Scanialara You won't be disappointed!

Ensofter Overrated and overhyped

FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Seraherrera The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

Anastasia Gumas I'm somewhat biased: I watched this movie as a child dozens of times. The first because it had the same name as mine, and all of the times afterwards and still today because I love the movie by itself.After years, I watched it once more tonight. The fact that it's not factual in the least doesn't take anything away from the movie to me, though I must admit cross-referencing did distract me from the movie until I just put that to the side and decided that the movie is just fiction and to leave it at that. Avoid looking at the facts very much until after the movie.The music, characters, and scenes took me back to my childhood. The first ballroom scene and remembrance of it is my absolute favorite. I remembered the wonder of being a child throughout watching the movie, but I also held wonder for some more little details in the scenes I hadn't noticed before. Only two things made me cringe: the pronunciation of Anastasia and Rasputin's undead body's antics. I've grown up listening to almost everyone pronounce the name not as the Greek origin or the Russian adaption (Ah-na-stah-see-uh / Ah-na- stah-shyah), but as the common English pronunciation - which this movie uses. I'm both Greek and Russian, so it does tend to rub me wrong even more in that aspect. I've grown up around both cultures and done further research on the name, and I'm certain it's pronounced wrong. It's funny how what bothers me the most is the pronunciation.Overall, this is a magnificent movie which all children (and those childlike at heart) will enjoy and should watch at least once. It definitely encourages imagination in its own way.

Anssi Vartiainen Considered by many to be the only good Don Bluth film not made in the 80s. And yeah, there's some truth to that. The 90s were not kind to this master of his craft. I could be wrong, but from what I've gathered, it seemed that he struggled with financiers and producers, who all wanted the films made their way instead of trusting his vision. Which caused the movies to suffer big time.And I'm not even so sure that that doesn't apply here as well, but at least in this case the meddlers knew what they were doing. Because let's face it. Anastasia is one big colossal Disney rip-off. It's clearly trying to cash in on the Disney Renaissance and the huge bloom in animated musical popularity it caused. And who better to help in this cashing in than Don Bluth, who used to work for Disney and during the 90s was pretty much the only Western animator alive who could even theoretically compete with the Mouse.Yet the thing is, it's a damn good rip-off. I don't mind them utilizing the Disney formula at all if it's done this well. This is an excellent film, from top to bottom. The story about a Russian princess lost during the rebellions of the 1910s and then found years later, is a good one. Sure it's based on real events only in the loosest terms possible, but that's the formula. The music is also fantastic. Bluth's films have always suffered from lackluster scores, but this has some really good music numbers. In the Dark of the Night might very well be one of my all-time favourite villain songs.And it looks fantastic! This is Don Bluth competing on the level of Disney and in some brief instances even eclipsing the studio that gave him his beginning. The backgrounds especially are gorgeous beyond belief and you find yourself lost in them, staring at the amount of detail and artwork.Now, the only real nitpick I have is the ending. It falls short. There's really no other way to say it. Rasputin, the villain of the movie, has been built up big time, but when he finally meets Anastasia... It's really disappointing. I can't spoil anything here, but come on.But, aside from that, it's a great film. Definitely worth a watch for all those that grew up with the Disney Renaissance and love the art form.

Python Hyena Anastasia (1997): Dir: Don Bluth, Gary Goldman / Voices: Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Christopher Lloyd, Kelsey Grammar, Angela Lansbury: Beautifully detailed animation with a story that isn't quite as lively. Set in Russia 1916 where Rasputin causes a revolution by casting a deadly curse upon the Ramanov family. After ten years young Princess Anastasia remembers nothing of the event yet ventures to Paris because of a locket given to her by her aunt. She is accompanied by a con man named Dimitrie who wishes to earn the reward money for her safe return. Obviously they fall in love and Rasputin will threaten a return. History established before formula sets in. Directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman who previously collaborated on All Dogs Go to Heaven. Meg Ryan gives personality to Anastasia with more input than the flat screenplay offers. Christopher Lloyd provides comic anger as Rasputin but the role is cardboard and beneath his talent. John Cusack voices the soul seeking Dimitrie in what appears to be a prop. Viewers are not surprised when he hooks up with Anastasia and they may not care either. Kelsey Grammar voices Dimitrie's companion in another drab character. Finally, these films cannot be complete without involvement of Angela Lansbury who cannot save it either. The animation is dazzling and it is an attempt to animate the classic story, which in itself falls flat. Score: 3 ½ / 10

chloep97 I remember watching a spin off to this called 'The Secret of Anastasia' and it was similar to this in the aspect that it included the story of the Romonovs. I was born in 1997 so I couldn't watch it when it first came out. I was searching for the spin off earlier this year so I could watch it and I found this film and I can say it was one of the greatest discoveries I've made. I love musical films and this one didn't disappoint. I love how they portrayed the love story of Anya and Dimitri and I love the music that goes with the film. I've always loved the story of the Romonovs and especially the disappearance of Alexei and his sister's bodies. History, especially German and Russian history, has always been a love of mine and this film contributed to it. However, if you don't like history, it doesn't matter as the story is still amazing in itself and you don't need to know about the history of it anyway. I would recommend this film to anyone.