I wasn't impressed with this iteration of a classic film. I felt like the music wasn't as well in-time with animations.

Fantasia 2000 (1999): Dir: James Algar, Gaetan Brizzi, Paul Brizzi, Hendel Butoy, Francis Glebas, Eric Goldberg, Don Hahn, Pixote Hunt / Featuring: Steve Martin, Angela Lansbury, James Earl Jones, Bette Midler, Quincy Jones: Marking the 60th anniversary of one of the greatest achievements in animation and music. It also celebrates the beginning of a new century through one of Disney's greatest classics. It is beautifully animated yet it lacks the magic that made the original so unique. The filmmakers apparently attempted to recapture that when they included The Sorcerer's Apprentice as part of this update, but it hardly matters. One big throwback is its ridiculous celebrity introductions by Steve Martin, James Earl Jones, Bette Midler, and Angela Launsbury. Even Quincy Jones lends his talent to this and cannot rise above looking foolish. These are all gifted performers, but here they are required to overact and look foolish in front of the camera. It is detailed with themes of death, reproduction, achievement, goals, individuality, and a Noah's ark sequence featuring Donald and Daisy Duck. The Sorcerer's Apprentice represents the timelessness of the original, but what will make this sequel timeless? This is not the art that Fantasia ultimately became but it is well directed with beautifully animated musical segments celebrating past and future. Score: 6 / 10

Fantasia 2000 (1999) *** (out of 4) When FANTASIA was first released in 1940 it was meant to be the first of a series of films but the lukewarm fan reaction prevented it from happening. Then, nearing the 60th anniversary of that film, Disney decided to re-do it with this fun natured film that once again focuses on famous music and adds animation to it.FANTASIA 2000 is certainly an entertaining film that contains some brilliant visuals but there's not too much here that comes close to the original movie. In fact, I'd say the only thing better here is the fact that it runs a very short 72-minutes. Outside of this I'd give just about everything to the original but it might be unfair to compare the two. Either way, this is certainly worth watching if you're a fan of classical music or Disney animation.The animation itself is certainly the highlight of the picture. Just take a look at the Pines of Rome sequence, which will have your jaw on the floor. The sequences of the whales jumping from the water is certainly one of the most amazing animated visuals you're ever going to see. Another highlight comes towards the end when Donald Duck gets to put his spin on the Noah's Arc tale. The way the animals are presented was certainly terrific. The rest of the shorts are all entertaining but there's no question that their fail to reach a classic or even very good status.The introductions by the various famous faces really didn't add anything nor did having The Sorcerer's Apprentice reappear here. Why not put Mickey in a new film? Either way, FANTASIA 2000 is certainly worth viewing at least once, although it can't come close to matching the studios best films.

This is an animated feature-length film from Walt Disney Pictures. There will be spoilers ahead:This is essentially done in the same structure as the original Fantasia, except that the last two segments don't form a type of connection of theme as A Night on Bald Mountain and Ave Maria did in the original. There are eight segments, as in the original and The Sorcerer's Apprentice is one of the segments included in Fantasia 2000, in keeping with Walt Disney's original intention to keep subsequent versions of the film some mix of old and new segments. Steve Martin does an overview and seven segments are introduced individually by hosts. The segments are, in order:Symphony No. 5 in C Minor-Beethoven, which features abstract animation resembling bats and butterflies and thus opening this with abstract animation in the same manner as the original.Pines of Rome-Ottorino Respeghi, is introduced by Itzhak Perlman, absolutely beautiful animation of whales moving about during migration.Rhapsody In Blue-Gershwin (Quincy Jones) my favorite segment, with the animation done to resemble the drawings of Al Hirschfeld and with a storyline, the interweaving of the stories of four people over a day in New York City.Piano Concerto 2 In F Major-Shostakovich, (Bette Midler) which is "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" by Hans Christian Andersen set to music.The Carnival of Animals-Saint-Saens (James Earl Jones) about flamingos and one of them having a yo-yo. It must be seen to be appreciated!The Sorcerer's Apprentice-Paul Dukas (Penn and Teller) the complete segment carried over from the original.Pomp and Circumstance-Elgar (conductor James Levine) the familiar marches paired with animation of Donald Duck trying to help Noah fill the Ark, with help from Daisy Duck, with the expected consequences.Firebird Suite (1919 version)-Stravinsky (Angela Lansbury) probably the most visually impressive segment, absolutely beautiful to look at, it follows a sprite who accidentally awakens a "firebird", with disastrous consequences. This final segment actually encapsulates the thematic elements of the last two segments in the original in terms of destruction and salvation.About the only problem I have with this is its length. I would have liked it to be longer than its 74 minutes. Even 90 minutes would have been preferable, though two hours (given that the original was slightly over two hours) would have suited me better. That's a minor quibble. It's a worthy successor.This film is available on DVD and Blu Ray. I've owned it on VHS, DVD and Blu Ray and Blu Ray is the way to go if you have that capability. Most Recommended.