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The Black Cauldron (Disney Gold Classic Collection) | Year: 1985 Classification: Feature Film Family Directed: - Ted Berman - Richard Rich Actors/Actresses: - Grant Bardsley - Susan Sheridan - Freddie Jones One of Disney's most enchanting (and unappriciated) classics Being an avid Disney video collector, I of course saw trailers for this release hitched onto other 1998 tapes, and was genuinely amazed with them alone. Needless to say I ran out to the store August 4 of that year to buy my copy of this never-before-released-on-video animated Disney flick and popped it into the VCR as soon as I got home. I honestly do not understand why so many people who have reviewed this movie have called it bad. Sure, it's different, and yes, it did recieve a PG rating, but those are not nessesarily bad things. And, yes, appearently it IS different from the book, but, putting all of that aside, it is a WONDERFUL movie, and, unlike some reviewers, I'm very glad that they let it out of the vaults. Taran, dreams of being an incridible warrior, but soon finds himself reduced to searching for Hen Wen, a young pig he tends to that has run away. This eventually leads to his embarking on a quest to find the mythical Black Cauldron, which gives the one who bears it ultumate power, before the evil Horned King. Aside from the adventurous, dark mood, the movie carries other strengths, too. First off, the characters are amazing and can be related to. I too have dreams and fears just like Taran (in fact quite simmilar in one perspective), and he is like a welcome friend to me. Gurgi is cute and funny and is this movie's classic Disney sidekick; there's one in every classic, you know. Second, there's the annimation - it's amazingly mood-setting and obviously helped the animators learn a great viriaty of skills they would use in later films. Finally, there's the film's tear-jerking (yes, I did say "tear-jerking" in regard to Disney's "The Black Cauldron," folks) ending and the timeless moral that is illustrated within it -- I won't say what it is; you have to go rent (or better yet buy) this too-often-ignored Disney gem to find that part out. To top it all off, the original 1998 release has a very cool-looking cover, supposedly "FX packaging" according to some old TV spots; the Gold reissue has a wonderful (different) logo and cover image too. All in all, I can't find a negative thing to say about it. The DVD supposedly has it in widescreen, which I'd love to see - and the Gold Collection issue (in both VHS and DVD formats) has "Trick or Treat," a classic Donald Duck short. I don't know why I don't have this on DVD yet! It's something you and I should both make a point to get. Amazing! ***** 5/5 Do NOT adjust your sets! It's not just another Disney film! Lloyd Alexander's Taran books are sort of compiled together to get the plot of this movie. And the average 8+ year old might actually like the dark elements of the movie even though they give them goosebumps. But be very, very sure you understand that this is NOT a typical Disney film. Audieces were very surprised this December with The Emperor's New Groove. I loved the movie because it owed more to the Road Runner and Tom & Jerry cartoons than the usual Disney fare. But an awful lot of Disney fans felt cheated. They could not stand the movie. I know you were there, because you were complaining behind me all the way back to the car. If you were one of those people, avoid The Black Cauldron, too. You'll just upset yourself. And Disney has lots of other great films you'll like better. For the rest of you: It's a little darker than the standard Disney fare. No hummable music. No singing man-beasts. And not much humor. For the adults out there, I think this is an important movie animation-wise. Bakshi worked on the film. Fans of Bakshi's Lord of the Rings and Wizards willrecognize and appreciate the style. Bakshi's shadowy, haunting world of the dead captures the feeling of helpless souls lost in the fog. Of course, for your eight year old, there are still cartoony zombies, monsters, et al. so necessary for the plot. :) The more mature themes of are an early precursor for the darker parts of Disney's Hunchback movie (You know. The parts without the goofy gargoyles in them). Give it a try. Disney wrost movie. Why bother with this wrost cartoon. There heads are not on tight. I let the MST3000 think about this movie. Buy The Black Cauldron at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on The Black Cauldron Search with the Priority Search Engine on The Black Cauldron This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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