(no subject)

[leia131]

Emily lent my a copy of the Pocahontas soundtrack to burn, and thus I have been listening to Pocahontas for the past three days.

God it is beautiful. I mean, ok, Listen With Your Heart is the cheesiest song EVER, but the rest of it is freaking gorgeous. And, without going on a huge rant about Disney past vs. present (which I could do, trust me), this music illustrates the three issues with kids' movies today that make them the suck, instead of the awesome.

1. Songs that advance the plot. Nowadays, I feel like songs in kids' movies are there so that they can call the movie "a full-length musical adventure" even though you could cut the songs and not lose anything. Try to imagine a classic Disney movie (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, Cinderella, etc.) without one of its songs. See what you've lost in terms of plot and/or characterization? If that doesn't happen, lose the song. (Unless it's something like Fathoms Below, which is short, and though the lyrics aren't important, what happens during it is.)

2. The death of the Disney chorus. Every decent Disney movie has an anonymous chorus that comes in at some point, usually the end. And it is awesome.

3. Challenging kids. Listen, really listen, to the words to Kill the Beast, Hellfire, and Savages (to name a few). A sample: "Filthy little heathens... they're only good when dead, they're vermin as I said and worse... they're not like you and me which means they must be evil." That's some deep prejudice there, and some really strong language. And when I was a kid and heard it, I had no idea about all the shit the Indians went through and why the English were saying this, but I knew they were bad. Kids aren't stupid, but they do lack experience and an extensive vocabulary. It's ok to teach them a little. As a movie maker, you shouldn't be afraid to put some dark images or language in your movie. It's what separates the fantastic Disney movies from the mediocre ones. People today don't give kids enough credit. Stop coddling them. I promise they won't turn out and worse than I did.


Bah. I have to go to Orgo now. But I really am in love with Pocahontas.

Comments

[bunyipflip.livejournal.com]

The best part of the chorus is that it's very Greek. Disney (along with the rest of society) were hardcore into keeping with the classics back in the day, but we've all sadly lost touch with that.

[whatsername99.livejournal.com]

I <3 Colors of the Wind.

You think you own whatever land you land on
The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim

= LOVE

[theatregeek1986.livejournal.com]

Oh the Disney Chorus, I truly do miss it.

"Now we can walk, now we can run, now we can spend all day in the sun, just you and me HHEEEE, and I can be part of your world. AHAHAHAHAHAH AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

I really should add being a one woman disney chorus to my resume huh?

[leia131.livejournal.com]

YES.

[jurisfiction16.livejournal.com]

I mean, look at The Little Mermaid. Ursula gets freaking impaled by a ship, and none of us are any the worse for it. And in The Hunchback of Notre Dame? Frollo sings about how Esmerelda will be his mistress or he'll burn her at the stake. Seriously, it makes kids learn, it makes the atmosphere of the whole movie that much more interesting for kids and adults alike, and it gives the adults something to which they can relate. It's why we all still enjoy those movies, but the mediocre ones have fallen by the wayside after the age of ten.

[jurisfiction16.livejournal.com]

Also: I really do miss Jenn's one woman chorus, and the best part is the "HEEEEEE!!!!!"
Also, part deux: I love how I can see your tags, and Harry Potter is the most frequently used one, even over 'movies' and 'real life'. This is why we're friends.

[basslyoon.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with 1 and 3....number 2, however? I am glad they sacked it. It's all a style thing, anyhow, like drum machines were big in the 80s, and are now considered out of style, the Disney chorus had a bit of that too. Besides, unless they're singing in a different language, or something a little more complex, big choirs like that usually bother me.

LOVE!

[beckybrown.livejournal.com]

hear hear. i agree with all you have said. an di love the fact you even said it.
hahah i love you.
cant wait for you to come home so you and i and others can have antics.