hellraiser7 Warning don't read unless seen the film.This film is another one of my favorate animated films of all time and probably my forth favorate film from one of my favorate animated directors Don Bluth. Though I'll admit this isn't the easiest film to watch, despite a fun film it's also one of the saddest film's I've ever seen. I rarely cry in movies but this film is one of the ones I actually did. And considering the case of what happened with voice actress Judith Barsi, it's all the more sadder. Considering the story line of the film and her it's ironically errie much like with Brandon Lee and the film "The Crow" which is another story, though it's storyline is a bit erriely similar to this film if you think about the context.Anyway down to business, the animation is great it's the kind you would see from any Don Bluth film which I wouldn't want any other way. The music is just great this film has some of the best songs and musical numbers from cheerful to even some really sad tunes. One fun number I really like is "You can't keep a good dog down" which I always found funny though also strangely encouraging as it's about not letting life get you down. The song "Love Survives" is beautiful and is one of my favorite end credit themes though it's also really sad as it's the perfect swan song for Judith.Characters are great, Burt Rennalds and Dom Deliwese are a fun comic duo as usual and this was kinda one of the last time both got together (the other an episode of "Robot Chicken"). Both I feel are at their best, I really like how both characters their not really good or bad people but sort of in a grey area; their both people that want more out of life but are looking to get all the wrong things. Itchy (Dom Deliwese) is really funny, Dom is great at putting in that nervious energy to his character (hence the name Itchy). He's sort Charlie's number two as he's the mechanic/engeneer to his schemes. But what I like about his character is he really is a person of conscious, despite going along with Charlie and his schemes he's not all for it. And you can say a bit of a voice of conscious for Charlie if not a perfect conscious, as he warns Charlie both might be in over their heads or gone too far. Charlie most of the time waves it off despite the fact Ichy is actually on the money.Charlie (Burt Renalds) is also really funny and a fun character. He's pretty much a slick griffter and gambler, he has just this dry infectious charisma and energy. Despite doing the wrong thing most of the time, you can't help but forgive the guy because he does wheteher he knows it or not is capable of carring. He does love and think about his friend Itchy and after a while Anne Marie. However what really makes the dynamic complete is Anne Marie played beautiful by Judith Barsi in sadly her final role. Her character to me is the real heart and soul of the film, she's a character you really feel a deep sense of pathos for as she's an orphan and had next to nothing in life. She is a person that has been used for her mutant ablity which is sort of like the "Beastmaster" as she is somehow able to communicate with different animals probably psychically where near the end somehow she was able to draw all the dogs in the city to her rescue. But her she is just beautiful and sweet inside and out, and all she really wants is a family to love her. There is a sequence in the film where she sings the song "Come Home to my Heart" which is a beautiful and sad song, and as the song is playing we see a montage of Anne looking at photos of a couple and imagining both of them as her parients and the things they would share together. That scene just made me cry, it really made me think about all the other kids whom have no parents and grateful I have a family that loves me. That scene alone all the more made me want Anne to win but also shows Charlie's true mission, it's not revenge or to gain fame and fortune but to help Anne Marie. The film in a way is kinda a Christian film, and I mean that in a good way, there are Christian themes but their suttle and not preachy. The problem with Charlie is that he has devoted most of his life to pride, greed and vanity. But in one scene he loses everything he's built, that scene alone just goes to show how all three things are fleeting and love no one back.Or even there is this dream sequence where Charlie gets a glimpse of Hell, which I'll admit had to be one of the scariest sequences I've ever seen. But it taught me a valuable lesson that whatever decision and actions we make in the mortal realm do affect what happens in our lives and the hereafter.But what I really in the film is Charlie really does have feelings for Anne Marie, despite not wanting to admit it yet. At first it's true he is using her for his own gains but slowly but surely those feelings for her do grow and it fills a spiritual emptiness he's had for a while and all his sinful feelings fade when he realizes what really matters in life. Which makes the bond between them all the more endearing and the ending all the more heartbreaking. The film has a good message, life your life well and wisely. But also to devote your time on what really matters because none of us truly have all the time in the world.This animated classic flies high.Rating: 4 stars

Eric Stevenson This movie was really a mixed bag for me and I guess it wasn't quite as good as I thought. I will always give it credit for being better than most of Don Bluth's later work. First, let's look at the positives. The animation is as good as any other Don Bluth film. Second, the voices are great and this is probably Dom DeLuise at his most entertaining voice. Third, this movie really does seem to tackle some interesting topics. I simply love the scenes where Charlie's in Heaven and we get to see this great place in all its detail. It really does have an interesting spiritual tone to it.There seem to be few movies about going to Heaven. Unfortunately, there were a lot of awkward parts. There were simply too many songs and a lot of them weren't that good. It's really weird with how scenes of the well, big lipped alligator, although I guess he does technically have relevance to the plot as he appears more at the end. I was disappointed that they didn't show Heaven more. The dog angel was probably the most entertaining character in the film and I really did want to see more of that world. I guess this was just an okay film from Don Bluth, but I encourage people to watch it and get their own opinion. **1/2

Donald F I liked the sequel better than this. And there's nothing special about that. But at least it was consistent. All Dogs Go to Heaven is on the track to be a great animated movie, but just doesn't sit well with me. Its well-animated, its got spunk, its pretty dark...its also generic and poorly scripted.At its heart, All Dogs Go to Heaven is your typical liar's tale. Guy's a scumbag, guy tries to rip-off innocent victims, guy learns to love them, guy is revealed, guy is rejected, guy saves the day, risking his physical desires for friendship, guy finds redemption. ADGtH travels through each of these plot points. More importantly...I kind of hate Charley. Even for this kind of plot, he's dumb, exploitative, and selfish. I struggled to believe any of his growth with Anne-Marie. Towards the end, I was suffering from whiplash - one moment, he likes her, the next he doesn't care, then he goes to save her! Ugh! >3<And, of course, who can forget the big-lipped, surprisingly-racist, giant alligator? An annoying creature in an elsewise relatively serious movie. And what was up with that ray gun? That was built up, then quickly reduced to a gag.Okay, its not as bad as all my complaints make it out to be. I don't hate it. Its defiantly overrated though. I'd only recommend it to those who love late 80s nostalgia.

TheBlueHairedLawyer When you think of a children's cartoon, what are the first things that come to your mind? For me, it certainly wasn't a casino-owning dog getting murdered and coming back from the dead for revenge, then again, if you're one of those lame adults who finds something in talking animals and that "my dog is my fur-child" nonsense, you might enjoy this. Myself, I thought this was like tripping and seeing some very strange hallucinations that made no sense.For a movie made in the late 1900's you'd think they'd be able to get facts straight. It's not the Great Depression anymore, orphan children rarely live in the streets with patches on their clothes.The dog, named Charlie, could speak to an overweight alligator, had a wiener dog sidekick, the animation was almost as bad as the plot and the soundtrack was bad and really weird. The whole heaven concept was unnecessary and lame. To make matters worse, they add the hell stuff in, which really isn't appropriate for a children's film. There are names of some of the animals make no sense, like "Carface" and "Itchy".I'd never watch this thing again if you payed me, to put it bluntly.