Search

Search only in certain items:

Encanto (2021)
Encanto (2021)
2021 |
8
6.8 (11 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Family gal
Another power soaked disney adventure, about gifts, curses and family secrets....

Madrigals are afamily who live an extraordinary life hidden from the rest of the world in a little village called Encanto.

Encanto has given the children in the family with a unique power, except Mirabel. However, she soon may be their last hope when she breaks in the bedroom of "banished/missing" family member Bruno (who we don't talk about) and discovers that he left behind a prophecy and a powerless answer to her no magic self.
Time is running out as the magic Provided the Encanto is now in danger.

A great story in all, fun musical numbers and change from usual to characteristics in gender roles and another nice mix of colour design.
  
40x40

David McK (3562 KP) rated Aladdin (2019) in Movies

Aug 11, 2019 (Updated Dec 28, 2022)  
Aladdin (2019)
Aladdin (2019)
2019 | Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Goy Ritchie's Will Smith starring live-action retelling of the 1992 Disney cartoon: a movie that, believe it or not, is now nearly 30 years old (I can't believe I just typed that).

While this does hew pretty closely to the original, this is not quite the shot-for-shot remake I was expecting (or feared), with Jasmine in particular given far more agency here, and with Will Smith's Genie 'bookending' the entire narrative.

Talking of Will Smith: he had some big shoes to fill and - thankfully - he wisely does not attempt a Robin Williams impersonation, instead making the character more his own (although, of course, he has the same musical numbers to belt out).

On the down side, however, this version of Jafar is far less menacing than the original ...
  
The little mermaid (2023)
The little mermaid (2023)
2023 | Fantasy, Musical
5
5.6 (5 Ratings)
Movie Rating
I know I've seen the 1989 original.

I don't remember much about it, other than the basic outline of the plot.

I do know that this follows the same story, almost beat for beat, and that there was lot of controversy around the casting of Ariel herself (believe it or not) coming up to the time of release.

Having now watched it on Disney Plus, I found it to drag somewhat; more drawn out than it needed to be.

Halle Bailey does silence her critics in the lead role, with Melissa McCarthy's Ursula also lighting up the screen when she is on it, but it feels like if had been extended (in running time, by nearly an hour over the original or so I have read) just because they could!
  
Between the Sea and Stars
Between the Sea and Stars
Chantal Gadoury | 2018 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
5.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Who doesn't love mermaids? If you don't...well you're entitled to your wrong opinion.

So, I had the opportunity to receive an advanced copy of this book. I enjoy Gadoury's stories. This one was, of course, no exception.

Lena is a merrow (mermaid) helping her brother take care of their father. They aren't rich or poor, but they get by with Javelin's (brother) sell techniques for the market and Lena's hunting skills. Lena dreams of exploring the human world. She hears stories of the merrow queen and how she traded her fin for legs for the love of her life. Tragedy strikes, however, when Lena must flee from the sea to avoid punishment, or worse, death. With the help of the merrow queen, Lena is bestowed a pair of legs and must leave her only family.

Lena is taken in by a poor family and begins working at an inn. Lena soon finds that not all humans are evil, like other merrows believe, but there are some that are truly awful.

First and foremost, do NOT go into this book thinking it's based on Disney. Disney did not write The Little Mermaid. Although the artwork is beautiful and the songs are catchy, it's not the original story. It is a Little Mermaid retelling, but not Disney. So there will be no crabby sidekick, lol.

I loved Lena. She was headstrong and while she had to adjust to whole other world, she was still the same Lena, just heart broken and trying to manage. Merrows have the same views for female merrows. They are expected to marry and bare children and be taken care of. While Lena toyed with the idea when she is proposed to by an old family friend, she's still hesitant.

Lena meets Edwin, a blind old man who can read cards...and knows what she is. We like Edwin, so don't judge. Jace (young son) was the one who found Lena on the beach and brought her to the inn. I'll try to stop there so I don't spoil anything.

I love Gadoury's writing style. You get a clear picture of Lena as a merrow and as a human and what she experiences, good and bad. There are these connections to Lena's life that involve the merrow queen, and her mother. You have to read the story.

My only complaint...

I must wait for a second book!! Oh well.

Grab this book and experience a new story under the sea.
  
Dumbo (1941)
Dumbo (1941)
1941 | Animation, Classics, Family
With the live action Dumbo out I thought it was high time I watched the original. After seeing it I'm fairly certain I've watched it before but I imagine that it was so long ago that the memory has been replaced with a lot of other movie knowledge.

Dumbo is such a simple story, and even though the film is only just over an hour long it barely feels like that length of time. It moves along so swiftly, no excess of story, just an excess of cuteness.

The animation is wonderful, simple and yet expressive. Dumbo is adorable the whole way through, I honestly don't know how they managed to capture everything in such a tiny little elephant. When he's dinking the giant peg with his tiny hammer and all the effort he puts in "helping" to put up the big top. Such a talented bunch of people. Although I think they peaked at the scene where he was holding his breath.

With Disney we're obviously treated to that musical element and these classics are oh so singable. I was unashamedly singing along at the top of my voice. I hope you all were too.

If Dumbo was around nowadays he's have been an instant internet sensation, his circus would have been fighting back the crowds. The headlines would have read "Boy spanked by elephant after climbing in to mock baby." People would have praised Mrs Jumbo for defending her child, some would have been calling for her to be put down, while the rest of us normal folk would be going "it serves the little bugger right, who climbs into an elephant enclosure?!"

This was a genuinely entertaining watch if you ignore the dated and slightly insensitive beginning.

Extra:

Deleted Scenes

The Mouse's Tale
Are You A Man Of A Mouse
Backstage Disney
Taking Flight: The Making Of Dumbo
The Magic Of Dumbo: A Ride Of Passage
Sound Design: Excerpt From "The Reluctant Dragon"
Celebrating Dumbo
Original Walt Disney TV Introduction
Trailers
Art Galleries
All of the backstage pieces are interesting to watch but you definitely have to see the Sound Design featurette, they've done it in a really fun way and it really brought a smile to my face.


What you should do

Of course you have to watch it, I don't know why you wouldn't.

Movie thing you wish you could take home

I'd say a flying elephant, but I don't really have the space.