Hi there! Today's post is going to be brief and a little different than my normal posts. As much as I love diving into the storytelling and craft of Disney, sometimes it's fun to just talk about the movies.
A few weeks before my first day of school, I decided there was no better way to spend my last days of freedom than watching Disney movies. For seventeen days, I watched a Disney or Pixar movie every day. I chose a mix of my favorite movies and movies that I have either never seen or haven't seen since I was a kid. It was by far one of my more brilliant ideas. Here's a summary of my extended mega movie marathon:
August 7: Tangled
My mom and I watched Tangled on my last day home before I moved back to my college apartment. Fun music, dynamic characters, sweet storyline: Tangled has it all.
August 8: Hercules
I wish Greek mythology was more like Hercules. One of Disney's best examples of including adult jokes ("Somebody call IX I I" is my personal favorite), Hercules is an underrated gem. There are some serious bops in this movie.
August 9:The Emperor's New Groove
I hadn't seen this one in years, and I only vaguely remembered the plot. Wow, was I in for a treat! Not many movies, Disney ones especially, can get away with breaking the fourth wall, but this one does it perfectly, almost to the point where some parts feel like satire. There may not be a lot of plot going on, but it more than makes up for it with humor.
August 10: Bambi
Sad. I hadn't watched Bambi since I was a kid. Some sweet moments, some pretty animation, but mostly just sad.
August 11: Up
So this was kind of my first time seeing Up? Now before anyone jumps down my throat, let me explain. I think I have only seen Up once, and it was after AP tests had finished and my brain wasn't thinking properly. I somehow missed the memo when Up released, and since all everyone said about Up was that it was one of Pixar's saddest movies, I could never bring myself to watch it. I finally did during my mega marathon, and yes, I know, I should have watched it sooner. The opening scene is one of Pixar's best.
August 12: Oliver and Company
I had never seen Oliver and Company, and this was one of my favorite new movies to discover! In fact, it's my current "Underrated Movie of the Month"—scroll to the bottom of my home page to see more. Oliver is one of the cutest cats ever, and you bet I want to name my first cat after him. "Why Should I Worry" is another Disney bop, one that will brighten everyone's mood.
I had to take a photo of Oliver jumping over newspaper because it's the cutest thing to exist.
August 13: The Fox and the Hound
Sad like Bambi but in a different way. You can definitely see Bambi's influence on the storytelling and animation, and though the story isn't Disney's most original or creative, it is still very effective in playing with your heartstrings.
August 14: The Princess and the Frog
Did you know that Tiana is the only Disney princess to have a job other than, well, being a princess or queen? The Princess and the Frog has some great music, and "Friends on the Other Side" is one of my favorite villain songs. In fact, Dr. Facilier is one of Disney's best villains. The animation and music do a great job of creating an unsettling mood in the audience whenever he's on-screen, especially when shadows or voodoo elements are incorporated.
August 15: Beauty and the Beast
My second-favorite Disney princess movie and one of my favorite movies ever, Beauty and the Beast was a natural choice for my marathon. You'll be hard-pressed to find a movie that includes as many fun sidekicks as this one, and every song is a success. Gaston is one of my favorite villains—and by favorite, I mean it from a storytelling perspective. I do not like Gaston—because his villainy represents reality for many people. It's why "Gaston" is also my favorite villain song: equal parts satirical and scary.
August 16: Brother Bear
I hadn't watched Brother Bear since I was a kid, and I only had vague memories: a guy turns into a bear, and I remembered that my brothers seemed to like this movie, but I didn't. It's a sweet enough movie, but it's not one I would necessarily be rushing to watch again soon.
August 17: Mulan
I watched Mulan both because it's been a few years and because of the live-action September release. It's been said before, but I'll say it again: it is refreshing to see a female character be so fierce. And of course, "I'll Make a Man Out of You" is one of Disney's best songs.
August 18: The Good Dinosaur
I hadn't seen this Pixar movie before. Honestly, I don't even remember seeing it advertised when it was released. A few of my friends had seen it and said it was sad, but that's not new for Disney/Pixar. I finally got around to watching it, and maybe I was in a heartless mood, but it wasn't quite as sad as I thought. Or maybe that's because there are a few sad storylines that Disney/Pixar loves to keep using, and after a few movies, the impact just isn't the same. It's another sweet movie, and while the concept of dinosaurs seeming like humans and humans seeming like dogs (which is also based on evolutionary ideas) is neat, it falls flat when compared to Pixar's more successful personifications..
August 19: Big Hero 6
Baymax is one of the funniest characters in the Disneyverse, and Baymax is funny without intentionally trying to be. If you ever need a pick-me-up, I definitely suggest watching Baymax compilations on youtube. Humor aside, Big Hero 6 also packs a punch emotionally, and the superhero storyline is creative and interesting.
August 20: The Aristocats
Another childhood movie that I barely remembered. Cute cats, of course, and while "Everybody Wants to Be a Cat" is one catchy tune, this is another Disney film that would be nice to watch again but is not high on the list.
August 21: Toy Story 2
Why start with Toy Story 2 instead of the first? I recently watched the first and fourth over the summer, and it's been a bit since I've seen the middle movies. Personally, I like the first and the third better than the second, but the toys walking under construction cones is truly an iconic scene.
August 22: Toy Story 3
I know not everyone feels the same, but I stick by it: Toy Story 3 is the best in the franchise, the best Pixar movie, and probably the best sequel ever to be made. Sure, we don't quite have the beginning magic that the first film does, but everything from the conflict to the humor to the emotions makes this one stand out. Everything about the movie comes full circle, and it's an incredible end to an era (of course, until Toy Story 4 came out). If you want to read about my Toy Story 3 ravings even more, fly over to my blog post about Disney/Pixar successful and failed sequels. Toy Story 3 is, obviously, a success.
August 23: Aladdin
Of course, I had to end my extended marathon with my favorite of them all. If you didn't get the memo from my blog's theme, I love Aladdin. Genie is the most iconic sidekick out there, the magic carpet is the most unique example of personification considering the animator's ability to accurately convey emotions and actions without a face, and Iago is a sarcastic gem of a villain. I love this movie so much that I wrote a paper about language use in Aladdin my freshman year of college—and it even got accepted into my department's academic journal.
Just me being a little extra watching Aladdin while drinking out of my Aladdin mug and wearing my (not pictured) Aladdin shirt
Seventeen Disney/Pixar movies and there were still so many I wanted to watch that didn't make the cut. The Lion King? It's been a hot minute. Both Frozen movies? I nixed them since I had watched both over the summer, but I never get tired of Idina Menzel's singing. Coco? I guess I had watched too many sad movies and didn't want to cry again.
Any Disney/Pixar movies you think I should watch/rewatch? Any movies on my list that you love or haven't seen? Drop a comment below. I'd loved to hear about all your Disney thoughts and opinions.
Until later, have courage and be kind.
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