Isabella Harrison

Adorable, but really hard to find. Had to wait nearly a decade to finally be able to watch it again. :) The animation style feels a little weird towards the beginning scene, but after about 5 minutes you get into the story line and really start to enjoy it. Pretty family friendly. No violence whatsoever (though a few examples of clumsiness - none of the characters get seriously hurt). Lots of humor. Great for kids.

NOT recommended for those new to the study of fungi. While the film does have several pretty scenes and a few good points, at least 1/3 of the film promotes the usage of hallucinogenic mushrooms. Much of the evidence given on this topic is poorly supported or even completely misinterpreted. For instance, several studies are cited that found that new neurons are created when such mushrooms are consumed. However, the film fails to describe what kind of neurons these are: these studies likely describe the formation of a type of physical ADDICTION that occurs in the brain (one reason such addictions are so hard to break - each additional usage of the given drug strengthens/increases mental changes associated with craving the drug; you would have similar but safer results reading a new book or learning a new topic/language). Furthermore, no information is presented in support of the opposite perspective. Instead, the interviewees in the film describe considering hallucinogenic mushrooms dangerous as being 'nonfactual', which is definitely not always true (and arguably is not in most cases). The film also emphasizes being under the influence of such mushrooms and calls it a spiritual experience, only describing episodes that were more positive (in context of hallucinations/sensations that were not terrifying or where an individual did not get hurt). As a result, this is presented in a highly dangerous perspective for those unfamiliar with the topic. While I do agree with studying fungi for much needed applications (medicine, cleaning the environment, etc.), this film exaggerates several points and goes completely off the deep end on others. Therefore, I do NOT suggest this film at all; there are much less biased sources of the same information.

An instant classic. Absolutely unforgettable. I would recommend it to anyone. I have seen 2 different English versions of it to date: one is on Netflix and one on certain other services, such as Redbox (I believe this to be the original). Each has slightly different dialogue. From a film-making perspective, the Netflix version is better: the scenes are more dramatic and there are also more pauses for viewers to catch a breath. Parts were trimmed or cut out completely to create smoother transitions. The voice acting also appears more convincing in this version. However, the other version is great too, and has some parts missing from the Netflix version (likely due to time concerns, since parts of that version seem slowed down slightly for effect). Some of these parts offer valuable background on the characters and setting, including a greater emphasis on why this film is sometimes called "Leap!". Both versions of this film are inspiring and enjoyable, but I do recommend starting with the original to get interesting background info. If you do not like one version, please consider giving the other a chance before making a final decision on this movie.

An absolute family favorite for the holidays. We watch it every year.

A good story that develops quite nicely. It seems a little B rated but is still enjoyable and fairly well made. Great for animal lovers.

A touching classic with a great plot. One of my all-time favorite movies.