Bambi (Walt Disney s Masterpiece) [VHS]

Reflecting an age of innocence and a time of wonder, no film better captures the pure magic of Disney than BAMBI -- the world s most endearing animated tale about the beauty of nature and the miracle of life. Nominated for three Academy Awards(R), this immortal blend of classic storytelling and unforgettable characters is most fondly remembered as Walt Disney s all-time favorite picture. As morning light breaks across the meadow, a new prince of the forest is born. Soon Bambi emerges from the thicket on wobbly legs, much to the delight of his new friends, Thumper, the playful rabbit, and Flower, the bashful yet lovable skunk. But the fun of skating on "stiff water," nibbling fresh blossoms, and frolicking through the woods is only the beginning. Exploring his new world, and guided by the wisdom of Friend Owl, Bambi learns valuable lessons with every adventure --experiencing love, loss, growth, and renewal along the way. Fully restored to its original theatrical splendor, this digitally remastered video edition of BAMBI can now take its place among your most cherished family keepsakes. Relive Disney s extraordinary movie masterpiece "filled with laughter and inspired animation!" (Time Magazine)It always comes up when people are comparing their most traumatic movie experiences: "the death of Bambi s mother," a recollection that can bring a shudder to even the most jaded filmgoer. That primal separation (which is no less stunning for happening off-screen) is the centerpiece of Bambi, Walt Disney s 1942 animated classic, but it is by no means the only bold stroke in the film. In its swift but somehow leisurely 69 minutes, Bambi covers a year in the life of a young deer. But in a bigger way, it measures the life cycle itself, from birth to adulthood, from childhood s freedom to grown-up responsibility. All of this is rendered in cheeky, fleet-footed style--the movie doesn t lecture, or make you feel you re being fed something that s good for you. The animation is miraculous, a lush forest in which nature is a constantly unfolding miracle (even in a spectacular fire, or those dark moments when "man was in the forest"). There are probably easier animals to draw than a young deer, and the Disney animators set themselves a challenge with Bambi s wobbly glide across an ice-covered lake, his spindly legs akimbo; but the sequence is effortless and charming. If Bambi himself is just a bit dull--such is the fate of an Everydeer--his rabbit sidekick Thumper and a skunk named Flower more than make up for it. Many of the early Disney features have their share of lyrical moments and universal truths, but Bambi is so simple, so pure, it s almost transparent. You might borrow a phrase from Thumper and say it s downright twitterpated. --Robert Horton