Surprisingly imaginative at times, and tedious at others.
Unlike "Saludos Amigos"--which, at 40 minutes (some footage of Goofy smoking was snipped) is the shortest Disney "full-length" feature ever made--"The Three Caballeros" held my kids' attention. I just don't know how much repeat play it's going to get. As you watch those "Fantasia"-like sequences you see some of the most imaginative animation from the early days of the House of Mouse, but you have to care more about animation than narration to really enjoy these Disney features.
Video:
These catalog titles were shot using 16mm film, and given their age the picture quality on this two-title set looks pretty good. The animated sequences held their color better than the live-action, which are also a little less detailed--so much so that many of the sequences look like old newsreel clips. Overall, both films (presented in 1.33:1 aspect ratio) look pretty good.
Audio:
The original mono was replaced by a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround that isn't as dynamic as you'd expect, with French and Spanish language tracks and subtitles in French and Spanish. For 5.1 Surround, there's still a slight flatness to the timbre, with mid-range sounds dominant--as if the low- and high-range notes weren't able to be picked up as well.
Extras:
Two bonus cartoons are included which the kiddies will appreciate, "Don Donald" and "Contrary Condor." "Backstage Disney: South of the Border" is more of the same documentary footage (and feels redundant). The best bonus feature is also the briefest: Walt Disney appears in black-and-white footage facing an off-camera interviewer and answering a few questions about the tour and the films.
Bottom Line:
If you like "Fantasia" you'll appreciate segments in "The Three Caballeros" that are every bit as inventive and amazingly drawn. But if you're into narrative, this patchwork of travel footage, live-action performance, and animation might not be your thing. If that's the case, you're not alone. "The Three Caballeros" and "Saludos Amigos" have always seemed a bit odd to fans of Disney films. They can seem surprisingly imaginative at times, and tedious at others.
Video:
These catalog titles were shot using 16mm film, and given their age the picture quality on this two-title set looks pretty good. The animated sequences held their color better than the live-action, which are also a little less detailed--so much so that many of the sequences look like old newsreel clips. Overall, both films (presented in 1.33:1 aspect ratio) look pretty good.
Audio:
The original mono was replaced by a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround that isn't as dynamic as you'd expect, with French and Spanish language tracks and subtitles in French and Spanish. For 5.1 Surround, there's still a slight flatness to the timbre, with mid-range sounds dominant--as if the low- and high-range notes weren't able to be picked up as well.
Extras:
Two bonus cartoons are included which the kiddies will appreciate, "Don Donald" and "Contrary Condor." "Backstage Disney: South of the Border" is more of the same documentary footage (and feels redundant). The best bonus feature is also the briefest: Walt Disney appears in black-and-white footage facing an off-camera interviewer and answering a few questions about the tour and the films.
Bottom Line:
If you like "Fantasia" you'll appreciate segments in "The Three Caballeros" that are every bit as inventive and amazingly drawn. But if you're into narrative, this patchwork of travel footage, live-action performance, and animation might not be your thing. If that's the case, you're not alone. "The Three Caballeros" and "Saludos Amigos" have always seemed a bit odd to fans of Disney films. They can seem surprisingly imaginative at times, and tedious at others.
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[release]23573[/release]