1st segment: ties with the final segment as FANTASIA's worst. There is some pretty good music in this bit, but it's represented by meaningless pictures and movements. Still and all, don't fast forward through it, will you, there are some interesting moments. **
2nd segment: uneven. Many exhilarating moments when images and music explode on the screen, several really magical spots with incredibly good animation, like the dancing of the mushrooms and flowers, but the last few minutes of it are uninteresting and drag quite a bit. Far from FANTASIA's worst, though. ***
3rd segment: the best known --and arguably best-- segment of the film. It's the famous segment with Mickey Mouse as a sorcerer's apprentice. Magical animation, excitement, great music, and a classic bit where he's dreaming of shooting around stars and rising waves with his powers. Only complaint: it could've been longer (it's probably the film's shortest sequence). ****
4th segment: stunning representation of Earth in its very prime, this is the one that has haunted by mental projection of our planet in its first millennia. Fantastic music and wonderfully drawn dinosaurs too. Great detail in the volcanoes, lava, and environment. Ties with Mickey Mouse's segment as the best this film has to offer. ****
5th segment: generally considered one of FANTASIA's least compelling sequences; it deserves better. Set in mythological environments, this lengthy chapter has unicorns, centaurs, Zeus launching thunder bolts, rainbows, and lots more. Some really good moments, but lots of boring ones as well. Music is nothing exceptional, but the segment is surely worth seeing. ***
6th segment: another uneven segment, I would put this one in more or less the same league as the previous one. The music is certainly a lot better though. This one has hippos, birds, and crocodiles dancing and elephants breezing away in the wind (don't ask). This could also be the weirdest segment of all, though the animation is stunning. **1/2
7th segment: almost the best saved for last. At least as good segments 3 and 4. Frightening representation of evil, the devil, terrorising a town beneath a mountain at night. The animation is absolutely stunning, as is some of the music, this segment will definitely give children (or even adults) a good jolt of fear. ****
8th segment: vague shadows and lights singing "Ave Maria" after the devil goes to sleep again. Boring and uninteresting; thankfully, this is also FANTASIA's shortest (and, sigh, final) segment. *1/2
Overall rating: **+***+****+****+***+**1/2+****+*1/2= 24 stars.
24 stars divided by 8 segments: 3 stars out of 4. FANTASIA: ***
2nd segment: uneven. Many exhilarating moments when images and music explode on the screen, several really magical spots with incredibly good animation, like the dancing of the mushrooms and flowers, but the last few minutes of it are uninteresting and drag quite a bit. Far from FANTASIA's worst, though. ***
3rd segment: the best known --and arguably best-- segment of the film. It's the famous segment with Mickey Mouse as a sorcerer's apprentice. Magical animation, excitement, great music, and a classic bit where he's dreaming of shooting around stars and rising waves with his powers. Only complaint: it could've been longer (it's probably the film's shortest sequence). ****
4th segment: stunning representation of Earth in its very prime, this is the one that has haunted by mental projection of our planet in its first millennia. Fantastic music and wonderfully drawn dinosaurs too. Great detail in the volcanoes, lava, and environment. Ties with Mickey Mouse's segment as the best this film has to offer. ****
5th segment: generally considered one of FANTASIA's least compelling sequences; it deserves better. Set in mythological environments, this lengthy chapter has unicorns, centaurs, Zeus launching thunder bolts, rainbows, and lots more. Some really good moments, but lots of boring ones as well. Music is nothing exceptional, but the segment is surely worth seeing. ***
6th segment: another uneven segment, I would put this one in more or less the same league as the previous one. The music is certainly a lot better though. This one has hippos, birds, and crocodiles dancing and elephants breezing away in the wind (don't ask). This could also be the weirdest segment of all, though the animation is stunning. **1/2
7th segment: almost the best saved for last. At least as good segments 3 and 4. Frightening representation of evil, the devil, terrorising a town beneath a mountain at night. The animation is absolutely stunning, as is some of the music, this segment will definitely give children (or even adults) a good jolt of fear. ****
8th segment: vague shadows and lights singing "Ave Maria" after the devil goes to sleep again. Boring and uninteresting; thankfully, this is also FANTASIA's shortest (and, sigh, final) segment. *1/2
Overall rating: **+***+****+****+***+**1/2+****+*1/2= 24 stars.
24 stars divided by 8 segments: 3 stars out of 4. FANTASIA: ***