Amazon.com

The Fox and the Hound marked the last collaboration betweenDisney's older artists, including three of the "Nine Old Men" (FrankThomas, Ollie Johnston, and Woolie Reitherman), and the young animators whowould make the record-breaking films of the '90s. Based on a book by Daniel P. Mannix, the film tells the story of a bloodhound puppy and a fox kit who begin as friends but are forced to become enemies. Tod and Copper barely establish their friendship before Copper begins histraining as hunting dog. Unfortunately, neither character develops much of apersonality, which makesit difficult to care about them. The screen comes alive near end of the film, when Tod and Copper have to joinforces to fight off an enormous bear. It had been years since Disney produceda sequence with this kind of feral power--and years would pass before theysurpassed it. The Fox and the Hound ranks as one of the studio's lesser efforts, butit suggests that better films were soon to follow. (Ages 5 and older) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (85)

There couldn't be a better Disney movie to own on DVD.
For me, the Fox and the Hound cannot be matched by any other Disney film. Unlike the stiffer, older films and the newer, hokier ones, the atmosphere in TFATH is just perfect, truly a revolutionary point in Disney's timeline. The animation is very fluid and the characters have great design and movement. Most of the songs are more like talking than singing, but they're few and far between and manage to get the point across. A nice change from usual Disney fare in the surprisingly sad ending. Considering I'm pretty desensitized to on-screen emotion, it's unusual that I cry every time I watch this one. It's the ONLY Disney movie that can make me. Even so, there's a number of comedic moments to get rid of the tension. I'm not sure where the Amazon review got the idea that the characters lack depth. Believe me, by the time this one is over, you'll be wanting to see much more of all of them. It's an excellent feature that carries an important message all wrapped up inside a lovable, heartwarming, and poignant story. You owe it to yourself and your children to see this one.

An All-Time Favourite!
"The Fox and the Hound" was of the last films to be apart of the "Black Diamond Collection" before the "Masterpiecee Collection" came to the markets in 1994. The film was released into theaters in 1981 & 1988 and came to video in 1994! This movie is a really great and colorful movie to add too any Disney collector's collection!

The story is about a kind woman who takes in an abandoned baby fox after his mother is killed in a hunting trip. She names him Tod and considers him as part of her family. Tod then meets a bloodhound dog named Copper (Who lives right next door to the kind woman) and they eventually become good friends. They have no clue that they are supposed to be enemies (Since hounds hunt foxs and other forest creatures)

After returning on a hunting trip during the winter with his master (To learn how to hunt), Copper realizes how he shouldn't hang around Tod to prevent Tod from getting killed by his master. By this time, they are both grown up and all the fun times that they had together suddenly don't seem to matter anymore. Eventually, Tod and Copper become enemies and it is Copper's mission to hunt down Tod. You'll be surprised on what happens when Copper and Tod to come face to face!

The film also includes some great songs like "The Best Of Friends" and "Goodbye May Seem Forever" (Which I still cry at when I hear that song!) This movie will also make you cry, so make sure to have a tissue in your hand when approaching the middle part of the movie! All in all, it is a really great movie and people young and old will enjoy watching it! 83 minutes.

A Good Movie for people of all ages
I am sixteen years old and when I saw this movie, it really brought tears to my eyes. It reminds me of how me and my best friend was. I really enjoyed this movie. Everyone should watch it on Family Nights.

Friends to the end.
This is one of my favorite Disney movies. When Widow Tweed takes in a baby fox, whose mother had been shot by hunters, she names it Tod and raises it. About the same time she takes Tod in, her neighbor, Amos Slade brings home a hound dog puppy named Copper.

One day in the woods, Copper and Tod meet and instantly become the best of friends. When fall comes and Amos takes an unwilling Copper along for his winterlong hunting trip, Tod tries to convince his friends, Big Mama, Dinky and Boomer that even though Copper will come back a trained hunting dog, that they will still stay the best of friends. Big Mama tells Tod that a fox and a hound are natural enemies and that, surprise, you ARE a fox.

When the two are finally reunited in the spring, Copper tells Tod that they can't be friends anymore. After a tragic accident involving Amos's other dog Chief, Copper swears that Tod will pay. Widow Tweed, realizing that she can't keep Tod locked up forever, takes Tod to the game preserve and lets him go. Amos resolves to kill the fox, and with Copper's help, goes to track him down. But when Copper has a run in with a bear, Tod comes to his rescue and, ultimately, Copper gets Tod spared from death.

A touching story about friendship that never fails to bring a tear to my eye.

Finally a DVD Version of this Awsome movie
I love this movie a lot it has great music like "Best Of Friends"
"Goodbye may seem Forever" and "Thats what Friends Are For" are all great songs on this DVD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This straight-to-video sequel to The Swan Princess concerns the kidnapping of Prince Derek's mother, a crime that lures the prince into danger himself. Princess Odette can save him--but only if she becomes a swan herself. Even given the lesser ambitions and budgets afforded direct-to-video sequels, it's hard to accept that this boxy, unexciting movie has the same director (Richard Rich) as the fine, first feature in the series. More like a Saturday-morning cartoon than a real film, this is a disappointment, though kids who couldn't care less about scale might get caught up in the story. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The Beautiful Swan returns
In the second of the three part series of "THE SWAN PRINCESS" "THE ESCAPE OF CASTLE MOUNTAIN" is a good movie, (in my opinion). Most sequals are a disapointment, but not this one, (and they keep the main cast from the 1st movie--which is a BIG PLUS). The singing is great and so are the songs, and the plot and acting is good as well. I think Queen Uberta is funny, (Do not mess with the Queen). Well, if you never seen this movie, I think you should, you will not be disapointed.

where's the plot!
All I can say is this is a pointless sequel! Most Sequels are crap manufactured on the market to make an extra buck!I'm sure most people loved it! Come on People Odette and Derek get married live happily ever after the End!

Great Movie!
I loved this movie! I haven't seen the prequel, but this was a very interesting movie and it kept me watching. The prince's mother is funny and it's a neat movie.

No Fear!
Like the others who have reviewed this video, I must admit that I rented this video entirely because I knew Douglas Sills (Tony-nominated as Best Actor in a Musical for his role as Percy in Frank Wildhorn's "The Scarlet Pimpernel") voiced Prince Derek. He does a great job with the role even though his character is a little two-dimensional, both physically as he is a cartoon and theoretically based on his actions and dialogue. It was, however, relatively difficult to look at the slightly homely Prince Derek and not think of how much more gorgeous Douglas in person is ;)! Michelle Nicastro as Odette has a surprisingly good singing voice (and she is a decent actress) but I agree that the styles for these songs are kind of off-beat. One minute you have a babbling French-accented frog singing in the classic Disney theatrical style (yes, I am aware this is not a Disney film - and I'm afraid to say that it often shows) and the next minute you have a Tiffany-like Princess crooning (minus the redheadedness), "That's what you do for a friend." The villain has an element of humor that was relatively undiscovered pre-Hades in Hercules with Disney films; he is not your basic cackle-rub-hands-together evil wizard (although he does do all these things). Pros: the film is incredibly humorous, the animation was as good as Disney's in its prime (the animation is IMHO better than all the films after The Lion King) and it has THE Sills' voice on it which is always a plus; Cons: the film lacked suspense for the most part, the music was too bubblegum pop when placed side-by-side with the classical score therefore was very misfitted, and Derek didn't have enough lines! :) Great to watch with your kids on a rainy day.

Buy it for Doug!
The movie itself is rather bizarre, including songs my friends and I have dubbed "Tchaikovsky Meets the Spice Girls" and "The Scary Rock-n-Roll Song," but the fast-paced animated video would be entertaining for younger children (4-10?). The true charm of the movie lies in the voice of Prince Derek--Tony Award nominee Douglas Sills! As Derek, he is, of course, wonderful, and it's a true delight to hear him in the "No Fear Rap"! The adorable frog Jean-Bob also affords much amusement to any age audience, though the turtle got on my nerves a bit with his monotonous droning. Princess Odette is the typical heroine of children's cartoon fairy-tales: brave, devoted, and beautiful (though technically she shouldn't be able to live with a waist that tiny). The bad guy and his henchman are amusing and lovable (to the degree bad guys are), while poor Derek is stuck with a shrill-voiced mother who entertains because of her petty concerns. Prince Derek is the true selfless and courageous hero, risking his life to save first his mother and then his princess bride, facing every danger with nerves of steel, a noble heart, ever-changing eye color, and a voice to top all. The Swan Princess II is worth popping into the VCR for the kids any day and will afford amusement to anyone passing the TV. Get it now!

(3 1/2 stars for the film, countless more for Derek/Douglas Sills, plus points for the amusing conversations that ensue from watching this film with your friends) ... Read more

Reviews (85)

There couldn't be a better Disney movie to own on DVD.
For me, the Fox and the Hound cannot be matched by any other Disney film. Unlike the stiffer, older films and the newer, hokier ones, the atmosphere in TFATH is just perfect, truly a revolutionary point in Disney's timeline. The animation is very fluid and the characters have great design and movement. Most of the songs are more like talking than singing, but they're few and far between and manage to get the point across. A nice change from usual Disney fare in the surprisingly sad ending. Considering I'm pretty desensitized to on-screen emotion, it's unusual that I cry every time I watch this one. It's the ONLY Disney movie that can make me. Even so, there's a number of comedic moments to get rid of the tension. I'm not sure where the Amazon review got the idea that the characters lack depth. Believe me, by the time this one is over, you'll be wanting to see much more of all of them. It's an excellent feature that carries an important message all wrapped up inside a lovable, heartwarming, and poignant story. You owe it to yourself and your children to see this one.

An All-Time Favourite!
"The Fox and the Hound" was of the last films to be apart of the "Black Diamond Collection" before the "Masterpiecee Collection" came to the markets in 1994. The film was released into theaters in 1981 & 1988 and came to video in 1994! This movie is a really great and colorful movie to add too any Disney collector's collection!

The story is about a kind woman who takes in an abandoned baby fox after his mother is killed in a hunting trip. She names him Tod and considers him as part of her family. Tod then meets a bloodhound dog named Copper (Who lives right next door to the kind woman) and they eventually become good friends. They have no clue that they are supposed to be enemies (Since hounds hunt foxs and other forest creatures)

After returning on a hunting trip during the winter with his master (To learn how to hunt), Copper realizes how he shouldn't hang around Tod to prevent Tod from getting killed by his master. By this time, they are both grown up and all the fun times that they had together suddenly don't seem to matter anymore. Eventually, Tod and Copper become enemies and it is Copper's mission to hunt down Tod. You'll be surprised on what happens when Copper and Tod to come face to face!

The film also includes some great songs like "The Best Of Friends" and "Goodbye May Seem Forever" (Which I still cry at when I hear that song!) This movie will also make you cry, so make sure to have a tissue in your hand when approaching the middle part of the movie! All in all, it is a really great movie and people young and old will enjoy watching it! 83 minutes.

A Good Movie for people of all ages
I am sixteen years old and when I saw this movie, it really brought tears to my eyes. It reminds me of how me and my best friend was. I really enjoyed this movie. Everyone should watch it on Family Nights.

Friends to the end.
This is one of my favorite Disney movies. When Widow Tweed takes in a baby fox, whose mother had been shot by hunters, she names it Tod and raises it. About the same time she takes Tod in, her neighbor, Amos Slade brings home a hound dog puppy named Copper.

One day in the woods, Copper and Tod meet and instantly become the best of friends. When fall comes and Amos takes an unwilling Copper along for his winterlong hunting trip, Tod tries to convince his friends, Big Mama, Dinky and Boomer that even though Copper will come back a trained hunting dog, that they will still stay the best of friends. Big Mama tells Tod that a fox and a hound are natural enemies and that, surprise, you ARE a fox.

When the two are finally reunited in the spring, Copper tells Tod that they can't be friends anymore. After a tragic accident involving Amos's other dog Chief, Copper swears that Tod will pay. Widow Tweed, realizing that she can't keep Tod locked up forever, takes Tod to the game preserve and lets him go. Amos resolves to kill the fox, and with Copper's help, goes to track him down. But when Copper has a run in with a bear, Tod comes to his rescue and, ultimately, Copper gets Tod spared from death.

A touching story about friendship that never fails to bring a tear to my eye.

Finally a DVD Version of this Awsome movie
I love this movie a lot it has great music like "Best Of Friends"
"Goodbye may seem Forever" and "Thats what Friends Are For" are all great songs on this DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

My 3-year-old LOVES Trumpet of the Swan! Great for Kids!
Trumpet of the Swan is obviously a film made for children, but one that adults can enjoy too...which is VERY important if your children are like mine and watch their new video DAILY for the first week! I must add that I think it's unfair to hold this movie up to Disney standards as some reviewers seem to be doing. This is NOT a Disney film, which costs about $10 more, and I find it is every bit as good or better than anything else in the childrens home video department.

I've never read the book, so I can't speak to how well it follows the original story (but does anything from Hollywood EVER follow the original book?) And I concede the animation does not meet the highest standards. (There's a pretty obvious flaw in Louie's big trumpet performance.)

But on to the positives...

While the animation isn't the best quality, the color is bright and beautiful! And the vocal talent is terrific! The cast of voices includes Jason Alexander (Father), Mary Steenburgen (Mother), Seth Green (Boyd), Reese Witherspoon (Serena), Carol Burnett and Joe Mantegna. Each actor injects life and personality into their character. I especially liked Mary Steenburgen's "mother" and Jason's "father" is very entertaining. My daughter thinks the camp leader who mumbles through the megaphone is funny--I found him annoying at first but I got the joke when I saw the campfire scene.

And as a music lover I must mention the film's music. Louie's "trumpet voice" is performed by Michael "Patches" Stewart, and the music score is by Marcus Miller. I find myself humming the tunes at work and my 3 year-old is already starting to sing along with the words!

Bottom line...small children will love Trumpet of the Swan!

My Kids Love this Movie
My two children ages 3 and 4 love this movie. In fact, this is one that they routinely watch, rewind and watch again (when I let them). I have sat down and watched this movie several times over and still enjoy it.

This doesn't follow the original book very well. If you are someone that believes a movie has to follow the book word for word you will be dissapointed. However, if you can get past that, you will enjoy this book.

Louis a trumpeter swan is born unable to talk. He falls in love with Serena and can't court her. He goes to school and learns to read and spell and write. However, as other swans can't read it does him very little good. In the meantime his father gets a trumpet for him. Louis learns to talk through the trumpet and music.

This is a classic video. It is well done. I have read reviews for the dvd that say there is poor pictures and audio. This is not the case for the VHS tape we have at our house.

This movie is about relationships between parents and friends and husbands and wives. It is about music and love and more.

Well worth the money.
Enjoy.

I like it all
I sort of liked the story. I didn't like when the father gets hurt but I liked when Serena was like um like you know well I liked when Louis gives Serena his heart cause he loves her.

Not as good as Charlotte's Web
Charlotte's Web is the only movie my 3 year old son has taken any interest in. He watches it over and over. I love Charlotte's Web too, but I've been looking for another movie that he likes equally well. I thought a movie based on a book written by the same author would be just the thing. Nope. He took Trumpet of the Swan out midway through and put Charlotte's Web in. I'll admit that I didn't like it nearly as much either. I didn't find the animation and audio objectionable ( 3 year olds don't care), but the story just seemed a little slow. This movie will probably sit on the shelf.

Heartwarming and just plain nice movie for kids.........
My 3 1/2 year old son loves this movie. It is genuine and cute. I'd recommend it as a great addition to any family video collection. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This excellent theatrical feature is loosely based on the Swan Lake story. Princess Odette, having been turned into a swan by a sorcerer's spell, is held captive at the enchanted lake with friends Jean-Bob the frog, Speed the turtle, and Puffin the bird. Along comes Prince Derek, who becomes involved in liberating her by taking on the villain. The movie has been criticized for being too similar to Sleeping Beauty, but once you're watching it--with its strong characters, entertaining vocal performances (John Cleese and Steven Wright are particularly funny), fine artwork, and action--such complaints are negligible. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (23)

"For Longer Than Forever..."
Normally I don't go for fairy-tale movies, but I decided to watch it with my sister when she rented it. It Totally blew me away!!!!!!!!! It was a brilliant mix of humour, romance, & awesome songs!!!!!!!! "For Longer Than Forever" will stick in your head for days!!!!! The main characters are:

Princess Odette-Damsel in Distress

Prince Derek-big hero guy

Rothbart-evil sorceror

Jean-Bob, the ego-filled frog who thinks he's a prince

Lorenzo Trudge-A-Long/Speed, wise turtle & Jean-Bob's best friend

Puffin-a tough puffin bird who owes Odette

There's also Queen Uberta & Lord Rogers, but I'm too lazy too describe them. Anyways, enjoy this movie, but don't even THINK about the sequels, THEY [STINK]!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Classic Fairytale
This classic fairytale story is based on possibly the most famous ballet of all time - Swan Lake. It is loosely based however, and follows the traditional Disney pattern of storytelling with romance, adventure, slapstick, musical numbers animal sidekicks, and of course with love conquering all.

Princess Odette (Michelle Nicastro)and Prince Derek (Howard McGillin) are betrothed from an early age by their parents in the hopes that their two kingdoms will be united. The only problem is - the two can't stand each other. However, unlike most other romance movies where the hero and heroine go through many trials before realising they're in love, Odette and Derek fall for each other within the opening five minutes of the film as they grow from child to adult during the opening song. However, due to Derek's claims that Odette's beauty is the only thing that matters to him, Odette rejects his marriage proposal and she and her father return home to their kingdom. They do not get far however - the evil Count Rothbart (Jack Palance) is waiting for them, and transforms into a terrifying beast and kidnaps Odette, changing her into a swan. At the reclusive lake that Odette is taken to, Odette learns that she is a swan every day, except for an hour each night when she changes back into human form. The only way to break this curse is for her one true love to make a vow of everlasting love and prove it to the world. Rothbart's reasons for kidnapping Odette are to force her into marriage so that he might take over the kingdom. Odette refuses, convinced that Derek will save her, and with her animal friends Speed the turtle, Jean-Bob (John Cleese) the frog and Puffin the (what else?) puffin they lure Derek to the lake to witness her metamorphosis for himself. Reunited, the lovers make a plan - tomorrow night at his mother's ball Derek will give Odette his vow of everlasting love. However, Rothbart is one step ahead of him and imprisons Odette, sending his disguised servant to the palace in her place...

The protagonists Odette and Derek are a satisfactory hero and heroine for the story. Odette is the typical fairytale princess (blonde hair, blue eyes, etc) but has some very twenty-first century ideals - she refuses to marry Derek if all he sees is his beauty (though strangely enough she is singing a few minutes later about how much she loves him) and takes it into her on hands (or wings) to bring Derek to the lake. Derek, however is an imbecile. Among other things he insults his bride-to-be, nearly kills her, and then confesses his love to another woman. His redeeming features are his singing voice and his heroic athletic abilities with a bow and arrow.

The secondary characters are far more enjoyable - Odette's animal friends will appeal mostly to kids - the heroic Scottish Puffin, the slow but steady Speed, and (cleverly following the fairytale of the Frog Prince) the snobbish and proud Jean-Bob who believes all he has to do to be transformed into a prince is to be kissed by a fair maiden. Adults should warm to Derek's flustering and hysterical mother Queen Uberta, who comes across as the typical interferring and meddling mother, and Derek's consort, the wry and sarcastic Rogers. Also worth noting is Derek's best friend, the cowardly Brom who inevitably swallows his fears to save the day.

The Swan Princess is on the whole an enjoyable, traditional fairytale with all the components one would expect. Great songs, good animation, successfully funny jokes and an interesting story with only a plot holes all contribute to this. A few scenes got on my nerves, such as Rothbart's techni-colour, disco-like musical number and the down-right tacky beauty-pagent style of the ball, but the last twenty minutes of the movie - including Odette's escape from the prison, the imposter-Odette drawing Derek's attention from the desparate swan at the windows, and Derek's final fight with Rothbart more than make up for it. This movie is a must for all fairytale lovers.

Love the movie, hate this DVD
THIS DVD IS NOT IN WIDESCREEN. If you want widescreen and you have a way to play Region 2 DVDs, get the UK verson. (The same is true for The Last Unicorn.) I guess Americans aren't good enough for widescreen cartoons!

Oh God! Did this suck? Yes, it did!
What a terrible movie! This doesn't even deserve one star, but Amazon wouldn't let me give it zero. Not only was the animation low rate, but it was boring at that. After years of being played on Cartoon Netowrk and Disney, they finally decided to put this on SE DVD. What a waste of time. Now it can befoul the retnas of our children with better resolution and brightened color. Seriously, this heep of crap so many called a movie had like two more sequels, obviously no one's buying them because the animation studio that made all of them is now making terribly animated school videos about "American Heroes" including: Thomas Edison, Helen Keller, Alexander Grahm Bell, the Wright Brothers. I think everyone should walk outside right now and burn their copy of this movie, because surely if anyone got a hold of this in the future the end of the world wouldn't be too far away seeing as how our childrens intellegence gets diminished more and more every day by stupid Disney shows and bad movies. Sorry I blasted that so bad, but I haven't ranted in a while, and I felt a need to express my opinion.

swan princess roxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx!
this could be one of the greatest movies in the world! the voices are hilarious, and some of the lines are the funniest i've ever heard! this movie should be viewed by everyone in the world. if you havent seen it, your life can not possibly be even close to complete! you have got to get this movie! ... Read more

Amazon.com

For no apparent reason, 1999 became the year of The King and I.The 1956 version with Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr received a glorious digital transfer on video, and Jodie Foster starred in a new, nonmusical version of this story of the King of Siam and the English schoolmistress hired to teach his children. The oddest rendition of the story is this animated version, complete with the famous Rodgers and Hammersteinmusical numbers. Richard Rich's (The Swan Princess) animation is on parwith most non-Disney features, but the film is chock full of dull villains, playful animals, and ridiculous action sequences. It's a good introduction into this culture for kids who will watch only animation, but the question remains, "Why was this made?" The 1956 version has aged very well, and is fabulous family entertainment. Still, the animated version is nearly an hour shorter, and for those who want hot-air balloon rescues, this would be the version to keep. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Musical Theater 101
This version of "The King And I" seems to have gotten a bad rap!
Sure, much of the original story has been altered to make this "Family Viewing" but, the true heart remains! And those wonderful songs by R & H beautifully performed by Martin Vidnovik (The King) and Christiaine Noll (Singing Anna) are pure joy!
WB threw their hat into the animated feature film ring and created something as impressive as Disney/Pixar or Dreamworks ever could! However, this film did not achieve Disney or Dreamworks box office success! This film is a great introduction for children and adults to a classic american musical. I would love to have seen a new trend of animated classic musicals begin such as "Flower Drum Song", "Anything Goes", "Annie Get Your Gun", "Into The Woods", "Fiddler On The Roof" "Hello, Dolly!" or even "Gypsy" now wouldn't that be interesting! The animated TK&I has alot going for it gorgeous animation, great voices (speaking and singing), a great story and a timeless musical score! The running time is just under 90 minutes. Some of the songs were cut from the film but included in the closing credits performed by Barbara Streisand. The DVD has many cool features like a couple of "Making Of" featurettes. Cast & Character Bios and a sing-a-long! A DVD essential for any musical theater fan! Although, I'm sure many musical theater fans would strongly disagree with me!
Also see: "Anna And The King Of Siam (1948), "The King And I" (1956) and "Anna And The King" (1999) or read many of the books written about the life of Anna Leonowens and The King Of Siam.

I don't know what people are complaining about
It really wasn't that bad. Yes it wasn't at all like the origional film, but the origional king and I (Before Yul Brener), Tuptim and Lun-ta were burned at the stake. In the Yul Brener version, Lun-ta dies as does the king. I mean, everyone is complaining about the guy loosing his teeth...look at all the deaths in the origional. This is meant to cater to kids. And like Disney who change Sad endings to happily ever after (Like Hunchback of NotreDamme) Or change the story completely like Pocahontas...They made this into something kids could like. There is more violence in disney movies, and so what if it didn't follow the same storyline? It was a cute show to intruduce kids to musicals. It had a happy ending, big deal? What are you complaining about just because it has a happy ending? Haven't you ever wanted to go back in time and redo something differently that didn't work out in your life the first time? Well each character got the chance to do that this time. You all expected too much out of a kiddie cartoon. Just sit back and enjoy it for crying out loud. It was good

It's bad enough it's a remake, but...
You know, there are some days when I watch a Miyazaki film, or I catch one of the old Looney Tunes from the 40's or 50's and I feel glad that I'm into animation. And then there are days when I see movies like this...and I wish I could go back in time and poke out Winsor McCay's eyes with his own ink pen.

I seriously doubt the writers for this film ever saw the original "The King and I," which holds up to audiences even today. What they did watch apparently was "Aladdin." Don't believe me? Let's see...an evil court advisor and his comedic sidekick planning to take over the government, a pet cat in the royal palace, a young man lying about his identity to get the girl, a ruler who changes the marriage law at the end so the boy can get the girl, a romantic conflict of royalty versus peasantry, a boy and his pet monkey...no that's not like Aladdin at all.

But what really bugs me about this film is the story. Why was so much changed? Why did they introduce the conflict of a villain? Why did they include that love story between the Burmese girl and the prince? The original love story between Anne and the King becomes irrelevent and poorly developed, and the movie gets lost in all it's unnecessary subplots. By the end you practically forget there was a love story between those two at all, and when they try to conclude it you're left unsatisfied.

Also, I don't want to hear any one saying this film is good because of the music. Yes, the music is good, but the people who made the film didn't orchestrate it, Rogers and Hammerstein did. I could remake "The Sound of Music," leave in all the songs, and turn it into a porn movie. Does that mean it's a good film? Besides, the songs are often ruined by the sight gags they have going on at the same time. The "Getting to Know You" scene is especially true of this, as for the song's entire duration all we see are the stupid fights between the monkey and villain's sidekick over the singing. And I mean this is during the WHOLE SONG.

Oh yeah, and what was up with all the animal sidekicks? There's like one for every character! First there's that monkey, then the cougar...and then an elephant? Did we really need the elephant? That was just overdoing it. And while we're talking about sidekicks...the villain's sidekick was very offensive. He's an Asian stereotype that I would expect in a 1930's film, but in this day and age, come on.

Animating "The King and I" could have been neat, but not by these people. In fact, I hope these people never animate. Again. Ever.

Great movie especially the music
This definitely has some of the best songs in a cartoon movie. I happen to like the storyline. Heh a few parts in this remind me of the sound of music but o well that's not a bad thing anyways. I happened to like all the voice actors as well especially the King's and the villian's little henchman. The only problem I had with this movie was they didn't have a truly great villian. They didn't really try 2 develop him as a character much. That's the only reason this didn't get a full 5. This movie is really good for a few light-hearted laughs too! It's definitely worth the money to get this movie or even rent it.

A Disney veteran introduces a new 'King'
I truly enjoyed this movie. It is highly underrated and hopefully will be appreciated in years to come. Instead of going over plot details, I trust just about everyone is familiar with "The King and I," I'll instead go over the things that I enjoyed most about the film.

Director Richard Rich, who helmed Disney's The Fox and the Hound and The Black Cauldron, helms a very Disney-worthy animated feature for another movie studio. The artwork is beautiful, very vibrant, but the animation is on par with alot of the Disney films from the 1980s, maybe. The characters are basically the same from the original musical, The King of Siam and Anna included. However, there is a new character named Master Little who is voiced by SNL funnyman Darrell Hammond. He's probably the funniest part of the movie. One detractor, is that I thought that the villian, The Kralahome, was a bit too much like Jafar from Disney's Aladdin in his attempt to manipulate various characters, the King included.

However, I think the number one reason I like it better than the 1956 version is because it is only a brief 90 minutes while the original tops out at a whopping 133 mins. Overall I enjoyed Warner's 'King,' even though it seems to drag at points, I will no doubt enjoy watching it for years to come. ... Read more

Reviews (96)

Not a terrible movie, but not great, either.
As other people have mentioned, the characters are rather flat, and the plot is just a variation on the must-save-world-from-scary-guy theme. If you can ignore the predictability and the contrived and sappy ending, it's an okay flick. Eye candy, and the kids'll probably like it -- I did, when I was younger.

If you're going to watch it, though, please DON'T read the books first. Read the books, by all means, but if you read them before watching the movie, you'll find the flick unbearable. Disney changed so much, and with no fathomable reason behind most of the changes. The changes to the character of Fflewddur Fflam hit me especially hard, since he's my favorite from the books -- apart from the name and harp, he's unrecognizable. Basically, everything's been simplified and, well, Disneyfied. All of the PG rating comes from visuals, and any bad things happening to the good guys are fleeting, unlike the books, which carry the more difficult -- but true -- lesson that life can be unfair sometimes.

Anyway, in closing, the movie isn't bad, but as has been said, the books are far better. If you're thinking of buying it for your kids, especially, I'd highly recommend getting the books instead and sharing them. If they like Harry Potter, they're almost sure to like these. The Prydain Chronicles have a depth and a warmth to them that's difficult to find; I first read them when I was a kid, and I find myself re-reading them every few years or so.

Disney wrost movie.
Why bother with this wrost cartoon. There heads are not on tight. I let the MST3000 think about this movie.

Among the Bigger Dissapointments in the Movie World
As an adoring fan of the Lloyd Alexander books this film was loosely adapted from, I have to admit that I have a biased view. The books are so lovely that I purchased this video before seeing it, assuming that since Disney was given such great material to work with it would be a piece of art. I was sorely dissapointed. I suggest that any fan of the books stay away from this movie all together, or at least view it before you make the investment in purchasing it. You'll find many important characters missing, and several key elements to the plot have changed.
I feel that Disney would have done well to make the full series, rather than try and combine the events of The Book of Three and The Black Cauldron and cram them into one movie.
However, Disney's version of The Black Cauldron does have its good points. The animation is rather nice. It's rather simple, but it serves its purpose very well. It's a bit refreshing to see Disney make such a different movie from it's norm. This one is very dark, and doesn't rely on song to pull you in. The characters, while dissapointing if you're familiar with the books, are still portrayed rather interestingly in their own rights. The Horned King is pretty well established, and early on you get a feeling that he just drips with evil. Gurgi, although very different from his written counterpart, is a very loveable character, and brings a bright spot to the otherwise very gloomy feeling of the film. The voice acting is good, the sound effects are of the highest quality, and the score does an adept job at setting the mood.
If you are unfamiliar with the books, and watch the movie with an open mind, it can really be quite enjoyable, but it's noteworthy that this movie has a PG Rating, not the G Rating that most annimated Disney films feature. There are some scenes that I find rather innapropriate for a children's film, including a scene where Fflewddur is changed into a toad and gets stuck in a woman's cleavage, and some of the scenes with The Horned King and the Cauldron-Born which may be very disturbing for sensitive children. I recommend parents pre-view this movie before deeming it appropriate for their young children.

Black & Blue
I love all the risks and new avenues this film took. There is much love and thought that went into its creation. Unfortunately most of this love and attention was focused on looks and not story.

A mixture of visual styles are used in the film, hand-drawn animation, CGI (Disney's first attempt) and even live action smoke. This mixture gives the film a very distinctive look. One that is strikingly different from other Disney animated films.

The Horned King is Disney's most terrifying looking villain ever but he's got the personality of a dead fish. We never connect or understand him like we did say Lady Tremaine or Maleficent. When one character sacrifices himself for the good of the others it should be an act filled with great drama and emotion but it didn't even choke me up much less bring a tear to my eye.

What the film really needs is character development and a clearly thought out plot. About a third of the way through we learn that the film is not about what we were lead to believe (the thwarting of evil) but Tarran's need to accept his position in life. This is a drastic change and the film never really recovers it's footing afterwards.

I'd like to see Disney attempt a film like this again some day because there is much they got right (the tone, character designs, general look of the film). I'd recommend The Black cauldron if you are a serious animation, Disney or fantasy film fan.

A Worthy Effort 3 and a half.
Epic medevil stories are hard to put on film, and are more challenging to put in an animated film. In the Black Cauldron Disney gave it's best. There are a few things though that make the film un-Disney. The characters are not as lovable and iconic on the exception of Gurgi in this movie. The animation is too different and it detatches itself from the other Disney films. The villain is too strong and powerful for a child audience and a little too mediocre for an older crowd. If you look at is as just another movie it really is not that bad, but when comparing it to past Disney effort that is where you run into problems. ... Read more

Reviews (96)

Not a terrible movie, but not great, either.
As other people have mentioned, the characters are rather flat, and the plot is just a variation on the must-save-world-from-scary-guy theme. If you can ignore the predictability and the contrived and sappy ending, it's an okay flick. Eye candy, and the kids'll probably like it -- I did, when I was younger.

If you're going to watch it, though, please DON'T read the books first. Read the books, by all means, but if you read them before watching the movie, you'll find the flick unbearable. Disney changed so much, and with no fathomable reason behind most of the changes. The changes to the character of Fflewddur Fflam hit me especially hard, since he's my favorite from the books -- apart from the name and harp, he's unrecognizable. Basically, everything's been simplified and, well, Disneyfied. All of the PG rating comes from visuals, and any bad things happening to the good guys are fleeting, unlike the books, which carry the more difficult -- but true -- lesson that life can be unfair sometimes.

Anyway, in closing, the movie isn't bad, but as has been said, the books are far better. If you're thinking of buying it for your kids, especially, I'd highly recommend getting the books instead and sharing them. If they like Harry Potter, they're almost sure to like these. The Prydain Chronicles have a depth and a warmth to them that's difficult to find; I first read them when I was a kid, and I find myself re-reading them every few years or so.

Disney wrost movie.
Why bother with this wrost cartoon. There heads are not on tight. I let the MST3000 think about this movie.

Among the Bigger Dissapointments in the Movie World
As an adoring fan of the Lloyd Alexander books this film was loosely adapted from, I have to admit that I have a biased view. The books are so lovely that I purchased this video before seeing it, assuming that since Disney was given such great material to work with it would be a piece of art. I was sorely dissapointed. I suggest that any fan of the books stay away from this movie all together, or at least view it before you make the investment in purchasing it. You'll find many important characters missing, and several key elements to the plot have changed.
I feel that Disney would have done well to make the full series, rather than try and combine the events of The Book of Three and The Black Cauldron and cram them into one movie.
However, Disney's version of The Black Cauldron does have its good points. The animation is rather nice. It's rather simple, but it serves its purpose very well. It's a bit refreshing to see Disney make such a different movie from it's norm. This one is very dark, and doesn't rely on song to pull you in. The characters, while dissapointing if you're familiar with the books, are still portrayed rather interestingly in their own rights. The Horned King is pretty well established, and early on you get a feeling that he just drips with evil. Gurgi, although very different from his written counterpart, is a very loveable character, and brings a bright spot to the otherwise very gloomy feeling of the film. The voice acting is good, the sound effects are of the highest quality, and the score does an adept job at setting the mood.
If you are unfamiliar with the books, and watch the movie with an open mind, it can really be quite enjoyable, but it's noteworthy that this movie has a PG Rating, not the G Rating that most annimated Disney films feature. There are some scenes that I find rather innapropriate for a children's film, including a scene where Fflewddur is changed into a toad and gets stuck in a woman's cleavage, and some of the scenes with The Horned King and the Cauldron-Born which may be very disturbing for sensitive children. I recommend parents pre-view this movie before deeming it appropriate for their young children.

Black & Blue
I love all the risks and new avenues this film took. There is much love and thought that went into its creation. Unfortunately most of this love and attention was focused on looks and not story.

A mixture of visual styles are used in the film, hand-drawn animation, CGI (Disney's first attempt) and even live action smoke. This mixture gives the film a very distinctive look. One that is strikingly different from other Disney animated films.

The Horned King is Disney's most terrifying looking villain ever but he's got the personality of a dead fish. We never connect or understand him like we did say Lady Tremaine or Maleficent. When one character sacrifices himself for the good of the others it should be an act filled with great drama and emotion but it didn't even choke me up much less bring a tear to my eye.

What the film really needs is character development and a clearly thought out plot. About a third of the way through we learn that the film is not about what we were lead to believe (the thwarting of evil) but Tarran's need to accept his position in life. This is a drastic change and the film never really recovers it's footing afterwards.

I'd like to see Disney attempt a film like this again some day because there is much they got right (the tone, character designs, general look of the film). I'd recommend The Black cauldron if you are a serious animation, Disney or fantasy film fan.

A Worthy Effort 3 and a half.
Epic medevil stories are hard to put on film, and are more challenging to put in an animated film. In the Black Cauldron Disney gave it's best. There are a few things though that make the film un-Disney. The characters are not as lovable and iconic on the exception of Gurgi in this movie. The animation is too different and it detatches itself from the other Disney films. The villain is too strong and powerful for a child audience and a little too mediocre for an older crowd. If you look at is as just another movie it really is not that bad, but when comparing it to past Disney effort that is where you run into problems. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The Swan Princess The Enchanted Treasure
I think The Enchanted Treasure is the best of three Swan Princess titles. The new bird character was a welcome addition, and the sorcoress was a lot better than the mountain wizard of the 2nd film. I like the link to the main villian of the first film. One good thing about sequals is that characters are already known so the story moves at a pace that I prefer. While the first movie is good, I like this one a little better.

Very Cute
This movie wasn't the best of the three, but it was very cute. The characters are pretty good in addition to the new bird character. It is good for young kids, not really older audiences, but if you liked the first one, this one should pass fairly well. I liked it.

Best out of 3
This is the best movie out of all 3. When it was on t.v and I found out it was one three times I watch it all three times not missing a single part. And I love the songs they're the best.But I would have to say the one Derek sings Because I Love Her, is the best out of them all. My favorite part was when Derek and Rogers were agruing.

Another annoying unnecessary violent villian sequel
Though some humorous parts, in my opinion overall this has the usual unnecessary violent action and nasty villian try-to-kill Derek or Odette plot. The good parts are overshadowed (pardon the pun) by the bad. Not quite throwaway, but full or irritating voices and not for young children.

"This movie is better than the first"!? Blasphamey!
Do not listen to these Joes saying "Oh this movie is so good!" This movie is bad. Very. It's nothing compared to the MAGNIFICENT first. I can't believe this movie got a 5 in Amazon! I mean, the whole world is dumber when the movie was released. I hope there will NEVER be another Swan Princess... ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The Beautiful Swan returns
In the second of the three part series of "THE SWAN PRINCESS" "THE ESCAPE OF CASTLE MOUNTAIN" is a good movie, (in my opinion). Most sequals are a disapointment, but not this one, (and they keep the main cast from the 1st movie--which is a BIG PLUS). The singing is great and so are the songs, and the plot and acting is good as well. I think Queen Uberta is funny, (Do not mess with the Queen). Well, if you never seen this movie, I think you should, you will not be disapointed.

where's the plot!
All I can say is this is a pointless sequel! Most Sequels are crap manufactured on the market to make an extra buck!I'm sure most people loved it! Come on People Odette and Derek get married live happily ever after the End!

Great Movie!
I loved this movie! I haven't seen the prequel, but this was a very interesting movie and it kept me watching. The prince's mother is funny and it's a neat movie.

No Fear!
Like the others who have reviewed this video, I must admit that I rented this video entirely because I knew Douglas Sills (Tony-nominated as Best Actor in a Musical for his role as Percy in Frank Wildhorn's "The Scarlet Pimpernel") voiced Prince Derek. He does a great job with the role even though his character is a little two-dimensional, both physically as he is a cartoon and theoretically based on his actions and dialogue. It was, however, relatively difficult to look at the slightly homely Prince Derek and not think of how much more gorgeous Douglas in person is ;)! Michelle Nicastro as Odette has a surprisingly good singing voice (and she is a decent actress) but I agree that the styles for these songs are kind of off-beat. One minute you have a babbling French-accented frog singing in the classic Disney theatrical style (yes, I am aware this is not a Disney film - and I'm afraid to say that it often shows) and the next minute you have a Tiffany-like Princess crooning (minus the redheadedness), "That's what you do for a friend." The villain has an element of humor that was relatively undiscovered pre-Hades in Hercules with Disney films; he is not your basic cackle-rub-hands-together evil wizard (although he does do all these things). Pros: the film is incredibly humorous, the animation was as good as Disney's in its prime (the animation is IMHO better than all the films after The Lion King) and it has THE Sills' voice on it which is always a plus; Cons: the film lacked suspense for the most part, the music was too bubblegum pop when placed side-by-side with the classical score therefore was very misfitted, and Derek didn't have enough lines! :) Great to watch with your kids on a rainy day.

Buy it for Doug!
The movie itself is rather bizarre, including songs my friends and I have dubbed "Tchaikovsky Meets the Spice Girls" and "The Scary Rock-n-Roll Song," but the fast-paced animated video would be entertaining for younger children (4-10?). The true charm of the movie lies in the voice of Prince Derek--Tony Award nominee Douglas Sills! As Derek, he is, of course, wonderful, and it's a true delight to hear him in the "No Fear Rap"! The adorable frog Jean-Bob also affords much amusement to any age audience, though the turtle got on my nerves a bit with his monotonous droning. Princess Odette is the typical heroine of children's cartoon fairy-tales: brave, devoted, and beautiful (though technically she shouldn't be able to live with a waist that tiny). The bad guy and his henchman are amusing and lovable (to the degree bad guys are), while poor Derek is stuck with a shrill-voiced mother who entertains because of her petty concerns. Prince Derek is the true selfless and courageous hero, risking his life to save first his mother and then his princess bride, facing every danger with nerves of steel, a noble heart, ever-changing eye color, and a voice to top all. The Swan Princess II is worth popping into the VCR for the kids any day and will afford amusement to anyone passing the TV. Get it now!

(3 1/2 stars for the film, countless more for Derek/Douglas Sills, plus points for the amusing conversations that ensue from watching this film with your friends) ... Read more

Amazon.com

It has syrupy ballads! It has inanimate objects that come to life! It has a villain who falls to his death! The noble Polly is basically an indentured servant to the evil Grisham, working off her orphan debt, but managing to save a little money and bury it next to a scarecrow. When the scarecrow comes to life and is given the form of a man as long as he wears a feather in his cap, he strives to rescue her from the lascivious clutches of Grisham and also to help her free the three young orphans she plans to raise. Aided by an enchanted broomstick, a mouthy mouse, and some nifty dancing, he accomplishes his goals. Set in Puritan times, this 77-minute movie manages to cram in an awful lot of anachronisms: Dancers steal John Travolta's moves from both Saturday Night Fever and Pulp Fiction, and one character calls another "jiving hip-hop trash." But the bottom line is that none of this will bother young children who will enjoy the action and the pranks, and will be exposed to the movie's clear moral lines. (Hurting others: bad. Helping others: good.) (Ages 3 and older) --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (4)

"The Scarecrow" is a touching animated film
Based on a short story about Feathertop, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, shows a straw man dreaming to be a real human in order to help his love-interest, Polly, to get back her 52 coins. If you can get past the modernized adaptation of the dance moves, then it will be the perfect movie for those that love animated movies. Though we can predict what happens, the film has great twists. (Maybe 5% on the cheesy side.) Perhaps the main message blinds the dreamer about putting love above everything else will reward you with a happy ending, and that is the only flaw the film has. A final note: the scary parts are not too scary, so this is a great movie for family with young children. Oh! One more tid-bit! Great music for musical shows fanatics!

Cute Kids Movie
The six-year-old I was baby sitting loved this movie. By the end, I too, was hoping everything would turn out OK! It's defiantly geared toward young children, but it makes a good family movie. When a scarecrow falls in love with a serving girl, Polly, he decides to do everything in his power to help her escape the clutches of the evil Count Grisham. I enjoyed it, although characters (living in the colonies) make some references to modern day, such as 'cool,' and 'jiving hip-hop trash.' The kids probably won't mind though.

The Scarecrow
A modern day classic. I always loved musicials and this film has some great numbers in it with a heart touching love story that people of all ages will adore.

OMG! ILOVE THIS MOVIE!
i'm not really a fan of cartoon musicals and when i do watch cartoons, i restrict myself to action or adventure, but, WOW! i watched the scarecrow on cartoonnetwork and i was singing and raving about it all week! heck, i saw it last week and i'm STILL raving about it! my best friend has already told me to shut up about 50 times already. all i can say is, i am SO buying this movie when i get the money! take my advice, its a great family film. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

My 3-year-old LOVES Trumpet of the Swan! Great for Kids!
Trumpet of the Swan is obviously a film made for children, but one that adults can enjoy too...which is VERY important if your children are like mine and watch their new video DAILY for the first week! I must add that I think it's unfair to hold this movie up to Disney standards as some reviewers seem to be doing. This is NOT a Disney film, which costs about $10 more, and I find it is every bit as good or better than anything else in the childrens home video department.

I've never read the book, so I can't speak to how well it follows the original story (but does anything from Hollywood EVER follow the original book?) And I concede the animation does not meet the highest standards. (There's a pretty obvious flaw in Louie's big trumpet performance.)

But on to the positives...

While the animation isn't the best quality, the color is bright and beautiful! And the vocal talent is terrific! The cast of voices includes Jason Alexander (Father), Mary Steenburgen (Mother), Seth Green (Boyd), Reese Witherspoon (Serena), Carol Burnett and Joe Mantegna. Each actor injects life and personality into their character. I especially liked Mary Steenburgen's "mother" and Jason's "father" is very entertaining. My daughter thinks the camp leader who mumbles through the megaphone is funny--I found him annoying at first but I got the joke when I saw the campfire scene.

And as a music lover I must mention the film's music. Louie's "trumpet voice" is performed by Michael "Patches" Stewart, and the music score is by Marcus Miller. I find myself humming the tunes at work and my 3 year-old is already starting to sing along with the words!

Bottom line...small children will love Trumpet of the Swan!

My Kids Love this Movie
My two children ages 3 and 4 love this movie. In fact, this is one that they routinely watch, rewind and watch again (when I let them). I have sat down and watched this movie several times over and still enjoy it.

This doesn't follow the original book very well. If you are someone that believes a movie has to follow the book word for word you will be dissapointed. However, if you can get past that, you will enjoy this book.

Louis a trumpeter swan is born unable to talk. He falls in love with Serena and can't court her. He goes to school and learns to read and spell and write. However, as other swans can't read it does him very little good. In the meantime his father gets a trumpet for him. Louis learns to talk through the trumpet and music.

This is a classic video. It is well done. I have read reviews for the dvd that say there is poor pictures and audio. This is not the case for the VHS tape we have at our house.

This movie is about relationships between parents and friends and husbands and wives. It is about music and love and more.

Well worth the money.
Enjoy.

I like it all
I sort of liked the story. I didn't like when the father gets hurt but I liked when Serena was like um like you know well I liked when Louis gives Serena his heart cause he loves her.

Not as good as Charlotte's Web
Charlotte's Web is the only movie my 3 year old son has taken any interest in. He watches it over and over. I love Charlotte's Web too, but I've been looking for another movie that he likes equally well. I thought a movie based on a book written by the same author would be just the thing. Nope. He took Trumpet of the Swan out midway through and put Charlotte's Web in. I'll admit that I didn't like it nearly as much either. I didn't find the animation and audio objectionable ( 3 year olds don't care), but the story just seemed a little slow. This movie will probably sit on the shelf.

Heartwarming and just plain nice movie for kids.........
My 3 1/2 year old son loves this movie. It is genuine and cute. I'd recommend it as a great addition to any family video collection. ... Read more

Reviews (85)

There couldn't be a better Disney movie to own on DVD.
For me, the Fox and the Hound cannot be matched by any other Disney film. Unlike the stiffer, older films and the newer, hokier ones, the atmosphere in TFATH is just perfect, truly a revolutionary point in Disney's timeline. The animation is very fluid and the characters have great design and movement. Most of the songs are more like talking than singing, but they're few and far between and manage to get the point across. A nice change from usual Disney fare in the surprisingly sad ending. Considering I'm pretty desensitized to on-screen emotion, it's unusual that I cry every time I watch this one. It's the ONLY Disney movie that can make me. Even so, there's a number of comedic moments to get rid of the tension. I'm not sure where the Amazon review got the idea that the characters lack depth. Believe me, by the time this one is over, you'll be wanting to see much more of all of them. It's an excellent feature that carries an important message all wrapped up inside a lovable, heartwarming, and poignant story. You owe it to yourself and your children to see this one.

An All-Time Favourite!
"The Fox and the Hound" was of the last films to be apart of the "Black Diamond Collection" before the "Masterpiecee Collection" came to the markets in 1994. The film was released into theaters in 1981 & 1988 and came to video in 1994! This movie is a really great and colorful movie to add too any Disney collector's collection!

The story is about a kind woman who takes in an abandoned baby fox after his mother is killed in a hunting trip. She names him Tod and considers him as part of her family. Tod then meets a bloodhound dog named Copper (Who lives right next door to the kind woman) and they eventually become good friends. They have no clue that they are supposed to be enemies (Since hounds hunt foxs and other forest creatures)

After returning on a hunting trip during the winter with his master (To learn how to hunt), Copper realizes how he shouldn't hang around Tod to prevent Tod from getting killed by his master. By this time, they are both grown up and all the fun times that they had together suddenly don't seem to matter anymore. Eventually, Tod and Copper become enemies and it is Copper's mission to hunt down Tod. You'll be surprised on what happens when Copper and Tod to come face to face!

The film also includes some great songs like "The Best Of Friends" and "Goodbye May Seem Forever" (Which I still cry at when I hear that song!) This movie will also make you cry, so make sure to have a tissue in your hand when approaching the middle part of the movie! All in all, it is a really great movie and people young and old will enjoy watching it! 83 minutes.

A Good Movie for people of all ages
I am sixteen years old and when I saw this movie, it really brought tears to my eyes. It reminds me of how me and my best friend was. I really enjoyed this movie. Everyone should watch it on Family Nights.

Friends to the end.
This is one of my favorite Disney movies. When Widow Tweed takes in a baby fox, whose mother had been shot by hunters, she names it Tod and raises it. About the same time she takes Tod in, her neighbor, Amos Slade brings home a hound dog puppy named Copper.

One day in the woods, Copper and Tod meet and instantly become the best of friends. When fall comes and Amos takes an unwilling Copper along for his winterlong hunting trip, Tod tries to convince his friends, Big Mama, Dinky and Boomer that even though Copper will come back a trained hunting dog, that they will still stay the best of friends. Big Mama tells Tod that a fox and a hound are natural enemies and that, surprise, you ARE a fox.

When the two are finally reunited in the spring, Copper tells Tod that they can't be friends anymore. After a tragic accident involving Amos's other dog Chief, Copper swears that Tod will pay. Widow Tweed, realizing that she can't keep Tod locked up forever, takes Tod to the game preserve and lets him go. Amos resolves to kill the fox, and with Copper's help, goes to track him down. But when Copper has a run in with a bear, Tod comes to his rescue and, ultimately, Copper gets Tod spared from death.

A touching story about friendship that never fails to bring a tear to my eye.

Finally a DVD Version of this Awsome movie
I love this movie a lot it has great music like "Best Of Friends"
"Goodbye may seem Forever" and "Thats what Friends Are For" are all great songs on this DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

My 3-year-old LOVES Trumpet of the Swan! Great for Kids!
Trumpet of the Swan is obviously a film made for children, but one that adults can enjoy too...which is VERY important if your children are like mine and watch their new video DAILY for the first week! I must add that I think it's unfair to hold this movie up to Disney standards as some reviewers seem to be doing. This is NOT a Disney film, which costs about $10 more, and I find it is every bit as good or better than anything else in the childrens home video department.

I've never read the book, so I can't speak to how well it follows the original story (but does anything from Hollywood EVER follow the original book?) And I concede the animation does not meet the highest standards. (There's a pretty obvious flaw in Louie's big trumpet performance.)

But on to the positives...

While the animation isn't the best quality, the color is bright and beautiful! And the vocal talent is terrific! The cast of voices includes Jason Alexander (Father), Mary Steenburgen (Mother), Seth Green (Boyd), Reese Witherspoon (Serena), Carol Burnett and Joe Mantegna. Each actor injects life and personality into their character. I especially liked Mary Steenburgen's "mother" and Jason's "father" is very entertaining. My daughter thinks the camp leader who mumbles through the megaphone is funny--I found him annoying at first but I got the joke when I saw the campfire scene.

And as a music lover I must mention the film's music. Louie's "trumpet voice" is performed by Michael "Patches" Stewart, and the music score is by Marcus Miller. I find myself humming the tunes at work and my 3 year-old is already starting to sing along with the words!

Bottom line...small children will love Trumpet of the Swan!

My Kids Love this Movie
My two children ages 3 and 4 love this movie. In fact, this is one that they routinely watch, rewind and watch again (when I let them). I have sat down and watched this movie several times over and still enjoy it.

This doesn't follow the original book very well. If you are someone that believes a movie has to follow the book word for word you will be dissapointed. However, if you can get past that, you will enjoy this book.

Louis a trumpeter swan is born unable to talk. He falls in love with Serena and can't court her. He goes to school and learns to read and spell and write. However, as other swans can't read it does him very little good. In the meantime his father gets a trumpet for him. Louis learns to talk through the trumpet and music.

This is a classic video. It is well done. I have read reviews for the dvd that say there is poor pictures and audio. This is not the case for the VHS tape we have at our house.

This movie is about relationships between parents and friends and husbands and wives. It is about music and love and more.

Well worth the money.
Enjoy.

I like it all
I sort of liked the story. I didn't like when the father gets hurt but I liked when Serena was like um like you know well I liked when Louis gives Serena his heart cause he loves her.

Not as good as Charlotte's Web
Charlotte's Web is the only movie my 3 year old son has taken any interest in. He watches it over and over. I love Charlotte's Web too, but I've been looking for another movie that he likes equally well. I thought a movie based on a book written by the same author would be just the thing. Nope. He took Trumpet of the Swan out midway through and put Charlotte's Web in. I'll admit that I didn't like it nearly as much either. I didn't find the animation and audio objectionable ( 3 year olds don't care), but the story just seemed a little slow. This movie will probably sit on the shelf.

Heartwarming and just plain nice movie for kids.........
My 3 1/2 year old son loves this movie. It is genuine and cute. I'd recommend it as a great addition to any family video collection. ... Read more