Bartok the Magnificent (1999) (V)

Directors:

Don Bluth
Gary Goldman

Writer:

Jay Lacopo (writer)

Release Date:

16 November 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Family

Plot:

Russia is being terrorized by an evil witch known as Baba Yaga; the only one who is not afraid of her is Bartok the Magnificent...

Plot Keywords:

Prequel | Bat | Prince | Riddle | Witch

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Hank Azaria	...	Bartok (voice)
Kelsey Grammer	...	Zozi (voice)
Andrea Martin	...	Baba Yaga (voice)
Catherine O'Hara	...	Ludmilla (voice)
Tim Curry	...	The Skull (voice)
Jennifer Tilly	...	Piloff (voice)
Phillip Van Dyke	...	Ivan (voice)
Diedrich Bader	...	Vol (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kelly Marie Berger	...	Little Girl (voice)
Zachary Charles	...	Little Boy (voice)
Danny Mann	...	Head Cossack (voice)
John Schiappa	...	(singing voice)
Glenn Shadix	...	Townspeople (voice)
French Stewart	...	Osle (voice)

Runtime:

67 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:G | USA:G | Iceland:L

Quotes:

[singing]
Bartok: Bartok, the magnificent, the specifically terrifically magnificent! A mammal so inflammable he saved the day, thanks to B-A-R-T-O-K!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#22.9)" (1999)

Finally, A Direct-To-Video Sequel That Does The Predecessor Justice.

In this follow-up to ANASTASIA, the title character (and most of the others) are gone, so I can only suppose that BARTOK THE MAGNIFICENT portrays the future of the Romanoff family (Prince Ivan looks like he could be Dimitri's grandson or something). Bartok, after the demise of Rasputin, now works in his own two-man circus act that reinacts his fictitious heroic deeds. After Prince Ivan is kidnapped by the evil witch Baba Yaga, the gullible people of Moscow force Bartok (whom they totally believe to be the real McCoy) and his supposedly dead bear friend, Zozi, to rescue him from the evil witch.

When I first saw this on the shelf, I was dismayed. I was horrified that they were going to ruin ANASTASIA. Thankfully, my fears were dispelled as soon as I heard and saw the opening sequence telling the tale of Baba Yaga. The animation is smooth, flowing, and the lip-synching actually works. The voice of Kelsey Grammer for Zozi fits like Mickey's glove; you can tell Zozi is Frasier. The use of CGI in certain places, normally backgrounds and inanimate objects, is a good touch. The story isn't quite as poignant as ANASTASIA: this time 'round, Bluth and co. have opted for a comedy in the form of BARTOK THE MAGNIFICENT. If you liked ANASTASIA, certainly watch BARTOK THE MAGNIFICENT, if you didn't like ANASTASIA, watch it anyway! It will be worthwhile.