There's a lot I should enjoy about this film. After all, I was once quoted as saying this film was "Bambi done right". I love films that take the time to create a breathtaking view on a time or world we have likely never explored (such as in Africa for The Lion King or medieval Scotland in Brave). I also love films that do not have anthropomorphic animals singing and dancing their way through things. Not every film has to be The Lion King, so I should be happy with that. And I'm also happy that this film goes out of it's way to not glorify the Westward expansion of America and making the US soldiers look like good guys and Native Americans look like bad guys. Oh, and the fact that it's traditionally animated also should give this film a big boost, right? So...why have I been unable to sit through this film in one sitting? I'm dead serious. I have fallen asleep at some point when watching this every single time. This included when I saw this in theaters with my cousin Amanda in 2002. The film does have it's moments, but it's very slow and takes it's time getting from one plot point to another. In many ways, that's a good thing, because the only other animated film it's taken me a long time to stay awake for that I've given a positive review is Fantasia. But in many ways, it can hinder the film for audiences and maybe for younger kids as well. Unless your kids are into horses and the wild, chances are, they'll try to find out if they have a copy of a better film...but let's get on with the review.
Plot: Spirit is a free mustang who leads his herd of free horses and protects them from the many dangers of the wild, including mountain lions. But his curiosity often gets the better of him, and he is ultimately captured by US Cavalrymen and tried desperately to be tamed. While that's going on, a Lakota tribesman is captured during the Native American wars of the 1870's-1890's, and manages to help Spirit and other captured wild horses escape the patrol and return to the wild. But Spirit is still mistrusting of people and most other creatures, that is until he comes across another horse by the name of Rain.
The two horses start to fall in love, though the Native American boy is unwilling to keep Spirit as his wild personality keeps him from being tamed by anyone. But before anything can be made of it, the Cavalrymen arrive and attack the Lakota villages and capture Spirit again, injuring Rain. Believing her to be dead, Spirit becomes determined to stop the soldiers from building a railroad to carry people westward and destroy the horse's homeland.
What's Wrong?: The only conceivable way to rate and compare this film properly is to compare it to the three animated films it's related to the closest: Bambi, The Land Before Time, and The Lion King.
There are a few things I can point to that can be problematic, at least they were for me. The first is one I've already mentioned: the pacing. While I do love the amount of atmosphere the animators give to this world, it does start to get a little tiring of seeing all this wonder with not much happening in the story. Bambi at least kept the animation focused on Bambi and his interactions with the world around him. The Lion King also kept the story moving at a pace so that despite all of the fragility and beauty of the Pride Lands and what it endures under Scar's reign, the focus keeps itself on Simba and his decisions and reactions to things that come to life in him. This film seems to want to tell a nature documentary more than it does tell a story. And that's not bad at all, but I wish they would choose one or the other. The animation is beautiful enough to not be the forefront of the film. But it seems the animators either didn't understand that or didn't have enough faith in the plot...
The second is the musical choices made for the film. Most of the music in this film is made up of songs from the 1980's, such as songs by Bryan Adams and Sarah McLachlan. This too, is a bit grating on me. The Land Before Time did not even feel the need to make the film a musical. It told the story of Little Foot and his friends as they tried to find their way to the Great Valley without the need of much music outside of a great score. As for Bambi, the film uses softer songs, less operatic than Snow White, and has and omnipotent person singing the songs. While it's similar to that of this film, at the very least, these were songs that could fit the mood of the film and were popular at the time. I highly doubt Bryan Adams was seriously popular in 2002. And need I even bring up The Lion King's songs?
What's Good?: It took me a very, and I mean VERY long time to process that Matt Damon was the one who was providing the inner monologue for Spirit. Not only does his voice fit really well for the role, but it doesn't even sound too much that it was him. Most DreamWorks films ignore the fact that we know who the person is and will not hesitate to flaunt the stars out in front of the film (like Katzenberg did to Robin Williams). But here, this is really refreshing.
This may surprise you, but I'm not the biggest fan of anthropomorphic animals singing and dancing and talking in movies. Unless the movie requires it, DON'T DO IT! Many Disney films can get passes on this for me, but some (namely Brother Bear) do not get passes. I cannot stand modern talk in these kind of movies. Spirit is a movie that avoids many of these Disney-esque cliches and stands on it's own. It doesn't need overly cutesy moments and doesn't rely on pop cultural references and allows me to immerse myself in the world. This is one of the few DreamWorks films that does not rely on that kind of humor and it gets serious points from me for that.
The animation is absolutely beautiful. I mean, it's on par with some of the best animated films of all time with it's beauty and it's attention to detail, like Tangled, Frozen, Sleeping Beauty, Pinocchio, and The Lion King. The animators take the time to detail the amount of scope and awe that is necessary to introduce us to a world we're not familiar with.
Overall: Spirit is a film that will definitely impress the more artsy animated fans and maybe some people who enjoy Bryan Adams. But aside from that, you're kids will more than likely be bored of this film. I personally enjoy this film and will reccomend it, but only to the hardcore animation fans out there. It's good, but DreamWorks can do better,
Final Grade: 88 or B+
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