Home on the Range

Singing cows, yodeling cattle rustlers, and karate-chopping steeds – yes, you’ve landed in Disney’s 45^th animated feature film: Home on the Range.

 

 

The film premiered in 2004 and was moderately successful at the box office.  This was another new film to me on this journey that I had never seen before.  And now that I’ve seen it, it’s actually rather forgettable…

 

 

Home on the Range tells the tale of an unlikely trio of cows who set off to find one of the West’s most wanted villains in order to win the reward money to save the farm.  It features the voice talents of Roseanne Barr, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Judi Dench.  The film does have some good humor and the farm animals create some unique, fun characters.  The film seemed to lack a strong story, and so it fell rather flat for me. 

 

 

Once again, the music of the film is not performed by the characters but plays along as the soundtrack undertones to the film.  I do very much enjoy “Will the Sun Ever Shine Again” performed by Bonnie Raitt and written by the exceptionally talented Alan Menken.  (That might mostly be from the mostly-unknown Disney On the Record soundtrack.  Google it.  Trust me.)

 

 

I was excited to see this film on this journey as I had never seen it before, however it didn’t leave me with the glow of Disney wonderment.  Granted it seems that most of these post Disney Golden Age films just can’t quite compete with the magic of the nineties. 

 

 

Anyways, this week let’s end with a quote from the man himself, Mr. Walt Disney:

 

“I would rather entertain and hope that people learned something than educate people and hope they were entertained.”

 

Coming Up Next: Chicken Little

Brother Bear

Phil Collins once again provides the musical backdrop in Disney’s 44^th animated feature film: Brother Bear.

 

 

The film premiered in 2003, and was one I had seen over a decade ago.  Brother Bear tells the tale of three brothers long, long ago (like when there were still Wooly Mammoths long ago) and their journey to find what family truly means.  The brothers belong to an Inuit tribe where each person is given a totem to guide their journey into adulthood.  Sitka, the eldest, is given the eagle of guidance; Denahi, the middle brother, is given the wolf of wisdom; and in the film’s opening scenes, Kenai, the youngest, is given the bear of love.  (In case you were wondering, Kenai does not like his totem.)

 

Unfortunately tragedy is not far behind and Sitka is killed while fighting a bear with his brothers.  Kenai vows vengeance and successfully hunts the bear to its demise.  Meanwhile Sitka has become one of the “spirits in the sky” and uses this opportunity to teach Kenai what love and family actually means – by turning him into a bear.  Enter Koda, a cute, very-energetic, talkative bear cub who talks Kenai into journeying to the salmon run (which is also where the lights touch the mountain and thus where Kenai needs to go to talk to the spirits to turn him back into a man).  It is on this journey that Kenai will learn what love truly is.

 

This film has many of the ingredients that make a Disney film great – good story, some humor, good music, and heart (I may have cried. Again.)  The music, as mentioned above, is provided by Phil Collins (who also brought us the musical greatness of Tarzan).  And the music is good, but not quite as memorable as Tarzan.  Also, I find that I much prefer music sung by the actual characters in a film as opposed to music simply provided by a third party as part of the soundtrack.

 

 

The film also has some good humor.  Most notably moose brothers, Rutt and Tuke.  J  They’re rather silly, but decidedly funny.  And finally the film has a good story.  You really become invested in the story of Kenai, Koda, Sitka, and Denahi. 

 

The film is filled with Native American spirituality and folklore.  (A fact to consider before sharing this film with a younger audience as the concepts of death, spirits and totems could be confusing and ultimately misguiding.)  This was an enjoyable stop on this Disney film journey – and now there’s just 10 films left!

 

Perhaps the most famous thing to come out of this film is the song “Welcome.”  It was used as the anthem in Disneyland’s 50^th Anniversary “Parade of Dreams” along with these famous words from Walt himself:

 

“To all who come to this happy place: Welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America, with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.”

 

 

Coming Up Next: Home on the Range

Treasure Planet

Hello!  This week's Disney film takes on a classic tale with a futuristic adaptation.  It's Treasure Planet.

The film premiered in 2002 and sports a voice cast of Emma Thompson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, David Hyde Pierce, and Martin Short.  The film's plot is based on Robert Louis Stevenson's classic published in 1883, Treasure Island.  And so here is Disney's take on one of the world's most famous pirate adventure stories. 

As the film opens, we meet Jim Hawkins (a young man who's taste for adventure oftentimes finds him on the wrong side of following the rules) and his mother (who runs an inn).  A mysterious (badly injured) stranger arrives at the inn and gives Jim a map (before his untimely demise).  Soon after the inn is set upon by pirates and the entire place is burned to the ground.  Jim and his mother escape with their friend Dr. Doppler - and soon Jim and Dr. Doppler find themselves on the adventure of a lifetime.

If the title didn't give it away, you should know that this film is set in the future.  In outer space.  With aliens and cyborgs and black holes and... other very not-classical pirate things.  It's a science fiction adaptation of the traditional pirate story.  There's still pirates and captains and cannons and villainy and general swash-buckling, but it's decidedly low on sea monsters, sand, and... humans.

Nevertheless, it is still the tale of a lonely youth set out on adventure to find a lost treasure only to find himself betrayed and in a race to save his friends, find the treasure, and beat a nasty group of scallywags.

I ended up somewhat enjoying this film.  I had never seen it before, and I was interested to see Disney's version of this classic tale.  It did not delight me as much as it had the potential to.  The first 30 minutes of the film left me entirely nonplussed.  However, at the 30-minute mark, we have a musical montage sequence of Jim learning and finding his place on board the ship and bonding with the ship's cook, John Silver, interspersed with scenes from Jim's childhood.  I'm fairly certain this musical montage saved the film for me. 

Treasure Planet does have an interesting array of characters, some credible humor, and a classic plot, but it does not have the Disney magic like the films from Disney's Golden Age a decade earlier.  Also, I should probably confess that my frame of reference for the classic "Treasure Island" tale is Muppet Treasure Island.  I have actually never seen a pure film production or read the novel.  I will say that I enjoy the Muppets' version very much.  :)  However, I am still at a bit of a loss to a few parts of this story.  For example, whatever happened to Jim's father?  And how does the tale end for Silver?  I'm thinking the Muppet's ending and the Treasure Planet ending might not be the most accurate...

Feel free to draw your own conclusions regarding this film.  As per my above confession, I'm not exactly an expert on the subject...  But I will leave you with words of wisdom from an expert on entertainment (Walt Disney):

There is more treasure in books than in all the pirates' loot on Treasure Island and best of all, you can enjoy these riches every day of your life.

Coming Up Next: Brother Bear

Lilo & Stitch

Aloha!  This week's Disney film takes us to Hawaii!  It's Lilo & Stitch.

The film premiered in 2002 and introduces us to what would turn out to be one of Disney's most beloved characters, a little blue alien with generally bad manners and (as it turns out) a heart of gold.

The film opens in the distant reaches of space at a trial for a mad scientist who has created Experiment 626 - a being created with great strength and the instincts to destroy everything (particularly large cities).  In the process of trying to exile this creature, Experiment 626 escapes and finds himself marooned on an island in the Pacific Ocean.  Aloha!

Meanwhile, Lilo (a little Hawaiian girl) is having trouble adjusting to life with her big sister (after their parents passed away), making friends, and just staying out of mischief.  The mad scientist (Jumba) and the alien "Earth" expert (Pleakley) are dispatched to Hawaii to retrieve Experiment 626, where as luck would have it, Lilo has adopted Experiment 626 from the pound and heads home with her new "dog" named Stitch.

Now all that's left to do is convince Mr. Cobra Bubbles (the social worker) that Nani (Lilo's big sister) is an adequate caretaker (and find her a job); teach Stitch to stop destroying everything (and some manners); oh, and prevent the other aliens from capturing Stitch and blowing up Hawaii.  Sounds like a recipe for some Disney magic!

So going into this film, I did not consider myself a fan of Stitch.  Bad manners and general bad behavior are two things that I have no patience for - and they pretty much define Stitch.  HOWEVER, Stitch is a dynamic character which means by the end of the film, he managed to etch a small piece of territory in my heart.  He learns that his actions have consequences (even if they are unintended) and that the most important thing is family and the people you love. 

Lilo & Stitch has so many of the ingredients that make a Disney film great.  It has great humor (Example: the aliens consider Earth a protected planet because it is a natural habitat for the "universally-endangered" mosquito. Ha!)  It has a good story and plot.  You end up rooting for Lilo and Stitch to get their happy ending.  It has good music.  Not as great as say The Lion King or Aladdin, but significant nonetheless.  I mean, musically, the film has Elvis and "Hawaiian Rollercoaster Ride."  Decidedly significant.

But as usual, the most important factor in the definition of the Disney great film is that it has heart.  And this ingredient, Lilo & Stitch delivers in spades (aka a large amount).  Because at the root of the film, it's really all about family - even if your family looks a bit unconventional.  As they say in the film: Ohana means family and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.  And so we've made it to another film that made me cry.  Twice.  It was not as bad as this tearjerker, but it definitely hit me in the feels.

Lilo & Stitch is a must-watch on this Disney journey.  Preferably with family (and a box of tissues).

I think Stitch, himself, sums up the film the best, and so I'll end this post with a quote from a little blue alien:



This is my family.  I found it all on my own.  It's little and broken, but still good.  Yeah, still good.

Coming Up Next: Treasure Planet

Atlantis: The Lost Empire

Hello again blogging world!  I apologize for my long absence.  I put aside blogging in the fall to spend more time making memories with friends and family around the holidays. But, now I'm back and ready to finish this year with Walt!  (Disclaimer: I recognize that it's more than a year with Walt, but is that really such a bad thing?)  The plan is to finish up this journey by Easter (April 5th).  We have thirteen movies to go (after this one) including Big Hero 6 which will be our grand finale.  :)

The movie we find ourselves at is Atlantis: The Lost Empire.  It is the 41st movie on this journey through Walt's animated features and premiered in 2001.

Atlantis tells the tale of Milo Thatch (voiced by Michael J. Fox), a young, bumbling professor who's life's dedication is to find the lost city of Atlantis.  The year is 1914.  And to put it nicely, Milo's theories and hypotheses regarding the lost city are not received well by the rest of the academic community...  Thankfully there are eccentric (and wealthy) expedition/explorer funders in the world.  Enter Preston Whitmore (good friends with Milo's grandfather, who also happened to be an explorer...) and Milo finds himself on the expedition of a lifetime!

The supporting cast is one of the best features of the movie.  They add the warmth and humor that is so prevalent in the Disney franchise.  You've got Vinny (he likes to blow stuff up), Mole (he likes dirt. A. LOT.), Dr. Sweet (the crew's doc), Mrs. Packard (she likes to talk and she's the radio operator), Audrey (the mechanic - she can fix just about anything with a motor), and Commander Rourke (the leader of the pack, voiced by James Garner).  Oh.  And there's Cookie, the cook (though I'm not sure you'd want to eat anything he cooks up...)  This crew definitely makes for one interesting journey.

After many perils, the crew does indeed find themselves in Atlantis.  Milo soon finds himself trying to save the city, rescue the princess, fight some unscrupulous crew members, and all around just save the day.  (Anybody else thinking of another explorer/teacher?  Dr. Henry ("Indiana") Jones?)

This film was far more enjoyable to me than it's predecessor.  It had a good story, good characters, and good humor.  And really, who doesn't enjoy a good adventure story?

This week, I'll leave you with some wisdom from Milo's grandfather:

It's been my experience, when you hit bottom, the only place left to go is up.

Coming Up Next: Lilo & Stitch

The Emperor's New Groove

Oh Disney.  This weeks film puts a particular dent in my groove.  It's The Emperor's New Groove.

Do you recall how in my last review I hoped that some of these post Disney Renaissance films would surprise us with unexpected greatness?  The Emperor's New Groove is not that film.  It holds no great surprises or greatness at all.  Harsh.  But true.  It is the first film on this journey that I've desperately wanted to turn off after only 5 minutes.  And it didn't get better.  The film premiered in 2000 and was not a flop.  Shock of shocks.  I guess people found it funny.  It is branded as a "buddy-comedy."  I didn't laugh once.  And the only grin I wore was a grimace.  I think this film was even more painful than Saludos Amigos.  And that is saying something.  Well let's get down to business...

The Emperor's New Groove is the story of Kuzco (a young, narcissistic, selfish, unlikable emperor) and his transformation to a llama.  (I wish I was making this up!)  It turns out that Kuzco should not have fired Yzma (his advisor, and one of the creepiest-looking Disney villains ever.  I mean I guess the evil queen as the hag in Snow White may have her beat, but Yzma just looks terrible. All. The. Time.)  Yzma also has some creepy magical powers, hence how Kuzco becomes a llama.  (Though it should be noted that Yzma actually intends to kill Kuzco.)  The llama bit is a mistake by perhaps the funniest character in the film: Kronk (Yzma's brawn over brain henchman).

Kuzco finds himself lost in the jungle (as a talking llama) with not a soul or friend to turn to for help.  Enter Pancho.  Pancho had seen Kuzco earlier that day when Kuzco had announced plans to destroy Pancho's entire village to make a water park for himself.  (I'm still not making this stuff up.  This is legitimate Disney plot right here.  Oy vey.)  Pancho's heart, however, is bigger than Kronk's biceps and so he helps poor Kuzco out and they begin their oft treacherous, never really heart-warming travels back to Kuzco's palace.

Have I mentioned that I really didn't like this movie?  I think my number one problem was that I didn't like any of the characters.  For me to enjoy any film, I have got to like the characters - and this film offered me no one to enjoy, root for, or care about.  I guess Pancho is noble in his own way, but the film isn't really about him...  It's filled with this annoying llama!  (Sorry.  I shall try to stop ranting.)  This film was distinctly lacking the warmth, heart, and great story that defines Disney movie greatness.

And I think I'm just going to call it a day on this film review...  If you find this film funny, good for you.  If you don't, I absolutely commiserate.  (And it's ok to turn it off.  You won't miss a thing.)

This week let's end with some words of wisdom from the man himself, Mr. Walt Disney:

I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter.

Coming Up Next: Atlantis: The Lost Empire

Dinosaur

This week’s Disney film is Dinosaur. 

 

The film premiered in 2000 and was a financial success.  I was not one of the multitude of movie viewers to see this film 14 years ago, and thus I in no way helped to make it a financial success.  This movie was decidedly off my radar.  I never saw it.  I don't even remember hearing much about it.  At the time though I'm fairly certain that I was not interested in dinosaurs.  At all. 

 

Not to say that I'm hugely in to them now...  But they definitely pique my curiosity.  It may be that I finally beheld the wonder of Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park.  (Love that movie!  Don't know why!  But I do!)  So much so that I even read Michael Crichton's novel on which the movie is based.  The book is even better than the movie!  Still can't explain why I enjoy it so much...

 

So with this new openness to the mysterious beings of dastardly extinction... I was still not excited to see this Disney film.  I honestly had no prior concept of the plot, characters or general theme of this film: Dinosaur.  I wish I could say that I was pleasantly surprised and that this film owns up to all that is Disney greatness, but I can't.

 

Dinosaur tells the story of Aladar, an iguanodon (rather large herbivore, but much smaller than a brontosaurus) raised by lemurs.  I kid you not.  Lemurs.  Small monkey-like, leaping mammals.  Oh Disney.  Who came up with this plot?!  Alas, the island where Aladar and his lemur family lives is destroyed by asteroids or meteors or... something like that.  He and 4 lemurs survive the destruction of the island and swim to the "mainland?"  There they meet up with a multi-species herd of dinosaurs who are all traveling to the nesting grounds in hopes that the area is still thriving.  Aladar quickly befriends the oddballs of the group (the old and slow), butts heads with the leader of the herd (Kron), and starts crushing on a lovely lady iguanodon (Neera).  Oh.  And two ravenous, carnivorous Carnotauruses (like a T. Rex, but not a T. Rex) are hot on the trail of the migrating herbivore pack. 

 

I'm not really sure what to say about this film.  It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be?  Though that hardly seems like praise.  I was discussing this film with a friend and she mentioned that it showed Disney's creativity and innovation.  Which it does.  The film is a mix of computer-generated characters set against actual live footage of real settings.  To me it just made the dinosaurs look all the more fake, but at the time and even now it still shows a certain ingenuity.  I will say that the movie poster is cool. But in terms of the whole movie... 

 

I didn't really fall in love with any of the characters.  Aladar is a decent hero, but there's nothing about him or the story that tugs at my heartstrings.  Also, I didn't find anything in the film particularly funny.  And there's no music.  So to sum up, we have zero Disney great characters, zero Disney music, zero Disney humor, and zero Disney heart.  Like I said earlier, I think the best thing I can say is that the film wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. 

 

These post Disney Renaissance films are going to be an interesting part of this film journey.  It's pretty impossible to compete with the Disney greatness of the nineties, but we shall see.  Hopefully there will be some good surprises along the way.  Dinosaur does not happen to be one of them.

 

On that note, I'll leave you with a Disneyland-reference Jurassic Park quote:

 

John Hammond: All major theme parks have delays.  When they opened Disneyland in 1955, nothing worked!

Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but, John, if The Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don't eat the tourists.

 

 

Coming Up Next: The Emperor's New Groove