VHS : FernGully - The Last Rainforest

Rating: - A fun kids' movie with an environmental message
Having watched Fern Gully many years ago with my younger siblings, I purchased this DVD edition to watch with my preschooler. The story centers around Crysta, a tree elf who lives in a rain forest with her friends, consisting of other magical beings, and animals such as the radar-impaired Batty, the Beetle Boys etc. They find that their beloved rain forest is threatened by Man and must take the necessary steps to ensure its preservation.

The environmental message here is well-suited for little ones - it is not over the top and put forth in a fun way. The songs are fun: "Life is a Magic Thing", "Batty Rap", "If I'm Gonna Eat Somebody", "Toxic Love", "Land of a Thousand Dances". This DVD comes with both Widescreen and Fullscreen Versions, there are 8 set-top games & behind the scenes features such as a making-of featurette [both the original and new], director commentary and many more. It also comes with captioning options for the hearing-impaired. I must say that the DVD has been well put-together and all in all highly recommended for young and old viewers alike. My little one certainly enjoyed it!

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Rating: - ...when our fail combines, we are CAPTAIN HIPPIE!
(Note: I do not own this version. I am commenting on the movie itself.)

When I was young, many movies like this were quite popular - especially if you were of the female persuasion. Samson and Sally, Seabert the Seal, The Little Fox - all titles running alongside each other and carrying the same message: FOUR LEGS GOOD! TWO LEGS BAAAAHHHD!! - and Ferngully is no exception - it just happens to be drawn a little better.

The title alone should be a red flag; Ferngully the *last* rain forest. This 'film' was released during the height of the "OH NOES! WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF FORESTS!" especially pertaining to the rain forest. At that time (much like the 'new and improved' global warming) scientists were concerned that - because the rain forest regulated the atmosphere (somewhat true, though this was partly debunked as most forests effect the atmosphere) - destruction of the rain forest would cause the world to blow up, catch on fire, roll around in broken glass, and become a smack-addicted solar prostitute. One should note that these forests were being cut down because certain countries were developing that needed land, lumber, and the sale of lumber to feed their families.. but we all know that hyoomans are teh eavils so it doesn't matter... as long as I can have MY Starbucks.

Anyways... this movie pretty much encapsulates the insane spirit of the neo-hippie movement of the 90's. Cute little fairies and animals are happy and dancing in their magical forest of love and cheap pot when a bi-polar aspie bat who is a massive fan of cranial intrusion falls out of the sky. Crysta (the protagonist and head burnout)is both amused and disturbed by the sing-song way Batty communicates when he does too many whippits and decides to make batty her chuaffeur, as she is way too stoned to fly.

Meanwhile, some greedy corporation ( also see D:< ) decides that trees attract hippies and begins to cut them down and turn them into sawdust. When this fails to bring down a blue skinned green mulleted twink from the sky to share in their bear-on-bear action, they call Tim Curry. Still in gelatinous form after a long night of drinking and trying to avoid RHPS thespian trannies, Curry awakes to a clear cut forest. This is good, for it will allow Tim to find all of the Purple Nurple Liquid Roller Mellow Rainbow Sunset Snoopy Redhair that he was promised in return for showing up to this crap movie. He rejoices by sexually molesting our ear-holes.

One day, while rolling around in her own filth and enjoying a tab of liquid sunshine, Crysta falls in curious with [INSERT DISNEY SENSITIVE-YET-STRONG UNREALISTIC EXPECTATION HERE...we'll call him Dudebra]. Luckily for her, Dudebrah has always fantasized about a sexual encounter with a macro otherkin and also falls into curious with Crysta. Unfortunately, the contact high of fairy-licking made Dudebra shrink, thus eliminating the possibilities of fully realizing his macrophilia. He is then introduced to all of Crysta's commune friends who descend upon him in a cloud of armpit crystals and pure unadulterated lust.

After several hours, Crysta realizes that she is out of shrooms and goes to search the forest for some more. During this outing, the second half of her high kicks in, leading her to hear the trees crying. Lost and confused in the forest, Crysta collapses. Three days later, her family finally locates the commune where she has been staying and immediately take her home - away from the temptations of drugs, art school, and cutting. Oh yeah - and she can make vines grow from her hands and heal flowers with her mind. They end up defeating Tim Curry with magic ivy +5 of holy smite, grow back the forest with love (although seeds work just as well) then go back to being the petal-wearing freegan commune hippies they were to begin with.

FIN.



The art looks like it was spit out of every other animation mill of the early 90's. The songs are terribly dated, the propaganda is EXTREMELY OBVIOUS, and the plot has so many holes you could strain pasta through it.

I gave it two stars because it's a great movie to put on a party for pure WTF responses.

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Rating: - Educational and entertaining
This is a great movie for children. Teaches them about ecology and ways to save the planet.

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Rating: - This movie is not really that good.
I honestly don't know why people like this movie so much. The animation is poor, the songs are just dreadful(acid rain falling down like egg chow mein-seriously!!), and the story is extremely one sided. All destruction is portrayed as being bad. There is only one line in the film that suggests that there needs to be a balance between creation and destruction. The portable lumber mill is just ridiculous; that is not how forests are cleared. If you want to teach children about the horrors of clear cutting, explain it to them in a logical way. If you want to teach them the importance of environmentalism, show them "Princess Mononoke."

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Rating: - Fern Gully
The DVD Fern Gully has long been a favorite in my household. Both children, now in college, enjoyed it and still do. This recent purchase was a replacement copy. The message of "Fern Gully" becomes increasingly more important as we continue to defile this planet: conservation, respect, friendship. Not only does it have several interwoven life message but the overall story is well-written and executed. The characters are lovable. The beauty of this movie is undeniable: vivid colors, attention to detail, beautifully done and just simply a lovely story well presented. We all watch it for enjoyment, entertainment. The messages are everlasting. This is a worthwhile purchase.