The third in our series of kids movies that weirdly never quite made the grade…
Bartok The Magnificent
You might remember Don Bluth’s 1997 movie, Anastasia. You might even remember that there was an albino bat called Bartok in that movie. However, you almost certainly don’t remember Bartok the Magnificent – the straight-to-video spin-off devoted to that aforementioned, tiny bat.
This film is unusual before you even start watching, because it’s the only spin-off of a Don Bluth film that the man himself actually directed. (NB – In other Don Bluth news you can now buy Space Ace, the follow-up to Dragon’s Lair for iPhone). Also, Hank Azaria voices Bartok, which in itself is pretty cool.
The movie charts the adventures of Bartok before he becomes Rasputin’s assistant and includes references and allusions to Russian folklore. This means a lot of it is pretty surreal, but Bartok is very lovable and pretty bad-ass. To prove it – here’s a little segment from the Wikipedia plot summary:
After Bartok’s show, a violent bear suddenly attacks. Bartok saves everyone by stunning the bear with dust and then knocks him over and traps him in a wagon.
A bear? Seriously?!
That’s pretty cool. Although I should point out that the bear later turns out to be Bartok’s friend and trusted companion. Still, a bear as a best friend is pretty good going for a bat. Bartok also does battle with demons, dragons and floating skulls – the latter voiced by Tim Curry who is apparently at once the saving grace and the kiss of death for any children’s film. Bartok also has to face puzzles and challenges along the way.
It’s good solid fun, with a decent story and some nice voice acting, the only downside being the short length of the movie – it clocks in at just over one hour. At the time of writing, it’s available to view in its entirety on YouTube, so you’ve no excuse not to go and watch it.
9 Comments
“The latter voiced by Tim Curry who is apparently at once the saving grace and the kiss of death for any children’s film.”
I think Annie did quite well at the box-office…
Tim Curry usually means – cult following, but little money. He’s like a gonk!
Just googled gonks – mind totally blown.
I’ve just checked Curry’s filmography and he’s been dining off children’s films since 1989. He’s done two Alice in Wonderland spin-offs (not Burton’s) in the last five years and about twenty Christmas specials.
I like Tim Curry. And I won’t do the Tim Rice/Tim Curry joke.
I think it was all down hill after Legend for the fella, once you’ve had 2 four-foot horns, you’ve nowhere left to go really.
3 Horns?
Interestingly, Tim Curry could arguably be said to have peaked with any film he has ever done. He peaked in legend, he peaked as pennywise the clown, he peaked as that mean old hotel manager from home alone 2…
hm… maybe not scary movie 3. maybe.
Clue was his best work. Hands down.
3 horns would just be stupid. That’s why the triceratops died out.