Plot: What’s it about?
Pete (Sean Marshall) is an orphan at age nine and his adopted parents don’t think much of him, so he decides to leave home. Of course, Pete is just a small boy in a massive world, but he would rather risk the elements than allow his foster parents to abuse him, so he treks off. The outside world can be dangerous and scary at times, but Pete has brought along a friend named Elliot, who can protect him if he needs to. So who is Elliot and how can he be sure Pete will remain safe? Well, Elliot is a large dragon, who can easily watch out for Pete and also turn invisible at times, which comes in handy from time to time. Soon enough, Pete is taken in by a kind lighthouse keeper, Nora (Helen Reddy) and while there, Pete and Elliot get into trouble, as Elliot likes to play pranks on people. But their trouble is doubled when mean Dr. Terminus (Jim Dale), who wants to capture Elliot and use him for medical research. Can Pete make a rescue and save his friend, or is he just too small and too young to do so?
I like a lot of the Disney animated features, but I have to admit, I’ve seldom liked the ones that incorporate live action elements. A few do stand out as very good to me, but few do and Pete’s Dragon simply isn’t one of them. I think the basic premise is decent enough and the technical side of the film is solid, but the casting just seems run amuck. The animated portion is terrific to watch and a lot of fun, but the live action folks seem to lag behind and that pulls the film down a lot. The cast some solid names like Shelley Winters, Red Buttons, and Mickey Rooney, but I just think some different choices and a new lead would have improved this one in the long run. I don’t like the songs and I found the kid to be harsh, so I was left with little to speak well about here. But this has gathered a solid base of fans over the years, so I suppose it just missed the mark with me. If you’re interested in this release, then I recommend you check it out, as this is the best chance you’ll have to do so.
I like the animated dragon in this flick, but the real life actors are so bad, you’ll wince just at the sound of their voices. Sean Marshall is decent enough at Pete, but his voice sounds like nails on a chalkboard when he sings, which isn’t a good sign. I suppose he does well enough over all though, as he is a kid and had minimal experience prior to this picture. And also, you have to consider he is acting opposite an animated creature, back when that sort of thing was unusual. You can also see Marshall in the films The Deadly Trackers and Desperate Remedies, while he also served in the art department on Freejack. Shelley Winters (The Poseidon Adventure, Alfie) and Red Buttons (They Shoot Horses Don’t They, The Story of Us) are the bright spots of the cast, which also includes Jim Dale (The Iron Maiden, Follow That Camel), Helen Reddy (Disorderlies), and Mickey Rooney (Breakfast At Tiffany’s, The Big Wheel).
Video: How does it look?
Pete’s Dragon is presented in a 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This marks the first time I’ve seen the film in widescreen, so I was impressed from the start, but I was more impressed as the film pushed ahead. This transfer uses a gorgeous source print, which shows minimal debris and allows for a razor sharp picture. There is some grain present at times, but not too much and in the end, I think fans will be very pleased here. The colors look bright and bold here, with no bleeds and as far as flesh tones, they come off as natural as well. The black levels are well balanced also, so detail is high and shadows look stark. I saw some edge enhancement in a few scenes, but again, nothing to be that concerned with. I commend Disney for this superb transfer, now let’s hope they stick with anamorphic transfers and ultra-clean source prints, shall we?
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc uses a Dolby Digital 5.1 track, which handles the basics well and also allows for some solid surround use. The surrounds do see some action in a lot of scenes, but as far as sound effects, not much to discuss, but like I said, there is a lot of use in the end. I just can’t think of instances where the sound effects were that powerful, although there is some nice subtle and directional use here. The songs pack more of a punch of course, with a richer atmosphere and more expansive surround use as a result. The dialogue isn’t lost in this shuffle however, as it sounds clean and always at a proper volume, no complaints here. This disc also houses English and French subtitles, in case you have a need for them.
Supplements: What are the extras?
I am pleased with this selection of supplements, although few are specific to this film. You can view a short piece on the artist that designed Elliot, as well as a short piece in which Walt Disney discusses various mythical creatures. I was taken in by both of these, but they’re so brief, it is hard to really bump the score up for them. A short Donald Duck cartoon titled Lighthouse Keeping is also included and in truth, this was my favorite of the supplements, classic Donald antics. Another piece focuses again on creatures, but this time we learn about real ones, as well as the legends and myths. This was a real pleasure to watch, as it contains a lot of information and runs long enough to go deeper than the other creature piece. The film’s theatrical and international trailers, production notes, and still frame galleries are also found here, all of which were very welcome inclusions. The final supplement is a game where you have find Elliot, which I think the younger ones will like a lot.
