“Somewhere out there, beneath the pale moonlight,” there must be a better non-Disney-animated film. NAAAAAAAAH! An American Tail is animator and director Don Bluth’s best work to date. The account of a young Russian mouse being swept out to sea while on a voyage with his family to America peaceful holds up very well, even (GASP!) 15 years after the film’s theatrical debut. (Wow, I’m getting former!) Fortunately the young mouse, whose name is Fievel, washes up alive and well on Current York Harbor. From there, he sets off on a bound to acquire his family. But it may be more difficult than he anticipated once he comes across the “two-faced” villain Warren T. Rat (voiced to perfection by John Finnegan) and the city’s many other dangers that could threaten his quest.
As stated before, An American Tail is very nicely enchanting, and the unbelievable soundtrack, unruffled by James Horner, gives the movie a timeless quality that is one of the reasons why it stands the test of time. Each character is also perfectly voiced. Impartial to name a few of these talents, Philip Glasser is the relate of Fievel, Dom DeLuise is Tiger the cat, Amy Green is Fievel’s sister, Tanya, and as mentioned before, John Finnegan is Warren T. Rat. The songs are also brilliantly performed, the best of which is the classic “Somewhere Out There,” beautifully sung during the film by Fievel and Tanya, and again during the destroy credits by Linda Ronstadt.
All in all, An American Tail is an enduring and heartwarming film that will be embraced by everyone who’s young at heart. And so it is to these people that I highly recommend this film. And if you be pleased it, I also recommend viewing the sequel, An American Tail: Fievel Goes West. It’s every bit as great.
Since I have already written a review serve in spring of 2001 that touches on the brilliance of this enchanting adore, this review will focus primarily on the newly released DVD of the film.
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I for one, was certainly thrilled to learn that Universal was finally giving Fievel the coveted DVD treatment, and anticipated its release on the format each day since. Yes, features are scarce, and yes, the film is presented in elephantine frame only, but the draw I peer it, having An American Tail on DVD at all is a milestone for me, since it is a title I have yearned for since the early days of the format. Do not catch me bad, I am a VERY strong supporter of modern aspect ratio on home video, but An American Tail is not exactly a film that cries out for the anamorphic widescreen treatment. In this case, its omission does not really detract from the experience. But then again, maybe I am being slightly biased about this film, having seen it once as child, loved it, and becoming curved on it ever since.
As far as the report quality is concerned, aside from the image being tubby frame, I was actually rather impressed. I was not expecting the image to be quite so crisp and positive. There were a few more speckles of film dirt then I plan should have been there, but for a film nearing twenty years old-fashioned, it was composed a capable deal better than I was expecting. Clarity was most definitely improved over the VHS versions, and colors were strong and nice-looking.
The sound is also stunning spacious. I listened to the DTS 5.1 soundtrack on my surround system, and it is, without a doubt, the best I have ever heard this film. However, those of you who have seen American Tail numerous times over (as I have) are bolt to glance changes in some of the dialogue as compared to past video releases. In teh opening titles, for example, as we arrive the Mousewitz home, laughter is now heard inside the humans’ cottage where, on the VHS release, all that can be heard is James Horner’s soundtrack. Also, novel or never-before-heard of dialogue have been spliced into the film throughtout. Th emost noteable instances of this are during the scenes when Fievel is trapped in a birdcage, crying, impartial before he meets Tiger. Also, when the cats are being anchored up onto the ship headed for Hong Kong, Warren T. now utters an additional line from offscreen, which I will leave you to inspect. Anyone who has seen the film a righteous many times is trudge to search for these changes.
Buy,Download, Or Stream An American Tail! Click Here
While this altered/re-dubbed dialogue does not neccesarily distress the film, it is detached stunning to put a question to why these changes were needed. Perhaps Universal felt the need to offer something novel to DVD buyers who would be purchasing this film again? There is no sense in correcting something that was never broken to start with. Be that as it may, the changes do not buy away from one’s enjoyment of the film, or certainly not mine, at least.
Bottom line, American Tail lovers who are not particularly picky about aspect ratio should catch this DVD well worth acquring . Like I said, I am astronomical on widescreen myself, but in this case, found the movie too irresistable to turn down, especially at its coarse list sign. Chubby frame and re-recorded dialogue aside, An American Tail is composed the classic that it was nearly 20 years ago. So hold it before you are stuck trying to come by an out-of-print copy “somwhere out there.”
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