| Review: |
Dimitri, a con artist
(who later changes his fraudulent ways) meets Anya, a peasant girl with no memory of her
childhood. Because she resembles the portrait of the royal family’s youngest
daughter, he takes her to Paris, planning to pass her off as the granddaughter of the
Dowager Empress. It doesn’t take long for us to realize she is Anastasia, and that he
loves her. Aside from the eye-popping animation, lively musical numbers (although mostly
immemorial) and perfectly cast voices, the production is most impressive for its focus on
story, a nearly antiquated element in movies these days - especially kids movies. Positive
role model for little girls as our heroine is bright, honest and saves the day. The film
also contains a great message - love is more important than ten thousand rubles! Only
negative, the unneeded supernatural aspects of the Rasputin character. The filmmakers
copped out, fearing to attempt a romantic life-lesson without the familiar cartoon
trappings of an evil wizard and his buffoonish, anachronistic sidekick. Parents should
attend with the little ones to reassure during a couple frightening scenes. |
