Karry Best movie of this year hands down!

Mjeteconer Just perfect...

MusicChat It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

Invaderbank The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

tavm After years of reading about this movie in the book, "The Fifty Worst Films of All Time" and seeing it listed in the fancast.com row of movies available for viewing there, I finally decided to watch this having just found out about this movie's animation director Yasuji Mori on the Cartoon Brew site and his connection to current art-house favorite, animator Hayao Miyazaki. My overall view is, while it's not one of the worst movies I've ever seen, it is-at least in the English-dubbed, edited by American International version-a bit abrupt concerning scene changes not to mention those of characterization as well. And many of the songs are simply adequate though Lex Baxter's score is a nice alternative to whatever the original Japanese music was like. There's one funny scene I liked when the title character was playing drums in the cannibal's stomach and there's plenty of other entertaining instrumental sequences. It's also fun picking which voice is Jonathan Winters', Arnold Stang's, or Sterling Holloway's. And Frankie Avalon isn't too bad as the initially arrogant title character. And the final sequences are well done. But the whole thing was just uneven concerning pacing. Still, Alakazam the Great is worth a look for any animation buff out there.

phillindholm Like others on this site, I have warm memories of this film, having watched it since I was a child. American International did a fine job, in my opinion, of dubbing the picture. What makes their version of "Alakazam The Great" for me though, is the truly beautiful score by Les Baxter (an AIP regular) which perfectly complimented the visuals. A soundtrack album was released back in '61, which I found 35 years ago--at a thrift shop in excellent condition. HBO video released a widescreen videotape of the film about 10 years ago. They did a great job--wonderful picture and sound. Alas, it went out of print when the AIP package changed hands. MGM (now Sony) holds the rights. Hopefully, one day, they will release a DVD.

EL BUNCHO Over the years, I have seen many reviews that have mercilessly slagged ALAKAZAM THE GREAT as a bad movie, and it even made it into the highly questionable book THE 50 WORST FILMS OF ALL TIME. The question I have is: did all of you who hate this movie see the same film that I did when I was a youngster? I have shown many children this film over the years and not one of them failed to enjoy it.ALAKAZAM THE GREAT is loosely based on the Wu Cheng-En classic JOURNEY TO THE WEST, a landmark of Chinese epic literature, and tells the story of an arrogant monkey king who learns the secrets of magic and becomes a cosmic pain in the ass. After a brief rampage through the heavens, he is imprisoned by the gods and eventually sent on a pilgrimage to atone for his sins and learn humility. The monkey must escort a young prince (who is the son of the gods) through a series of insanely lethal adventures in a land teeming with demons and monsters of every description, picking up a couple of unusual traveling companions along the way (an anthropomorphic pig-man and a burrowing cannibal). Much magic and cartoon ass-whuppin' ensues, and despite the (mercifully brief) musical numbers, this film has raw imagination to spare. Fast-paced and fun, this is not the dud that some would lead you to believe. Give it a chance!

carolsco This excellent Japanese animated fantasy is an adaptation of the old Chinese Legend of the Monkey King. Having seen the original Japanese version of this film, I don't have any problems with what American International did with this film, they have removed most of the religious references, but the story is still more or less intact, and AIP hired good talent for the voices.The American score is by film music great Les Baxter, and this is probably the most symphonic score written for an animated film at the time of its U.S. release as Alakazam The Great. Gorgeous stuff, and the movie is lots of fun for both children and adults, who will enjoy a lot of humor added to keep parents awake.