| | Security: | | | Subject: | The Last Unicorn | | Time: | 12:29 am | | Current Mood: |  thoughtful |
|
| I watched the animated movie 'The Last Unicorn' tonight for the first time in many, many years. Produced in 1982, this is a well made animation for Peter S. Beagle's book of the same title. (In fact, Beagle wrote the screenplay.) When I saw it as a child it completely captivated and haunted me (and, in many places, frightened me). The only movie I remember as a child as vividly from around the same age (6-7'ish) is Watership Down.
The animation itself is quite unusual; in many parts, it is clearly intended to resemble a classic medieval tapestry, with the strange slightly skewed perspective renderings. I'm not hugely fond of some of the art, but what I do love is how the Last Unicorn herself is drawn, simple, elegant and beautiful. The artwork, from what I have gathered, was all actually done in Japan. There are several moments of haunting imagery. I particularly like a scene of the unicorn journeying through the driving rain.
The musical score has some high points as well; although I think the opening theme is the best of the songs.
As with all movies made from books, the book is indescribably better. It's surreal, mystical, beautifully written, both funny and hopelessly sad at the same time. I can't recommend it enough, and the fact that its in something like its 32nd or 33rd edition now is testament to how popular its been since it was written in the 1960's.
Even though I've known the story for many years, I'll probably have trouble sleeping tonight thinking about it, it still has that kind of a grip on me.
Overall rating: 9/10 | comments: Leave a comment     |
| Beagle's writing a sequal now, you may be aware of this. He's also written (and has distributed) a continuation of the story (more like an addendum to the book) called "Two Hearts". Unfortunetly there is a fiasco with buying this (see www.colanpress.com) that is on Groat levels of angst, so I dunno. Apparently Beagle got screwed for the royalties and all sorts of things.
I remember really hating Prince Lir the first time I saw the movie, because he was in the unique position of being able to make unicorns extinct through love, and didn't know it.
The ending is bittersweet, nonetheless.
| | (Reply) (Thread) |
| Yeah, I heard about the sequel. There is also supposedly a live action movie in the works? The web site seems strange - unprofessional, even. Makes me wonder if the project is 'for real'. I'm actually not really in favor of a live action interpretation.
Is your DVD of The Last Unicorn in widescreen? Unfortunately the version I rented was not. | | (Reply) (Parent) (Thread) |
| The live action Last Unicorn project seems like complete bullshit to me, so I am not believing it. There's no mention of it by Beagle himself, therefore I'm thinking its like a viral meme.
The animated movie is pretty definitive; other than being a little dated and the art being a little bizzare, it captures the story as much as any movie could and has a certain sentimentality and "heart" that would be difficult to reproduce in live action.
Region 1 (US and Canada) got completely screwed with the DVD release of Last Unicorn. Its an inferior copy meant for children and produced on the cheap. The German version, which I have, is far superior, and yes, is in widescreen edition. The quality is also, imho, superior. The bad side of it is that its in the European Region and therefore difficult to play on Region 1 dvd players as you have to mess with region codes.
| | (Reply) (Parent) (Thread) |
| I agree the visual & audio quality of the DVD I watched seemed very low. Plus there are a number of frames where characters are talking to someone who is actually off the screen due to the widescreen clipping! Frustrating.
| | (Reply) (Parent) (Thread) |
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=92.2) connorfc | | Subject: | a new American DVD? | | Link: | (Link) | | Time: | 2005-10-27 08:06 pm (UTC) |
|
| Peter and I are working on convincing the American distributors to release a new and MUCH-improved American DVD version. No way to tell yet if we will succeed, but we are trying. Wish us luck!
-- Connor Cochran,
Business Manager for Peter S. Beagle | | (Reply) (Parent) (Thread) |
| "Groat levels of angst"?
Is that an official unit? Are there Milligroats? (I know there are Mini-Groats, but they're not a unit of measurement). | | (Reply) (Parent) (Thread) |
| Yes. One "Groat" is equal to one financial difficulty that is a) broadcasted to your community, usually with statements of personal affront and b) has no resolution except that which can be provided by the community, usually through purchasing of your goods.
Some difficulties measure multiple Groats, and some difficulties are tiny and insignificant and are therefore in centi-groat range.
| | (Reply) (Parent) (Thread) |
| |
