1 Charmingly fun Disney movie
Cats, kittens, dogs, and music -- a simple film kids will love. Horrified that his mistress's will leaves everything to her cats, the butler "kidnaps" Madame the cat and her kittens, and drops them off in the remote countryside so he can claim his mistress's fortune as his. Madame, with the help of O'Malley the alley cat, a couple of geese, and Scat Cat and his gang, must now find their way back home to their mistress.
The song numbers are wonderfully catchy, and the characters are loveable. The film is presented in the aspect ratio of 1.33:1, which, contrary to other reviewers and according to www.ultimatedisney.com , "is almost certainly the aspect ratio of the original animation, even if the case implies that a modification has occurred." Overall a wonderful purchase for your children.
2 Little ppls. Review!!!
The Aristocats is a wonderful movie to enjoy with the whole family!!! There are great sin-a-longs, for example: "Everybody Wants to be a Cat" has always been my favorite!!! Thanks for reading my review!
3 More Fun that Most People Give Credit For
I don't know what all the people above are complaining about. Aristocats is one of the great, fun, non-mainstream Disney movies that I loved as a child & still enjoy. Much better than the formulaic, unimaginative movies of the early 90s.
4 A Walt Disney Masterpiece The Aristocats
The Aristocars is Disney's 20th full-length animated masterpiece.I saw this movie when I was 5 & liked it,but its never been my favorate.My favorates were from 1987-1996.But its still a great film for the family & I recommend this d.v.d.
5 Aristocats
Aristocats is a movie about a cat and her kittens belonging to a wealthy woman, who cares so much for them, that she states in her will that all her money will be passed down to the cats when she dies. After hearing this, the lady's greedy butler steals the cats and drops them off under a bridge, knowing that when the lady dies, HE will now receive the money. But the cats are finding their way home, along with O'Malley the ally cat, and many other friends.
This movie was funny, touching, and entertaining. It's sad that Disney movies aren't like this anymore. Many of you might disagree, saying that Brother Bear was similar to the old movies, but I thought that movie was a major let-down, too.
This movie is clean, and free of the junk in a lot of Disney movies today. I would recommend it to anyone.
6 EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE A CAT!!!!!1
I LIKED THIS MOVIE. I ENJOY JUST ABOUT EVERY DISNEY CARTOON CLASSIC THERE IS. SO, THEREFORE IF YOU LIKE WALT DISNEY ANIMATION OR IF YOU LIKE CATS THEN I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU TO BUY THIS VIDEO. I AM NOT VERY FOND OF CATS BUT I LIKE THESE CATS AND THEY ARE SWINGING CATS.
7 SMILES TO MY FACE!
Qu'e gatos son los de porte m‡s pomposo...! huh?, well that was the beginning song of the movie translated to spanish. The Aristocats will always be a movie that will remind me of precious moments of my childhood. The adventure of Dutchess and her kids, been kidnapped and left behind, tryin' to find their way back to Paris with the help of Mr. O Malley, a wanderer, a cat of the underground, it's just hilarious and a great adventure cartoon flick, worth the money and the hours you spent watching it. FIVE STARS*****
8 great film
"The Aristocats is one of mt favorite disney films it's so cute, if you love animation and love cats you'll adore this film. It may have a weaker story line then most dinsey films but it's charming and cute and a good fantasy escape tale like Disney films are. The kittens are adorable
it's well worth watching not may dvd extras but still worth seeing just for the film..
9 The Purr-fect Film
This may be one of the best Disney movies that I have ever seen!The movie is about some of the rarest kinds of cats you could find just about anywhere in the world. The story shows some tips on how to respect oters, How to share, and how to show others how much you care about them. If you havent seen this movie, then plan to see it. This movie is for everyone, no matter how young you are, or how old you get.
10 One the Best Disney Films EVER!
I love everything about this movie. Ava Gabor is wonderful as the voice of Duchess. The kittens in the story are sooo sweet. This is a must have for anyone who is a true Disney fan.
11 No Aging, cute cats
How is it that Disney movies don't seem to age? Even Snow White seems pretty normal nowadays. The Aristocats is not the best, prettiest or funniest Disney movie ever made but people who like sweet cats will enjoy the drawing of the cute little cats in this movie.
The drawing of the people is very realistic and the animals all have their own personality, the jazzy alley-cats are my favorites. It's about 80 minutes long so perfect for young children.
12 Very cute, fun movie
My partner and I thought that this movie was great -- both when we were little and even now that we are grown up. The kittens are adorable, the old lady geese are a riot, and the fun jazz playing dancing cat scene is fun. It is a simple story line, which is sometimes nice. There isn't a big moral of the story, which can be nice, too, sometimes. And I love how the mice and the cats are good friends. It is pretty innocent, fun, simple, and just an all around nice movie. Cat lovers will especially like it, but all kids, big and small, should be able to appreciate it, laugh, and find all the animals funny.
13 Good Enough for the Kids
The Aristocats is good enough for the kids, but the adults are likely to tire of it quickly. There is nothing wrong with this movie. The animation is perfectly fine, in that it is a completely different species of art from the modern computer graphic. The story is typical fare for children (cats get stolen and lost, have an adventure to find their way home, and live happily ever after), a sort of morph between "Lady and the Tramp" and "101 Dalmations". There is one tune that is pretty decent, though doesn't quite deliver on the wonderful high-energy jazziness like "The Jungle Book". All in all, this is a movie that the children aren't likely to tire of soon.
That being said, it just seems to lack the flair (musically and literarily) of other Disney classics, such as "The Jungle Book", "Lady and the Tramp" and, "Mary Poppins". Musically this movie is very weak. There is one tune that is almost quite good, but not quite. For story, the adult just feels a lot like they have seen this movie before. There is nothing magical or surprising. It's just sort of predictable and flat, not even particularly funny.
Overall, if you are just looking for a movie to occupy the kids for a little while, this might be a good selection. Small children, at least, will like this for quite a while. If you are looking for a movie to be a family affair that will actually be enjoyed by everyone, you might want to pass on this one look elsewhere - because the "grown folks" are going to get sick of this one quickly, perhaps even before the end of the first viewing.
14 No Disney Magic Here
Perhaps the weakest animated Disney film in history with a storyline to match The Aristocats is sure to put you to sleep. Disney rips off from its earlier film, not just from a story point of view but the musical score is uplifted from previous Disney films. Altogether The Aristocats feels like microwaved Disney!
15 Good, Older Disney Fare
I like "The Aristocats." Granted, it isn't a great film nor does it have "cutting edge" animation that today's generation has come to take for granted, but it is a good story with some fun songs in it that make it worth watching.
It was created back when Disney movies were made for the sake of being made. It wasn't made to gross millions of dollars in profit. It wasn't a vehicle for a new Disney Channel series. It didn't try to teach you some great moral lesson. It was simply made to entertain, and that is what it does.
Younger children will definitely love this film. The songs are fun to sing and there is enough silly action to hold any two-year old's attention. Adults, especially between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five, may grow a little tired of this movie because they may not be used to a film that isn't tied in with some type of toy line or ride at Disneyworld. Older adults will probably like it for the simple fact that it provides nostalgia.
Don't pass this one by. Get it and enjoy it with your family.
16 Quite Charming, But Not My Favorite Disney Film
Madame is a wealthy, single French woman who dotes on her cat, Duchess (voice by Eva Gabor) and her three kittens, Marie, Berliox and Toulouse. Madame knows that she is getting older, so she puts together her will, leaving her estate to her beloved cats and nothing for her devoted butler, Edgar (voice by Roddy Maude-Roxby). Horrified that his years of service earned him nothing and outraged that Madame would choose to leave her fortune to her cats instead of himself, Edgar drugs the cats and leaves them in the countryside. Duchess is not sure what to do or how to survive in the country, but she soon finds a gallant rescuer in the form of O'Malley the alley cat (voice by Phil Harris). O'Malley was initially attracted to Duchess because she was beautiful, but, as they continue their travels and he comes to get to know her and her children, he starts thinking of settling down and leaving his footloose and fancy free life behind. However, the cats still do not know that Edgar was the one who tried to get rid of them, so even when they do make it back to Madame's mansion, they still are not safe...
The Aristocats is a charming Disney film with that classic, old time animation style that Walt Disney became known for. All of the fun Disney characters are found here, including charming (and scene stealing) supporting characters. My absolute favorites are Napoleon and Lafeyette (voice by Pat Buttram and George Lindsay), who were hysterical as country dogs who chased Edgar. Roquefort the Mouse (voice by Sterling Holloway) was also charming as a little Sherlock Holmes who solved the mystery and foiled the villainous plot. There is not as much singing in this film as in other Disney cartoons, but what there is is a fun introduction to jazz for younger viewers. This movie is completely safe for the whole family and I think that children of all ages will delight in the adventures of these intrepid cats.
17 Boring....
I liked this movie when I was little, now I'm 13, and when I recently watched "The Aristocats" I relized how bad and weak it is. The kittens are cute. But the story is, in my opinion, a rip-off of "Lady and the Tramp" and "101 Dalmations". The songs are really weak too, and the animation isn't all that great. If you wanna see a great, cute movie about animals, I recommend: "The Lion King", "Bambi", and "Lady and the Tramp". Don't waste your money on this. Sorry Disney.
18 Terrible
If I could, I would have given it 1/2 a star. This movie should in no way be considered a Disney Classic. First of all, the story line is extremely weak and basically just involves the cats walking back home to their mansion. Secondly, it is clear that this movie was made in the 70's. The main male feline hero comes across to the audience as a pimp and the main female feline heroine comes across as a whore. Even worse, the movie promotes the swinging life style of the 60's as extremely hip. I know that they are only cats, but they are given human qualities and I wouldn't want any kids to take these values home. Thirdly, the villain comes out as a victim and his master seems to be a pompous rich person that has wasted her life away without ever doing any real work and someone that values cats over humans. The only reason why I would have even given this movie 1/2 a star is because of the two dogs in the farm lands and the geeses drunk uncle. Otherwise, the whole movie was a wretched boring experience. Furtheremore, I would suggest that you avoid this movie for your kids unless you believe that the free sex, free drugs mantra of the 60's and 70's is appropriate for your children.
19 Meeeooooow!
This is the cutest movie. This movie is mainly aimed at young cat-lovers, but this classic has been my favourite since the age of six. The movie's graphics are beautiful and suit Paris, France--where the movie takes place.
This story is about a family of cats, which are living with madame, an old lady who takes care of them very well, almost like a human. They are sort of like aristocrats, only cats (now you know how the movie recieved its name). The family of cats is made up of Dutchess, the beautiful mother--and her kittens, paino-player Berlioz, Alley-cat Toulouse, and concieted Marie.
However, Edgar, the mean and nasty man that lives with madame, wants takes the kittens away, as madame said that her cats always come first. Madame is very worried, and, she desperately wants her cats to come home. The main part of the story is the cats trying to get home.
Along the way, they meet O'malley the alley cat, who bonds with Dutchess and her kittens. He falls in love with Dutchess, and tries to help them come back home.
They have a long journey back, they almost get run over by a train, O'malley goes down a river and gets "smimming lessons," Dutchess meets with twin geese, and they play instruments with Scat Cat and his gang (which are O'malleys' old friends).
When the cats finally go home, O'malley leaves, as he doesn't belong there. Edgar is angry and wants to send the cats to Timbuktu. O'malley helps them once he can get Scat Cat and his gang to help. When they get Edgar slammed into the package, they send HIM to Timbuktu.
The ending to this story is very nice, as madame decides to take O'malley in. =)
That's it.
20 Not up to Classic Disney Standarts
This Disney "Classic" is certainly not one of the studio's better efforts. There is very little story, with merely a couple of great tunes to keep viewers interested. From the grand opening title tune sung by the incomparable Maurice Chevalier it quickly goes down-hill, only to be briefly lifted up by another great song "Everybody Wants To Be A Cat", which is milked all the way to the eventual, non-surprising ending. The nausiatingly friendly and charming voice of Eva Gabor as the beautiful Mama-Kitty becomes tiresome. -- My suggestion: Leave this one for the kids. Grown-ups with some "Disney experience" will not be impressed by this so-so filler film.***
21 The Cat's Meow!
Not only to all 5 of my kids love this movie, the cat will even sit and watch it.
This is what I believe the best older Disney movie that is out there. I rank it higher than Lady and the Tramp. For the mom that gets caught watching it there is the love story and for the dad there is the comedy of the dogs and the bad guy of the story. For the kids, you have the kittens getting into things and then Scat Cat and the band of alley cats.
My oldest 2 (9 and 6) have been singing "Everybody wants to Be a Cat" for at least 5 years when we originally got the VHS. Getting the DVD adds to the fun with the interactive parts.
22 My kid loves it
If my daughter shows to the TV and says "miau miau" we know she wants to see Aristocats - maybe 3 to 5 times a week. The film is lovely made, has its own drawing stile, a little bit different than other Disneys, the drawing is a little bit more artistic and pencil like. Its fun, its music, its a good but simple story.
23 Perfect first Disney movie for children!
This is the perfect first Disney movie for children, as well as cat lovers of all ages! My daughter loved the movie when it was first made, and now my three-year-old granddaughter adores it. The story is simple, sweet and amusing; the songs are cute and easy for children to remember. I appreciate that the movie has no scary scenes, and the "bad guy" Edgar is more a bumbling figure than a menacing one. The cats - Duchess, her three kittens, Thomas, and the Scat Cats - are all lovable and memorable. Get this movie for your kids - Everybody Loves a Cat!!
24 Wonderful family friendly entertainment
We rank this movie 25th out of the 41 Disney animated movies that we own. It is an average 3 star entertaining movie. The children have not asked to see this one for years. When they were younger it got watched occasionally.
We had a lot of fun by gathering the family together to rank the 41 Disney movies we have that include some cartoon work. All the kids, ages 6 to 27, participated along with mother and dad. Lion King was selected number 1 of the 41 as the family favorite, but narrowly. Peter Pan was 2. Pete's Dragon 3, Beauty & the beast 4, Sleeping Beauty 5, Snow White 6, Robin Hood 7, 101 Dalmatians 8, Fox and the hound 9, Cinderella is 10th, Rescuers 11, Hunchback of ND 12, Aladdin 13, Aladdin King of Thieves 14, Jungle Book 15, Little Mermaid 16, Hercules 17, Winnie the Pooh 18, Rescuers Down Under 19, Sword in the Stone 20, Pinocchio 21, Mulan 22, Mary Poppins 23 and Lady and the Tramp 24.
25 I loved tthis whole movie,except...
for one part.I don't like the scene where Duchess and O'Mally are laughing over the fact that one of the geese they've met is drunk.Today,people know that alchohol addiction is nothing to laugh over.
26 Gives Disney a bad name, which Disney isn't acostumed to
Baloo was such a huge Disney character, so taking Baloo's voice (Phil Harris) and putting it in the alley cat O'malley doesn't work; unless you've never seen "The Jungle Book". Dutchess, voiced by Gza Gza Gabor, is such a dull character; and as cute as the three kittens are, they come nowhere near to saving this movie. The plot has nothing to keep the audience interested. It's been said before: A butler who has given his service for so many years, gets passed up in the will for a familly of Aristocats. Never has a Disney movie made you feel so sorry for the bad guy. This film just doesn't work, and I'm glad I didn't buy it. However I gave it three stars because it is a child's film, and I must look from a child's perspective.
27 Great music and setting.
I love the French setting and the colorful characters in this movie. The music and characters are all so lovable, you'll want to watch it over and over again.
28 "Everybody wants to be a cat"
I would have to give this 5 stars for the movie and 2 stars for the rest of the dvd. The Aristcats could also be called a sequel to 101 Dalmations, but this time it is only 4 cats that has to find thier way home instead of 15. Then you enter an ally cat name Thomas O'Malley thas aksed for help in return to the city of Paris in 1910. This movie took the Disney animators almost 4 years to make. Looks like every animators are still from Walt Disney days including Frank Thomas (who at the time of this writing) is still alive, but not very active, in fact looks like the last movie he worked on is The Fox and the Hound. As the movie opens, a woman named Madame Adelaide Bonfamille (Hermoine Baddeley) has come hom to her mansion, and awaits her lawyer (Charles Lane) to do her will in which, because of she has no living relatives, she decides to leave her house to her cats, and after the cats die, then the house goes to her butler Edgar (Roddy Maude-Roxby), and when Edgar over hears Madame's plane over a speaker, he decides to kid nap her cat Duchess (Eva Garbor) and kitness Marie (Liz English), Berlioz (Dean Clark), Toulouse (Gary Dubin), and he does that. And the Duchess and the kitness along with an alley cat named Thomas O'Malloy (Phill Harris), they make thier journey into Paris. This film was orginnlay intented to be a live action movie, but then somebody or somehow it got changed to an animated movie. And maybe some day a live action movie of this may be made, but if that does happen, for now you have this cartoon movie. This movie is a must for Disney or animated movie fans.
29 Cute!
What a cute movie! Kids and adults alike will enjoy it! -especially if you like cats!!
This takes you on a journey of a Momma Cat, Dutchess, and her 3 kittens who are dumped out on the streets of Paris by a greedy butler, Edgar, who overhears his millionairess boss will her entire fortune to the cats. They are taken in and led home by a cool, alley cat, O'Malley.
Along the way, O'Malley takes Dutchess and her kittens back to his place...where the music is great! Scat Cat and his band perform "Everybody Wants to be a Cat!" and leaves you Meowing for more!
Napoleon and Lafayette, the old hounds of the place, also have some fantastic parts in this cat tale!
If your Disney library does not have this in it yet, it should!!
1smileycat :-)
30 "Lady & the Tramp" for aileurophiles
(That's cat-lovers, by the way.) Disney here remakes his canine classic with feline leads and succeeds wonderfully. Duchess (voiced by Eva Gabor) is the pampered pet who (with her three kittens, Marie, Berlioz, and Toulouse) is forced out into the cruel world, and O'Malley (Phil Harris) the gallant alley cat who comes to their rescue and wins her love. Unlike the original, here we find a genuine villain--Edgar (Roddy Maude-Roxby), butler to Duchess's wealthy "Madame," who stands to inherit her estate after the cats have lived out their lives, and wants to hurry things up so he can get the money while he's still able to enjoy it. With the help of Froufrou the carriage horse (Nancy Kulp), Roquefort the mouse (Sterling Holloway), and Scat Cat (Scatman Crothers) and his (jazz) band of Alley Cats, O'Malley succeeds in foiling Edgar's plot, and Edgar gets his just desserts. True, the two hound dogs Napoleon and Lafayette (Pat Buttram and George Lindsey) are a bit over-the-top (where are they supposed to be from, the South of France?), but they do provide a laugh-out-loud comic interlude. With humor and suspense aplenty and a delightful array of characters, this movie might even convert the cat-haters in the family. Definitely one of my favorites.
31 real life reflections for kids
This is a great movie for very young kids to watch. It doesn't have any violance in it, and about the only scary scene is the "catnapping".
It teaches kids to value and respect each other and don't pass judgment based on being richer or poorer.
A must have.
32 Simple but sweet
My family loves this movie, it is an especially good Disney movie for younger children since there aren't any real scary moments to leave the kids with nightmares. When so many children's movies run rampant with violence, this one actually falls back on a plot. It is a great movie for the evening because the kids aren't left feeling anxious or worked-up.
As for the animation, it is a shame that everything is computer generated or enhanced nowadays. It is sort of interesting to see scenes where you can identify the individual lines of a character and you can appreciate the true artistry that went into the production of each scene.
33 Cute but annoying
My 2 year old daughter likes this movie and does watch it occasionally. The story is similar to that of "Lady and the Tramp", but where I can watch Tramp and Lady singing and romping around over and over and over again, I find duchess and her kittens all a little too sweet. The songs are OK, but they get annoying after a while. There are better movies out there.
34 Recycled, formulaic Disney
Take Phil Harris as Baloo the Bear, make him a cat, and have him rescue beloved pets from a criminal who intends to do them harm. Replace Louis Prima with Scatman Crothers to provide a jumping musical interlude in the middle of the film. If you can stand watching a mediocre hybrid of 101 DALMATIANS and JUNGLE BOOK, you might consider buying this movie. Your viewing time (and your kids' time, too) would be better spent with other films.
35 INFINITE Stars.....by far the GREATEST FILM OF ALL TIME!
And people keep ranting on and on about "Citizen Kane"!?! That movie is the equivalent of "They Saved Hitler's Brain" compared to "THE ARISTOCATS", which is by far the ultimate triumph in the history of the universe!!! The Acting, songs, storyline, animation, snd character development cannot even be discribed in words.....it totally surpasses anything of human comprehension!!! Like, wow!!!
All who would even begin to think otherwise in the least bit will immediately be struck down by God and cast into the fiery casms of HELL from whence they came! I literally worship this movie every night after work! And every single living organism in the universe and all other dimensions should, too.
BOW DOWN TO ITS AWESOME, INDESCRIBABLE, UNIMAGINABLE, UNRIVALED DIVINITY! IT SHOULD RULE THE UNIVERSE! IT DOES RULE THE UNIVERSE! KNEEL BEFORE IT! KNEEL BEFORE IT NOW, OR SUFFER CONSEQUENCES BEYOND ANYTHING REMOTELY RELATED TO HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS!!!
36 Yikes!
This is one of Disney's worst, almost as bad and annoying as Peter Pan. Don't get me wrong - I love Disney. But this is just awful. Slow storytelling, extraneous and unimportant scenes that add nothing...
The main characters aren't bad, but many of them are just excuses to add a few more excruciatingly painful minutes onto the film. Whoever approved the release of this film in 1970 was obviously still suffering the effects of a rotten acid trip. Now I know why everyone warned me not to waste my money buying this one! Guess my faith in Disney's usual excellence and quality was ill-founded in this case. Wait for it on TV, but don't go and buy it unless you really like it. Otherwise, stick with Bambi or The Lion King if you want a great Disney critter movie.
37 The Cat's Meouw!
I loved this movie as a video tape. So much in fact that I had to get it on DVD. I find it a pity that you can only choose between the English and a French audio track, I would have enjoyed a bigger variety of versions, but be it as it is. The trivia game is cute, my 5-year old daughter could answer almost all questions and was very thrilled. And I liked the story book read-along with options for smaller or bigger children to have it read to them or read themselves. All in all a great DVD for the whole family and I can only recommend it to all Disney fans!
38 Disney Has Gone To the Cats!
A classic tale full of charm and memorable music, this tells the story of Duchess who is teaching her three kittens, Berlioz, Toulouse, and Marie, how to be proper pets. But when the greedy butler, Edgar, overhears the owner's plan to give her entire fortune to the cats first he dumps them in the countryside, but must get past two country, canines Lafayette and Napoleon. Luckily for the high society cats, they meet 'O Malley, a street wise alley cat who escorts them home. Children will adore Scat Cat and his gang as they perform," Ev'rybody Wants To Be A Cat." They will also love Lafayette and Napoleon's hijinks as they try to turn Edgar into a chew toy. This is a true Disney classic because it was the last animated feature to be seen by the mouse man himself.
39 charming Parisian adventure
THE ARISTOCATS, Disney's 20th full-length animated feature, is a charming Parisian adventure with a jaunty score by the Sherman Brothers.
This enchanting tale begins in Paris when the kind, eccentric millionaire Madame Bonfamille (Hermione Baddeley) wills her entire estate to her precious cat Duchess (Eva Gabor) and her three little kittens. When greedy butler Edgar decides to kidnap the cats and abandon them in the country to claim the estate as his own, the cats embark on a thrilling adventure to find their way back home. Guided by street-smart alley cat Thomas O'Malley - who soon takes a liking to Duchess - they are assured of getting back to the lonely Madame Bonfamille very soon.
Also featuring the voice talents of Sterling Holloway, Carole Shelley and Nancy Kulp. The title song "The Arisocats" was sung by Maurice Chevalier who came out of retirement to record it.
40 Good kid movie with one caveat
Our kindergartner daughter, who has a very low threshold for Disney witches and other "mean people," really enjoyed this movie, especially the Warner Bros.-ish hijinks involving the butler Edgar and the two dogs. East Asian parents, or parents of East Asian kids, beware though: among the ethnic stereotyping typical of Disney, there's a horrid (though mercifully brief) caricature of a Chinese person in the jazz scene involving "cats" of various backgrounds. Did the most vicious stereotype in the movie have something to do with its production during the worst years of the Vietnam War?
41 Tame Cats.
Until recently I had never seen THE ARISTOCATS. Even though the movie is a good movie for families, I have to admit that I wasn't really missing much. The movie is a classical Walt Disney (the man) film. The animation isn't much to look at nowadays, but when the film came out it was top notch. The story is rather simple and the film really doesn't have that memorable music. If you're a cat lover, you will probably love the movie. However, I'm a dog person and was really hoping Edgar would get away with his crime. I mean if I spent my entire life working as a Butler for a rich old lady and was promised to inherit some of her wealth only to find that I wouldn't get anything until the cats were dead, I would be pretty upset, too. A fun, but tame, film.
42 Not many extras, but good sound and picture quality
Although the Aristocats may not be one of the best known Disney animated movies, it's one of my favorites. I'd recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys a nice story.
The Gold Collection DVDs from Disney don't have as many extras as other editions (i.e. Collector's Editions) but this DVD has improved sound and picture quality over the VHS. All in all, this DVD is a good buy.
43 Everybody Wants To Be A Cat!
Watching this film now,(as I do, often) I'm struck by how dated it seems now. At the time, the music and animation were considered cutting-edge, now it seems slightly archaic and old, which isn't to say it's a bad film, far, far from it. It's just that times and styles have changed so radically from when this film was made.
The main feline charactors, Duchess and her three kittens, are irrepressible, and Thomas the wise-cracking alley cat, is a hoot. In the middle of the scheme to heist the cats, two old dogs are introduced who may be the funniest parts of the entire film, Napolean and LaFayette. Too funny for words!
This film is really wonderful, and it came as something of a surprise to me, as I hadn't seen it before I got it when released on video. Now, I can't say how many times I've watched it. It's just a sweet, very enjoyable romp that can enjoyed by the entire family.
44 it's not just "cats"
First, it's just cool they used cats as the animal in this film. what other animal would be able to play jazz in such a swingin' way. but seriously, did you notice how every cat was of a different heritage? Dutchess and the kittens, French, O'Maley (Irish) ... who had an incredibly long name (Abraham D'Lacy Geocept Percacey Thomas O'Maley, O'Maley the Alley Cat), which Dutchess noted "covered all of Europe." When we're introduced to his friends, we have a Fats Domino type chubby gray trumpet playin' "Scat Cat." The bass player's from Eastern Europe, Russia perhaps or in the 70s would have been USSR? The hippy guitar playing cat with big glasses and beads, the possibly Swiss cat on accordian. They're all "cats" but of different places, all jamming and all linked to O'Maley enjoying life together. As this movie was comin' out of the late 60s, Disney's showing America that anyone, from where ever they're from or however they talk, can all be friends and hang out. Unfortunately, they give the British a hard time, with the fun loving gabbin' geese who inform the audience that in being british, they aim to "keep things proper." The butler, too, was British, I believe. Poor guys. Not only that love everyone and have a ball attitude comes off the screen, but the movie also encourages practicing and teaching the arts-painting, piano, singing (even with the proper syllables! ("do me sol do re fa la it goes.... when you play your scales and your arpeggios....") what a cartoon!
45 The Aristocats Gold Collection DVD
"The Aristocats" is a great, simple film that continued on Disney's animation department after Walt's death. Disney himself gave the go ahead for this film, but unfortunately he never got to work on it. There was a point in time, where there was a possibility that Disney Animation studios was going to close down since Walt was no longer there. Luckily for us, Roy Disney Sr. never pulled the plug, the film was made, and Walt Disney Studios continued on.
As stated in passed reviews, the animation is sort of iffy at times becuase of the new techniques that were being used in the beginning of the 70's, but the Disney basics are still there. Many people claim that this film began the decline of Disney films until "The Little Mermaid" appeared 19 years later. This all depends on how you look at it. Yes, the 70's and 80's (up to '88), didn't see anything that seemed to resemble Walt Disney's touch, but all of the films that were made during this time also appealed many and are underappreciated simply becuase they were post-Jungle Book but Pre-Little Mermaid.
My personal opinion, is that the Disney magic continued in the 70's and 80's, but in a different way. Unfortunatly, since everyone was just accustomed to Walt Disney's personal style, people were just not ready for the change.
After taking all of this into consideration, I watched the film for the first time on DVD, and the bottom line is, that it's a terrific Disney film.
46 a movie for cat lovers
This movie was boring and was made more for people whom love cats. The people whom would enjoy this movie are people who love a lot of singing and a whole lot of cats.
47 Purrfect for families
Superb quality. This classic is purrfect for families: cute characters, sad parts, happy ending, good triumphing over evil. The bright animation and colorful characters keep the story swinging and full of life. Differences are set aside to help each other. Our kids danced and sang at the end with comments such as: "I love this movie!" "I love cats!" "I want to be a cat!" They completely identified with the characters and teamwork and noted: "It teaches you how to be good to people." "The dogs teased each other like I do my friends. They were just having fun." Best enjoyed by 4 to 12-year-olds.
48 Great!
Alright, so it isn't the best movie in Disney history. But this fanciful, funfilled musical animation was wonderful. Characters such as O'Malley, the sleek alley cat, and Duchess, the sweet, high class kitty, really spiced this movie up. I absolutely adore this movie. So for all those that are thinking 'Ick, this movie (stinks)' I'd recommend seeing it again. This was a great movie, and I think everyone should at least see it for themselves.
49 ick
I tottally hate this movie. There were these singing cats that sang :"Everybody! Everybody! Everybody wants to be a cat! Everybody! everybody! Everybody wants to be a cat!" Its about cats and pleased me when i was 5.
50 Excellent movie for younger kids
This movie is in the old Disney fashion. This would never win an academy award but for that reason it makes a great movie for little kids. Unlike the Disney movies of the past decade, violence is very minimal to almost non-existant. The "villain" in this movie - a greedy but likable butler - is baffoonish and not prone to causing nightmares. All the music is fun and upbeat. Lots of sassy talking animals. The humor and tone is very similar to Disney's Robin Hood - another movie for good clean fun. My 2 year old LOVES the Aristocats.
51 Good Disney Fun!
Aristocats is not the most classic Disney movie ever, but it is a classic to say the least. It's great for all children, since there are no scary moments. There are the usual memorable songs, and jokes for you to laugh at (of course!). It's another fun Disney movie worth watching. This is a great DVD, so don't miss out on buying it!
52 The Aristocats
I first saw this movie when it was first released in 1970 when I was 9. I loved it as did my little sister and parents. I liked the little mouse Rochfert the best. And it made me sad many years later when I took my grandmother to see this movie on a re-release to the theaters and saw it horribly edited and Rochfert's role almost nonexistant. Even today when I bought the vhs of The Aristocats, his role was smaller than it was in 1970. He was the narrator and made it a point to let us know of his fondness for the stories of Sherlock Holmes. I do hope that some time in the future this movie can be restored to its original beauty.
Still the movie is fun and the music is wonderful. Phil Harris and Eva Gabor were great in their respective roles and the kittens made me laugh. Another enjoyable moment happens when O'Mally introduces Duchess and her kittens to his music making pals and a night of music and dance occurs.
One point should be made to other people who missed it, there was some violence in this movie, though small in content it is still there. It occurs in the climax when the butler tries to get Duchess and her children for the last time and ends up being done in by all the animals.
This a Disney keeper and should be part of anyone's video library, even in its edited form.
53 Perfect! A non-violent, charming movie for little ones
With all of the violent cartoons out today, we looked long and hard for something like Aristocats to share with our daughter. She is sensitive to angry voices and loud noises so it was difficult to find a movie or cartoon that she could enjoy without having to skip the violent or noisy scenes.
Aristocats is such a perfect little show for her to watch over and over, she now knows all of the songs, imitates the kittens and runs through the house calling "Duchess, kittens, where are you??"
If you want your child to enjoy Disney classics without the witches and mean-spirited people, or worse, the later movies with violence and loud, angry voices throughout, this is the best chance you have to show your child the lighter, gentler side of Disney.
54 A Fabulous Childrens movie for all ages young and old
I think the story is about life in an animated style. It has lessons for all to learn about and those we remember to reflect back on. I felt the tom cat and the band of cats was especially unique and gave the movie a touch of jazz by their actions and their music. I am hoping everyone can watch this and enjoy it.
55 Fun, but not "fun"tastic.
This is the first animated feature that was released after Walt Disney's death, and it shows. While the film is pleasant, the meandering plot, rehashed jokes, and long chase scenes may leave some viewers wishing for more classical animated fare.
If you are a Disney completist, this is definitely worth buying, and it's alright for something new to watch... nothing outstanding though. Very much a "middle-of-the-road" picture.
56 Great for a cat lover!
So what dose happen when a rich wonderful Cat and her three kittens get put into a will to inherit there masters fortune? What happens when a jelous butler tries to get rid of the four cats in order to get the money? And what happend when an alley cat is there only hope to get home. Well you got this video. Being a cat lover myself I jumped to rent it when it was re-released a couple of years ago and I thought it was a great movie. Being a Disney movie you can expect laughs, a little bit of action, and puppy opps kitty love. Though not my favriote animated movie it sure is a good one.
57 The approach Disney seems to have forgotten
Considering Disney's recent track record, it would appear that they think the average kid is maturing faster than before. Thus, they seem to put out movies that are dark and inappropriate for the average kid. The only exceptions to this trend are the wonderful Toy Story movies and A Bug's Life. Flash back a decade or two, and you'll find a different Disney, a Disney that made movies everybody could enjoy. Aristocats comes from that era. True the animation from this decade is weak, and the story loses a few points in some areas. The villain is also quite tame. All of that, however, disappears under the movie's charm, upbeat attitude, and general fun. It's certainly more fun than Hercules. People looking for something intense should avoid this. Families with small children and those who love adorable cats will love this movie. From this era, I also recommend Robin Hood. As I've said before, you just can't beat old school Disney.
58 Wonderful film!
I'm so glad that Disney made this film. I much prefer the more innocent Disney movies of the past. Movies like Lady and the Tramp and The Aristocats are truly fun, wholesome entertainment. Don't get me started on the new Disney films which are way too interested in pushing hit pop songs and attracting adults with more action, violence, and suggestive dialogue. I know things can't stay the same so I'm glad we have this film from a more innocent era. I particularly like the fact that the pacing is relaxed and the villain is not very scary. I'm always looking for what I call "calm" movies and videos for my 2 and a half year old. I don't want him seeing frightening or fast-paced images. Lady and the Tramp and Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas are other great shows for young viewers. Unlike the sterile environment of the Teletubbies, these movies are full of wonderful images and interesting music. I find the backdrop drawings extremely interesting and stylized. I also like the setting of the film (France) as opposed to the mainly exotic locations lately of Disney films.
59 Good, not great
Our two year old gives it two enthusiastic thumbs up, but the animation and story were much better done in "Lady and the Tramp".
Ignore the misinformed complaints about the screen format. It is presented in its original theatrical (not widescreen) 1:1.33 format.
60 Wonderful movie, Wonderful cats!
I loved this movie ever since I saw it on VHS last year, so I had to get the DVD edition. A wonderful, clear video transfer shows that Disney's animation work in the 1970's was not as bad as some people think! And for those complaining about the movie being in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio... This is how it was produced! Most Disney films from this era were in 1.33:1.
61 Napoleon would have laughed
This movie is fun, charming and entertaining with its retro style. I think that Disney movies of this age have a certain timeless charm. The Jazzy songs are great and I enjoyed watching a film that was made before the terms "Stereotype", "Politically Correct" and "Reversed Role Models" became popular press. My 2-year loves it and my Wife and I were laughing all the way through. The DVD picture quality was great for a 30-year-old film and the stereo sound was spot on.
62 Great movie but bad format
Unlike Mulan, which was released in both widescreen and standard format, The Aristocats was released only in standard format. It's outrageous that Disney chose to release it this way. I will not be buying this DVD because of this.
63 The Matrix
This move was Awesome. The special effects were excellent.
64 Boring, lackluster film by lazy animators...
At the point this film was made (early '70's) the animation staff had become so enamoured by the sterling quality of their own drawings that they forgot that maybe they should tell a story. This film has a lot of plot, but not a lot of story--and while the voices add a certain amount of bounce to the proceedings, they aren't given a whole lot to do other than mug to the mike. As Disney goes, it's right down there in the bottom of the barrel with Black Cauldron and Pocahontas.
65 everybody would like to be a cat!
The Aristocats is a wonderful cartoon,those three kittens are sweet and fluffy and Duchess is a real lady,maternal and noble just like Audrey Hepburn.
66 The Aristocats - a solid Disney classic
The Aristocats is a warm, charming classic. It isn't as flashy as the newer films, but it's funny and entertaining, and unlike many other Disney pictures, isn't particularly frightening to sensitive children. The characters are colorful and fun, but like other older Disney films, there is some subtle, "harmless" ethnic stereotyping. Nevertheless it is a favorite and definitely deserves a place in every Disney collection.
67 Great Disney favorite -- horrible DVD release!
A favorite Disney film ruined by a full-screen DVD release. This film should have been released in its original theatrical ratio of 1.75:1. Why has Disney changed its policy about widescreen? Some people prefer full screen while others prfer widescreen. No problem. Give consumers the option, like on the excellent Mulan DVD which has both versions. Once again, Disney seems to have forgotten that its animated classics are works of art and should not be altered. Please remedy this situation with future Disney Gold Classic titles.
68 Good for the whole family
Don't get me wrong--the Aristocats is not Disney's best animated movie. It's not the worst, either, but it is a classic. I have one general rule for Disney: BUY-IT. If you wait, you may miss it and you'll be sorry you did. Perhaps not this year, but since Disney waits such a long time between releasing its classics, you can't afford to miss one.
The Aristocats are loveable, the villian is perhaps a bit weak (I don't have the desire to annihilate him), but the friends that the cats make during their trip make the movie fun and more than entertaining.
69 Aristocats- rereleased
I love this movie, and so do my children. I found out throught he Disney webpage that it is being rereleased on VHS and DVD in April of 2000. Just thought you would like to know
70 This is cute and good movie, but not the best of Disney!
This movie is kind-of cute and it's good too. But it's boring! I love children's movies, especially Disney movies. But not this!
71 FOR ALL CHILDREN
I REMEMBER SEEING THIS CLASSIC LONG AGO... NOW I'M A GRANDMOTHER AND AM CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR QUALITY PROGRAMS FOR THE CHILDREN... THERE ARE SO FEW THINGS THE VERY YOUNG CAN WATCH... DISNEY NEEDS TO RELEASE THIS ONE AGAIN SO ALL CHILDREN CAN ENJOY IT, SO FAR IT IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN SPANISH, WHAT IS WITH THAT? EITHER MY SPANISH FRIENDS ARE NOT BUYING AND THERE IS A SURPLUS OR THERE IS A SERIOUS PREJUDICE GOING ON HERE... COME ON DISNEY GET WITH IT! I WILL GET IT IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH AS SOON AS IT IS AVAILABLE IN BOTH. MEANWHILE WE CONTINUE TO WATCH ALL DISNEY DAILY. LOVE, GRANDMOMMY JUDY
72 Absolutely Wonderful
not as much unnecessary musical numbers. A great balance of comedy and music.
73 A timeless classic!
The Aristocats was recently reintroduced to me by my two-year old, and I am so delighted. The story is wonderful for both children and adults, and the animation looks great almost 30 years later, even by today's high standards. Add in catchy musical tunes and comedy relief (especially by the dogs Napoleon and Lafayette) and you've got a terrific mix. I highly recommend this timeless classic!
74 Excellent family entertainment!!!
My three year old calls it "The Rest of the Cats". We all love it but she watches it every day.
75 GREAT
A great movie for the whole family. The cats are great and the villan is evil. Just the right mix. Watching the animals that are met along the way, cats and others is fun. A movie that can be enjoyed over and over. Cat lovers dream.
76 We'll wear this video out!
My 3 year old daughter, Abby, watches this movie at least twice a week. She knows all of the songs and loves to sing and dance along with the video. All the new age movie wizardry is great, but you just can't beat this good old Disney movie!
77 Great for kids
One of the funniest Disney cartoons ever! Great fun for the family. Artwork looks a little dated at times, however.
