nunval Reviews

Lilo & Stitch (2002)

True Disney is back!

[23 June 2002]

Forget the someway boring "Atlantis". This is a movie that, like "The emperor's new groove" is true to the great legacy of Walt. Funny, moving, with wonderful settings all painted in watercolor and a perfect score full of great Elvis songs, this film will delight you and your family The little girl Lilo and the funny alien Stich are already great Disney characters and you'll adore their story. Walt Disney is back at his best! Uncle Walt would have been proud of it!

The Wonderful World of Disney: Annie (1999) Season 3, Episode 5

The magic of Disney musicals lives again

[9/10 · 31 October 2001]

To see this picture was a pleasant surprise. It's better than the famous 1982 John Huston version and the players are all terrific, wonderful! The music, the songs and the dances are the best than you can expect from a Broadway musical and the teleplay is much less stagy than the 1982 version (confront for instance the scene in which Annie goes to Broadway, what sense of entertainment in using the number NYC and yet continue to keep the story running in the best Disney style) Alicia Morton is a little miracle of class and style, Kathy Bates is superb, Audra McDonald and Victor Garber are a treat! This is a movie that truly deserves the "WALT Disney Presents" trademark. Go, watch and enjoy again and again

Babes in Toyland (1961)

Charming Annette

[29 April 2001]

This is another of the Disney musicals compared unfavourably with "Mary Poppins" but I think that's not right. Perhaps the scenery seems too much "fake" but this is also the case of a superclassic like "The wizard of OZ". I really loved the story, Annette and Tommy Sands and the wonderful Ed Wynn. The special effects are also for today stunning. The march of the wooden soldiers is a -must see-sequence.

Perhaps not a masterpiece but indeed an average "cult" movie.

P.S. : Annette and Tommy singing "Just a Toy" are a real treat"!

Samson and Delilah (1949)

Lamarr = Beauty

[4 April 2001]

This film is a must for everyone who loves Technicolor, great actors and great movies. Mature is a wonderful Samson but Hedy Lamarr is the definitive incarnation of beauty. She is also a very good actress and directed by De Mille gets her screen triumph. Watch this over and over again and you'll not be tired.

Final Destination (2000)

WOW

[25 August 2000]

This is one of the best terror movies I've ever seen. The plot is original, the actors are fine and the screenplay truly chilling and scary. There's some gore moment but it's necessary to the story. I say no more, other users have told you enough of the story; only go, watch and be prepared to one of the scariest experiences of your movie life!

Fantasia 2000 (1999)

Wonderful, magnificent, moving

[15 August 2000]

To all Disney lovers in the world: go and see Fantasia 2000 and you'll not be disappointed. Sure it is something different from the original classic (and the insertion of "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" makes this obvious: the styles are completely apart, although it's always Disney style) but it's breathtaking and moving. The only thing that I missed was that the typical effect of the music panning through the screen to follow the characters is somewhat missing in the recording of the pieces. Dolby Digital is a little minus convincing that the old surround of the original classic. Donald and Daisy are great in "Pump and circumstance" but the segments that are truly irresistible are the "Rhapsody in Blue", the "Carnival of the Animals", and the wonderful "Firebird suite" , a strong and chilling description of the struggle between Nature and Fire. I don't say a word more!!! Go, watch and enjoy the music.

Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)

Magic on the screen

[10/10 · 9 August 2000]

A great movie. Lansbury and Tomlinson are perfect, the songs are wonderful, the dances, with a particular mention for the "Portobello Ballet" are gorgeous. As for the animated section, the match between animals has become an instant classic; the climax with the attack of the armatures is chilling and fascinating. I recommend to see the restored 134 minutes version or at least the 112 minutes video. Here in Italy we have only the 98 minutes version, although the film was presented in its original release at the running of 117 minutes. If possible, watch also the German videocassette: it was generated from the 98 minutes running but it's missing of every refer to World War II and of all the scenes between English people and their Nazi invaders!

The Happiest Millionaire (1967)

A pleasant musical

[4 August 2000]

I have seen today the roadshow restored version of this film, and enjoyed it very much. It isn't "Mary Poppins" but never mind. The story is simple, the actors are all perfect (I liked very much the wonderful Garson and John Davidson) and all is filled with a touch of class that is enchanting. In Italy I saw on television the 118 trimmed version, where several songs were missing and that was a pity, 'cause the music of the Sherman brothers is brilliant and worth of their talent. In conclusion the only thing was that this movie came after "Poppins" and, as will happen for "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" and "Elliott", unfavorly compared with it and consequently badly edited. The roadshow version is enchanting, don't miss it and you'll whistle tunes like "Are we Dancing" and "Soon will be Christmas" for weeks.I highly recommend this movie to all Disney fans and lovers of comedies.

Stigmata (1999)

Visually stunning

[6/10 · 14 May 2000]

I have always been a fan of movies such as "The omen" or "the Exorcist". "Stigmata" is a classic thriller about supernatural events that are related to religion and the subject really touches many people here in Italy. I found the movie very interesting in acting and directing, but the photography was stunning. The result reminded me of "Seven" but here is much more effective. To see all the film with desaturated colors, except for the red and the black tones is a wonderful and shocking experience. The ending and the climax are a little obvious, but I enjoyed it. Arquette, Bryne and the luciferine Pryce are wonderful. The sound is a little disturbing but it's probably due to the video -clip style of the movie.

Cinderella (1950)

My first movie

[16 April 2000]

This is the first movie I have ever seen and it was love at first sight. Since then I've watched it a hundred times or so and collected the video in many languages. Cinderella is wonderful, funny and rich. I know that many people remember it for the mice and Lucifer, but look at the human figures: they're (with the exception of the Prince) perfect and truly convincing. For example the relationship between Cinderella and the stepmother is strongly rendered and it's clear that the girl fears that woman. The sequence of the fairy godmother is one of the best of all Disney films (what a dream the transformation of the dress) and the ball episode is exciting and fascinating in both drawing (note the use of the shadows at a time when computer coloring was far away), dialogue and music (the Cinderella Waltz "So this is love" is enchanting).

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

A Technicolor dream

[10/10 · 11 April 2000]

"Snow White" is one of the masterpieces in the movie history and seeing it time after time makes it once more "the fairest of them all" . The characters, the music, the color, all is perfect in a wonder that will last forever. I shall never forget the day when I saw it the first time, during the Christmas holidays of 1972. To all the movie fans in the world: watch it again and again and you'll be always fascinated!!!

I have collected the video in several languages and I think that the Italian and French versions are the best, alongside with the original. The restored Dolby version is wonderful.