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An American Tail

An American Tail

List Price: $14.98
Your Price: $11.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It's a spectacular movie!!!
Review: I've watched this movie about 30 times and I still love it. It's a classic. If you want to get a movie for your kids, I would definitly reccomend this one.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Favorite Childhood films.
Review: If you hate Return of Jafar or animated sequels. I'll recommend you something genuine. The Original American Tail. This movie was sweet and emotional in some areas. The animation pretty good for an 80's flick.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Disney move over
Review: It's amazing that Steven Spielberg doesn't get more recognition for producing one of the greatest animation movies of all time. Although the story is very simple, it rings true on so many different levels. The contrast of the Mousekowitzes with actual human turn of the century immigration experiences is poignantly done. A cartoon where you really care about characters. Great for the kids.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Henri
Review: My favourite character was Henri (Christopher Plummer). When bought this video and listen to video when I heard the Song Never Say Never I had to fast forward the tape to the credits to confirm that Christopher Plummer in fact perform the song with the little mouse. He sang song with a french accent this would not have easy. I bought the sound from Amazon after I heard him sing the amount of movement and character he got in to song was incredible what beautiful voice.

Linda Colliver

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Slighly Altered "Tail"
Review: Since I have already written a review back in spring of 2001 that touches on the brilliance of this animated treasure, this review will focus primarily on the newly released DVD of the film.

I for one, was certainly thrilled to learn that Universal was finally giving Fievel the coveted DVD treatment, and anticipated its release on the format each day since. Yes, features are scarce, and yes, the film is presented in full frame only, but the way I see it, having An American Tail on DVD at all is a milestone for me, since it is a title I have yearned for since the early days of the format. Do not get me wrong, I am a VERY strong supporter of original aspect ratio on home video, but An American Tail is not exactly a film that cries out for the anamorphic widescreen treatment. In this case, its omission does not really detract from the experience. But then again, maybe I am being slightly biased about this film, having seen it once as child, loved it, and becoming hooked on it ever since.

As far as the picture quality is concerned, aside from the image being full frame, I was actually rather impressed. I was not expecting the image to be quite so crisp and clear. There were a few more speckles of film dirt then I thought should have been there, but for a film nearing twenty years old, it was still a good deal better than I was expecting. Clarity was most definitely improved over the VHS versions, and colors were strong and nice-looking.

The sound is also pretty great. I listened to the DTS 5.1 soundtrack on my surround system, and it is, without a doubt, the best I have ever heard this film. However, those of you who have seen American Tail numerous times over (as I have) are bound to notice changes in some of the dialogue as compared to past video releases. In teh opening titles, for example, as we approach the Mousewitz home, laughter is now heard inside the humans' cottage where, on the VHS release, all that can be heard is James Horner's soundtrack. Also, new or never-before-heard of dialogue have been spliced into the film throughtout. Th emost noteable instances of this are during the scenes when Fievel is trapped in a birdcage, crying, just before he meets Tiger. Also, when the cats are being anchored up onto the ship headed for Hong Kong, Warren T. now utters an additional line from offscreen, which I will leave you to discover. Anyone who has seen the film a good many times is bound to notice these changes.

While this altered/re-dubbed dialogue does not neccesarily hurt the film, it is still fair to question why these changes were needed. Perhaps Universal felt the need to offer something new to DVD buyers who would be purchasing this film again? There is no sense in correcting something that was never broken to begin with. Be that as it may, the changes do not take away from one's enjoyment of the film, or certainly not mine, at least.

Bottom line, American Tail lovers who are not particularly picky about aspect ratio should find this DVD well worth acquring . Like I said, I am big on widescreen myself, but in this case, found the movie too irresistable to turn down, especially at its low list price. Full frame and re-recorded dialogue aside, An American Tail is still the classic that it was nearly 20 years ago. So buy it before you are stuck trying to find an out-of-print copy "somwhere out there."

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Delightful Tale!!
Review: This animated featured, directed by Don Bluth, is an unforgettable treat for the entire family. It follows the adventures of "Fievel," a little boy mouse who journeys from Russia to America with his family, late in the 19th century, to seek a new life free of cat persecution. (Some analogies are present here.) During the storm boat trip, Fievel is lost at sea, and he finally washes up ashore in New York Harbor, where he vows to find his family.

With the voices of Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn, Nehemiah Persoff, and Christopher Plummer, this story will warm your heart. A highly recommended movie!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Treasured "Tail"
Review: This is a wonderful movie. I'm a huge Don Bluth fan. This is a story reliving the history of our country through a young Russian mouse. It's a beautiful story with fabulous music and beloved characters. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll awe in wonder as the mice rally together to defeat the cats. (May not be an ideal movie for a cat-lover.) Definitely worth watching.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Best Animated Movie Of All Time
Review: This movie can only be described as a truly golden masterpeice. I am 14 years old and I first watched this movie when I was about 6 years old. This movie scared ...me, and made me cry. It still makes me cry even today. No matter how hard you try, you cannot hold back those tears at the end when Feivel finds his father. This is the best animated movie you will EVER see in your life. Period.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A dream, a tragedy, a new begging, a happy ending
Review: This movie is coming out in 1/2004 on DVD, & I can't wait.

The determination to find his family Fievel meets many people from rich to poor, bad & good. Fievel using a story from his papa was able to help the mice get together, & defeat the cats.

The end show Fievel waking up after being knocked out, to his father voice...

Get it, love it

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: I......don't really understand.
Review: This movie is good and all, don't get me wrong, it's not a BAD movie. I just can't understand what everyone sees in it. It's far from being the greatest animated movie of all time. Sure, Fieval is cute. But no more so than Edmund from "Rock a Doodle," whom he is very similar to. Bluth's far superior films include "Rock a Doodle," "The Pebble & the Penguin," "Thumbelina," and even "The Secret of NIMH," but especially "All Dogs go to Heaven."

The song "Somewhere Out There" is pretty enough, although Fieval's singing leaves much to be desired. The cast, even Tiger, isn't very funny and depends on Gussie to provide almost all the humor in the entire thing. For me, the story moves too slowly and is never poignant or touching enough. It's just "cute." Very basic. It was never a favorite during my childhood.

I'm sorry, but there's just nothing special about it...the animation, while very good, is no better than any other Bluth film. The story seems to drag on and on about Fieval, this Jewish immigrant mouse, looking for his family in America, and these bunch of mice trying to ship all the cats to Hong Kong in some plan for freedom, and for some reason getting mixed up with a cat who pretends to be a rat...it's all somewhat confusing and kind of pointless. Tiger is just another Dom DeLouise character, same attitude and voice and all, different body. Bridget, the girl mouse Tony likes, has no real role at all. And Henri, that pigeon...his role is too small, he was cool, I liked him in the beginning. However, are we noticing a Don Bluth theme here? Is it just me or does he LOVE French birds?! Henri is strangely reminiscent of Jacquimo from "Thumbelina"....an optimistic, singing French bird who, for some reason, gets involved with the main characters and helps them...?

So, overall it's cute, it's entertaining, it's sorta heartwarming without being extremely memorable or moving. I'll have to watch the "Fieval Goes West" sequel and see if it's any better. The only "American Tail" movie I REALLY enjoyed was "The Mystery of the Night Monster," on account of that awesome pink poodle.


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