The Last Unicorn 25th Anniversary Edition
Filed Under: Film, Reviews | Article Tags : DVD review
By: Denis Blot
February 2007
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The first time I viewed “The Last Unicorn” was at a birthday party for my cousin. The party basically revolved around food, candy, cake and a VHS double feature of “The Last Unicorn” followed by “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn”. While seemingly an odd combination, the two actually complemented each other as both share themes of loneliness. I remembered both films impacting me with its drama, Ricardo Montalban as Kahn driven by the madness of revenge for being abandoned, and Mia Farrow as a unicorn desperate to find another of its kind.
Watching the 25th anniversary edition DVD of the film reminded me of what a mature work it is. The film dispenses with the typical dumb-downed storylines that are peppered with childish jokes and a few inside adult ones to appease bored parents, instead choosing to create a fantastical world that is at times harsh and dangerous. The unicorn that is on a quest is often met with selfish, greedy, and self-centered humans who wish to capture and harm her. Her gravest danger is being changed into a human form. In that form she encounters the torture experiencing human emotions that were unknown to her and a memory that is quickly forgetting her past. The characters in the film struggle with themselves and the unknown, ultimately resulting in a bittersweet ending far from the happy sing-a-long finale you may find in other animated films.
The DVD extras are average; a featurette on Peter S. Beagle the author and screenwriter of “The Last Unicorn” and the story’s creation, a multiple choice game that challenges your memory of the film, some artwork based on the story, and some audio synopsis’ of Peter S. Beagle’s other works. The extras are enjoyable but provide little insight into the making of the film. It would have been good had they included some interviews with some of the celebrities who lent their vocal talents to the film, or even members of the band America, who performed the songs on the soundtrack.
A child under the age of eight would not find much interest in this film, if anything they would find much of the character dialogue and actions confusing. However for those kids who are ready to migrate away from sweetened cartoons, this film is a great start. The film is also enjoyable for adults who enjoy the fantasy genre and / or never outgrew the love of animation. Most entertaining is hearing academy award nominee Alan Arkin (best supporting actor – “Little Miss Sunshine”) play the role of Schmendrick the magician.
Reviewer’s Opinion: RENT IT!!
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