Wow - flashback! This week's movie choice is Bambi... everyone, get your tissue boxes ready for this one.
I honestly could not tell you the last time I watched this film - probably not since I was a kid - but I do know that it is notorious for being a disheartening movie because of the obvious "nature versus man" themes.
Fun fact: did you know that Bambi is only the fifth Disney animated feature film? I didn't! And apparently, in January of 2020, it was announced that a photorealistic computer-animated remake of the movie was in development, just months prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Not sure if this is still in progress, but don't be surprised if you see a trailer for this soon.
Let's dive right in, though (and please, don't forget the tissues - you may need them)… At the beginning of the film, a doe gives birth to a fawn named Bambi, who will one day take over the position of Great Prince of the Forest, a title currently held by Bambi's father, who guards the woodland creatures against the dangers of hunters. The fawn is quickly befriended by an eager, energetic rabbit named Thumper (my favorite character!), who helps to teach him to walk and speak. Bambi grows up very attached to his mother, with whom he spends most of his time. He soon makes other friends, including a young skunk named Flower and a female fawn named Faline.
Curious and inquisitive, Bambi frequently asks about the world around him and is cautioned about the dangers of life as a forest creature by his loving mother. One day out in a meadow, Bambi briefly sees The Great Prince but does not realize that he is his father. As the Great Prince wanders uphill, he discovers the human hunter named "Man" is coming and rushes down to the meadow to get everyone to safety. Bambi is briefly separated from his mother during that time but is escorted to her by the Great Prince as the three of them make it back in the forest just as Man fires his gun.
Now, brace yourself . . . During Bambi's first winter, he and Thumper play in the snow while Flower hibernates. One day his mother takes him along to find food when Man shows up again. As they escape, his mother is shot and killed by the hunter, leaving the little fawn mournful and alone. Taking pity on his abandoned son, the Great Prince leads Bambi home as he reveals to him that he is his father.
Next year, Bambi has matured into a young stag, and his childhood friends have also entered young adulthood. They are warned of "twitterpation" by Friend Owl and that they will eventually fall in love, although the trio views the concept of romance with scorn. Typical teenagers. However, Thumper and Flower soon encounter their beautiful romantic counterparts and abandon their former thoughts on love. Bambi himself encounters Faline again as a beautiful doe. However, their courtship is quickly interrupted and challenged by a belligerent older stag named Ronno, who attempts to force Faline away from Bambi. Bambi successfully manages to defeat Ronno in battle and earn the rights to the doe's affections. Ah, yes, the typical Disney movie theme of the male fighting for the female's attention. Seen this many times in all kinds of Disney movies, and apparently to the creaters, it never grows old with them.
One day, Bambi is awakened by the smell of smoke; he follows it and discovers it leads to a hunter camp. His father warns Bambi that Man has returned with more hunters. Although Bambi is separated from Faline in the turmoil and searches for her along the way, the two flee to safety. He soon finds her cornered by Man's vicious hunting dogs, which he manages to ward off. Typically not the right behavior for deer but it's a Disney movie, I'll make an exception.
Bambi escapes them and is unfortunately shot by Man, but miraculously survives (plot armor or luck?). Meanwhile, at the "Man's" camp, their campfire suddenly spreads into the forest, resulting in a wildfire from which the forest residents flee in fear. Bambi, his father, Faline, and the forest animals manage to reach shelter on a riverbank. Thankfully escaping the fire and finding their new home the following spring, Faline gives birth to twins under Bambi's watchful eye as he takes over his father's role as the new Great Prince of the Forest.
While this film is only an hour and ten minutes, there is quite a lot jampacked into the movie - cute and wholesome, yet depressing moments, too, crowd the plot of the film. If you somewhat forgot that this film existed, I would recommend watching it, although it is not my favorite. I think it carries important themes aside from being just a cutesy Disney film. Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think!
This is one of the first movies that I remember watching with my mother as a kid, and what a sad movie to show to kids. I always have liked the story of Bambi and like you stated I cannot remember the last time I even saw this movie, but its always such a good story that brings back memories for me. Like you mentioned it is short but its jam packed and you don't even notice the time that goes by. The just above an hour time is a good amount for this film that will always have a special spot for me.
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