The Black Cauldron

Post by **ShyViolet** » March 22nd, 2005, 2:02 pm

I mean when it first came out in 1985.

If you go to his website http://www.rogerebert.com and look the review up in the database, he gave it ***1/2 stars.

It's very interesting to read this review in lieu of what's happening to animation nowadays. He liked The Great Mouse Detective too; that's also an interesting review. It helps give you perspective.

Post by **Dacey** » March 22nd, 2005, 2:32 pm

Hey, he wasn't the only one. I happen to like TBC myself. It's not one of my all-time favorites or anything, but it's certainly underrated.

Post by **Plightyear** » March 22nd, 2005, 4:43 pm

Message deleted

Post by **Ben** » March 22nd, 2005, 6:23 pm

Love the film too!

Here's my take on the film/DVD, from 2000 (wow - where the heck did five years go?!?!):

http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/43

Post by **ShyViolet** » March 22nd, 2005, 6:39 pm

Yeah, they were really down on Katzenberg for editing the film....Maybe if the DVD is ever released again he'll be on it and explain why he did it.

From the Great Mouse Detective review (by Roger Ebert, July 2, 1986) Chicago Sun-Times

What's fun is the carefree way the animators swing through their story, using the freedom of the cartoon form to blend 19th century realism with images that seem borrowed from more recent special-effects pictures. For a long time, I was down on the full-length animated efforts of Disney and others, because they didn't seem to reflect the same sense of magic and wonderment that the original animated classics always had. Who, for example, could ever equate "101 Dalmations" with "Snow White"? But now, maybe thanks to computers, animated movies are beginning to sparkle again.

NOTE: On the same bill with "The Great Mouse Detective" is "Clock Cleaners," a classic Disney cartoon with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck working on a perilous perch high above the city. The cartoon is an example of the meticulous craftsmanship and great ingenuity of the first Disney animators, who created an endless variety of situations by using the laws of gravity and physics and ladders and paint buckets.

It's a lot of fun.

Interesting what he said about computers, isn't it?

Post by **AniMan** » March 23rd, 2005, 2:05 pm

Not quite sure what you're implying Roger Ebert's review means here.

But, I'll tell you that I loved The Great Mouse Detective, and was surprised by how good it was. It it a great little secret that I know a lot of people haven't seen. Too bad for them. I have not seen the Black Cauldron yet.

Post by **ShyViolet** » March 23rd, 2005, 5:22 pm

I just meant that Ebert probably never expected that computers would almost totally replace the hand-drawn method. In the Mouse Detective review, he says how "with the help of computers" animation is making a comeback, but he doesn't even realize how prophetic his words are.

Plus his brief mention of "Clock Cleaners" shows how he really loved classic, 2d animation (and how it was actually promoted rather than shunned, at least by the Disney Co.)

I first saw Mouse Detective when I was quite young, so I don't remember much. I do remember liking it, though.

Post by **Dacey** » March 23rd, 2005, 5:30 pm

Ben wrote:Love the film too!

Here's my take on the film/DVD, from 2000 (wow - where the heck did five years go?!?!):

http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/43

Ben, I had no idea that you wrote for DVD Toons. They write such detailed reviews there. It must be cool to work for them.

Post by **PatrickvD** » March 25th, 2005, 5:21 pm

I think at the time it definitely reminded people of the glory days at Disney. Shaping up for stuff like The Little Mermaid.

Post by **Ben** » March 25th, 2005, 6:25 pm

Wendy's Jane wrote:I had no idea that you wrote for DVD Toons. They write such detailed reviews there.

Thanks - we try to cover a film from an animation perspective as well as deliver the details on the extras. All too often a DVD review will simply highlight the film (which most will have seen) and then skimp over the extras. Since these are why many people add titles to their collections, why not go in-depth on these supplemental features too?

Pretty fun "working" for the site: we get the occasional freebie, though most of it is written from our own collections and for the love of it. Thanks for your compliments, and keep checking back for new reviews!

Post by **Neal** » January 13th, 2009, 10:56 pm

Disney's imported, dubbed film "The Secret of the Magic Gourd " is coming to DVD on January 27th. One of the previews is for a 'The Black Cauldron: Special Edition'. This was revealed on the Hi-Def Digest forums:

http://forums.highdefdigest.com/blu-ray ... ost1376273

Post by **Ben** » January 13th, 2009, 11:15 pm

"Page not found", but it doesn't surprise me. A new game on the cards, I bet!

Yay.

Post by **Neal** » January 13th, 2009, 11:35 pm

Woops!

I fixed it now.

Post by **eddievalient** » January 14th, 2009, 1:15 am

Gee, it's a good thing I never got around to picking up the dvd. Now I'll be able to get a better one. Yay! I'm sure I've said before I love the Prydain books, so naturally, The Black Cauldron is a personal favorite despite it's flaws.

Post by **Once Upon A Dream** » January 14th, 2009, 6:00 am

Is this for real?

I never thought it will be released someday but that's great to hear

.

The Black Cauldron

The Black Cauldron

The Black Cauldron is being re-released