Favorite Live Action Disney

January 30, 2015January 31, 2015 | Rachel's Reviews

I haven’t done a Disney post in a little while so I thought I would give a list of my favorite Disney live action movies. I am not including Muppets on this list as I am going to cover them at another time. This also does not include Marvel, Star Wars, Touchstone or other studios/franchises owned and operated by Disney. These say Disney right on the cover!

What made me think of this is the recent announcement of Emma Watson playing Belle in live action Beauty and the Beast. I love Watson but am not excited about this project at all. The idea of a CG Lumiere, Cogsworth and Mrs Potts makes me want to throw up. Watson seemed to give the impression in an interview they would be including the music from the animated film, which would be a first in these live action fairytales. That could be a good thing or bad thing.

I just hate this live action trend so much. They all are big, garish, stupid and lose any of the charm of the originals. Hopefully with Beauty and the Beast being Howard Ashman’s masterpiece and him working on his death bed will keep them from complete sacrilege but I am not optimistic.

Just stop Disney. Stop cannibalizing yourself. At least the cheap cash grab sequels of the 90s weren’t released in the theaters. Shame, shame, shame!

Anyway, when Disney gets it right in live action it can be very entertaining. Friend of the blog Mark has a live action Disney blog you should definitely check out. We disagree on a lot but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying his reviews.

https://myliveactiondisneyproject.wordpress.com/

So here is my list…

Best Disney Live Action

Honorable Mentions- Shaggy Dog, Absent Minded Professor, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, Freaky Friday (old and new), Newsies, High School Musical, Pete’s Dragon, Darby O’ Gill and the Little People, Happiest Millionaire, Cool Runnings

12. Swiss Family Robinson-

An admittedly hokey story but well cast and paced. I love the Home Alone style traps they construct for the pirates and the tree house. The love triangle is less interesting but it is an entertaining family adventure along the lines of Princess Bride.

11. Tuck Everlasting

A lesser known Disney entry that I think is underrated. Based on the book by Natalie Babbit it is the story of a girl who falls in love with a boy who can’t age. It is beautiful and sweet and isn’t afraid to give kids/teenagers something to think about instead of the same dopey romance movie we’ve seen a million times. I love the cinematography and overall feel of the picture. (This movie is my argument they should have cast Alexis Bidel as Bella in Twilight. She is way more ethereal and hauntingly beautiful than Kristen Stewart…)

10. Parent Trap (old and new)

The story of 2 twin sisters who find each other at camp and decide to try and get their parents back together. Both the old and new are very charming with great lead performances by Hayley Mills and Lindsay Lohan. The chemistry between parents on both films is palatable and convincing and as someone who hates camping I sympathize with poor Vikki (I may not show this to my kids for fear they will submarine me!) . I think it is funny and sweet. Some worry it gives kids a false hope their parents will get back together but in my experience kids are smart enough to tell the difference between a movie and reality. If they have such a hope it is likely a natural emotion not really having anything to do with a movie.

9. Pirates of the Caribbean Curse of the Black Pearl

The sequels have all been terrible IMO but the original was so much fun. Great sword fighting sequences, fun story, strong cast and our first introduction to Jack Sparrow. Wish they had figured out a way to make the follow ups good but at least we got one good movie out of it! 8. Old Yeller

The Disney movie that will make you cry your eyes out but in a good way. Tears in a movie can be manipulative and I can end up resenting the movie (I’m talking to you Nicholas Sparks!) but when done right it we can cry out of a love and attachment to the character. This is certainly true with Old Yeller and I’m not even a dog person. What Travis has to do at the end of the movie is so well acted and gut wrenching. Makes you want to reach through the screen and give him a hug. It’s a movie I like to watch when I’m sick and feeling sorry for myself. Sometimes a girl just needs a good cry!

7. Bedknobs and Broomsticks

Yes it is a paler imitation of Mary Poppins but I still really like it. Angela Lansbury is so much fun as the witch who wants to learn a spell so she can help in the war effort. David Tomlinson is also wonderful, as usual, as the con-man selling Lansbury the course. The kid actors are not great but the special effects hold up in a hokey kind of way. The animated sequences are completely unnecessary to the story but a lot of fun. It’s just a charmer.

6. Chronicles of Narnia: Lion, Witch and Wardrobe

Kids not old enough to watch Lord of the Rings? Narnia is a perfect option. I love it for its biblical allegory but even if you aren’t religious it is a classic story full of magic, sacrifice, love, friendship and an amazing villain played by Tilda Swinton. Narnia is vividly created and Aslan is just as I would have imagined when reading the books. The kids are not as good as the Harry Potter kids but they are fine. It’s an exciting story in a fantastical setting. It also has a nice message about pride and how Satan will work on our egos to get us to move away from what we know is right.

5. Holes

When this first came out I called all my friends and family and told them to see it! I loved it. I still love it. It’s so creative and clever the way it tells several stories at once with Shia Lebeouf sent to camp where they dig holes in the desert all day. What are they digging for? Well, we learn about that as the movie tells the story of an old west bi-racial romance between Kissing Kate and Trout Walker and a curse put on LeBeouf’s family. It’s kind of a puzzle for kids as they put together the various clues in both stories. Great supporting work by Sigourney Weaver, Jon Voight, Henry Winkler and Tim Blake Nelson.

4. Disney’s The Kid

A movie I think about a lot despite its stupid title. Bruce Willis meets his 12 year old self and they are both horrified with each other. I have wondered many times what the 12 year old Rachel would think of my life. In some ways she’d be thrilled and in others disappointed. It’s a story that has huge heart and is maybe more for adults than children. We all hope we have lived a good life and this movie makes me ponder every time I watch it.

3. Saving Mr Banks

I am aware this movie is mostly fan fiction but for the story it tells it really moved me. I love the ending when Tom Hanks tells Emma Thompson “I’m tired of remembering it that way”. That really impacted me and made me think. I’m tired of remembering certain things from my life in certain ways. It’s such a great example of showing how most humans have a moment where childhood is over and most of us always resent whoever it was that gave us that moment. For me it was bullies, for Disney it was his Dad making him deliver papers in the cold, for Travers it was her father dyeing on her. Disney compensated with whimsey, Travers by scorning whimsey and embracing a whole new identity.

2. Pollyanna

One of my all time favorite children’s movies about a girl named Pollyanna (played by Hayley Mills) who having lost both of her parents has decided to live her life always looking at the upside. Her positivity effects all around her including her stubborn aunt played by Jane Wyman. Karl Malden is so good as the minister who realizes preaching fire and brimstone may not be the way to share God’s message. Agnes Moorehead is also great as a lonely cantankerous woman who learns from Pollyanna how to see color and light even from her room. Yes it’s drippy and sentimental but it is all so well acted that when an event happens to cause Pollyanna to loose her cheerfulness it is really quite devastating. Then it ends on just the right note. It’s a movie I don’t know if it could be made today. We have all gotten too cynical for such a story which is kind of sad when you think about it. 1. Mary Poppins

In the running for the best children’s movie ever made. It is practically perfect in every way! Julie Andrews as lovely as Mary, the positive yet sometimes stern governess to little Jane and Michael. David Tomlinson is so great as Mr Banks the banker who believes in order and discipline and comes into conflict with Mary. When he thinks he is going to be fired and see’s the Bird Lady it is a completely devastating moment. He is not the villain of the picture which a lesser film would have done. Glynis Johns is fun as the suffragette Mrs Banks and the kids are sweet and charming.

The music by the Sherman Brothers is unforgettable and dancing sequences like Step in Time are so captivating you hardly notice how long they are. The animated section is whimsical and fun and who can forget Dick van Dyke bad accent and all as the free spirited Burt. If the only flaw I can find in a movie is a bad accent I think that is pretty darn great. Definitely one of Disney’s great movies. Glad he fought Travers to make it!

So there you go Disney. How about you look at these films and remember how to make good live action instead of junk like Maleficent and Alice in Wonderland…Please!

Disney Over/Under

January 15, 2015January 15, 2015 | Rachel's Reviews

I haven’t done a straight Disney post for a while and I thought it might be fun to go through the decades of Disney and pick one movie I think is overrated, and one underrated. The overrated movies are not bad movies (except for 1). I like all Disney movies to one level or another and there are only 4 that I have no desire to ever see again. (Any guesses?)

1937-1942 Early Era

Overrated- Pinocchio

I don’t think any from this era are overrated. They are all great. That said, I like Pinocchio. It is brilliant, a masterpiece, but it is so dark and scary that it is not one I want to rewatch much. I would give it an A where most people give it an A+ so only a small difference (I had a B in my original review but I’ve thought on it and would give an A now). It’s a morality tale and sometimes that can be a little heavy handed and the Pleasure Island sequence is especially chilling particularly the kids turning into donkeys for the salt mines (holy crap that’s scary!). However, I LOVE the music, animation, and heart! I appreciate a lot more now as an adult than I did as a child but unlike Hunchback which goes too far IMO this is still watchable scary for kids. Just not a favorite of mine even though I recognize its many great qualities.

Underrated- Dumbo

Dumbo I think unfairly has a reputation as being racist and so people stay away. The crows are a caricature but I never found them demeaning or insulting. Perhaps I am not culturally sensitive to that group but they are happy and cheerful, nothing childish or patronizing. Even if you fast forward the crows (a small scene) the rest of the movie has such heart and teaches about accepting others with differences- just the message some fear the crows are against.

I love the relationship between Timothy Mouse and Dumbo and Mrs Jumbo and her son. The artistry is also simple but beautiful.

1942-1949 Package Era

Overrated- Fun and Fancy Free

None of the package movies are really rated very highly but I got a lot of pushback on my Fun and Fancy Free review because people have nostalgia for Mickey and the Beanstalk. I wonder how many have really seen it recently? It is pleasant and Crazy Donald is cool but it is also predictable and kind of slow. But it is harmless enough. What I really didn’t care for was Bongo- the story of a circus bear who learns how to slap people to show them how much they love them. What a great message for kids!

I am also not a big fan of the interruptions from Charlie McCarthy and Edgar Bergen at a little girls birthday party. I know they are legends but it didn’t make me laugh and felt a little awkward.

Underrated- Melody Time

I find Melody Time to be one of the more palatable of the package films because although it has 7 shorts it focuses mainly on 2 longer segments- Johnny Appleseed and Pecos Bill. Appleseed I love but may be less agreeable to non-Christian viewers. It looks like it was picked up off a Grandma Moses painting and the story is sweet and music lovely. Pecos Bill is also beautiful to look at and a very funny Western tall tale.

1950-1959 Post War Era

Overrated- Peter Pan

I like Peter Pan but unlike Dumbo I think people have a right to complain about the Redman song. It is pretty bad and long. Plus, everyone is so mean to Wendy and she doesn’t really do anything worthy of the ill treatment. It also resorts to slapstick a lot. Most of it I think is funny but it gets a little old after a while. Still, the artistry is lovely and music great. It’s a solid, entertaining movie, just not a favorite of mine.

Underrated- Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland isn’t for every taste so I think that is why it gets a bad rap. If you can just take off your normal linear storytelling hat and appreciate something different you will be dazzled. It is supposed to be nonsense, not have a plot. The movie is Alice being introduced to a variety of unusual creatures and I think it is brilliant. The artistry is so much fun with the great Mary Blair’s visual style and the music is wonderful too. Even after seeing it many times I find myself curious for what Alice will find next on her journey. It’s great!

1960-1979 Sketch Era

Overrated- Sword in the Stone

This is another film I think a lot of people have a fondness for out of nostalgia more than it actually being a good movie. I was honestly being generous when I gave it a C-. I hated the way it looks. Everything looks like it has been painted over with blue and gray and feels dirty. But most importantly none of the lessons Arthur goes through teach him anything about being a King or make him qualified to take the sword out of the stone. Let’s see- he learns to be saved as a fish by Archimedes, make a squirrel cry as a squirrel and have Merlin battle Madam Mim as a bird. How does any of that relate to being a King? The songs are fun I will grant it that.

Underrated- Robin Hood

The movie even Disney is embarrassed by because of the recycled animation. I’ve thought about it a lot and decided I don’t care about that. It’s just a technique like CG, hand drawn, stop motion, and if the story is good than the technique doesn’t matter to me. Not that Robin Hood is a perfect film. I think it is one act too long and gets a little too melancholy in the 3rd act. But I love the dry English wit and pithy dialogue. It’s funny with a great villain and solid music.

1980-1988 Pre-Renaissance

Overrated- Fox and the Hound

Fox and the Hound is a fine movie but I’ve seen it pretty high on some lists and it is far too corny for me to take seriously. I mean there is an extended poem with violins playing in the background. If that’s not corny I don’t know what is? And the characters are kind of one note although the message about friendships changing is a good one. I hate the female characters who are just man (or dog/fox) candy. I am not a fan of the dopey music and the bear scene while striking feels like it belongs in a different movie.

Underrated- Great Mouse Detective

Those of us who are in the animation fandom may think I’m nuts for saying Great Mouse Detective is underrated but I think if you asked the world at large many are unaware of The Great Mouse Detective. It’s not a perfect movie and is pretty scary for little tikes but the energy of Basil and Dawson and the great performance by Vincent Price as Ratigan make it thoroughly entertaining. The scheme is over-the-top like a Bond villain and the animation is lush including the terrific use of computer animation in the clocktower segment. The only part I dislike is the stripper song at the bar which I fast forward.

1989-1999 Renaissance

Overrated- Hunchback of Notre Dame

Hunchback of Notre Dame is kind of the opposite of Great Mouse Detective. The hardcore Disney fandom loves it, where most normal moviegoers I know greatly dislike it. We’ve hashed this out a million times on this blog but my main issues are the tonal shifts it takes between obvious appeals to children to adult-appropriate cruelty and messaging. The movie is visually striking but I found myself either disliking or feeling ambivalent towards every character. The change of Frollo to a judge from the Archbishop actually makes the church look worse by being inattentive and enabling a madman. The music is wonderful and it is some of Disney’s best animation but I just can’t get over that tonal see-saw and the cruel imagery for a film marketed and made for children. They should have just gone all adult and I would have gone for it.

Underrated- Rescuers Down Under

This movie hits a couple happy buttons for me. I love action adventure movies with treasure hunts and clues. To me RDU tapped into that formula and was so much fun. I also love scenes in movies where characters fly and this has stunning flying sequences with Marahute. I also had extremely low expectations because I hate the first one. RDU tempers the meanness of the first by only having McCleach in the movie for about 12 minutes and Cody is rarely alone. There is way more hope throughout and John Candy is hilarious as Wilbur the albatross who is operated on by crazy mice doctors (still one of the funniest scenes in all of Disney!).

2000-2009 Post Renaissance

Overrated- Brother Bear

Finding an overrated movie in this period is hard and Brother Bear has a bad rotten tomatoes score and is at the bottom section of most people’s list so how can it apply? Well, I guess this is degrees. I thought it was total junk. I disagreed with literally every decision they made. Most people give it a ‘stupid but harmless’ pass but I hated everything about it- the voice acting, predictable story, terrible character designs, awful background songs, strange singer choices, unlikable characters, annoying side characters, humor that doesn’t work (most jokes aren’t even jokes, no punchlines given…), ending is unbelievable and it had potential which made their terrible choices even more maddening. I would way rather watch Brave than this and I am not a big Brave fan but in the world of Disney turning into bears movies this is by far the worst. It was nominated for an Oscar I remind you!

Underrated- Meet the Robinsons

Meet the Robinsons is not a perfect movie by a long shot but I think many were so upset by Chicken Little they didn’t give this a fair shot. It’s a lot of fun and very clever. It is too cluttered but it is also kind of a puzzle I had fun putting together. The Bowler Hat villain is creepily drawn and you will never guess his surprise! The characters are engaging and fun and the story has a lot of energy, zipping around all over the place. And I almost always like a time travel story so this just worked even with its flaws. Give it another shot and I bet you will find some things to like.

2010-Present Revitalization Era

Overrated- Wreck It Ralph

Sorry guys. I like Wreck-it Ralph but it is an average Disney for me not a top tier film. I love the setup. I love Ralph but I do not like Vanellope or Sarah Silverman’s vocal performance. The villain is very clever but they spend way too much time in Sugar Rush and I’ve seen lots of worlds that look like Sugar Rush. After a while it kind of looked like one of the new Care Bears movie backdrops. I love the music, and what they were going for but it loses me. It should have been more like The Lego Movie or Monsters Inc in the door scene and skipped between lots of the games. That would have been much more entertaining to me. Again, not terrible. I like it. I own it. I just don’t think it is the masterpiece others think. Plus, the other movies in the era are in my top 10 except for Winnie the Pooh which I love and Princess and the Frog which I feel is perfectly rated.

Underrated- Winnie the Pooh

I don’t know if I think any of the films from this era is underrated but like Great Mouse Detective I think 2011’s Winnie the Pooh has been largely forgotten by the general public despite getting good reviews and praise of many hard-core fans. This is a movie that takes its target demographic of little children under 3 seriously and is gentle and sweet and I loved it. Aside from a few of the voice actors and Christopher’s eyes it is lovely story of the gang trying to find Eeyore’s tail and prepare for the coming of the Backson. I love the music and the animation is wonderful. I love that this movie was made for little children with no attempts to wink at adults and even the short running time is perfect for the attention span of toddlers.

And please save your conspiracy theories. This was not a carefully constructed film to justify the closing of the 2D department. That is so asinine. If Disney can make money on 2D guess what they want to make money. That’s what a business wants to do…It’s not as good as the original but a worthy sequel in spirit and feel- an lovely homage you might say.

So there you have it. I’m sure you will have lots to say. Remember I like all of these movies except Brother Bear. I love Disney movies! Share with me what your over/under would be for the eras I mentioned? Always be respectful and we can have a spirited debate. Thanks!

Bracket Fun

December 16, 2014December 16, 2014 | Rachel's Reviews

So I found this bracket download and have been having fun with it tonight. I was just goofing off so please don’t take it too seriously.

Here we have a tournament of Christmas Carol versions

Next is the worst of my Disney rankings. Turns out Bolt is the bad movie I would most least mind watching again. It’s my favorite of the bad. I’d say that’s right on. It’s an entertaining if forgettable little movie.

This I’m sure will cause all kinds of controversy but there you go. My top 16 battling it out. I did rank Big Hero 6 higher than Lion King but today if I had to pick I went with Lion King. Maybe tomorrow I will feel differently. They are all good!

Here we go with my favorite holiday films battling it out!

A little 2014 Movies competition!

So this is just silly fun but I had a great time doing it. It’s different than making a list because you are just making a choice over 2 movies. If I had a top 8 holiday films Die Hard wouldn’t be on there but in the tournament it was, so that’s just kind of entertaining

If you want to make your own brackets go to http://www.printabletournamentbrackets.net/preview/16_Team_Single_Elimination_Bracket

Scrooge 6: Disney’s A Christmas Carol

November 30, 2014November 30, 2014 | Rachel's Reviews

Trailer:

Cast

Jim Carrey as:
- Ebenezer Scrooge
- Ghost of Christmas Past
- Ghost of Christmas Present
- Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Gary Oldman as:
- Bob Cratchit
- Jacob Marley
- Tiny Tim
- Tim’s voice is provided by Ryan Ochoa.
Colin Firth as Fred
Bob Hoskins as:
- Mr. Fezziwig
- Old Joe
Robin Wright Penn as:
- Belle
- Fan Scrooge
Cary Elwes as:
- Dick Wilkins.
- Mad Fiddler
- Businessman #1
- Guest #2
- Portly Gentleman #1

I already mentioned in my ‘Family Movies I Like that Others Do Not’ post that the Disney 2009 version of a Christmas Carol I really enjoy even though many others do not. Hopefully here I can explain a little bit more thoroughly why it works for me even if it is not perfect.

Differences-

The biggest difference is this is the only stop motion animated version so it has the feel of an animated film with the realism of live action. For what is basically a ghost story I think it works very well.

I think shots like this are beautiful

I love the scenes where we are flying through London although some go on a bit too long (As I have said I have a weakness for characters flying in movies. I almost always love it) .The colors are bright and the way it uses shadows and light is very beautiful.

Another big difference is this version tries to stay extremely close to the text. There are passages such as the men joyfully shoveling snow off the rooftops that is almost never included but it is here.

I also love in that same scene when they are flying past a steeple and cross we hear ‘hark the herald angels sing’ and Scrooge (in a direct quote from the book) justifies his lack of faith in Christ by asking the spirit about poor people on the sabbath day. (the same man who suggested workhouses and prisons is condemning the church for being closed on sabbath day! See he’s rationalized his lack of need for faith and Christ’s grace. It reminds me of how the Pharisee’s question Christ in the Bible)

““You would deprive them of their means of dining every seventh day, often the only day on which they can be said to dine at all,” said Scrooge. “Wouldn’t you?”

I have never seen a version that includes this but it is crucial to understanding the message I believe Dickens meant behind the story that not just shutting out Christmas, but rationalizing away Christ made Scrooge cold.

The Spirit says in response

““There are some upon this earth of yours,” returned the Spirit, “who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are as strange to us and all our kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember that, and charge their doings on themselves, not us.”

That is such an important moment in the story and almost never included.

Anyway, other differences is that 6 actors portray most of the characters Jim Carrey ( who plays Scrooge remarkably straight), Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright Penn and Cary Elwes. All are very good in their differing roles.

Another difference is it sticks close to the book in its portrayal of Scrooge. I went back and read the novella before starting the project and there is absolutely no attempt by Dickens to soften Scrooge or make him sarcastic. I don’t mind when versions do this but it is not canon. Listen to how Dickens describes Scrooge:

” Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog-days; and didn’t thaw it one degree at Christmas.”

I mean the rooms get colder when he enters. He is a “squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner” (again making the religious fall a part of his bitterness and anger). I actually think this version captures that Scrooge extremely well.

It is perhaps a more enjoyable movie when we think of it as telling a ghost story and less of a Christmas story. They include Marley’s jaw coming off and ignorance and want is dark and quite scary.

Strengths- As I said the closeness to the book is a real strength. I also like the performances and I know some hate the stop motion look but I think it is beautiful. The music by Alan Silvestri is wonderful including the closing credits song by Andrea Boceli- God Bless Us Everyone.

I wish more people had seen it because I would have loved to see what Zemeckis could have done with other classic stories like Jane Eyre using this medium.

There are many moments which the film gets right that few do.

I love that it is Tiny Tim’s declaration of Christ that first moves Scrooge. Nothing else has but as soon as he hears Bob talk of Tim he worries and begins to feel again.

“Somehow he gets thoughtful, sitting by himself so much, and thinks the strangest things you ever heard. He told me, coming home, that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see.”

A lot of versions skip over this line trying to appeal to those of all faith but it is a loss in my opinion because can a nice pleasant holiday really be enough to get someone to change? No it is a higher religious conversion, a higher meaning to life and goodness, that prompts Scrooge to repent his ways.

I also like the way the appearance of all 3 spirits is very close to the descriptions in the book. This and the Muppets I believe come closest to the ethereal quality of Past. He looks like a candle, which is creative.

The ending is good when Scrooge see’s his body on the bed and is desperate for some sense of feeling at this death. Then we see the couple who is grateful the death gives them more time to pay back their loan (something often skipped) and then the Cratchit’s mourning the loss of Tim.

Weaknesses- Trying no doubt to appease modern viewers they do spend a bit too long in segments zipping through London. Particularly at the end when they are chased by black horses carrying a hearse it goes on too long and gets old. I typically fast forward that segment.

Also I don’t see why for the pawn shop scene Scrooge needs to be shrunken down with a high pitched voice. Another ploy I suppose to appease modern viewers.

It can be pretty dark and scary for kids so it will depend on your child’s tolerance for those kinds of films. The scene where Present dies is like no other version. It is very scary but I think it is cool. Like I said if you look at it as a ghost story (which it is) like Corpse Bride or something like that than it is less upsetting. But it is the area where the movie takes chances. It embraces Christmas Carol as the ‘scary ghost stories and tales of the glory of Christmases long, long ago’.

And I know for some who aren’t as in love with the book as I am the strict adherence may be a problem. They want a more nuanced, softer Scrooge than the book gives us. It quotes a lot from the text and makes no attempt like in Muppets or other versions to explain things in a modern way.

So all in all, I know it isn’t perfect but I really like it. It’s a definite part of my holiday viewing and I appreciate all the hard work which went into making it accurate, heart felt and visually captivating. Others do not care for it but that’s their opinion and this is mine. 🙂

Babysitting and Disney

November 24, 2014November 24, 2014 | Rachel's Reviews

I had an interesting experience yesterday. As most of you know I am single and all of my 5 nieces live many miles away 🙁 so my access to little kids in my life is relatively small. Most of the time when I watch animation I have to guess what little kids like my nieces might think about it or ask them over the phone. I wish they lived closer and I could take them with me to the theater but it is not the case!

Anyway, yesterday I got the opportunity to babysit for a friend at church who is moving and needed the kids to be away for the day so they could pack up and clean. I don’t have that much living space in my house and unfortunately the weather did not cooperate for going to the park or outside activities so we were limited. We did a lot of drawing. The older girl who was 4 I think seriously drew for 4 hours maybe more. It was impressive.

But there was still entertaining the youngest girl. We made cookies and after that I didn’t have a whole lot else to do with little kids at my house besides stick on my Disney library. Both of their reactions were surprising. And I know 4 movies is a bit garish for one day but my house is small and I really don’t have much to entertain kids beyond drawing and making cookies so go easy on me!

First thing we saw was a Mickey Mouse Christmas Movie called Mickeys Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse. The cover looked bad but it actually was pretty good. It is basically a whole bunch of shorts narrated by Mickey and Donald who is in a grumpy mood. It was amazing how the minute Mickey came on screen the little girl lit up and gleefully said ‘It’s Mickey!’. She loved the film. The final segment on Mickey’s Christmas Carol was a little much for her but she didn’t hate it.

Then I put in Jungle Book thinking they would love it. What surprised me is that both of them were not engaged at all. I thought they would love the music and the simple story but I ended up drawing with both as it played. It didn’t capture either girls attention at all like Mickey. Even Bare Necessities they were not into.

Then I put on Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. I figured it would be a slam dunk. Again, surprisingly it didn’t really seem to hold their interest that much although they liked it better than Jungle Book. Once Tigger came on the screen they liked it much better but before that it didn’t do much for them.

Then next I put on Frozen and I’m not kidding you the littlest girl was sitting with her back away from the TV when the opening chords to Frozen Heart came on and she lit up, a huge smile on her face. Lana stopped drawing and came in the room right away. They loved it! I love Frozen but I have never watched it with little girls and was amazed at how much they loved it. They knew every line to every song and sang along with gusto. It was so much more to use the pun animated than any of the other choices I had played. Call it recency bias but 2 little girls have spoken and Frozen was definitely the favorite.

Of the movies these children liked Frozen, Mickey’s Magical Christmas, Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Jungle Book in that order. Isn’t that surprising (I keep using that word but don’t know any other way to say it?). Obviously this is only 2 kids and only 4 films but it was interesting to me nonetheless. What have you guys found in your families/kids in your life? Like I said, I don’t have many in my life, so always interesting to see how actual kids respond to these films that I love. What do they like and does it ever surprise you? Do they like things that you don’t? I’d love to know.

By the way Ben Affleck better watch out because my Dark Knight is pretty awesome… 😉

The A’s and B’s of my Blu-rays

November 16, 2014 | Rachel's Reviews

Just thought I would share with you guys a new series I’ve started on my youtube channel. I am showing you all my blu-ray collection by way of the alphabet (otherwise it would be like an hour long!).

Here are my A’s (2 Disney A’s featured!)

Here are my B’s (1 Disney B featured and some other favorites)

I also did this review of the Disney Movie Club you might find interesting.

And a review I did of the ESPN 30 for 30 5th Anniversary Collection

So check those out if you feel so inclined. Take care friends! 🙂

Favorite Disney Non-Villain Songs

November 15, 2014November 15, 2014 | Rachel's Reviews

Another fun list for you guys!

My top 27 favorite songs of Disney in no particular order (why 27? Because that’s how many I thought of! If I had to pick a favorite song it would probably be Part of Your World, but you guys know how important Little Mermaid is to me)

Out There- You guys know I’m not a huge fan of this movie but this song is so great. I love that Quasimodo has a normal voice not a professional sounding voice. It is so real.

Bear Necessities- Probably the best Sherman Brother’s song. Such a fun rhythm.

Once Upon a Dream- One of the Disney greats. Based on the Sleeping Beauty ballet but just a beautiful song.

Sing Sweet Nightingale- Cinderella has a lot of great one’s and this one is often forgotten but I love it.

Bibbity Bobbity Boo- One of the sweetest Disney songs and sung by the great Verna Felton. Great hook and wonderful song.

Friend Like Me- Robin Williams was evidently very nervous about the singing. Well, he didn’t need to be. It is one of Disney’s best with hilarious lyrics and great animation.

Beauty and the Beast- One of the best vocals in a Disney film by 4 time tony winner Angela Lansbury. She basically became the Mother to generations and this song speaks so much to the need for forgiveness, understanding and love in all of our lives.

Baby Mine- One of 2 great lullabies by Disney. A gut wrenching song, beautifully animated. Just gorgeous.

When You Wish Upon a Star- Became the Disney anthem for a reason. Just about a perfect song about hope and never giving up on even seemingly lost causes.

Let It Go- Yep, bring on the Frozen haters. Love this song and Idina Menzel is a goddess. I even thought she nailed it at the Oscars which people were all critical of. So there!

You’ll be in my Heart- My favorite Disney lullaby. I used to sing it to my baby sister and my nieces (I’m a rare person where those are only 4 years apart!). My favorite is the Broadway version because it is sung by a woman and not Phil Collins (who is fine. I just prefer the Mother singing it to her baby).

Why Should I Worry?- Probably Disney’s best pop song with a great hook and one of Billy Joel’s best vocal performances (I’m a huge BJ fan). Him and Bette Middler save Oliver and Company.

Almost There- I love jazz music so I’m inclined to love The Princess and the Frog for it’s music alone. The lyrics aren’t great but this is a terrific riff and the vocal performance by broadway star Anika Noni Rose is one of the best pure vocals in Disney history.

Second Star to the Right- Peter Pan does have some great music. Normally I don’t care for the 50’s choral sounds in movies like Make Mine Music but this one I like and the animation of the boat in the sky at the end is gorgeous.

He’s a Tramp- Again ,I love jazz music and Peggy Lee’s music in Lady and the Tramp is fabulous. She provides the vocals for this number and it is a perfect cabaret-like number.

Reflection- I am actually not a huge fan of the pop ready Oscar winning ballads of the 90s (Can You Feel the Love, A Whole New World, Colors of the Wind etc) and usually like other songs better in those movies but Reflection from Mulan is an exception. Another broadway star, Lea Salonga, gives a great vocal and it’s such a heartfelt song. I think most humans can relate to staring at the world and not liking what it reflects back. People just sometimes don’t understand our hearts or what we are trying to say and those are tough moments. And the Christina Aguilera version isn’t half bad either.

Circle of Life- The pop influenced score of Lion King works great and technically my favorite number is Be Prepared but Circle of Life is terrific. It has a good hook and the tribal elements are a ton of fun.

Little Black Rain Cloud- Perhaps too much of a lark to be on such a list but I love the Winnie the Pooh music. Stanley Holloway’s vocals are perfect and it’s all as sweet as honey!

Part of Your World- Definitely my favorite song as a child. It builds momentum perfectly and you see the character go from being sad at the beginning to determined to change her life by the end. One of Disney’s best in that regard. Jodi Benson’s vocals are some of the best in Disney history and it is just that perfect song for young girls who long to be taken seriously by the world.

Be Our Guest- Boy who knew that Lieutenant Brisco could sing? Jerry Orbach is fabulous as Lumiere. The song feels like an old vaudeville number with touches of old Hollywood musical thrown in the animation. I defy you to watch this song and not smile.

Under the Sea- Probably Howard Ashman’s best song and the decision to go reggae Jamaican was inspired. Terrific lyrics like ‘What do they got a lot of sand? We’ve got a hot crustacean band’. Every fish is a different color and they all play different instruments so by the end it is an orchestra of over 50 harmonizing instruments. Just fabulous.

Won’t Say I’m in Love- I love the music in Hercules and Won’t Say I’m in Love is a fabulous, sassy number by one of my favorite Disney women: Megura. Susan Egan, who played Belle on broadway, is Megura and she sings the song like a broadway pro!

I’ve Got a Dream- The music in Tangled is often derided as too pop influenced but I really enjoy it. Mother Knows Best is my favorite but I think I’ve Got a Dream is a lot of fun as well. It’s just charming.

A Star is Born- Again, I love the muses in Hercules. I love gospel music! The Gospel Truth is great but I think I like A Star is Born even better. Makes me want to dance every time I hear it and I am not a dancer.

Legend of the Sword- Another movie I am not a big fan of but I think this song introducing the tale is gorgeous. I just wish the rest of the movie had lived up to it.

Winnie the Pooh- I like both the 2011 version and 1977 original. “It’s Winnie the Pooh snuggy little teddy all stuffed with fluff”. You play the first few chords of this song and I bet 80% of Americans will be able to sing the start of the song. It defines childhood for most of us.

Make a Man Out of You- I’ll end with the second best song from Mulan. One of the best Disney male vocals by Donny Osmond of all people. We get a ton of character development and plot in the song and yet it is still very catchy.

Once Upon a Time Season 1 Review

November 15, 2014 | Rachel's Reviews

Being a Disney buff I have often been asked for my feelings on Once Upon a Time and indeed I probably should have started watching the show much sooner but it was on Sunday nights and my Sunday nights were filled with Amazing Race, The Simpsons and other shows. Now TAR is on Fridays and I find myself having little to nothing to watch on Sundays besides the Simpsons and I’d heard great things about the recent OUAT season featuring characters from Frozen that I decided to give it a watch. Luckily seasons 1-3 are on Netflix stream so that makes catching up very easy!

It’s a pretty simple premise for a show, one that only ABC could stage with it’s Disney pedigree. The story begins with a town in Maine called Storybrooke. It is a town of displaced fairytale creatures who have all forgotten their alter-egos because of a curse put on them all by the Evil Queen/Regina in modern world. Regina is played with a lot of gusto by Lana Parilla.

A seeming commoner named Emma comes into the town by a boy who claims to be her son. She is played with mixed results (the acting is not great in this show…) by Jennifer Morrison who some might recognize from How I Met Your Mother.

Henry played by Jared S Gilmore is Regina’s adopted son but he hates her and knows she is out to destroy everyone in Storybrooke. It’s kind of funny to have a kid completely deplore their mother. Never seen that in a show before.

Emma becomes the Sheriff and as she seeks to uncover her past we meet with a variety of storybook characters. The biggest are Snow White played by Ginnifer Goodwin, who I am not a huge fan of but she is Ok here. Of course she has her Prince Charming who is played by Josh Dallas in a more fleshed out role than the few seconds the animated film gives us (naturally of course). His storylines about being a false prince is one of the most entertaining of the first season.

Then we get episodes with one or more of the following characters.

Geppetto and Pinocchio

Belle played by Lost’s Emile de Ravin

Cinderella played by Jessy Schram

The Blue Fairy from Pinocchio (and other fairies and one who I think is Tinker Bell but I’m not sure) The 7 Dwarves, Grumpy in Particular gets a plot Hansel and Gretel

Red Riding Hood by Meghan Ory

Jimminy Cricket- a heavy Snow White and Pinocchio influence on the show

The Genie

The Mad Hatter

Maleficent

And our main villain of the franchise aside from Regina is Rumpelstiltsken who is played very creepily by Robert Carlyle. I kind of hope that success of this series might inspire Disney to do a Rumpelstiltsken. I’ve often wondered what their version would look like. It would be different than any of their other animated fairytales because it would have to feature a princess who gets married towards the beginning of the story and has a baby. So far Disney princesses have always been virginal adolescent girls. Also, you’d have to have her marry a King who was going to kill her if she didn’t make straw into gold which isn’t exactly PC but it would be interesting to see what the Disney people could do with it .

So what are my thoughts on the first 22 episodes of the show? Well, overall I’m entertained by it. The acting is sometimes cringe-worthy and the production values are not strong but the story is interesting enough and keeps me flipping between worlds enough to be engaged. It’s not meant to be taken too seriously, just a lot of fun.

Some may wonder why I hated Maleficent, a recent fairytale adaptation and give a passing recommendation to this telling. Here’s the difference- Maleficent fundamentally changes the characters. What was once evil is now good and what was good is evil or inattentive and idol at best. In this show what was bad in the movies are still bad. Sure Regina has a few softer moments but she’s pretty ruthless both as the queen and mayor of town. Anything that is added to it is in addition to the original stories, not a replacement for those stories.

Maleficent pissed me off because it ruined the character of Maleficent. Plus, I am way more likely to be forgiving of terrible production values and bad acting in a TV show than a big budget Disney movie. When they carefully restage pivitol scenes from the original movie and then change everything that happens it makes me angry. They do not do anything like that here in Once Upon a Time. The events are the fairytales. It is the before and after for the characters and the importance of said actions that matter.

For example, the Snow White story is basically the same as the movie down to the poison apple. Where it changes is after they are married and the curse is placed on them and all in attendance. Pinocchio is basically the same down to Monstro and the Blue Fairy (although no Pleasure Island yet) but what happens to Pinocchio when he grows up is different. You see what I mean?

All the lame fairytale retellings of late have attempted to reshape and reform the originals and they’ve all sucked. This does it’s own thing and it works pretty well. It’s campy and silly but I was entertained. I’m curious to keep watching (which I suppose is the real test of a good show).

What do you guys think about Once Upon a Time? I’ve still got 2 seasons to watch before I can catch up to Season 4 but I have been enjoying the podcasts over at Post Show Recaps by my twitter friend Mike Bloom. If you like that kind of thing be sure to check it out.

http://postshowrecaps.com/category/once-upon-a-time/

My Favorite Disney Canon Scores

November 12, 2014November 13, 2014 | Rachel's Reviews

Hey guys! I think you will all enjoy this a lot. I love a great score to a movie. I’m a lover of classical music and when you have a story behind said music it makes it even better.

I have a little hobby of collecting scores of all types and then listening to them while I work. This isn’t as distracting as vocal music can be but you still get the entertainment and the story.

I thought it would be fun to put together a list of my favorite scores. Some of these are part of strong movies and others are not. So the quality of the movie doesn’t really affect the value of the score.

That said, some of these are integral in making the movie work. Rescuers Down Under, for instance, uses the John Williamesque score to give the feeling of an Indiana Jones type adventure very effectively.

I also tried to put in some variety because I don’t only like epic scores but also the electric video game feel to Wreck It Ralph and the pop anime influence of Big Hero 6.

If I had to pick 2 favorites it would probably be Lion King and Bambi because in both films the score tells a lot of the story, especially Bambi. Instead of having sound effects for rain, it is music. Without the score Bambi would be a much weaker movie.

(Also I’m not counting Fantasia, Fantasia 2000 or Sleeping Beauty since those aren’t original scores. If I did they would clearly be the top)

What are some of your favorites?

This list is in no particular order

Beauty and the Beast by Alan Menken