The Phantom Tollbooth(1970)- User Reviews

I was one of those generations of children who was lucky enough to be raised by Loony Tunes. With the aid of Nickelodeon, TNT, and other daytime cartoon programming, I spent an accumulated thousands of hours home sick from school considering it a lucky thing that I "Had my feathers numbered for just such an occasion". I was obsessed with cartoons; my mother would always say that if it wasn't animated, I wouldn't watch it. That was true, and included other childhood favorite feature length cartoon movies beyond the Disney spectrum, including "The Incredible Mr. Limpett", "The Brave Little Toaster", "A Watership Down", and "The Secret of Nyhm"

But having that familiarity with the formula for Looney Tunes, it became instantly clear within the first ten minutes of watching The Phantom Tollbooth that Chuck Jones was rightly suited to animate and adapt Norton Juster's book in typical Warner Bros' style and technique. The story even allows for Chuck to go further with his unconventional animation potential in sequences that are beyond the scope of Bugs Bunny shorts. The story is always humerous, sharp and doesn't pander or dumb down subtle messages for children that modern cartoons have an insulting habit of these days; and at times even balances delicately on the edge of a knife of being too frightening or unsettling. The sequence with the Lethargics was especially mind-numbing.

I believe that if Chuck Jones were alive today, and had the opportunity and wonderful voice talents of the consistent Mel Blanc, the movie would push the envelope even further--elaborating and lengthening certain plot points overlooked from the novel. Since animation at that time was of a more narrow scope than it is today, I believe quite strongly that the film could be stronger; but with a 1968 mentality, I believe this was a milestone movie that paved the way for other surrealistic full length animations to get recognized.

The acting was delightful; the familiar voices of Mel Blanc adding personification and life to all of the "Wonderlandish" characters as well as some of the live action footage of Milo (Butch Patrick) toward the end after he comes back out of the Tollbooth. Think of how difficult it would be for a child actor to just sit and stare straight up intensely for 40 seconds. I find that impressive, and although it is campy and cheesy at times, and the songs are of a slightly less caliber than Danny Elfman (excluding Corpse Bride), my nostalgia for Chuck Jones takes prescedence.

A delightful, fun filled movie that can take you back to those scary choices of growing up. Educational, fun, intelligent, frigtening and justified through salvation and good intention. An ingenious kid movie with pazzaz. The only way it could have been better was if it could have been longer to accomodate for more of the same whimsical fancy that Chuck was onto.

Dont be so hard on it. You would'nt yell at Porky Pig, would you?