#68 - #69. Fantasia & Fantasia 2000 - Quick Review

Fantasia original poster

Fantasia is everything you remember and more. I retro trip back to nostalgia town, Fantasia is an instant flashback to hours spent wearing footie-pajamas and losing yourself in Disney psychedelica the only way a child can. Immediately recognizable and yet completely fresh, each segment is a wonderfully animated dedication to classical music. While I found new appreciation for some of the moments that did not fully engage me when I was young (like the ballroom dancing water lilies), or were perhaps too scary (centaurs!), it was my old favorites I most enjoyed. This is quintessential Disney, beautiful, charming, and wondrously enchanting.

Fantasia 2000

I shied away from Fantasia 2000 when it first released in 2000. Although I was not afraid of the sequel tarnishing my memories of the original like Batman Forever or Matrix Reloaded, I did doubt the franchise’s ability to play in the 21^st century. If I am honest with myself, what that really means is I was worried animated musical numbers would not as easily entertain me now as when I was a child. Thankfully, 2000 quickly brought me back to my footie-pajama’ days. More of a homage than cash-in, 2000 is a modern take on traditional form. While I doubt it will become a classic similar to the original, Fantasia 2000 deserves some respect. 

#67. Make Me Young: Youth Knows No Pain - Quick Review

Make Me Young film poster

Mitch Mccabe’s documentary Make Me Young: Youth Knows No Pain attempts to investigate America’s obsession with appearance, and the growing plastic surgery market that feeds on our insecurities. A grab bag of quirky characters and scalpel junkies, Make Me Young nearly succeeds at being both an entertaining and at the same time non-judgmental take on a touchy subject. Sadly, McCabe turns out to be her own worst enemy, devoting much of the film’s runtime to herself. While many documentarians are naturally charismatic enough to carry a film (Michael Moore comes to mind), McCabe is about as dull and charmless a lead you could find, and unfortunately made the experience more pain than gain.