Product: The Last Unicorn (1982)
Rating: 4.0
Excellent - but NOT FOR SMALL CHILDREN
I first saw this film in the theaters when I was in elementary school because it had unicorns in it. I had no idea how intense the movie would be.When I saw the film later as an adult, I appreciated the story's well-crafted examination of hope, dreams, fears, imagination, whimsy, self-realization, and redemption. The characters have surprising emotional depth and dimension for "cartoons".When I saw this film again I had forgotten how scary it was the first time around (perhaps I had originally missed the scary scenes when I was in the restroom?). Watching it as an adult, I felt grippingly intense sorrow, fear, and frustration from some of the characters--the evil was so realistically and poignantly conveyed that I could *feel* it inside--and I am not a typically emotional person.As such, I cannot recommend this film for pre-schoolers and young children. Some scenes are just too scary and frightening, even if the overarching themes of the film are positive. Nightmares might ensue otherwise. The film was originally rated G in the days when just G, PG, and R were available. I think today it would probably be rated PG.If you let your children watch this, I highly recommend you watch it with them and discuss the themes with them. Use it as a teaching tool that brings great pleasure. The movie IS touchingly beautiful in its story, animation, voicing, and music. It's just a little too mature and intense for the young'uns.