Lurker > DoctorBIind

There must be more than this provincial life!

Ahhh I'm jealous. That sounds incredible. Did it follow the Disney version exactly or were there some extra scenes or songs?

I just checked the tour schedule and it's not coming to Seattle. The closest performance is in Sacramento. :(

I would certainly follow it.

Update for my topic: I just finished writing #8, skipping #9 in the process. Whoops. No update today.

vcharon posted...

Good placement for this. As I said before, Pooh is all about characters and not really about story. In my own opinion, it would be a bit hard to rank this much higher due to all the great stories still left to be ranked.

That's pretty much the exact reasoning I had when I ranked it. There are too many amazing, singular stories left.


muddersmilk posted...

I've...never really been a big Winnie the Pooh person. I mean I liked it as a kid but it wasn't something I loved and wanted to rewatch.

That's too bad. We had just about the entire collection of films and tv episodes growing up and I would watch them all the time. One of the most terrible days in my life was when I discovered my parents had sold our collection in a garage sale (or lent them to my cousin - it's still not clear). I will certainly track them down one day just so I can introduce them to my future children.

I'm only now realizing that the narrator from Winnie the Pooh is Bagheera.

You just wrinkled my brain.

StifledSilence posted...

It may be technically a package film, but they weave it together to make it feel like one cohesive story.

Yeah, I've always loved the way Winnie the Pooh was presented. The narrator is fantastic, and the way the characters (namely Pooh) interact with the narrator and the book setting really does make the flow of the story seem like a cohesive whole.

#10 – The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)

Best Character: Tigger
Worst Character: Gopher

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is the hardest film for me to rank in the entire canon. It’s absolutely laced in nostalgia and I fear I may have placed it too high because of it. Then I think hell no, Winnie the Pooh is incredible. I’ve made a huge mistake placing it this low. If I were to take the entire Winnie the Pooh universe and rank it as one entity, it would certainly rank in the top three. But I’m not. I’m ranking this one film only. And what this film happens to be is a sequence of three short stories compiled together as one film. In fact, each of the shorts had already been released at one time or another before this film was released. In other words, most people had likely already seen them individually! Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree was released in 1966, Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day was released in 1968, and Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too was released in 1974. While all fantastic shorts in their own rights, it’s very difficult to rank them together as a comprehensive film.

Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree tells a simple story about Winnie the Pooh and his various attempts to find enough honey to satisfy his hunger. Filled with charming songs and segments, this short is undoubtedly a Disney classic. Although Tigger and Piglet don’t make an appearance in this short, the other characters do a splendid job of carrying the segment nonetheless. Pooh is at the top of his game, and I love his interactions with Rabbit, especially when he’s trapped in his front door. Rabbit for some reason is obsessed with being in the same room as Pooh’s bum, so he needlessly decorates Pooh’s rear end in order to make it feel homier. Hilarious. Eventually the residents of the hundred acre wood manage to free Pooh from Rabbit’s door and he is subsequently sent flying into a tree. Thankfully for Pooh the tree is filled with honey and he snacks away to his heart’s content.

Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day is the best short of the three, as it gives us the excellent introduction to Tigger, “Heffalumps and Woozles,” and the underrated gem “The Rain Rain Rain Came Down Down Down.” The story is simple yet again, but charming and fun nonetheless. A blustery day eventually culminates in Owl’s house toppling to the ground, placing all of the residents of the hundred acre woods on edge. The blustery day eventually turns into a terrible storm, and Pooh becomes very frightened during the night. This is where Tigger makes his excellent introduction and we see Pooh fall asleep on guard duty. In his dream we see “Heffalumps and Woozles,” a strange song focusing on foreign and monstrous creatures that steal honey – Pooh’s worst nightmare. The morning awakens Pooh from his slumber and we find the hundred acre wood has been flooded! While all of the other characters attempt to get to safety, Piglet is whisked out of his house to the catchy tune of “The Rain Rain Rain Came Down Down Down.” Eventually the characters all come together at Christopher Robin’s where a hero party is thrown for Pooh in honor of him saving Piglet. My only problem with this segment is the ending. Eeyore mentions that he found a house for Owl to live in only for the rest of the characters to exclaim that the house in fact belongs to Piglet. By all rights Piglet should not give up this house. He’s so timid though he quickly succumbs to Owl’s bullying and gives him his house. C’mon, Piglet. Stand up for yourself. The ending aside this short is amazing; the humor is fantastic and it features the best collection of songs in a Winnie the Pooh short.

Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too is the last of the three shorts showcased in the film. Tigger is the big star in this one, having a major role in just about every one of the subplots. The short basically follows Tigger as he prances about having fun, unaware of those he might be bothering. Rabbit in particular is fed up with Tigger’s antics and seeks a way to make him stop. Eventually Tigger bounces himself too high and he winds up stuck at the top of a tree. Rabbit offers to help him down under the condition that he can never bounce again. Of course Tigger readily agrees given how frightened he is, but once he’s safe on the ground he regrets his agreement. It’s completely heartbreaking watching Tigger after he realizes he can no longer bounce, but thankfully it doesn’t last long. Rabbit relents and fun times are had by all.

The characters are without a doubt my favorite aspect from the Winnie the Pooh franchise. Aside from Gopher whom I’ve never really cared about, and Kanga and Christopher Robin to an extent, every other character has something unique and amazing to bring to the table. Though Pooh is my favorite character from the franchise overall, Tigger just barely bests him for the honor in this film. Tigger’s introduction scene is amazing, as is the song he sings. Tigger is hilariously prideful and stubborn. One of my favorite shticks of his is how he constantly says how Tiggers are the best at so and so. He always uses superlatives to explain himself, even if he has no idea what he’s talking about. Take the honey scene in Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day. He first meets Pooh and immediately says he’s hungry. His eyes are drawn to the honey pot on the table and Tigger immediately says how honey is his favorite food. Of course it’s not, but that’s just the way Tigger speaks. I love it.

The interaction between the characters is such a strong signal that this film has spent plenty of time building the relationships between its characters. I’m sure most people who see the film have an idea of who the characters are and how they relate to each other before viewing it, but even still the film presents the characters aptly well for someone unfamiliar with the Winnie the Pooh universe. Each of the characters has a clear relationship with the others that differ from character to character. The relationship between Tigger and Rabbit for example is very different from the relationships between Tigger and Pooh and Pooh and Rabbit. Each character brings their own unique dynamic into the mix, ultimately creating something fresh every time a couple of characters make their way onscreen. It’s a joy to watch these simpleminded characters interact with one another and to see their relationships evolve over time. They’re such kind characters it’s difficult to dislike any one of them. The film practically oozes charm, and each of the characters exhibits their own charm wonderfully. When I watch this film I just want to snuggle up with a blanket and relive my childhood memories. And for that I will always love this series. Thank you Pooh bear!

I used to watch The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh all the time growing up. I remember that live action sequence of the room with all the stuffed animals of the characters so well that I fully admit that this ranking may be soaked in nostalgia. That’s not to say it’s not a good film on its own (or rather a collection of three short films I suppose). The characters are phenomenal. Even its weakest characters aren’t atrocious by any means. The songs are also extraordinary, with many of them continuing to ring fresh in my mind to this day. The introduction song is such a classic I doubt I’ll ever forget the words. The imagery in “Heffalumps and Woozles” likewise. This film and the world of the hundred acre woods so embodied my childhood it’s extremely difficult to shake off the nostalgia. I think this is a fair spot for it, even if the film is basically another package film (but much, much better).

and then you shout "surprise Paige O'Hara is actually #1."

HOT PREDIX

1. Jodi Benson
2. Susan Egan
3. Mandy Moore
4. Amy Adams
5. Mary Costa

PrinceKaro posted...

Btw, the remaining slots on my ranking list left are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 15, 18. (Tangled wasn't on the original list)

That's pretty good parity between our two lists, actually. Only two outside the top 10 and one unranked (which I would guess falls into your top 10 anyways). I'm also pretty sure I remember what your #1 was.

Pokewars posted...

Hey, I actually predicted all the films in the Top 10 making it!

And that was back in the top 20! You know me too well.

Anyways we now have the top 10! Given that there's only ten left I probably won't be doing any more hints. Any hot predix?

The Top 10

Pinocchio
Peter Pan
The Jungle Book
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
The Little Mermaid
Beauty and the Beast
Aladdin
The Lion King
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Tangled

Yikes. I suppose I can understand someone not liking the film, but anyone who doesn't place the three fairies as the worst characters is just wrong. Prince Phillip might be a little bland for today's standards, but he's not outright awful like the fairies.

Maleficent is an incredible villain. She simply exudes evil. And it’s not the kind of evil that’s difficult to enjoy watching like bullying or the Professor Umbridge template. This is an evil that’s fun to watch, as you never know just what she’s going to do. All you know is it’s going to come at the expense of others with a chance of messing with their heads. I mean, the sole reason she cursed Aurora in the first place was because Aurora’s foolish parents didn’t invite her to the party! She cursed a newborn infant to die because she wasn’t invited to a party. How insane is that? To cause further grief she didn’t even kill Aurora there on the spot. She placed the curse to take effect in 16 years, causing 16 years of worry and grief for Aurora’s parents. Now that’s how a Disney villain should act! She owns every scene she’s in throughout the film. Her power is extraordinary and frankly she should be the one ruling the kingdom. I love how she openly taunts Phillip once he’s her prisoner. She lets him know just how close he is to achieving his fairy tale ending only to then remind him that he’s her prisoner and is helpless to stop her. Freeing Phillip is basically the only thing the fairies do correctly, and it leads to the greatest scene in Sleeping Beauty.

The music during this final battle is such a perfect, intense fit to the animation. Complete with lightning going off in the background, the atmosphere is perfect for an epic battle. It’s such a delight to watch Maleficent demonstrate her power. With the swish of her staff she creates a jungle of thorns blocking Phillip’s access to the castle where Aurora is sleeping. It slows him down, but Phillip is persistent. So what does Maleficent do? She turns herself into an awesome dragon that spits green flames. The animation here is incredible. I love the art style the entire film took, but here especially. The flames are great, the background’s great, and so are the characters of Maleficent the dragon and Prince Phillip. It’s such an epic duel to close out the film, and the death scene is one of the best within the canon. Prince Phillip heroically plunges the enchanted sword into her gut, and we see her plummet to her death amidst the rising flames.

It really is the perfect story tale ending to the perfect story tale. It’s one of Disney’s best films, filled with a great hero and a terrific villain, beautiful animation, and a score that works really well in the context of the film. It has its flaws, namely the three fairies, but Maleficent is such a fantastic villain she makes up for it and more. I will never understand why this film bombed so hard at the box office. It’s beautiful!

Next Up: The Top 10

I'll be surprised if this isn't the film you're talking about, Karo.


#11 – Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Best Character: Maleficent
Worst Characters: The Three Fairies

It’s unfortunate that Sleeping Beauty was so poorly received at the time of its release. Disney took a risk and brought in a totally different visual only for it to be received very negatively. The film was much more angular than its predecessors, a style employed to give the film a more medieval look to it. The look worked perfectly for the film, and the animation is one of my favorite parts about it. The film cost a lot of money to make and was unfortunately met as a box office failure, spiraling Disney downwards into the decision to cut animation costs with 101 Dalmatians. Unfortunate as this was, I can’t hold it against Sleeping Beauty.

There are a few plot holes that frustrate me too much to place this film into the top 10, despite how much I love the art style and Maleficent. Firstly, why do they need to hide Aurora as a baby? Couldn’t the king and queen raise her on their own until, say, when she turned 15, just before the curse took effect? At least then they could spend some time with her before her prophesized untimely death. As it was the fairies royally screwed up anyways, so at least the king and queen could have spent some time with their daughter. Seriously, the three fairies showed so much will power living without magic for 16 years only to stupidly relapse on literally the very last day the curse could have taken effect. I don’t think they understand how prophecies work. Secondly, why even risk brining Aurora back home on the day of her birthday, i.e. the very last day the curse could take effect. All of those years of hiding Aurora from Maleficent were wasted due to the decision to host a GIANT parade announcing her return. Pretty sure Maleficent would catch wind of that one. Now here is where the fairies really show how inept they are. They leave her alone inside the castle. I don’t remember how they justified leaving her alone, but whatever it was I can tell you it was completely inane. Of course while she’s alone Maleficent is able to get a hold of her and Aurora pricks her finger. The fairies know they screwed up. So what do they do? They cast a spell to place the entire kingdom in a deep sleep so that no one will have to endure the grief caused by Aurora’s own endless sleep. They clearly didn’t consider how stupid this idea was for a second, as had they really looked into it they would have realized that by putting everyone to sleep they would also put to sleep the one guy whose kiss could awaken Aurora and end the curse. Thankfully Prince Phillip avoided their idiocy and was literally the only person in the kingdom who managed to get out of range of the fairies’ spell.

Prince Phillip is the saving grace for the heroes. In contrast to some of the other princes of his time, Prince Phillip is miles ahead in terms of screen time and presence. He shows a little bit more personality than the others and has by far the greatest scene in the film. I mean, he’s kind of a creep, but he’s still likable. I just know if I were singing to myself in the woods I would freak the f*** out if some stranger creeped up behind me and started to sing along with me. Apparently it worked for Aurora however, as she fell head over heels in love with Prince Phillip immediately. The love at first sight is a nice concept, and it’s certainly used as a trope in many Disney films. For me though I need a little bit more development to truly appreciate a budding romance. It’s thus a little strange for me to see Aurora freaking out over not being allowed to visit Phillip again. Although I prefer Snow White and Cinderella to Aurora, she’s still likable enough. She doesn’t have much of a personality, but considering she’s asleep for half the film she doesn’t really need to. Her absence is a good thing, actually, as it gives Maleficent much more time to shine on her own.

BrettEagles posted...

I'll guess Pinocchio next since Aladdin looks safe... for now.

Wait, you mean to tell me Aladdin didn't come before the Renaissance? Uh-oh...

As for Mulan in SMDC, I agree, it sucks that the alt army cheated her way to victory. And for that there will always be an asterisk by her name. Even me, who happens to love Mulan as a character, rarely saved her in the last two contests because of it. I think a lot of people feel that way despite loving the character herself. Even though she "won" in the third contest there's no way she'll ever muster up enough legitimate strength to win after the controversy in the third. Those that like her are apprehensive to give her two* crowns, and there are plenty around that simply despise her. It's those that despise her for reasons unrelated to the controversy that leave me bum-puzzled.

Vengeful_KBM posted...

#8 - Paige O'Hara as Belle - Beauty and the Beast (1991)

>=(

GenesisSaga posted...

Eh, it's fine. I can acknowledge that Mulan is objectively the best character of the film even if I like Shang more. Hell I can even acknowledge that the reason I like him so much might be because he was my childhood animated crush. I'm sure you felt the same about Belle and you still love her now, right? :P

Always!

Pokewars posted...

Belle for REPEAT CHAMP............FOR THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS! (Brett will totally still be here). And hey, our kids can all participate!

Now this I can get behind!

StifledSilence posted...

She is the only Disney princess to see action and physically fight her own battles.

Didn't Belle fight the wolves until Beast showed up?

Eh, I suppose she held them off. Sort of. Not in the same league imo.

The best parts of the film were the battle scenes. They’re exceptionally well paced and beautifully animated. It’s interesting to note how openly the film deals with death and destruction in ways few other Disney films manage. The contrast between lighthearted comedy and immediate pain and suffering is extremely prevalent in the film, and Mulan pulls it off perfectly. The humor never overtakes the drama, and the film never gets too serious for its own good. Even when the humor and emotional drama collide back-to-back Mulan does a great job of transitioning the atmosphere to appropriately reflect the mood. Take, for example, the scene where “A Girl Worth Fighting For” plays. That scene is one of the happiest and most light-hearted in the entire film. And what segment follows it? Only the darkest in the entire film, where Mulan and company discover the desolate battlefield where Li Shang’s father was killed. Despite such a collision of emotions it never comes off as jarring. Mulan does a great job of providing humor to lighten the feel of the film all the while maintaining its dramatic side.

After The Rescuers Down Under (which doesn’t really count), Mulan has the weakest soundtrack from the Disney Renaissance. That’s not saying much considering they’re all incredible, but Mulan only has four songs to it, two of which aren’t very good. Reflection is a good song but doesn’t get enough time in the film. I do love its message though, and if it had a larger role in the film I’m sure it would have been my favorite. The last song, I’ll Make a Man Out of You, is my favorite of the film, but only just barely. It’s a fun a song that serves its purpose well as a montage, however I’m afraid it has significantly fallen in my song rankings over the years. It isn’t sung very well and I’ve never been fond of Li Shang. Sorry Gen. The song still easily makes its way into my top 20, but I don’t hold the same love for it as I once did.

That’s actually similar to how I feel about the film as a whole. The film is still among my favorites, but I don’t love it as much as I used to. The animation is great, especially during the action sequences, and the story never gets dull. In fact, the story is one of the better stories within the Disney canon. It has a great arc, filled with great sequences and montages along the way. Mulan is one of my favorites within the canon, and watching the film again made me remember just how much I love her. Controversy be damned. Mulan is totally deserving of the crown she won in SMDCIII. It’s too bad her victory is mired as it is. As it stands many don’t even consider her a champion to begin with, and with her current rep there’s no way she stands a shot at winning a legit crown. Nevertheless she is totally deserving of all the praise she receives, as is the film itself.

Next Up: This films comes before the Disney Renaissance

#12 – Mulan (1998)

Best Character: Mulan
Worst Character: Chi-Fu


Oh, Mulan. For some reason this film seems to be very love-it-or-hate-it on this board. Despite placing it just outside the top 10 I am firmly in the love-it camp. It’s a fantastic film, filled with an exceptional character in Mulan, tremendous action sequences and a decent soundtrack. It goes into detail regarding war and death such that few Disney films have managed to match. However it does so with the charm and humor that the Disney Renaissance is renowned for. Mulan successfully takes one of the most intense and adult subject matters and transforms it into a kid-friendly film without compromising its messages.

Similar to Tarzan, Mulan has only one character that I really care about, and that character is Mulan herself. She is the only Disney princess to see action and physically fight her own battles. In fact I’d argue she’s the bravest of all the princesses. She’s the daughter of a noble but nevertheless risks her own life and the reputation of her father and family to fight for China in her father’s place. That takes immense courage. Not to mention the multiple times she exhibited her bravery on the battlefield, wiping out an entire army on the mountain peaks and showing her worth in front of all of China during the final battle with Shan Yu. Mulan is an exceptional warrior, showcasing her physical prowess as well as her mental prowess time and time again. She also maintains her caring side throughout the film, for which I’m very thankful. Too often filmmakers, when confronted with the decision to create a “warrior woman,” remove all aspects of femininity the character had in order to make them more masculine and at times robotic. Mulan is different. She maintains her charming personality and femininity throughout the film all the while kicking major ass. Mulan doesn’t want to be a man. She just wants to find her own identity, struggling to understand why certain paths are forbidden to her just because she’s a woman.

It’s just as much a film about how men and women should be considered equals as it is finding your own identity within society. Mulan is pigeonholed from the get-go as a geisha, but that’s not who Mulan is. She’s a warrior, and she proves she’s more than capable of hanging with the men time and time again, ultimately surpassing them all. The film does a fantastic job conveying these messages, but doesn’t get overbearing like some other Disney films get with their message. It’s one of the better messages Disney conveys in its films, and Mulan is a fantastic role model for young girls and boys alike.

If only there was just one more character as fleshed out as Mulan. As is, she practically carries the entire film herself. Mushu is good for a laugh or two every now and then, but I’ve never been very interested in his own personal arc. Cri-Kee just gets in the way the entire time and never really helps Mulan in any way. He’s more of the sidekick to Mulan’s sidekick and ultimately an unnecessary character. Yao, Ling and Chien-Po are good for laughs every now and then as well, and I’ve always liked their presence onscreen. That said, all we really know about them is who their dream girls are. They have very little depth. Captain Li Shang is the third biggest character after Mulan and Mushu but he certainly doesn’t seem like it. He’s just some ultra-serious military wunderkind who never really lets loose and show the audience who he really is. Chi-Fu is really obnoxious and his motivations for hating Mulan and being a dick aren’t really addressed. If he’s doing it because of tradition or custom, that’s fine, but he’s still very annoying. As far as the villains go, I’ve never liked Shan Yu. He’s clearly evil, but again, what do we actually see him do? All we really see is Shan Yu being ominous and scary. He has very little interaction with any of the main characters and he has very weak character development.

StifledSilence posted...

Coincidentally, I'd be on board for a Jane alliance next contest. Perhaps Jane/Pooh

Yes!

BrettEagles posted...

Worst Character in the Disney Animated Canon: Terk

Tarzan is an amazing movie. It has so much going for it. All in all, it would probably be a top five movie if it wasn't for one character. Terk is an abomination. Tantor doesn't do much to help either, but Terk is beyond grating. She actually manages to take a really great movie and drag it down. And it's so hard to just ignore her like some other so-so/bad characters because of how in your face and annoying she is. If I could watch a Terk free version of the Tarzan or a version where Clayton mounts her head on a wall, I would be a happy person.

[/rant]

BrettEagles posted...

I'd like to also preface my Terk rant by saying that I'm generally positive about anything and everything Disney. It takes a lot, and I mean a lot, to make me feel so vilely about something Disney. Terk. Dammit Terk, why are you so terrible?

The only other Disney thing off the top of my head that is on Terk's level of horrible is the movie Chicken Little as a whole.

Haha. Man I love this Terk hate. While I don't find her as loathsome, my write-up was definitely missing more hatred pointed directly at Terk. I'm glad you and Karo could fill the gap.

Pokewars posted...

Yeah, Jane is awesome. Highly underrated. We can do it, Doc! We have the credentials!

We've got the credentials, we've got the champion, but we're not through yet! Hang on to your turban, Jane, cause we're gonna make you a star!

Tarzan does so many things right it’s a shame I can’t place it in the top 10. Of course I’ve been saying that for essentially all the movies in the top 20, so I can’t feel too bad. While Tarzan does lack a few ingredients necessary for a top 10 push, it excels in other areas. Jane is a wonderful character, and the soundtrack is fantastic. Tarzan also excels in the animation department, as I earlier gushed about how much I loved the animation for the action sequences. The background animation is also nicely done, and I love the jungle setting the film took place in. Tarzan has a clear and understandable message attached to it, complete with a soundtrack, characters and plot that really shouldn’t be overlooked as much as they are.

Next Up: Its title consists of one word.

Alright, I suppose we should talk about some of the other characters. The thing is, I love Jane so much more than the other characters it’s difficult to praise them. As a lead Tarzan is a bit lacking. I’ve never been able to pinpoint it, but I’ve never really liked him that much. He’s a little boring for my taste, although I do enjoy the numerous arcs he undergoes throughout the film and the relationships he cultivates with the other characters. Tarzan’s relationship with the gorillas is great, and the filmmakers did a good job creating his arc for acceptance within the community, notably with Kerchek. At the same time Tarzan is struggling to gain acceptance with the gorillas, he’s also struggling to find his own identity as a human. He knows he’s different, and he spends a large portion of the film dealing with that knowledge. One of my favorite scenes in the film is when Tarzan and Jane first meet up in the treetops. Both of them are so intensely interested in the other that it makes for a great scene. Tarzan has finally found another human to relate to, and Jane has found a jungle man perfect for study. They’re both so fascinated with each other it makes for some very humorous and heartwarming moments. This scene laid the foundation for what I consider one of the best Disney romances, even if it’s not the traditional romance we’ve come to expect. It’s original and sweet, with both characters developing and growing as a person due to the actions of the other.

The side characters as a whole are fairly weak. Clayton does his job well enough, and I’ve never understood the hate he seems to get from a number of fans. He’s a villainous guy and very effective for the story. Maybe I’m biased due to how much I love his final battle and subsequent death. The way he dies is one of the more gruesome in the entire canon, and I’ve always appreciated his silhouette seen during one of the lightning strikes. He may be a main character due to his role as the primary villain, but the following are definitely side characters. Let’s start with Tarzan’s friends. Tantor is actually kind of funny, and I’m glad he had a role in the film. He’s not the problem. The problem is Terk, Tarzan’s brash gorilla friend voiced by Rosie O’Donnell. Terk never really becomes her own character. All I could see was Rosie O’Donnell. I generally don’t like associating a character I know nothing about with the celebrity voicing them, but sometimes I can’t help it. When all I can see is the celebrity and I don’t like the celebrity, it makes for a bad character. There are exceptions to the celebrity rule, such as Robin Williams’ masterful performance as The Genie, but for the most part I don’t like recognizing the voice behind the character. Voice aside, Terk is just an annoying character that fills no real purpose within the film. She never evolves as a character and share no heartfelt scenes with Tarzan.

One of my favorite things about Tarzan is how heartfelt it is. I had forgotten how sad Tarzan can be at times, but it’s really very successful at stirring up empathy. The opening sequence for example is a sad one. Here we have Tarzan without a family and Kala without a son. Of course their coming together made the film, but it’s still sad how Sabor divided their respective families. I’m not sure how Sabor managed to climb into a tree fort, but whatever. He did, and it was sad. An underrated emotional scene in the film to me is when Tarzan is coming to grips with his identity as a human and decides to leave the jungle and head back to England with Jane. Before doing so he comes to say goodbye to Kala, his mother. In doing so he wears his biological father’s clothing all the while reminding Kala that she will always be his mother. That must have been so hard for Kala to take. Her son is leaving her behind, and he’s dressed in foreign clothing. It’s an underrated scene that really makes you feel for Kala. I did love how he didn’t even bother saying goodbye to Terk though. Ha.

#13 – Tarzan (1999)

Best Character: Jane Porter
Worst Character: Terk

Tarzan is another one of those films that I have come to appreciate more and more every time I watch it. The animation in Tarzan is beautiful, especially the action scenes. I still remember how impressed I was when Tarzan first came out in theaters and I saw Tarzan skating along the tree trunks. The film made a great use of CGI, and the action scenes are all the better for it. The soundtrack in particular has grown on me over time, as well as a certain character I’m sure most of you expected.

I have always underrated the soundtrack to this film. When I think of classically great Disney soundtracks Tarzan never comes to mind. Which is strange considering how “Two Worlds” is in my top 10, “You’ll Be in My Heart” is in my top 20, and both “Son of Man” and “Strangers Like Me” are in my top 35. “Trashin’ the Camp” is really the only song in the film I don’t like, but that’s too be expected considering it had no impact on the film whatsoever and featured Rosie O’Donnell. The rest of the songs all have a great sound to them, and have a clear message relatable to the story. What I like most about “Two Worlds” isn’t necessarily the song itself, but how it’s interconnected with the film. “Two Worlds” is edited beautifully, highlighting the contrast between the humans and apes all the while foreshadowing the path the film is going to take. The only thing I wish the soundtrack had included is a love song for Tarzan and Jane. I’m a sucker for Disney love songs, and I love Jane so much I wish I had been able to hear her sing.

I always have and always will have a crush on Belle. Most of you are aware of this. My infatuation with Jane came more recently, but that doesn’t deter the fact that she is amazing and deserves a thousand times more recognition and respect than she normally receives. Right, so now I’m going to proceed to try to convince some of you to help me back Jane next year in the next SMDC contest. The voice acting for Jane is stellar. Minnie Driver delivered such a fantastic performance as Jane, nailing the character completely and providing her with a number of amazing lines and delivery. It’s too bad she never had a song in the film. I love her voice, and Minnie Driver happens to be a singer-songwriter anyways. No doubt if she had a song I’d love her even more. Oh well. Her amazing personality is still showcased in the film enough to make up for it. Jane is funny and very intelligent. She’s also really passionate, something we don’t see very often in Disney females. The gorilla culture fascinates her, and it’s a lot of fun to see her interact with the gorillas in an environment she loves. Her passion allows her to explore unknown lands, something I’m both envious of and respect. Of course she begins her trek in the jungle a little green and out of place, but she ultimately grows as a character more than anyone else (aside from perhaps Tarzan). When we first see Jane it’s clear she’s not ready for life in the jungle. She has a big, poofy dress and a number of accessories she doesn’t need. Over time, we see her require fewer material possessions, instead being quite content to live only with the bare necessities. She graduates from being a helpless damsel in distress to becoming an awesome jungle woman. Despite her transformation she still maintains her humor, intelligence and caring personality that made me fall in love with her in the first place. Jane is an amazing character and it’s a shame she doesn’t get the support she deserves. I suppose she needed to be a princess to truly be considered worthy of praise, which is really too bad. Jane is severely underrated, and you can expect my full support to be behind her next year.

Bolt himself isn’t as good as some of the others. He’s stubborn and a little boring, but he does have his moments. If anything he’s good for a laugh. As the audience we’re aware of the fact that Bolt isn’t actually a super dog. His powers are merely special effects placed so well that he’s convinced himself of being something he’s not. Similar to Buzz Lightyear, we can laugh at Bolt whenever he stubbornly maintains he has superpowers of any sort. He cannot for a second ascertain the notion that he’s not special. For me this makes it all the sadder when he’s forced to come to accept his own limitations. He isn’t the most sympathetic character, but I feel for him every time we see part of him start to realize it’s all fake. Every time he realizes he can’t actually do anything to help Penny. That said, he’s just not as entertaining once he realizes he’s doesn’t have any superpowers. The film would have been better if they delayed his realization until later in the film and perhaps added more of a breakdown a la Mrs. Nesbitt.

Rhino has all of the excitement and energy that a superfan needs. Practically every line he says is funny. His obsession with Bolt, complete with his utter belief that Bolt has all of the powers he exhibits on the television show, makes him a fantastic sidekick. When Bolt finally realizes he’s just an average dog, it’s Rhino that spurs him back into action. Without Rhino’s feverous support Bolt never would have overcome his failures. Rhino is an essential character of the film, both in terms of comedic content as well as an inspirational friend.

Although the three primary characters discussed above deliver a number of hilarious lines, the film continued to dish out the comedy with many of its side characters. Highlighting the list of side characters for me were the two villainous cats that loved taunting Bolt in his trailer. Bolt does such a good job of opening himself up to trolling on his own, but these cats exploit Bolt in such a way that had me rolling. I also really enjoyed the New York and California pigeons. They had some really great dialogue that reminded me a lot of Rutt and Tuke from Brother Bear. Unlike some Disney films I never felt like these side characters were used only to distract the viewer from the main story. They fit in perfectly, adding some very humorous lines along the way.

There is nothing epic about Bolt. With Bolt, what you see is what you get. It’s a fun movie filled with great humor and action sequences that never leave you feeling bored. The characters are wildly entertaining for the most part, and the premise may be one of the silliest within the entire canon. To me, Bolt was the film that kicked off the second Disney Renaissance. While it didn’t go back to traditional animation or musicals like The Princess and the Frog did after it, Bolt was nevertheless the first film in a long time that had the characters, atmosphere and quality reminiscent of Disney’s finest.

Next Up: Back to the Disney Renaissance!

#14 – Bolt (2008)

Best Character: Mittens
Worst Character: Penny

Never in a million years did I expect to enjoy Bolt as much as I did. Back when it was first released I just assumed it was more Disney garbage from the 2000’s and neglected to see it. That was a mistake. Bolt took me more by surprise than any other film in the canon. I hadn’t seen it before, but if you were to ask me where I thought it would land before watching it, I would have told you somewhere around the upper thirties. Certainly not cracking the top 15. It was thus a very pleasant surprise that I enjoyed Bolt as much as I did. To find a Disney film I had initially passed over making it into my top 15 alone makes this ranking topic worth it. Bolt tells a simple story, but with the charm and characters of a great one. The animation is reminiscent of Pixar, and sure enough the entire film gives off a feel as though Pixar was the studio producing it.

Sure enough, John Lasseter and some other directors from Pixar eventually joined the project and helped steer it towards the end result we see today. I truly believe their direction saved the film from becoming more generic Disney garbage released during the 2000’s. The plot summary of the original version, titled American Dog, doesn’t sound like it would have been near as good as the current version. Thankfully Lasseter and crew managed to input their ideas and transform the film into a heartwarming and fun tale that could just as well be apart of the Pixar canon.

The characters in Bolt are what really make the film great. Bolt, Mittens and Rhino each have a ton of strengths and are fun to watch in their own way. Even the side characters are hilarious. Without Penny I might have had a harder time naming the worst character than I did with Winnie the Pooh! Thankfully Penny was there to receive all my hate. She completely sells out Bolt just for a television contract. The entire time she has him believing that he’s something he’s not, where every time she leaves him he worries about her safety. And when he runs off? She simply moves along to the next dog without giving much of an effort to look for him. Of course I know it’s not really that black and white. She clearly cares for Bolt, but based on her selfish actions throughout the film there’s no one else who has a better argument for worst character. Thankfully the rest of the cast does a much better job of being likable.

Mittens is my favorite character of the film. She is spunky, down to earth and hilarious. Unlike Bolt she has a clear sense of the world around her, if not a little darker than reality. She was hurt when she was younger, so she’s had to grow up tough and mean. Her intelligence serves her well, and she knows how to get what she wants exceptionally well. She is a perfect counter to Bolt’s incessant optimism and delusions. Her best scenes happen to be the ones interacting with Bolt, and I love the way they bicker back and forth. Their relationship is among my favorite things in the movie, as it has its moments of humor as well as heartwarming drama. It clearly develops as the film presses on, as we see Mittens slowly bring down her shield and begin to care about others again. It’s one of the most heartwarming aspects the film has to offer, and Mittens has a lot to do with it. She is the deepest of the cast, having a clear back story and arc presented well throughout the film.

jk

Sorry Brett it actually is Aladdin.

I agree about Hades, which is why I said I was ultimately glad they didn't change the character to make him darker. I realize it would have been difficult to make him both darker and keep the character James Woods created intact, so I opted to side with the Hades we do see. Likewise he's not my favorite Disney villain, but he's very good at what he does.

It’s difficult naming the worst character for this film. The Three Fates receive the honor simply because they’re disgusting. They can see into the future but decide not to tell Hades that he’s going to lose? Come on. Surely they could have seen Pain and Panic screwing up and told Hades his plot was futile. I guess that would have made for a boring movie though. Pain and Panic are the next closest this film gets to having bad characters, as much of their content comes from dated pop culture references and attempts at humor. Some of their attempts stick, but they can be kind of annoying at times as comic relief. These character aside the rest of the cast is very strong, a signal that the movie was definitely released during the Disney Renaissance. Another signal? It has a great soundtrack.

For the most part the soundtrack is one of Disney’s strongest. Not my favorite, but I can recognize how someone might really appreciate it. For me, there are only a couple of standouts. “I Won’t Say I’m in Love” is one of my favorite Disney songs of all time, likely placing around #6 or #7 on my all time list. “I Can Go the Distance” is naturally the other favorite, but it has since fallen in my rankings. The gap in between its sections is a little long, but the reprise is extraordinary. There’s not a more inspiring song within the canon than “I Can Go the Distance.” As far as the rest of the soundtrack goes, I’m not particularly attached to any of them. The Muses have great voices, but I’ve never been a fan of their songs. The opening sequence is relatively weak compared to some of the other Disney films, and I think a lot of it has to do with the opening song.

This films in this group are so strong I really have to nitpick to justify some of their placements. Let’s start with Hercules himself. He’s a good guy. His personality is fine – a little boring, but fine. There’s nothing about him personally that really rubs me the wrong way. It’s just, he too strong. As I said previously, it’s never in doubt that he will inevitably save the day. His “weakness” isn’t really a weakness, and he never really has to overcome anything too daunting. Sure, he’s not a good. But he still has god-like powers! He reminds me too much of Superman, whom I never really liked. Sorry Herc, you’re a boring lead. Another small problem I have with the film is that it’s filled with a little bit too much comedy and not enough serious moments. Every time Hercules has the potential to share a touching moment with his father Zeus acts over the top and ruins it. Even during the really cool fight scene against the hydra it gets silly at the end. Right when Hercules smashes the cliff and the hydra looks up there’s an unnecessary silly sound effect complete with a silly reaction from the hydra. I’m not trying to say I don’t like humor in my films. I do. It’s just this one had a couple of instances where they could have toned down the humor in favor of some dramatic flavor.

Hercules has few faults. It really does a lot of things well. Like all of the remaining films unranked, I could easily see Hercules sneaking into the top five or so on someone’s list. The plot is fun if a little contrived, it has a good cast of main and supporting characters, and it’s got a great soundtrack. Explained above however, there are just a few nitpicks I have with the film that keep it from going the distance. And that’s the gospel truth.

Next Up: Another film sharing the title of its main character goes down.

You shouldn't have changed your guess, Gen!

#15 – Hercules (1997)

Best Character: Hades
Worst Characters: The Three Fates

Of all the films released during the Disney Renaissance, Hercules is probably the most light-hearted. It has its dramatic moments, but Hercules is definitely more of a comedy than it is a drama. It’s just a lot of fun. Complete with a number of great songs and a couple of fantastic characters, Hercules is among the funniest of the Disney films. It’s thus kind of strange how Hercules has never received a sequel given its success and how much Disney loves making sequels (I’m not counting Hercules: Zero to Hero).

The characters are what really make this film stand out. Admittedly Hercules is a little bland, but Hades and Megara are phenomenal. As much as I love Hades, I wish he were darker. More evil. As it is we can’t really take him seriously. He has a great, villainous plot to take over Olympus, but he never seems like a threat. A lot of that has to do with how unbeatable Hercules is made out to seem, but some of the blame has to fall on Hades as well. He’s just too passive at times, sending his minions to do all the villainous jobs for him. He’s also a little bit too funny. Whereas I think he’s a hilarious character, that same humor undercuts his more villainous side. Apparently the original version of Hades was going to be much darker and serious, but James Woods brought such a uniquely great performance that they rewrote the character. Despite wishing that Hades were darker, I’m very glad they rewrote the character to accommodate Woods. Hades became one of Disney’s most unique and fun villains, and given the choice I’d always choose this version of Hades over a potentially darker and serious one. Megara is the other standout for me, and I love how independent she is. I wish she were more marketable. Although not a member of the princess line, she’s a good role model for young girls. She’s smart, witty, strong and independent. Plus she has an incredible voice. Susan Egan gives us a powerful performance with “I Won’t Say I’m in Love” that cements her status as one of the best Disney female voices ever.

As for the side characters, Hercules contains a great one in Philoctetes and a decent sidekick in Pegasus. I don’t know what it is about him, but Phil is my third favorite character in the film. I think it’s because Phil reminds me so much of my high school track coach who I held in a very high regard. He has his gross moments, but ultimately Phil is just a genuinely nice guy. I can’t mention Philoctetes without mentioning one of the most heartwarming scenes in the entire canon. You guessed it. I’m talking about the scene at the very end of the movie. The one where Zeus rearranges the stars to form a constellation of Hercules and the people back on Earth notice, nudging each other and saying, “That’s Phil’s boy.” It seriously gets me every time! Films outside Disney included, it’s one the few scenes that can make me cry that aren’t actually sad. It’s a happy cry. A warm cry. Off the top of my head only the Scrubs ending reel and the moment in Toy Story 3 where Andy gives his toys away to Bonnie really fit within this category. That’s a very select club to be apart of, and I love Hercules for joining it.

Sorry to disappear like that; I just got back from a mini-vacation. Updates will resume tomorrow. Hopefully there won't be any more interruptions before the list is complete.

Gaston
Lust

Jolteon

Jafar
Light
O-Ren

Jolteon

May I present the top 15!

Pinocchio
Peter Pan
Sleeping Beauty
The Jungle Book
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
The Little Mermaid
Beauty and the Beast
Aladdin
The Lion King
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Hercules
Mulan
Tarzan
Bolt
Tangled

Who will be the five unfortunate enough to miss out on the top 10?

Azula
Gogo
Mitsuko

Raichu

What else is there to say about Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs? It really is a masterpiece. It’s beautifully animated, and holds up well even to this day. The showdown at the end is animated exceptionally well, and I love the way the rain looks during the storm. The characters are really the only aspect of the film that could be improved upon. Fortunately for Snow White everything else about it is so artfully done. The score is perfect for the atmosphere, especially during the storm at the end. The songs fit the film as well, and many have since become iconic Disney classics, especially “Whistle While You Work.” Its accolades aside, there is much to appreciate about Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. My love for the film and its placement here only goes to show just how much I love the remaining films.

Next Up: This film contains narration.

I have never found the Evil Queen as great of a villain as she should be. I love her vanity and the lengths she goes through to reclaim her title as fairest in the land, but I have never understood her methods. Surely there are easier ways to kill Snow White than transforming yourself into a frail old hag and convincing her to eat a poisoned apple! Although Snow White and the Huntsman was a terrible movie, the scenes with Charlize Theron as the Evil Queen were great. I loved her portrayal of the Evil Queen, and that’s how I would have liked to see the animated version act. As it was, the Evil Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was a bit lacking. We didn’t really see a lot of her treachery, only that she hated Snow White with a passion. The one act we did see wasn’t very well thought out, as it ultimately resulted in her demise.

Unfortunately the entire cast of humans is lacking in the development and personality department as well. The huntsman has a very small role, and Prince Charming even smaller. Not to mention Prince Charming is a total creep. He just approaches this dead girl in a casket and kisses her. Weird. Snow White as a character is difficult to fully appreciate. She has been mimicked and parodied so many times it's impossible to ignore her significance. She created a plethora of memorable and iconic scenes, from singing with the birds, commanding the forest animals to help her clean, and even her performance of “Whistle While You Work.” Her voice is one of the most interesting aspects of her character, and I’m apparently one of the few who enjoy it. It’s certainly childlike, but it has a sense of innocence and naïveté that I think works great for her character. I can see how some might consider it irksome, but to me it’s a perfect fit for Snow White. She’s a little dumb at times but hey, she’s a kid. I will admit though that she really should be more cautious of trusting strangers after being chased out of the kingdom by the Evil Queen and then narrowly avoiding having her heart stolen from the huntsman. As soon as the witch told her it was a magical wishing apple she dropped her guard completely and bit on the witch’s lie (literally!). And some of you people think Ariel is stupid! It’s a little funny how Snow White is never shown eating the apple itself, not to mention how we don’t even see her collapse after she bites it. I suppose it was just another way to make the film a little bit more kid-friendly. Also how weird would it be if you came home to discover that some stranger entered your house while you were away, cleaned it, did your laundry, and then went to sleep in your bed. That’s one of the creepiest things in the entire film and it’s performed by our heroine! Of course it just serves as an example of how trusting she is, but still. She’s lucky the dwarfs didn’t kill her on the spot.

The dwarfs are admittedly a bit shallow. That’s apparent enough just by looking at the names of the seven dwarves and realizing their entire personality comes from said names. The only real exception, and this is why I chose him as the best character, is Grumpy. Throughout the film Grumpy embodies so much more than just grumpiness. Yes, for the first half of the film it’s his defining characteristic, but he really evolves over time. He showcases instances where he’s bashful, happy, dopey, and serious. When he goes off to work and slyly tries to get a kiss out of Snow White, there’s no grumpiness there. Maybe a hint of Dreamy, but certainly not Grumpy.

#16 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Best Character: Grumpy
Worst Character: Prince Charming

In ranking these films I’ve been trying not to give too much weight to common ranking pitfalls such as nostalgia or historical significance. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was so influential however it’s difficult to overlook. I’ll just read off a few of its impressive achievements before getting to my write-up: it was the first full-length cell-animated film ever made, the first produced in color, the first animated feature produced in the U.S., and the very first of the Disney canon. Basically without Snow White Disney wouldn’t be the same as it is today. Snow White was absolutely groundbreaking and holds up wonderfully to this very day. It’s one of the most iconic films ever made, with a number of scenes influencing films still produced to this day. I have been so tempted to move this film higher and higher just to see how many of you explode in anger over its placement. You guys are aware this film is fairly consistently placed at the top of the Disney mountain, right? I mean, sure it’s not the best Disney film ever, but I suppose its justification as being the best isn’t insane. Its justification is laced in nostalgia, but it’s still reasonable for someone to place it at the top. It was revolutionary after all.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is also one of the best adaptations of a story tale Disney has ever told. I haven’t actually read the original versions of many of the books Disney films have been based off of. I am, however, fairly familiar with Snow White, and can attest to the fact that Disney did a good job portraying it, even with some kid-friendly adjustments. No, Disney doesn’t make the Evil Queen dance around in burning hot iron shoes, but her death is still exceptionally well done.

This film is dark. There are so many instances in this film that terrified me as a kid, and I don’t think anyone can properly review Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs without at least mentioning the spooky forest. Sure, a lot of its power on me has since been lost, but I can still recognize scariness when I see it. For the very first animated film to create such a powerfully memorable scene is very impressive. And don’t get me started on the ride at Disneyworld. It has since been removed, but man that was a scary ride. The film deals with a number of accompanying dark scenes, the most memorable being the encounter with the huntsman and the final battle between the dwarfs and the Evil Queen. If you’ve read many of these write-ups, you know that many of my favorite scenes are the climaxes at the end. The ultimate showdown between good and evil. It’s no different in this film, as the showdown between the dwarfs and the Evil Queen is fascinating. The witch undoubtedly regrets her decision to place herself in a weakened state as the dwarfs chase her down amidst the pouring rain and impending lightning strikes. It’s such an intense scene. The dwarfs transform before our eyes into murderous avengers completely bent on causing great harm towards the old hag. A lightning strike eventually causes the Evil Queen to plummet to her death (the first of many for Disney!), but had the dwarfs gotten to her first there’s no doubt they would have relentlessly beaten her to death. She was screwed either way.

The Joker
Lust

Gogo
Jafar
Mitsuko

You guys killed Hook and Facilier? What the hell is wrong with you? There is so much crap left.

Azula
Gaston
O-Ren

Vengeful_KBM posted...

Were you at Gasworks Park? We almost went to those this year - that show truly is incredible.

Not quite. I'm in Wallingford though, so we just got on our roof and watched the fireworks at Gasworks from there.

vcharon posted...

If you haven't watched Cinderella 3, I would strongly suggest it. Surprisingly enough, it is one of the best sequels Disney has done. It does a lot of the things the original doesn't cover due to its age.

I have not! As soon I get a reliable internet connection going again I'll try and get it from Netflix. Is the second pretty good as well?

And yeah, sorry Stifled, but I have to agree with he general consensus here. I love the film, but Tiana >>> Cinderella. Sure, Tiana can get a little bit repetitive, but at least she works at her dreams. Like Karo said, Cinderella just lets her dreams magically come to her.

Oh, and thank you for all the birthday wishes! The fireworks in Seattle were incredible.