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Disney's 1959 animated effort was the studio's most ambitious to date, a widescreen spectacle boasting a gorgeous waltz-filled score adapting Tchaikovsky. In the 14th century, the malevolent Maleficent (not dissimilar to the wicked Queen in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) taunts a king that his infant Aurora will fatally prick her finger on a spinning wheel before sundown on her 16th birthday. This, of course, would deny her a happily-ever-after with her true love. Things almost but not quite turn out that way, thanks to the assistance of some bubbly, bumbling fairies named Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. It's not really all that much about the title character--how interesting can someone in the middle of a long nap be, anyway? Instead, those fairies carry the day, as well as, of course, good Prince Phillip, whose battle with the malevolent Maleficent in the guise of a dragon has been co-opted by any number of animated films since. See it in its original glory here. And Malificent's castle, filled with warthogs and demonic imps in a macabre dance celebrating their evil ways, manages a certain creepy grandeur. --David Kronke
 Customer Reviews 
Perfect for Little Girls
Rating: 5
My 5 year old has been wanting Sleeping Beauty for months, but it is not available in stores. I found this on Amazon.com and bought it. I was a great purchase. I think she and her little sister have watched it a million times already. It is a great movie. I highly recommend it to anyone with little girls who love Disney Princesses.
Some films improve with age..."Sleeping Beauty" is one of them...
Rating: 5
When 'Sleeping Beauty' was first released it was the target of critical villification--perhaps because of the more stylized art work. The art work is actually a leap forward from 'Snow White' and the earlier classics. It took me awhile to get used to the new technique when I first viewed the film--but now I recognize how effectively it manages to convey the "feel" of a genuine fairy-tale.
A nice discussion of the art work is featured in 'The Making of Sleeping Beauty' which accompanies the latest VHS release of the film. Aside from the richly textured backgrounds and brilliant animation, 'Beauty' is blessed with the rapturous singing voice of Mary Costa's light soprano doing full justice to the ballad, 'Once Upon A Dream'. The idea of using Tchaikovsky's 'Sleeping Beauty' music for the background score and songs was an excellent decision. Music is used throughout to emphasize either the bright or darker moments in the story, always very effectively. Choral work is superb, as are the orchestrations.
This is a film that can be enjoyed on so many different levels--music, animation, story, art work--it ranks with the very best of the classic fairy-tales from Disney. And yes, Maleficent, in all of her wicked glory, makes the most impressive fire-breathing dragon you're ever likely to see!
WONDERFUL MOVIE FOR CHILDREN TO WATCH + 10
Rating: 5
SLEEPING BEAUTY IS A WONDERFUL MOVIE FOR CHILDREN.THERE IS NO VIOLENCE FOR CHILDREN TO SEE IN THIS MOVIE.LIKE OTHER DISNEY MOVIES THAT ARE COMING OUT NOW.I HAVE THIS MOVIE BOUGHT 2 OF THEM ONE FOR MY DAUGHTER ONE FOR HER GIRLFRIENDS BIRTHDAY.I AM SO PICKY AND MAD OVER SOME OF DISNEY'S REMAKES THAT HAS SO MUCH VIOLENCE IN THEM.NOT GOOD FOR ANY CHILD TO WATCH.I HAVE NOT BOUGHT MANY OF DISNEYS NEW MOVIES DUE TO THIS REASON.THERE IS ENOUGH VIOLENCE IN THIS WORLD" OUR CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE TO SEE IT IN DISNEY MOVIES"WHAT IS DISNEY THINKING MAKING THESE VIOLENT MOVIES FOR KIDS. CHARACTERS HITTING EACH OTHER CALLING NAMES IS IT FOR THE MONEY? THE WAY OF THE WORLD NOW? ALSO TEACHING CHILDREN ITS OK TO HIT EACH OTHER AND CALL NAMES YELLING AT EACH OTHER" BEST MOVIES FOR CHILDREN TO SEE ARE, JUNGLE BOOK LIMITED ISSUE,PETER PAN LIMITED ISSUE,PINOCCHIO LIMITED ISSUE, 101 DALMATIANS LIMITED ISSUE, SLEEPING BEAUTY, SNOW WHITE, I GIVE ALL THESE MOVIES 10 STARS.************************** I DO NOT EVEN RECOMMEND CINDERELLA THE NEW RELEASE ANYMORE" ALSO MANY MORE NEW RERELEASES, DISNEY RUINED THE OLD TARZAN DVD WITH A NEW REMAKE" TARZAN IS SUCH A WONDERFUL MOVIE FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS I HAVE THE LIMITED ISSUE MY FAMILY LOVES THIS MOVIE SO HEARTWARMING TO WATCH" ALL THE DISNEY LIMITED ISSUE DVDS ARE THE BEST FOR ALL CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO WATCH''FORGET THE 2 DVDS NEW EDITIONS" JUST CHEAP REMAKES"
ALL OF DISNEY'S
LIMITED ISSUES FIRST RELEASED ARE THE BEST ONES TO BUY" BEFORE THEY ARE ALL GONE FOR GOOD''''
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