Don't get me wrong - the Phantom Tollbooth is a great movie... For kids. I consider myself a big kid, personally, and many a movie I watched in my childhood still holds a special place for me (Transformers, The Dark Crystal, Sword in the Stone, etc.) but unfortunately I've outgrown the Phantom Tollbooth at age 22. I watched it again for the first time in years this week, and could only think two things:
1) How it comes off as a poorly veiled Public Service Announcement (but still, a true one)
and 2) how much I'd rather be watching Bugs Bunny. Hell, I don't even know which Maestro bit came first; the one from this, or when Bugs is conducting the orchestra.
Either way, my point is that while the animation is great, it's still a Looney Tunes movie without the Looney Tunes, and while the message is a good one, it is far too heavy handed for many adults to take.
Highly recommended for the young, mildly recommended for the old. (Oh, and I've never read the book - yet. Yeah, I'm a heretic, or something)
1) How it comes off as a poorly veiled Public Service Announcement (but still, a true one)
and 2) how much I'd rather be watching Bugs Bunny. Hell, I don't even know which Maestro bit came first; the one from this, or when Bugs is conducting the orchestra.
Either way, my point is that while the animation is great, it's still a Looney Tunes movie without the Looney Tunes, and while the message is a good one, it is far too heavy handed for many adults to take.
Highly recommended for the young, mildly recommended for the old. (Oh, and I've never read the book - yet. Yeah, I'm a heretic, or something)