Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008

Bambi (1942) / Bambi II (2006)


Bambi is a Disney classic, up there alongside Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and The Lion King. Rare is the black soul who can sit stone-faced following the death of Bambi's mother, a scene that traumatized generations en masse.

This sequel (which actually takes place during the first film's timeline) is harmless, really. Especially because it was released straight to DVD. Patrick Stewart stars as The Great Prince of the Forest, a buck who takes Bambi under his wing and teaches him (yes, him, despite the feminization of the name in later years) how to be a man. Bambi II's most likely lasting achievement will be to remind scores of parents about its predecessor, the first movie that ever made them cry, the first movie that ever gave them nightmares, the first movie they knew they'd share with their children one day.