I loved this movie as a kid as well. I think Siskel and Ebert miss one very crucial factor in this movie, the ability of kids to relate to the fear of losing their family, and the HUGE pay-off at the end when they finally do re-unite. Also, kids don't care much about nationalities or ethnicities, especially not of animated mice...
This is a very dark movie, as a kid I loved it but didn't understand everything they were doing. Just mouse move to America , mouse lost in America , mouse found in America . When watching it back as a teenager it was alot more interesting, all the points they made but didn't know or care as a kid.
They have completely misunderstood the movie and what kids find entertaining. This is not too depressing to kids, they can definatly relate to sad stories and pathos. Kids have empathy. Ever since I was five I loved this movie.
I agree. I may have grown out of this film but when I was younger I liked it. I saw nothing dark about it, I saw nothing wrong with it and who cares if it was? As long as the payoff in the end is a happy ending, why classify it as anything else? I was satisfied when Fievel was reunited with his family and not only that, but it brings me so much joy that I want to cry. I know I'm not the only one who feels that way.
I'm not saying I was scared but it wasn't like the other Disney movies of the past, it was a little more grown up. Release the sqete weapon! Philly Mousekowitz!
@@Kruppt808 @Kruppt808 Not sure how far back in the past you mean but Disney's earliest movies had some really challenging and dark themes for little kids, too mature I would debate, Pinocchio being the biggest example.
Kids like serious movies. Grown ups think that anything serious or "depressing" is bad for kids. That's not true. Kids are intelligent and like to be taken serious and they like movies that bring up big questions.
I dont think Ebert gives kids enough credit here. I saw this movie when I was just a few years old, and loved it ever since. Kids can take the scary and the sad bits of the film. You know why? Because it has a happy ending. You leave the film with feelings of joy.
+skibidido I agree completely. Yes, this movie could get incredibly depressing at points (I remember holding back tears every time I heard "Somewhere Out There"), but I could still watch it over and over again. _The Land Before Time_, another Don Bluth classic, was the same for me. It had its funny moments, but also some sad and some genuinely scary bits, and that was what made it so good and memorable. I remember the emotional rush I felt with these movies; not many movies or cartoons made me feel that way. I do think that Siskel and Ebert are right in some of their criticisms, though. The historical background featuring the Russian pogroms went right over my head as a six-year old and was probably unnecessary. Also, the movie probably could have done just fine without the ethnic caricatures.
+skibidido A pity no kids movie or show today has the same depth of edginess and sadness. They stay in the safety zone. Kids need to be out of the safety zone for extended periods.
+skibidido Well I personally have not see it, but on rottentomatoes and imdb it has a 6.8/10. so maybe they're onto something. edit: I just saw that All Dogs go to Heaven has a 60% rating as well. can someone explain? I thought it was suppose to be his best film or something. or maybe im mistaken?
Walt Disney said "with every laugh, there should be a tear". I think what Siskel and Ebert are saying is that this film doesn't have enough laughs and too many tears to the point where you are just depressed. The Nostalgia Critic made a similar complaint.
I was about 7 when this movie came out - and I couldn't get enough of it. I absolutely loved it. Siskel & Ebert were legends, but they're dead wrong here.
"What about all the people named Katz!?" is one of Gene's best lines ever, the exasperated delivery is great too. I think some of their criticisms are valid, but if they thought this one was oppressively grim, they obviously didn't remember The Secret of Nimh which is so eerie and violent it probably shouldn't be seen by kids under 6.
I watched this movie when i was 7 years old. saw it again when i was ten. then i decided to watch it again recently when it came to Netflix. It simply reminds me of why Don Bluth is an underrated Genius.
I grew up with this movie and both of these guys are dead wrong. You don't need a bunch of fart jokes or sight gags to keep kids watching. Yes, this movie has it's down moments, but that's the point. Kids movies don't have to be super happy all the time. This movie dealt with a realistic drama of being lost and coping to overcome that stigma as well as coming to age for Fievel. Besides, the movie has a happy ending, and as long as you can provide that, the kids will enjoy it.
It's not about doon and gloom. The plot is a superficial level perception, kids do get it no doubt. But it's riddled with offensive cultural stereotypes which are uncomfortable for mature audience. Also this animal allegory is not thought through, because.... Katz. And vegetarian cat, don't make me laugh! It's just some weird propaganda for kids to eat their broccoli 🥦. The movie is awkward
My friends and I must be smarter than most because we didn't NEED the plot explained to us. Or maybe kids are smart enough to get films like this and Return to Oz. After all, we grew up on Never Ending story Dark Crystal.
That'd be like if they criticized The Secret of NIMH for having more adult themes, even though it was marketed toward children. Kids don't have to be talked down to to enjoy a movie like this.
Of course Siskel ad Ebert are entitled to their opinion and usually I agree with their opinion, but I think they missed a lot of points on this movie. First the whole fact that they're Jewish isn't supposed to be the real focus of the movie. It's Fievel finding his family. But it's well established at the beginning that they're Jewish. They're celebrating Hanukkah for one at the start, they have Jewish names. Do we really need the characters to just jump up and announce that they're Jewish? There's even some subtle showing of the prejudice Jews faced not just with the opening with the Pogrom and Cossacks but when Fievel is looking into that American classroom which was the only way Jewish children learned as they were not allowed to come to some schools. Another thing the stereotypes are more of parody's of the stereotypes than actually reinforcing the stereotypes. Especially at Tammeny Hall referencing the corruption in its history. And they fact that they hark on the movie being depressing. That's the whole Don Bluth formula until he declined in the 90s. The ending is supposed to be the most joyful part of the movie, and it can only work like that when everything before that is harsh and sad. It feels much better when they reunite because we see them go through that.
harrietamidala1691 That's fine. I was just talking about the fact they criticize the fact the family is Jewish in the movie and its never really brought up. I argue it doesn't need to be, it's apparent this is a commentary on the Jewish persecution in Russia along with the immigration to the US by thousands of Jewish refugees.
GeneralKenobi75 Yeah, I think the Jewish aspect was done so subtle that kids probably missed it. Heck, it took me years to realize Fieval's family was Jewish, despite the clues that went over my head--Papa's "Happy Hannukkah" line (which I still slap myself on the forehead for missing it), the pogram at the beginning, the Hebrew lettering around Fievel's picture--and I'm Jewish myself! I wouldn't be surprised if this movie was used in elementary schools to teach kids about the 19th century immigration experience.
My favorite non disney movie ever warren t rat is my favorite character he's the villain voiced by john p. finnegan 1926-2012 R.I.P John Finnegan great character actor Great Cartoon film Love An American Tail
I find it kind of funny. Roger Ebert criticizes this movie for being too depressing for children when he's given Pinocchio four stars and well it's heavier on scares than depression but considering the scene that has the kids being turned into donkeys and sold to salt mines for the rest of their lives...
Ebert and Siskel are out-of-touch with just about every demographic outside of their own neighborhood. Don Bluth understood that kids don't want to be talked down to. They can understand an emotional story.
I am a masochist for dark kid films. Today's movies hardly even treat kids like adults anymore. I never saw An American Tail until recently, but I love it as much as I love all of Don Bluth's early creations.
I loved the movie. It's my earliest memory of watching a movie and I was completely enthralled by it at about 6 or 7 years old. Yes it was depressing at times but it was also funny and scary and endearing. Some people really underestimate kids. I didn't always need lighthearted harmless sugar-coated stories although I enjoyed them too.
And, “There Are No Cats In America “ is a symbolic song. They are mice. They are naive and idealistic. Cats in the song are symbolic of problems. Of course, there are ‘…cats in America,’ but the mice are just looking forward in the song with complete optimism and hope for their futures.
I saw the movie as a kid (around 10 years old) and yes... it was sad, but I loved it because it was a good story and I saw it several times as a child. Then I saw Fivel Goes West and you can tell they changed the tone... I have to admit, An American Tale 2 became my favorite movie for many MANY years.
I haven't seen this movie since I was about 7, but I remember loving it. Sad in parts? Sure, but it was plenty entertaining, and that cockroach was hilarious.
These guys missed the point entirely. As a kid, all I saw was a mouse trying to find his family, and feeling happy at the end. That's what the movie is all about, not all the stuff they mentioned.
glad these two middle aged know it alls didn't get to decide what I liked when I was a kid. I saw this in the cinema just after my parents had separated and it resonated very much with me. Ps I grew up in Ireland, the crooked Irish politician is an extremely accurate depiction!
In all their knowledge I think Sis and E missed the boat on this film. Don Bluth made a kids movie, that was his intended purpose, but it was his Disney conditioning to add all the adult things in there (Fievel's family is Jewish and they're fleeing Russia due to persecution, the stereotyping of Boss Tweed with the crooked Mayor, etc.) because he wanted to make a family film, so the adults would get a kick out of the stereotypes and history nods and the kids would enjoy the cartoon aspect.
I always thought of it in simple terms, as a child would. It's a family leaving a bad situation, getting split up and happily reuniting. It's meant to encompass the range of emotions (including sad) in order to portray the story as real. Was Wall-E supposed to be an uplifting movie about humanity?
You know, of all the comments they make, the one that oddly enough gets me the most is Siskel's remark at the end. 'What about people named Katz?' I know he was mostly joking there, but it kinda gives off the impression he failed to realize the cats in this film were a metaphor for the Germans. It's not like the film tried to hide it.
I thought the cats were just the bad guys. the Rich lady mouse for example had a very German name, and the Cossacks were not German. In Sicily, they were the Mafia, in Ireland, they were the British army, in NY they were the gangsters.
I love An American Tail, and I first saw it when I was eight years old. Siskel & Ebert were intelligent incisive critics, but they were often extraordinarily off the mark critiquing animation.
Well, i loved this movie and Return to Oz as a kid. And as a child I connected what was happening at the beginning of the movie with the Holocaust, which wasn't too far off the mark.
I love that line. "That's what little kids like when they go to the movie, sentimentality and pathos." My answer is yes, they do, because I fucking loved this movie. Some of his criticisms are fair though. Some parts of the movie I would skip as a kid because the animation was kind of disturbing.
The movie was about this little mouse going to America and the whole ordeal over there. How it was never really about these immigrants dealing with this transition and the struggle over here as well. It wasn't "the promise land," the "Shang-Ri-La" they were all lead to believe... and how they persevered and made it their own. It's not just supposed to be entirely a Jewish tale. It shows the Jewish struggle, but also a lot of others--the Italians, the Irish, the Mexicans... and others who came over here in search of a better life... and they found it. And... yeah, it is really depressing and sad and ugly at times. The film itself. But... let's be honest: THIS IS WHAT WAS HAPPENING BACK THEN! This really happened. And Gene, Dom Deluise played Tiger... the cat that was a mouse sympathizer.
Roger Ebert always rags on children's movies that have darker themes. This movie along with TMNT was very formative for me as a child. I think exactly because of the feelings they left in me.
I believe that, a couple of years later, Ebert actually changed his mind about this movie and he actually admitted to liking it the second time around watching it.
Had this on in the backround listening to it while I was tidying up the house only to look up at the screen at around 3:04 and nearly have a fucking heart attack.
I'm with you. This movie is an example that there's no need of a lot of humor or gags, but it has dramatic elements that would make understand kids. However, that's were the 80s when people were not so used to watch dark animated films.
name a kid who saw this movie as a kid and didn't love it. i don't know what these tards were smoking but they had no idea what constitutes a good kids movie. are we gonna hear them bash bambi or land before time because they got really sad? also return to oz is great i wish i saw it when i was a kid
I honestly think movies like Up are more depressing, but I won't deny that this movie is pretty sad. I think it helps a great deal for character development though.
An American Tail is a grand masterpiece and very wonderful movie. In my opinion, An American Tail is way better than Up. Up is still wonderful movie nonetheless.
Wasn’t Don Bluth's philosophy about that children could handle just about anything as long as you attached a happy ending? Well, Ebert forgot about that completely.
It is thanks to their opinion (and others who shared their opinion) that Don Bluth had to tone down his work. Thank you Siskel and Ebert for giving us A Troll in Central Park, it's soooo much better than An American Tail, The Secret of NIMH and Land Before Time. We have to think about those sensitive wittle kids for whom an episode of Scooby Doo is too scary, after all.
Surenity Seriously. My favorite movies as a kid were Secret of NIMH, An American Tail, Land Before Time, and All Dogs Go To Heaven. The sadness and dark quality was what I adored about them! I was 6 when The Little Mermaid came out and I loved it, but not like I did An American Tail and The Land Before Time. It didn't have the same heart and depth of feeling. Yeah, some kids prefer happy, goofy movies. When I took my son to see The Good Dinosaur, it made him cry and he said "mom, movies shouldn't make you sad, I don't like this!" Okay, so I know not to take him to sad movies. I watch those on my own. But there's also plenty of kids like I was that prefer a good tear-jerker. If no kids liked sad movies, The Lion King never would have been the hit that it was. I hate how in this review they dismiss children as stupid and simple. Kids have far more smarts and depth of feeling than they give them credit for.
I thought they were a bit too harsh here. Sure it is nothing in comparison to 'The Great Mouse Detective' that same year, but this is still a good movie. It's a deserving classic.
It was one of the most depressing films i ever saw in my life. I still get depressed whenever i watch it, but the happy ending afer all that depresshion they thow at u is worth it. I remember just being so happy when that poor kid finnaly made it home. This movie will give u depreshion but we watch it just for that happy ending
I can't say that this was a bad film, and frankly I think opinions on what kids can tolerate has changed, though I can see where they were coming from at the time.
I agree Finding Nemo is a lot like An American Tail. It legit makes me wonder if it's a coincidence or Pixar is intentionally really inspired by An American Tail to make Finding Nemo.
I'm a little surprised at Ebert's analysis. Not necessarily because he didn't like it, but that it comes off to me as a bit shallow. He's usually a lot more perceptive than that.
I somewhat see their point but growing up with this film the sadness and darkness never bothered me. I always and still see it as an inspirational story and like the best inspirational stories it must maintain a level of darkness until the end so that u can appreciate the triumph at the end. The Jewish metaphor never bothered me as a kid, when I got older and learned more history I enjoyed the film even more because I realized how layered the film was. Also the song is not sad its beautiful.
The movie depicts the mixing of cultures immigrating to America and calls it stereotypes??? I loved this movie as a kid and I love it even more now. These two could sure be hacks at times sometimes
*200th one to comment* The fuck kind of review of Don Bluth's An American Tail is this?! And why the fucking hell does it have 4 times more likes than dislikes?!
The movie doesn't explain so thus kids will ask their parents and their parents will tell them and thus discussion. Come on Ebert this isn't hard, I was explained the plot as a child. Really surprised Siskel and Ebert trashed this film
Now that you mention it, I guess he might've had a strange way of perceiving an animated film like this since it was released at a time when animation as a children's medium seemed quite exaggerated, though it was mostly in terms of television animation with those so-called half-hour toy commercials.
They're not gonna get all of them right. Look what they said about Home Alone for crying out loud. By the way, if they thought this film was dark, I don't want to know what they thought about The Secret of Nihm. That movie scared the shit out of me when I was a kid.
God forbid children might learn something about life, grief, loss ect, like in The land before time. if they were celebrating christmas in the start, i bet they would'nt point out the relevance of them being christians or whatever. I grew up watching this as a small child and i understood the story quite well.. them being jews is not the main point, but nice to see other cultures represented as well for a change? And the ending makes the feeling SO much better! should they have cut the Mofasa death scene in the lion king as well? or what about Bambi? they are all classics. they are all great stories, and so well angled towards children as well as adults. This review baffled me a bit to be honest.
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I loved this movie as a kid as well. I think Siskel and Ebert miss one very crucial factor in this movie, the ability of kids to relate to the fear of losing their family, and the HUGE pay-off at the end when they finally do re-unite. Also, kids don't care much about nationalities or ethnicities, especially not of animated mice...
Daxcheese555 It´s basically Pinocchio but without the magic and much more darker.
People who love this movie are blinded by nostalgia. Great review guys.
This is a very dark movie, as a kid I loved it but didn't understand everything they were doing. Just mouse move to America , mouse lost in America , mouse found in America .
When watching it back as a teenager it was alot more interesting, all the points they made but didn't know or care as a kid.
They have completely misunderstood the movie and what kids find entertaining. This is not too depressing to kids, they can definatly relate to sad stories and pathos. Kids have empathy. Ever since I was five I loved this movie.
I agree. I may have grown out of this film but when I was younger I liked it. I saw nothing dark about it, I saw nothing wrong with it and who cares if it was? As long as the payoff in the end is a happy ending, why classify it as anything else? I was satisfied when Fievel was reunited with his family and not only that, but it brings me so much joy that I want to cry. I know I'm not the only one who feels that way.
@@sbarrow06 Why have you grown out of it? I'm an adult, and I still love An American Tail, even to this very day.
@@retrofan4963 because as I got older, it wore off me.
I'm not saying I was scared but it wasn't like the other Disney movies of the past, it was a little more grown up. Release the sqete weapon!
Philly Mousekowitz!
@@Kruppt808 @Kruppt808 Not sure how far back in the past you mean but Disney's earliest movies had some really challenging and dark themes for little kids, too mature I would debate, Pinocchio being the biggest example.
Kids like serious movies. Grown ups think that anything serious or "depressing" is bad for kids. That's not true. Kids are intelligent and like to be taken serious and they like movies that bring up big questions.
I dont think Ebert gives kids enough credit here. I saw this movie when I was just a few years old, and loved it ever since. Kids can take the scary and the sad bits of the film. You know why? Because it has a happy ending. You leave the film with feelings of joy.
+skibidido I agree completely. Yes, this movie could get incredibly depressing at points (I remember holding back tears every time I heard "Somewhere Out There"), but I could still watch it over and over again. _The Land Before Time_, another Don Bluth classic, was the same for me. It had its funny moments, but also some sad and some genuinely scary bits, and that was what made it so good and memorable. I remember the emotional rush I felt with these movies; not many movies or cartoons made me feel that way.
I do think that Siskel and Ebert are right in some of their criticisms, though. The historical background featuring the Russian pogroms went right over my head as a six-year old and was probably unnecessary. Also, the movie probably could have done just fine without the ethnic caricatures.
+skibidido A pity no kids movie or show today has the same depth of edginess and sadness. They stay in the safety zone. Kids need to be out of the safety zone for extended periods.
***** I dont know, I think we still get some good stuff. Pixar does this very well. I saw Inside Out recently and it had some pretty sad moments.
skibidido
There was only ONE sad scene in inside out and it didn't work on me. Heck there are usually only one sad scene in each Pixar movie.
+skibidido Well I personally have not see it, but on rottentomatoes and imdb it has a 6.8/10. so maybe they're onto something.
edit: I just saw that All Dogs go to Heaven has a 60% rating as well. can someone explain? I thought it was suppose to be his best film or something. or maybe im mistaken?
"What about all the people named Katz?" Classic moment from Gene Siskel.
That's a funny closing line by Gene
@@jdayala-wright8875 I really did laugh out loud at that one haha
Reddit tier "comedy"
Walt Disney said "with every laugh, there should be a tear". I think what Siskel and Ebert are saying is that this film doesn't have enough laughs and too many tears to the point where you are just depressed. The Nostalgia Critic made a similar complaint.
I was about 7 when this movie came out - and I couldn't get enough of it. I absolutely loved it. Siskel & Ebert were legends, but they're dead wrong here.
"What about all the people named Katz!?" is one of Gene's best lines ever, the exasperated delivery is great too.
I think some of their criticisms are valid, but if they thought this one was oppressively grim, they obviously didn't remember The Secret of Nimh which is so eerie and violent it probably shouldn't be seen by kids under 6.
And they gave The Secret of NIMH a good review. As for Don Bluth's reviews, his movies in general were style over substance.
An American Tail felt like Bluth was trying to impress Spielberg.
"I think some of their criticisms are valid." So you're saying that you prefer animated films that talks down to kids?
You know, if this came out two years ago amid the sea of vapid children's entertainment, Roger Ebert would have praised this as the masterpiece it is.
Nah, they still would have missed the point entirely.
2:12 - "Oh, what tipped you off?" LOL!
I watched this movie when i was 7 years old. saw it again when i was ten. then i decided to watch it again recently when it came to Netflix. It simply reminds me of why Don Bluth is an underrated Genius.
At 33, I still love this movie!!!
I'm 21 years old, and I still love An American Tail a lot!!! It's my favorite movie of all time! :)
Then you're blinded by nostalgia.
+Patrick Shields We love this movie because this is a very wonderful movie. Another proof that you don't respect our opinions.
I got the 4 movie collection on Amazon I have never seen any of them so I'm happy I got these classic films
@@wrightfamily7381 What do you think of An American Tail after you watched it in An American Tail 4 movie collection?
I grew up with this movie and both of these guys are dead wrong. You don't need a bunch of fart jokes or sight gags to keep kids watching. Yes, this movie has it's down moments, but that's the point. Kids movies don't have to be super happy all the time. This movie dealt with a realistic drama of being lost and coping to overcome that stigma as well as coming to age for Fievel. Besides, the movie has a happy ending, and as long as you can provide that, the kids will enjoy it.
It's not about doon and gloom. The plot is a superficial level perception, kids do get it no doubt. But it's riddled with offensive cultural stereotypes which are uncomfortable for mature audience. Also this animal allegory is not thought through, because.... Katz. And vegetarian cat, don't make me laugh! It's just some weird propaganda for kids to eat their broccoli 🥦. The movie is awkward
This movie was the last film I got to see with my whole family so I have a special place for this great film.
It is a really great film.
My friends and I must be smarter than most because we didn't NEED the plot explained to us. Or maybe kids are smart enough to get films like this and Return to Oz. After all, we grew up on Never Ending story Dark Crystal.
I have to admit “what about all the people named Katz?” killed me. One of his rare great jokes.
You know, this movie is so dark and depressing I don't even think it IS aimed at kids.
That'd be like if they criticized The Secret of NIMH for having more adult themes, even though it was marketed toward children. Kids don't have to be talked down to to enjoy a movie like this.
And both Secret of NIMH and An American Tail are made by Don Bluth.
Who would have guessed that this movie would become a childhood staple? I know I'm going to show it to my kids.
Whst does your kids think of this film?
Of course Siskel ad Ebert are entitled to their opinion and usually I agree with their opinion, but I think they missed a lot of points on this movie.
First the whole fact that they're Jewish isn't supposed to be the real focus of the movie. It's Fievel finding his family. But it's well established at the beginning that they're Jewish. They're celebrating Hanukkah for one at the start, they have Jewish names. Do we really need the characters to just jump up and announce that they're Jewish? There's even some subtle showing of the prejudice Jews faced not just with the opening with the Pogrom and Cossacks but when Fievel is looking into that American classroom which was the only way Jewish children learned as they were not allowed to come to some schools.
Another thing the stereotypes are more of parody's of the stereotypes than actually reinforcing the stereotypes. Especially at Tammeny Hall referencing the corruption in its history.
And they fact that they hark on the movie being depressing. That's the whole Don Bluth formula until he declined in the 90s. The ending is supposed to be the most joyful part of the movie, and it can only work like that when everything before that is harsh and sad. It feels much better when they reunite because we see them go through that.
GeneralKenobi75 Actually, only Siskel was Jewish. Ebert was catholic.
harrietamidala1691 I'm not talking about them, I'm talking about the characters in the movie.
GeneralKenobi75 Sorry, I must have misread something.
harrietamidala1691 That's fine. I was just talking about the fact they criticize the fact the family is Jewish in the movie and its never really brought up. I argue it doesn't need to be, it's apparent this is a commentary on the Jewish persecution in Russia along with the immigration to the US by thousands of Jewish refugees.
GeneralKenobi75 Yeah, I think the Jewish aspect was done so subtle that kids probably missed it. Heck, it took me years to realize Fieval's family was Jewish, despite the clues that went over my head--Papa's "Happy Hannukkah" line (which I still slap myself on the forehead for missing it), the pogram at the beginning, the Hebrew lettering around Fievel's picture--and I'm Jewish myself! I wouldn't be surprised if this movie was used in elementary schools to teach kids about the 19th century immigration experience.
I've always loved this movie, but I can understand why Siskel and Ebert thought the way they did.
Fievel didn’t spend the entire movie completely without friends. He does meet Tony and Bridget. This is a very narrow-minded review, on the whole.
I laughed my ass off!
It actually looks like he wrapped his head in aluminum foil.
My favorite non disney movie ever warren t rat is my favorite character he's the villain voiced by john p. finnegan 1926-2012 R.I.P John Finnegan great character actor Great Cartoon film Love An American Tail
I find it kind of funny. Roger Ebert criticizes this movie for being too depressing for children when he's given Pinocchio four stars and well it's heavier on scares than depression but considering the scene that has the kids being turned into donkeys and sold to salt mines for the rest of their lives...
I had a depressing childhood so this movie was right up my alley and i loved it. I guess ebert thinks all kids have happy go lucky lives.
Ebert and Siskel are out-of-touch with just about every demographic outside of their own neighborhood. Don Bluth understood that kids don't want to be talked down to. They can understand an emotional story.
I am a masochist for dark kid films. Today's movies hardly even treat kids like adults anymore. I never saw An American Tail until recently, but I love it as much as I love all of Don Bluth's early creations.
As a child I loved the movie; they definitely underestimate children’s ability to empathize. And there are no cats in America was a GREAT song.
I loved the movie. It's my earliest memory of watching a movie and I was completely enthralled by it at about 6 or 7 years old. Yes it was depressing at times but it was also funny and scary and endearing. Some people really underestimate kids. I didn't always need lighthearted harmless sugar-coated stories although I enjoyed them too.
And, “There Are No Cats In America “ is a symbolic song. They are mice. They are naive and idealistic. Cats in the song are symbolic of problems. Of course, there are ‘…cats in America,’ but the mice are just looking forward in the song with complete optimism and hope for their futures.
I understand that Siskel and Ebert are entitled to their opinion. For me, I love it.
What a terrible whiff of a review!! This is one of the greats of American animation!
I can give 40 better much more defined, exceptional, or simply better animated films than a nostalgia trip
@Kobe Anderson In my opinion, An American Tail is the best.
What a grumpy old man I watched the movie as a child and love it
The way he sings Somewhere Out there is like Alfalfa doiing Barber of Seville.
I saw the movie as a kid (around 10 years old) and yes... it was sad, but I loved it because it was a good story and I saw it several times as a child. Then I saw Fivel Goes West and you can tell they changed the tone... I have to admit, An American Tale 2 became my favorite movie for many MANY years.
I haven't seen this movie since I was about 7, but I remember loving it. Sad in parts? Sure, but it was plenty entertaining, and that cockroach was hilarious.
I like that movie... who doesn't??
These guys missed the point entirely. As a kid, all I saw was a mouse trying to find his family, and feeling happy at the end. That's what the movie is all about, not all the stuff they mentioned.
glad these two middle aged know it alls didn't get to decide what I liked when I was a kid. I saw this in the cinema just after my parents had separated and it resonated very much with me. Ps I grew up in Ireland, the crooked Irish politician is an extremely accurate depiction!
"What about all the people named Katz?"
I love Siskel.
Ebert's face is melting
Seriously, he gives kids too little credit.
Saw "Fievel Goes West" before I say this movie. Love "FGW" more but still enjoy this movie.
In all their knowledge I think Sis and E missed the boat on this film. Don Bluth made a kids movie, that was his intended purpose, but it was his Disney conditioning to add all the adult things in there (Fievel's family is Jewish and they're fleeing Russia due to persecution, the stereotyping of Boss Tweed with the crooked Mayor, etc.) because he wanted to make a family film, so the adults would get a kick out of the stereotypes and history nods and the kids would enjoy the cartoon aspect.
I always thought of it in simple terms, as a child would. It's a family leaving a bad situation, getting split up and happily reuniting. It's meant to encompass the range of emotions (including sad) in order to portray the story as real. Was Wall-E supposed to be an uplifting movie about humanity?
Roger gave this 2 stars for how dark it was.
And yet All Dogs Go To Heaven and Hunchback are perfectly fine.
I think The Hunchback of Notre Dame is way darker than An American Tail. Yet, he gave 4 stars to Hunchback. Seriously?!?
I like how Ebert briefly becomes animated himself.
Love This movie
You know, of all the comments they make, the one that oddly enough gets me the most is Siskel's remark at the end. 'What about people named Katz?' I know he was mostly joking there, but it kinda gives off the impression he failed to realize the cats in this film were a metaphor for the Germans. It's not like the film tried to hide it.
I thought the cats were just the bad guys. the Rich lady mouse for example had a very German name, and the Cossacks were not German. In Sicily, they were the Mafia, in Ireland, they were the British army, in NY they were the gangsters.
I love An American Tail, and I first saw it when I was eight years old. Siskel & Ebert were intelligent incisive critics, but they were often extraordinarily off the mark critiquing animation.
Screw them for bashing An American Tail! It's the best but underrated movie and it can be a heart-warming film too!
I agree. An American Tail is a really great classic film. This review by Siskel and Ebert is just overall terrible.
hmmm something's wrong with his face 2:50
to quote Doug Walker, "this whole review is worth it just for the very last line."
Well, i loved this movie and Return to Oz as a kid. And as a child I connected what was happening at the beginning of the movie with the Holocaust, which wasn't too far off the mark.
Kids movies can have emotional and dark scenes and it's not bad!
3:01 Roger is an Alien CONFIRMED!!!
I love that line. "That's what little kids like when they go to the movie, sentimentality and pathos." My answer is yes, they do, because I fucking loved this movie. Some of his criticisms are fair though. Some parts of the movie I would skip as a kid because the animation was kind of disturbing.
The movie was about this little mouse going to America and the whole ordeal over there. How it was never really about these immigrants dealing with this transition and the struggle over here as well. It wasn't "the promise land," the "Shang-Ri-La" they were all lead to believe... and how they persevered and made it their own. It's not just supposed to be entirely a Jewish tale. It shows the Jewish struggle, but also a lot of others--the Italians, the Irish, the Mexicans... and others who came over here in search of a better life... and they found it.
And... yeah, it is really depressing and sad and ugly at times. The film itself. But... let's be honest: THIS IS WHAT WAS HAPPENING BACK THEN! This really happened.
And Gene, Dom Deluise played Tiger... the cat that was a mouse sympathizer.
Roger Ebert always rags on children's movies that have darker themes. This movie along with TMNT was very formative for me as a child. I think exactly because of the feelings they left in me.
I believe that, a couple of years later, Ebert actually changed his mind about this movie and he actually admitted to liking it the second time around watching it.
This is even creepier now that he's six feet under.
The amazing melting critic will haunt our nightmares forevah! DX
This review has aged as well as the milk I left sitting out for 30 years
Had this on in the backround listening to it while I was tidying up the house only to look up at the screen at around 3:04 and nearly have a fucking heart attack.
I'm with you. This movie is an example that there's no need of a lot of humor or gags, but it has dramatic elements that would make understand kids. However, that's were the 80s when people were not so used to watch dark animated films.
name a kid who saw this movie as a kid and didn't love it. i don't know what these tards were smoking but they had no idea what constitutes a good kids movie. are we gonna hear them bash bambi or land before time because they got really sad? also return to oz is great i wish i saw it when i was a kid
Just realized Roger isn't wearing a jacket here. I guess he didn't originally on this show do that.
I love Return to Oz. It's one of my all time favorites.
What about An American Tail?
I honestly think movies like Up are more depressing, but I won't deny that this movie is pretty sad. I think it helps a great deal for character development though.
An American Tail is a grand masterpiece and very wonderful movie. In my opinion, An American Tail is way better than Up. Up is still wonderful movie nonetheless.
Wasn’t Don Bluth's philosophy about that children could handle just about anything as long as you attached a happy ending? Well, Ebert forgot about that completely.
Just goes to show Bluth that not EVERYONE has the same philosophy, not even Walt Disney
I liked it when I was a kid- definitely not one that depressed or frightened me
It is thanks to their opinion (and others who shared their opinion) that Don Bluth had to tone down his work. Thank you Siskel and Ebert for giving us A Troll in Central Park, it's soooo much better than An American Tail, The Secret of NIMH and Land Before Time. We have to think about those sensitive wittle kids for whom an episode of Scooby Doo is too scary, after all.
Surenity Seriously. My favorite movies as a kid were Secret of NIMH, An American Tail, Land Before Time, and All Dogs Go To Heaven. The sadness and dark quality was what I adored about them! I was 6 when The Little Mermaid came out and I loved it, but not like I did An American Tail and The Land Before Time. It didn't have the same heart and depth of feeling.
Yeah, some kids prefer happy, goofy movies. When I took my son to see The Good Dinosaur, it made him cry and he said "mom, movies shouldn't make you sad, I don't like this!"
Okay, so I know not to take him to sad movies. I watch those on my own. But there's also plenty of kids like I was that prefer a good tear-jerker. If no kids liked sad movies, The Lion King never would have been the hit that it was.
I hate how in this review they dismiss children as stupid and simple. Kids have far more smarts and depth of feeling than they give them credit for.
Um, it wasn't Siskel and Ebert that told Don Bluth to down down his films, It was the studio executives that did this crap.
Did they review Troll?
@@sha11235 No, they didn't.
They were also confused about Return To Oz.
I thought they were a bit too harsh here. Sure it is nothing in comparison to 'The Great Mouse Detective' that same year, but this is still a good movie. It's a deserving classic.
I prefer An American Tail over the Great Mouse Detective. But yeah, I agree, Siskel and Ebert are too harsh towards this great classic.
It was one of the most depressing films i ever saw in my life. I still get depressed whenever i watch it, but the happy ending afer all that depresshion they thow at u is worth it. I remember just being so happy when that poor kid finnaly made it home. This movie will give u depreshion but we watch it just for that happy ending
I can't say that this was a bad film, and frankly I think opinions on what kids can tolerate has changed, though I can see where they were coming from at the time.
WoW! How interesting on a Saturday night!
The song is, “There Are No Cats In America.”
"An American Tail" was the 1980's version of "Finding Nemo" its the exact same premise with better animation
I agree Finding Nemo is a lot like An American Tail. It legit makes me wonder if it's a coincidence or Pixar is intentionally really inspired by An American Tail to make Finding Nemo.
well I'm suprised
Siskel and Ebert: Its sad so it sucks.
I'm a little surprised at Ebert's analysis. Not necessarily because he didn't like it, but that it comes off to me as a bit shallow. He's usually a lot more perceptive than that.
No, Gene--Dom Deluise did NOT play the drunken Irish politician. He played Tiger, the fat cat orange mouse sympathizer.
“At the Movies” was a Disney-ABC production and Don Bluth movies were directly competing with Disney. The fix was in.
I somewhat see their point but growing up with this film the sadness and darkness never bothered me. I always and still see it as an inspirational story and like the best inspirational stories it must maintain a level of darkness until the end so that u can appreciate the triumph at the end. The Jewish metaphor never bothered me as a kid, when I got older and learned more history I enjoyed the film even more because I realized how layered the film was. Also the song is not sad its beautiful.
2:30 damn reptiles...
The movie depicts the mixing of cultures immigrating to America and calls it stereotypes??? I loved this movie as a kid and I love it even more now. These two could sure be hacks at times sometimes
Also i think Fieval was the first character I ever Identified with in a movie.
*200th one to comment*
The fuck kind of review of Don Bluth's An American Tail is this?! And why the fucking hell does it have 4 times more likes than dislikes?!
The movie doesn't explain so thus kids will ask their parents and their parents will tell them and thus discussion. Come on Ebert this isn't hard, I was explained the plot as a child. Really surprised Siskel and Ebert trashed this film
Man I'm glad you put this comment I though I was Tripping. LOL
2:59 its the worlds only zombie critic! XD
Wow - I wonder if this clip is brought up in a computer graphics class for those dope compression artifacts.
I completely agree with you! Thanks so much for your opinion.
2:50 OMG! WTF!! AAAHHH!! RUUUN!!
Every was r8 about it being depressing and not for children but you have to remember it was animated.
Now that you mention it, I guess he might've had a strange way of perceiving an animated film like this since it was released at a time when animation as a children's medium seemed quite exaggerated, though it was mostly in terms of television animation with those so-called half-hour toy commercials.
They're not gonna get all of them right. Look what they said about Home Alone for crying out loud.
By the way, if they thought this film was dark, I don't want to know what they thought about The Secret of Nihm. That movie scared the shit out of me when I was a kid.
God forbid children might learn something about life, grief, loss ect, like in The land before time. if they were celebrating christmas in the start, i bet they would'nt point out the relevance of them being christians or whatever. I grew up watching this as a small child and i understood the story quite well.. them being jews is not the main point, but nice to see other cultures represented as well for a change? And the ending makes the feeling SO much better! should they have cut the Mofasa death scene in the lion king as well? or what about Bambi? they are all classics. they are all great stories, and so well angled towards children as well as adults. This review baffled me a bit to be honest.
I remember watching this as a kid and being really sad through most of it and not liking it afterwards. They’re right on its criticism.
Universal’s best picture since Despicable Me 2 & When Marnie Was There.
it was a good flick