Amazon.co.uk Review
What can two little mice possibly do to save an orphan girl who's fallen into evil hands? With The Rescuers anything is possible! As members of the mouse-run International Rescue Aid Society, Bernard and Miss Bianca respond to orphan Penny's call for help. The two mice search for clues and with the help of an old cat named Rufus they track Penny to the clutches of the evil Madame Medusa in a dilapidated ship in Devil's Bayou. It turns out that Medusa is using Penny to locate and retrieve the Devil's Eye Diamond--a stone she'll stop at nothing to possess. With a cunning plan, courageous acts, cooperation from local animal life and lots of faith, Bernard and Miss Bianca try to help Penny find the diamond and escape from Medusa. This somewhat dark, classic 1977 animated Disney film is based on Margery Sharp's book, The Rescuers and Miss Bianca, and features the Academy Award-nominated song "Someone's Waiting for You". Voice talents include Eva Gabor as Miss Bianca, Bob Newhart as Bernard, Geraldine Page as Madame Medusa and Jim Jordan as Orville Albatross. The sequel is The Rescuers Down Under. (Ages 5 to 11) --Tami Horiuchi, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
Lovely innocent fun.......2007-11-11
I write these reviews for the Disney classic's not as I have something short to do, but as I re-discovered all my old Disney tapes under my bed, in practical mint condition too. And so, for the 3rd Sunday night in succession, I continued to go back to my childhood!
The Rescuers is perhaps Disney's finest example of how to warm your heart without the perils of 'Disney-fication' (in other words, very cheesey!). But not only this, it may have been a peak for the innocence of the audience at the time. I say this only because I'm disillusioned with kids films these days that rely on 'a joke a minute' to make it a hit. And indeed, critics these days do review Pixar/Disney films of humour - not quality of the outcome.
And for this, The Rescuers puts most modern films to shame by focusing on a very simple and heart warming plot that leaves you feeling like you've gone back in time - not because it's old, but because this was how animations used to, and should be like.
The storyline is easy to follow - a small society of mice have one job; to help people in distress. One night, they receive a message in a bottle calling for help, and with our heroin French mouse (making it easier on the ear than the compulsory yank voices) the most eager to take on the job, she brings along her friend, a Janitor mouse normally, for their adventure. And so the story unfolds.. who sent the letter? How do they find the victim?
All the events they encounter seem to just unfold nice and smoothly, making it a typical 'summer-nights' film, as I can just about remember from when I was little. The animation is also typical of the time, and resembles the same directing and quality of animation as Robin Hood. Indeed, Robin Hood itself didn't look as clean as previous, and newer films of the time, but after studying Disney-fication at University (as a module.. not a course!), it's actually clear that this was just a style of the 70's; untidy lines on close up's, more ambitious movements, and lots of zoom/close up's. But of course its also down to the fact that it was by now becoming expensive to still animate with paint and brush, which is why Snow White of the 1930's was, truly, a one off beautiful film, even by today's standards.
Technicality aside, it fails to become cheesey or annoying, for most of the elements that make a film that way are left out. It's not a wacky or 'silly' film, its just nice and innocent. And thats something, unfortunately, I can't say these days, as even the last film to truly focus on story was Toy Story in 1995.
So, while their may be other Disney's out their with more convincing art-work and packed humour, The Rescuers is a refreshing film that shows us where we've gone wrong these days. Definitely worth buying if you appreciate heart-warming films!
Great film but the picture quality needs serious improvement.......2007-10-30
Movies like The Rescuers are simply not made anymore. Nowadays, it's all CGI with retarded, unfunny jokes, with no real seriousness or conflict to be found. The Rescuers has all that it says in the tagline - Mystery, Fun and Intrigue! Despite what others say, this truly deserves to be called a masterpiece.
The very idea of two little mice saving an orphan girl sounds very juvenile and slushy - but here, it isn't. The Rescuers combines dark themes such as child exploitation to light refreshing comedy which does not detract from the seriousness of the whole film. Benard and Bianca are very admirable characters, and the swamp creatures are hilarious. Madame Medusa is an excellent villainness. She's intimidating and funny at the same time. There are plenty of colourful characters, Brutus and Nero, the two crocodiles, Orville the albatross and Penny, the sweet yet strong spirited little girl.
The animation is typical scratchy 70s style, but the backgrounds are really top-notch, especially in the swamp scenes. They portray a foreboding atmosphere that works well in the appropriate scenes. The paintings shown in the opening credits were inspirational. There are not many songs in The Rescuers, which is probably one of the reasons why it's such a serious film. The soundtrack is fits in well, and nobody bursts into song. 'Someone's waiting for You' is one of the fews songs that moves me to tears. It is just so touching and beautiful.
Sure, it's not entirely loyal to Magery Sharp's books, but who cares? You might as well just get mad at 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail,' because that doesn't stay loyal to the original Arthurian legend.
So in short, I love this film.
However, I only rate this four stars because of the DVD.
The extras are quite good - the highlights being a True Life Adventure about aquatic birds and a funny little short called 'The Three Blind Mouseketeers.' There's also a featurette about Disney villains and some concept art, which are also quite good. The only real letdown is a pointless, low-tech two minute game that failed to keep my interest (and I'm usually a real sucker for DVD games). But all in all, the bonuses are a nice addition to the film.
As for the film itself, this is the reason for the deducted star. The picture quality is terrible. Not only is it dirty and grainy, but Disney seem to have 're-mastered' the film by making the image darker. The colours seem washed out and dull, with not enough attention to detail. In one scene, Madame Medusa's skin appeared to be grey! The Rescuers would look stunning if the colours were allowed to show there full potential, but, as it is, the picture is worse than my old video tape.
I'm ashamed at how Disney has treated this film. I find this so much more fun and enjoyable than the likes of Tarzan, The Jungle Book or Finding Nemo. This is one of my Mum's favourites, this is one of my favourites, and it is beloved by many fans who are eagerly awaiting a Platinum Edition with superior sound and picture quality. But if you can't wait that long, you might as well pick this up now.
A charming, if rather simple, classic.......2007-06-09
"The Rescuers" is a sweet little film, slightly shorter than some other Disney films. The overall plot is quite charming, if a little simple (and, at times, flimsy: it is never made entirely clear why Penny the orphan girl was chosen above all other children on the planet to help find the Devil's Eye diamond). While children will love it, adults may find themselves becoming bored after a while due to the lack of high action scenes and songs. However, it succeeds in being sweet without becoming too saccharine, which is impressive for a film starring an orphan and a pair of talking mice. While the heroes don't really stand out as all-time classics, they are quite inoffensive and, I suppose, it is relaxing to see a Disney film where the characters are all heart without any internal conflict. The minor characters were mildly entertaining: I thought the best one was Evinrude, the dragonfly who keeps a boat, and it was a clever move on the part of the writers to give his buzzer the same sound as a motorboat.
The villain, Madame Medusa, is a particular highlight. She's in a similar vein to other Disney villainesses of this time - take Cruella deVille and Ursula, for example - but she's still extremely enjoyable. Even better, her goal throughout the film is to steal the Devil's Eye diamond and make her fortune from it; this is something which is believable, solid (contrast this with the schemes of other Disney villains, involving vague, wishy-washy things such as "revenge" and "power"), and manages to be memorable. With her red hair, pet crocodiles, and love of jewellery and make-up, she's a little bit fabulous! She is one of the more striking Disney villains and, like a pantomime dame, the viewer loves to hate her.
The visuals are only so-so, although I have to admit that I'm not overly-fond of the artistic style of many Disney films of the '70s and '80s anyway. It does have its moments though: the scenes inside the Rescue Aid Society are wonderful, with all the details of the scavenged human belongings making up the mouse furniture. One item I remembered from watching this film as a child, and made sure to look out for again, was the wristwatch which became a wall clock. Another great scene was the one set down in the cave, which had a suitably spooky atmosphere. The music was only average as well, unfortunately, with the "Rescue Aid Society" song being the only one which sticks to memory.
The DVD extras are so-so: there's a classic Merrie Melodies cartoon on there which is very nice, but other than that there's only a documentary on sea-birds which only bird-enthusiasts will love (although it does have a decent soundtrack and attractive cinematography) and a music video. Overall, three out of five stars.
A Classic.......2004-01-27
It is a shame that this film is not as popular now with younger children as it once was with children when it first came out. It remains one of my favourite Disney Classics, along with The Sword in the Stone, Aladdin, Pinocchio, Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. You can't help but fall in love with Penny, Bernard, Bianca and Penny's cat and you can't help but hate Madame Medusa and her cronies. This one will be enjoyed by those who love Disney and those who have never seen a Disney film before. One for all the family.
The Rescuers.......2003-11-19
Great story, lovely old-style Disney animation. A favourite with everyone from the 2 year-old up!
![The Rescuers [1977] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/312V831ZNVL.jpg)
Average customer rating:
- Lovely innocent fun
- Great film but the picture quality needs serious improvement
- A charming, if rather simple, classic
- A Classic
- The Rescuers
|
The Rescuers [1977] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
Starring:
Bob Newhart ,
Eva Gabor ,
Geraldine Page ,
Joe Flynn , and
Jeanette Nolan
Director:
John Lounsbery ,
Wolfgang Reitherman ,
Art Stevens ,
Ben Sharpsteen , and
David Hand
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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Amazon.co.uk Review
What can two little mice possibly do to save an orphan girl who's fallen into evil hands? With The Rescuers anything is possible! As members of the mouse-run International Rescue Aid Society, Bernard and Miss Bianca respond to orphan Penny's call for help. The two mice search for clues and with the help of an old cat named Rufus they track Penny to the clutches of the evil Madame Medusa in a dilapidated ship in Devil's Bayou. It turns out that Medusa is using Penny to locate and retrieve the Devil's Eye Diamond--a stone she'll stop at nothing to possess. With a cunning plan, courageous acts, cooperation from local animal life and lots of faith, Bernard and Miss Bianca try to help Penny find the diamond and escape from Medusa. This somewhat dark, classic 1977 animated Disney film is based on Margery Sharp's book, The Rescuers and Miss Bianca, and features the Academy Award-nominated song "Someone's Waiting for You". Voice talents include Eva Gabor as Miss Bianca, Bob Newhart as Bernard, Geraldine Page as Madame Medusa and Jim Jordan as Orville Albatross. The sequel is The Rescuers Down Under. (Ages 5 to 11) --Tami Horiuchi, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
Lovely innocent fun.......2007-11-11
I write these reviews for the Disney classic's not as I have something short to do, but as I re-discovered all my old Disney tapes under my bed, in practical mint condition too. And so, for the 3rd Sunday night in succession, I continued to go back to my childhood!
The Rescuers is perhaps Disney's finest example of how to warm your heart without the perils of 'Disney-fication' (in other words, very cheesey!). But not only this, it may have been a peak for the innocence of the audience at the time. I say this only because I'm disillusioned with kids films these days that rely on 'a joke a minute' to make it a hit. And indeed, critics these days do review Pixar/Disney films of humour - not quality of the outcome.
And for this, The Rescuers puts most modern films to shame by focusing on a very simple and heart warming plot that leaves you feeling like you've gone back in time - not because it's old, but because this was how animations used to, and should be like.
The storyline is easy to follow - a small society of mice have one job; to help people in distress. One night, they receive a message in a bottle calling for help, and with our heroin French mouse (making it easier on the ear than the compulsory yank voices) the most eager to take on the job, she brings along her friend, a Janitor mouse normally, for their adventure. And so the story unfolds.. who sent the letter? How do they find the victim?
All the events they encounter seem to just unfold nice and smoothly, making it a typical 'summer-nights' film, as I can just about remember from when I was little. The animation is also typical of the time, and resembles the same directing and quality of animation as Robin Hood. Indeed, Robin Hood itself didn't look as clean as previous, and newer films of the time, but after studying Disney-fication at University (as a module.. not a course!), it's actually clear that this was just a style of the 70's; untidy lines on close up's, more ambitious movements, and lots of zoom/close up's. But of course its also down to the fact that it was by now becoming expensive to still animate with paint and brush, which is why Snow White of the 1930's was, truly, a one off beautiful film, even by today's standards.
Technicality aside, it fails to become cheesey or annoying, for most of the elements that make a film that way are left out. It's not a wacky or 'silly' film, its just nice and innocent. And thats something, unfortunately, I can't say these days, as even the last film to truly focus on story was Toy Story in 1995.
So, while their may be other Disney's out their with more convincing art-work and packed humour, The Rescuers is a refreshing film that shows us where we've gone wrong these days. Definitely worth buying if you appreciate heart-warming films!
Great film but the picture quality needs serious improvement.......2007-10-30
Movies like The Rescuers are simply not made anymore. Nowadays, it's all CGI with retarded, unfunny jokes, with no real seriousness or conflict to be found. The Rescuers has all that it says in the tagline - Mystery, Fun and Intrigue! Despite what others say, this truly deserves to be called a masterpiece.
The very idea of two little mice saving an orphan girl sounds very juvenile and slushy - but here, it isn't. The Rescuers combines dark themes such as child exploitation to light refreshing comedy which does not detract from the seriousness of the whole film. Benard and Bianca are very admirable characters, and the swamp creatures are hilarious. Madame Medusa is an excellent villainness. She's intimidating and funny at the same time. There are plenty of colourful characters, Brutus and Nero, the two crocodiles, Orville the albatross and Penny, the sweet yet strong spirited little girl.
The animation is typical scratchy 70s style, but the backgrounds are really top-notch, especially in the swamp scenes. They portray a foreboding atmosphere that works well in the appropriate scenes. The paintings shown in the opening credits were inspirational. There are not many songs in The Rescuers, which is probably one of the reasons why it's such a serious film. The soundtrack is fits in well, and nobody bursts into song. 'Someone's waiting for You' is one of the fews songs that moves me to tears. It is just so touching and beautiful.
Sure, it's not entirely loyal to Magery Sharp's books, but who cares? You might as well just get mad at 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail,' because that doesn't stay loyal to the original Arthurian legend.
So in short, I love this film.
However, I only rate this four stars because of the DVD.
The extras are quite good - the highlights being a True Life Adventure about aquatic birds and a funny little short called 'The Three Blind Mouseketeers.' There's also a featurette about Disney villains and some concept art, which are also quite good. The only real letdown is a pointless, low-tech two minute game that failed to keep my interest (and I'm usually a real sucker for DVD games). But all in all, the bonuses are a nice addition to the film.
As for the film itself, this is the reason for the deducted star. The picture quality is terrible. Not only is it dirty and grainy, but Disney seem to have 're-mastered' the film by making the image darker. The colours seem washed out and dull, with not enough attention to detail. In one scene, Madame Medusa's skin appeared to be grey! The Rescuers would look stunning if the colours were allowed to show there full potential, but, as it is, the picture is worse than my old video tape.
I'm ashamed at how Disney has treated this film. I find this so much more fun and enjoyable than the likes of Tarzan, The Jungle Book or Finding Nemo. This is one of my Mum's favourites, this is one of my favourites, and it is beloved by many fans who are eagerly awaiting a Platinum Edition with superior sound and picture quality. But if you can't wait that long, you might as well pick this up now.
A charming, if rather simple, classic.......2007-06-09
"The Rescuers" is a sweet little film, slightly shorter than some other Disney films. The overall plot is quite charming, if a little simple (and, at times, flimsy: it is never made entirely clear why Penny the orphan girl was chosen above all other children on the planet to help find the Devil's Eye diamond). While children will love it, adults may find themselves becoming bored after a while due to the lack of high action scenes and songs. However, it succeeds in being sweet without becoming too saccharine, which is impressive for a film starring an orphan and a pair of talking mice. While the heroes don't really stand out as all-time classics, they are quite inoffensive and, I suppose, it is relaxing to see a Disney film where the characters are all heart without any internal conflict. The minor characters were mildly entertaining: I thought the best one was Evinrude, the dragonfly who keeps a boat, and it was a clever move on the part of the writers to give his buzzer the same sound as a motorboat.
The villain, Madame Medusa, is a particular highlight. She's in a similar vein to other Disney villainesses of this time - take Cruella deVille and Ursula, for example - but she's still extremely enjoyable. Even better, her goal throughout the film is to steal the Devil's Eye diamond and make her fortune from it; this is something which is believable, solid (contrast this with the schemes of other Disney villains, involving vague, wishy-washy things such as "revenge" and "power"), and manages to be memorable. With her red hair, pet crocodiles, and love of jewellery and make-up, she's a little bit fabulous! She is one of the more striking Disney villains and, like a pantomime dame, the viewer loves to hate her.
The visuals are only so-so, although I have to admit that I'm not overly-fond of the artistic style of many Disney films of the '70s and '80s anyway. It does have its moments though: the scenes inside the Rescue Aid Society are wonderful, with all the details of the scavenged human belongings making up the mouse furniture. One item I remembered from watching this film as a child, and made sure to look out for again, was the wristwatch which became a wall clock. Another great scene was the one set down in the cave, which had a suitably spooky atmosphere. The music was only average as well, unfortunately, with the "Rescue Aid Society" song being the only one which sticks to memory.
The DVD extras are so-so: there's a classic Merrie Melodies cartoon on there which is very nice, but other than that there's only a documentary on sea-birds which only bird-enthusiasts will love (although it does have a decent soundtrack and attractive cinematography) and a music video. Overall, three out of five stars.
A Classic.......2004-01-27
It is a shame that this film is not as popular now with younger children as it once was with children when it first came out. It remains one of my favourite Disney Classics, along with The Sword in the Stone, Aladdin, Pinocchio, Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. You can't help but fall in love with Penny, Bernard, Bianca and Penny's cat and you can't help but hate Madame Medusa and her cronies. This one will be enjoyed by those who love Disney and those who have never seen a Disney film before. One for all the family.
The Rescuers.......2003-11-19
Great story, lovely old-style Disney animation. A favourite with everyone from the 2 year-old up!
DVD:
- The Sword In The Stone [1963]
- The Tigger Movie [2000]
- The Wiggles - Magical Adventure / Wiggle Time
- Thomas The Tank Engine And Friends - Classic Collection - Series 1
- Tom And Jerry - Classic Collection - Vol. 1
- Tom And Jerry - Classic Collection - Vol. 2
- Toy Story - 10th Anniversary Edition [1995]
- Toy Story 2 (2 Disc Collector's Edition) [1999]
- Toy Story/Toy Story 2 [1995]
- Transformers - Return Of Megatron
DVD List
DVD
![The Rescuers [1977]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/218C4GT62HL.jpg)
![The Rescuers: Gold Collection [1977] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://www.germanelectronics88.com/noimage.gif)
