The "Rhapsody in Blue" segment in Fantasia 2000

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 4:29pm

I just watched it for the first time since... well... 2000, and it is absolutely incredible! The symbolism, plots, portrait of Great Depression NY, and the beauty of the artwork and (of course) Gershwin's music are astounding. I appreciate it so much more now than I did when I was a young child. What are you thoughts on it?

[Pippin]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 4:32pm

I love it. It makes me happy. I love the poor man who is trapped by his wife at all the clothing stores. I felt so bad for him.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 4:41pm

I adore the Hirschfeld-ness of it all.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 5:41pm

It's genius. Just pure genius. All the elements flow too perfectly. One of my favorite works of art so far in my lifetime.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 5:44pm

The Firebird Suite is also breathtakingly animated and designed.

Akiva

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 5:46pm

I'm taking out my laserdisc boxed-set tonight, dusting off the old laserdisc player...and converting it to digital!

Actually, I just checked on YouTube--here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWH2OdC9WI8

[Jon]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 6:06pm

The whole sequence makes me cry.

[jasonf]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 6:25pm

It's crazy that this is a thread today. For the past week I've been doing a writing project with my students where we first listened to Rhapsody in Blue, they had to write their own interpretations of the music (after a LOT of practice with other classical pieces) and then explain how they came up with the idea for their story from the music. I then showed them the Fantasia clip and had them analyze the segment - what did the artists do that they did with their story. I love the music, but let me tell you, try listening to it twice a period, four periods a day for three days straight - you'll get a little tired of it. Still, brilliant segment, awesome music.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 6:37pm

Dreadful. A low point in American movies, the whole FANTASIA 2000 should just be dumped. A very very bad movie. Not a single element in it is anywhere near as good as the original presentation.

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 6:46pm

It's perfect. I saw Fantasia 2000 3 times in the Imax just for the 'Rhapsody in Blue' segment alone.

When I had to leave town this past fall to attend my grandfather's funeral, I left Fantasia 2000 and a worksheet I wrote for the sub to use with my 3rd-5th grade classes. The 'Rhapsody in Blue' segment was chosen as the overall favorite by all of my classes.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 6:58pm

I think it's absolutely brilliant.

[singingwendy]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:41pm

This is my favorite segment of Fantasia 2000. It's a staple of my "emergency video" collection at school. The second graders love it!

[DMsquared2]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:45pm

From what I remember, I found it to be the best segment of the entire movie.

[Not Barker, Todd.]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 10:24pm

I think the Fantasia idea is fantastic, I hope they make more.

[scott68]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 11:49pm

Loved it! A fabulously conceived segment. I love the Firebird Suite one as well, but I think that has more to do with the piece being pretty much my favorite of all time and less with the segment, though it is beautifully animated.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 11:51pm

I love this segment so much. It's one of my favorites, even counting those in the original Fantasia. It's perfect.

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 2/7/08 at 10:49am

I've yet to see Fantasia 2000, I'll add it to my netflix queue now. I actually haven't seen Fantasia since elementary school; the 'Night on Bald Mountain' sequence scared me far too much

[Jon]

Posted: 2/7/08 at 2:56pm

The rest of the new stuff in F2000 is a bore - especially those flying whales.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 2/7/08 at 4:39pm

and those cutesy introductions, and that really silly thing they did to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Just not a good movie, they should just put the original into re-release every seven years, at least then we only have to sit through those hideous centaurs and centaurettes, and those atrocious cupids.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/7/08 at 4:47pm

Love Fantasia 2000. Nearly every segment is flawless. I would love to see what they could do with The Planets or Pictures at an Exhibition.

[me2]

Posted: 2/7/08 at 9:20pm

Count me in as a fan of the movie. Actually, I think they started a third FANTASIA but it got disbanded by Thomas Schumacher. They used "One By One" from LION KING as a piece in it, I know.
Broadway Blog: Trade Secrets: Guiding Principles Inaction

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/7/08 at 10:50pm

I think all the segments in the film are great, but especially Rhapsody in Blue. I just don't like those celebrity intros.

Other than that, it's artistic achievements have grown on me over the past eight years. Very impressive and imaginative work.

I also am haunted by the cut segment of The Little Match Girl that is available on the Little Mermaid DVD as an extra. It was release separately in theatres and was nominated for an Academy Award. Pretty devastating emotionally, since it didn't shy away from the original Andersen ending. And it was done so beautifully. They should have left it in this film.

[me2]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 1:12pm

MATCH GIRL was actually supposed to be part of the 3rd one (along with LORENZO, DESTINO, and ONE BY ONE). I agree, it is great.
Broadway Blog: Trade Secrets: Guiding Principles Inaction

[singtopher]

Posted: 2/8/08 at 5:23pm

I have to concur with the rest of the bunch that this segment is one of the best. I also love the flamingos with yoyos. It's mindless and silly, but it gets me every time.