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Robin Hood
is without question a classic. It's one of those Disney animations that
has been around for almost as long as the medium itself - and most
people will have seen it at some stage of their lives. Now, with the
miracle of DVD, Robin Hood can be enjoyed by an all new generation.
While
there are no CGI landscapes, no talking cars, no rats that can cook -
there is something on offer here that can't be replicated by any modern day technology: wholesomeness.
From
the beautifully constructed art work, to the scratchy and tinny voiced
recordings, to those songs that can pretty much sum up your childhood -
everything seems to work here. Disney had - until recently when Pixar
became the Kings of the Kiddies - a stranglehold on Classic Kids
animation. Theres the old school (Robin Hood, Snow White, Jungle Book) and the new school (Lion King, Aladdin, Beauty & The Beast), and they just seem to know how to hit all the right beats of a good childrens movie.
The
characters look cute, Robin is a bit of a spunk (I've heard on more
than one occasion from girlfriends that they had a crush on the Foxx
Mr. Hood), and the songs are fantastic. It's been a couple of days
since I revisited this flick on DVD - and I'm still humming
"Oo-De-Lally".
Interestingly, this was in fact the first
animated Disney feature film to began production after the death of
Walt Disney, with some elements (most notably the use of Robin &
Maid Marian as foxes) were taken from an earlier aborted production (Reynard the Fox) which Walt had been involved in before his death.
Even
more interesting to note is that the film's release in 1973 was also
during on of Disney Corps biggest financial slumps, with the small
allotted budget meaning the films animation artists reused large chunks
of footage from previous animated features (most noticeably during the
song "The Phony King of England" in which the characters' movements
strongly resemble those from The Jungle Book, The Aristocats, and Snow White).
While
kids of today might find the final product a little slow for their
liking, there is still some special moments on here (Peter Ustinov is a
stand out as Prince John) and the songs are as loveable now as they
were back in the 70's.
Worth purchase price alone, if only so
you can chuck it in the DVD player on those down days - and reminisce
about a better time and place.
Oo-De-Lally-Oo-De-Lally-Ley.
EXTRAS
Disney never disappoint with DVD extras, and Robin Hood: Most Wanted Edition is no different. Theres plenty on offer to keep the kids (and the adults) amused for hours on end.
There's the "Sing-A-Long" section - which is perfect in this Australian Idol era, theres some cleverly animated menus, alternate ending and an extremely inventive Quiz.
Lots of fun.
Conclusion:
Movie 75% Extras: 65%
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