Bambi Meets Godzilla

Once upon a time there was a 7 year old boy who was staying up in front of the set well past his bedtime. What appeared to be anyway, was an innocuous introduction for a cartoon. An innocent fawn walked onto the screen,grazing so eloquently to the sound of the forest birds chirping so heavenly. So peaceful. Almost gracefully. What could possibly be more harmonious than this virginal rhythm of nature? What could...? What the...?! Where did that come from?! How could this be?! Where's my Mommy!?

BAMBI MEETS GODZILLA has long since been a cult classic and staple at cartoon/animation festivals. Well representative of the counterculture,it has won numerous accolades for best animated short in most quarters. If you haven't seen it yet, it is also featured on Cartoon Network every once in awhile. The last time I saw B.M.G. was about 11 years ago(long after the visceral assault on my prepubescent psyche)on the late nite show NIGHT FLIGHT. It was obviously an underground film,but since you can now find it at BlockBuster and buy it on Amazon.com, I'm not sure how the creators managed to sidestep(unlike you know who!) the Walt Disney Company. The film is no doubt groundbreaking(a relevant term)and had to be the inspiration for such artists as Tim Burton, Matt Groening,Mike Judge,Rob Zombie and Tre Parker to name a few. It's good to see that art can be a device as well as a form of expression.

A sweeping epic of monumental proportions, "Bambi Meets Godzilla" combines a lyrical script, stellar performances by the entire cast, the most outstanding special effects available at the time and a score which is a classic in its own right to produce a spectacle that is as memorable as it is lengthy. Not many movies can command an audience's attention for as long as "Bambi Meets Godzilla", but here the performances are so engaging, and the visuals so stunning, that it feels as if the movie is over almost before it has begun. Even so, it is just barely sufficient to contain the entire sweep of the grand drama it has embraced. Truly a magnum opus in every sense of the word.

Unimpressive visually, but this short was only made for one joke and the joke is funny. Better if you don't know anything about it before viewing it. Not worth running out and buying a video of, but worth checking out if you get the chance. EXTREMELY short (about 2 minutes).

7/10

Animated film at its 90-seconds best with a punch line that leaves you giggling as if you have just seen a raunchier moment in the renaissance comedy. I adore the way Rossini's pastoral music is being employed here. Canadian wry humor (and some brilliant animated film history) meet the Bambi ideals of our youthful dreams? You bet! It's like life with its insurance policies when it suddenly steps on your head. And this Godzilla ain't no Inoshiro Honda either! This film has elements of perfection: the simplicity of form, the brevity, the unexpected, the Aesopian morale of the story (ouch, what a punch!)and, best of all, that joyful touch of grouchiness without even being mean-spirited. **** out of 5 stars/or in the IMDB terms 8/10.

Next to the original film with Raymond Burr this is the next best Godzilla movie. The film makers get right to the point. No time is wasted on worthless dialog. The Deer and giant creature meet and one of them wins, End of story roll credits. Vastly superior to the 1998 Godzilla full length feature film.