The Great Mouse Detective
The mystery begins in London where a master toy maker has been kidnapped by a creepy little bat. Olivia, the toy makers daughter, has witnessed the whole fiasco and searches out the infamous Basil of Baker Street with the help of Dr. Dawson. Basil quickly puts two and two together and comes up with the conclusion that this could only have been the doings of his arch nemeses, Professor Ratigan. Ratigan just happens to be a brilliantly crazed rat who considers himself a mouse. Basil, Dawson, and Olivia immediately embark on the sherlockish adventure to find and collect the toy maker before Ratigan can carry out his evil plan against the queen.
A Mousterious Adventure
First off, I believe this film is highly underrated and it saddens me quite a bit. It may not be one that immediately pops in your head when you think Disney films, but it still deserves a lot of credit and respect. Since its original released in 1986, I have seen this film about a thousand times and have literally owned a copy in one form or another, my entire life. Its just one of those great classics that were slightly over looked. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes makes for a wonderful adventure. The story was very imaginative and entertaining to watch.
Each character had his or own special qualities that work and made the film that much more interesting. Basil, based on Basil of Baker Street, by Eve Titus, makes an absolutely fabulous Sherlock Holmes character. Hes smart, funny, quirky, and memorable. Dr. Dawson is also an extremely lovable character along with the adorable Olivia. The creepy characters that take the cake are Ratigan and his little peg-legged bat. They are really great villains. Ron Clements and his team really have a knack for creating and directing wonderful villains. He proves this repetitively in films such as, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and The Frog Prince.
I think this film has an exciting feel to it. Kids and adults alike would find this an interesting and entertaining watch. I have always enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it as a great childrens film, family film, or even for those of us who havent really grown at heart much. It was restored beautifully and sounded great. I have always appreciated the beauty of the classic hand drawn animation and this is a great example of a wonderful animation. The quality of work and storytelling are wonderful. My only complaint would have to be the lack of blu-ray release.
Bonus Features
-New “So You Think You Can Sleuth” Game
-The Making Of The Great Mouse Detective
-The Worlds Greatest Criminal Mind Sing-Along-Song
-Dylan and Cole Sprouse: Blu-ray Is Suit!
-Learn How To Take Your Favorite Movies On The Go, Disney File