The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Silly ol' bear.  Yes.  This week's movie is the childhood classic: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

My familiarity with this movie can be laid at the feet of my little sister Jessica.  Winnie the Pooh was her childhood movie.  I was more of a Sesame Street girl myself.  Thankfully I was just young/old enough to appreciate Winnie the Pooh, his adventures, and all of his wonderful friends.  In fact, I quote him to this day.  :)  My friends can attest to my frequent exclamations of "Dash it all!," "Heavens to Betsy!" and "Oh bother".  The Hundred Acre Wood residents really know what to say when you're in a pinch. ;)

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh premiered in 1977 and is a collection of stories/chapters centered on Pooh and friends: Piglet, Rabbit, Tigger, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Owl, Gopher and of course Christopher Robin.  The movie is sweet and endearing with subtle humor and a gift for making the audience smile.

There are so many iconic Winnie the Pooh stories in this film.  The opening number when Pooh disguises himself as a raincloud to fool the bees to steal their honey is adorable (as well as ineffective in practice).  Christopher Robin's patient pacing beneath the tree with his umbrella on the bright, sunny day saying "Tut, tut.  Looks like rain." is cinematic gold in my book.  Then poor Pooh gets stuck in Rabbit's front door after eating all of Rabbit's "hunny."

 

Perhaps the most memorable story to come out of this film would be "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day."  The Hundred Acre Wood experiences a very blustery "Windsday" literally sending inhabitants and houses flying.  The windy day leads to a rainy night (and one of the best rain songs ever!) and the arrival of the one-and-only Tigger (spelled tea, eye, double ga, ur)!

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is full of a fantastic cast of characters, wonderful songs, a superb narrator, and heartwarming stories.  There is so much to love! 

Those who know me well, know that my favorite Disney character is Piglet- a pink-hued, timid, easily-overwhelmed, big-hearted fellow.  He is just adorable!  Funny and smart.  Kind and the best kind of friend.  I'd hang out with him any day!  It is one of my life goals to have my picture with him at Disneyland.  :)

 

Winnie the Pooh and friends are easily some of the most recognizable Disney characters to this day.  They continue to delight children (and adults) around the world.  From the classic books and movie, to the movies and television series of the past decades.  Winnie the Pooh and his fellow inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Woods still make the best set of friends- for the young and old alike.  I definitely enjoyed revisiting this piece of childhood.

This week I'll leave you with one of my favorite Winnie the Pooh quotes:

Coming Up Next Week: The Rescuers

Robin Hood

This week's film takes us to Sherwood Forest in Nottingham, England.  Yes.  It's the tale of Robin Hood as only the Walt Disney Company could tell it.

Robin Hood premiered in 1973 and features some recognizable voice talents, but more on that later.  Robin Hood is the tale of Robin Hood, an excellent archer who steals from the rich to give to the poor.  The penniless inhabitants of Nottingham are ruthlessly taxed by the disreputable (and rather juvenile) Prince John, who has seized control of the kingdom in his brother, King Richard's, absence.  The dislikable Sheriff of Nottingham carries out the prince's orders.  Ergo, our hero (and a few friends) have taken it upon themselves to steal back from Prince John what rightfully belongs to the people.

Robin Hood is a marvelous story- full of adventure, villainous villains, a dash of romance, a great sidekick, and a few laughs.  For whatever reason though, it did not hugely delight me.  Through this year long journey, I'm learning that one of the most important film ingredients for me is a good dash of humor- I appreciate the corny and slapstick as well as the more clever, subtle plays on words and situations.  And Robin Hood simply didn't hit me in my funny bone.  I am also finding that I seem to have a greater fondness for movies that I grew up with.  (See here and here.)  Robin Hood was not in my movie arsenal growing up.  I suppose this would be an instance of where having a brother would have been helpful.  ;)

One of the best parts of Robin Hood has got to be Robin Hood's sidekick and partner in arms- Little John (a not so little bear...).  Phil Harris once again lends his iconic voice to this classic picture as the voice of Little John.  Phil also voiced both Baloo and O’Malley.  His smooth, deep voice is easily recognizable, but also really makes the characters come to life.  J

 

 

The narrator for the film is “The Rooster.”  He’s got country twang and a guitar and adds a very folksy tone to the story.  Beware the propensity of his tunes to get stuck in your head!  There is also a fantastic scene involving an exciting badminton match.  Birdie for the win!

 

 

Robin Hood definitely fits the mold of classic Disney fare.  And it's certainly worth a visit to Sherwood Forest.  Let's just say it's not going to make my list of Top 10 Disney movies.  :)  Also, I have got to give a shout out to Robin Hood: Men in Tights - a truly comedic spin on this classic tale.  After you watch Disney's version, be sure to give Mel Brooks' a try.  ;)

 

 

Tonight I'll leave you with Robin Hood’s advice for romance:

 

Ah, but remember faint hearts never won fair lady.

 

 

Ain't that the truth?  Have a great week!

 

 

Coming Up Next Week: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

The Aristocats

I am so excited about this week's movie!!!  We've reached the 20th film on our journey through Walt's animated masterpieces, and it's The Aristocats!!

The film premiered in 1970.  It tells the story of Duchess and her kittens (Berlioz, Toulouse, and Marie) and how their lives are forever changed by one scheming butler and one alley cat.  This movie is so funny!!!  I think I smiled the entire time I watched it.  :)  The film is full of slapstick comedy, adorable kittens with lisps, an energetic (but slightly unstable) elderly lawyer, great lines and British geese!  I don't see how someone could not like this movie!  On top of all of the humor and great characters, the movie has heart.  Come to think of it, this may be my first romantic comedy- a genre I still love in all its corniness, cheesiness, and predictability!  Huzzah for the happy ending and finding true love!

The standout character of The Aristocats has got to be Thomas O'Malley.  Make that Abraham De Lacy Guiseppe Casey Thomas O'Malley. ;)  He's a footloose and fancy-free kind of guy with no real strings to tie him down.  When he happens upon the lovely Duchess, he definitely tries to take her on a carpet ride for two... but when he finds out about the three kittens, he still steps up to the plate to help them get back to Paris.  Oh right.  I should probably tell you why they need to get back to Paris.  Duchess and the kittens live happily with the wealthy Madame Adelaide Bonfamille.  Madame's butler Edgar, however, devises a dastardly scheme to make Duchess and the kittens disappear so that he will be first in line for Madame's inheritance when the time comes.  Hence, Duchess and the kittens find themselves lost in the French countryside until a knight in white armor, make that an orange alley cat with a crooked grin, shows up to save the day.

O'Malley is a little rough around the edges but lovable through and through!  He's brave and steps up to help and save Duchess and the kids time after time.  For a no strings kind of guy, he stays committed to their quirky family unit on their unconventional journey.  He's got a way with music.  His tough guy, alley cat speak makes me smile at every line.  He's just wonderful.  :)

Watching this film as an adult continues to reveal layers of humor that I missed as a child.  While the slapstick humor is just as funny as ever, it's so fun to uncover the subtle comedy in the film as well.  My favorite "adult humor" moment is probably when a man drinking wine sees a herd of alley cats being "chased" by a mouse and thus proceeds to pour his wine down the drain.  That totally went over my head years ago, but now it's doubly funny.

I also can't finish this review without at least giving an honorable mention to Abigail and Amelia, geese who also happen to be sisters.  They are definite scene stealers!  Their corny jokes are definitely my kind of humor!  The other scene stealer has got to be Georges Hautecourt, the lawyer.  Just thinking about these characters has got me grinning!  :D  I cannot recommend this movie enough!  I think I like it even more than 101 Dalmatians!

Oh my goodness!  I almost forgot to mention the music!  Once again we have the musical genius of the Sherman Brothers to thank.  However the real show-stopping tunes of the show are the jazzier numbers not written by the Sherman Brothers.  O'Malley's opening number is fantastic.  One of films' greatest character introductions.  The film's musical epitome though has to be the jazzy, bluesy "Ev'rybody Wants to be a Cat" performed by Scat Cat and his gang (the real life Scatman Crothers).

Ok.  I think I hit the highlights...  The Aristocats is absolutely one of my favorite Disney films!  Definitely a must-see!

I hope everyone has a great week!

This week I'll leave you with an etiquette lesson from Marie:

Ladies don't start fights, but they can finish them!

Coming Up Next Week: Robin Hood

The Jungle Book

A world adventurer I am not.  The most foreign place I've ever been to is Canada.  Also, I don't like dirt or bugs, so camping and I aren't really a thing.  But this week, I got a taste of the exotic in Walt Disney's The Jungle Book. 

This is the last film to experience Walt's personal touch.  Thankfully his work, passion, imagination, and legacy continue to live on in the films produced by the Walt Disney Company since his passing.  From The Aristocats to Frozen, Walt's influence can still clearly be seen in the entire collection of Disney films, even those after his time.

The Jungle Book is full of wonderful characters, warmth, humor, and toe-tappin' good tunes!  The film premiered in 1967 and tells the story of Mowgli, a baby boy found alone in the jungle who is raised by the jungle animals.  Eventually, the animals realize that Mowgli must go to the man-village for his own safety.  The film chronicles Mowgli's (rather unwilling) journey from jungle to village and all of the bumps, roadblocks, and adventures along the way.

 

The Jungle Book has a standout cast.  Even the characters that I wasn't crazy about were still entertaining!  The villains in the film, Shere Khan (the tiger) and Kaa (the snake) were foreboding and silly respectively.  I could have listened to Shere Khan's accent all day!  (The British really do make fantastic villains!)  Kaa, on the other hand, has muddled the happiness of my childhood.  Upon watching The Jungle Book this past weekend, I realized that Kaa's voice sounded familiar... and then I placed it.  He's voiced by the same actor who voiced Winnie the Pooh!  Eek!  This is definitely going to mess with my Disney inner child mental health.

I think the character that most stole my heart in this film was Bagheera, the panther.  It is Bagheera who first finds the man-cub Mowgli and finds him a family (of wolves) to take care of him.  It is Bagheera who undertakes the difficult journey of returning Mowgli to the man-village for Mowgli's safety.  It is Bagheera who runs to Mowgli's aid on countless occasions.  It is Bagheera who pretends to act aloof and nonchalant, but in truth cares about Mowgli (and keeping him safe) more than any other character in the film.

The most famed and beloved character to come out of The Jungle Book has got to be Baloo (the bear).  I mean he even got his own show in the 90s.  Tailspin anyone?  Oh.  I miss those days!  Baloo is a big, lovable bear (albeit rather lazy) with a penchant for living out: act (or take a nap) now, think later.  He adds great comedy and heart to the film.  He also provides the incomparable "Bare Necessities" musical number in the film.  It's a bit of jazz in the jungle.  And it's wonderful!  It is easily one of the most well-known and beloved songs to come out of the Disney jukebox. 

Speaking of show-stopping musical numbers, I cannot write this review without touching upon the greatness of King Louie (the orangutan) and his "I Wanna Be Like You" scene.  This swingin', jazzy number really gets the jungle jumping.  So good! 

This film and its characters are truly a delightful way to spend 80 minutes.  There are so many characters (Colonel Hathi, the elephant!) and special moments in the film that I haven't even had a chance to touch on.  If you haven't seen this film, add it to your to do list for the week.  It's classic Disney at it's greatest.  As Walt's finale piece, it is definitely worth seeing.

It seems fitting this week to end with these great words of wisdom from the Walt man himself:

It's kind of fun to do the impossible.

Thanks Walt for never giving up on your dreams and sharing your imagination and mastery of story-telling with the world!!


Coming Up Next Week: The Aristocats