Oh my! This was my favorite childhood film. It has such wonderful themes running through it. The most powerful one to me is that of growing up. Peter has to choose to leave magic behind at the end and that shows him fully enter the world of maturity, the "real world." Age and growing up is mentioned by Smrgol when he talks about getting old and how he used to have the fight in him, and we also see how the wizards view growing up through the eyes of Carolinus in his heartbreak at Milisande's loss of innocence being tied with the second sight and choosing to leave for Peter. Even the resolution of the world of magic being sealed off from the world save for a distant dream or a moment's inspiration felt like the death of childhood. I have watched this film many times, and felt differently during different periods of life. It's a lovely story.
my favorite movie of all time. Not only does James Earl Jones do the best performance of his life but this movie gets me. I have always been one part science and one part creativity, and yes, many people are like this, but this movie really did show that I can be both and thrive in both. This is the most important movie in my life
My family had this in our VHS collection, and I recently rewatched it on DVD with my wife, when I discovered she had it too. The final confrontation is one of my favorites in all fiction. Puts a great twist on the expression "getting schooled." Besides hearing James Earl Jones go full ham as the red wizard Ommadon, Sir Orrin might be the character I remembered most. Probably thanks to this movie, I've always had a fondness for paladin-types who strive for personal virtue while still being friendly and humorous.
What I love is that the question at the beginning is proposed. "A world of science? Or a world of magic? Which will it be?" This implies the typical assumption is that the two must exist independently, but as you stated, the theme is all about how the two can co-exist and even serve a purpose for each other. Magic, spirituality, creativity, dreams, beauty, are things that do not make complete logical sense but serve at least one major purpose: inspiration. As the film details, what we can imagine and make more concrete inspires us to use logic, reasoning, and science, to make it real. Without the inspiration, the idea, the "what if?", etc., we cannot realize it through logical means. In some ways, it implies that the ideas, the imagination, are indeed real, just in a different way. They do exist, if not physically, yet. It's really a great movie that helps make me want to explore these rich aspects of life instead. What can I imagine? What can I make real? Are the feelings from enjoying a fictional world or concept real or fake?
years ago some friends streamed this movie on discord and I loved it ever since. It does such a great job of finding beauty in the logical and scientific nature of the world and one part of the climatic final confrontation still gets to me even if it's just a brief moment of animation. "if you deny me then you deny all magic" just the look on Peter's face right after hearing that has a real sense of pain to it and I adore that they took the time to have that in there
I remember seeing this movie as a child and it really is a work of beauty. Honestly, that could be said for any Rankin Bass fantasy film. Funnily enough, I remember Rankin-Bass more for their animated fantasy work than their stop-motion holiday specials.
@@AddyLovestar Indeed. And I'm not slagging on those holiday specials by any means. My personal favotire holiday special (based admittedly on pure nostalgia, but it's been so long ago that I can't even tell how well that holds up) was The Little Drummer Boy. I just have more nostalgic feelings for Rankin Bass' The Hobbit, The Return of the King (despite it practically being an internet "law" that it has to be hated) and Flight of Dragons. And yes, these are the same folks that also gave us their best with The Last Unicorn. Also, I get that this is a nitpick, but the name of the evil wizard is Obadon. The fact that I remember that so well probably says something about me.
3:00 to add to this id suggjest the films gandahar/renamed lightyears in the west princess mononoki, potema inverted, and ghost in the shell. films of such wuality as to in my opinnion shatter culturaly ingrained concepts like animation is inferior to life action, these films are as close to flawless as this reality gets, nothing is perfectm but these films are without question as close to timeless as art gets... theyre themes and theyre presintation will be as good as it was at release, in 1,000 years.
arguably one of the 3 best kids movies ever (i dont count disney movies as kids movies cos theyre not) 1. flight of dragons 2. land before time 3. neverending story
@@AddyLovestar speaking of James Earl Jones could someone do a commentary on this film please in loving memory of him of course the flight of dragons film
Oh my! This was my favorite childhood film. It has such wonderful themes running through it. The most powerful one to me is that of growing up. Peter has to choose to leave magic behind at the end and that shows him fully enter the world of maturity, the "real world." Age and growing up is mentioned by Smrgol when he talks about getting old and how he used to have the fight in him, and we also see how the wizards view growing up through the eyes of Carolinus in his heartbreak at Milisande's loss of innocence being tied with the second sight and choosing to leave for Peter. Even the resolution of the world of magic being sealed off from the world save for a distant dream or a moment's inspiration felt like the death of childhood. I have watched this film many times, and felt differently during different periods of life. It's a lovely story.
my favorite movie of all time. Not only does James Earl Jones do the best performance of his life but this movie gets me. I have always been one part science and one part creativity, and yes, many people are like this, but this movie really did show that I can be both and thrive in both. This is the most important movie in my life
I'm grateful it was important for you too
They dont make stuff like this anymore. RiP James
My family had this in our VHS collection, and I recently rewatched it on DVD with my wife, when I discovered she had it too. The final confrontation is one of my favorites in all fiction. Puts a great twist on the expression "getting schooled."
Besides hearing James Earl Jones go full ham as the red wizard Ommadon, Sir Orrin might be the character I remembered most. Probably thanks to this movie, I've always had a fondness for paladin-types who strive for personal virtue while still being friendly and humorous.
Sir Orrin Nevvile-Smithe really steals the show thanks to the hammy acting and good humor, I agree. Such an unusual guy
What I love is that the question at the beginning is proposed. "A world of science? Or a world of magic? Which will it be?" This implies the typical assumption is that the two must exist independently, but as you stated, the theme is all about how the two can co-exist and even serve a purpose for each other. Magic, spirituality, creativity, dreams, beauty, are things that do not make complete logical sense but serve at least one major purpose: inspiration. As the film details, what we can imagine and make more concrete inspires us to use logic, reasoning, and science, to make it real. Without the inspiration, the idea, the "what if?", etc., we cannot realize it through logical means. In some ways, it implies that the ideas, the imagination, are indeed real, just in a different way. They do exist, if not physically, yet.
It's really a great movie that helps make me want to explore these rich aspects of life instead. What can I imagine? What can I make real? Are the feelings from enjoying a fictional world or concept real or fake?
years ago some friends streamed this movie on discord and I loved it ever since. It does such a great job of finding beauty in the logical and scientific nature of the world and one part of the climatic final confrontation still gets to me even if it's just a brief moment of animation.
"if you deny me then you deny all magic" just the look on Peter's face right after hearing that has a real sense of pain to it and I adore that they took the time to have that in there
The bait 'n switch where the audience is (briefly) led to believe that Peter denied magic is brilliant stuff
I remember seeing this movie as a child and it really is a work of beauty. Honestly, that could be said for any Rankin Bass fantasy film.
Funnily enough, I remember Rankin-Bass more for their animated fantasy work than their stop-motion holiday specials.
I've been consistently surprised by the high quality of Rankin-Bass animated films
@@AddyLovestar Indeed. And I'm not slagging on those holiday specials by any means. My personal favotire holiday special (based admittedly on pure nostalgia, but it's been so long ago that I can't even tell how well that holds up) was The Little Drummer Boy. I just have more nostalgic feelings for Rankin Bass' The Hobbit, The Return of the King (despite it practically being an internet "law" that it has to be hated) and Flight of Dragons. And yes, these are the same folks that also gave us their best with The Last Unicorn.
Also, I get that this is a nitpick, but the name of the evil wizard is Obadon. The fact that I remember that so well probably says something about me.
Isn't it Omaddon? I just called him "the evil wizard" for comedic effect
@@AddyLovestar I might be misremembering based on hearing. I'll have to watch it again sometime soon.
Ever played Twilight Princess?
Great Voice Talents too.
Harry Morgan, John Ritter, and James Earl Jones just to name 3....
3:00 to add to this id suggjest the films gandahar/renamed lightyears in the west princess mononoki, potema inverted, and ghost in the shell. films of such wuality as to in my opinnion shatter culturaly ingrained concepts like animation is inferior to life action, these films are as close to flawless as this reality gets, nothing is perfectm but these films are without question as close to timeless as art gets... theyre themes and theyre presintation will be as good as it was at release, in 1,000 years.
I couldn't agree more! Excellent analysis. This has been my favorite animated movie for 35+ years now. :)
arguably one of the 3 best kids movies ever (i dont count disney movies as kids movies cos theyre not)
1. flight of dragons
2. land before time
3. neverending story
I laughed so hard when Carolinus landed his house
My room-mate also enjoyed the flying house
@@AddyLovestar speaking of James Earl Jones could someone do a commentary on this film please in loving memory of him of course the flight of dragons film
Great movie. Great soundtrack.
I think i heard of this movie
I love you.