Fantastic Planet

Fantastic Planet
Studio: Facets Multimedia Release Date: 10/23/2007
Customer Review: What good is a film you cant watch?
BUYER BEWARE!! Even tho my DVD player is only a year old, it would only play the menu of this film. I tried and tried everything, taking it out and putting it back into my DVD. After wasting a lot of time, I thought "Hum, I dont think there is anything WRONG with the DVD, and I know there's nothing wrong with my DVD player, so lets check out AMAZON." And, for the reasons others have given (low bit rate?), this DVD only wants to let you watch the MENU, and NOTHING ELSE!!! I have watched literally 1000s of DVDs, and I have NEVER seen this problem before. So obviously, someone manufactured this DVD incorrectly. It DOES play on your computer, however. But then again, I dont watch TV, or movies on my computer. I have a TV, and a Stereo system, and a nice chair to relax in, so i can watch films. The saddest thing, is that when i did deside it was worth checking out on the computer at least once, I found it to be a wonderful film, everything I wanted it to be. The colors of the animation are not really psychedelic, in the way YELLOW SUBMARINE is psychedelic, ie, its not in ultra technicolor. Instead, the colors tend to be closer to western European children's illustrations from that period. There are a lot of still drawings, that get zoomed into, or moved slightly, for some shots. It isnt like the BIG BUDGET animation films from Disney, where your backround is drawn, but the foreground images, are illustrated with full movement. Some of the groups of humans, look like something I would have drawn when I was 13 years old. That's not bad, rather there's a certain "childlike" animation stylization. The best illustrations get saved back for the "effect" shots, of the group meditations, and the human child. Other designs are not as well executed, and the awe you might feel, when you first see the creatures physically mind-merge, or the schooling device, might become dull for some quickly. (3-D animation, the rise of Anime, and computer animation, have ruined us for this earlier, completely hand drawn animation.) What saves this film, is the "parable" behind the images. In many ways, the film reminds me of other "FRENCH UNDERGROUND HIPPIE CONCEPTS" floating around from that period. (early 70s) I"m talking about the rock band MAGMA, and how all their early albums were about a group of humans going to a utopian planet to escape the wars on earth, or the "psychedelic" concept of GONG, where your spirit goes into meditation, and contacts "Octave Doctors". The same fanciful, scifi orienated, "artrock" inspiration, floats thru the film. So, even tho its a very fanciful, fairy tale type story, its still totally rooted in hippie philosophy. (group meditation, the MAN verses THE LITTLE GUY, and how humans have lost their connection with nature, which is to say, the HIPPIE COMMUNES). The idealism that everything will just work out, is almost precious, compaired to what the world is today. I would recommend this film to anyone who loves experimental, adult animation, especially from this period. If you liked THE POINT, you'd probibly like this film, tho there are no songs. If you liked those FRITZ THE CAT films, tho, you might find this film a bit too arty, or dull. If you enjoy French underground hippie culture, by ALL MEANS, watch the film. You'd love it. BUT, unless you like watching films on a computer, forget it. I wish I could rate this FIVE STARS, but hey, what good is a film you cant watch on your TV set?
Customer Review: rare find indeed!
I was challenged by my 28 year old son to find this. He saw it as a child. Amazon!