Apologies and Other News

Hey reader(s),

Sorry! It's been a while since I've watched any Disney movies. I took an impromptu to Michigan for a few days which turned into a week. I'll be back late tomorrow, so I probably won't get to see any movies until Sunday. The next film is The Sword in the Stone.

Also, because of all this, August is going to be a busy month. I have 21 films to watch and review in 24 days before I have to go back to school. I also have two books to read and take notes on, but I usually slam those out in a few days. Plus, I need to take a week of driver's education, which might use up some time. But I'm up for the challenge.

So that means that, starting Sunday, you'll see a pretty efficient frequency (probably daily) at which I'll upload reviews. Some days might even come with more than one review. Also, before the end, I'd like to spice the blog up with certain features that I have popping around in my head, so look out for those.

Plus, after this Disney project is done, I'm contemplating the idea of another project similar to this. The only problem is I don't know what can be as big as this. I'm considering just having a long-term blog, filled with mini projects. Basically, every month will be a different project. One month would be Coen brothers films, another would be Quentin Tarantino, and another would be Pixar, etc. I'd like to improve my reviews and make them more interesting, too, as well as more professional. And again, this blog would be full of interesting features, as well as reviewing new releases.

But alas, this is just me rambling. I'm going to add a poll to the side, so you can help me decide (if you exist!).

#17 One Hundred and One Dalmatians

Title: One Hundred and One Dalmatians

Release Date: January 25th, 1961

Voice Cast: Rod Taylor, Betty Lou Gerson, Ben Wright, Cate Bauer

Plot: Two dalmatian parents set out to save their fifteen puppies kidnapped by a wicked socialite and end up saving quite a lot more.

Review: I've been waiting to say something about the past few Disney films for a while. There's a trend I started noticing around Alice in Wonderland, and you might have seen me mention it in some reviews. And I'm mentioning it now, because I feel that One Hundred and One Dalmatians exemplifies it to the full effect-- at least a bit moreso than other Disney films.

Since Cinderella, Disney's been beating around the bush less and less in their films. The stories move a lot more quickly than, for example, Pinocchio, Dumbo, or Bambi. It's magnificent, because that, to me, is what makes a film appealing: filling it up with an actual plot. In 101, there is no dull moment. And I'm not half-assing that comment; there litterally is no moment where something isn't going on that's relevant to the plot. It's beautiful.

The canine cuteness level in this film, I think, is considerabley greater than that of Lady and the Tramp. The scene with the puppies watching TV (especially Lucky, that rascal!) is adorable, with each of them making silly comments and barking when there's excitement. It's very child-like, I'd say. But there's something about the fact that they're puppies that magnifies how charming it is. That factor comes back to haunt you, though, when the puppies are kidnapped. Again, at least for me, there's something about the fact that they're puppies that fills me with emotion (dread, this time) when they are taken.

"Cruella de Vil, Cruella de Vil, if she doesn't scare you, no evil thing will!" How true that is. I think the reason she appears to be so much more ghastly and cruel than any other Disney villain is because her crime is, for the most part, realistic. It could happen in our world, and that makes her incredibly loathsome. Who would want to kill a bunch of puppies and make coats out of them? That's just sick.

That song, though, is amazingly catchy. It's one of the only songs of the sountrack, but it's marvelous and something to be remembered. The rhythm and melody snatch you into singing along to this hate song. And to be honest, with that song, you don't need many others to make a great score.

Under the Sea (Darling, It's Better...)

#16 Sleeping Beauty

Title: Sleeping Beauty

Release Date: January 29th, 1959

Voice Cast: Mary Costa, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton, Barbara Luddy

Plot: A princess is cursed to die on her sixteenth birthday, but three fairies and a prince are determined to stop this evil deed.

Review: Okay, the opening is ridiculously overcooked because of the chorus. Everything that happens, they are there singing. It's pretty redundant, and you hear "Hail Aurora!" etc over 15 times. After that though, there's a bit of a speed-up in the plot. Things happen fairly quickly for a short while.

Maleficent (Eleanor Audley, who also portrayed Lady Tremaine in Cinderella) is the epitome of evil. She has devil horns, a dark mountain lair, and her names mean "to do bad." She has no motive but to screw people over. Luckily, the fairies are the epitome of good. Fair, kind, and funnily blinded by their desire to do good deeds.

Also, Mary Costa's singing voice for Aurora is far too mature for a 16-year-old. (Costa was in her late 20s when she did this voice.) Don't get me wrong, it's beautiful, just not appropriate. In the same boat, "Once Upon A Dream" is a nice song, but it's pretty much all you hear throughout the movie. Let's bring in a change of scenery. Luckily, the film carefully avoided the mistake of including the overdone concept of woodland animal friends. Here, they have more personality, and even show some comedy by acting out the prince.

For all that's going on in this film, however, it lacks the intensity. It falls to slowness, even though the events go by fast. It's difficult to describe, but I just would have liked to have seen more effort in the dialog and action.

So overall, I can't say I disliked the film. It just didn't do too much for me.

Hakuna Matata (It Means 'No Worries')

#15 Lady and the Tramp

Title: Lady and the Tramp

Release Date: June 22nd, 1955

Voice Cast: Barbara Luddy, Larry Roberts, Bill Thompson, Verna Felton

Plot: An upper-class Cocker Spaniel meets and falls in love with a stray mutt.

Review: A love story amongst dogs. I beg you-- no, I challenge you to find me a cuter concept. (A love story amongst robots, maybe?) By all means, this film had the potential to become the greatest animated love story of the 20th century.

Everything about this film is so clever. It's all very well thought out on how to show it from a dog's perspective. For example, Lady calls her masters "Jim Dear" and "Darling", because that is what she hears them call each other. The dogs all have everyday problems, too. The worst disease is losing your sense of smell, the mortal enemy is the dog catcher, and jealousy of infants is common. It's a brilliant setup.

The elements of romance are built up perfectly. There's a shy-vs.-bold acquaintance, smooth charm, casual assistance, a nickname, a night of ecstasy-- all leading up to an adoring, yet human love. When they are past all that, they still have problems as any other relationship. The tramp gets Lady into a fine mess, and she also finds out about his reputation as a swinger. ("Ooohs" and "aaahs" all around.) And of course, like any Disney film, they end up happily ever after.

It pains me to say it though; the romance cannot be the only piece of a film. has got that nailed, but it lacks in other areas. Namely, the soundtrack. I'd say the only memorable song from this film is "The Siamese Cat Song", and even that is irking because of who is singing it. Fortunately, the film still shines without an amazing series of songs. What's more disappointing is the lack of dynamic characters. I found them more stereotypical than normal for Disney films. Alas, Lady and the Tramp still pulls it out as one of the greatest love stories ever, and you'll no doubt be pleased with it.

Under the Sea (Darling, It's Better...)

#14 Peter Pan

Title: Peter Pan

Release Date: February 5th, 1953

Voice Cast: Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont, Hans Conried

Plot: An imaginative London family is swept away to Neverland by their dreams' protagonist; they meet Indians, mermaids, the Lost Boys, and most importantly, the antagonist: a menacing pirate who wants to destroy their hero.

Review: I'm going to tell you guys right now, this review may be super-biased. Peter Pan has been my favorite Disney movie for as long as I can remember. So naturally, watching the film was much more of a reminiscent experience than watching the previous Disney films.

But it's such an incredible adventure. Even before the true magic begins, the home setting is gripping. There's something so realistic about the Darling family. There's a moody, practical father, a nurturing mother, two young boys with vivid minds, and an eldest daughter who seeks to be the medium between her parents and her brothers. Of course, there's also a semi-anthromorphic dog, but that's besides the point.

Kathryn Beaumont, who played Alice in Alice in Wonderland, one-ups her previous performance completely as Wendy Darling. This is how I imagine Kathryn in real life, to be honest. Her voice just gives away that overly-courteous, daydreaming girl. And she's not the only one who can play the part. Hans Conried is a double-threat as both Mr. Darling and Captain Hook. The raunchiness in his voice is just grade-A perfection for both characters. And Bill Thompson, who played the White Rabbit, is delightful as similarly-voiced Mr. Smee.

Peter Pan is just a magnificent adventure. It makes you just want to get away to a fantasy land and have an adventure all your own. My favorite feature has to be the Indian tribe; from the moment they attack (which is hilarious) to the end of their dance (which is amazing), they just take the cake.

Which brings me to the soundtrack: I'm lost for words. Nobody can sit there and tell me that "You Can Fly" isn't one of the catchiest Disney songs ever due to it's speed-up rhythm. And "What Makes the Red Man Red?" is both comical and fun for the ears. And the three notes repeated throughout the film. Pan plays them on his flute, and you hear it in the background from time to time. There's just something about those notes that's... intriguing yet dangerous.

It's all very difficult to explain. So watch it yourself!

A Dream Is A Wish (++++++)

#13 Alice in Wonderland

Title: Alice in Wonderland

Release Date: July 28th, 1951

Voice Cast: Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Richard Haydn, Sterling Holloway, Jerry Colonna, Verna Felton

Plot: A small girl with a fantastic imagination slips into a world where nothing seems to make sense at all.

Review: Forget everything you know about logical thought. Disney dives right into nonsense with this one -- A LOT of it. The world is nonstop ridiculous, and the film, true to the original works of literature, abandons traditional storytelling based on sequential, related events. It divides itself, instead, by chracters: the silliest ones you've ever seen. These include within the first half hour, a loony doorknob, a skiddish rabbit, a British colonial dodo, talking flowers, and bouncy twins. And THAT'S not even the half of it.

The native creatures to the Wonderland are so relentlessly comedic that they make Alice seem boring. I sweat it, you'd wish she'd just shut up and watch, just be. Disney could have produced a movie titled Wonderland and I would have enjoyed it just as much, if not more. Of course, the whole point is to loyally adapt the works of Lewis Carroll.

I have to admit: Disney chose a strange couple of books to adapt. And I'm gonna say it right here and now, though many will disagree with me: there's no doubt about it, this is Disney's stoner film. It has more drug references than all of its previous films combined. Hell, the entire film is a drug reference! As the Cheshire cat put it, "nearly everyone here is mad"; or on something. For goodness sake, there's a hookah-smoking caterpillar. And Disney just speeds along with it and doesn't care if it leaves you behind. It runs wild with vivid colors and fantastic creatures, giving this film the best creative animation I've ever seen.

I have to say this: I LOVE the Mad Hatter and the March Hare. I could watch them for hours and hours and hours. They're the perfect comedy duo, and the fit right into the story. It's difficult to explain; they're just tremendously hilarious. The Cheshire cat?-- less so. I found him actually creepier than funny. That goes for the hookah-smoking caterpillar too. But be that as it may, Alice has probably the most side-splitting, though strangest, characters Disney's ever produced. And that's what gives this film...

A Dream Is A Wish

#12 Cinderella

Title: Cinderella

Release Date: March 4th, 1950

Voice Cast: Ilene Woods, Verna Felton, Eleanor Audley, Jimmy MacDonald

Plot: A beautiful young woman who has become a waiting victim of her stepmother and two stepsisters finds freedom when she gets the chance to attend a ball as a candidate for the princess bride.

Review: Ah, it's nice to be out of the package films. True, I did like three of them, but it's just a warming feeling to be back to complete stories. I feel like I can review these films better for two similar reasons: 1. These films are made up of single stories and single elements, leaving little room for conflict when it comes to scoring; 2. I can be more objective in the review, with less compare and contrast to other Disney films. That being said, from this post forward, you will hear no more about those package films. Hooray!

There couldn't have been a better step into the light than Cinderella. Let me start by saying that the voice acting is splended. Woods' singing is mesmerizing, and her talking is shockingly natural. The mice are difficult to understand at some points, but that unique squeakiness is what makes them so hilarious to watch, specifically Jaq and Gus (<3).>character is uninteresting, right down to the royal messenger. Speaking of characters (what a lousy transition on my part), you may think that the stepmother is the most wicked being in this film, but that doesn't make her the most loathsome. No no, that award goes to the stepsisters, Anastasia and Drizella. They're ugly with nasty voices, blatant stupidity, and appalling arrogance. It's the complete deluxe package to invoke hatred, and that's what makes great characters. :)

Needless to say, Cinderella comes with a stellar soundtrack. "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" is what I regard as one of the three iconic Disney songs. (Other two? "Someday My Prince Will Come" and "When You Wish Upon A Star".) There's also "The Work Song", which, as it is sung by mice, sounds like a reprise to the Munchkinland Sequence from The Wizard of Oz. It's amazing how enormous the resemblence is in the singing. Finally, there's "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo", made catchy by nonsense words, and the incredibly romantic duet, "So This Is Love."

To put it in a short sentence: Cinderella is, from beginning to end, flawless.

A Dream Is A Wish

#11 The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

Title: The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

Release Date: October 5th, 1949

Voice Cast: Bing Crosby, Eric Blore, Basil Rathbone

Plot: The sixth and final package film released by Disney in the 1940s features two adaptations of classic stories: the first about a toad who comes into a bit of trouble when he can't fight his urge to drive a car, the second about a New York schoolmaster who befalls the wrath of a local legend known as the "Headless Horseman."

Review: We've reached the end of the package films, ladies and gentleman. *light applause* I am pleased to tell you that this era ends favorably. The first half, Mr. Toad, has unstoppable, surprisingly mature humor displayed in a way a child could understand. (A ruthless mockery of a court system is featured). There aren't too many dull moments; every single one advances the plot or details a character. Time is not to waste, and the narrator has to keep up. It's a job well done, because I never lost interest.

As for Ichabod Crane: well, I thought I knew this story. I expected entirely grim scenery with spooky music to accompany. What I was shown was a lanky, awkward, and unsually shallow man featured in a Popeye-Olive Oyl-Bruno-esque story. Ichabod an oddity as a main character-- it's difficult to resist disliking him as a person for a majority of the tale. I think, to be liked, a main character needs to be defeated slightly in any odd aspect. This didn't happen until the end. Therefore, Ichabod came across to me as probably the most arrogant and distasteful protagonist I've ever seen in a Disney film. Nevertheless, it actually does become frightening and suspenseful with a chase scene to give a child nightmares. And funnily enough, the whole thing feels over too soon.

Under the Sea (Darling, It's Better...)

Off to Canada for a Week

Just wanted to let any of my readers (if you guys exist) that I'll be off to Canada for a week starting tomorrow morning. I have a review for The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad outlined, but unfortunately I won't have time to post it before I leave. I'll see you in a week!

#10 Melody Time

Title: Melody Time

Release Date: May 27th, 1948

Voice Cast: Roy Rogers, Dennis Day, Frances Langford, The Andrews Sisters
Plot: The fifth of six package films Disney released in the 1940s, Melody Time contains several animated segments set to popular music and folk music alike.

Review: Oy vey. Let's get the good part out of the way first. ...well, the first segment itself actually wasn't too great at all. Interestingly enough, though the first had a story, I was a thousand times more am

used by the second segment, a short frenzy of animation set to a ragtime variation of Flight of the Bumblebee. Then follows an adaptation of Johnny Appleseed, which could have easily been expanded into a full movie (and just as easily won me over). It's riddled with Christian propaganda, though, so if that's not your thing, stay away.

If the Christian propaganda isn't enough to force you away, continue reading. Melody Time then falls to the level of Saludos Amigos. (If you haven't read that review yet, do so; you'll know what I'm talking about.) In fact, there's an encore to Saludos in a segment. It actually put me to sleep. I woke up a few minutes later, very confused, as I thought somebody had put on Saludos while I was dozing.

What comes next is a boring song, followed by live action nonsense, followed by an only average story about the legendary cowboy Pecos bill. It teaches you how fun guns are, especially when you shoot them at Native Americans!

So who is this film for? Not for me. Could it be for you? Well, that would brighten my day, because for now, I have absolutely no idea why Disney dropped the ball on this one when it was doing so well with Make Mine Music and Fun and Fancy Free. Oh, well. There's only one package film left: The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. Check back either tomorrow or Friday for that.

Bare Necessities

#9 Fun and Fancy Free

Title: Fun and Fancy Free

Release Date: September 27th, 1947

Voice Cast: Edgar Bergen, Cliff Edwards, Walt Disney, Clarence Nash, Pinto Colvig, Dinah Shore

Plot: The fourth of six Disney package films released in the 1940s is divided into two parts: the first about a circus bear who escapes to the woods and falls in love; the second, a retelling of "Jack and the Beanstalk" featuring Mickey, Goofy, and Donald.

Review: So, technically speaking, Fun and Fancy Free is two films. In fact, that was Disney's original plan with these, but the runtime for each was not long enough. Thus, Fun and Fancy Free was born, nearly ten years after Disney's first film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Jiminy Cricket actually does the intro (as well as the intersequence later on). His presence, along with what looks like Cleo and Figaro, is somewhat settling. The beginning is very reminiscent of Pinocchio in style, too, though it's nothing special.

First up is a self-proclaimed different "Three Bears" story, concerning a circus bear named Bongo who is desperate for freedom. He escapes, runs off to the forest, and after a rocky start learning how to be a forest bear, he meets a female and falls in love. (If you want a mental image of this premise so far, just take Dumbo and Bambi and mash them together-- which isn't necessarily a bad thing.) This half is narrated by Dinah Shore, whose voice is warmingly soothing both in speech and song. Of course, one of Disney's greatest talents is creating love stories. In this case, Shore's voice could not be more appropriate.

Afterwards, there's an initially odd intersequence... with puppets. Yeah. Puppets. I felt like I tripped into Mister Rogers' Neighborhood for a moment. But then, the puppeteer and his puppets begin to tell a story. And I have to say, these puppets are wildly funny narrators. However, their comedy seems drier than most Disney movies, which I suppose a small child wouldn't latch onto. But I, being a teenager, found them hilarious.

This story that they tell is Disney's adaptation of "Jack and the Beanstalk", starring Disney's most universal characters: Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Donald Duck. Of course, this reveals another one of the studio's greatest talents: retelling classic stories with a creative spin. Nowhere in this ~30 minutes can you take your eyes away from these three, as well as the menacing dunce of giant.

To make it short, Fun and Fancy Free strikes the same note as Make Mine Music. Oh, and it includes convincing and enthralling live action segments, FINALLY. On with the ratings, already!

Under the Sea (Darling, It's Better...)

#8 Make Mine Music

Title: Make Mine Music

Release Date: August 15th, 1946

Voice Cast: Nelson Eddy, Sterling Holloway, Jerry Colonna, The Andrew Sisters

Plot: The third of six Disney package films released in the 1940s, Make Mine Music is composed (pun intended) of ten theatrical animated shorts all set to a variety of music.

Review: I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical going into this film; aw, hell, I thought I would absolutely hate it. I sensed that after Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros, Disney would continue with the same dreadful pattern for all of its package films. And I'll tell you now, I was wrong.

Just like The Three Caballeros, Make Mine Music has a promising opening. It drops the narrators, and it replaces them with singers. The first short is a bouncy bluegrass tale of a Hatfield-McCoy-like feud, wildly entertaining. The second takes an artsy form; soft singing over nothing more than a colorful setting.

This is the pattern that pretty much reigns over the entirety of the film. It oscillates between two types of shorts. The first type involves upbeat, frantic, and merry stories set to music just as hippety to fit. These shorts included a musical "Casey At The Bat" and "Peter and the Wolf", as well as an original story about an opera-singing whale. The second type involves (usually) slow, romantic, colorful montages with beautiful love songs to accompany job. And while I would take the first category over the second any day, Disney did a fantastic job representing both.

There's really not much else to say about this one. I feel most people probably haven't seen it; but, I'm tellin' ya that you'll be surprised at how Make Mine Music flew under the "classic status" radar.

Under the Sea (Darling, It's Better...)

#7 The Three Caballeros

Title: The Three Caballeros

Release Date: February 3rd, 1945

Voice Cast: Clarence Nash, Jose Oliveira, Joaquin Garay

Plot: The 2nd of Disney's six 1940s package films is basically a sequel to Saludos Amigos, diving more into South American culture in seven segments.

Review: The "sequel" starts out well, surprisingly. Though it has the same style (narrator overdose, South American themes, etc.), the first segment is much more of a story, and a lot less like a lesson. Either that, or it hides the lesson well. The narrators themselves are less monotone, allowing yourself to actually be intrigued this time around. The first segment is about a penguin who wants to leave the south pole, and it is more pleasing than all four Saludos Amigos shorts combined. I actually smiled, and it kept my interest.

The next segment, about a flying donkey, returns to "lesson" format, but still not as much so as Saludos. And though it is not as thrilling as the first segment, it is still in line of Disney classic standards, the way I see it.

Unfortunately, it only gets worse from here. In the next two segments, pure montages of Brazil and Mexico, Disney makes one of the same mistakes it made with Saludos. Music and color become the basis of the entire film, with no plot or even scenario to accompany. Sounds like Fantasia? I wish. I almost nodded off during this portion of the film.

By the end, it has gone back to the failed documentary format. More live action comes into play, which, at the time, Disney had not mastered. Though I can't say I'm surprised, I was disappointed by this film. I dare say I was even more so disappointed by this than Saludos, due to the promising beginning. But, that beginning does have to boost it up a rating.

Bare Necessities