TheLittleSongbird
It is very easy to see why 'Faerie Tale Theatre' is so highly regarded by many people. It is not a perfect series, with some imperfections here and there in individual episodes, but there is a huge amount to like and it is difficult not to get any enjoyment out of them.As seen in all my reviews of the individual episodes, which goes into a good amount of detail as what worked in the episode and what didn't quite. Many of their adaptations of various well-known and well-loved fairy tales are charming, clever and sometimes funny, a few even emotionally moving. 'Faerie Tale Theatre' puts its own magical spin (whether playing for laughs or straight) on the best of the episodes while still capturing the essence of the stories (much more faithful than anything by Disney, speaking as a fan), while also giving further enjoyment in seeing talented performers in early roles or in roles that are departures from their usual roles.Favourite episodes of 'Faerie Tale Theatre' are-: "Hansel and Gretel", "The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers", "The Princess and the Pea", "The Three Little Pigs", "The Snow Queen", "Rumpelstiltskin", "The Pied Piper of Hamelin", "Little Red Riding Hood", "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", "The Dancing Princesses" and "Cinderella".Least favourite episodes, while still not bad at all are "Rip Van Winkle" (the worst looking and scripted of the series) and "The Princess Who Had Never Laughed". Other lesser episodes, though there is not a misfire in the whole of 'Faerie Tale Theatre', are-: "Puss in Boots", "Pinocchio", "Beauty and the Beast", "The Nightingale" and "Jack and the Beanstalk".Visually, mostly 'Faerie Tale Theatre' does well with its low budget. Episodes that actually look good are in particular "The Snow Queen", "Hansel and Gretel", "Little Red Riding Hood", "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" and "Cinderella". There are a few episodes that don't fare so well, particularly "Rip Van Winkle", the toads in "Thumbelina", the effects in "The Little Mermaid", the ghoulish make-up in "The Nightingale" and the cow and the giant in "Jack and the Beanstalk".Throughout the whole series the music is great, apart from the random and misplaced mole's song in "Thumbelina". Shelley Duval does wonders with the introductions and proves that she wasn't that bad an actress, especially in "Rumpelstiltskin".Really enjoyed the writing on the most part, with the few exceptions being "Rip Van Winkle" and some overdone innuendo in "Sleeping Beauty". Some episodes are very funny, especially "The Three Little Pigs", "The Frog Prince", "Goldilocks and the Three Bears", "The Emperor's New Clothes" and "Little Red Riding Hood", while there are darker toned ones like "The Snow Queen", "Snow White", "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" and "The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers" as well as some poignant ones like "The Snow Queen" and "The Little Mermaid".Most of the acting is great. Highlights are Robin Williams, Herve Villechaize, Malcolm McDowell, Burgess Meredith, Klaus Kinski, Vanessa Redgrave, Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, James Earl Jones, Leonard Nimoy, Jean Stapleton, Joan Collins, Jeff Goldblum, Lesley Ann Warren and Lee Remick.A few didn't work so well for me. They were Paul Reubens, Elliot Gould, Brock Peters, Matthew Broderick, Robert Carradine, Edward James Olmos and the waste of Anjelica Huston in "Beauty and the Beast".Check out the greatest moments/reunion episode "Grimm Party". That is entertaining and has a nice invented story.Overall, flawed but still timeless. 8/10 Bethany Cox
jinkyfer
Check out your local library or video store. They usually have them to rent on video tape. Just set up a second VCR and dub them. I did that for my son, nieces, and nephews and they love them. My local library has the entire collection and since my original tapes got destroyed when I moved that's how I manged to do it.Another option would be to look either on Ebay or check Critics Choice Video. I would check with Ebay first as people usually are willing to make copies for a fee.Amazon.com might be another option as they seem to sell almost anything or will have a general idea as to when they will be released. I believe the company that released them, Platypus/Lion's Gate Productions might be able to help you with that also. Or also check Mercury Pictures, Inc.Any of these should be able to help you out.
gerry-russell-139
I grew up enraptured of FAERIE TALE THEATRE. My sister and I would watch them and then act them out later playing dress-up. We even went as far as re-enacting the publicity ad where Shelley Duvall (God bless her for coming up with the idea for this show!!!) would sit on the PRINCESS AND THE PEA set surrounded by hundreds of old antique books and introduce several different episodes of this timeless series. My favorites would have to be (1) LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD (2) THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA and (3) GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS. Others are THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, Cinderella, RAPUNZEL, THE DANCING PRINCESSES and THE LITTLE MERMAID. Malcolm McDowell as the Wolf in RED RIDING HOOD, Vanessa Redgrave as the evil queen in SNOW WHITE, Eve Arden as the Stepmother, Karen Black as the Sea Witch and Gena Rowlands as the Witch in RAPUNZEL are by far the best portrayals. And, miracle of miracles, they are FINALLY AVAILABLE ON DVD!!!! Praise Jesus!!!! Check them out at unbelievably discounted prices of just $6.98 each @starmaker2.com and amazon.com at the same price! This is truly a series that all can enjoy no matter what your age is.
