Phantom Tollbooth

"Tollbooth" is not only a film for the whole family, but is actually GOOD for the entire family. Some features will teach children that academics are important, this piece of entertainment goes beyond that and teaches that being a human being is important.

Despite what some critics have written--the songs are awesome and the storyline is very entertaining!


A CHUCK JONES ANIMATION CELEBRATION! =-)   June 21, 2005
Mr Groovy 70s (Hobart, IN)
26 out of 26 found this review helpful

What to say? Chuck Jones has created a real bona fide classic which ought to be shared by ALL age groups as well as cartoon fanatics like myself. (That is, whether or not you have kids in both the former and latter.)

Having first seen this at the age of 13, I must admit, I couldn't help feeling perplexed when I saw the first few minutes of the movie: bored, pessimistic little Milo making his way home from school, then finds a magical tollbooth popping up in his bedroom. Once he enters it, he finds out he's become a cartoon character, then wondering into an alternate cartoon universe with a crazy patrol officer constantly repeating the word "guilty" and little lethargic amoeba-like creatures called "doldrums". Since I was watching this on TV, so much of it freaked me out so bad I flipped to another channel. Now let's fast forward to the age of 26...

...and now I'm actually ENJOYING IT! Having been a lifelong Looney Toons fan myself, this movie IS a refreshing break from the usual fare of Bugs, Daffy, and Marvin the Martian. The unique style of animation as well as the psychedelic colors/Picasso-like backgrounds were BOTH timeless and way ahead of its time (especially since it was made in 1968). Besides, now that I've seen it in its entirety, it is pretty fun and enjoyable to watch as Milo embarks on a journey with Tock the Watchdog and the Humbug to rescue the princesses of rhyme and reason. Their disappearance has created nothing but confusion and despair over a magical land full of words, letters, and numbers coming to life.

The bottom line on the Phantom Tollbooth: if you want to see non-Looney Toons works of Chuck Jones and still enjoy classic children's TV/movies, like Captain Kangaroo, Electric Company,
Schoolhouse Rock, and Charlotte's Web, then THIS IS IT! :-)


AN UNFORGETTABLE MASTERPEICE   May 17, 2001
Rachel (New York)
21 out of 23 found this review helpful

I remember when I first viewed this movie, having never had heard of the book or such a concept. I guess I was young then and wasn't expected to know anything about it anyhow, but I did remember enough so that I was on a three year search trying to find the Phantom Tollbooth...finally I realized the magic of the Internet. The Phantom Tollbooth is not only an educational film, inbreeding knowledgeable information through adventures experienced with Milo in Digitopolis, Dictionopolis, the Land of Expectations and the Castle in the Air, but also it is enjoyable to watch and be submerged in. It definitely is on my top ten list of movies, and I think it always will be. Chuck Jones's masterpiece is really a movie everyone, young and old, should own and love.


mind-stimulating children's fare   November 21, 1998
15 out of 16 found this review helpful

The Phantom Tollbooth is a wonderful flick that I always enjoyed as a child. Now, as an elementary school teacher, I constantly search for videos that differ from the standard Disney cartoon. I was concerned that the cinematic style of this picture would seemed too dated for 90s kids, but I was wrong. My class thoroughly enjoyed the animation and the songs. The characters appealed to the children's own experiences in fourth grade. They understood Milo's struggles with writng and divsion, and enjoyed seeing their schoolwork come to life in such a silly manner. It turned out to be a great way for kids to see why school is important. This movie isn't just smart, it's also a really good time. I can't praise it enough.


A Movie to Remember   May 28, 2001
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

This movie is a wonderful family film. A little boy named Milo that is bored with his life suddenly finds a tollbooth in his room. He heads through the tollbooth into a world where nothing makes any sense. He goes through the Doldrums where he meets a watchdog named Tock, goes to Dictionopilous, Digitopilous and the Mountains of Ignorance. Just like the book, the monsters are taken from some real-life people and attitudes. The songs could be better, but I look at them fondly. I remember watching this movie and taping it from the cartoon network, but they unfortunatley stopped showing it. When I saw I could buy it again, I had to tell everybody what a great movie this is.