Back to reading and rating and trying to keep up with Ciao...
Back to reading and rating and trying to keep up with Ciao...
Member since:24.04.2005
Reviews:29
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Aristocats is probably the best Walt Disney animation, although maybe I'm biased because I love cats so. According to the blurb this was the last animated movie to get the nod from Walt Disney himself, so that shows you how old it is. (1970 if you want exact dates.) But old is good in this case as this is an all-time classic. What makes it so good as well is that it transcends the age barrier. This is a movie you can watch when you're older and enjoy it not for nostalgia's sake but because it is genuinely good and funny.
Duchess and kittens (Berlioz, Marie and Toulouse) are much loved by Madame a millionaires. They even have their own four-poster kitty bed in Madame's room. Madame decides she's not getting any younger and makes a will leaving all to her cats and when they die, the money goes to her butler. Edgar, the butler learns of this and decides that the cats have got to go.
So he catnaps them and leaves them outside the city of Paris, their home. Alone and bewildered Duchess and kittens try to make sense of their new situation. Cue for the entry of "Abraham De Lacey Giuseppe Casey Thomas O'Malley, O'Malley the alley cat." (Sad I know, but I just love it.) He promises them a ride into Paris on a magic carpet. Basically he helps them get home. He and Duchess fall in love. Marie says "How romantic!" a lot. And they all live happily ever after except for Edgar. (Now all say aaahhh.)
Characterisation is excellent from Georges (who's not as spry as he was at 88) to Roquefort the house mouse (who likes to share meals with Duchess and kittens). The humour is well-paced from start to finish. Aristocats is timeless and family friendly. There is nothing anyone can find offensive, (at least not that I know of and yet it is still good fun. Proof that you don't need violence, sex or swearing to make a movie even older ones can enjoy.
Despite the fact that the animation in this is not as good as it could be, and lets face it, computer animated features are probably always going to look better, this movie will always be the best to me. The animation does not in any way detract from your enjoyment of this movie, as it will always be a classic.
Thomas O'Malley is well played by Phil Harris. You should be familiar with his voice talents as Baloo in "The Jungle Book." He was also Little John in "Robin Hood" which was his second to last animated feature. For those older ones among you who are fans of Alice Faye, he was married to her and starred alongside her in the radio show called "The Phil Harris and Alice Faye Show." (Okay maybe that's a bit obvious.) His voice acting in this movie is superb. You can almost hear him purr.
Roquefort is played by Stirling Holloway who also as it happens did the voice of Kaa in "The Jungle Book." As Roquefort his voice talents are not wasted, if anyone did not fall in love with his character then shame on you.
Eva Gabor plays the part of Duchess to perfection, and even shows that her singing voice is quite good too. Eva Gabor was a well-known actress in the 50's and is probably best known for her part in the TV series "Green Acres" as Lisa Douglas.
The special features include "The Making of Aristocats featurette," a sing-along of "Everbody Wants to be a Cat" (definitely only for the kids), and a singing and painting game which as an adult you may try once but never again. There is also a short cartoon called "Country Cousin" which isn't that good, but is quite entertaining in it's own way. But then you don't buy a Disney DVD for the special features, do you?
As with most Disneys, classic or otherwise this would normally retail at around £19.99 at most stores. Amazon however are offering it for the slightly more modest price of £15.99. If you are fortunate your local store may be doing a special offer of two Disney's for one, in which case Lady and the Tramp would probably make a good second choice if you like this one.
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Often forgotten about in the Disney back catalogue,The Aristocatsis actually a fun, lively ... more
feline adventure, with plenty of zest and some terrific tunes too. Arriving in the wake ofThe Jungle Book, its not vintage Disney, but it still sets itself a hig...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Often forgotten about in the Disney back catalogue,The Aristocatsis actually a fun, lively ... more
feline adventure, with plenty of zest and some terrific tunes too. Arriving in the wake ofThe Jungle Book, its not vintage Disney, but it still sets itself a hig...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Disney's 20th full-length animated classic The Aristocats is an unforgettable mix of wild ... more
adventure colourful characters and jazzy music your family will find absolutely irresistible! The enchanting tale begins in Paris when a kind and eccentric mi...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Duchess and her three kittens are enjoying the high life with their devoted human mistress ... more
until the wicked butler Edgar, with his eyes on a big inheritance, decides to dope them and get them out of the picture. How can these fragile creatures cope in ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
![The Aristocats Special Edition [DVD] [1970]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/77917534.jpg "The Aristocats Special Edition [DVD] [1970]")
May 11th, 2005
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![The Aristocats [DVD] [1970]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78532068.jpg)
![The Aristocats [Special Edition]-DVD](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/106079677.jpg)
