Day 37: Tarzan

Tarzan (1999) 

Starring: Tony Goldwyn, Alex D. Linz, Minnie Driver, Glenn Close, Lance Henrikson, Brian Blessed, Nigel Hawthorne, Rosie O'Donnell, Wayne Knight

Songs: "Two Worlds," "You'll Be In My Heart," "Son of Man," "Trashin' the Camp," "Strangers Like Me"

Tarzan is the thirty-seventh Disney animated film, based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs novel Tarzan of the Apes.  It tells the story of a man who is raised by and with apes, as if he was one of them, after his shipwrecked parents died.  Tarzan ends up getting involved with English explorer Professor Porter and falling in love with the professor's daughter Jane.

When Disney began to develop the movie, a number of the creatives were surprised that there hadn't already been an animated Tarzan movie.  Animation seemed the ideal medium for a story in which a man shared a deep connection with animals.  Production began for the film in 1995, and one thing they did as they were writing the story treatment was consult with adoptive parents to understand the emotional weight of Tarzan being adopted, not feeling like he belonged, and how a parent would handle helping their child through that sort of thing.

This is a good, fun movie.  I feel like it's not a very risky film, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.  I do like it, and I did as a kid as well.  

What I Liked: The interaction between Jane and her father.  Hilarious.  

What I Disliked: When I was a kid, I had this Terk straw.  A talking straw that spoke every time you took a sip of your beverage.  It said, "The fun has arrived!" Like Terk does in the movie.  That straw, which was annoying to say the least, was just the awesomest thing I owned, and it mysteriously turned up missing.  Not exactly something I disliked about this movie, but that's the memory that comes up.

Should You Watch This Movie: While I wouldn't call this movie a "must see" like most of the other Disney Renaissance films, it is totally watchable.  I'd recommend it.

Day 36: Mulan

Mulan (1998)

Starring: Ming-Na Wen, Lea Salonga, Eddie Murphy, BD Wong, Miguel Ferrer, Harvey Fierstein, Gedde Watanabe, Jerry Tondo, James Hong, Soon-Tek Oh, June Foray, Marni Nixon, Pat Morita, George Takei, Miriam Margoyles, Freda Foh Shen, James Shigeta, Frank Welker, Chris Sanders, Mary Kay Bergman

Songs: "Honor to Us All," "Reflection," "I'll Make a Man Out of You," "A Girl Worth Fighting For," "True to Your Heart"

Mulan is the thirty-sixth animated Disney feature, based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan.  It tells the story of Mulan, a young woman who dresses as a man to take her father's place in the war.  The idea for the movie came about in 1994, when a team of Disney artists took a trip to China for inspiration.  Disney was planning a story called "China Doll" but it was suggested that the movie be based on the poem "The Song of Fa Mu Lan."

Disney wanted to make this movie look different than previous films and convey a Chinese aesthetic, so they took inspiration Chinese paintings and used more simple backgrounds than they had for the last few previous films.  Disney hoped the film would be popular in China, but one complaint was that Disney altered the story too much.  The film, however, does adhere more to the source material here than it has for some other films.

Overall, this is a really good movie.  I have always loved it, and Mulan is an especially awesome character.  I did tag this post with my posts about the other "princess" movies.  Technically, in the story, Mulan is not a princess but I felt this was appropriate because Disney does consider her (and Pocahontas) officially a part of the Disney Princess line up.

What I Liked: Grandma.  She's hilarious.  Also the whole "I'll Make a Man Out of You" sequence.  Just wonderful.

What I Disliked: Pretty much nothing.

Should You Watch This Movie: Yes.  Definitely.

Day 35: Hercules

Hercules (1997)

Starring: Tate Donovan, Josh Keaton, Roger Bart, Danny DeVito, James Woods, Susan Egan, Frank Welker, Rip Torn, Samantha Eggar, Lillias White, Cheryl Freeman, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, Vanéese Y. Thomas, Bob Goldthwait, Matt Frewer, Patrick Pinney, Hal Holbrook, Barbara Barrie, Amanda Plummer, Carole Shelley, Paddi Edwards, Paul Shaffer, Jim Cummings, Wayne Knight, Keith David, Charlton Heston

Songs: "The Gospel Truth," "Go the Distance," "One Last Hope," "Zero to Hero," "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)," "A Star is Born"

Hercules is the story of a young man who was born a god and sent to live among mortals, based on the Greek myth of the same name.  The idea for this movie dates back to 1985, when the story that would eventually become Treasure Planet was pitched.  Directors Ron Clements and John Musker had to agree to do a film with more box office potential to get the studio to agree to greenlight Treasure Planet.

This movie is a lot of fun.  The music is great -- seriously, doing the Muses as a gospel/soul choir was inspired.  The character designs are awesome, taking their inspiration from Greek pottery.  The animation is mostly wonderful, though the CGI elements aren't blended as well here as they were in the last previous films.  In fact, you wouldn't be out of line to say the animation of the scene with the Hydra especially looks dated, which is a complaint I've not had with any previous Renaissance era film.  But overall, it's still an awesome, enjoyable movie.  I liked it as a kid, I like it now.  This is one where I obviously didn't have all that much to say, but again, the movie probably speaks for itself.

What I Liked:  The Muses.  They are awesome and cute.  Also, Superman is a Hercules story in a way, and I sort of like Superman, so yeah.  Pleasant associations all around.

What I Disliked: The Scar cameo.  And the only reason I disliked it is because he's on screen long enough to take you out of the movie.  Had it been briefer, I'd have enjoyed it more.

Should You Watch This Movie: It's a lot of fun.  I'd go for it.

Day 34: The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

Starring: Tom Hulce, Demi Moore, Heidi Mollenhauer, Tony Jay, Kevin Kline, Paul Kandel, Charles Kimbrough, Jason Alexander, Mary Wickes, David Ogden Stiers, Frank Welker, 

Songs: "The Bells of Notre Dame," "Out There," "Topsy Turvy," "God Help the Outcasts," "Heaven's Light," "Hellfire," "A Guy Like You," "The Court of Miracles"

The Renaissance continues with 1996's The Hunchback of Notre Dame, based on the Victor Hugo novel.  It tells the story of Quasi Modo, a deformed young man who has been kept in the bell tower of Notre Dame Cathedral his whole life and longs to be accepted and loved.  He disobeys his master Frollo and goes to the Festival of Fools, where he meets and falls in love with Esmeralda.

The idea for this movie began in 1993, when the studio was fresh of the success of Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin.  They were working on development for a film about the Orpheus myth at the time, but as it became difficult to adapt the story, Jeffrey Katzenberg pushed this project forward, feeling it had better potential.  

This movie is so different than most of the previous movies.  The music, which has several songs with a religious influence because of the theme and setting of the film, is unlike any previous Disney soundtrack.  But it is beautiful music -- the upbeat songs are fun and catchy and the moodier pieces are haunting and heartfelt.  The animation, of course, is stunning, and the backgrounds help this animated Paris come alive.  But the biggest difference is definitely in tone -- it's very dark and dramatic.  If it wasn't animated, I don't think anyone would ever think of it as "a kids' movie."  But overall, the movie is beautiful and enjoyable.  I liked it as a kid though it wasn't a favorite, and I still like it now.  I do have to be in a certain mood to watch it though.

What I Liked: The "Topsy Turvy" scene in the Festival of Fools.  The Wizard of Oz reference when Lavern says, "Fly my pretties!"

What I Disliked: Nothing, really.  I mean, there are things about the world of the story I don't like, but nothing about the story itself, if that makes any sense.

Should You Watch This Movie: Yeah, I would recommend it.  It's a little heavy, so it may not be for everyone, but it's a beautiful, enjoyable movie.

Day 33.2: A Goofy Movie

I'm doing another post about a movie not included in the official Disney canon.  But I'm not writing about this one because of its significance to the evolution of Disney movies or their technology or anything like that.  I simply wanted to watch and write about this movie because I love it and have a big sentimental attachment to it, so it didn't feel right to ignore it.  Again, I'm posting this after when I planned to, but the date will edited to reflect where it should be chronologically.

A Goofy Movie (1995)

Starring: Jason Marsden, Aaon Lohr, Bill Farmer, Rob Paulsen, Jim Cummings, Kellie Martin, Pauly Shore, Wallace Shawn, Frank Welker, Jenna von Oy, Julie Brown, Kevin Lima, Tevin Campbell, Florence Stanley, Jo Anne Worley, Joey Lawrence, Wayne Allwine, Pat Buttram, Herschel Sparber, Pat Carroll, Corey Burton, Brittney Alyse Smith

Songs: "I 2 I," "After Today," "Stand On," "On the Open Road," "Lester's Possum Park," "Nobody Else But You"

A Goofy Movie is the third production by the Disney Toon Studios, the division responsible for the direct to video sequels and movie tie-ins to the Disney Channel cartoons.  It was the second of these movies to be released theatrically (the first being DuckTales the Movie).  It's the story of Max, Goofy's teenage son, who wants to impress a girl from school, and how Goofy tries to strengthen their relationship.  He feels he is losing his son, so they embark on a summer road trip.

This movie began production in early 1993.  It is considered a sequel to the Goof Troop television show of the early 1990s and it set in the same universe.

This was one of my favorite Disney movies as a kid, and it probably still is now.  It's a lot of fun, but also quite funny and touching.  Goofy is a great dad, but you can also feel for Max because he is an overbearing dad as well.  But it's satisfying to see them fix their problems.  Plus, not to be snarky, but the animation for these Disney Toon films are usually not feature quality, but honestly in my opinion this is.  It's as sharp and clean as some of the films in the official canon.  This may not be the best movie Disney ever made, but it's enjoyable, and I will continue to remember it fondly.

What I Liked: Roxanne is adorable and wonderful.  Also the music -- Powerline is awesome.

What I Disliked: I can overlook this, but I do feel I should point it out.  They never really say how Goofy and Max get to California.  They must have gotten the car out the river somehow and got it back working, but they don't even allude to how.  I mean, I realize that isn't the point, and that's probably why they gloss past it, but still.

Should You Watch This Movie: Do yourself a favor and watch it.

Day 33.1: Toy Story

So this post is a long time coming.  I meant to do this a couple of days ago, the same day I did Pocahontas, as they came out the same year.  But here we are a few days later, though I will be editing the date on this post to put it chronologically where it belongs.  This obviously is not your traditional "Disney" movie.  It's a part of the Pixar canon, but it just feels too significant to ignore.

Toy Story (1995)

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, John Morris, Laurie Metcalf, Erik von Detten, R. Lee Ermey, Sarah Freeman, Joe Ranft

Songs: "You've Got a Friend in Me," "Strange Things," "I Will Go Sailing"

Toy Story was the first full length CGI film, and the first Pixar film.  Released in 1995 (a few short months after Pocahontas hit theaters) it was unlike anything audiences of the time had seen -- the Snow White of its time, if you will.  This film, of course, tells the story of Woody, a cowboy doll and favored toy of a boy named Andy, and his jealousy over Buzz Lightyear, an astronaut doll that comes to live with them and becomes Andy's new favorite toy.

The wheels were set in motion for this film when animator John Lasseter saw the movie Tron and was introduced to the idea of CGI and became taken with how it might be used in feature animation.  He worked for Disney at the time, and when he presented the idea to them, he was fired.  Some years later, after working at LucasFilms and helping to found Pixar, Lasseter had the idea to do a short about an anthropomorphic toy from the toy's point of view.  This idea became the 1988 short "Tin Toy" which won that year's Academy Award for Best Animated Short.  That film then gained Disney's attention, and they tried to get Lasseter back to their company.  When he wouldn't come back to work for them, Disney decided then to work with Pixar, who had already created the CAPS process Disney was using to color their animated features.  After intense negotiations (with lingering hurt feelings on both sides) a deal was stuck, and they decided to make a feature film based on the idea behind the "Tin Toy" short.

Production on the film began in 1991 and was difficult from the start.  The script was rewritten numerous times, staying within the budget was difficult, and working with the new technology provided numerous challenges.  But to keep this post from becoming longer than it already has (and is necessary), I'll cut to the chase, the part we all already know.  The movie came together beautifully and was released to massive financial and critical success.  Not only that, but it completely changed the landscape of animation.

This is a great movie.  I love it now and have always loved it, and for reasons both connected to how great the movie is and my own sentimental attachment, I would probably say it's my favorite Pixar film.  The idea that toys have lives when their children aren't there, but that those lives are driven by their children's needs, fascinated and captivated me as a child and honestly still does now.  A toy wants to be needed just like most people want to be needed... what a beautiful idea.  

What I Liked: Woody and how he delivers every line.  He's always been my favorite.

What I Disliked: Honestly, nothing!  When I was little, however, I did like the movie, but it creeped me out when I first saw it because it was just so realistic.  Crazy to think of that now!  Since this time, CGI has only become more and more lifelike, but at this time, in 1995, there had been nothing quite like it.  Compare this movie to Pocahontas, which came out the same year.  Obviously Pocahontas isn't CGI or 3D, so the comparison is a bit lumpy, but those things aside, Pocahontas is stylized.  Animation had been about being stylized and suggesting a similarity to real life.  This movie is not only more lifelike, but it is shot like a live action film.  It was so unprecedented. 

Should You Watch This Movie: If you haven't already, I feel sorry for you.  In other words, YES.

Day 33: Pocahontas

Pocahontas (1995)

Starring: Irene Bedard, Judy Kuhn, Mel Gibson, David Ogden Stiers, John Kassir, Russell Means, Christian Bale, Linda Hunt, Danny Mann, Billy Connolly, Frank Welker, Michelle St. John, James Apaumut Fall, David Tootoosis

Songs: "The Virginia Company," "Steady as the Beating Drum," "Just Around the River Bend," "Listen with Your Heart," "Mine Mine Mine," "Colors of the Wind," "Savages"

Pocahontas is the thirty-third Disney animated feature, loosely based on (or inspired by) the story of Pocahontas and John Smith at Jamestown in 1607 and was the first Disney animated movie to be based on historical events and actual people.  It tells of  Pocahontas, the daughter of Chief Powhatan, who meets and falls in love with English scout John Smith as their respective people try to keep the two apart.

The idea to make this movie came up in 1990, during the production of The Rescuers Down Under.  Disney wanted to do a Romeo & Juliet type love story and also an early American musical adventure, so the two ideas somehow became this one movie.  It went into production in 1991, at the same time as The Lion King, and was said to be a difficult production.  Of the two films, most of the artists initially wanted to work on Pocahontas, because it was felt to be the more prestigious project, but it unfortunately eventually turned out to be less financially successful than The Lion King and receive much more mixed reviews (though it was still successful). 

An interesting fact is that Pocahontas was going to have a third animal sidekick -- a turkey named Redfeather.  The animals were all going to talk, and the turkey was going to be voiced by John Candy.  But that character, and the idea of the animals speaking, was dropped when Candy died in 1994.

This movie is beautiful to look at and to listen to.  I feel like I've been repeating myself in my praise of the animation and music for all these Renaissance movies, but honestly, it's true -- they're both perfectly done here.  This is such a good movie... I liked it as a kid, though I didn't exactly like to watch it because it made me sad.  Nowadays I like it just as much but appreciate it more.

What I Liked: The song "Just Around the River Bend," which is one of my favorite Disney songs.  And the backgrounds, which remind me of the backgrounds in Sleeping Beauty.

Sleeping Beauty, 1959

Pocahontas, 1995

What I Disliked: The fact that this movie bears about a 0.5 to 1% resemblance to what actually happened with the real Pocahontas, whose actual name was Matoaka and was only about eleven years old when John Smith arrived in Jamestown, and his account of her saving his life is thought by some to be invented after the fact.  As a person with a degree in U.S. History and a person who is a huge Disney fan, I have mixed feelings about this film.  This article by David Morenus about some of the differences between real life and the movie is a good read and gives an intro to some of the inaccuracies (or artistic liberties, rather) of the movie.  This, however, is a letter by Chief Roy Crazy Horse, one of the most vocal opponents of the distortion of fact in the movie, and is even more telling and more matter of fact.  Read them for yourselves if you don't know the real story.

But all that aside, I'd be remiss if I didn't include at least one picture of the real Matoaka, who died when she was only twenty-one years old, after marrying John Rolfe and being christened Rebecca Rolfe.

Should You Watch This Movie: Honestly, historical inaccuracies aside, it's a really beautiful, entertaining film.  So I say yes, with the caveat that if you're bothered by that sort of thing when you watch historical pieces, it will bother you a lot here.