2. Fantasia

I used to love this movie as a kid.

Looking back at this, I think I probably loved two or three scenes out of the entire movie which I would fast forward to and skip everything else. I think a lot of people forget that "Fantasia" includes more than just the Mickey Mouse/mop scene, although it is Fantasia's most iconic.

Sitting down to watch this as an adult after years of pretty much forgetting that it even exists, I'm cautiously excited. Will it be boring? Will I enjoy it now that I've had my own musical experience and can "properly appreciate"the skill and art? Or will it be like the time I went to see a local orchestra play and thought "okay, I admire their skill, but this would be so much more interesting if I was actually playing it"?

For the record, let me also state that I love how you can find just about anything free online. "Fantasia" has long ago been locked into the basement for safe keeping (or, to borrow a phrase from Disney, it's been locked in the vault), and it's not available streaming on Netflix. Enter the marvelous YouTube.

I LOVE the opening titles in old movies. Something just seems so much more authentic about them than the new stuff.

Being apprehensive about this film already... I'm a bit disturbed to see that this film is two hours long. Snow White was about an hour and twenty minutes. In fact, anywhere between 71 and 82 (these are approximate) minutes seems to be about on par for early Disney films. With this in mind, I also question the decision made to watch the band file in. And the attempt made to keep the audience interested by running dialogue about the different kinds of music... oy. Maybe I'm annoyed because I've got something of a musical background.

(maybe I'm annoyed because the version I've found online is in a foreign language and I have to read the subtitles... I take back what I said about YouTube being marvelous)

I think that the lighting is a bit overdramatic. I understand wanting to take away from the individuality of each band member by casting them all in shadow so that the audience can concentrate on the music... but I find the shadow silhouettes distracting. A black screen might be a better choice.

Okay, something I didn't understand as a child but have an appreciation for now... the animated bows and bridges from the stringed instruments moving in time to the music across the animated cloud backdrop. Note: the screen fades to near black after this and I find I have a better time concentrating on the music in this scene. I'd be interested to see what the idea behind Fantasia was: emphasis on music or on animation? Because it seems to me that the producers start off with the idea of emphasizing the music, but then let it take a backseat to the animation.

Anyone else see Mufasa in this cloud? No? Just me? Okay, carry on.

The first animated sequence that actually has a storyline and not just floating images is one of my favorites. This sequence is the fairies flying around and interacting with different parts of nature. And then, the dancing mushrooms! Any one else think they look Asian?

The dancing flower petals on the water is the reason why as a girl I used to love getting dressed up in big poofy dresses for special occasions like Easter and Christmas. I would twirl myself in circles so that my skirt would go up around me. That's probably one of the reasons why mom enrolled me in ballet.

The first twenty minutes of this film has reminded me of Christmas. And now I'm very upset that it's 103 degrees outside and not snowy.

The Mickey/Wizard/Mop scenes is 26 minutes in. I thought I remembered it being further in.

The wizard always scared me. Its something about the grey beard.

I like that the wizard's power is in his hat. Every modern wizard knows the magic is in the wand (Maybe I should do Harry Potter next)

Mickey is very relatable here. And it's also a nice sneaky Disney lesson about what trouble taking the easy way out sometimes leads to.

Moses wizard

The next song, where the conductor tells us to "imagine that we are several billion years ago, looking back on Earth" always freaked me out as a kid. It was the same concept as with the opening scene for The Jetsons when you flash through space. I used to be afraid of the concept of forever, and whenever someone would talk about space they would describe it as going on forever. Thus, space=forever in my mind. It doesn't make perfect sense, but until I was about 14 I couldn't watch the beginning of the Jetsons.

For anyone who wants to FF>> to the interesting parts of this movie... the dinosaurs start at 45minutes in. This was another of my favorites growing up. My brother and I were HUGE "Land Before Time" fans and that carried over into everything else.

Me: HIT HIM YOU'VE GOT SPIKES ON YOUR TAIL! Get him in the jugular! The jugular! (said in Timon's voice of course).

In retrospect, this was probably a very traumatic scene for a kid. What was my mother thinking?

54 minutes in, the dinosaurs are dying and so am I.

The part where the conductor has a conversation with the "soundtrack" is very enlightening. Pretty sure this is where I learned it was okay to talk to inanimate objects.

One hour, two minutes into the movie: my ABSOLUTE favorite part. Mount Olympus =) I'm a sucker for the unicorns and pegasus(s? es? Spell check is failing me right now)

Me: How does one white pegasus and one black pegasus create multicolored pegasi?
T: They're magical creatures. They do what they want.

Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry flavored Pegasuses. (still not sure this is correct, my spell check is having a field day with these mythical creatures)

Also, not going to lie... the scenes where the little cupids make over the female centaurs for the male centaurs made me want to run outside and make my own natural headpieces.

For some reason, I don't think I'd be able to get two doves to sit on my head quite as well.

This is a cupid whose butt turns into a heart. This reminded me of the Big Bang Theory, when Amy Farrah Fowler explains to Penny that hearts were shaped after the female bottom and Penny says "So I spent all of middle school dotting my eyes with girl butts? Cool." (or something along those lines)

I call BS on the rainbow that continues under the water. Where does that ever happen??

The dancing ostriches... also one of the reasons why I was so interested in taking Toe when I became a ballerina. But unfortunately, the ostriches in this movie are a lot better at it than I ever was.

Remember the tick and flea preventative commercial (for Frontline, I think) that had the puppy singing "Hello mother, hello father..." the ostriches/hippos are dancing to that song and that adorable puppy is all I can think of.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alk26XzDYF4

I linked the commercial above. So much more entertaining than "Fantasia."

Bashful hippo makes me smile. Also, as improbable as this may seem, I think she's more graceful than I am.

I might have blanked out... is the alligator (croc?) trying to EAT the hippo as they dance around?

Okay, the conductor who has to explain everything is kind of annoying me. Technically I could turn the subtitles off and just listen to him talk in Italian, but that would probably get to me too.

I can honestly say I don't remember this last sequence at all. T was very excited waiting for it earlier and I had no idea what he was talking about. Makes me wonder... could I never get through the movie to this part? Did I always turn it off after the dancing hippo?

This reminds me of "Hercules:" all the scenes in the Underworld with Hades and his little sniveling ghouls. It's not too far fetched since this scene is supposed to be about Lucifer.

OMG THIS TOTALLY LOOKS LIKE JAFAR FROM "ALADDIN!" (It's Lucifer from Bald Mountain)

One hour, forty-six minutes into the film. I'm so relieved I only have ten minutes left.

Interesting contrast... the opening of the film opens with dark scenes, the film closes with the sun rising.

All in all, I'm still not sure what to make of "Fantasia."I definitely admire what they were trying to do, but I found myself caught somewhere between boredom and feeling bad that I was falling asleep through the cartoons.

So, things we learned today:
Don't watch "Fantasia" when you're already tired.
The Dinosaur scenes start 45 minutes into the film.
Listening to the conductor in Italian is not anymore entertaining than listening to him in English.
Lucifer= Jafar.

I promise to stay awake better through my next post.

Until next time!

1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

This seems especially fitting since there has been not one but two adaptations of this story this year. It's also necessary to point out that like many of Disney's more popular films, this is not original. Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" was adapted from the Grimm Brother's tale. Needless to say, Disney fluffed it a bit (or a lot). In the Grimm Brother's tale, the Evil Queen appears to Snow White three times in an attempt to kill her. You can't help but feel that by the third time Snow White might have learned NOT TO OPEN THE DAMN DOOR. Also, there's this lovely part at the end about red-hot shoes and dancing until the death.

For anyone who hasn't read the tale, here's a link:
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm053.html

Here's where some of you may disagree with me. I've never liked "Snow White." I respect it as Disney's first attempt to make a classic and by some degrees this does in fact make it a classic. But Snow White's voice annoys me and that pretty much ruins the entire movie for me. Also, just like in the story, I get annoyed with her. I mean c'mon... even GRUMPY tells her not to open the door to strangers and what does she do? She opens the door. I know a couple almost-four-year-olds who listen better than that.

I watched this film last night, before I got serious about the blog, and I'm going to watch it again now to try to remember some of the original comments made. This will probably be the most times I've watched "Snow White" back-to-back. Anyways, here we go...

Side note: the talking mirror on my dvd menu really annoyed me. Okay, now back to the movie.

Remember when movies used to roll the credits at the beginning of the film, and not at the end? I didn't until I sat down to watch this. Got me thinking... remember all those people who leave the theater when the credits start? Did people know to come late to movies, or did they actually watch the credits? Thought of the day. 

This made me smile. I wonder if he had any idea the following he'd gather, or the magic he'd start. Of course, it is important to recognize that he had created several shorts before this. This was the beginning of his full-length films, not the start to the magic completely. 

Anyone else ever wonder why the Queen was the fairest in the land? Is it just me, or is she not all that fair? Does the mirror see her without her headpiece? Also, I'm a little angry that this seems to be a beauty contest. 

Regarding the scene by the wishing-well. I'd never go near a well that sang back (even if it was just an echo. No well ever echos that... well. Well, now that the word "well" has lost all meaning to me...). 

Me: If I were Prince Charming and I heard that voice, I would have ridden off in the opposite direction, not pursued it.
T: Yeah, me too.
Me: It's also cute that he seems to know the words to the song she was singing.

Prince Charming is kind of cute... I mean, I have a thing for brunettes anyways, but give me a brunette in a cape... woof.

When the Huntsman gets his orders from the Queen and she says "you know the penalty if you fail!"... does she ever follow up on this?

When I watched this film yesterday, I laughed at how overdramatic the scene was where she runs from the Huntsman into the woods. But after rereading the Grimm Brother's version, this scene seems pretty accurate. And the logs that turn into alligators is pretty accurate. I think that was a nice touch.

Has anyone else noticed that Disney princesses all have this innate ability to communicate with animals? Snow White has the entire forest at her beck and call. And if memory serves me correctly, Aurora does too. And of course Pocahontas has Meeko.... I'm getting ahead of myself.

Ah, the beginning of Disney lessons through song.

The fact that Snow White refers to the cottage as a "doll house" makes me chuckle. Also, the fact that she's appalled by how messy it is makes me smile. Course, this also speaks to the time and the need for a Woman's Touch in a house full men. 

Pretty much the entire scene where Snow White cleans the cottage T and I blanked out for. We were sitting here trying to figure out the names of the Seven Dwarfs (it's kind of like trying to figure out the names of Santa's reindeer... there's always ONE you forget). 

T: Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Sleepy

Me: Sneezy

T: Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Happy...

Me: *Blank stare*

We didn't remember Bashful until Snow White goes upstairs and sees their names carved on the beds. Poor Bashful. Though T had a good point... "Maybe if he weren't so bashful, people would remember him..."

Another instance of me reading too far into things. If you work in a mine that looks like this:

Why do you live in a house with six other men? Ten minutes in there and you're rich. 

I think my two favorite characters in this movie are Dopey and the Turtle. Any animal that can fall down the stairs in rhythm to the background music has my vote. And Dopey... he's just too cute.

Also, the Dwarfs... not so great at sneaking around. Either their shoes are really loud, or their floorboards are out of control. Am I the only one who thinks Sneezy should probably have his sinuses looked at? If your sneeze can blow your brothers? housemates?... If your sneeze can blow six other men across the room, there's a problem. 

T: How has Snow White NOT woken up yet?

Me: Apparently she's a heavier sleeper than even you.

This whole scene also reminds me of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, when the bears come home and discover Goldilocks asleep in their bed. 

I'm upset that Dopey has a voice when he screams. I mean, he can't talk otherwise but suddenly he makes a noise? I'm not really upset, just another observation for the filmmakers. 

Snow White just reminded me of Betty Boop. Something about the hair. I think I'm going crazy.

Maybe not.. T just agreed the voice reminds him too.

Grumpy talking about the Queen:"She's full of black magic! She can even make herself invisible!" 

"Does that mean I'm full of black magic too??"

I can definitely relate to how hard it is for Snow White to get the Dwarfs to clean up for dinner. Sometimes it's a fight with T, too (lol). But I think this just further underlines the differences in sex for the time period. I also wonder if the Seven Dwarfs are supposed to be representative of a typical man's personalities, personified and split into seven. Sorry, this is where my over analyzation from all those film classes starts to play in. 

I find it funny that Snow White goes from a situation where she's completely helpless (she's stuck under her evil stepmother) to suddenly being in charge. I understand that she had chores she had to do around the castle (or at least it's hinted at it), but I highly doubt she was down in the kitchens with the hired help making meals (she's not Cinderella, after all). But once she's thrown into the cottage with the helpless men, she gets it all together and takes charge of the household, all while making them feel as though they're still in charge. Thank god I wasn't born in a different time period. 

It makes me sad that when the Queen is making her poisoned apple and reads that love first kiss is the only anecdote, her first thought is of the Dwarfs. "The Dwarfs will think her dead!" Umm... lady, you saw Prince Charming singing to Snow White on the balcony. Let's have a little faith that the Fairest in the Land will be able to attract someone other than a little man. 

I love the scene where Snow White is saying goodbye to each of the dwarfs. I love that Grumpy acts up to his name and pretends to be put out by her, but in reality he's just as concerned about her as the others. Which makes me even more angry when SHE OPENS THE DAMN DOOR. Seriously! Even Grumpy told you to watch out!

T: That doesn't look sanitary. 

Me: Probably not. 

T: Seriously, gray pie dough?

Me: It's tinted with dirt from all the animals helping her. 

"Oh look, a tasty apple from a weird lady who seems more determined than normal to get me to eat it. Seems legit." 

T: STRANGER DANGER!!! STRANGER DANGER!!!!

Seriously, even the naive forest animals knew better.

T: Bitch, who's ever heard of a wishing APPLE? Wishing well, wishing lamps, wishing stones... 

(I think he's angry I'm making him watch it twice)

Also, is there nothing else going on in the kingdom that being the Fairest takes priority? 

I love when the movies use weather to help underline dramatic situations and feelings. It conveniently starts pouring down rain right as Snow White dies. Though, the lightning does come in handy since that's what actually kills the Queen. Well, that and the boulder. 

I'm sorry... but who goes around kissing corpses on the mouth? Whenever I go to a funeral with an open casket, I'm freaked out. Even with my two grandmothers, the closest I got to touching them is I kind of awkwardly patted the coffin next to their hands. So what we're saying here is that Prince Charming has a condition. Necrophilia. 

And they lived happily ever after... 

Sorry to anyone who might have just had "Snow White" ruined for them... But I do appreciate comments... too long of a commentary? Not enough? Like the pictures? Don't like them? Think I'm funny/rude/out of my mind? Let me know. 

Until next time. 

Welcome!

If you don't like Disney, you should probably stop reading now. This blog is dedicated to all random musings that pertain to or derived from Disney (movies, shows, products, parks, etc).

If you're still reading, I'll assume that you're like me: you grew up with Disney. If you're a girl, you've imagined being one of the princesses at least fifty times (I'm Belle. Every. Time.). If you're a boy, maybe you grew up daydreaming about one of the princesses, or even pictured yourself as Charming, or have more appreciation for the Pixar flicks that started with Toy Story. Disney has always been there for you, whether it was a movie on a dark and dreary day or a place to let your daydreams carry you while sitting bored in class. You get goosebumps whenever the Disney Logo appears on screen, you giggle every time the Pixar bouncing lamp jumps on the 'I', the first five minutes of 'Up' never fails to make you cry, you can ALWAYS find a reason to reference a Disney movie in daily conversation.

I'm a self-proclaimed (and sometimes otherwise proclaimed) Disney Dork. My biggest accomplishment recently has been getting my fiance to agree to go on a Disney cruise for our honeymoon.
The conversation went something like this via text message:
Me: I think we should do a Disney cruise for our honeymoon.
T: okay.
Me: and then spend a couple days in the parks.
T: Sounds good to me.
Me: <3

The idea for this blog came about when I stumbled across another Disney blog http://simpledisneythings.com/. While scrolling through her almost 2,000 entries, I got it into my head that I wanted to chronologically organize my Disney movies.

So I did.

Then I decided I wanted to watch them. All of them. In chronological order.

So T and I sat down to start.

Something else you should know about me, if you don't know already: I always have something to say. Especially while watching movies, and especially since majoring in English and taking more than a handful of film classes. I've been yelled at more than once for ruining the film watching experience (come to think of it, I've been yelled at more than once for ruining books, too). I'm nit-picky and critical. But also, when something in a film reminds me of something else, I like to point that out. When I really enjoy something, I'm not afraid to get really REALLY excited about it (even in public).

As T and I sat down to watch "Snow White" I began running commentary. And somewhere along the line, the idea for this blog was fully created.

My goal is to watch every single Disney movie created, in chronological order, and to share my thoughts with anyone who wants to read them. You may not always agree with what I have to say and I'll admit I'm something of a troublemaker... I enjoy saying things to get a reaction (ask me what I think about 50 Shades of Gray. That one's gotten me into quite a few arguments). I like comments, so feel free to leave me several. Be mindful that I have something of a life and so if this isn't updated every day, I've not died or forgotten about the blog. Saying that, some of these movies may be a bit difficult to find, so if there's a long lull between entries I'm probably having trouble finding a movie.

Oh, for anyone interested:

The website I found that has all of the Disney movies listed in chronological order is http://www.disneymovieslist.com/disney-movies.asp for anyone curious about what movie is next, or when I'll be getting to a favorite, or who couldn't give a care in the world for my blog but is interested in the Disney timeline of movies.

With all that explained... on to the movies =)