I'm Late! I'm Late! For a Very Important Date!
Oh, dear! A whole week has slipped through my fingers! I'm going to have to rethink my upload schedule. Sadly, Disney blogging is not part of my degree program. Oh, well. A very merry Un-blog Day to you!
Now, on to the main event....
Even though Disney movies are among the most beloved films of all time, there are certainly some that are more popular than others. Instant classics such as The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, and the Toy Story trilogy tend to get a lot of attention, and with good reason. These films will always hold a special place in my heart. But there are many other films that are just as special but have somehow fallen through the cracks. I would like to take this opportunity to give credit where credit is due. I present (in no particular order) my Top Five Underappreciated Disney Movies.
*SPOILER ALERT* Sorry! I just can't explain why I think these movies are so amazing without dropping a few spoilers. If you come across a movie you haven't seen, go watch it. Then come back, read this post, and comment something to the effect of "I KNOW, RIIIIIGHT??!?!!!???!!?!!!!"
Now, on to the main event....
Even though Disney movies are among the most beloved films of all time, there are certainly some that are more popular than others. Instant classics such as The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, and the Toy Story trilogy tend to get a lot of attention, and with good reason. These films will always hold a special place in my heart. But there are many other films that are just as special but have somehow fallen through the cracks. I would like to take this opportunity to give credit where credit is due. I present (in no particular order) my Top Five Underappreciated Disney Movies.
*SPOILER ALERT* Sorry! I just can't explain why I think these movies are so amazing without dropping a few spoilers. If you come across a movie you haven't seen, go watch it. Then come back, read this post, and comment something to the effect of "I KNOW, RIIIIIGHT??!?!!!???!!?!!!!"
#1 The Incredibles
Alright, I know what you're thinking: The Incredibles is not underappreciated. Who doesn't love this family of incognito superheroes? The answer, of course, is no one. The Incredibles is definitely a crowd favorite. But I personally believe that this movie deserves even more credit than it is already given, for the simple reason that it contains some of the realest characters Disney has ever created.
They may have amazing superpowers, but Bob and Helen Parr are a real couple living in the real world. They experience conflict and miscommunication. They fight in front of their kids. Bob resents being stuck in a dull, dead-end job, while Helen fears that her husband is having an affair. The moment where Helen stop to check out her butt while infiltrating Syndrome's lair makes it clear: she is Helen first, Elastigirl second. This does not even mention Violet, Dash, Edna, or Buddy/Syndrome, who will all hopefully get their own character analysis from me at some point in the future. I could go on and on about these characters, but for now, I leave you with this scene:
They may have amazing superpowers, but Bob and Helen Parr are a real couple living in the real world. They experience conflict and miscommunication. They fight in front of their kids. Bob resents being stuck in a dull, dead-end job, while Helen fears that her husband is having an affair. The moment where Helen stop to check out her butt while infiltrating Syndrome's lair makes it clear: she is Helen first, Elastigirl second. This does not even mention Violet, Dash, Edna, or Buddy/Syndrome, who will all hopefully get their own character analysis from me at some point in the future. I could go on and on about these characters, but for now, I leave you with this scene:
The feels don't get any worse than that, people. Mr. Incredible may be this movie's Superman, but in this scene, he is afraid. He's afraid of not being a good enough husband and father, and afraid of losing the people he loves most. In my opinion, The Incredibles features the realest marriage ever portrayed in a Disney film, and that is why it makes my list of underappreciated Disney films.
#2 Wreck-It-Ralph
#2 Wreck-It-Ralph
I was sorely disappointed by the general reaction to Wreck-It-Ralph, probably because of how much I personally loved the film. As far as I can tell, it seems to have amassed a cult following rather than finding a place of honor in the Disney fandom. This movie has so much going for it.
First of all, the premise of this movie - and the universe created to contain it - are mind-blowingly clever. When I saw Wreck-It-Ralph in theaters, I nearly squealed out loud when I realized that the game characters were traveling from game to game through a "train station" located inside a power strip. I laughed out loud as Ralph struggled to get past the customs officer, a meticulous surge protector. The world of Wreck-It-Ralph may be the most clever and intricate Pixar universe created to date.
Much of the richness of the Wreck-It-Ralph universe comes from the three games in which most of the action takes place. Each of these games is a highly creative world within the greater world of the arcade, from the vintage, pixelated world of Fix-It-Felix Jr. to the high-def, action flick world of Hero's Duty to the colorful, Candy Land-like world of Sugar Rush. Each of these games is so detailed and different that they make Wreck-It-Ralph a feast for the senses.
And then....
And then....
AND. THEN.
There's Turbo.
CAN WE JUST TALK ABOUT TURBO FOR A SECOND?
The name "Turbo" is mentioned several times throughout the beginning portion of the movie, but he is introduced so gradually that at first we don't realize it's a name at all. We just hear a few characters discuss the concept of "going Turbo", which sounds pretty ominous, but means absolutely nothing to us. Then, we are told the story of how Turbo's jealousy caused him to escape TurboTime and invade RoadBlasters, causing both games to be unplugged. Turbo's demise then came to serve as a warning for everyone in the arcade to know their place and be satisfied with it. This casts a shadow of foreboding over Ralph's quest to be a hero instead of a bad guy; will Ralph fall into a similar fate and bring the whole arcade down with him? It is only towards the very end of the film that we discover Turbo's true fate: he escaped into Sugar Rush and became....
First of all, the premise of this movie - and the universe created to contain it - are mind-blowingly clever. When I saw Wreck-It-Ralph in theaters, I nearly squealed out loud when I realized that the game characters were traveling from game to game through a "train station" located inside a power strip. I laughed out loud as Ralph struggled to get past the customs officer, a meticulous surge protector. The world of Wreck-It-Ralph may be the most clever and intricate Pixar universe created to date.
Much of the richness of the Wreck-It-Ralph universe comes from the three games in which most of the action takes place. Each of these games is a highly creative world within the greater world of the arcade, from the vintage, pixelated world of Fix-It-Felix Jr. to the high-def, action flick world of Hero's Duty to the colorful, Candy Land-like world of Sugar Rush. Each of these games is so detailed and different that they make Wreck-It-Ralph a feast for the senses.
And then....
And then....
AND. THEN.
There's Turbo.
CAN WE JUST TALK ABOUT TURBO FOR A SECOND?
The name "Turbo" is mentioned several times throughout the beginning portion of the movie, but he is introduced so gradually that at first we don't realize it's a name at all. We just hear a few characters discuss the concept of "going Turbo", which sounds pretty ominous, but means absolutely nothing to us. Then, we are told the story of how Turbo's jealousy caused him to escape TurboTime and invade RoadBlasters, causing both games to be unplugged. Turbo's demise then came to serve as a warning for everyone in the arcade to know their place and be satisfied with it. This casts a shadow of foreboding over Ralph's quest to be a hero instead of a bad guy; will Ralph fall into a similar fate and bring the whole arcade down with him? It is only towards the very end of the film that we discover Turbo's true fate: he escaped into Sugar Rush and became....
One of the biggest. Disney. Plot. Twists. Ever.
Turbo/King Candy's character only gets better when he is bitten by a Cy-Bug and morphs into this thing:
Turbo/King Candy's character only gets better when he is bitten by a Cy-Bug and morphs into this thing:
First Disney villain to become a giant, invincible insect/deranged, flying clown? Check.
There is so much more I could say about this movie, particularly about the character of Vanellope, who is at the top of my character analysis list, but for now, I've said my piece. Wreck-It-Ralph is a clever, inventive, insightful story that I will enjoy again and again.
There is so much more I could say about this movie, particularly about the character of Vanellope, who is at the top of my character analysis list, but for now, I've said my piece. Wreck-It-Ralph is a clever, inventive, insightful story that I will enjoy again and again.
#3 Enchanted
Including Enchanted in this list technically breaks my unspoken rule about keeping Disney's animated and live action films separate. In most cases, these two types of Disney movies are so different that it is impossible to compare them. However, I believe that Enchanted has some of the same qualities as its animated cousins and deserves to be recognized in this list.
Ever since its release in 2007, Enchanted has been a favorite in my family. I know it as well as I know any other Disney princess film; I found it funny, moving, and completely, well, enchanting. I was surprised, therefore, when Enchanted came up in a discussion with several friends and most of them had never seen it. For those who had seen it, it was apparently not memorable. There are 1,001 reasons why I love this movie, but there is one that stands out from all the rest.
Enchanted turns the concept of romantic love on its head. On the one hand, you have Giselle, an exuberant, innocent young girl from the magical kingdom of Andalasia where being rescued by a handsome prince automatically equals eternal love and happiness. On the other, you have Robert, a cynical divorce lawyer living as a single dad in New York City. Enchanted uses these two characters to show that real love does exist, but that it takes work and has to be with the right person. This movie manages to deliver this message without making Giselle and Robert two-dimensional stock characters or obnoxious, over-the-top caricatures. I am genuinely interested in the journeys these characters take, both together and independently. And I admit without shame that I still cry when Robert tells Giselle why he stopped believing in true love, because right in the middle of a Disney movie is a man who has experienced a harshly real circumstance. Robert and Giselle real people who experience fear, confusion, heartbreak, and ultimately, happiness. This alone makes Enchanted a Disney treasure.
Ever since its release in 2007, Enchanted has been a favorite in my family. I know it as well as I know any other Disney princess film; I found it funny, moving, and completely, well, enchanting. I was surprised, therefore, when Enchanted came up in a discussion with several friends and most of them had never seen it. For those who had seen it, it was apparently not memorable. There are 1,001 reasons why I love this movie, but there is one that stands out from all the rest.
Enchanted turns the concept of romantic love on its head. On the one hand, you have Giselle, an exuberant, innocent young girl from the magical kingdom of Andalasia where being rescued by a handsome prince automatically equals eternal love and happiness. On the other, you have Robert, a cynical divorce lawyer living as a single dad in New York City. Enchanted uses these two characters to show that real love does exist, but that it takes work and has to be with the right person. This movie manages to deliver this message without making Giselle and Robert two-dimensional stock characters or obnoxious, over-the-top caricatures. I am genuinely interested in the journeys these characters take, both together and independently. And I admit without shame that I still cry when Robert tells Giselle why he stopped believing in true love, because right in the middle of a Disney movie is a man who has experienced a harshly real circumstance. Robert and Giselle real people who experience fear, confusion, heartbreak, and ultimately, happiness. This alone makes Enchanted a Disney treasure.
#4 Lilo and Stitch
Like The Incredibles, Lilo and Stitch is certainly a beloved Disney film. However, there are certain facets of this movie that seem only to be recognized in what I lovingly refer to as "Sector T" (Tumblr). The Tumblr crowd has a knack for delving deeper into a story than others ever considered. It is this side of Lilo and Stitch, the rich, complex, emotional side, that put this movie on my list.
First, let's consider the character of Nani. Nani, who appears to be only in her late teens or early twenties, has lost both of her parents and is now responsible for the monumental task of providing and caring for her young sister. She repeatedly turns David down, even though it is evident that she cares about him, because she does not feel that she has a space in her life for a relationship. After being fired from her job and having an unfortunate run-in with child services, Nani faces having her sister taken away from her. Nani is caught between being a mother and a sister to Lilo, and this puts a strain both of them.
Lilo's situation is no better. She is deeply troubled by the loss of her parents and her lack of friends among her peers. Lilo is desperate for attention and has never really dealt with her grief. Statements like "Leave me alone to die," and "I remember everyone that leaves," demonstrate the damage that has been done by this tragedy. I would argue that there are diagnosable psychological issues in the character of Lilo, stemming from her sudden loss.
In the end, Lilo and Stitch is not a movie about a fluffy blue alien. It is a movie about the deepest, most painful human emotions: grief, loneliness, frustration, and fear. Only by allowing Stitch and David into their family do Nani and Lilo learn how to be happy again. Lilo and Stitch is a film about grieving, loving, and ultimately, letting go.
First, let's consider the character of Nani. Nani, who appears to be only in her late teens or early twenties, has lost both of her parents and is now responsible for the monumental task of providing and caring for her young sister. She repeatedly turns David down, even though it is evident that she cares about him, because she does not feel that she has a space in her life for a relationship. After being fired from her job and having an unfortunate run-in with child services, Nani faces having her sister taken away from her. Nani is caught between being a mother and a sister to Lilo, and this puts a strain both of them.
Lilo's situation is no better. She is deeply troubled by the loss of her parents and her lack of friends among her peers. Lilo is desperate for attention and has never really dealt with her grief. Statements like "Leave me alone to die," and "I remember everyone that leaves," demonstrate the damage that has been done by this tragedy. I would argue that there are diagnosable psychological issues in the character of Lilo, stemming from her sudden loss.
In the end, Lilo and Stitch is not a movie about a fluffy blue alien. It is a movie about the deepest, most painful human emotions: grief, loneliness, frustration, and fear. Only by allowing Stitch and David into their family do Nani and Lilo learn how to be happy again. Lilo and Stitch is a film about grieving, loving, and ultimately, letting go.
#5 Treasure Planet
I will sheepishly admit that I did not know this movie existed until a friend showed it to me (he was appalled when I confused it with "the one with the girl with the blue hair"). Treasure Planet is a sci-fi fantasy retelling of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel, Treasure Island. I won't say much about this movie right now, because many of you probably haven't seen it. I would like to personally introduce this film to you as my friend did to me. Treasure Planet has everything you could want in a movie: a lifelong quest, genuine suspense, and real characters that will keep you guessing to the very last moment. It's adventure. It's excitement. It's heartbreak, confusion, and triumph. It's Treasure Planet.
What did you think of this list? Were there movies on it that you didn't like, or maybe some you think should have been added? Leave me a comment and let me know! See ya real soon!
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