doesn't hold up


Truly great animated features have appeal for almost everyone, except maybe teenagers.

There was a period of time in my teens when I was "too mature" for any stupid cartoon movie. That's for kids. Then you mature in fact, rather than just in your head, and you lighten up. I think this is true for many people.

In addition, I believe there's a concensus that there was an uninspired creative period for animated films that spanned the late 60's or so through til roughly the mid-to-late 80's. Of course, children who were raised in that period will defend some of their cherished films to the death, but for most of us, the animated family feature began to sprout to new life beggining with "Beauty and the Beast" - nominated that year for Best Picture. (To be fair, most recognize "The Little Mermaid", but I personally don't care for it.)

All of the above go to explain why it is I just recently saw "American Tail" made in 1986. The animation is pedestrian and seems like something from the 40's. The story is sacchrine sweet, with not much to offer the adult palate. Overall, I wasn't impressed. My wife's a few years younger than me, and this was one of her cherished childhood films. But nostalgia, I'm afraid, is all it has going for it.

How come every time I post, I get this same bullsh!t signature?

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Well, I really disagree. This movie is really charming. The writing is unusually rich for a kid oriented animated movie, the music is good, the art's great, and the movie has unicity to it. It doesn't seem to me like an uninspired work, it seems to have a good amount of spirit and vision put into it. I do think this movie is definately flawed, but it still holds up with me.

_ _ _

"Why spend your life making someone else's dreams come true?"

-- Ed Wood, the movie

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Hmm I think the old feel to the background artwork was a nice touch actually... considering the setting was the year 1885, it sort of felt appropriate. I think the artwork is amazing and the animation is really lively. The music really gives it a magical power to it and I think there are values within this film that can touch all hearts regardless of age.
So I would have to disagree. But hey, that's what debate is for =)

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[deleted]

What Blazer420 said!

Seriously, I agreed with every word of your post.

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[deleted]

It's one of those movies that's very special for you if you saw it as a child but doesn't hold up well if you first see it as an adult.

In my humble opinion.

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There was a period of time in my teens when I was "too mature" for any stupid cartoon movie. That's for kids. Then you mature in fact


Is that so?

The animation is pedestrian and seems like something from the 40's. The story is sacchrine sweet, with not much to offer the adult palate.


The animation is pedestrian? Like Something from the 40's? No adult palate?
This is a film that is closely related to the Jewish presecution, and the living conditions of that existed during the late 1800's New York, it really adds something to this movie. Oh, and the animation is terrible apparently.

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You mention "Beauty and the Beast". I rate it as probably the best animated movie that has ever been produced. And still "An American Tail" is one of the few movies that can keep up with "Beauty and the Beast" on so many levels. The story, the music, the atmosphere. It is an absolute masterpiece!

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Can't really say I agree with you. I saw it when I eleven in 2005 and thought it was good. Saw it six years later and it still holds up well. Animation is an understandable complaint as I don't think that has aged well, but I do think that the story is deep in that it doesn't compromise it's message for kids and adults can still enjoy it. To this date, it remains one of the better films not made by Disney.
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Talking about my movie experience in here: http://astarisborn94.livejournal.com/

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