The Last Unicorn

Voices of: Alan Arkin, Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Tammy Grimes, Angela Landsbury, Christopher Lee
Directed by: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin, Jr.
Rating: G
Genre: Animated, Children's
1982

Times Seen:
Tim: 4

Summary: A lonely unicorn is determined to seek out other unicorns, to find out if she really is the last one alive. This quest allows her to meet some interesting characters, but also brings her close to the wicked Red Bull, which is determined to capture her.

Review:

Tim: I watched this movie so many times as a young child. I'm talking about a ridiculous amount of times. In the vein of accuracy, I've significantly scaled back my official count. But, its fair to say that I really did grow up with this movie. Watching it years later was a very different experience, but I still found it as enjoyable as I remember.

The voice cast is fairly impressive. We have Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Angela Landsbury, and Christopher Lee. Their talents help make the movie enjoyable, but this film is so much more than a vehicle for showcasing these actors' voicework. This film is completely about the story, and what a story it is.

Compared with many animated movies, this is a fairly sad and solemn one. Our heroine is the titular unicorn, the last of her kind. The very premise is somewhat depressing and sad. This is not a very upbeat movie, but it tells its sad tale very well, and the film packs a surprisingly emotional punch.

There are a number of songs throughout the film. Some are quite good, while others feel a bit too long. The music could have been better, but this was an early 80s film, so you shouldn't expect too much.

There are some very memorable scenes. Most striking is the Red Bull. I was very afraid of this as a child, and the very sight of it is still chilling today. Something about it just stays with you. There are similarly frightening images throughout.

The Last Unicorn is a very mature children's film that doesn't treat its audience like babies. There are scary parts, and there are sad parts. However, there is also hope in this story, and some valuable lessons about life. This is an enjoyable movie, and quite a departure from today's animated films. I encourage you to track this one down.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs