Bambi (1942)

To me, this movie is perfection.

Better Late Then Never

Absolutely Fantastic

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Ah Bambi, what can one say about this cute innocent tale of a little deer growing up in the woods and then having his mother die?.....well OK, we all know about that on first glance, but what we also remember about Bambi is the artistry. The way the movie depicts nature is just stunning, from the trees, to the ground, to the meadows, to the fields, to the grass, to the water, to just about everything else. It really creates a sense of beauteous wonder that you don't find too often in animation. Adding on to the gorgeous backgrounds and settings, the animation on the animals are phenomenal, and considering how hard animals are to animate (let alone draw), the movements are flawless and the designs look cute enough without being nauseating, fitting the movie's feel of cute sentimentality. But when the movie gets dark, so do the lighting and shadows, and it executes both incredibly well.Storywise, it's basically just about a deer growing up in the woods, and that's it. Simple enough, yet honestly, that's why the movie works. Sometimes just seeing someone live from childhood to adulthood in a setting is interesting and captivating enough for a viewing experience. We were all children once in our lives, and this movie captures childhood really well by showing how innocent life was before we had to grow up. But then the death of Bambi's mother came, which has scared many for life, but it also taught folks that we must cherish the things we love, because nothing lasts forever, and it's important to hold on to them even when they pass on.Overall, while the movie is mostly cutesy in the first half, Bambi still stands the test of time for its Luscious artistry, charming innocence, hauntingly soothing score, and its important lesson to be warned that not everything you love for last forever. If you have kids, let them grow up with this so they can remember how cute it is, as well as heartbreaking.

Why such a low rating, people? Bambi, along with Pinocchio, is a perfect depiction of the often mischievous gift called life. While the overall message of Pinocchio is directly out-spoken, Bambi masters the art of subtlety, because we never have to face one true evil and never see Man in the forest. Bambi just has to deal with the inevitable in life. A slice of life is what Bambi is. We see him as a kid growing up to become the new great prince of the forest and he faces both happiness, rivalry, love and even loss of loved ones. Bambi makes kids acquainted with all sorts of emotions and the beauty of the forest with heavily atmospheric music and visuals instead of sugar-coating it with all happy and bouncy talking animals without any educational aspect or depth to them. That is the definition of an excellent animated movie. There is enough for both kids and adults without insulting the intelligence of kids. Easily one of Disney's best.

Bambi (1942): Dir: David Hand / Voices: Bobby Stewart, Stan Alexander, Cammie King, Peter Behn, Paula Winslowe: Symbolic Disney animation about a fawn named Bambi born to discover everything new and interesting in the world around him. His friends include a rabbit named Thumper and a skunk named Flower and all is fun and games until the reality of adulthood set in. Intriguing social commentary symbolizing the risks of raising children. Forest fires indicate carelessness, and hunters represent uncertainty of death as with Bambi's mother. Sexuality merges when Bambi battles a stag for a mate. Directed by David Hand who previously made the first Disney animation Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Here he provides a greater achievement with harsh realism. Voice talents include Bobby Stewart as Bambi while Stan Alexander voices Flower, and Peter Behn voices Thumper. Cammie King provides the voice of Bambi's future mate Faline. Paula Winslowe provides the pivotal role of Bambi's mother whose fate is long past being a plot spoiler. It is a teaching tool but not for the intended audience. Parents may wish to view this film with their children since its adult themes are solid. It regards growth and adulthood and the unpredictable future. It is also about youth and adulthood with hints of romance. Top notch animation whisking viewers into the carefree forest of untold dangers. Score: 9 / 10

(68%) One of Disney's better remembered early classics plays very much a similar note to one of their more recent classics "The lion king", as the circle of life is the overriding theme here. Although this is much more of a simple plotted watch in which tells its basic, yet captivating tale of nature against the odds placed by man. Some have tamely attacked the negative depiction of man as being too simplistic, too black and white; but the fact remains this is very much taken from the view of a wild deer so how else exactly can man be shown as anything other than a cold killer with a smoking gun is hard to imagine. This isn't one of my top pick Disney outings as I favour their more light-heated features, but I will admit that the animation is fantastic and it has aged very well over the decades becoming more than a little bit timeless.