I know everyone likes to say that the death of Bambi’s mother is one of the saddest things in the canon, but it really isn’t. Now hear me out. The relationship between Bambi and his mother is never really developed all that well. The scenes they have together are short, and they don’t really expand on much more aside from the typical mother and son relationship. We also don’t even see the death actually happen. It occurs off screen, and Bambi is only seen grieving for a very short amount of time. Was it an emotional scene? Sure. But if it truly rocked Bambi’s world we didn’t see it. After his mother’s death we really didn’t see him struggle to deal with it at all. It was just sort of pushed to the back of our minds for the rest of the film. What actually makes this scene sad is the music that accompanies it. As the two of them are trying to run to safety the music is sporadic and intense. We hear a gunshot and it quickly slows down, and the wind begins to pick up. It’s a great choice to signify how alone Bambi is at the moment, and I think more than anything it helps achieve the purpose of the scene. Also what’s the deal with Bambi’s dad? He is so serious and intimidating! Do male deer just leave their families once their kids are born? Even Bambi is seen alone with his father as opposed to being with his family at the very end of the film.
Bambi suffers at times due to the film getting a little boring in places. It’s always beautiful to watch, but some parts seemed to drag on a little too long. The first half in particular is a little slow, but the second half dramatically picks up the pace. Right from his fight with Ronno the douche things start to get intense for Bambi. He’s constantly trying to protect Faline amidst obstacles from rival deer, hunting dogs, man, and the environment. Despite receiving a wound of his own, Bambi overcomes these trials and returns to safety with the rest of the critters. This segment is exceptionally well done, creating a fast-paced environment filled with tension and high drama. It’s a great climax for a very good film. If the film had better characters and a more visible villain, it would no doubt be ranked higher on the list.
Next Up: A Renaissance film.