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Bartok the Magnificent (1999) (V)

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6 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
Finally, A Direct-To-Video Sequel That Does The Predecessor Justice., 13 July 2004
Author: Akbar Shahzad (rapt0r_claw-1) from Karachi, Pakistan

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.

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4 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
Best Animated Feature I've Seen In A Long Time!, 12 March 2000

Author: metlmike from Canada

I just finished watching Bartok and I must say I was thoroughly impressed. This movie had all the ingredients for a superb animated feature that so many cartoons these days lack.

The cast was excellent and the whole story was downright hilarious. Hank Azaria as Bartok is a wonderful, loveable and a funny little character people can't help but love. I myself chuckled everytime he opened his mouth. Kelsey Grammer also turns in a great voice performance as Zozi the big bear. The voiceovers are something else to comment on. Very seldom these days do I see cartoons taking time to match up the words of the character with the proper lip movement, but Bartok the Magnificent pulled it off wonderfully.

I can't say enough about this fantastic movie that hasn't gotten enough recognition. I recommend it to people of all ages. There is enough content and humour throughout to entertain adults and the fluent and colourful animation will be awe-inspiring to kids, no matter what their interests are.

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
The Sequel that's a Prequel, 20 February 2005

Author: Buffy Summers from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Bartok the Magnificent, contrary to previous report, was not an actual sequel. If you watched Anastasia, and know anything about history, you already know that the the Czar has not only abdicated, but has also been killed, with the exception of Anya. While companies are not fully true to history, at the time Anastasia was made, it was believed that the infamous Romanoff was still alive, and going by the name Anya, later disproved. Bartok the Magnificent is the sequel prequel, lol. Make sense? It was made after Anastasia, but judging from the palace(The palace was destroyed in Anastasia), and the fact that the Romanoff line is still alive, it is most likely a prequel. However, this doesn't destroy the beautiful animation and storyline it has. I honestly was not thinking highly of this movie at first glance, however, after watching it, I LOVED it. This movie is adorable and the animation of Baba's Skull Guardian thing, is well, magnificent. This is definitely a cute movie for the whole family to watch, and is undoubtedly worth your while, despite the lack of hubbub about it.

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4 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
Ugh., 18 February 2002

Author: PlanecrazyIkarus from Wales, UK

I liked Anastasia. It wasn't the best animated movie ever, but it was nice. And Bartok was my favourite character, so.... .... I was all the more disappointed with this movie. The idea of giving him his own story to star in is great. But please, please, give the movie a story! This one mixes an old Russian fairy tale about a witch (in the original she lives in a house with 4 chicken legs, so the house can walk around, I believe) with a PC-game-alike plot:

1) Go on quest. Get item 2) return from quest. bring item to whoever requested it. 3) get sent on another quest to get another item.... 4) repeat until you feel sick

First quest: find the kidnapped prince. Then the witch sends him on 3 or 4 quests of her own before being willing to help him. Etc. etc.

Add in some poor songs, some really really obvious morals, and you've got one of the worst direct-to-video sequels ever devised for a major animated feature. Only Lion King 2 comes off worse, from those that I've seen so far...

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6 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
I was expecting it to be bad...but not this bad!, 28 April 2006

Author: celestial_moongoddess from USA

I'll come out and say it, this movie sucks! I thought it would be good since Don Bluth directed it, but not even he could save this crap! Set in a fantasy wonderland (It's supposed to be Russia, but it doesn't even come close to looking like it was in the first movie.). Bartok (the irritating, and quite frankly, unfunny obnoxious sidekick from the first movie) returns for a movie (sequel, prequel, horrible alternate reality? I don't know what the heck it was supposed to be) all about him....oh joy....

Despite being a short film, it felt like it dragged on for hours.

The animation was horrible,the dialogue was horrible, and the characters (minus the bat) were bearable(I loved Pilaf).

The plot was really dumb, and the annoying bat is put in the spotlight as this good guy and a hero.

Yeah, sure....

I was disappointed because Don Bluth directed it, all of his movies are good, but this one was horrible.

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Entertaining for the young and possibly the old, 29 September 2007

Author: Mightyzebra from Scotland

This film, about a circus bat in Russia, off to save the prince from the "evil" Baba Yaga, will no doubt have a great appeal on children. It is sure to entertain them and they will be likely to sing and dance along with it as soon as they know the words of the songs.

As an older person, such as a grown-up or teenager, this film may fall flat on its face. It is quite babyish and the animation - including the backgrounds, could possibly do with a little bit more work. However, this film is likely to entertain the older anyway. The songs are very charming and so is the plot. The characters are also very lovable. One thing that can be said happily, is that they use a very English actor to voice - not a baddie - but a goodie, a thing which many American films do not have (including "The Lion King")! The other voices are good too.

So, enjoy "Bartok The Magnificent", who is the specifically, terrifically magnificent!

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Bartok originally seen in Anastasia goes on a quest against his natural inclinations to save the Russian Prince., 21 October 2006

Author: profgandalf from United States

As an earlier commentator noted, "Bartok the Magnificent" is a prequel to "Anastasia". I guess animated bats live for a REALLY long time. But if you are going to quibble about dates then just what will you say about the existence of talking bears, musical witches and a huge animated riddle asking skull—just go with it. For all the sequential fuzziness, I find this film a real joy.

The voice talents of Kelsey Grammar as the Russian Dancing (and classical theater loving) bear Zozi is wonderful as are also Tim Curry's, as the Huge Talking Skul and Jennifer Tilly's role as Piloff. I have no idea what Piloff is, She looks life a living fur boa some women might wear around their necks. Whatever she is, Tilly's voice makes her seems gentle and funny (and a little ditsy but in an attractive kind of way) while also being impervious to whatever Bartok does to get her off the bolder (and a strange looking bolder it is too—looks more like a construction girder) as demanded by Baba Yaga. Indestructible gentle femininity is a good thing. Of course Bartok (voiced by Hank Azaria) is himself a hoot. Also Kelsey Grammar's voice in song is as full of life and warm as is his speaking voice. I love to listen to him even when he's the bad guy as in "Toy Story 2" as Stinky Pete. This film is one of the straight to video ones which should have been given a shot as a theatrical run. Both the video and the DVD comes with the songs separate with sing along lyrics--nice touch.

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0 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
THIS MOVIE FRICKIN ROCKS!, 10 August 2002

Author: Liz from US

the skull dude (played by tim curry) is really cool.... the songs r awesome! and who says cartoons can't be good??? The witch is awesome.. first off~ zozie is an AWESOME name... second bartok has the COOLEST accent EVER!! (all of the characters do... ) but i gotta say.... the best character is piloff.... she's.... 'a.... thing... after my own heart' *sigh* ok, well... see it. And there's my review.

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2 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Hilarious!, 26 July 2001
Author: jellyneckr

I don't remember the last time I saw an animated movie that made me laugh so hard like BARTOK THE MAHNIFICENT did. It is pretty funny for a direct-to-video movie. I seriously think that BARTOK THE MAGNIFICENT should have gotten a theatrical release since it was better than ANASTASIA was.

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0 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
A Bad Trip, 16 October 2007

Author: jumbopastries from National Capital and Territory of DHELI PUDUCHERRY

Bartok the rat, once a Minion for the evil Rapspution in Antasai stared in his own movie. This movie has good music but not a lot of action until the very end. It has some good leasons like how to treat others fairly and not judge people by there appearance. Through most of the movie Ratatouille is performing tasks for Baba Yaga the witch to get a potion made that will make him stronger. FYI Bartok is not evil in this movie like he originally was.

SUPER IMPORTANT NOTE: There was a prequel (of sorts) for this movie. ANASTASIA stars as the lead rat on further adventures. However, instead of devouring people, she meets a talentless child and becomes his "special friend". I'm getting ill just thinking about it. AVOID THE PREQUEL AT ALL COSTS! Don't say I didn't warn you! This is VERY reminiscent of problem with the original Village of the Damned. It was a great movie in which evil children terrorized a small town, but in the sequel (?) Children of the Damned, the kids just want to be loved and understood. Oooooooo, the PAIN is INTENSE just thinking about that movie!

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