Product: The Last Unicorn [VHS] (1982)
Rating: 5.0
A DVD worth every second
The following review is based on the DVD version. First of, this is my favorite movie of all time (mainly because of how many times I have seen it perhaps) so I had to buy the DVD when it came out unexpectedly. Like all DVDs, the image is crystal clear and the sound is very sharp. Lucky, there are absolutely no sound problems at all unlike the Hobbit DVD. The picture is so clear that one can notice more minor details like in the camp in the woods and on the castle. The unicorn and the characters now stand out strongly against the background unlike in the other foggy version they seemed to be one. As for the style of the cartoon, us Last Unicorn fans know that the style is focus more on beauty and art (the backgrounds are more like paintings than anything out of reality) and has a dream-like quality unlike Disney which today seems to solely be concerned with animation and bright colors.Many fans might disagree with me but there are only 2 minor problems in the movie and on the DVD. The first problem is that some animation screens are dark and then are bright again on the screen. This problem is more evident in the beginning than any other part. It can't be helped since this was in the old version ... one just could not tell because of the fogginess. The second problem (which might be done on purpose) is some of America's song. They are terrific but some of them sound like they were recorded on cheap equipment because they have an eerie quality to them. This may be done on purpose but it was just something I have noticed and the sound quality of some songs was not improved on the DVD. UNFORTUNATELY, there are no extras on the DVD besides having closed captioning (subtitles are NOT available straight from the DVD) and 2.0 dolby stereo sound.A real strong plus on the DVD is the movie is more fit to the screen than my old version. Also, the voice acting is superior to any Disney movie especially Christopher Lee who still sends chills down my spine.***TO PARENTS - I recommend this movie to children 5 years or older. This movie does contain swears ("he**" and "damn") but these are nothing compared to what children have been exposed today to. In my opinion, this is one of the few movies that girls can relate to better than boys. Also, the red bull and harpy might be scary to the younger set. I recommend watching with them first if they are around this age. I have also read the book and it is appropriate for the younger set as well.***If you love fairy tales, sci-fi, cartoons, Disney animation, or you claim to be a pure 80s child, then I recommend this movie. It's one of the cheapest DVDs you'll find around and certainly worth the price. Also, unicorn movies are a rarity and the only other movie with unicorns in it worth mentioning is LEGEND. In conclusion, I recommend viewing "The Last Unicorn" and/or reading the book before the live action movie comes out in 2005 for a more fulfilling experience (http://www.the-last-unicorn.net).