Search Results for: blog most controversial disney films pt 1

Disney’s Recent Racial Controversies

Disney might be considered a family-friendly company, but that doesn’t mean it’s free from all controversy.  When it comes to its own properties, Disney is far from perfect, and there have been some big examples in the past year. The first has to do with “Princess Sofia,” and it’s not over whether or not she’s teaching princess obsession to toddlers.  I didn’t comment on the story for a while because the details kept changing, but things have seemed to settle down.  In the fall, promotional images of the film were released.  They revealed that Sofia’s mother had darker skin, eyes, … Continue reading →

Which Peter Pan is the Best?

Charming is one word that we could apply to just about any Disney animated film, and even though 1953’s “Peter Pan” certainly is that, it’s devoid of charm when compared to the play/novel on which it was based. One of Walt Disney’s greatest strengths was his ability to take an older story and reinvent it for modern audiences. Doing so for “Peter Pan,” however, just replaces what is a wry and sweet sense of humor with silly slapstick, which seems cheap in comparison. A primary reason why Barrie’s book, and presumably his play, is so charming is its witty, very … Continue reading →

“Lady and the Tramp” Released from the Vault

If you like to play the Disney Vault game then I have some important news for you: one of Disney’s most famous love stories, “Lady and the Tramp,” was freed from its locked depths this month. I’m not sure how long it will be available, probably for a number of months, but if you’ve been waiting to purchase this film now’s the time to do it. Of course Disney does a bit more than just let movies out of the Vault; the company always dresses up the discs in fancy editions with special content; whether or not the content is … Continue reading →

Most Frightening Disney Moments

In honor of my favorite holiday I’m going to look at the scariest moments in Disney movies. I’m not as well-versed in all of their live action flicks, so I’ll limit my focus to the animated features. The first movie that immediately popped into my head was “Pinocchio.” Believe it or not, it wasn’t the mammoth Monstro that most frightened me. It was anything to do with Pleasure Island, particularly the donkey transformations. Even at my young age I sensed something sinister about the crowds of boys pushing and scrabbling at one another to get at the attractions on Pleasure … Continue reading →

A Study in Princesses: Giselle and Tiana

In the penultimate part of my piece on the Disney Princesses, we watch the House of Mouse strike out before finally starting to get it right. “Enchanted” is a tricky movie to critique because it’s mostly a spoof. For the majority of the movie Giselle is a parody of her predecessors, particularly those from the Golden Era. Hidden behind the laughs in “Enchanted” is a fantastic message (though one that gets sloppy when characters start vocalizing it): don’t just marry the first guy you meet. Spend time getting to know first yourself and then him. Learn what true love really … Continue reading →

Goofy’s Sky School

Remember those silly Goofy shorts? At first glance that sentence seems redundant, but anyone reading a Disney blog knows exactly what I’m talking about. I’ve spoken of them before; even though I’m a handful of generations out from the 1940s and 50s, the years of greatest Goofy short prevalence, even I encountered one or two in my life, and not just for fun. The last Goofy short I remember from growing up was in my high school Driver’s Education class. We watched a grainy film, clearly made decades before, of Goofy learning how to drive and causing several accidents along … Continue reading →

Mary Blair’s Disney Legacy

Last year for Women’s History Month I introduced the women of the Pen and Ink Department in the Golden Era of Walt Disney Animation. Today, on the 100th anniversary of Women’s History Day, his year I want to take a look at a woman who stands out in the following generation of Disney work in the 1940s. One of the most notable of these female Disney animation trailblazers is Mary Blair. Inducted into the Disney Legends Hall in 1991, Mary Blair revolutionized the artistry of the Disney Company. Her biography on the Legends website has the scoop on Mary Blair’s … Continue reading →

What About the Princes, Pt. 2

On Monday I introduced the concept that the stereotypical images presented by the leading men in Disney films might have a harmful impact on young boys’ growing ideals. I suggested that many of the main male characters in Disney films are one-dimensional and teach boys that good looks and martial prowess are essential facets of the ideal man. We need to look at the overall image the Disney princes/men present to young boys. Most of them are princes, and even those who aren’t are still handsome, dashing, and masterful in a fight. So that’s the sort of men boys think … Continue reading →

Biggest Disney Baddies

At the beginning of March I made an assertion that Maleficent was one of the best Disney villains. I wanted to back up my statement. I decided to make a top 5 Disney villain countdown and see how Maleficent ranks among them. At first I thought Maleficent would take the top spot. But considering the list made me wonder just how evil Maleficent was compared to Disney’s other antagonists, and so I decided to make the list about the most evil Disney villains: not necessarily creepy, or memorable, or interesting, but whose actions were the most deplorable. So here it … Continue reading →

DIY Baby Proofing

Our baby just turned 7 months old today, and she’s getting eager to be on the go. When we put her on her tummy, she’s kicking, reaching, and wiggling. She can’t move forwards yet, but she can scoot backwards, and turn her body in circles. Our living room furniture faces the TV. When I see what’s underneath the TV stand and think about the fact that our sweetie may soon be crawling, I shudder. Lurking under the TV stand are piles and tangles of electric cords. They include cords that plug the TV into the wall, cords that connect the … Continue reading →