frigmeat

On paper, this movie sounds really good. Set in the future, a ship with the ability to fold time and space for rapid travel mysteriously vanishes, only to reappear several years later. A crew is sent across the solar system to board the vessel and investigate, in the hopes of finding an explanation for the ship's disappearance. After a sufficient introduction to the characters and a couple of interesting sequences offering clues to the fate of the Event Horizon, what ensues is complete entertainment deterioration. There's nothing wrong with the acting in the movie, but they don't have much to work with after the "terror has manifested itself". The director goes for the "gross is good" parlay and ruins what could have been an effectively chilling pic.

Perhaps if the actions of the "dark side" in this show were delivered a bit more subtly, and if the dialogue and plot turns weren't so dang sophomoric in the latter half, I probably would have been trumpeting this film to all I know.

It takes a lot of work to get through this film. Not because the film is boring or slow, but because it throws a lot at you. I wasn't too familiar with Robert Crumb's art, but through the course of the film I identified several familiar pieces I never knew he was responsible for creating. What a brilliantly odd and sometimes painfully truthful perception of the world he has in his extensive catalogue! I'm not what one would call a fan, nor is most of his material for my taste, but to watch him explain his structural and comic techniques, I was able to understand his mind that much better (again, more work). After seeing the film to its end and having endured watching R. Crumb with his "they can't be real" family, I was left stupefied, depressed, educated, inspired, and somehow uplifted. If you allow yourself into this movie, you will be moved.

I can't stop watching it!!! Four of the seven new segments in this film are alone well worth the admission. Roy Disney Jr. sets the stage for a remarkable departure from the usual animated dreck that Disney has been bogged down by for the last half-decade (Toy Story aside). Disney have hereby restored my faith in them as leading the pack in animated cinema. I want more!!

"Pines of Rome", a marvelous piece set to the "story" of whales leaving the water and eventually the planet, is worth viewing several times for it's symbolism and exquisite look. "Rhapsody in Blue", by Gershwin, is given perfect treatment by a day in the life of New York City. The pace is quick and manages to give each character studied enough depth to make a very satisfying and touching ending. "Pomp and Circumstance", the graduation standard, is humorous and sweet. Creating a love story involving Donald and Daisy Duck into the story of Noah's Ark worked surprisingly well. "Firebird Suite"- WOW. This is the most incredible segment of the film. It's a PERFECT marriage of music and animation and MUST be played loud. Very emotional and powerful indeed.

I had to post another comment because I can't stress enough that it's a worthy successor to the original Fantasia, and Walt would be proud.