Mary Poppins

I was always a Mary Poppins fan as a child, but thanks to the new Saving Mr. Banks movie I've been re-obsessing myself with her. To prepare myself for a full Mary Poppins experience, I read the original books, watched Saving Mr. Banks, and finally popped in the new Blu Ray transfer of this iconic movie. Combined, the grandeur of Mary Poppins had me in tears. There is something about her, both Disney's and Travers' versions of her, that embodies imagination and seems to be both the essence of jollity and the earnestness of tragedy. Having read the books, I understand why Travers did not want her Poppins to receive the Disney treatment, but unlike her, I believe the adaptation was a brilliant work of art that added dimension to the books rather than take them away.As for the Blu Ray itself, I found the transfer to be exquisite. There's no question that the movie has never looked or sounded this fantastic on home media before. The half-animation half-live action sequences were even more magical than I remember as a child. I was afraid the added HD would reveal some of the '60s special effects, but actually they still boggle my mind even by today's standards. The soundtrack includes some of the best songs from any musical, ever.OVERALL: The story and back-story of Mary Poppins is nearly as incredible as the film itself. It's a miracle the film was ever made, but were it not for Travers' disagreeable critiques and prolonged refusal to sell the rights, there's no doubt in my mind that the movie would not have been nearly as good as it was. The improved special effects, Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, the Sherman Brothers, Walt himself, who must have realized that his own death wouldn't be far off - it was a symphony of extraordinary talent that happened to come together and create one of the masterpieces of cinema. And were it not for Poppins, it is unlikely that we would have Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music. For art lovers, all this history is positively juicy. If you've seen this movie before, even if it was years ago, I definitely recommend reading the books and watching Saving Mr. Banks before re-watching, but either way, Mary Poppins is a classic and will be cherished by everyone.

Hey there, this classic film is an absolute gem! I hadn't watched it since back in the 90s, and let me tell you, it was like rediscovering a hidden treasure. If you're into building up your film collection, this one is a must-have. Trust me, you won't regret adding this to your stash!

One of my favorite movies! I love how feminist it is, the musicality, the lyrics, the story, the performances, Julie Andrews!!!! CHEFF KISSES!

"Mary Poppins." Many film critics call it the best Walt Disney movie ever made... the crowning achievement from a studio that has brought us such timeless classics as "Fantasia," "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves," "Bambi," "Beauty and the Beast," and "The Lion King." For my money, Mary Poppins tops `em all! This fabulous musical comedy, starring Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, and Glynis Johns, and based on the best selling British children's books written by P.L. Travers, ranks as one of the two best children's movies ever made. (The other being "The Wizard of Oz.")Where to begin? This is such an extraordinary movie!! It has everything that a great kid's movie should have: a wonderful story that teaches strong family values; a brilliant cast; absolutely stunning special effects (even by today's standards); and wonderful music. Here are just a few of the things I like best about "Mary Poppins:"THE ACTING is absolutely brilliant! Julie Andrews won a Best Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of Mary Poppins. She imbues her character with the reserve so prevalent in British society during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. At the same time, she manages to convey a wonderful sense of joy, kindness, and compassion toward the children. Dick Van Dyke is superb as the carefree chimney sweep ans jack-of-all-trades, Bert. His relaxed comic style is perfectly matched to his character. And, while his Cockney accent doesn't quite deliver the goods accurately, it's nevertheless pretty good. (By the way, look for Mr. Van Dyke in a secondary role in this film. I won't tell you which one... but it's unlikely you'll miss him!) David Tomlinson is the third stand-out member of this fabulous ensemble cast. He's practically perfect as the pompous, stuffy martinet of a father, George Banks. Other cast members are excellent as well, especially Glynis Johns as Winifred Banks; and Ed Wynn in his hilarious role as the laughing man, Uncle Albert.THE WRITING: Screen writers Bill Walsh and Don Da Gradi adapted "Mary Poppins" from the series of British children's books authored by P.L. Travers (1899-1996) This is a tender story that addresses many family issues that were as problematic at the beginning of the twentieth century as they are today: responsibility, accountability, and the proper role of parents in the rearing of their children. In the Banks household, we find a family with many of the same problems that afflict today's families: two parents, each focused on their own interests, each so busy with their own lives that they have precious little time to forge and maintain loving bonds with their children. What are the possible consequences for the children? How can these problems be addressed and solved? The beauty of this story is that it's done in a way that's easy for kids, even younger ones (I'd say ages six and older) to understand and learn from.THE MUSIC: All of the music and lyrics in "Mary Poppins" are original... composed by Richard Sherman and his brother Robert. This film has some of the best songs ever to appear in a movie! Each song is in itself a classic: "A Spoonful of Sugar;" "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious;" (I think that's how it's spelled!); "Feed the Birds" (my personal favorite); Academy Award-winning "Chim Chim Cher-ee;" "Step in Time;" and "Let's Go Fly a Kite" are but a few of the magical, sometimes whimsical, but always "practically perfect" songs that make this film such a wonderful musical experience.And then there's THE MAGIC... the special effects! In its day, "Mary Poppins" was on the "cutting edge" of movie-making technology. Examples of these (what were then) ultra-modern special effects: this was one of the first films to use miniature robotics for animation. (That robin that lands on the window sill during "A Spoonful of Sugar" is a miniature robotic bird!) And, of course, this is also one of the first films to combine real-life actors and animation extensively (the entire sequence with Mary, Bert and the children inside the sidewalk chalk picture.) These special effects may seem a bit tame when compared with today's computer-generated graphics, but make no mistake: they're still eye-popping!Go beyond all the glitz and glitter of the film, and you'll find at the heart of "Mary Poppins" a simple story about family, with important lessons for all of us - children and adults alike - on how we can make our homes better and happier places to live.By today's standards, "Mary Poppins" may seem a little old-fashioned, even dated. But it's still a great kid's movie! With a well written, touching story, superb music, and outstanding special effects, it's at once brilliantly funny, poignant, joyous, carefree, and just plain marvelous entertainment. It earns my highest recommendation.