Editorial Review:Amazon.com:Based upon T.H. White's beloved novel, this Disney-fied version chronicles the tutoring of the Once and Future King, Arthur, as handled by the magician Merlin.
Sword was a portent of things to come, with slapstick upbraiding storytelling, and cultural in-jokes substituting for wonder. But there's much to enjoy here as Merlin shows Newt, the young Arthur, things that will help him become the ruler of the Britons. The transformation sequences, where the boy is turned into a fish, a bird, and a squirrel are vintage Disney. The oft-repeated scene of Merlin battling it out with the mean old Madame Mim still is worth a few chuckles, but it belies the problem with most of the film--the scenes are only there for the chuckles. References by Merlin to television and other items of modern life also mar the generally innocuous landscape. Children will like it, but they won't cherish it.
--Keith Simanton
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
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Favorite Childhood Movie
This movie has sentimental value for me.. as well as it's hilarious... i've loved it since i was a kid.. had it on vhs... lost it as a kid.. wanted to buy it again now that i'm adult.
i'm sure one day my kids will enjoy it as well.. when i have them.
Rating: 
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Not as great as I remembered...
I remember liking this movie quite a bit as a child, which was my sole motivation for purchasing it for my own two children. We sat and watched it together (or tried to). The youngest one wandered off about ten minutes into it and the older one was distressed over the pink squirrel left to cry her eyes out in the tree after one of Merlin and Wart's (Arthur) shape changing sessions. She kept asking me "Mommy why is the squirrel crying? Why don't they make her happy?" and so forth....and I could only answer with "I don't really know". It just seemed cruel hearted.
Everyone knows the overall plot (or should). The movie feels disjointed though, the shape changing bits being the best (fish, squirrel, bird) culminating in the scene where Merlin pits his skills against Mad Madam Mim. The actual sword pulling and becoming king happens in the final moments of the movie. It's all very underwhelming.
The animation is fair, the plot rather slow and boring (bits and pieces that don't add up to a satisfying conclusion), characters left undeveloped, the music being below average to downright embarrassing...there are alot of problems with this one. But it is fairly entertaining and atleast worth a single watch. However, this one is not destined for infinite replays like other Disney classics in my house are (Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, 101 Dalmations, Robin Hood, The Aristocats being some of the top favorites - for comparision's sake)
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Not a classic, but mildly entertaining
WARNING! Spoiler Alert - Am I the only one who feels sorry for that cute little female squirrel that becomes infatuated with the transformed young Arthur only to have her heart broken when he's turned human again? As silly as this may seem, this is the one reason why I do NOT like this film. Yes, there is a tough life lesson to be learned in this sequence and yes it is a testament to the effectiveness of Disney's storytelling and animation, but c'mon! Maybe the scene would've lost its poignancy if the story allowed for another male squirrel to be smitten with the heartbroken female, but ask yourself, would you have enjoyed "Dumbo" as much if his mom was never released from her cage? Apples to oranges, I know.
Anyway, other than my gripe about the aformentioned scene, I thought this was a fun movie overall. The animation is typical of Disney's high standards even though I thought the songs were a bit lackluster. Not in the same league as "Peter Pan" or "Alice In Wonderland," but not as bad as "The Black Cauldron" either.
If Disney ever does the smart thing and decides to start releasing traditionally animated features again, they should do right by that squirrel and get her a boyfriend!
Rating: 
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Have always loved this movie
I bought this movie for my boys so we could have movie time with a movie I approved of. I watched it with my brothers when I was young and I wanted my boys to have those same great memories.
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Liked it since I was a kid
If you've always liked Disney Classics then this is a must have. The Sword in the Stone has and will always captivate the child in me.
