Bambi", originally released in 1942, is one of the Classics that Disney himself worked on. It is a beautiful film to watch. All of the backgrounds were rendered by hand and some appear to be so lifelike they can pass for photographs. Because the film was restored for this DVD, these pictures are bright and clear, and might have been animated yesterday.
Yes, animated films have a reputation of hordes of talking, fuzzy animals, and that certainly holds true in "Bambi". What is refreshing here is that the characters arent annoyingly cute. Also, the film is balanced nicely with scenes of darkness and menace. For every cutesy scene, there is a scene of Bambi and his mother walking through the winter landscape looking for food. For every scene of twitterpation, there is a scene of Bambi and his mother running from hunters.
"Bambi" is not a perfect film, but it comes close. My one complaint is that the film appears more episodic than Disneys other classics. This is partially mandates by the story. The film follows the course of Bambis life from one season to the next. But the film appears more episodic than necessary because each season is broken up by a short piece depicting leaves falling, snow melting, etc.
"Bambi: The Collectors Edition" follows a long line of high quality, fun and informative Disney DVDs. The Disney DVDs of the classic films are truly encyclopedias on disc. They always contain the absolute best quality of sight and sound, using the best quality print they can find. Often, they have restored the print. They also contain tons of archival footage. Perhaps the stand out in the "Bambi" package is called "Inside Walts Story Meetings", a new documentary hosted by Patrick Stewart (more on him later). While preparing this DVD, they found transcripts of the story meetings during the making of this film and have created a new documentary out of this material. Can any aspiring or working filmmaker not watch this? This is fascinating stuff that will surely educate anyone with an inkling to learn more about film. Disc Two contains a lot of other archival material and Making Of stuff.
Previous Disney DVDs have been organized in a way that seems to fit. The film and the `family friendly material were on Disc One. The more educational and archival material were on Disc Two. In "Bambi", they have not used this formula. The film and "Inside Walts Story Meetings" are on Disc One. The other archival material and `family friendly games and material are on Disc Two. I am not sure why they changed this, but it seems odd.
Disney is a company that has a well-built marketing machine. Just about everything is made or released with some other promotion or goal in mind. "Bambi" is being released on DVD to generate revenue for the company, but also to promote the new Direct to DVD film "Bambi and The Prince of The Forest". Of course, there is a preview for the new film on the disc. It appears that the story of the new film is an elaboration of a brief sequence in the original. The new film depicts the relationship of Bambi and his father (Patrick Stewart) after the tragic events in the original film, but before Bambi grows up. From the few scenes in the trailer, they have captured Bambi, Thumper and Flower well, but the backgrounds appear stale and two-dimensional.
"Bambi: The Collectors Edition" is a definite must have. If you have kids, you need to expose them to what quality animation looks like. If you are an aspiring filmmaker, you need to have access to the encyclopedia of information contained on the two DVDs. If you are an adult, you will want to relive the moments that moved you when you were a child.
On: 2005-03-24
The original Bambi has life and imagination in almost scene. The raindrop sequence especially remains the most vivid spectacle of animation. Has anyone actually compared this version to the original. It has the look and feel of a video game.Yes we have the slickness and bland reworking of the depth and color. I was appalled how lifeless the characters became. Bambi was a piece of art not because of the story but because of the actual drawings of the forest and the musical score. This movie has the ultrasheen modern vacant look of Lilo and Stitch or The Lion King. It could be any modern cartoon, perfected by computer without a hint of human participation. The real Bambi rates 5 stars. This version I would like to return to the store but instead I will just throw it away. Its awful to destroy a classic film for commerce.
On: 2005-03-24
Me and my husband picked this up for my 22 month old daughter. The newly enhanced color was great..but I found the film still to be a bit dark compared to the cartoons of today. I know, I know they did what they could and in these times cartoons have come a LONG way. My daughter might be a tad young for this because she seemed to lose interest alot. I think once she gets older she will enjoy it more. It still was a great investment in a wonderful Disney classic.
On: 2005-03-22
Walt Disneys Bambi is the picture of innocence. This family classic was recently digitally restored to, no doubt, better than its original beauty. The colors remain somewhat muted, though. These are not the vibrant colors of a yellow brick road.
Most people know the character Bambi (and dont forget Thumper!), but did you know that he was born to be the Prince of the forest and that his father, who was wiser and older than all the other deer was the forest king? Its true. When Bambis mother is out of the picture, Bambis kingly father steps in to raise the prince. When we see Bambi in the end of the movie, he has a family of his own and his given rise to another forest prince. The seasons and cycles of life, death, and rebirth come full circle and repeat.
This is an American classic that everyone should see. Its an indelible part of American culture and one that shows just how innocent movies once were.
Treat yourself and your family to the newly restored Bambi and see how innocent American film once was. Bambi is a classic that rises above genre.
by: Anonymous On: 2005-03-21
I watched it, little sister got bored of it, me too. It was okay i guess, i used to like bambi, but once i see it again, it was um...yawning. im waiting for bambi and the great prince, i saw the trailer, it was way better than the original bambi. just cant wait until 2006! lol!
On: 2005-03-20
I watched it, little sister got bored of it, me too. It was okay i guess, i used to like bambi, but once i see it again, it was um...yawning. im waiting for bambi and the great prince, i saw the trailer, it was way better than the original bambi. just cant wait until 2006! lol!
On: 2005-03-18
I actually ended up giving away my copy. Its still a classic and the picture looks good with the color restore but I feel when Bambi was little is the best part of the flick, after that it tends to get a little boring.
On: 2005-03-16
I bought this DVD for my two and half year old son and was horrified to see how violent it is. Bambis mother is murdered by hunters, dogs maul deers, animals are burned in fires, deers fight and birds are shot. I know all the arguments about tapping into the fears of children, but in this case, I feel this movie creates, rather than taps into those fears. Stick to films like Dumbo or Nemo, which manage to communicate similar ideas in a less brutal manner.
On: 2005-03-15
I love this movie. It still makes me cry. But I keep hoping someday someone will make a version of the *real* Bambi. The real book animal by Felix Salton. This book is not a "childrens" book, folks. Its very Nietche (sp?) and delves into isgodmanisgodismanisgodmanisgodmanisgod? This could make quite a subject for Pixar, et al.
And Bambis Children is an even better book.
Meanwhile, the movie can still make me cry.
by: johnlindsey289 On: 2005-03-13
This is the story of a young fawn deer named "Bambi" who has two friends, they are a skunk named "Flower" and a rabbit named "Thumper", his mother later gets killed and grows up to discover the wonders of life in the forest.
A unique, memorable and inspiring disney movie that is considered to be Walts personal fave of all his movies. I think it was later semi-remade as "The Lion King", which is another disney movie that has similar ideas just like this movie with the whole "Circle of life" idea, what makes its a classic is the artwork, different kind of animation technics, music score and emotion.
The new 2-Disc Platinum Edition DVD is awesome! simply stunning picture and sound done by THX and a handful of extras such as a full length Inside Walts story meetings on Bambi, deleted scenes, games especially a virtual forrest, featurettes on the movie becoming a beloved classic, a sneek peek at the new Bambi movie coming next year, still galleries, a excerpt from Walt Disney Presents, the award winning " The Old Mill" short and the original theatrical trailer.
This is a nessecery have for any animation and movie lovers DVD collection.
On: 2005-03-11
The reviewer who was disappointed that this film was cut was quite wrong...you NEVER saw the mother shot. Thats what is so powerful about this movie...they knew what to leave OUT. Very subtle, very much unlike most films today where they feel it necessary to beat you over the head with the obvious. If theres a more powerful scene in movies than the death of Bambis mother, the simple one-line explanation by his father, and the walk off into the snow with one last look back for his lost innocence...well, Ive never seen one. I suspect that the reviewer hadnt seen the film since he was a kid, and remembered what he THOUGHT he saw - if you watch the section with the story conferences, youll see they discussed showing the mother shot and falling to the ground, but decided it was much more powerful to let that happen offscreen. So powerful, in fact, that many people actually remember seeing it onscreen.
Great movie, beautifully cleaned up, and for those of you who REALLY know this film - the disappearing raccoon doesnt disappear anymore!
by: canadian3 On: 2005-03-11
I was born in 1983 so I missed the "classic" Disney era, so I grew up on the Disney formula of late which is to have about 5 songs in the span of an hour and it does get irritating where a character would do something than just break into song. In the classic days, there was usually songs in the background done by a choir or a character in the film but it wouldnt seem instrusive like Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. Bambi looks like a simple film but theres quite a lot going on for it.
If the introduction reminds you of the Lion King, this is where those guys got the idea for their film. It starts with the birth of the prince Bambi, a deer whos extremely timid and doesnt have the greatest of balance. He eventually befriends Thumper, a mischievous rabbit and Flower, a really happy skunk(I hate to say gay but youll see what I mean).
From there we explore Bambi as he understands his new world, from knowing the distance between a bird and a butterfly, the slipperyness of ice and other life lessons, including the loss of a loved one. I remember being about 5 watching the scene with Bambis mother and since her death(as if its a spoiler at this point) is offscreen, I couldnt understand what happened since as kids, we cant really think outside the box and put 2 and 2 together.
Its interesting that when I showed people that I bought this, a lot of them couldnt understand that why I, a big fan of Aliens, Terminator 2 and the Godfather would watch Bambi but really theres 2 things: it is a charming film if you watch it knowing youre watching a Disney film and 2, apparently mothers really find it adorable if you watch these willingly.
The one thing as usual I cant stand with Disney and you probably hate this too is the fact that Disney releases a film for awhile then they completely call back the DVDs that didnt sell and keep them. I cant find Beauty and the Beast anywhere and Alice in Wonderland is extremely rare to find. I found one copy of Aladdin and go figure, Disney forgot to put the damn movie in the case so I exchanged it for this instead. So Id suggest picking this up not only for its rarity but for its charm.
On: 2005-03-11
Once again, just like every movie before it, "Bambi" has been edited. I remember crying and tearing up as a child (and there is nothing wrong with that), but if you think youll get the same swell of emotion while watching it, its not even worth it.
The fateful scene has been cut with no gun, no scope, no feeling, no emotion. Just a "bang" while bambi is running, and when he turns around the father says his famous line. Thats it. I really wish I hasnt supported Disney and their "re-inventing" of films. It will go back just like Aladdin and The Little Mermaid did.
Thank you Disney for ruining my memories.
On: 2005-03-10
Im not going to bore you with an entire breakdown of the plot and every detail contained on the DVD. Im going to give it to you point blank: If you watched or owned Bambi on VHS, buy the DVD immedietly. It looks like a completely new movie that was made yesterday. Its absolutely beautiful. You wont regret it.
On: 2005-03-10
Disney has again opened their vaults and lovingly restored one of their treasured classics to pristine beauty! I watched Bambi as a child but watching it now, through new eyes, I was amazed at the beauty of the artwork, the child-like expressions on the animal characters, the musical score and of course, the story itself. This movie covers grown-up themes with a child-like innocence in a very heart-warming story. The 2 Disc DVD contains many extras about the movies origin, history, restoration, artwork, musical score and more; plus fun games and activities for the kids. This nostalgic classic is a must-have for any Disney collector. Watch it and relive the magic all over again!
On: 2005-03-10
Once again, just like every movie before it, "Bambi" has been edited. I remember crying and tearing up as a child (and there is nothing wrong with that), but if you think youll get the same swell of emotion while watching it, its not even worth it.
The fateful scene has been cut with no gun, no scope, no feeling, no emotion. Just a "bang" while bambi is running, and when he turns around the father says his famous line. Thats it. I really wish I hasnt supported Disney and their "re-inventing" of films. It will go back just like Aladdin and The Little Mermaid did.
Thank you Disney for ruining my memories.
On: 2005-03-09
It is impossible to believe that any child who sees Bambis mother shot to death by a hunter will ever grow up to be one. Will he or she ever want to handle a gun at all? One might even wonder how anyone who loved Bambi could enjoy a dinner of Veal Parmigiano, but perhaps that goes too far for most. One can also think, as Man destroys the edenic forest by failing to watch over his campfire, of the rivers he is polluting and the atmosphere he is poisoning with equal disregard.
Viewing Bambi with my adult mind, I saw it for the powerful criticism of the human species that it was, rather than as a kiddie cartoon. In 1942 nature "grew back" despite the devastation, but those days were pre- nuclear. Will it still?
Enough has been said of the magnificent restoration, the digital technology, the behind-the- scenes documentary. We are used to all that by now.
Im giving my five stars to the "message."
by: brade_runnar On: 2005-03-09
You heard me. The 5.1 track is subtle and not too heavy on the rear speakers, but is still very good. The film looks incredibly crisp and beautiful after 63 years. A must-buy.
On: 2005-03-09
Disney has finally brought this beloved classic into the 21st century. Completely restored and remastered, Bambi is a triumph of animation art. Younger children may have a hard time understanding the subtle nuances within this film, but with proper parental guidance, even they will enjoy this wonderful film.
Children of all ages will delight in watching Bambi explore his world as a young faun and meet his predestined best friends, Thumper and Flower. The ups and downs of childhood are beautifully displayed as Bambi grows and learns to accept his place as the young Prince of the Forest.
And, anyone who has ever been "twitter pated" will love watching the three friends, Bambi, Thumper, and Flower, succumb to the natural thoughts of youth in the spring.
Thank you, Disney, for returning this classic to the young and young at heart everywhere!
by: bpwest711 On: 2005-03-08
Bambi isnt just one of Disneys best animated features, it truly is a work of stunning art. Really. The entire film is so gorgeously imagined, choreographed and executed that it may move you in its sheer beauty, not to mention the fact that it is a wonderfully layered story appropriate for nearly anyone anywhere. It is fascinating to watch it as the precursor to nearly all of Disneys later triumphs, perhaps most of all The Lion King. It is essentially the same story, told through a different species. Even the settings, and the dramatic use of nature as integral to the scenic look of the film, recall so many other, later Disney films. Your children will love it, and yes, theyll be devastated by its most heart-wrenching plot twist. But its also a wonderful way to introduce bits of lifes crueler twists of fate -- and to discuss them as a family. Bravo Bambi!
On: 2005-03-07
At first, I wasnt sure if I really wanted to purchase this movie or not.
However, now Im really glad that I have. I think I was reluctant because when I saw it the first time as a kid I didnt really understand what the purpose of the movie was. In a way, Bambi is a bit dark for kids. I love Bambi because of the simplicity of the storyline and the beauty of the
music. The music on its own is like another character and really describes whats going on in the movie.
This D.V.D. set is wonderful because it goes inside Disneys private vault and it has some excellent games for all ages alike. I even found some of the games a bit more challenging then I would have liked. This is a really good family movie. However, I would suggest that children be a bit older to watch so that they completely understand what is happening in the movie.
On: 2005-03-06
First i would like to say thank you disney for bringing back one of my all time childhood favorites. Bambie is a great movie made for all ages, even a 19 yr. old like me. Its filled with lessons people should take to heart, like Thumper and this famous line, "If you cant say nothing nice, dont say nothin at all" I really know some people who need to take that lesson to heart. And ill admit it, bambies mothers death still makes me cry, no matter how many times i see it. I get so mad tooo because you know that hunter had to see that the doe was with a foul, and shot anyways....how evil can you get? Thats one of the main points in the film, the evil of mankind. For it was man who killed bambies mother and it was man who burned down the forest.
Some people may think that there may not be too much differance between their old VHS version and the DVD besides the special features and i would like to point out that you are dead wrong. The color is brilliant! Never before has Bambie ever been so vibrant and alive! My breath was taken away as i viewed its brilliance. And the music! Masterful! I love great music and Bambie has some of the best disney can offer. I urge you to relive your childhood like me and get bambie. Buy it for yourself, but it for your kids....just get it! Now while you can! Its only going to be available for a limited time, then people are going to start selling them online for outrageous amounts just like Beauty and The Beast. Please but it, you wont be dissapointed.
by: wtdk On: 2005-03-06
Walt Disney opened the vein of fear that drives children and adults alike with his animated classic films. Disney understood, like the Grimms before him, that the same fears are at the heart of what motivate children as they do adults. In the uncertain and haunted world of the 40s where war and loss hung like a specter stalking every aspect of American life, Disney mined that vein of fear, loss and death and turned it on its head recognizing that the optimism and can-do attitude of the American dream could triumph but not undo the nightmares of the past. Thats why Walts films continue to resonate today even with fancy computer animated effects and larger than life villains. He knew that the worst monsters could be our next door neighbors. Disney adapted a modern sensibility to the same fears that the Grimms paraded in their tales.
Thats why "Bambi" despite its pacing from a slower, less attention challenged era still has power and poignancy. As a kid everything you need to know about life can be learned from a Walt Disney film. The loss of innocence, the cruelty of others, the compassion of friends and the big "D" all crop up in every Disney film. Its ironic because Disneys films, unlike other animators of the time, werent afraid to tackle the very things that both scared and delighted kids. The two big themes that figure in Disney films rear their heads in "Bambi" when death and the cruel world outside try to erase Bambis innocence from existence. Were immediately thrown into Bambis world and his life with his mom. When Bambis mom is killed he becomes an orphan adopted by his new found friends Thumper and Flower. Kids will love the interaction between these characters. While the films pacing may be a tad slow for children below the age of six used to the rapid fire editing of "Aladdin" and more recent Disney classics, the colorful landscape and the delightful characters will keep most children entranced.
Featuring a terrific restoration, "Bambi" has never looked better on DVD. Like many films of the era "Bambi" was shot on nitrate stock which disintegrates fairly rapidly over time so the miracle here is that it looks as good as it does (due to careful care) and the magic of digital technology. The images sparkle with a crystal clear image almost too perfect. The rich color, deep dark blacks and detail in the images are truly astonishing. The remastered sound makes fairly good use of the 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround medium as well. Given that the original films soundtrack was mono, the surround speakers are used surprisingly well. Youll have to reset your expectations though as this 60 year old film wasnt designed with any of our home theater equipment in mind.
"Bambi" has a forest full of extras in this two disc set. The most important extras on the first DVD is the comparison between the finished film along side images from story meetings, script notes, surviving production drawings and other items that give you a sense of the preparation that went into making this animated classic. We get to see the amazing restoration process for the film itself from the cleaning of the original nitrate negative (stored at the Library of Congress) to the expansion of the original soundtrack for home theater equipment and movie theater exhibition. Theres also the classic award winning animated short "The Old Mill". Again, many of Disneys cartoons from the 30s and 40s dont have the manic energy weve come to expect in our post-Looney Tunes/Animanics world but the quieter, slower qualities are actually appealing after one too many frantic animated adventure. "Tricks of the Trade" was originally shot for the Disneys TV show in the 50s and takes us behind-the-scenes allowing us to see the difficult and time consuming process of making animated feature films before the advent of computers. "The Art of Bambi" allows us in the Disney archive to see the surviving preproduction artwork, design elements and storyboards. "Disney Time Capsule" provides viewers with a glimpse into the world that spawned "Bambi". "The Forest Adventure Game" will be entertaining for most children over the age of six as it may take a bit too much skill for anyone below that age to master. Theres also two surviving deleted scenes (which is a surprise given the age of the film but Disney is nothing if not methodical). We learn a bit about America during World War II and the type of society that America was creating for itself. "Bambis Forest Friends" focuses on how deer live in the wild. We also get the original theatrical trailer (which provides an interesting contrast to the restored film). Most of these extras will be of interest more to the adults that grew up watching "Bambi" in theaters, on TV and early home video.
An engaging film from another era that still has tremendous power and is entertaining, "Bambi" has never looked this spry before. I imagine that this DVD looks better than the original release did in the 1940s as resolution and theater standards were quite different then.
On: 2005-03-05
Walt Disney opened the vein of fear that drives children and adults alike with his animated classic films. Disney understood, like the Grimms before him, that the same fears are at the heart of what motivate children as they do adults. In the uncertain and haunted world of the 40s where war and loss hung like a specter stalking every aspect of American life, Disney mined that vein of fear, loss and death and turned it on its head recognizing that the optimism and can-do attitude of the American dream could triumph but not undo the nightmares of the past. Thats why Walts films continue to resonate today even with fancy computer animated effects and larger than life villains. He knew that the worst monsters could be our next door neighbors. Disney adapted a modern sensibility to the same fears that the Grimms paraded in their tales.
Thats why "Bambi" despite its pacing from a slower, less attention challenged era still has power and poignancy. As a kid everything you need to know about life can be learned from a Walt Disney film. The loss of innocence, the cruelty of others, the compassion of friends and the big "D" all crop up in every Disney film. Its ironic because Disneys films, unlike other animators of the time, werent afraid to tackle the very things that both scared and delighted kids. The two big themes that figure in Disney films rear their heads in "Bambi" when death and the cruel world outside try to erase Bambis innocence from existence. Were immediately thrown into Bambis world and his life with his mom. When Bambis mom is killed he becomes an orphan adopted by his new found friends Thumper and Flower. Kids will love the interaction between these characters. While the films pacing may be a tad slow for children below the age of six used to the rapid fire editing of "Aladdin" and more recent Disney classics, the colorful landscape and the delightful characters will keep most children entranced.
Featuring a terrific restoration, "Bambi" has never looked better on DVD. Like many films of the era "Bambi" was shot on nitrate stock which disintegrates fairly rapidly over time so the miracle here is that it looks as good as it does (due to careful care) and the magic of digital technology. The images sparkle with a crystal clear image almost too perfect. The rich color, deep dark blacks and detail in the images are truly astonishing. The remastered sound makes fairly good use of the 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround medium as well. Given that the original films soundtrack was mono, the surround speakers are used surprisingly well. Youll have to reset your expectations though as this 60 year old film wasnt designed with any of our home theater equipment in mind.
"Bambi" has a forest full of extras in this two disc set. The most important extras on the first DVD is the comparison between the finished film along side images from story meetings, script notes, surviving production drawings and other items that give you a sense of the preparation that went into making this animated classic. We get to see the amazing restoration process for the film itself from the cleaning of the original nitrate negative (stored at the Library of Congress) to the expansion of the original soundtrack for home theater equipment and movie theater exhibition. Theres also the classic award winning animated short "The Old Mill". Again, many of Disneys cartoons from the 30s and 40s dont have the manic energy weve come to expect in our post-Looney Tunes/Animanics world but the quieter, slower qualities are actually appealing after one too many frantic animated adventure. "Tricks of the Trade" was originally shot for the Disneys TV show in the 50s and takes us behind-the-scenes allowing us to see the difficult and time consuming process of making animated feature films before the advent of computers. "The Art of Bambi" allows us in the Disney archive to see the surviving preproduction artwork, design elements and storyboards. "Disney Time Capsule" provides viewers with a glimpse into the world that spawned "Bambi". "The Forest Adventure Game" will be entertaining for most children over the age of six as it may take a bit too much skill for anyone below that age to master. Theres also two surviving deleted scenes (which is a surprise given the age of the film but Disney is nothing if not methodical). We learn a bit about America during World War II and the type of society that America was creating for itself. "Bambis Forest Friends" focuses on how deer live in the wild. We also get the original theatrical trailer (which provides an interesting contrast to the restored film). Most of these extras will be of interest more to the adults that grew up watching "Bambi" in theaters, on TV and early home video.
An engaging film from another era that still has tremendous power and is entertaining, "Bambi" has never looked this spry before. I imagine that this DVD looks better than the original release did in the 1940s as resolution and theater standards were quite different then.
On: 2005-03-04
The Snooty Movie Critic, whose review gave this masterpiece just one star, must either be the worlds greatest jokester or the worlds greatest fool.
by: dvd_smurf On: 2005-03-04
In a historical perspective Bambi is a powerful film, as it was released in the middle of World War II when the Germans and Japanese still were going strong on their invasion of the World. Many lives were lost on both sides during the war, as families were shattered and children would never again hear their fathers read a bedtime story. Death spread its darkness throughout Europe and Asia while in America death only came through a messenger. People feared the sound of unexpected door knocks, which could be the messenger of sorrow and grief. It was a time when mankind once again lost its innocence, as war, famine, disease, and other horrors haunted mankind. In this time Disney released its animated coming of age tale of a deer named Bambi.
Bambi seems to function as an allegorical example of the war that the world faced through the depiction of the wildlife, as the animalistic characters faced troubles and happiness. However, the film keeps an innocent perspective on the difficulties that Bambi confronts. The story opens with scenes of a mysterious forest where things seem to continue without any consideration of what is going on in the world. Consequently, the audience is brought to Bambi who recently was born, as he struggles to gain control of his legs while many animals are present to witness his first wobbly steps. Bambi is clean and so it the spot where he was born, nothing is there to remind the audience of the difficulty of birth. This is an example of the storys illustrated innocence.
Curious Bambi begins to observe and learn about the world through his buddy Thumper, a caring rabbit, which brings him on small adventure in the neighboring area. Nourishing friendship helps Bambi to say his first word, burd, which was supposed to be bird. Adorably the tale tells about Bambis development, as his talk and walk steadily is improving. Eventually, Bambis mother educates him about the dangers in the world, as she brings him to the meadow. This becomes Bambis first lesson in being careful since danger might be lurking around the next corner.
The innocence even exists when Bambi loses his mother, as it only displays an escape followed by a gunshot sound. Innately the audience will know what happened, as the sound will cue the viewers consciousness in the direction of death. However, death is never truly dealt with by more than a couple of shed tears by Bambi, as big buck comes along and tells him it is time to go. The fragile moment of Bambis loss could have been elaborated, however, Disney decided to tell a happy tale full of hope. This was probably something that was necessary in the time of war, as death was plentiful in the reels shown before the feature films in the theater in the 1940s.
Instead of telling a story of the troubles that Bambi faces the film illustrates a tale of optimism and perseverance, as life will go on. The continued existence of Bambi shows that he is coming of age, as he later appears as a young buck with good morals and strong values. These values are depicted when another young buck threatens his first love.
In the shadow of the war children and adults could seek the sheltering darkness of the film where they could escape horrors for a few minutes by watching Bambi. The people could later leave the theater encouraged and motivated that good things will happen. This was essential in troubled times such as during 1942 when war was burning in Europe and Asia. Disney brought this cinematic experience to the audience with a delicate touch without alarming, or spreading more fear into the audience, but rather empowering them, and leaving them with a positive experience that could mean a world of difference. Today the film still has this empowerment over the audience, as Bambi learns how to stand on his own four legs.
On: 2005-03-04
Thank you, Walt Disney Studios for finally releasing Bambi on DVD!!! A beautiful and lavish restoration indeed. The documentaries on both discs really give you a closer look at how the whole project came to be.
Cant wait for Cinderella to be released in October 2005!
On: 2005-03-04
I give this movie five stars for several reasons. But the main reason is because if I were to look back at the "classic" Disney movies and pick one that exemplified all that they were about, Bambi would be the quintessential movie.
I can say, being a 25 year old male, that this is one of the cutest and saddest movies Ive ever seen, and Ive seen a lot of cute and sad movies. Im sure I saw it several times when I was a little kid, maybe even a baby. And I liked it then. But Im surprised to find out that I probably like it even more now. I find it very refreshing to watch a movie that can go ten minutes or so with no dialogue, and still tell a story. Its never slow, and always far from boring. I dont think I found the movie funny when I was a kid, but Thumper cracks me up now. I think my favorite part is where Bambi is learning new words.
A previous reviewer, defending the movie, said the story wasnt simple. I disagree. But I think that the simplicity of the movie is one of the strong points in it. The filmmakers relied on simplicity and the beautiful animation of nature to carry the story. And although we still have beautiful animation in Disney movies (Aladdin, for example), however different the style may be, the stories have become more complicated, for lack of a better word. And its not just the stories, Disney keeps trying to outdo themselves in all areas, most annoyingly editing. I love Aladdin, and think its almost on par with the Disney classics of 50+ years ago. However, I think it suffers from too much "razzle-dazzle" editing and fast animation. I couldnt even get through Hercules (only Disney movie I have never fully watched) because it annoyed me so much. This is what movies have become thanks to the mtv-style editing and "in your face" presentation that people will pay for. That might just be my opinion, and not hard evidence to criticize a movie, but thats what I think. I dont need an epileptic seizure to enjoy a movie.
All in all, Bambi is a great example of how a short, simple movie can live on LONG after its release.
PLUS - I had to open it and pop it in right when I got it to see what the next classic is coming out. Im so excited to see that CINDERELLA COMES OCTOBER 4TH!! Might be my favorite of them all.
On: 2005-03-03
When my parents took me to see Bambi in the theater, I was probably too young, as I did not remember much other than Bambi, Thumper and Flower and something about a fire. This DVD is the first time since then that I saw Bambi, and what a treat. This is a fantastic looking movie, not only for the restoration but also for the style of impressionism in the background plates. The forest backgrounds are not full of detail, just full of richness. The newly mixed soundtrack fills the room with wonderful music. There is little dialogue but the story is fully told. The two disc set is a bit light on extras, but the second disc has games to delight the children, and the background information on the making of Bambi provides a wealth of material. When the movie was released, the world premiere was in London (August 1942). Like so many of the animated features that Disney made then, it did not make money. It was ahead of its time. This DVD is a must for anyone who has children, or is young at heart. A wonderful story told wonderefully.
by: ctolley On: 2005-03-03
I was VERY thrilled to hear this title was being released onto DVD. Ive always loved this story, although it makes me cry every time I watch it. I can only say that the folks at Disney really did this film justice with this Platinum release. The clean-up and restoration job they performed was miraculous. The colors glow, the lines are clear, and the film looks like new. The sound is marvelous, with the new Disney Enhanced Home Theater sound.
The story, however, is where one should pay attention. This a first-rate job of knowing when to have dialogue, and when to have the picture do the talking. The nuances of the expressions of the charctors are wonderful here. The film has several light moments, and some have complained about the child-like view taken here. Of course there is a naive, childlike view, as you are watching a baby deer grow up. There are also several dark moments, and parents should watch with thier children to offer support and explanations.
This is one of the crown jewels of the Disney legacy, among many, and it has been treated with all the love and respect it deserves. I personally would give it more than five stars if I could. Get and enjoy this rare film. It is truly one worth its reputation.
On: 2005-03-03
When I was a kid(ahem not too long ago) I watched the Bambi Movie and all the other Disney movies, when they came on "The Wonderful World of Disney" every Sunday night. Unfortunately back then there were no VCRs to purchase or record it from the tv- we had to sit there and watch the entire movie at one sitting and take bathroom breaks during the commercials-how lucky kids are nowadays to be able to have videos/dvds in their home library. I love the innocence of Bambi and his friends-I especially love FLOWER and THUMPER. The digitally remastered version is fantastic and a joy to watch. I recommend this highly for your home library.
On: 2005-03-03
Of all the animated films I saw as a child, "Bambi" was my favorite. It still is. Disney studios released this artistically advanced classic in 1942. It runs just under 70 minutes. Of course everyone remembers, vividly, the traumatic scene when Bambi, the young fawn, loses his mother to a hunters bullet. This probably marks the place where many of us cried for the first time during a movie. Although this particular sequence is powerful and somewhat heavy, I was comforted by my mom, and remember laughing, soon afterward, as I watched Bambi at play, with rabbit sidekick, Thumper, and skunk friend Flower. Children seem to intuitively understand the depth and range of this story, which runs the gamut from parental love, loss, grief, survival, friendship and loyalty to the balance of nature and the cycle of life.
This is one of Disneys most emotive movies - one where the viewer is drawn in by the storyline, and loveable characters, great voice acting, gorgeous visual effects and, of course, the music. Along with the wonderful tale of that first year in Bambis life, where he learns to live on his own, the impressionist style artistic and orchestral representations of the four seasons are brilliant. Natures beauty is really captured here. Examining the visuals closely, the detailed depiction of reality, now so common with computer animation, is replaced here by suggestion - of light, color, form, patterns - just like a painting.
As with other platinum edition DVD sets, ("Snow White," "Beauty and the Beast"), this set is an assembled mix of restored and digitally re-mastered classic animation with digital extras. Additional commentary from those present during the films creation, as well as vintage footage has been included also.
The second disc contains a veritable plethora of bonus and historical information grouped into three headings: Deleted Scenes, Games & Activities, and Backstage Disney. Backstage Disney is the segment I like best, which includes: "The Making of Bambi: A Prince is Born;" "The Art of Bambi," showcasing a large quantity of production and character study stills, color keys, and backgrounds - fabulous artwork; "Restoring Bambi," reveals the enormous amount of work involved in restoring the aging film; as well as "Tricks of the Trade," and "The Old Mill," an animated short.
Bambi is a touching film, beautiful to look at and listen to, for children of all ages. Youll want to watch this heartwarming favorite over and over again.
JANA
by: kendallfon On: 2005-03-02
I never saw "Bambi" while I was growing up. I always knew about it, but it wasnt a film that I was compelled to see. As far as Disney goes, I was more of an "Old Yeller" and "Song Of The South" kid. No matter now, because I bought this classic title for the enjoyment of my daughter, who will turn four in a few months, and I watched it with her.
My daughter really enjoyed this movie. It is short, well-paced for children and is crawling with cuddly characters like Thumper, Flower, and every other small woodland creature that makes you feel warm inside. It follows the lifecycle of a newborn deer and his eventual growth into a leader of the forest. If you havent figured it out yet, that deer is Bambi. We see him face the trials of being little and clumsy. He experiences the loss of a loved one, is taken under his fathers wing, and eventually falls in love and has a family of his own. In a nutshell, this simple flick is a reflection on the human life.
The DVD is pretty good. It has the token Disney advertisements that everyone seems to hate. For some reason, my DVD player has no problem skipping these features and heading right to the title menu of the film. It seems that others have a problem with this. Anyway, I watched many of the advertisements this time around and I wasnt bothered by them at all. I havent paid much attention to the extra features on the second disc, because I buy DVDs primarily for the film on them. If a feature catches my eye, though, Ill watch it.
This movie does drag a little bit for older audiences. Since this was my first time viewing this film, I had no memories to fall back on. I still enjoyed the film, but I think that it is definitely a bigger hit with young children.
Get this DVD if it brings back fond memories for you or if you want those memories for your own family. Im sure my daughter will remember this film for years to come.
On: 2005-03-02
I saw Bambi for the first time when I was just a child of 5 and then again 4 or 5 years laterwhen I sat through it twice in one day. It was an intense experience that touched me to my heart, not just because of the way Bambi lost his mother, but because of the majesty of the settings and the lush and beautiful music score. (I was prompted to read the book, "Bambi" by Felix Salten as well as the sequal, "Bambis Children.")
I am now many years beyond childhood, but I again saw Disneys masterpiece several years ago and I found that I could still thrill to the marvelous music as well as the story and beautiful animation. I hope I never grow too old and cynical to outgrow the sense of wonder I felt in seeing the story of Bambi and his life in the forest and I recommend it to every family, with or without children.
by: jah3003 On: 2005-03-02
Bambi, released by Disney in 1943, is regarded by many as one of the most beautiful animated features of all time. This is deservingly so, thanks to a wonderful storyline, memorable characters and some of the most stunning animation I have ever seen. The story follows the birth of a deer named Bambi and Bambis growing up in the forest. He meets many memorable characters like Flower, Thumper and Faline.
This dvd release is incredible and in my opinion 1 of the best platinum editions yet. As everyone has stated, the restoration process undergone by Disney has taken the picture quality far beyond what has been seen before. The artwork in the movie, especially the backgrounds, is brilliantly visible while it hasnt changed the feel of the original version. The dvd has an enhanced Disney Home theater mix which sounds great also.
Disk 2 of this set is loaded with great extras for the collector/ animation buff. Casual viewers may enjoy but most people dont bother with the extras. They are very interesting and go into detail just how the movie was made, from the concept of the characters to the techniques used to bring them to life. First off, The Making of Bambi is a 53 minute featurette that explains the design of characters, shows how the background art was chosen and characters voices. Next is Restoring Bambi, an interesting look at how the old original reels underwent the restoration process to create the excellent print on the DVD. Next there is the Disney Time Capsule-1942, which is just a brief featurette on what was happening in the world in 1942. The Art of Bambi contains galleries of wonderful concept art, character sketches and background art that will prove interesting to the artists out there. Tricks of the Trade excerpt has Walt Disney himself explaining how a character sketched on paper comes to life on the screen. As a bonus the excellent Silly Symphony short, The Old Mill, is included and fits nicely with the overall theme of Bambi. The rest of disk 2 are extras for children like The Disneypedia which takes a look at real life animals featured in the movie, The Forest Adventure Game, Virtual Forest, Disney Storytime and a Personality Profile game. Add 2 deleted scenes of animation and an hour-long Inside Walts Story Meetings(inspired by actual meetings with Walt Disney and the staff working on the project at the time) and you can tell this set is loaded for extras and is well worth the price for fans of the movie.
Overall I think that any Disney fan, old or young, will enjoy this movie because it is so much fun but at the same time the characters and story arent too cartoonish. I had not seen this in 10 years so it is good to finally own it on such a quality dvd set. Kudos to Disney for giving one of its best films the treatment it deserves, and I encourage any fan to buy it immediately.
On: 2005-03-02
This is the third incarnation of "Bambi" on video, but the first time on DVD. The last VHS presentation showed the film in a digitally spruced up version, but the new version on DVD is a miracle of restoration - an inspired release.
Seldom - or perhaps never - has Hollywood ever given us a more beautiful motion picture, one that is the embodiment of innocence and love. The opening sequence, displaying superb use of Disney Studios Multi-Plane Camera, is worth the price of the DVD alone.
The 53-minute documentary, "The Making of Bambi", goes far deeper than ever before in showing how difficult it was to get "Bambi" released during a time of world war and union strikes, and how people of the day did not appreciate this masterpiece in the way it would later be embraced for all time.
As mentioned in books and on the VHS releases, Walt Disney himself considered "Bambi" his "personal favorite". After experiencing this DVD release, its little wonder why he felt that way.
by: matt_in_ny On: 2005-03-01
I remember well that when I was a young boy one of the first feature length films I saw was Walt Disneys Bambi. I remember how upset I was over the death of Bambis mother-I still am upset when I think about it-and I also remember how happy I was when Bambi went on and lived his life afterwards. The movie had a profound emotional impact on me and I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that Disney restored this classic and packaged it as a two DVD set with numerous valuable and informative extras.
Of course, the film tells the story of Bambi, a young deer, over the course of one year. (No spoilers here, the events I am about to mention are all well known and they are discussed in a few other reviews already posted here as well.) At first, his life is completely happy as he is a child-but then Bambi is suddenly rendered an orphan when his mother dies. We feel sorry for Bambi and there is this image of his mothers face just afterwards that pulls TREMENDOUSLY on your heartstrings. The narration of how Bambi wont see his mother ever again adds even more to one of what is certainly the most emotional moments in all if film history. (Note the statement the film makes about the threats of mankind interfering with Mother Nature. This still holds true today.) The film then goes on to show Bambi (the young prince of the forest) making new friends-a rabbit named Thumper and a skunk named Flower. The issues that go with friendship are dealt with during Bambis growth into adulthood: becoming more independent, self confident, vulnerable yet ready to explore something more than friendship-a romantic relationship with Faline, a female deer. Bambi eventually becomes a leader in the forest! As you can see, the natural cycle of life is introduced to children as gently as possible as well. (In order to avoid spoilers Ill stop the plot details here.) The movie is only 69 minutes long but the plot and the pace hold your attention very, very well and the lines are well executed. In addition, look also for the horrific forest fire scene, again caused by mans careless attitude toward nature; and the scenes where springtime comes and all the younger animals become "twitterpated."I know I am now dating myself, but look for Sterling Holloway as the voice of a flower! GRIN
I cannot do justice to this two DVD set without telling you about the multitude of extras youre going to get as a reward for buying this painstakingly restored masterpiece of a film! The first DVD has an incredible plus called Inside Walts Story Meetings. Here you can see the film and alongside it are script notes and Walt himself with the animation team planning the picture. DVD two has by far the lions share of the extras. One of the best is entitled Restoring Bambi. This tells the story of how they painstakingly restored the film, cleaning it up and polishing it to remove the wear and tear of time. When this was first released in 1942 the original negative was filmed on Nitrate film stock; and this is highly unstable to say the least. (It is actually flammable, too.) They had to cart the whole set of reels from The Library of Congress by refrigerated truck and restore the film using a color wheel and a black and white negative (yes, a black and white original negative) of the movie. It worked, much to their credit!!! Want to see an example of the difference for yourself? Look at the restored film on disc one and then look at the unpolished original theatrical trailer on disc two. Youll notice the difference and be awestruck by Disneys hard work! Much work was done to bring back the sound to its former brilliance as well. In an extra called DisneyPedia: Bambis Forest Friends we learn about deer in the wild. Then theres "Tricks of the Trade" about animation technique filmed in 1957 and hosted by Walt himself. There are also two deleted scenes and a teaser about the future of Bambi-will they release Bambi Part Two? You get a screensaver for your computer and then theres The Old Mill animated short which won the 1937 Oscar for Best Short Subject!
In short, there is just no way that this movie can be skipped--especially in this two DVD set package if youre an art or movie collector, a parent of a young child, or a Disney fan. It was an historic production in its day and it still retains its significance. Although modern computer animation is completely wonderful, there is nevertheless still something enchanting and romantic about the painstaking old fashioned animation methods used to create this masterpiece.
by: skquinto On: 2005-03-01
Aaaahhhhhh, yes thats the perfect mock for a movie so touchy.
This movie is no way cheesy or corny. Bambi was a movie that taught kids that life was not a piece of cake. In fact you have to deal with reality, like the most fearful thing for a kid be left alone, and the death of a loved one. How cruel that sound, but Disney as always painted the movie wich such matices that the carry on of it is such painfully delightful. Without a doubt Bambi will always be one of the most powerful and defying animated pictures. Bambi focus as many here have stated the relationship that human have(in an animal way). A nice movie to cherish adn remember.
On: 2005-03-01
What the chain of command at Disney from executive to computer restoration "genius" seems to have missed is that this film perhaps above all others needs to keep the grain and shimmer from the original medium: film. This could have been done on DVD - you can control everything - but what we have here is antiseptically clean and dead. The image is so crystal clear you can see the prosaic brush strokes on the background. There is no "weaving" or slight unsteadiness caused by the minute variations in the sprocket holes in camera or projector. The result is that the image ceases to "breathe", or to seem as if it is photographed by a real camera in real time, but instead looks like a still shot of a tacky greetings card. This is particularly noticeable when there is no character in the shot, or when the camera has taken several extra frames of a cel where a character pauses between actions. Grain and film vibration were the unintentional and largely unrecognised secret extra ingredients that gave this and other classic animated films true sparkle and the illusion of life. Now they are gone.
The rest of the DVD, the care, the extra features, are all exemplary and deserve admiration and in a way the clean-up job is remarkable and fascinating. But the slightly sad thing is that there is not a prayer that anyone at Disney will ever admit that any cog in their million-dollar restoration machinery has got it wrong. After all the investment, the reputations at stake, the thousands of accolades for the enhancement, the self-congratulatory "how Bambi was restored" featurette, who is going to dare to consider that rock-solid backgrounds and shimmerless grain-free texture might not after all be what does justice to this great work?
by: jemjr On: 2005-03-01
"Bambi" is, in every respect, a masterpiece, probably the BEST of all Disney features. From the breath takingly beautiful trip through the forest that opens the film (it almost seems to be 3 dimentional - a fantastic example of Disneys multiplane camera) to the image of the solitary, adult Bambi standing on the rock, it is a visual masterpiece.
It is amazing how the story is told almost without words. It has the least dialogue of any Disney film. The story is told with wonderful movement and terrific expressions on the characters faces - Bambis expressions as he discovers the other animals, how he hides behind his mother peeking through her legs at the little girl deer, the expressions on the male and female characters as they go through the mating cycle - too many to list each one.
The digital restoration of the film for the DVD release makes it as fresh and vibrant as if it were a brand new film. The animation is flawless.
The extras on the second disk are as fascinating as the film. The feature of the voices showing the people as they are today and their telling of making the sound track is terrific. There isnt a boring segment in the extra features.
The music is fantastic. Wonderful melodies and lyrics - "Love Is a Song" really sets the tone of the picture. "Little April Shower" is fun and visually beautiful.The music carries many parts of the film to terrific effect.
Much has been written about the death of Bambis mother, but it is a part of the circle of life that the animals, in fact all of us humans too, go through. It happens in the bleak winter and immediately we are shown rebirth with the coming of spring and new life. It is really a necessary part of the story. (It might be a good idea to prepair very young children for this before they see the film.)
It is mentioned in the special features that "Lion KIng" has been called "Bambi in Africa" as they are very similar in story, but "Bambi" so far surpasses "Lion King" that there really is no comparison.
This special 2 disk release is one not to be missed. This is Disney at his very best.
by: amccaf1 On: 2005-03-01
Im not exactly sure why I received a free copy of this DVD in the mail; this isnt the sort of film I normally buy. Im clearly much older than the intended audience, and I have no little rugrats of my own to share this movie with (to be fair though, this is obviously a kids movie that grownups can also enjoy). In fact (although whatever computer program that decided I should be put on the Disney marketing mailing list wouldnt have known), Ive reached my present age without ever having seen the film BAMBI before. So, for me, this isnt a nostalgic look back at a film I loved as a child. It isnt a happy reunion with something that thrilled me years ago, something which contains many happy memories. For me, it was just another film, albeit one with a grand reputation. But I watched it and enjoyed it; although Im clearly not seeing it in the same mind-frame that others do.
This is a very leisurely and pleasant film. Its willing to feature slow pans across lovingly painted backdrops of forest rather than quick-cuts and lots of action. The script is more interested in presenting a mood rather than telling a story, and its offered in a way that I quite enjoyed. The characters are simple without coming across as stereotypes. Theres a quote from Walt Disney that reads, "Until a character becomes a personality, it cannot be believed." Well, I think he succeeded (my favorite character was the grumpy, bad-tempered, old owl). I cant say that I adored the film, but Im glad I spent the time watching it. It covers a lot of the same ground embraced by other childrens stories, but it did so with great confidence and an pure kind of style.
In many ways this is a much more innocent movie than what we would expect nowadays. On the other hand, I was vaguely surprised at how dark portions of it were. The sections of the film dealing with the encounters between the animals and the humans are, of course, well known (even I knew about Bambis mother) and well remembered. And I must admit to being a bit baffled by the sequence in which several female critters hide in the bushes like snipers and one-by-one pick off unsuspecting members of the male animal kingdom for, um, marriage (or whatever). Its an... old-fashioned view of male-female relationships, I suppose. A relatively harmless but overwhelmingly male-centric view of the world, I still found it slightly creepy. It would no doubt be handled differently today, though I suspect there wouldnt feature any actual improvement. The female skunks and rabbits would probably be having wardrobe malfunctions all over the place to attract their men.
The two DVDs contain more than anyone who loves this film would ever want and the set gets an extra star just for all the DVD features. Not being familiar with the movie, I really wasnt interested in this, although Im sure that when the list of features was announced a few months ago there were a lot of classic film buffs (and Disney fans) salivating wildly. However, the one item this film-viewer appreciated more than anything was the digital restoration. Whether you like the movie or not, you cant help but be impressed by how crisp the picture is, how bright the colors are and how clear the sound is. It really looks and sounds wonderful. I suspect for many people, this is what makes the set worth buying.
One thing I didnt like about this double-disc set is the advertising all over the place. Its bad enough having to sit through ads and trailers before you get to the main menu, but the annoyances dont even end there. I realize Im watching a "Disney DVD" and that its been restored and that its digitally optimized for my magic whatsit converter thingie! Why on Earth do I need to see giant signs with bold letters telling me this before starting the feature? I must have fast-forwarded though three minutes of boasting. In addition to the filler on the discs, the DVD case also contains more junk than is necessary. I can understand them putting in fliers promoting release dates for future DVDs; that makes perfect sense. But posters? Magazines? Theres an advertisement for food in here for heavens sake!
In any event, I finally got introduced to one of the most famous and beloved childrens movies of all time. Had it not been sent to me out of the blue, I probably would have spent another few decades without knowing it. Im glad I did though. I liked it, even if Im not sure Ill ever feel a staggering desire to watch it again. For people casually interested, at least a rental is in order. For the hardcore Disney folk however, I suspect this is a must-buy.
On: 2005-03-01
At last this beloved classic comes to DVD. Its Disneys fifth platinum DVD edition and its full of spectacular features. The most advanced technology has been used to bring you an all new digital restoration of the film with enhanced picture and sound. It took 9,600 hours of work to touch up over 110,000 frames all by hand. Also purist will be glad that the original theatrical soundtrack has been restored.
Go inside Walt Disneys story meetings which is close to an audio commentary, only its better. You see most of the film, but you also see artwork from the film as well as clips from other films. The audio is a reenactment of meetings that Walt had with his filmmakers in the production of Bambi. There is even a man who sounds like Walt Disney himself. You will see how Disneys short cartoons and feature films offered inspiration to Bambi. A lot of effort was put into this.
Take a look at a 53 minute feature on the making of Bambi that covers the story, characters, actors, art design, music, and history of the film. Among the many interesting things in this feature, you will hear about a wonderful man by the name of Siegmund Salzmann also known as Felix Salten. You will hear how Felix Saltens book that was first published in 1923 in Germany, became a Walt Disney film in 1942.
Also, on the DVD you will hear interesting facts about real life forest animals that helped inspire the characters. Take a look at the virtual forest feature where you can bring sights and sounds of the forest right into your home with great sound and picture. You can browse through about 150 photos, see 2 deleted scenes, watch the original theatrical trailer, take a look at Bambi 2, "Bambi and the Great Prince of the Forest" due to come out in the spring of 2006 and more.
I like this story because its full of charm, but also, because it does not sugarcoat the poison. Its a story full of love, sadness, humor, fear, and even death. It stars some of the most beloved characters of all time. The lovable rabbit Thumper, the adorable little skunk Flower (Flower is my favorite character of all times, he is so cute), the wise Owl, the Great Prince of the Forest, Bambis loving Mother, the charming Faline, and of course, Bambi himself and the rest of the forest animals. It shows how animals can be effected by the choices we make. About one hundred and thirty-million animals are killed every year in the USA because of hunting, and many that dont die live in fear.
Chickens, cows, pigs and other farm animals that are raised in factory farms before they are slaughtered for food in the United States have it even worse. Most of the meat that Americans consume comes from animals living in factory farms. The most abused animals in the USA are those in vivisection labs also known as animal testing. Rats and mice are the most common animals used for testing but they are not the only ones, many other animals are used (sometimes even cats and dogs). I hope people will make the connection between the animals they love in cartoons to the animals in real life that we share the planet with. In any case purchase this beloved classic and enjoy it for all eternity.
by: slave2moonlight On: 2005-02-28
In the heart of the forest, a small deer is born into an unknown world. A young prince, shy on knowledge but filled with an endless curiosity, takes his first steps surrounded by new friends, unaware of the dangers and hardships to come. The princes name is Bambi, and along with his new friends, Thumper, Flower, and Faline, and the guidance of his loving mother, unyielding father, and a wise old owl, he will come to learn the trials and delights of woodland life. In only his first year, Bambi will discover the magic and torment of the changing seasons, the wonders of life and the horrors of death, and, before his circle is complete, the power of love and the beauty of friendship.
"Bambi" is a wondrous coming of age tale that defines the standard of quality of the Disney legacy. The animation, art, music, voicing, and storytelling that comprise this 1942 feature are nothing less than brilliant and magical, and it is highly recommended that the interested viewer take in all the behind the scenes features to get the full depth of what went into its making. Every single frame of this masterpiece was as painstakingly developed by Walt and Co. as it was recently restored for this superb DVD release. The expertly reenacted storyboard meetings comprising the magnificent film commentary (found on the DVD as "Bambi: Inside Walts Story Meetings") are proof of that. In fact, all the behind the scenes extras offer great insight into the creation of this work of art, including the huge contributions of Disney artist Tyrus Wong, the level of attachment Walt had to Saltens original book, and the importance music played in the telling of a story of few words. This new platinum DVD is stunning! Not just the wonderfully done restoration job on the film or that fantastically composed commentary I mentioned a moment ago, but also the art galleries (thanks for the new slideshow option!), the trailer, the DisneyPedia offering, the deleted scenes and behind the scenes programming, the look back at 1942 (bringing to mind how timely certain aspects of the story were), games for the little ones, the classic Disney Silly Symphony "The Old Mill," and a sneak peek at the upcoming sequel, "Bambi and the Great Prince of the Forest." In fact, a few of the extras on this DVD were hosted by Patrick Stewart, of "Star Trek the Next Generation" fame, who will play Bambis father in that upcoming sequel. Yes, its another frowned upon Disney direct-to-video sequel, but this one looks VERY good, so Ive got my fingers crossed. They havent all been misses, and since Disneys current top 2D-animation legends have been relegated to these direct to video sequels, they will most likely only improve. Its just a shame that the talents behind the Disney Renaissance arent being allowed to produce for the big screen market anymore.
Needless to say, Bambi is a must own for Disney fanatics, animation lovers, parents, filmmakers, and just about everybody with a DVD player, basically. Everyone whos seen the film has favorite moments that evoke a variety of emotions, from the heart-wrenching death of Bambis mother, to the beloved scenes of Bambi and his friends on ice or becoming "twitterpated" young adults! Its beautiful and honest storytelling has stood the test of time. Theres something in "Bambi" for everyone!
On: 2005-02-27
When Bambi came out in 1942, the world was a very insecure place. A huge war with no end in sight had engulfed the entire planet. Almost every kid in America had to watch their fathers, brothers, or uncles leave for a far away land and possibly never come back alive. Life at home became less comfortable as almost every type of food and good was rationed. And there was always the deep down fear that the war would come to our doorstep, so we turned out all of our lights every night so the enemy bombers wouldnt find us.
And now, 63 years later, most of those kids who saw Bambis first theater run are grandparents and great-grandparents who will rush to the Best Buy and Media Play stores in droves on March 1st to buy this DVD for the current crop of kids (or maybe just for themselves). Theyll still break into tears when they hear the gunshot that changes Bambis life forever. Their hearts will still pound as they watch Bambi and Faline run for their lives from the huge fire that destroys their forest home. And theyll still smile at Thumper the bunny and Flower the skunk whose unbreakable cheeriness sustains Bambi (and us) through the painful realities of life hidden behind an otherwise beautiful world.
The time has come for Bambi again. America is in another war that is pretty small now but has every reason to grow larger. Kids today are already losing their parents and other relatives in that far away land, just as Bambi did. And we know full well that the enemy could strike at our doorstep again, because they did once already not so long ago, with a huge, destructive fire that sent us running for our lives. We need to know the fellowship that Bambi and his boon companions shared so we can survive the painful, scary times like they did. Id rank this movie right with The Passion of the Christ as a necessary experience in learning how to live meaningfully, deal with pain, and perceive beauty daily in a world full of ugliness.
This was the very first movie that I ever saw (I was 4 years old) that I remember vividly. I am now 34, and I will buy this DVD, and I hope that everybody in the world follows suit.
by: Anonymous On: 2005-02-26
Believe it or not, but until about a week ago, I had never even seen Bambi. Id heard all about it, but still hadnt seen it. I was surprised and pleased when it came in the mail from Amazon.com, with a note asking me to review it on the site, so here I am. While watching this, what struck me was how similiar to The Lion King the story was. However, its much more simple, and uses lush, flawless animation very well to tell its quite low key story of a "young prince" named Bambi who grows up alone after the death of his mother (not a spoiler; everyones heard of that part). Bambi is full of memorable, adorable characters, such as "flower," a skunk, and "Thumper," a bunny rabbit. The thing I really admired about the movie was its long scenes of no dialogue, before Hollywood catered to people with low attention spans, movies used to take time to tell their stories. The DVD is a real good one. The picture (even with nothing to compare it too) is fantastic. Bright, vivid and just plain gorgeous; it really took my breath away. The features are also vast and detailed. My favorite was "Restoring Bambi," which gives good details about how the picture was restored to its upmost perfection.
Overall, this is a fine DVD for adults and/or kids 0 and over, and Amazons shipping is fast and fine (no damage on my case whatsover). Buy it soon!
by: rpjbrown On: 2005-02-25
I dont know if BAMBI would have gotten the nod from todays demographically-obsessed movie marketing departments, but my four-year-old daughter loves it. The plot holds no surprises (even for first-time viewing children who should probably be prepared for cinemas most well-known death). Theres no Phil Collins ballad. No big Hollywood stars doing voicework.
However, in my opinion, BAMBI is one of the most beautiful motion pictures I have ever seen. The stunning backgrounds manage to look both realistic and like wonderful watercolor and oil paintings. The DVD looks incredible (and I thought my old laserdisc looked fantastic).
But, if you cant appreciate the glorious picture, its still 70 minutes in the countryside away from whatever traffic lies outside your window. Oh, and theres Thumper. I dont if theres a hard-hearted person who can resist Thumper (and this is coming from someone who falls off the couch laughing whenever an Olympic figure skater hits the ice).
Wonderful movie.
On: 2005-02-24
Sadly, Bambi has become something of a cliche` these days. The title alone conjures up images of naive innocence. But beyond whatever connotations, Bambi is one of the true great examples of early American Animation, back during a time when frames were lovingly crafted and stories were simple yet direct. Disney have gone out of their way to restore this film and, considering what theyve done in reissuing their other animated classics, this one meets that very high standard admirably. Its a shame other studios dont treat their libraries with the same respect and care. Bambi is not a sophisticated film from a storyline or dramatic aspect. It is a film representing a bygone period. But I would urge people interested in the history of animation and seeing how far weve come (or not come depending on your point of view) to view this film on those terms. It is sheer magic and delight and makes no bones about its message or content.It is a thoroughly enjoyable and charming 70 minutes with loads of extras and historic bits to enhance your experience. Like so many Disney classics, this one is a keeper and, since its available for a limited time, an essential addition to any film enthusiasts library.
On: 2005-02-24
Just a notch below the legendary Snow White sits the timeless, sweeping beauty and simplicity of Bambi. Sporting an incredible new transfer this edition shines light years beyond the previous VHS incarnation. Colors appear slightly brighter and the soundtrack rings crystal clear. The extras on this platinum edition are varied and quite enjoyable as well w/the OLD MILL short animated short being my favorite. Another 1 hr and 10 min extra delves deep into the meetings and processes that formed this classic. Deeper than most Disney films and second only to Snow White sits this incredible testament to animation and Walt Disneys genius.
On: 2005-02-24
First off, I would like to thank Amazon publicly for providing me with a copy & the opportunity to review this much-anticipated release. The folks at Disney have pulled off a remarkable feat in restoring this 1942 classic. Nary a bit of grainy picture nor the usual pops and blips that normally accompany films of this age. It has been completely revitalized and the audio has been given the "enhanced home theater" treatment which means you can watch it in a great new 5.1 mix or a restored version of the original mono soundtrack. I found the enhanced version to be much more preferable. This would be a great addition to any Disney DVD collection and look forward to "Cinderella" in Oct.
On: 2005-02-23
I remember being mesmerized by Bambi at the drive in as a kid in the early 70s, and then again on TV but, what a fantastic restoration.
I have to thank Amazon.com for providing this before the actual release date and I was amazed at the restoration. I am not going to review the story as it is a classic and most know what it is about. I will review the repackaging and upgrade of the classic. The new DVD provides extra outtakes that havent been seen before and the new coloration is fantastic. Gone is the sort of gloomy non crisp colors and in its place are wonderful bright colors.
Fantastic redo! If you have kids they will love this updated version. If you just like Disney Classics than you will also want to own this one.
On: 2005-02-23
Im not generally a big fan of Disney movies. However, I know that I saw Bambi as a small child, and I was curious as to whether watching it again would bring back any memories. Plus, the chance to get a sneak peek at an upcoming DVD was too good to miss, and Im a sucker for anything with skunks in it...
For this 2-disc special edition, Disney have apparently spared no expense in restoration. The original 1942 nitrate negatives were taken from the Library of Congress, scanned in high resolution, and literally thousands of hours were spent painstakingly removing scratches and blemishes that could not be repaired automatically. The color was also restored to its original vibrancy, based on the colors from the original artwork.
The result is stunning; the movie almost looks like it was made yesterday, except that the animation is far more detailed than we are used to seeing today. The textures have a buttery smoothness to them, like good digital photography, and the characters seem almost three-dimensional. This is even more true in the scenes shot using multi-plane animation, such as when the camera zooms in with astounding realism and sense of depth. During the winter scenes, I found myself watching individual snowflakes tumbling over and over in 3D.
Animation is notoriously hard to encode to DVD; MPEG isnt suited to large areas of flat color, and the opening sequences in the mysterious forest must have kept the technicians up at night. Yet I saw no flickering MPEG artifacts in the shadows, no moving noise or grain to spoil the art. The one exception was during a couple of the winter scenes, where I sensed the thick snow and character movement was beginning to push the limits of the compression, and I thought I detected some slight shimmer. Still, overall very impressive.
The movie now features a new surround soundtrack, mixed from the original audio masters. For the benefit of purists, there is also an option to hear the restored mono soundtrack. I found the surround mix to be restrained and tastefully done, but I appreciate the option to hear it exactly as it was created 60 years ago. The music is important to "Bambi", as important parts of the story are told entirely through the music.
The backgrounds are often impressionistic, becoming more minimalist during the fight/flight sequences, so as to emphasize the action, yet always remaining realistic. The animals look like animals, caricatured just enough to be expressive. The only exception is Flower, the skunk, who Ive always felt was stylized a little too much, and is mentioned in the bonus material as the character Walt said they could humanize more. Oh, well...
One of the bonus features is a re-enactment of the discussions Walt had with the rest of the production team, as carefully transcribed at the time, presented with the relevant movie clips. Its clear from the discussions that they had high artistic goals for the movie, hoping to tell the story through action rather than dialog, and without showing man. There are also shots of the animators studying the motion of real animals, sketching actual animal movements they could use in the movie.
Theres no doubt in my mind that "Bambi" deserves its status as one of the true classics of animation. Even if you dont care for the story, the artwork is just beautiful to watch.
On: 2005-02-23
First off, I would like to thank Amazon publicly for providing me with a copy & the opportunity to review this much-anticipated release. The folks at Disney have pulled off a remarkable feat in restoring this 1942 classic. Nary a bit of grainy picture nor the usual pops and blips that normally accompany films of this age. It has been completely revitalized and the audio has been given the "enhanced home theater" treatment which means you can watch it in a great new 5.1 mix or a restored version of the original mono soundtrack. I found the enhanced version to be much more preferable. This would be a great addition to any Disney DVD collection and look forward to "Cinderella" in Oct.
On: 2005-02-22
First the restoration of this film for the DVD release is superb. Its easy to forget just how stunning early 40s Disney animation is. Also, while Ive always been a fan of Fleichers mid-30s rotoscoping, the multi-plane technique that Walts studio perfected is both more subtle and impressively realistic. (On the second disc in this set you will find the 1937 "silly symphony" The Old Mill, which is an earlier demonstration of this technology.)
Second, I cant imagine a better, more gentle introduction to children about the cycle of life. The storys simplicity and the naivete of the young characters is still pretty heartgrabbing, even for an aging boomer. Such innocence!
There is also profound sadness in the lateness of the hour regarding the loss of paradise. Sixty years ago this film warned against the danger of mans encrouchment. At this point much worse damage has been done by chainsaws and toxic runoff, than by hunters bullets. I pray that our children and theirs still have time to absorb the lesson we didnt regarding the gift and responsibility of stewardship.
On: 2005-02-20
I am very appreciative to Amazon.com, and Buena Vista Home Entertainment for sending my family and I this DVD (before its public release March 1st).
I have always loved this film. Bambi is a timeless treasure that I am glad I am able to share with my children.
Made in 1942, the animation is flawless (my favorite scene is where its raining, its so perfect). The animators have truely captured the movement of each different type of animal that inspired the film. This is Disney at its very best!
Besides the wonderful animation, my children and I enjoy the humor. I love the owl talking to the older Bambi, Thumper, and Flower about all the animals being "twitterpated" in the Springtime; they all vow that it will never happen to them, but sure enough, one by one, they all fall victim to it.
The flawless animation, the colorful imagery, cute, memorable characters, humor. Bambi is a true gem; a timeless treasure. A priceless Masterpiece.
On: 2005-02-19
I am very appreciative to Amazon.com, and Buena Vista Home Entertainment for sending my family and I this DVD (before its public release March 1st).
I have always loved this film. Bambi is a timeless treasure that I am glad I am able to share with my children.
Made in 1942, the animation is flawless (my favorite scene is where its raining, its so perfect). The animators have truely captured the movement of each different type of animal that inspired the film. This is Disney at its very best!
Besides the wonderful animation, my children and I enjoy the humor. I love the owl talking to the older Bambi, Thumper, and Flower about all the animals being "twitterpated" in the Springtime; they all vow that it will never happen to them, but sure enough, one by one, they all fall victim to it.
The flawless animation, the colorful imagery, cute, memorable characters, humor. Bambi is a true gem; a timeless treasure. A priceless Masterpiece.
On: 2005-02-17
IF YOUR DEPRESSED AS IT IS, DONT WATCH THIS FILM. YOULL REALLY FEEL LIKE THROWING YOURSELF OFF A BRIDGE. NONETHELESS- IT WAS GOOD. JUST MORBIDLY DEPRESSING.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-12-12
Its right up there with The Lion King. TLK only wins a very close first place for its incredible score, ORIGINAL storyline, and unique characters. Bambi is actually based on a much more violent, provocative novel by Felix Salten. The softened-up movie version is most endearing! It reveals to children that there is more to life than princesses and computers and action figures--that nature is beautiful and exciting too. The heartwarming adventures of the spindly deer are funny and always tender. Bambi plays with Thumper, the rabbit--hes funny. Flower gets to be annoying with his goo-goo eyes and squeaky little voice, but isnt bad. The dangers of life in the forest are vividly highlighted, and, although it may cast a bad shadow on people who hunt for a living, it will also tell of the sorrow havocked by OVERHUNTING. The forest fire ("Man...is back") teaches the importance of preventing forest fires. Bambis tender climb into adulthood will evoke feelings in everyone--except for close-minded :) people who believe that it is too cutsey-too. The animation and coloring are unbelievable for their time, and the soft watercolor backgrounds set a magical tone. The vocal score leaves something to be desired but the instrumental score is fantastic. This movie influenced THE LION KING. It is an honorable, magical film. Pure Disney magic!
by: Anonymous On: 2004-10-24
Well Im very excited th@ Disney has an all new edition of movies to add to your movie collection.The Platinum Editions.They (so far) have Snow White & The 7 Dwarfs,Beauty & The Beast,The Lion King,& Aladdin out(Im trying to get all of them but I just have The Lio King,& Aladdin).Next will be Bambi,which Im kindof surprised because its been released to video twice before and this will be its 3rd release to video and 1st release to d.v.d.(which I cant wait to see in WIDESCREEN).& dido for Cinderella but get this movie.
Bambi.Acknowledged by generations of moviegoers as one of the greatest Disney animated Classics ever produced.This extraordinary movie miracle is most fondly remembered as Walt Disneys favorate picture.The simple,heartwarming story of the newborn"prince of the forest"reflects the universal joy in us all as we discover the wonders of life and the beauty of nature.Each new revelation,along with Bambis budding friendship with Bashful Flower and fun-loving Thumper,elevate this beloved Classic to the status of Timeless Masterpiece.From the story by Felix Salten.Next I hope theyll bring out:The Little Mermaid,Pochachontas,The Fox and the Hound,& The Great Mouse Detective.
On: 2004-10-09
Why does such a wonderful film have to be disgraced by allowing such a flawed copy to be offered on VHS? Endless spots, faded colors, and washed out backgrounds. Lets hope they get it right on the DVD release.
On: 2004-10-08
Why does such a wonderful film have to be disgraced by allowing such a flawed copy to be offered on VHS? Endless spots, faded colors, and washed out backgrounds. Lets hope they get it right on the DVD release.
On: 2004-10-04
Disney seem to be stepping up production of their Platinum Editions. With gaps of twelve months between all previous Platinum Editions this will be released in Easter 2005 a scant six months after Aladdin. Six months after this well be getting Cinderella.
Hopefully this does not mean a dip in quality. With a whole year to work on each of these, they have all been very special packages. Shortening the time between releases may also mean a dilution of the specialness (if such a word exists) of their arrival - I for one look forward to October for their release. Another point is that there is a finite number of Disney films worthy of the Platinum Edition treatment and, since the studio seems to have all but given up trying to produce new classics, Id hate to see them use all of their valuable commodities too quickly - the best things come to those who wait.
The film is an obvious classic. Beautifully crafted, it may seem twee to a certain age group (those too old to enjoy funny animals and too young to appreciate a good thing) but it, like its contemporary The Wizard of Oz, rewards the older viewer with a seemingly childish tale hiding a deep and powerful story. Many people forget that the title character grows up, and here the film changes completely into probably one of the first movies made with a green message. And what scarier villain can a Disney movie have than Man?
The extras should be what weve come to expect - docs, artwork, games, deleted scenes/songs, commentaries and more besides.
Whether youre revisiting an old friend or meeting the young Prince of the Forest for the first time, I guarantee that youll be twitterpated.
On: 2004-10-03
Disney seem to be stepping up production of their Platinum Editions. With gaps of twelve months between all previous Platinum Editions this will be released in Easter 2005 a scant six months after Aladdin. Six months after this well be getting Cinderella.
Hopefully this does not mean a dip in quality. With a whole year to work on each of these, they have all been very special packages. Shortening the time between releases may also mean a dilution of the specialness (if such a word exists) of their arrival - I for one look forward to October for their release. Another point is that there is a finite number of Disney films worthy of the Platinum Edition treatment and, since the studio seems to have all but given up trying to produce new classics, Id hate to see them use all of their valuable commodities too quickly - the best things come to those who wait.
The film is an obvious classic. Beautifully crafted, it may seem twee to a certain age group (those too old to enjoy funny animals and too young to appreciate a good thing) but it, like its contemporary The Wizard of Oz, rewards the older viewer with a seemingly childish tale hiding a deep and powerful story. Many people forget that the title character grows up, and here the film changes completely into probably one of the first movies made with a green message. And what scarier villain can a Disney movie have than Man?
The extras should be what weve come to expect - docs, artwork, games, deleted scenes/songs, commentaries and more besides.
Whether youre revisiting an old friend or meeting the young Prince of the Forest for the first time, I guarantee that youll be twitterpated.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-09-20
I love Bambi I have watched my aunts vhs movie of it over and over. I want my own I would love to have the DVD I have lots of Disney Movies and Bambi is my favorite one. Lady and the Tramp is the next.
On: 2004-09-19
I love Bambi I have watched my aunts vhs movie of it over and over. I want my own I would love to have the DVD I have lots of Disney Movies and Bambi is my favorite one. Lady and the Tramp is the next.
by: dr_dolphin On: 2004-07-11
On one level, "Bambi" is just a little, animated film, just under 70 minutes, that tells the story of an orphaned deer growing up. Right? And an acorn is just a nut.
"Bambi" was made in 1942, but is still impressive in its animation, even in comparison to the computer-generated graphics of today. The colors are so lush, that you want to freeze some of the frames and hang them up on your wall. The beauty of Nature is captured here as well as in any film, animated or not.
"Bambi" is the story of one deer, but it is also a case study in the very basics of life: parental love, loss and grief, friendship, loyalty, balancing risk and need, growing toward independence, being at one and in harmony with Nature, and romantic love. It is a small film that covers more ground than many epic, megabuck productions.
"Bambi" did something else significant: for many, it altered peoples view of deer and their relationship to Man. I recently read a study that looked at this issue, and one finding is that two things decreased markedly after the release of "Bambi": involvement in deer-hunting, and the value people in general place on deer-hunting.
Sometimes, in simplicity, there is perfection.
by: loftykitten On: 2004-07-10
As any true Disney Classic will, Bambi touches and warms your heart. This is one of those movies that stays with you for the rest of your life, after just one viewing, because of its impact.
Bambi was the first animated film to ever touch on the subject of ecology, and mans effect on nature. However, while it explores such a heavy subject it still maintains a simple beauty and charm. It has all of the elements of an animated masterpiece: beautiful animation, an interesting story line, loveable characters, and great voice acting. However, it also brings the added joy of remembering all of the wonder that the world has to offer. There are very powerful scenes, including Bambis well known trama at losing his mother, and its sure to make you stop and think.
On: 2004-07-10
On one level, "Bambi" is just a little, animated film, just under 70 minutes, that tells the story of an orphaned deer growing up. Right? And an acorn is just a nut.
"Bambi" was made in 1942, but is still impressive in its animation, even in comparison to the computer-generated graphics of today. The colors are so lush, that you want to freeze some of the frames and hang them up on your wall. The beauty of Nature is captured here as well as in any film, animated or not.
"Bambi" is the story of one deer, but it is also a case study in the very basics of life: parental love, loss and grief, friendship, loyalty, balancing risk and need, growing toward independence, being at one and in harmony with Nature, and romantic love. It is a small film that covers more ground than many epic, megabuck productions.
"Bambi" did something else significant: for many, it altered peoples view of deer and their relationship to Man. I recently read a study that looked at this issue, and one finding is that two things decreased markedly after the release of "Bambi": involvement in deer-hunting, and the value people in general place on deer-hunting.
Sometimes, in simplicity, there is perfection.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-06-22
This movie really made me think. That sounds silly when its just a cute and heart warming little cartoon but I cried when Bambis Mummy was shot. What about all of the deer that go down each and every day in the real world?
by: luc1lou On: 2004-04-28
I have to say, I saw this when I was little and I was crushed. Devestated. In my book, most every Disney film deserves 5 stars (there are a couple of exceptions). The look of the movie itself is beautiful, the story is great, I love how much emotion is involved. Even though its not my favorite and you wont watch it very often, its still a really good movie. Thats all that matters right?
On: 2004-03-22
Bambi was (and still is) one of my favorite childhood stories. My grandmother gave me the story of Bambi and friends when I was a young child for my birthday. I had my mother read this story to my brother and I at bedtime every night until we wore the first copy out - I loved this story so much because it tells the story of courage and wonderment, and the friendship the develops for Bambi after his mother dies towards the other animals in the forest. I had promised myself when Disney reissued "Bambi" on VHS or DVD, I would add this loveable but sad adventure to my collection.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-03-19
BAMBI, the 1942 classic, is coming to DVD in 05? YES! BAMBI is the greatest Disney Classic so far. It has rich hand-drawn colors and a wonderful message about respecting nature. It is a beautiful film that I watched 100s of times when I was younger--I still have THE original Clamshell edition! This is a majestic film loosely based on the book by Felix Salten of the same name. Bambi, the Prince of the Forest, is born. He plays and runs with his friends in the beautiful meadow, but tradgedy is due to strike--which is the most famous moment in animated film history: The death of his mother. This is a wonderful, wholesome, joyful film for all to treasure! My next favorite film is THE LION KING.
On: 2003-12-16
Bambi has been one of my favorites since a Young child, and along with The Lion King, I still cherish them and collect all I can of them.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-11-04
Bambi will be released in Disneys Platinum series in 2005, followed by the Jungle Book in 2006 and Cinderella in 2007.
For more releases visit my post under aladdin (platinum series collection)
by: Anonymous On: 2003-10-21
This is my favorite movie of all time! I loved it from the first time I watched to today. One time, I even watched it once everyday for two weeks straight. This movie has gotten me through hard times and whenever I have watched a movie that has really scared me, I watch this and I feel so much better afterwards. Bambi has a powerful message and still affects me to this day. I hope others enjoy it as much as I do.
On: 2003-10-06
I ordered and received the tape within a week. It was exactly as promised.
On: 2003-09-12
Allright, yes, Ill admit, Im a little past the age when most kids Bambi fascination levels are at their peak, and yes, Ill also admit that Im one of those whove made Bambi a supposed sarcastic answer when one of my friends declared they went to the video store or they went with their little brothers and sisters and asked me to guess what they rented, but lets just face it, the picture is timeless. While I probably wouldnt watch the movie now unless I was babysitting, you cant argue that it is a bonafide Disney classic and will be for as long as time exists. As Disneys second ever feature film, (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first, BTW) Bambi is a beautiful, touching, emotional and truly moving film about love and other good character traits all set in the picturesque, lush background of a woodsy forest. Altough new movies come out every year and some cause controversy and stir the movie industry up quite a bit, Bambi was there even before the movie industry had two feet to stand on. Its one of the conerstone films that really put Hollywood and Disney on the map, and while I dont think the industry would have suffered if Bambi never was, it was a fundamental building block, a key turning point in Hollywood, and one of the very few and rare films that will forever suit all generations, no matter what their age.
The basic story is about Bambi, a young deer who is learning to cope with living in the forest, and who makes friends with Thumper, a rabbit, and Flower, a skunk, two unforgettable characters; together the three of them have cute, mischievous fun while balancing it with the wise teachings of Friend Owl. Bambi has so many wise character traits to acquire that are not only beneficial to kids at a young age, but also profitable for adults and teens to keep in mind; for example, who can forget Thumpers mom telling Thumper "If you dont say anything nice, dont say anything at all." Anyway, Bambi has just started beginning to learn how to live as a young fawn when tragedy strikes: his beloved mother, the one who watched him so lovingly and nursed him so selflessly, is shot by hunters. Although his mothers death is so hard to overcome, a fully grown Bambi wisely acquires what his mother gave him, love, and experiences it himself when he meets a pretty deer. Thumper and Flower also eventually find love, but are harshly and rudely interrupted when the dreaded enemy, Man, causes a great forest fire.
In a classic and beautiful conclusion, Bambi and his friends escape the dreadful fire, and realize that life has its hardships, but all that really matters are the ones you love. The music is beautiful, and the story about life, love, loss, friendship, toil, forgiveness, and rebuilding could not be told in a more perfect, effective, and gripping manner.
by: jedimack On: 2003-08-12
This old Disney Classic gets lost among all the other movies for families that have a more upbeat story. We rank this 31 out of the 41 Disney Animated movies that we own. Once it was seen, the kids seldom selected this one to watch again.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-08-09
Will always be a truly Disney classic and masterpiece of all time.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-08-06
This was a great movie. Thats all I can say.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-12-12
My daughter who is not yet two, thinks that Bambi is the only movie in the world. She will sit for hours and watch it over and over. It has a great story to tell and is very entertaining at the same time. I believe every mother should own a copy of it.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-09-23
Easy transaction and recd the item right away.
by: kona_ On: 2002-06-13
This is Disneys all-time best animated film!! Youll never forget new-born Bambi with his big eyes, discovering the world around him with the help of his friend, Thumper. Bambi loses his mother in a heartbreaking scene that is very intense and unforgettable. He grows up and becomes the new King of the forest. There are beautiful songs and cute creatures to enjoy. Bambi is my favorite Disney movie...sad, funny, and magical; this is the Circle of Life told at its best.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-05-25
Too sappy, too convenient.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-05-04
...When I received the "Limited Edition" you promised me of BAMBI, I was very surprised and impressed. The condition of the sleeve was beautiful - the only thing missing was the price tag and the plastic wrap. The tape itself looked as if I had just purchased it...As I watched this magical movie, all I could say was "Oh, man....Oh, man..as tears were burning down my wet face, using clumps of kleenex over and over. My eyes hurt and they burned - I was a kid again seeing it for the first time; only trying to hold back the sobbing I could have done so easily...For a little over an hour, I felt like a kid again..as I hoped I would! It was just like seeing it for the first time!...
by: Anonymous On: 2002-05-03
Out of all the animated films i have seen in my 20 years of living, Disneys Bambi and The Lion King have to be my favourite. Although Bambi doesnt really have a plot, its pure magnificant animation, its beautiful landscapes and characters are enough to make your heart melt. If you like Disney and love animals like me then you have to own this film!!
I first saw bambi when i was 8 years old and now 12 years on i still love it for its beautiful portrayal of nature and life circles. I still cry at it, laugh at it and smile at it. I cry more than my little sister does!! The characters are lovable, the animation is spectacular and with a splendid soundtrack you cant go wrong!
I give it all my praise and if you love Disney youll be a fool not to own this masterpiece on video! A beautiful film. If you love nature, its the perfect film, Go get it!
by: Anonymous On: 2002-04-04
Excellent service! I was nervous about making a purchase this way, but it went great. The movie was in the mint condition described and the delivery was fast. I highly recommend.
by: accroya On: 2002-03-16
This is a great movie with which you can wind your kids down. I like to put it on before bedtime. Most of the movie is slow and serene, but heart-warming at the same time. There are layers of lessons to be learned, all of which come through very well.
by: scotsladdie On: 2002-01-31
All about a young male deer and how the phases of its life parallel the cycle of seasons in the forest. This is a perennial favourite from the genius of the Disney studios. Ive always thought that the beautifully done APRIL SHOWERS sequence - which reveals the forest at its most mysterious and beautiful exemplifies the superb craftmanship which is seen in every frame. Here the world was introduced to Thumper who, along with Jiminy Cricket, Dumbo and the Seven Dwarfs became a favourite with children everywhere. Based on the famous story by Felix Salten, this low-keyed and gentlest of all the Disney animated cartoons is a timeless delight for children and adults alike. The films total commitment to its portrayal of the seasons and elements of nature set a pattern that Disney would follow years later in his true-life adventure series. As in all the past Disney cartoon features, colour and music played an important part in helping to create mood and atmosphere. A beautifully done animated gem from 1942.
On: 2002-01-30
When a young deer has lost her mother in a Hunting Season. Bambi has becomes friends with forest animals but when Bambi becomes a Adult, he has to face a new world of Survival.This is a Lush Animated Film with Backgrounds be delineated with such realistic detail and it`s very precise. This is a film adaptation from Relix Slater`s Novel. The 2/3 of the film is great but the last third does slow down but Still is a Walt Disney`s Classic. Grade:B+
On: 2002-01-24
I saw this movie when I was young, and this was the first movie, my daughter saw, in the movie theater, I want my grandkids, to experience this to!and this was atleast 23 yrs ago, I went to see this, with my daughter! now , I have 3 grandkids, want to share it with! :o)))))),3 generations,me, my daughter, and grandkids! a great movie to share! :o)))))
by: usfreethinker On: 2001-11-18
Its been critisized by some for its use of violence in depicting a natural wildfire which causes the death of Bambis mother (not easy to explain to young children); and its been critisized by others as being "anti-human, or man, for its depiction of the hunting scene where animals are being shot at, including Bambi, who is himself wounded by a hunter. Yet, "Bambi" has come to represent the gentler side of Disney. For what its worth, after the release of "Bambi", in 1942, Walt Disney began a long and fascinating affair with nature, and ultimately produced many fine nature documentaries, and nature themed films, none of which may have come to fruition without "Bambi". With hardly any words spoken throughout its entirety, "Bambi" relies heavily on its breathtaking scenery, and wide range of color to depict the landscape. The forest looks almost lifelike; and the fire is almost too real.In the opening scene of "Bambi" it is springtime, the beginning of new life. Bambi is born. During his first days, Bambis mother teaches him such things as how to walk. He makes friends as well; Thumper, a rabbit, and Flower, a skunk. They also help teach Bambi the ways of the forest. When Bambi is first exposed to a meadow, his mother tells him it is a wonderful place, but he needs to remain cautious. Later, he finds out why, when man enters, causing all the deer to scramble for saftey in a frenzied flight. So now Bambi has been introduced to man, a creature he needs to fear if he is to stay alive. The season changes to fall, and then to winter, rapidly. And soon spring is again on the horizon. And then ... the fire. In all the confusion, Bambi loses sight of his mother. After he reaches safety, Bambi inquires about his mother. He is told, "Your mother cant be with you any longer". Bambi must face the new season without his mother now. When spring arrives, he, Thumper and Flower have grown. Bambi is attracted to another deer, Faline. They kiss, and Bambi is instancely in love. However, Bambi must put his feelings aside when man re-enters the forest. Again there is another scramble for safety. Faline is being tailed by some hunters, and Bambi goes in to help her, getting shot in the process. He makes it to safety, but must contend with another forest fire, set by the hunters who were camping nearby. The cycle is thus complete. And new life is being born, and will continue to be born, live and die. There will be new perils to face, and new wonders to discover. This is the essence of "Bambi"; that nature is a continuous cycle of life and death, and eveything in-between is a wonderous adventure, and that all living creatures must live their lives to the fullest. There is the subtle message intertwined, as well, that man can, and must. control certain elements of nature, if nature is going to continue to thrive. The second fire was the fault of man, caused by accident, but avoidable, which may have inadvertantly killed animals before it was extiguished. And man must learn to control himself, for if he does not, then he will not only destroy nature, but himself.
On: 2001-11-10
This Disney cartoon is without a doubt the best they have ever done, its a simple story with heartworming characters and as with all Disney cartoons has fantastic artwork, a must for any Disney collector.
by: Anonymous On: 2001-11-05
Its Disney, and the violence is handled mostly offscreen, so it gets a "G" rating. Still, this film annoys with its anti-human, anti-carnivore, and anti-male message. "Man" is the enemy. "Mans" hunting is portrayed as cruel and purposeless. "Man" sets fires for no reason. The fact that nature itself contains carnivores, whose hunting is not simply senseless violence to fill a villain role, is swept under the table. For that matter, human hunting of whitetail deer is not an act of senseless violence, either. In this film, women are the nurturers; men are distant leaders and fighters. "Man," of course, is the films only real villain. Males must compete with one another for the females attention. Am I reading too much Message into a simple Disney cartoon? Perhaps. This is, of course, a well-animated and well-told story. It deserves its classic status. But the entire genre of Disney and Disneyesque talking-animal cartoons, the ones that invite empathy with the beasts and cast humans in the villain roles, seems suspicious as propaganda to me. I dont think this picture is for children too young to critically examine its biases. If you spare your children Disney talking animal cartoons today, you may not to have a quarrel over vegetarianism on Thanksgiving eighteen years from now.
On: 2001-11-04
Its Disney, and the violence is handled mostly offscreen, so it gets a "G" rating. Still, this film annoys with its anti-human, anti-carnivore, and anti-male message. "Man" is the enemy. "Mans" hunting is portrayed as cruel and purposeless. "Man" sets fires for no reason. The fact that nature itself contains carnivores, whose hunting is not simply senseless violence to fill a villain role, is swept under the table. For that matter, human hunting of whitetail deer is not an act of senseless violence, either. In this film, women are the nurturers; men are distant leaders and fighters. "Man," of course, is the films only real villain. Males must compete with one another for the females attention. Am I reading too much Message into a simple Disney cartoon? Perhaps. This is, of course, a well-animated and well-told story. It deserves its classic status. But the entire genre of Disney and Disneyesque talking-animal cartoons, the ones that invite empathy with the beasts and cast humans in the villain roles, seems suspicious as propaganda to me. I dont think this picture is for children too young to critically examine its biases. If you spare your children Disney talking animal cartoons today, you may not to have a quarrel over vegetarianism on Thanksgiving eighteen years from now.
by: stephen2001 On: 2001-10-10
Watching Bambi, I wondered Is this really for kids during some parts of this film that may scare young children. And parts of this movie there are men that we dont see that are shooting and killing animals. And in one part during winter, they kill Bambis mother after she hears trouble. But does Bambi have a father? Earlier in the film when he first talks, he calls a butterfly a bird, some flowers butterflys, and a skunk Flower. Which his friend a rabitt named Thumper laughs. Now remember this is a cartoon, in real life animals dont talk, expect for parrtors, excpect when they are babies.
by: carstairs38 On: 2001-08-17
Bambi is a coming of age story that follows the first year in the life of a young buck. While he explores his world, he makes friends with Thumper the rabbit and Flower the skunk and experiences all the joys, sorrows, and dangers of life.Bambi is different from other Disney movies in that it doesnt have any humans in it. Still, the impact of man is felt several times in the course of the story. Overall, the movie is a series of smaller moments, many of them classic - Bambi discovering ice, the naming of Flower, all three of them falling in love, Thumper quoting his father, etc. The artwork in this film is beautiful. Many of the backgrounds look like they were painted using watercolor, a look they used extensively in the late 70s. Still, it really works well here. The animal movement is the best yet, even while making them semi-human. To me, this movie doesnt have the same appeal as Snow White, Dumbo, 101 Dalmatians, or some of Disneys other movies. Still, its a movie I enjoy, and I recommend it to everyone who enjoys classic Disney animation.
by: Anonymous On: 2000-07-28
"Bambi" is said to have been Walt Disneys favorite picture, and its no wonder of that. This movie has my favorite songs from any Disney picture Ive seen, including "Love Is a Song" and "Little April Shower." My favorite character is, of course, Thumper. He steals the whole show and he has a lot of great lines, which are usually hard to find in animated films nowadays. I hope that the Disney company will re-release this classic in theaters or on video, but one thing I hope they dont do is sell a whole lot of merchandising on it. Almost every Disney movie these days does that. Anyway, one more thing I want to say about this movie. The scene where Bambis mother dies has left an emotional and lasting impact on generations of children who saw it. Although Im only 16 years old, I saw this movie about a month ago and I felt the same way during that scene. That is what made Bambi so different from Disneys other efforts and what made it so important.
by: Anonymous On: 2000-02-25
This is one of the true classic Disney films of all time, telling the story of a young deer who loses his mother and finds true love while showing the results of mans uncaring hand on nature. Extraordinary artwork, wonderful characters, and fine storytelling. It will make you cry, it will make you laugh, but this film encompasses the most important lessons of life; love for all and for family, perseverence, and honor. Recommended for children and adults.
On: 2000-01-23
No one who has a heart or who can feel can keep from weeping during this art.
On: 1999-12-25
It is impossible to really capture the intensity and emotion that flows out of each fully developed character in this animated classic. Bambi brings to light some of the most intriguing neo-social and neo-political issues, no matter when one views the film. The death of Bambis mother is a scene that seems to swealter in the mind of the viewer long after (years, in fact) seeing the classic. The symbolism behind the death represents what all of us fear most. We are alone in this world and subject to the power of nature, the will of man and the inevitability of our own demise. Bambi reminds us that the seasons never really change; we have four each year. It is consistant and circular.
On: 1999-12-14
This is my all time favorite Disney film. The animation is bar none the best the Disney team has ever produced. The gentleness of the animals in the landscapes of the forest, so tenderly drawn as if they were delicate ceramic pieces. The story alone one can see the sheer beauty and patience Disney has put into this film, where the characters seem fragile, but yet have a life of thier own, growing up in the woods where anything can happen. Aside from some speculated "violent" scenes near the end, I would highly reccomend this to anyone, family and friend alike.
by: Anonymous On: 1999-07-30
This is a sweet movie and I really like it. Whenever the mother gets I try not to hear because i get really sad but i still like the movie.
by: Anonymous On: 1999-06-30
Pls, Long time I look for video tape the Bambi, I went many place but I cant find. Can you help me?Thank you very muchMarciaSan Diego, California
by: Anonymous On: 1999-06-10
Disney has become far too commercial these days. Almost every one of their modern films is designed to sell McDonalds toys.But this is one of the classics. Disney is synonymous with sappiness and melodrama, and Bambi is no exception. But for its genre, it is a gem. The artful backgrounds, delightful characters, and silliness make Bambi a household name. Thumper is the best. He is so humanoid and childishly goofy that it makes him the true star. Im 14 and admit it-I like a Disney film.
by: Anonymous On: 1999-05-28
Bambi is a Crime mystery that is very hard to figure out see Bambi is a ruthless killer in search of his mafia boss brother that forced him to do a job he couldnt refuse its a tough slick thriller about crime and romance and who is really getting played in the mafia for more info join the USS HENPECKED
On: 1999-05-27
Bambi is a Crime mystery that is very hard to figure out see Bambi is a ruthless killer in search of his mafia boss brother that forced him to do a job he couldnt refuse its a tough slick thriller about crime and romance and who is really getting played in the mafia for more info join the USS HENPECKED
On: 1999-04-20
Yes, yes, Bambis mom dies. But what else is new? Disney always seems to have it in for the moms. Cinderellas mom is dead, Snow Whites mom is dead, Dumbos mom is locked up, and on and on and on. But the story is about life changes and overcoming adversity. Somehow Disney always manages to do this better than anyone. The characters and animation are gorgeous, and except for the part about the fire (my daughter says "fa- forward, pweeze. It too cary"), Panda thought this film was great. She watches it again and again. And again. And again. For me, the point isnt to protect my daughter from life; its to help her process it. I was actually relieved to rewatch what I think of as the killing-off-the mom scene as an adult and to realize that it was much less traumatic than I had remembered. On the other hand, since Panda is still clueless about what happens to Bambis mother, I havent yet had to deal with finding her a therapist either.
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