3 out of 5

Director: David Hand

“Another Disney masterpiece…” sure, sure. Bambi is something else. It’s something you won’t find nowadays, one of those odd, somewhat acid-y wandering Disney films that’s filled with moments that you can’t turn away from for some reason or another. But during my viewing, when my attention would wander during this short not-enough-time-for-my-attention-to-wander film, I would start to ponder what my rating would be (because I know all of you readers have been waiting since the 40s and the creation of internet and this site to read what I have to say), and I realized I was feeling compelled to give it a 4 or more just out of… duty. Or something. But Bambi feels only okay. Some of the extras tell about some of the battles amongst Disney and his crew to get this story to a watchable state in terms of generating interest. Just to flop back – it is an amazing accomplishment. While we remember the mom-dying milestone, this is more a day in the life kinda film, not a direct plot except for one or two turns in order to have “development” – Bambi the young deer plays in the forest for 40 minutes until some things happen. And with that little bit of plotting, Disney takes some fascinating risks to show off a truly beautiful blend of real life and cartoon. Still though, the endlessly lazy camera (slow pans) and classical-lite set to scenes of deers and rabbits frolicking are wonderful for lulling a lil’un to sleep (maybe… can kids today sit through this?) but lack the driving plot of other classic Disney fare or the necessary breaks found in Fantasia. Beautiful, eye-popping animation even today, but sorta boring.