Disney Month III- The Nightmare Before Christmas

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Starring: Chris Sarandon, Danny Elfman, Catherine O'Hara
Directed by: Henry Selick


Plot Summary: In a forest lies many trees that lead to worlds representing our holidays. In Halloween Town, the Pumpkin King Jack Skellington is tired of the same old routine in his world and is in search of something different. He stumbles upon the trees in the forest and finds his way into Christmas Town. Inspired by the new sights he has seen, Jack plans to convert his pals in Halloween Town so they can be in control of the next Christmas.


If you go into a Disney theme park, a Hot Topic, a Spencer's Gifts, or any high school hallway, chances are you'll see kids wearing merchandise advertising the film we'll be talking about today, The Nightmare Before Christmas. Produced by Tim Burton and implementing stop-motion animation, the film brilliantly blurs the line of what makes a great Halloween movie AND a great Christmas movie. The film has obviously been a hit over the years and is considered one of the great iconic films to come from Disney. Considering that it's also relatively short, it's an easy film to get through. Yet, it's one that makes you think. The question I'm always left asking is whether I consider it a Halloween film or a Christmas film. I've even gone down the middle and considered it a Thanksgiving film, but that's not really accurate here. Is it possible for the film to be perfectly both? Or is there a holiday in the film that has more going for it than the other? Let's find out by comparing the inclusions of Christmas and Halloween in our characters, themes, music, and animation to determine if there's a true winner.

The main character of The Nightmare Before Christmas is Jack Skellington, voiced by Chris Sarandon. Jack's a very fun character because he's looked at as a town hero and icon, yet he's bored with everything Halloween. The thing he excels at has become mundane and he's looking for a change. When he finds Christmas Town, he's absolutely captivated by it, thus giving him the inspiration to try something new. We've all been there, so he's definitely a character you can get behind. Whether or not the endeavors work out is one thing, but it's the relatable quality in wanting more that was all over Disney movies during the Renaissance, so it's very welcome here. On an animation standpoint, he's just a great looking character design as well. He's visually memorable and you can see why they'd plaster his name and face on as much merchandise as possible. As I'm writing this, I'm wearing a Jack Skellington t-shirt. Need I say more?

The side characters are all a lot of fun too, each displaying a unique Halloween flavor. We've got vampires, ghosts, witches, werewolves, and a lot more. They are all fun for background stuff and blindly follow Jack into whatever he wants to do. But there are two additional characters I want to talk about. The first is the romantic interest Sally, voiced by Catherine O'Hara. Much like Jack, she's looking for more. However, unlike Jack, she knows exactly what it is (Jack and to be free from her creator). The other character is Oogie Boogie, voiced by Ken Page, the main villain of the movie. This is a fun and crazy villain with a Las Vegas gambler personality. Ironically, these are the two characters who really want nothing to do with Christmas. Sally continues to try and warn Jack that it won't be a success and Oogie Boogie actually plans on getting rid of Santa Claus permanently.

The music, composed by Danny Elfman (who also provides Jack's singing voice), is equally split from what I can tell. Sure, there's eerie tunes like "This is a Halloween," but there's also the charmingly whimsical "What's This?" Both are amazing songs, sung by fans throughout the entire year, covered by many modern rock groups from Marilyn Manson to Fall Out Boy. There isn't one that I say trumps the other, so that's a pretty good compliment. It's probably my favorite of Elfman's music, it's just so infectious.

The music also goes hand-in-hand with the stop-motion animation. The style both reflects the creepy creatures of Halloween Town and the melodious atmosphere of Christmas Town. While more time is spent in Halloween Town, Jack tries his best to bring the Christmas spirit with him, thus creating a grim blend of the two styles. You get all the charm of the Christmas holiday wrapped in a Gothic and horrific Halloween package. By the time Jack tries to go to the human world on Christmas Eve, he's assumed the role of Sandy Claws (get it?), has presents, flying reindeer, and the outfit. But something isn't right. It's just too reflective of one particular style.

Call me crazy, but I'm more prone to labeling this a Halloween film. The moral of the story is that Jack needed something a little different to remind him of what he excels at. It's not bad to want something different, in fact, it sometimes allows you to remember the good things you have, like it does for Jack. Plus, he gets that different thing he's looking for in Sally, so it ends on a happy note. It's an alternative holiday film. You can put it on at both Halloween and Christmas and it'll be appropriate. For me, there's so many Christmas specials out there that I wouldn't want this one to get lost in the shuffle. However, amidst the endless amounts of horror films and children's television specials, The Nightmare Before Christmas can easily stand out as one of the top choices the entire family can watch during the Halloween season.


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

For a 75 minute, stop-motion animated film, it's as perfect as you can get. The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of the top money makers for Disney over the last couple of decades and it's easy to see why. It's a simple premise wrapped in complex animation and ingenious imagery. It's one of those iconic will recommend adding it to your collection immediately and watch it over and over, from Halloween to Christmas.

The Nightmare Before Christmas and movie images are copyrighted by Walt Disney Pictures

Disney Month III- Hocus Pocus

Hocus Pocus (1993)
Starring: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimi
Directed by Kenny Ortega


Plot Summary: Winnie, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson are three sister witches that are bent on sucking the lives out of the children of Salem, Massachusetts in order to make themselves younger and more beautiful. After being hanged 300 years ago, they are accidentally resurrected on Halloween night when the new kid in town Max Dennison lights the Black Flame Candle. Now, Max, his sister Dani, his crush Allison, and a talking cat named Binx must stop the Sanderson sisters from sucking the lives of the children of Salem until sunrise, when the witches will turn into dust and be gone forever.


We're nearing my favorite time of the year again: Halloween. This year, I'm going to spend the month of October reviewing the sequels of my 3 favorite horror franchises. That can get a little daunting for some and even a bit one dimensional for some to read, so I thought I'd throw in some other Halloween themed movies at the end of my Disney month. Starting things off is one of my all-time favorite movies to watch around Halloween, Hocus Pocus. The film, while nothing groundbreaking, has struck a chord with the '90s Disney crowd and has become a staple of the season. I can honestly say I've seen the movie maybe 2 or 3 times every Halloween season ever since I was a child. So what is it about the movie that stands out for so many people that it's still considered one of the most beloved modern Halloween specials?

The answer is very simple actually. It's the Sanderson Sisters. Winnie, Sarah, and Mary, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimi. All of the sisters have different characteristics that make them differ. For example, Winnie is the brains of the operation (that's not saying much though), Mary is the the dumbest and often used for comic relief, and Sarah is the one who's boy crazy (that's the Disney way of saying slut right?). The performances really stand out here, as they are three very funny ladies who are having an absolute blast playing these bumbling sisters. They're the reason why you go to see the movie and the reason you keep coming back all these years later. They've become as big a Halloween figure for Disney as Jack Skellington (we'll get to him next time).

The human characters are fine, but again, they aren't why you're there. The only who is a little different in terms of what you normally get in movies like is Max, played by Omri Katz. Do you wanna know what that is? I'll tell you at the very end. But the other characters in his life are as generic as they come. His sister Dani, played by Thora Birch, is the generic child. Allison, played by Vinessa Shaw, is the generic love interest. We have generic parents, generic bullies, and generic extras running around the film. They aren't bad, but they're nothing we haven't seen before.

We do have some supernatural side characters though that stand out pretty well. The first is Thackery Binx, a former human turned talking cat voiced by Jason Marsen. After failing to save his sister 300 years ago, Binx vows revenge on the Sanderson Sisters by making sure that they don't succeed in sucking the lives out of the children a second time. He's actually pretty funny and it's always great to add the image of a black cat in a movie about witches. We also have a clumsy zombie named Billy Butcherson, played by Doug Jones. He's loads of fun thanks to his slapstick antics and his disdain for Winnie.

The production crew really knew how to capture the spirit of Halloween in this film. You've got scenes of the witch's roots in Salem 300 years ago, modern day trick-or-treating, black cats, zombies, tons of decorations and costumes. The whole film just looks great. I'm not surprised, since director Kenny Ortega worked with Disney to make Newsies, Descendants, and the High School Musical movies. All those films have a large scope and look to them, so it's no different here with Hocus Pocus. It's a great film visually to show the entire family about how fun Halloween can look. There may just be ONE thing wrong with it in order for you to maybe (big maybe) consider not showing to your kids. Remember when I was talking about Max earlier?

So, that thing about Max that makes him stand out is that he's a virgin. Normally, especially with Disney, it wouldn't be a bad idea to teach kids that there's nothing wrong with being a virgin. Yet, in Hocus Pocus, they go to an uncomfortable level to hammer in the idea that the entire reason our characters are in a mess is because Max is a virgin, which is then considered BAD. What the crap Disney? Talk about something that went over my head as a child. Why wasn't there some form of line or dialogue in which Max accepts that he's a virgin and acknowledges that there's nothing wrong with it. Would it have felt like an After School Special? Absolutely, but with how much they make it look and sound like a bad thing, I think it deserves some form of retribution. Heck, the virgin term is the punchline in one of the last lines in the movie. Why is Disney picking on virgins? Your main demographic is for family entertainment, so shouldn't you have that in mind when depicting a wholesome concept like virginity as a character FLAW? Moral of the film, Disney is mean to virgins. Thankfully, the rest of the movie is a lot of fun to watch that you can maybe look passed this massive flub up.


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Definitely campy but dripping with Halloween atmosphere, Hocus Pocus serves as some great Halloween entertainment for the whole family. If you're a Disney fanatic, add this to your collection in time for Halloween. If you're a casual moviegoer, feel free to check it out on cable. I'm sure it's bound to be on many channels during the season.

Hocus Pocus and movie images are copyrighted by Walt Disney Pictures

Disney Month III- The Princess and the Frog

The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Starring: Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, Keith David
Directed by: Ron Clements and John Musker


Plot Summary: In the heart of New Orleans, an aspiring young chef named Tiana is working day and night to raise the money to open her own restaurant. Her wealthy friend Lottie La Bouff hires her to cater a masquerade ball in honor of the arrival of Prince Naveen of Maldonia. While at the party, Tiana puts on one of Lottie's princess costumes and meets a talking frog, claiming to be Prince Naveen under a curse from the local shadow man Dr. Facilier. Based on the old fairy tales, Prince Naveen asks for a kiss from the "princess" to become human again. Because Tiana is not an actual princess, the kiss backfires and turns her into a frog instead. Now, escaping the party and finding themselves in the middle of a bayou, Tiana and Naveen must find a way to reverse Dr. Facilier's curse and become their regular selves before the transformation is made permanent.


After a long string of computer animated films in the mid-2000s, Disney finally decided to return to its roots by doing a classic fairy tale in a traditional hand-drawn animation style. The Princess and the Frog was a bold move for Disney to do at the time. Pixar was dominating at the box office and the Oscars, so Disney didn't necessarily HAVE to put forth any effort on their films (and boy does it show with some of their films). Yet, the film proved to be a critical and commercial success for the company. A lot of people expected this to be a resurgence of the classic style of Disney. Yet, it's been 6 years, and people are still talking more about Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph, Frozen (ugh), and Big Hero 6. Why have people forgotten The Princess and the Frog? It's still a very good movie. It has its own unique animation style, fun characters, catchy music, a great villain, and is honestly really hilarious. With computer animated films still proving to be more marketable than hand-drawn animation, should a film like The Princess and the Frog be tossed to the wayside?

Our "princess" for the film is Tiana, voiced by Anika Noni Rose. Tiana is the first African American princess in Disney history, and proof that it's a double-edged sword to create such a character. People complained for years that we didn't have one, so when Disney finally created one, they complained that she was nothing more than a stereotype. Why is this the prime example? Pocahontas and Mulan are Disney princesses that existed way before, but people don't bring them up as much. People suck. But let's not have her race be the selling point of her character traits. As a character, Tiana is a hard worker and a go-getter, so Tiana is a pretty good role model for little girls to aspire to no matter what race she is. Prince Naveen, voiced by Bruno Campos, is arrogant, but carefree. He's a very charismatic male lead and a lot of fun to be around. He often provides a lot of the best jokes in the film (more on that in a bit), which is probably because he spends most of the film as a frog, but we do see him grow as a person along the way, so that's always good to see.

The side characters add a lot to this strange journey. We have funny, if not a bit offensive, bayou critters like a trumpet playing alligator named Lewis and a Cajun firefly named Ray, voiced by Michael-Leon Wooley and Jim Cummings. They're fun characters and all, but they're not what we're here for. They're that extra garnish on this already hilarious and musical adventure. I actually thought the humans were the funnier side characters, like Big Daddy and Lottie La Bouff, voiced by John Goodman and Jennifer Cody. This father/daughter pairing do a great job of stealing the scenes they're in. They aren't even in the film a whole lot and I wish they were. Lottie is the real show stealer, but Big Daddy deserves some credit because of John Goodman. It's hard for me to NOT like a John Goodman performance.

The best character in The Princess in the Frog is the shadow man Dr. Facilier, voiced by Keith David. There are a number of parents out there that have claimed the movie is too dark and scary for their kids thanks to Dr. Facilier. Hello, THAT'S why he's the villain. I think he's fantastic. He deals in dark voodoo and works for a much higher power, but he's crafty with his words and has a shadow that is just as tricky as he is. He's certainly a Disney villain we haven't seen before, and you linger on every deal and scheme he tries to make. Plus, he does arguably one of the most diabolical things a villain has ever done in a Disney movie. It's just heartless, merciless, and cruel. But that's why he's such an effective villain.

One thing I noticed about the movie is that it's just straight up funny. With combinations of slapstick, pun gags, and punchlines, it's one of the hardest times I've laughed at a Disney animated movie in quite some time. I think the character that makes me laugh the most is definitely Naveen when he's a frog. The timing they give him seems like something out of an old Looney Tunes short, and I see nothing wrong with that when your goal is to entertain families.

In order for a Disney movie to stand out, the animation needs to reflect a unique style and The Princess and the Frog certainly has that thanks to its vibrant New Orleans flavor. Going from the daily life, to the style of a Mardi Gras party, to the swampy woods of the bayou, the film has a look and a sound that reflects New Orleans. Not everybody likes Randy Newman's music, but the guy seems to find his proper place in the Disney movies he has done. We have about 2 or 3 really good songs in the film ("Almost There," "Friends on the Other Side," and "Down in New Orleans"), but then the rest sound the same so it's kind of an "easy come, easy go" approach. But the majority of the looks and sounds in the film really work well for it and it's another important reason why this film cannot be passed over any longer.


Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

With great characters, loads of humor, catchy music, and a fun New Orleans party vibe, The Princess and the Frog is probably the most underrated Disney classic in quite some time. It doesn't deserve to be forgotten over other Disney films from the modern era and you and your family should check it out sometime soon. And all Disney lovers should definitely add this to their collection.

The Princess and the Frog and movie images are copyrighted by Walt Disney Pictures

Disney Month III- The Fox and the Hound

The Fox and the Hound (1981)
Starring: Mickey Rooney, Kurt Russell, Corey Feldman
Directed by: Ted Berman, Richard Rich, and Art Stevens


Plot Summary: A young red fox is left orphaned in the woods, so Big Mama the owl, Dinky the finch, and Boomer the woodpecker help get him noticed by the Widow Tweed on her farm. She finds the fox and names him Tod, since he reminds her of a toddler. Her hunter neighbor Amos Slade brings home a hound puppy named Copper and leaves him in the care of his hunting dog Chief. Tod and Copper meet each other and vow to be best friends forever. When Tod comes over to play one day, he is chased away by Chief and Slade, leading to a heated conversation between Slade and Tweed. Slade leaves for a long hunting trip, taking Chief and Copper with him. Despite their claims of being best friends forever, everyone around Tod tries to warn him that Copper may be different when he returns from the trip. If Slade and Chief train Copper to be a proper hunting dog, he may return to find that his best friend is now his prey.


I was never the biggest fan of The Fox and the Hound growing up because I was a kid and I thought the film was really boring. A story about a fox and a hound being the best of friends never seemed to appeal to me. Give me films like Aladdin and Hercules any day. Those movies had action and stuff for boys. RAH! I've grown up a lot since then, but you can't blame a kid for having that mindset at such an early age. I didn't care about princess movies either and a lot of those are my favorite Disney movies nowadays. Moral of the story is that all Disney movies deserve a second chance throughout a lifetime. You never know when your opinion about them can change. And after re-watching The Fox and the Hound, I can say my opinion on them has definitely changed. For starters, it's definitely a lot more adult than I remembered, having scenes that are very emotional, very tense, and very traumatizing for both children and adults. Yet, it's wrapped up in a cutesy Disney package thanks to our two main characters. But there is a lot more than what's on the surface, so let's look at the pros and cons of the Disney film for BFF's everywhere.

Let's look at The Fox and the Hound by looking at the young versions of Tod and Copper, voiced by Keith Mitchell and Corey Feldman. First thing, they're absolutely adorable and innocent characters. That already makes them likable. That being said, this is the portion of the movie that I found boring just because they don't really do anything. Also, they have like 2 sentences together and then they declare themselves best friends forever. I know kids do that, but this is the central point of the movie. Shouldn't there be a little more for them to do other than just saying their names and calling themselves BFF's? They should at least have some form of adventure that causes them to bond. And no, I don't mean joining a band like they did in the direct to Disney DVD midquel.

When they're older, they're a lot more interesting. Tod is voiced by Mickey Rooney and must cope with life in the wilderness without his friends. He's a fish out of water (so to speak) and you can't help but feel bad for him. Copper's voiced by Kurt Russell (yes, THAT Kurt Russell) and is now the top hunting dog in his household, so he's the one that's most compromised by their age. He's been trained to hunt and kill prey like Tod, yet he tries to keep his friend safe. It's only through an act of revenge that causes Copper to actually become a bit of a villain during the climax. Though, naturally he turns around for the sake of friendship.

The side characters that are really compelling in the film are Tod and Cpper's human owners. Tod's owner is Widow Tweed, voiced Jeanette Nolan, and Copper's owner is Amos Slade, voiced by Jack Albertson. Their bickering is actually really funny to watch. Slade's older hunting dog Chief, voiced by Pat Buttram, is also a great character, as he looks after Copper to help him learn the ropes of becoming a true hunting dog. Big Mama the owl, voiced by Pearl Bailey, is also a great character, as she does her best to watch out for Tod throughout the film.

The only real side characters that don't work are Dinky and Boomer, voiced by Dick Bakalyan and Paul Winchell. They don't really offer much other than chasing a caterpillar, which has nothing to do with the main plot, so I don't really care about it.

The thing that really made the movie work for me this time around was just how adult it seemed. There is a lot to deal with that might slip your mind when you're thinking of showing this film off to your kids. Besides the fact that it's heavily implied that Tod's mother was killed by hunters and that Slade attempts on more than one occasion to shoot Tod, we have arguably one of the saddest moments in Disney history. Kids may not find it too sad, because they may not understand why it's sad yet, but I've heard that many parents (particularly mothers) have related to the scene where Widow Tweed has to release Tod into the woods for his safety. It's a subtle and powerful scene, but its beauty is in the sadness it produces. And to think this all came from The Fox and the Hound, a movie I thought was too boring as a kid. Go figure.


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

The positives of The Fox and the Hound definitely outweigh the negatives. The cute characters, surprisingly adult themes, and one of the most heart wrenching moments in Disney history definitely make this a film worth checking out at least once. It's a harmless movie about the importance of friendship, and who couldn't use a movie like that in their lifetime, right?

The Fox and the Hound and movie images are copyrighted by Walt Disney Pictures

Disney Month III- The Great Mouse Detective

The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
Starring: Barrie Ingham, Vincent Price, Val Bettin
Directed by: Ron Clements, Burny Mattinson, Dave Michener, and John Musker


Plot Summary: When mouse toymaker Hiram Flaversham is kidnapped by a mysterious bat, his young daughter Olivia seeks out the help of Basil of Baker Street, the Great Mouse Detective. Accompanied by Olivia and his new associate Dr. David Q. Dawson, Basil discovers that the kidnapping has been performed by his arch nemesis Professor Ratigan. After Ratigan kidnaps Olivia, it is up to Basil and Dawson to rescue the girl, her father, and figure out Ratigan's plan so they can put a stop to it.


When I think of my favorite Disney movies from my childhood, The Great Mouse Detective always seems to find its way in the discussion. Why? It's not regarded as one of the most successful or groundbreaking movies that Disney has ever produced, so why did it speak to me so much? I think it boils down to the premise. I enjoy mysteries and detective stories like Sherlock Holmes, which The Great Mouse Detective draws a serious amount of inspiration from, so I think that's what really did it for me when I was a kid. As an adult watching it, I actually find a bit more appreciation towards the voice cast and main characters, to the point that I would question whether or not The Great Mouse Detective is a forgotten classic just short of the Disney Renaissance.

The main character is Basil of Baker Street, voiced by Barrie Ingham. Basil is a fun and eccentric character to follow, as well as being a brilliant detective and thinker. He prefers to do things on his own, so he's very annoyed when he has to rely on others to solve the film's mystery. He's also down on his luck when we meet him in the movie, so we want him to succeed even more. Just like Sherlock Holmes, it's always entertaining to see Basil come to a conclusion and explain his thought process and analysis. Also, Basil isn't a drug addict like Holmes, so we get all of Holmes's positive traits in the form of a great mouse detective (get it?) in Basil.

Everyone loves a good villain, and The Great Mouse Detective has a great one in the form of Professor Ratigan, voiced by Vincent Price. Ratigan is one of those wonderfully over the top villains, drawing inspiration from classic James Bond and Sherlock Holmes villains. Everything from his song, to his traps, to his henchman boost a reputation that is both hilarious and intimidating to watch. I give a lot of the credit to Price, one of the best character actors of his generation, for giving Ratigan his deliciously menacing voice and mannerisms.

I have a handful of side characters that I really enjoy in the film. Dr. David Q. Dawson, voiced by Val Bettin, is your typical Watson-type character. He's the sidekick that is constantly amazed by how brilliant the main detective is. Ratigan's bat henchman (henchbat?) Fidget is voiced by Candy Candido. He's a lot of fun thanks to his voice and slapstick humor. Frank Welker voices Basil's dog Toby and Ratigan's cat Felicia. Olivia Flaversham is voiced by Susanne Pollatschek and her father Hiram is voiced by Alan Young (who you probably know as the voice of Scrooge McDuck). All of these characters a ton of fun to watch as they interact with Basil and Ratigan. They aren't why you're watching the film, but they make the experience that much more enjoyable.

As a fan of mysteries, I get a kick out of the amount of references there are to detective and spy movies. The spy movie stuff is in the traps that Ratigan has for Basil and Dawson, looking like something out of a classic James Bond movie. The story and characters are definitely derived from Sherlock Holmes stories, right down to Basil living underneath the house of Sherlock Holmes. We even see a scene where a silhouette of Holmes having a conversation with Watson and he is voiced by a recording of Basil Rathbone from back in the '60s. I really enjoy little touches like that, making this film a small part of the universe that belongs to the world's greatest fictitious detective.

So again, is The Great Mouse Detective a forgotten Disney classic? It has a wonderful musical number, memorable characters, and a mysterious plot, so I would say that it most certainly is. At a time when Disney was about to enter their Renaissance, I think this film could've done better financially and could've held its own with the rest of the Disney films from the era. It has a unique and engaging premise of a detective mystery presented with the Disney formula and in a cute, marketable manner that would've been appealing to families. Still, it was enough of a success to give Disney the confidence needed to go forward with The Little Mermaid, thus creating the Disney Renaissance, so the film definitely deserves a lot more credit than it's been given since its release.


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

If you enjoy mysteries and detective films, then The Great Mouse Detective is a film worth checking out for the entire family. It's got great characters, highlighted by a truly memorable villain performance, and is a Disney film that certainly deserves a boost in popularity.

The Great Mouse Detective and movie images are copyrighted by Walt Disney Pictures

Disney Month III- Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Starring: Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Sterling Holloway
Directed by: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske


Plot Summary: On a bright summer day, young Alice follows a talking White Rabbit down a rabbit hole to a mysterious and peculiar world called Wonderland. She encounters strange creatures and places where nothing makes sense to her. She eats food that either makes her grow or shrink, is told the fascinating tale of "The Walrus and the Carpenter," and attends a tea party celebrating many Merry Unbirthdays. After spending time in Wonderland, Alice wishes to return home but has lost her way. She is led to the kingdom of the Queen of Hearts and must find a way to get home before the Queen can have Alice beheaded.


So there I was, lying on my couch sick with a stuffy nose and sore throat. I figured while I have DayQuil in my system that I should go on a movie trip by watching Alice in Wonderland. By the time the movie was over, I felt a lot better. Coincidence? Probably. But I won't deny that the film definitely made me forget about how cruddy my body was feeling. It's a classic Disney movie that is absolutely fun to watch and has some of the best visuals and characters that they've ever done. I'm sure the modern audience is more familiar with the Tim Burton remake (shudders) and the impending sequel we having coming (double shudders), so let's take the time to look at the first time that Disney adapted the classic Lewis Carroll for the big screen.

Alice is voiced by Kathryn Beaumont, and the only purpose she serves is being a window for the viewer in Wonderland. Everything around her is much more interesting and vibrant, so I doubt many would say Alice is the most interesting part of the movie. She's not a bad character, but she's not what we're here for. We're here for all the kooky and off the wall characters that she comes across.

The most memorable encounter Alice has is a tea party hosted by the Mad Hatter and the March Hare, voiced by Ed Wynn and Jerry Colonna. Their antics are the highlight and you have a blast with these guys. They introduce the concept of the Unbirthday, the most optimistic viewpoint of the 364 days in the year that are NOT your birthday, they obsess over tea, and they constantly annoy Alice. A lot of what they do that makes me laugh are the visual gags, usually with how they pour the tea, and the Mad Hatter gets a lot of the best lines between the two, and has a very memorable voice thanks to Ed Wynn. When I popped the film in, THIS was the scene I was looking forward to watching the most and it's thanks to these two.

The Queen of Hearts, voiced by Verna Felton, is a great character design and everyone knows her well enough to associate her with the phrase "off with their heads." That being said, I wish she would've popped up a little sooner in the film. The film, while very episodic and segmented, should at least give a scene or throwaway line early into the film to introduce the viewer to the villain. Minor gripe though, as when we do meet her, she is a lot of fun as a power-hungry, yet incompetent ruler.

We've also got so many great side characters in the film, which I'll go through my favorites very quickly. The White Rabbit, voiced by Bill Thompson, is a fun character thanks to his look and his constant proclamations of being late for a very important date. I will say that he comes off as a bit absent-minded, but he's harmless and enjoyable. The Cheshire Cat, voiced by Sterling Holloway, is great just because of how much he loves to mess with Alice. And I really enjoy the scene with the Caterpillar, voiced by Richard Haydn, thanks to the visual gags and how he talks. His inflections and the use of smoke to create shapes and letters is just so memorable, that I always get a kick out of it and talk like the Caterpillar for a while afterwards.

All of these characters make up the strange and amazing world of Wonderland, and that's where the film makes its greatest mark on film history. Alice in Wonderland has so many great and memorable characters that are held together in this bizarre world, and it makes sense in a way that it is absolutely not supposed to make sense at all. Where else could you see this collection of abnormal characters and have it work? It's bright and colorful, but never tries to be overly happy and cheerful. It just tries to be weird, and I'm good with this kind of weird.


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

For what it is, I really enjoy Alice in Wonderland. The characters and the environment that she encounters is absolutely mesmerizing and it gives us one of the greatest worlds in Disney history. I definitely recommend all moviegoers following the rabbit hole on this film at least once, and all major Disney fans should add this to your collection for your next Merry Unbirthday present.

Alice in Wonderland and movie images are copyrighted by Walt Disney Pictures

Disney Month III- Fantasia 2000

Fantasia 2000 (2000)
Starring: Steve Martin, James Earl Jones, Bette Midler
Directed by: Don Hahn, Pixote Hunt, Hendel Butoy, Eric Goldberg, James Algar, Francis Glebas, Paul Brizzi, and Gaëtan Brizzi


Plot Summary: 60 years after the success of the original 1940 masterpiece, Disney invites you to another brilliant blend of beautiful animation and classical music thanks to conductor James Levine and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In this film, you will see Disney's version of Noah's Ark starring Donald Duck, a family of humpback whales flying through the skies, a flamingo distracting his flock with his impressive yo-yo skills, abstract butterflies and so much more. The film is also a celebration of the success Fantasia has had over the decades, as many celebrities pay tribute to the classic film, while also taking the time to show the film's most important short, The Sorcerer's Apprentice starring Mickey Mouse, to a whole new generation of viewers.


It was the first day of the new millennium when Disney unveiled the first ever animated film to be released in IMAX, Fantasia 2000. In an attempt to return to a vision Walt Disney originally had following the first Fantasia, the film shows Disney animated shorts set to classical orchestra music. The film's success should be a no brainer, yet people seem to look passed this film in favor of the original masterpiece from 1940. What's the problem with it? The music is good. The animation is good. It's full of celebrity cameos...oh. In a creative decision that probably hurt the film in the long run, Fantasia 2000 decided to provide entertaining shorts for all ages, but spliced the final results with heavily scripted celebrity bits that I'm not even sure the little kids would find funny. That being said, are there some Disney shorts worth checking out in Fantasia 2000? Let's find out.

The film opens with Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, which tells the story of some abstract butterflies. It's a suitable opener that warms the audience up for what's to come. The next short is Pines of Rome, where a family of humpback whales are flying through the air. Trust me, it looks nicer than how it sounds. The use of CGI is also very noticeable in this film, which I'm not sure is good or bad, but it definitely hasn't aged the best over the last 15 years.

We then get to my favorite part of the film, Rhapsody in Blue, which takes the great jazzy sound of George Gershwin with the caricature animation style of Al Hirschfeld and sets it all in 1930s New York City. Then comes Piano Concerto No. 2, Allegro, Opus 112 to tell Hans Christian Andersen's "The Steadfast Tin Soldier." This one's pretty good as well, telling an easy to follow love story that involves overcoming numerous obstacles and challenges in the name of love. It's done in a way that works so well, I'd say it rivals full-length animated films from Disney, and this one doesn't even need any dialogue. This is the short in the film I wish more people would talk about and is the sleeper hit of the spectacle, in my opinion.

We then get to one of my favorite segments of the film, a short but sweet clip of a flamingo and a yo-yo set to The Carnival of the Animals. It's simple, but effective on comedy. Then, they show the classic Sorcerer's Apprentice short from the first Fantasia film. It's always great to see the short and Mickey Mouse pop up in a movie like this, but I can't help but wonder what new clip could've been in its place instead. There was talk during the film of a Flight of the Valkyries segment that was scrapped. How cool would that have been to see?

We then cut to the Noah's Ark segment set to Pomp and Circumstance starring Donald Duck. While a fine enough short, I can't help but feel like most viewers would think of graduation (or some might think of Macho Man Randy Savage) when they hear the music instead of Donald Duck and Noah's Ark. We then close with a beautiful version of Firebird Suite that tells the tale of a Firebird that awakens and destroys a forest, which is later restored by a Sprite and an elk. This is a fascinating piece to close it on, and the animation is a unique choice as well, almost looking like it has an anime inspiration behind it.

The only major complaint anyone seems to have for the movie are with the celebrity cameos, usually citing it as the moment when the film was official selling out. The original film seemed like it was for all ages, almost going as far as being more for adults than kids, and Fantasia 2000 goes the root of having cheap comedic laughs, crowd pandering, and congratulating the film's success before the film is actually over. I don't mind Steve Martin, James Earl Jones, or Bette Midler, but they really don't seem like they want to be there to begin with. We have a few cameos that are actually music based like Quincy Jones, Itzhak Perlman, and James Levine, but it overall doesn't work very well. If they would've just let it be about the music and the animation, then we probably could've had something really spectacular that actually reflected the original Fantasia concept.


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Fantasia 2000 is a fine enough film. It just lacks the spark that the original film had. Not many of the new shorts are as memorable and the celebrity cameos feel a very cheap and obvious ploy to get some mainstream buzz attached to the film. If you're a music lover, you'll probably enjoy seeing this film once in your life.

Fantasia 2000 and movie images are copyrighted by Walt Disney Pictures

Disney Month III- Atlantis: The Lost Empire

Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
Starring: Michael J. Fox, James Garner, Dom Novello
Directed by: Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise


Plot Summary: Cartographer and linguist Milo Thatch has been desperately trying to get an expedition team to recover The Shepard's Journal so he can discover the lost city of Atlantis. With his proposal rejected by the museum he works at, Milo returns home to find that he has been summoned by Preston Whitmore, a wealthy colleague of Milo's grandfather, who has found the journal and recruits Milo to join the expedition team and decipher the journal. Milo boards the Ulysses and meets some of the top specialists hired for the mission, until the ship is attacked by the legendary Leviathan. Milo and his crew travel through an underground cavern described in the journal and find Atlantis. Milo befriends the Princess of Atlantis Kida, as they work together to try and rediscover the roots of the lost city. However, when plans change with the expedition, Milo must figure out a way to save the city he has spent his entire life trying to find.


Call it a need to fit similar themes to my previous reviews, but watching Pocahontas really made me feel like the obvious follow up would be Atlantis: The Lost Empire. I guess it's something to do with visiting strange and foreign lands, villains motivated by greed, and side characters that are way more interesting than the two leads. However, Atlantis certainly tried to be more centered for adults by including a bunch of high-explosive action scenes, in a sort of an Indiana Jones meets Journey to the Center of the Earth type of film all wrapped up in the Disney brand of animation. That sounds like a fantastic idea, yet the film wasn't as big a success as the studio would have liked, to the point where they scrapped an eventual TV series that would take place after the events of the film. So, let's look see what went wrong with a Disney film that actually had a lot of promise in its concept.

Our main hero is the brainy Milo Thatch. He's nerdy, awkward, and voiced by Michael J. Fox. That's really all I need to be invested in Milo, but I wish there was more. Granted, he becomes more brave as the film progresses, but a lot of what he's doing you've seen before from other smart characters in movies and TV, so it's nothing new here. And come on, would it have killed them to have Michael J. Fox say something that Doc Brown would say? How awesome would that be? Talk about a fun homage.

The strongest point in the film is actually in the side characters. They're just so enjoyable and the ones that stand out the most actually get a lot of development, back story, and actually serve a purpose to the mission. Fan favorites include Mole and Vinny, voiced by Corey Burton and Dom Novello, thanks to the amount of humor they bring, but my personal favorite is Dr. Joshua Sweet, voiced by Phil Morris. From the get go, he's just a good character. He's charming, funny, has a strong knowledge of medicine, and is one of the first crew members to truly befriend Milo on the expedition. These characters really made me wish the film was a success so we could get the TV show. I would have definitely watched the show just to see them on a weekly basis.

But now, we get to the bad characters. Really, it's only the villains. I don't even need to say who they are. Watch the film and I'll bet you can spot the villain reveal a mile away. It's painfully obvious and their motivations are even more so, so that really drags down the film to an eye-rolling level.

When they get to Atlantis, they meet Kida, voiced by Cree Summers, and the Atlantean culture. This is where the film gets interesting. The animation and depiction of the culture has a very unique and engaging look to it, but then the film goes in a story direction that is a bit confusing to follow. The most famous scene from the film strongly enforces this claim, as Kida walks into a light, rises from the ground, and becomes the power source for Atlantis. I think? I'm not sure, all I know is that it looks amazing, but is very strange to follow.

With the great side characters, interesting animation style, and action sequences, it's hard to see that Atlantis: The Lost Empire wasn't a major success. You'd imagine it would, but really think about it. An action-packed, science-fiction movie...from DISNEY. There lies the issue. It tries to be a bit more serious than your usual Disney movie and accomplishes that in many ways, but then creeps back to your traditional, child-friendly formula that most Disney movies are known for. If it had been a bit more adventurous and risky in its approach, it would've reached that bigger picture potential and really could've been groundbreaking stuff for the house of mouse to put out in the new millennium. Instead, we have a lather, rinse, repeat film from Disney that would probably push you in the direction of other, more memorable animated films.


Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Atlantis: The Lost Empire is a tough nut to crack. While it can be very formulaic in its story and many of the themes (especially the motives of the villains), it does excel in many other aspects like the side characters, the action scenes, and the animation style of the Atlantean culture. If you're looking for a fun family adventure with memorable characters, this is a suitable candidate to check out via Netflix or Redbox.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire and movie images are copyrighted by Walt Disney Pictures

Disney Month III- Pocahontas

Pocahontas (1995)
Starring: Irene Bedard, Mel Gibson, David Ogden Stiers
Directed by: Mike Gabriel and Eric Goldberg


Plot Summary: In 1607, a group of British settlers of the Virginia Company set sail for the New World. Leading the crew is Governor Ratcliffe, who is using this quest as a means to discover gold and secure a strong position at the British court. When they get to the New World, Captain John Smith separates from the group in order to explore the land. During this time, he meets a member of the Powhatan tribe, Pocahontas. Pocahontas is the chief's daughter and carries a free spirit and deep appreciation for all things in nature. Smith and Pocahontas develop a strong bond with each other, despite their different backgrounds, and want to be together regardless of the prejudices that both of their groups think of the other.


The Disney Renaissance was a great boom period for the animation studio, but with many classics comes that one film that falls just short of the rest in terms of success and quality. For Marvel, it's Iron Man 2. For The Godfather, it's Part III. And for Disney movies in the '90s, it's clearly Pocahontas that ranks as the weakest entry. Granted, even a weak film can hopefully have a few redeeming qualities so it's not absolute garbage, and Pocahontas certainly has a few enjoyable aspects. But there's no large factor that ties the film together as a whole. The main characters are lacking, the themes seem a bit too adult for a family film, and the depiction of Native American culture in the film treads that fine line between what's authentic and what's offensive.

The heart of the film is supposed to lie in the hands of Pocahontas and John Smith, voiced by Irene Bedard and Mel Gibson. Pocahontas and John Smith, however, are a pretty lackluster romance in the grand scheme of Disney films. As individual characters, Pocahontas is a "free spirit," that translates more as reckless and naive, and John Smith is noble and heroic, but comes off more as boring. They just aren't that interesting to watch. They are the civil side of a war erupting between the British settlers and the Powhatan tribe, and yet, they (mainly Pocahontas) are usually the ones responsible for all the conflict. And we're supposed to root for these morons?

Surprisingly, the characters I actually cared about the most were the three main animal characters. Pocahontas has two sidekicks, Meeko and Flit, a raccoon and hummingbird voiced by John Kassir and Frank Welker. Both are very humorous and entertaining, but it's Meeko that steals the show. His expressions and comedic timing are fantastic, especially in his scenes with Percy, a spoiled dog voiced by Danny Mann. They're brand of slapstick was definitely a highlight in the film. Of course, they aren't the focus of the movie, so they aren't the most compelling and thought provoking characters in Disney history, but they provide enough levity to gain a number of chuckles.

Probably the biggest criticism in the film is the historically inaccurate and questionably racist depiction of the British settlers and the Powhatan tribe. This is one of those films that is so immersed in the Native American culture, that if it wasn't considered accurate, then it's going to offend the Native American demographics, as well as any demographics that would behave as sympathizers for the Native American culture. Because of this, the film, which is supposed to be marketed towards families, have themes, lines, scenes, and even song lyrics that appear racist. I'm sure it's historically accurate based on the time period, but you can CLEARLY see what went wrong here with this decision.

Pocahontas is the type of film where every negative has a positive. The negatives, obviously, include the boring human characters, the generic plot, the historical inaccuracies, and the questionable tones and themes that Disney would market to children and families concerning the settlers and natives. However, the biggest positives for the film are in the forms of the music and animation. The animation is spectacular thanks to the look of the landscapes and uses of earthy colors, and the music is particularly catchy thanks to the return of composer Alan Menken. Combine the animation and music, and you can have great scenes like for "Colors of the Wind" and "Savages." However, you then get to the questionable lyrics that tread the line of what's offensive and almost laughable to include in a film like this for families, proving that these positives for the eyes and ears try their best to mask the negatives, but they can only do so temporarily.

I'm pretty content on calling Pocahontas the sore thumb of the Disney Renaissance. What do I mean by that? Look at every criticism I've made towards the film, then take into account that it had to follow Renaissance classics like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King, followed by the fact that it preceded films like The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Mulan, and Tarzan. It doesn't measure up to the rest of the Renaissance films by comparison. Even more fascinating is that Disney had high hopes for the film, anticipating a Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards. Something was clearly lost in translation by the time the film was released, and while the film was by no mains a failure, it was easy to see that it lacked that spark from the previous Disney films in the '90s.


Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Pocahontas has a handful of positives going for it in the animation, songs, and the animal characters, but is lacking in that big, intangible element that ties the film together. For me, it's the lowest point for the Disney Renaissance in terms of quality and I can only recommend it for the most diehard of Disney moviegoers.

Pocahontas and movie images are copyrighted by Walt Disney Pictures

Disney Month III- Aladdin

Aladdin (1992)

Starring: Scott Weinger, Linda Larkin, Robin Williams 

Directed by: Ron Clements and John Musker

Plot Summary: In Agrabah, a street rat named Aladdin and his pet monkey Abu are selected to go inside the Cave of Wonders to retrieve a magical lamp for an old man that is actually Jafar, the Sultan's Grand Vizier, in disguise. The cave is sealed off with Aladdin and Abu inside and they rub the lamp, unleashing the Genie inside. Aladdin has three wishes, the last of which he promises to use to give Genie his freedom. Before returning to Agrabah, Aladdin wishes to become Prince Ali Ababwa, so he can lawfully court Princess Jasmine, whom he and Abu met earlier in the marketplace. Jasmine is not the only one suspicious of Prince Ali's true identity, as Jafar makes it his mission to find the lamp and get three wishes so he can become the Sultan and rid himself of Aladdin forever.

As I've shown before in the past, I have a great love and appreciation for Disney movies. How can you not? It's a rite of passage for anyone to grow up with that one Disney memory, so I've done my best to share my feelings on the best of the best in my 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die series. However, I think most of the Disney animated films are to be enjoyed in one's lifetime, so there are many missing from the list in my opinion. So, every couple of months, I'm going to go through a variety of classic and modern Disney animated films (theatrical releases only) to see what measures up as the absolute best representations of the world's most famous animated studios. I'll also throw in some Pixar movies every once in a while, since they were a big part of Disney's success when they weren't churning out the greatest films in the early 2000s. For me, there's no better place to start than Aladdin. It's one of my all-time favorite Disney movies, has spectacular music, memorable characters, and a story that is full of action, comedy, and romance. 

In a tale of heroics and romance, we have our titular character Aladdin, voiced by Scott Weinger, and his love interest Princess Jasmine, voiced by Linda Larkin. Their love story is one that I'm sure many moviegoers are used to seeing: they come from different worlds (well, social statuses to be specific). It's the same type of love story you see in Titanic, just not drawn out for 3 hours. It's predictable, but enjoyable. Even greater is to see how these two act on their own. Aladdin is both charming and sly in his schemes and Jasmine has an empowering quality to her that is refreshing to see in a Disney princess. You don't exactly see many of the classic princesses professing how much they want to wait for the right man to come along so they can CHOOSE who they want to spend the rest of their lives with. Granted, it's completely inaccurate with the time period and culture for her to even receive attention for a thought like that, but hey they were dealing with a modern audience so the needs of the offended outweighs the needs of the historical. As for Aladdin, he's essentially Disney's animated version of Indiana Jones, able to talk or fight his way out of any situation. The two make for a compelling couple and it's easy to see how people can fall in love with their story and root for them all these years later.

However, heroes are only as good as their villains, and Aladdin has a great villain in Jafar, voiced by Jonathan Freeman. Not only is he a great villain in his look, but specifically in his voice. Jafar has a calm, menacing voice and with his hypnotic cane can have anyone do his bidding. I also love all the animation opportunities that they give Jafar, from his classic look, to his old man disguise, to looks as a venomous snake and an all-powerful genie. You can tell the animators had fun with Jafar. He's also accompanied by an annoyingly hilarious parrot Iago, voiced by the annoyingly hilarious Gilbert Gottfried. These two are great together and make a villain and henchman combination that you absolutely love to hate.

Iago is also a great reminder of all the great supporting characters in Aladdin. There's one in particular we'll get to at the very end (you already know who that'll be), so let's start with some of Aladdin's best allies. We have his pet monkey Abu, voiced by the great Frank Welker, and a silent magic carpet. Both these characters offer their unique form of humor and remain faithful and loyal to Aladdin throughout the film. What more could you want in sidekicks? For Jasmine, she has a similar situation with her father the Sultan, voiced by Douglas Seale, and her pet tiger Rajah. All of these characters stay in the background for the most part, but they're still impressionable and remain crucial to the Aladdin folklore in the film.

Aladdin also has one of the most enjoyable soundtracks in Disney history thanks to Alan Menkin, Tim Rice, and Howard Ashman (who passed away during early production on the film). This film gave us such catchy tunes as "Arabian Nights," "One Jump Ahead," and "Prince Ali." But of course, the film is also responsible for two of the most classic Disney songs in history, "Friend Like Me," and "A Whole New World." Do I need to say anything else? All 5 of these songs are memorable and remain stuck in the minds of the viewers forever. Believe me, you'll have at least one of these stuck in your head after you've finished reading.

Lastly, I want to go ahead and talk about the biggest legacy that was left behind in Aladdin, and that's the Genie, voiced by Robin Williams. Genie is the absolute show-stealer of the film and has gone on to be one of Disney's most beloved characters thanks to the amount of humor and heart that Williams brought in his performance. With tons of wisecracks and modern pop culture references, it's easy to see why people have loved the Genie for over 20 years. Sadly, the world lost a tremendous talent last year with the death of Robin Williams. The man was one of the funniest entertainers of his generation and his legacy will live on forever in the iconic roles he played and the laughter he brought to the world. Thank you Robin.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

While not everyone would argue that it's the best Disney movie, Aladdin is still usually brought up in everyone's top 10 and it's easy to see why. It has a little something for everyone, ranging from the music, to the comedy, to the romance, to the action. It's a fun adventure that played a very key role in the early years of the Disney Renaissance, so it could definitely be considered one of the greatest animated films in modern history. With an upcoming re-release on DVD and Blu-ray set to hit stores in October, take advantage of the opportunity to add this Disney classic to your collection.

Aladdin and movie images are copyrighted by Walt Disney Pictures