An American Tail [Blu-ray]

Best time watching with grandkids

This was my all time favorite movie as a child. Several years ago it was on Netflix and I watched it again as an adult. It was still JUST AS GOOD. Now that I have a child of my own - who likes to watch his movies over and over - I made the decision to finally purchase the DVD. I read some reviews that said the quality was terrible, but the copy I received is actually really good quality, especially considering it's a movie from the 1980s. The movie has some historical political themes that adults will pick up on, but will most likely pass right over your child's head. I know I didn't pick up on it until I watched it as an adult and my 3 year old just thinks it's about some mice. Even close to 40 year later this movie is still heartwarming and has all the feels as it did in the 1980s. And it's an actual, honest to goodness, family friendly movie. No disrespectful kids, no parents apologizing to children for PARENTING, no weird cultural/political propaganda, just a clean movie.

Not too long after getting to America, Fievel is singing a duo with Henri the Frenchman... (cough) French-bird... called (drum roll!) "Never say never"! Hmmm. An American Tail came out in 1986, Justin Bieber released the song in 2010. Yep, I'd say he definitely got it from the movie, not the other way around! ;)I watched Fievel goes west many times, but had never seen the 1st movie before today. As another reviewer mentioned, the plot lines are pretty much the same: both have the family traveling to a new place where everything will be better, both have a cat pretending to be a rat/mouse robbing the immigrants of their money, in one Fievel falls off a train bridge while in the other he falls off a train, both times he falls into a gutter, both times he ends up in a cat bar, both times he discovers the cat behind the mask and tries to warn his family, both times his sister never gives up on him (I will never say never!) while his parents seem to quite easily dismiss the idea of ever finding him again and seek to squish any idea of looking for him.I actually still prefer Fievel goes west. If the plot lines are the same, then go for the one that is less scary. This one was frightening, black cats with dark teeth. As least in the second movie, you have more of Tiger for comic relief and the doom is more impending than crashing down on them over and over. Kinda scary for little kids. Recommend 8 and up for this one. Four and up for Fievel goes west.The symbolism is rather interesting. The mice are Russian Jews. The Cossacks and their cats come and kill a bunch of them (Hitler and the Reich saw the Cossacks as Aryans, unlike the rest of Russia). So, the mice/jews flee the Aryan/anti-semites and head to America where there is supposedly no one who is a cat/anti-jew. Unfortunately, that is not so. And there are plenty of anti-semites as well as Jews who are wealthy Germans (interestingly enough) who use the low-down-mob for their own good.And we all know that the producer Steven Spielberg is a Jew. His Grandpa, named Fievel oddly enough, came to the US from Russia. So, this kids movie suddenly becomes a very political thing.... Steven is essentially saying "my grandpap fled anti-semitism in Russia and I am telling you all it is here too!" Which is true, especially in recent years...Isn't the meaning behind "innocent" kid movies fascinating?!Almost as good as watching any 1950s movie, where the woman is stupidly conniving and the guy is always trying to put her in her place and the movie ends with him yelling at or beating her and her "seeing the light" and apologizing profusely for blocking his right of dominant manhood. Take that post-WWII women! The men are back from the war! Get out of your jobs and go back home and tend babies. Scat!

I saw this long long ago in my childhood then throw the years had forgotten about it completely. Recently I remembered the name when I saw it on HBO so I decided to watch it. This film created more emotion for me than most oscar quality movies. Maybe it's the animals, they're just so cute, especially Fievel. But anyway, I loved it so much and it brought back so many memories that I watched it at least 5 other times on HBO that week. I had to own this movie, being as it jumped up to at least my 2nd favorite, 1st favorite in terms of animated movies.Through internet research I found out that the DVD version of American Tail had added sound effects and a few voice overs. I found a list of all of them and was dissappointed that I couldn't have the original version on DVD, I mean HBO showed it, why can't it be on DVD. Well anyway, I bought it here on VHS so I could have the original version. I also will buy it on DVD someday, even though the effects can be annoying sometimes and I feel they take away from the movie. The bullies in the end said different things and places where there was supposed to be silence or background music now has sound effects and people talking. There was only one thing added that was actually quite funny and didn't sound like someone just talking over the movie. Warren T Rat says "I wonder how you say 'trust me' in Chinese". The rest can get very annoying, but most I can deal with. Children probably won't know the difference or care and the animation and original character voices was not touched. THANK GOODNESS.The VHS came in it's original shrink wrap wrapping and is from a 1990 release. I almost don't want to open it because it is quite interesting. Cost $17.96 at Walmart back then. There's even a $5 rebate offer if you purchase American Tail and Fievel Goes West that expires 9/30/92.Anyway, DVD or VHS (or even Laserdisk) this is definitely a great film. Some may say it's really depressing. I'd agree it's sad and dark, but I feel it makes it more beautiful and heartwarming. If you love this film check out Secret Of NIHM. That's also a Don Bluth film and extremely good. Many say better than American Tail, but that's all opinion both are amazing.

A real classic from my childhood!

AN AMERICAN TAIL [1986 / 2014] [Blu-ray + Digital HD + ULTRAVIOLET] [US Release] Steven Spielberg and Don Bluth Bring You A Story That Will Live in Your Hearts Forever!From Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment comes the story of a courageous little mouse named Fievel Mousekewitz [Phillip Glasser], one of the most endearing animated characters ever created. Journeying by ship from Russia at the turn-of-the-century to America in 1885, Fievel Mousekewitz is lost at sea during a ferocious storm. Washed ashore in New York Harbor, Fievel Mousekewitz braves the perils and wonders of a strange new world in a thrilling quest to find his family. Filled with humour, adventure and action, this heart-warming tale is fun for the entire family!FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1987 Academy Awards®: Nominated: Best Music for an Original Song "Somewhere Out There." Golden Globe® Awards: Nominated: Best Music for an Original Song "Somewhere Out There." Grammy Awards: Win: Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television for "Somewhere Out There." Win: Song of the Year for "Somewhere Out There." The musical score and the song "Somewhere Out There" was composed by James Horner and Barry Mann with lyrics by Cynthia Weil, which of course deservedly won the Grammy Award.FILM FACT No.2: While all of the animal characters were animated from scratch, the human characters were animated using the rotoscoping technique, in which sequences were shot in live action and then traced onto animation cells. This provides a realistic look for human characters, and distinguishes the cartoonish animal characters from the more realistically animated humans. Rotoscoping is frequently employed in Don Bluth films, including ‘The Secret of NIMH’ and ‘Anastasia.’ In the visual effects industry, the term Rotoscoping refers to the technique of manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate so it may be composited over another background.Voice Cast: Erica Yohn, Nehemiah Persoff, Amy Green, Phillip Glasser, Christopher Plummer, John Finnegan, Will Ryan, Hal Smith, Pat Musick, Cathianne Blore, Neil Ross, Madeline Kahn, Dom DeLuise, Alitzah (singing voice), Betsy Cathcart (singing voice) (uncredited), Johnny Guarnieri (uncredited), Warren Hays (uncredited), T. Daniel Hofstedt (uncredited), James Ingram (uncredited), Dan Kuenster (uncredited) and Linda Ronstadt (uncredited)Director: Don BluthProducers: David Kirschner, Don Bluth, Frank Marshall, Gary Goldman, John Pomeroy, Kathleen Kennedy and Steven SpielbergScreenplay: Judy Freudberg, Tony Geiss, David Kirschner (story), Judy Freudberg (story) and Tony Geiss (story)Composer: James Horner, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil (lyrics)Cinematography: Bill Butler (uncredited)Video Resolution: 1080pAspect Ratio: 1.85:1Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, Spanish: 5.1 DTS Digital Surround and French: 5.1 DTS Digital SurroundSubtitles: English SDH, Spanish and FrenchRunning Time: 80 minutesRegion: All RegionsNumber of discs: 1Studio: Universal Pictures / Amblin EntertainmentAndrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘AN AMERICAN TAIL’ is an 1986 American animated adventure film directed by Don Bluth, produced by Don Bluth, John Pomeroy, and Gary Oldman, and filmed by Universal Studios, Sullivan Bluth Studios and Amblin Entertainment. The animated film tells the story of Fievel Mouskewitz [Phillip Glasser] and his family as they emigrate from Russia to America for freedom. However, Fievel Mouskewitz gets lost and must find a way to find his family in the vast city of New York.In 1885 Shostka, Russia, the Mousekewitzes a Russian-Jewish family of mice and decide to immigrate to America after an army of cruel cats that belong to the Cossacks, and actual reference to historical facts occurring in Russia at the time, destroy their village. During the trip overseas, the family's young son, Fievel Mouskewitz gets separated from the others while and washes overboard in a storm, after he decided to see the fish during the terrible weather by throwing his hat on the deck. The Mousekewitz Family arrives in America, sadly believing they have lost their son Fievel Mouskewitz.Fievel Mousekewitz, however, floats to America in a bottle, and after a pep talk from a French pigeon named Henri [Christopher Plummer], embarks on a quest to find his family. He is waylaid by conman Warren T. Rat [John Finnegan], who gains his trust and then sells him to a sweatshop. Fievel Mousekewitz escapes with Tony Toponi [Pat Musick], a street-smart Italian mouse, and they join up with Bridget [Cathianne Blore], an Irish mouse trying to rouse her fellow mice to stand up to cats. When a gang of some called the Mott Street Maulers attacks a mouse marketplace, the immigrant mice learn that the tales of a no-cat country is not true.Bridget takes Fievel Mousekewitz and Tony Toponi to see Honest John [Neil Ross], a drunk, but reliable politician who knows all the voting mice in New York City. But as the Mousekewitze Family have not yet registered to vote, he can't help Fievel Mousekewitz find them. Meanwhile, his sister, Tanya Mousekewitz [Betsy Cathcart], tells her gloomy parents she has a feeling that he is still alive, but they urged her that the feeling would soon go away. Led by the rich and powerful Gussie Mausheimer [Madeline Kahn], the mice hold a rally to decide what to do about the cats. Warren T. Rat is extorting them all for protection that he never provides. No one has any idea what to do about it, until Fievel Mousekewitz whispers a plan to Gussie Mausheimer.The mice take over an abandoned building on Chelsea Pier and begin constructing their plan. On the day of launch, Fievel Mousekewitz gets lost and stumbles upon Warren T. Rat's lair. He discovers that he is actually a cat in disguise and the leader of the Maulers who later capture Fievel Mousekewitz. A goofy, soft-hearted orange cat named Tiger [Dom DeLuise] takes a liking to a crying Fievel Mousekewitz and sets him free.Fievel Mousekewitz races back to the pier on the 4th of July with the cats in hot pursuit when Gussie Mausheimer orders the mice to release the secret weapon. A huge mechanical mouse, inspired by the bedtime tales Papa Mousekewitz [Nehemiah Persoff] told to Fievel Mousekewitz of the "Giant Mouse of Minsk," chases the cats down the pier and into the water. A tramp steamer bound for Hong Kong picks them up and carries them away.During the battle, Fievel Mousekewitz is once again separated from those he loves and falls into despair when a group of orphans tell Fievel Mousekewitz that he should have given up a long time ago and Fievel Mousekewitz believes them. Papa Mouskewitz overhears Bridget and Tony Toponi calling out to Fievel Mousekewitz, but is sure that there may be another "Fievel Mousekewitz" somewhere, until he sees Mama Mousekewitz [Erica Yohn] picking up his son's hat. They team up for a final effort to find him, and in the end, Papa Mouskewitz's violin playing leads Fievel Mousekewitz back into the arms of his family. The journey ends with Henri [Christopher Plummer] taking everyone to see his newly completed project the Statue of Liberty, and the Mouskewitze Family’s new life in America begins.Blu-ray Video Quality – Once again Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment brings you this beautiful delightful Blu-ray with a nice quality 1080p encoded image and an equally impressive 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Sharpness comes across as concise and distinctive. No signs of jagged edges or moiré effects appeared, and I also saw no problems with edge enhancement. For the most part, colours came across as really lovely and precise. Most of the hues were acceptably vibrant and dynamic. However, some tones appeared bland and murky, so inconsistency occurred; the grain was a factor, as it tended to add murk to the colours. Black levels were nicely deep and rich, but shadows seemed somewhat less so. ‘AN AMERICAN TAIL’ is a softer film, but not in a bad way, which I suppose relates with problems inherent to its age and the original animation cells. What a shame Universal Picture could not re-commissioned a ground-up restoration and remaster using the film's original negatives and animation elements, this Blu-ray release might be really something special. Hopefully, some sort of Anniversary edition will get a new re-master, but I'm not holding my breath, but despite this, I really enjoyed the visual experience.Blu-ray Audio Quality – Once again Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment brings you this beautiful delightful Blu-ray with an equally nice 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio experience. Voices are reasonably clean and clear, that is decidedly decent, and effects and music are only held back by age. Output is mildly engaging and rear speaker activity is sparse, leading to a rather flat, front-heavy experience, but it's all in keeping with the animated film's original sound design. James Horner’s composed music demonstrates the greatest expansion, as the score offered general spread to the sides and the rear and the imaging was pretty nice, as the music spread across the channels exceptionally well. Effects add some pep and showed decent localisation and movement. Audio quality was pretty good. Speech appeared natural and concise; only a little edginess ever marred the lines, as they usually remained distinctive. Effects appeared reasonably vivid, and they boasted nice bass during louder scenes. Music was also warm and lively. Nothing here dazzled, but the audio was more than adequate for its age. To my surprise, the 5.1 DTS-HD track offered a good step up over its predecessor inferior DVD 2.0 sound mix, that was a total mess, but the DTS-HD edition is a lot clearer, better placed and more involving, so making the Blu-ray’s audio was a definite improvement over its predecessor.Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:Special Feature: "Somewhere Out There" Sing-Along [1986] [480i] [1.37:1] [2:12] Here you get to sing along karaoke style, meaning you get the words appearing in the video and Fievel Mousekewitz hat bounces over each word, which is sung by Fievel Mousekewitz [Phillip Glasser] and Tanya Mousekewitz [Betsy Cathcart]. It was composed by James Horner and Barry Mann with lyrics by Cynthia Weil. I just cannot understand why it was not in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio sadly is of very poor quality.Theatrical Trailer [1986] [480i] [1.37:1] [00:59] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the animation film ‘AN AMERICAN TAIL.’ Sadly it is not in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio and it is of very poor quality.Finally, ‘AN AMERICAN TAIL’ holds a special place in many an animation fan's heart, especially mine, while Disney Animation owes the film almost everything. It might not be classed as a classic animation film in every sense of the word, but it does stand the test of time. It stands tall among 1980s animated features, though, even if critics past and present seem unimpressed with all that Don Bluth brings to the screen. ‘AN AMERICAN TAIL’ feels like a mini masterpiece that never quite got its due attention or given the publicity it deserved and was unfortunately quickly rushed out for a cinema release. Given its ties to Steven Spielberg, it’s easy to also see the film as being an animation experiment that was meant to help him figure out how to execute his next film, ‘Empire of the Sun,’ which is basically a very similar genre film that also follows a child who is separated from his family, and goes through immense hardship and betrayals, and is then reunited. ‘AN AMERICAN TAIL’ holds a special place in many an animation fan's heart, that is a classic in its own right and I feel it stands the test of time and I for one love it, despite all the nasty stupid ignorant critics who do not know a good animation film if it starred them in the face. Highly Recommended!Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film AficionadoLe Cinema ParadisoUnited Kingdom

Was my kids' favourite 30 years ago and now captivating my grandchildren.

This film has been a favourite for many years with my family. We just love all the songs especially "There are no more cats in America" and "Somewhere out there". The reason for purchasing this DVD was to replace the much loved and worn out VHS video that we had. Now we can enjoy Fievel and friends all over again.

A wonderful movie for adults and children alike.

This was bought as a gift for my daughter who is now 30 as she used to watch it with her granddad, and I hope she will watch it with her daughter, or even let grandma watch it with my granddaughter.