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Pinocchio (1940)
Topic Started: Sep 3 2017, 08:40 AM (813 Views)
The Batman
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I'm with ya, Jazzy. Walt ruined Alice in Wonderland, a wonderful (no pun intended) book.

I don't think I like any Disney films enough to call one a favourite, though I don't recall seeing Dumbo, so perhaps I should give that one a shot.

And probably Pinocchio too, I have seen that one, but it's been a while. My brother's girlfriend has all the Disney animated films, so it's just a matter of borrowing them, which avoids any unnecessary investment.


Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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Frank Hale
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I don't particularly agree with some of the last few comments. Here is my take (trusting that we will all remain friends):

1) IMO Walt never "butchered" anything. He created movies based on the underlying books, knowing that they are different art forms, intended for different audiences.

If you want to see an example of a film with slavish devotion to a book (mandated by the author as I understand it), catch the first Harry Potter movie (that's as far as I got in the series). I was bored out of my ever-loving mind because it had absolutely nothing new to say. If you think this was a good film and a wise investment of your time, we have nothing further to discuss.

2) I've always enjoyed Alice in Wonderland as it stands. It's a pleasant, friendly picture, although definitely not top-tier Disney.

The criticism is always "it's Americanized" and "it's not the book", even with the mainstream critics. The book hasn't been destroyed, and is still out there for any of you to read.

Is there something else about the film that otherwise annoys you? Be glad to hear about it. Myself, I kinda like the dope-head caterpillar, and the lizard who gets blown out of the chimney.


As far as the best Disney classic animated features, IMO there are really only 5 to consider: Snow White, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, and Bambi. The others are too episodic or reflective of post-labor-strike cost considerations.

Overall, I go with Snow White: appealing characters and storyline, good tunes, absolutely amazing animation. But of course, there are good things to like about all of them.
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Laughing Gravy
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I agree with much of what Mr. Hale says. I've always felt lukewarm towards Alice though: there's... y'know... nobody to root for.

I do think there are amazing things scattered throughout the rest of Disney's canon, and I count Sleeping Beauty up there with the ones Mr. Hale mentioned.

You folks who mentioned the wonderful Pink Elephants sequence... Ever see Moana? I believe the musical number "Shiny" is the current generation trying to use their tools to top the number in Dumbo. It's a wonderful scene.

The one I blow hot and cold over is Peter Pan... I have never decided if I like it or not.
"I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley
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Frank Hale
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After I posted that yesterday I got to thinking about the 1930 John Barrymore version of Moby Dick that I saw not too long ago.

Ahab is now a love interest, with a girlfriend who rejects him mid-picture because the great white whale just chomped off his leg (great cauterization scene).

Ahab, being peeved, becomes a bit of a fanatic on the subject and seeks revenge. He hunts down and kills the whale, and tows him back into harbor to be flayed and boiled down. He rejoins his repentant girlfriend in marriage. End.

So, as an interpretation of the novel, it's utterly laughable.

But, you know, after you get over the initial shock, it's not really all that bad while you're watching it.
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Sgt Saturn
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Fantasia is Walt's masterpiece.
The Ol' Sarge
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JazzGuyy
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Sgt Saturn
Sep 12 2017, 12:19 PM
Fantasia is Walt's masterpiece.
We'll have to agree to disagree on this one, Sarge. Fantasia is a beautiful and occasionally brilliant failure but I don't feel it's a masterpiece. I still like to watch it though because of its beauty. Walt's masterpieces are the shorter works, IMO. Walt's real achievements were his willingness to stick his neck way out, even if it meant failure. He was a massive influence but his own studio's work came up short on many occasions. I think his longer form masterpiece is Mary Poppins, which I know some people on here don't care much for but I loved it the first time I saw it and have loved it on every subsequent viewing. The only other Disney film done during Walt's lifetime that I can say that about is Dumbo, which I don't particularly think of as Walt's product.
TANSTAAFL!
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