Amazon.co.uk Review
It's no secret that the popular animated feature release
Anastasia played fast and loose with Russian Imperialist history. Never mind that the movie's debut coincided with DNA proof--provided by Britain's Prince Phillip, no less--that Anna Andersen was
not Tsar Nicholas II's daughter Anastasia and that Russian-discovered bones were indeed that of the Tsar and his brutally murdered family.
Anastasia's made-for-video sequel, Bartok the Magnificent, doesn't let historical fact get in its way either. Still, the animated adventure, which features Bartok the excitable albino bat (voiced again by Hank Azaria), is cute and funny, thanks to clever writing and great voice work. Bartok and his sidekick bear friend (an excellent Kelsey Grammer, who voiced Vlad in the original) have become street performers and become embroiled in the evil Ludmilla's plot to get rid of the next heir, a prince. While it's not a particularly fresh tale, Bartok the Magnificent is kept alive through Azaria and Grammer's well-timed and well-executed voiceovers. --N.F. Mendoza
DVD Description
Bartok, the hilarious and fun-loving bat from the box-office hit Anastasia comes with his own starring role in Bartok the Magnificent. The mischievous bat tries to rescue the young kidnapped Prince Ivan, heir to the Romanov throne. To save him Bartok must complete the challenges set by the bewitching Baba Yaga and take on the scheming Ludmilla, who want the throne for herself. Bartok the Magnificent is another top-quality classic by famed animators Don Bluth and Gary Goldman, using computer-generated effects and digital technology. A talented line-up of Hollywoods finest actors provide the voices for the characters, including Hank Azaria (Bartok), Kelsey Grammar (Zozi), Jennifer Tilly (Piloff) and Catherine OHara (Ludmilla). The DVD also features five enchanting songs from award-winning songwriters Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.
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