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Dumbo (1941)
Dumbo (1941)
1941 | Animation, Classics, Family
The cartoon returns...
Contains spoilers, click to show
I was never the biggest fan of this one, having seen it to death as a child. "Dumbo" was in many ways regarded as a lesser Disney classic, never really treated with the same regard as "Pinocchio", "Snow White" or "Bambi". But as I continue to work my way through this studio's classics, I am more than pleasantly surprised to rediscover this gem.

With a short running time of 64 minutes, which must barely qualify as film, this was the most cartoonish Disney feature of this era that I had seen, definitely not to the same higher brow animation standards of the afore-mentioned, but funnier and more enjoyable, without a doubt.

The little engine that could humour and the overall concept, being more zany that its counterparts help this stand out and being a much more entertaining piece of cinema than I had originally given it credit for. Not the greatest animation in history, but fun none the less.
  
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KatyShubo (75 KP) rated Beauty and the Beast (2017) in Movies

Jan 5, 2019 (Updated Jan 5, 2019)  
Beauty and the Beast (2017)
Beauty and the Beast (2017)
2017 | Fantasy, Musical, Romance
A stellar supporting casts (0 more)
Leads that were neither Beauty or the Beast (0 more)
A Dismal Disappointment from Disney
This film has all the right ingredients to be a magnificent reimagining of a Disney Classic but unfortunately it never quite hits the mark.
The supporting cast bring a host of beloved characters to life with charm and whimsy but they aren’t enough to carry the shambolic leads who just do not embody Beauty and The Beast.
I had been so excited about this movie but unfortunately it was a fail. It isn’t able to quite capture the magical enchantment of the original animation instead we are left with a love story between two characters who seem far more engrossed with themselves than they do with each other.
This movie will not grow to be a tale as old as time because it will not stand the test of time but we still have the original and that will never disappoint.
  
The Lion King (2019)
The Lion King (2019)
2019 | Adventure, Animation, Family
It seems recently that the Disney vault has exploded with the release of several of their classic animated films being remade. Unfortunately, the classics that have inspired these remakes have been redone with mixed results. The original The Lion King was released back in 1994 and it’s hard to believe that I was a junior in college when I saw it. Since that time, we’ve seen various iterations of the classic story, a few direct to VCR sequels and the awe-inspiring Broadway stage production (which if you are a serious fan of the movie I encourage you to see). It seems odd to discuss the plot of a movie that I’m certain everyone reading this has seen at least once (or a dozen times over). To the uninformed however, The Lion King is about a young cub named Simba (JD McCrary as the young voice and Donald Glover as the adult) who suffers the tragic loss of his father Mufasa (James Earl Jones) at the paws of his evil uncle Scar (Chiwetel Ejiofor). Scar convinces Simba that he is responsible for his father’s death and that he must leave the pride and never return. With the help of his faithful friends Timon (Billy Eichner), the lovable warthog Pumbaa (Seth Rogen), the ever wise Zazu (John Oliver) and his budding queen Nala (Beyoncé’) he learns that true courage comes from within and realizes he must face Scar if he is ever to bring peace back to the Pride Lands.

Given the recent track record, I wasn’t sure if this was going to be a retelling of the story as I remembered it, or a re-imagining of the story as a whole (and yes there is a difference). Thankfully, I can say that The Lion King draws practically all of its inspiration directly from the animated classic. Director Jon Favreau (who had already wowed audiences when he directed The Jungle Book) brings the same heart-warming, tear jerk moments that we all know and love. While he certainly didn’t take any risks with The Lion King, that’s exactly what made it such a pleasure to behold. He understood that there was no need to change the story into something new or try to make it something it shouldn’t be. True, for those who have seen the animated film it will feel incredibly familiar, but I think that’s exactly what fans are looking for. Changes and risks don’t always make a movie better, and The Lion King is a prime example of not breaking something that works.

The real star of the show however isn’t the actors, nor it’s incredible director, but the technology that went behind bringing our favorite felines to life. Disney refers to this as a “photo real movie”. The technology behind it merges both new and old together to bring the animals to life, indistinguishable from their real-life counterparts. Utilizing VR, animation and mixed with live action film-making it is practically impossible to distinguish what is live and what is animated. The character models have come a far way from the original Jumanji, which was heralded back in 1995 for it’s use of computer animated animals that supposedly looked and felt like the real thing. While Disney has always made great strides to make their computer-generated animals look and feel real (much like the absolutely stunning Jungle Book) The Lion King takes this to an entirely different level altogether.
Disney has done what has seemed practically impossible lately, bringing a classic back to the screen without changing what made the original such a classic. Unlike some of their more recent attempts, The Lion King holds true to the source material which has delighted fans for over 25 years. While the story doesn’t bring anything particularly new to the table, the photo realistic lions and their supporting cast feel as fresh as they ever have. If you aren’t a fan of the classic animated movie, The Lion King won’t necessarily change that, however the imagery alone may be reason enough to see it. I hope Disney takes note of this movie in particular, that fans don’t need a re-imagining of the stories that captivated our youths to bring the magic back. The Lion King is a testament to how the Disney classic still holds up today, and how to make something old feel new again.

http://sknr.net/2019/07/11/the-lion-king/
  
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Red (24 KP) rated Tiger Lily in Books

Aug 10, 2017  
Tiger Lily
Tiger Lily
Jodi Lynn Anderson | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
It gave you an unknown part of the classic tale that answered questions you didn't even know you had. (0 more)
It was a short read. (0 more)
An Untold Tale
I didn't know, judging by the title, that the story would in fact be told from quite a different point of view. You not only get one untold side from Neverland, but two. Once I got into it, it was hard to stop reading which made it a short read. However, it was still one of the best teen books I've read in awhile that was involved in the fairytale realm. Any fan of Disney & the story of Peter Pan should read it!
  
Aladdin (2019)
Aladdin (2019)
2019 | Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Good yet unnecessary adaptation of the classic animated film.
The movie did a good job of capturing the essence of the original animated film. Cast and set were able to recreate much of the fun and adventure of the original, a feat Disney is often able to do. Where the film suffers is in its foray into modern social movements seemingly for no reason, and the absence of two key voices, Gilbert Gottfried and the incomparable Robin Williams. Will Smith and Alan Tudyk are sufficient but don't come close to the former iconic role players. Overall, the film was good, yet in the grand scheme of things seemed unnecessary.
  
The Rescuers (1977)
The Rescuers (1977)
1977 | Action, Animation, Family
8
7.9 (28 Ratings)
Movie Rating
The Rescuers to the Rescue.
The Plot: Bernard (Bob Newhart) and Miss Bianca (Eva Gabor), two New York City mice, are members of the Rescue Aid Society, an international team that operates beneath the United Nations and comes to the aid of those in need. After receiving word that Penny (Michelle Stacy), a young orphan, has been abducted by Madame Medusa (Geraldine Page), an evil woman seeking a precious diamond, the two set out to bring her back home, with help from other animal friends.

It has adventure, drama, comedy, love, a percious diamond, a evil villian and more.

A classic movie from disney.
  
The Lion King (1994)
The Lion King (1994)
1994 | Action, Animation, Drama
Jeremy Irons and James Earl Jones. (0 more)
Hakuna Matata
The Lion King- such a classic. Its perfect, amazing, fantasic and phenomenal and than thier just had to remake last year, live action style because of $$$ and have beyonce voice one of the charcters and have a second soundtrack with rap stars??? Anyways, the songs are so excellent, you have... "Circle of Life", "I Just Cant Wait to be King", "Be Perpared", "Hakuna Matata" and "Can't You Feel The Love Tonight".

The plot: This Disney animated feature follows the adventures of the young lion Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), the heir of his father, Mufasa (James Earl Jones). Simba's wicked uncle, Scar (Jeremy Irons), plots to usurp Mufasa's throne by luring father and son into a stampede of wildebeests. But Simba escapes, and only Mufasa is killed. Simba returns as an adult (Matthew Broderick) to take back his homeland from Scar with the help of his friends Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella).

A classic film.