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Every now and then, a film comes along that transcends its genre, reshaping the cinematic landscape and becoming something of a cultural phenomenon. Steven Spielberg’s Jaws is one such movie.

Released in 1975, this thriller didn’t just win audiences over; it reinvented the concept of the summer blockbuster. But its influence didn’t stop there. Jaws secured a rare spot in the hearts of filmmakers worldwide, including one of the most celebrated animators of all time, Hayao Miyazaki.

A scene from Jaws | Credits: Universal Pictures

From the pulse-pounding score that sticks to your bones to the ever-tightening noose of suspense, Jaws was a cultural earthquake, setting the stage for the blockbuster era that would follow. And then there’s that shark. It didn’t just swim into our screens—it sunk its teeth into the very heart of Hollywood, leaving a legacy that continues to send ripples through the industry.

Disney Animation Studios is widely regarded as the powerhouse of all animated studios, and the animated Disney movies ranked showcase how and why the studio is totally unrivaled in the world of animation. While the conglomerate also owns Pixar - yet another studio that's the gold standard of animation Disney has amassed dozens of classics over a century. Though other studios outside of ones owned by Disney have had their successes too, Disney has consistently stayed at the top of the game ever since the studio's first feature animated film release, Snow White, in 1937.

Although Disney has had some not-so-great releases (and some box office bombs), the House of Mouse has mostly nailed the art of creating box office smash hits - particularly in recent years. Disney also has a very strong company brand and has been a major part of people's childhoods for generations, with movies like Snow White...

In J.M. Barrie's original 1904 play "Peter and Wendy," the fairy Tinker Bell was typically represented by a powerful spotlamp, reflected onto the stage by a small hand mirror. Her dialogue was a series of small jingle bells, shaken offstage. When Barrie adapted his play into a 1911 novel, Tinker Bell remained mute, although she was able to participate in the action more closely. In the first film adaptation of Barrie's work, Herbert Brenson's 1924 film "Peter Pan," Tinker Bell was a light dangled by a string in long shots but actor Virginia Browne Faire in close-ups, either filmed against outside sets or composited into the frame.

In 1953, directors Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi, and Wilfred Jackson brought Pan to life in the celebrated animated film "Peter Pan," released by the Walt Disney Company. In that film, Tinker Bell was also mute, but could be animated as a miniature person in most of her scenes,...

VHS has mostly faded from movie culture, but the best-selling VHS tapes of all time are still beloved classics. Tapes were once the standard for home viewing before being made obsolete by the inception of DVD, before this was also overshadowed by streaming and digital purchase options. However, several titles considered to be among the best movies of all time once sold astounding numbers of VHS tapes.

There is an obvious preference for Disney among high-selling VHS tapes, perhaps reflecting parents turning to some of the best animated Disney movies to entertain their children at home. The titles that managed to compete with the Disney classics in this regard are hugely famous movies, which sold due to a specific combination of popularity and marketability. All these movies call back to a different phase of cinematic history, as they were the best movies coming out at that time.

This list is corroborated by multiple sources,...

Most Disney villains are afflicted by some kind of comeuppance at the end of the story, yet a rare few mysteriously escape all punishment. I grew up watching a lot of Disney movies, and the standard formula is that the universe will conspire to strike down a villain if the heroes are too pure to kill them. In softer circumstances, they will go to prison for their crimes. The best Disney villains are remembered for their dramatic, unapologetic villainy, which would make it almost satisfying to see them go free.

However, these fan-favorite Disney villains also tend to be the ones killed in a dramatic final battle, while more understated characters get away with it. The most evil Disney villain plans are essential parts of their stories, but the implication is that people will be punished for truly evil acts. The best endings of Disney and Pixar movies understand what...

While the “Nine Old Men” are well-documented and justly praised as the legendary animators of the Disney classics overseen by Walt — “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937) through “The Jungle Book” (1967) — it’s gone unnoticed how the directors made their mark on these movies. That changes with the release of “Directing at Disney: The Original Directors of Walt’s Animated Films” by Disney historian Don Peri and Pete Docter, Pixar’s chief creative officer and Oscar-winning director of “Soul,” “Inside Out,” and “Up.”

Peri and Docter, who spent more than a decade on the book, reveal for the first time the organizational structure for directing at Disney and how the role of the director progressed. Peri, who had a fundamental understanding of how films were made at Disney, spent years at the Walt Disney Animation Research Library, combining interviews, documentation, and a diary into a methodology of the directors’ roles...

Animated movies have a long history of dominating the box office, with only a few holding the record for highest-grossing animated movie. Disney, Pixar, and DreamWorks have contributed the most to the history of animated movies at the box office. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Aladdin, The Lion King, Finding Nemo, Shrek 2, Toy Story 3, Frozen, Frozen 2, and Inside Out 2 have each been the highest-grossing animated movie of all time for various amounts of time.

Animated movies have a long history of dominating at the box office, but only a handful of them have ever held the record for being the highest-grossing animated movie. The history of animated movies goes back to the late 1800s, but box office data, in general, did not start to become available until the early 1920s. Over the decades, the genre has grown in popularity as innovative and original stories are routinely made in animation,...

Disney movies feature iconic final battles between heroes and villains, where the villains often outclass their opponents. Clever attack plans and visual appeal play a key role in determining the impact of final battle scenes. Some battles showcase smart tricks over sheer strength, or feature emotionally charged confrontations.

Disney movies often introduce clear heroes and villains, who face off against each other in the amazing final battles. The best Disney villains command more power and flair than most of their heroic counterparts, who rise to the challenge in their movies' final acts to combat the villain both physically and ideologically. Some of the best final battles in Disney movies are direct results of the most evil Disney villain plans, and are especially emotionally charged because of the heroes' desire for revenge.

However, there are a rare few Disney movies where the lines between good and evil are not as clear,...

Disney villains vary in intelligence and evilness, with some having more intricate plans than others. Villains often target familial love and aim for more power in their plans, leveraging the weaknesses of heroes to achieve their goals. Despite their evil intentions, Disney villains are usually defeated by heroes in a way that guarantees a happy ending.

Not all Disney villains are the same some are certainly more intelligent and carry out more evil plans. Disney villain plans range from exaggerated villainy that isn't meant to be taken that seriously to darker storylines that tap into tragic real-world events and dangers. However, because it is a Disney movie, the heroes are usually never faced with a villain they are not equipped to handle. A happy ending is almost a guarantee, while the villain will either wallow in defeat or be killed.

Some Disney villains are just as beloved as the heroes...

This piece was originally published in November 2019. It has been updated since and is most current as of June 12, 2024.

“Song of the South” remains the most controversial film in the history of Walt Disney motion pictures, live action or animated. But you’ll never see directors Harve Foster (handling the live action) and Wilfred Jackson’s (behind the animation) 1946 Uncle Remus adaptation on the Disney+ streaming service even as the company continues to roll out its vast library of legacy titles on the home-viewing platform. And not even with a disclaimer. Disney CEO Bob Iger made that clear back in 2020, even before the dated racial politics of classic movies returned heavily to discussion around the Black Lives Matter movement’s impact on entertainment later that year.

Set in a Reconstruction-era American south just as the Civil War has concluded and slavery has ended, “Song of the South” is most famous...

Rats aren't just grim symbols - they star in heartwarming family adventures like Cinderella's helpful mice and Stuart Little. Even other critters get screen time - Chip n Dale, a hit pair! Their meta buddy comedy is both funny and adorable. Rats are diverse on screen - from Splinter in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Flushed Away's adventure, there's a rodent movie for everyone!

Rats have a bigger cinematic presence than many people might have expected, based on the number of fantastic movies about rats (and mice). Given that rats (and most rodents) are seen as harbingers of disease and filth, it would be easy to assume that they would show up only as symbols of squalor, and yet, many of the best rats (and mice) on the big screen show up in kids movies. Only a few of the best rat movies show them as dirty or villainous.

Snow White's sly request that the birds keep a secret reveals her charm and kindness in her first scene. Cinderella defies her stepmother cleverly by revealing she has the other slipper. Aurora's dreamy quote highlights her innocence and unique charm in the classic era.

Every Disney Princess on the Disney companys official line has a distinct personality and at least a few good quotes that capture her entire character. Over time, Disney Princesses have evolved from being static damsels whose main character traits are niceness and romanticism to fully formed characters capable of winning any fight. However, even Snow White and Cinderella have some clever quotes that endear them to audiences.

With even more upcoming live-action remakes at Disney, producers and writers must consider what certain Disney Princesses core traits are and how they can be adapted. Some of their most famous quotes might even make it into the new movie ad verbatim.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs set the precedent for feature-length animated movies, changing the entertainment. Fantasia marked a shift in Disney's storytelling and animation with an experimental structure. Akira, The Little Mermaid, and Toy Story all changed animation industry standards.

Certain animated movies irrevocably changed the animation industry, whether through technological innovation or radical new storytelling. Animation as it is known today began with a series of illustrations that, when flipped through fast enough, mimicked movement. This concept evolved into short cartoons and movies, before revolutionary filmmakers shocked and dazzled audiences with new mediums of animation. Stop-motion and 3D computer creations are among the recent animated movies that push animation forward.

The advent of 3D animation is responsible for most animated movies today, but other animated movies changed film simply by achieving an unprecedented level of success. Movies like these brought animation into mainstream pop culture to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages.

A pirate expert reveals that the scene of Captain Hook capturing the Lost Boys in Peter Pan is accurate because pirates often took prisoners in the hopes of adding them to their own crews. The scene of Wendy walking the plank is not accurate. Captain Hook remains one of the most memorable Disney villains, but he's arguably loses out to Cruella de Vil in terms of pure treachery.

Peter Pan features one details that's actually quite accurate, a pirate expert reveals. Released in 1953, Peter Pan remains one of the most beloved animated Disney films to this day. The film, which was directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske, follows the titular character as he brings Wendy and her brothers to Neverland where they face off against the formidable Captain Hook.

During a recent video for Insider, pirate historian Rebecca Simon breaks down select scenes from Peter Pan and...

It's a testament to Disney's branding that mainstream audiences don't necessarily know who directed or starred in some of their better-known movies. Although many have seen the studio's 1950 animated feature "Cinderella," most audiences wouldn't be able to tell you that Ilene Woods played the title character, or that Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, and Clyde Geronimi directed the film. Disney's "Aladdin" changed that with the casting of Robin Williams as the Genie. And the trend of hiring known screen celebrities, often not voice actors, to sell an animated feature to a broad audience went to a whole other level in the wake of DreamWorks' "Shrek." The advent of the internet also helped certain actresses become known among Disney fans. Nowadays, many adults know the names of the actresses who played characters like Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, or Ariel the Mermaid.

By Disney's own selection, there are thirteen "official" Disney Princesses: Snow White,...

Cinderella was Walt Disney's favorite princess, resonating deeply with him. Cinderella saved Walt Disney Productions, reviving its financial health post-1947. Cinderella inspired future Disney princess films, embodying themes of love and hope.

Walt Disney oversaw the production of various animated movies that became classics, but only one has his favorite character and his favorite animated scene. Walt Disney earned a place in history thanks to the founding of Walt Disney Productions and his achievements in animation through it, beginning in 1937 with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This fairy tale movie was the first animated feature film produced in the United States and the first cel animated feature film, and it set the tone for subsequent animated movies at Walt Disney Productions, especially those starring female characters.

Since then, Walt Disney Pictures has made a variety of movies that cover animation, live-action, and a mix of both, and which address all types of topics,...

Some perceive Peter Pan as evil, with a theory suggesting he murders his Lost Boys. The narrative paints Captain Hook in a more sympathetic light as Peter Pan's former friend turned resistive enemy. Disney embraced the evil Peter Pan theory in their ripoff-centered movie Chip 'n' Dale: Rescue Rangers.

One particularly dark Peter Pan theory asks, "is Peter Pan evil?" suggesting that the beloved Disney character may be a murderous villain. Peter Pan has been delighting Disney fans for generations since its initial release in 1953 and the story—originally written by J.M. Barrie—has been adapted numerous times. In practically every incarnation, Peter Pan is the hero of the story, and the recognized villain is almost always Peter's sworn enemy, the feared pirate Captain Hook. The story of Disney's Peter Pan is more child-friendly than Barrie's original story, but the general premise remains the same.

A popular theory...

Disney princesses are often based on centuries-old fairy tales and other sources. Some Disney princess movies, like Snow White and Cinderella, are based on dark and violent stories, but Disney's versions are more colorful and romanticized. Each Disney princess has unique origins, such as Snow White being based on a German fairy tale, Ariel coming from a Danish story, and Moana drawing inspiration from various Polynesian folk tales.

Although Disney princesses have had a huge impact on Western culture, many of them borrow from centuries-old fairy tales and other sources. There are 13 canonical Disney princesses. Asha, the princess from Wish, is likely to join this exclusive club, but Disney will include princesses if their movies are commercially successful enough, and they don't start their own franchises. This is most likely why Elsa and Anna from Frozen are excluded. Of the 13 canonical Disney princesses, 10 are based on characters from fairy tales,...

Disney movies blend positive messages with compelling storytelling, leaving behind lessons for young viewers to ponder. Disney films promote inclusivity, diversity, and the strength of friendship, family, and imagination. These movies impart valuable life lessons without compromising on entertainment, solidifying Disney's enduring legacy as a storyteller with a purpose.

Great Disney movies that had obvious messages prove that the entertainment company has always produced films aimed at making a positive impact. Despite what some audiences or even the company's own executives might think, Disney's hallmark lies in seamlessly blending positive messaging with compelling storytelling. Indeed, most Disney films come with a clear-cut family-friendly message, as leaving behind lessons for young viewers to ponder is part and parcel of the brand.

From Disney movies with surprisingly adult messages to ones with more straightforward lessons for children, Walt Disney Pictures' films commonly emphasize crucial social values. Even in Disney's earliest years, its films have promoted inclusivity,...

A new 4K restored version of the 1937 animated feature "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", originally directed by Perce Pearce, William Cottrell, Larry Morey, Wilfred Jackson and Ben Sharpsteen, noted as the first full-length cel animated movie, streams October 16, 2023 on Disney+:

"... jealous of the beauty of 'Snow White', an evil queen orders the murder of her innocent stepdaughter.

"She later discovers that Snow White is still alive and hiding in a cottage with seven friendly little miners. 

"Disguising herself as a witchy hag, the queen brings a poisoned apple to Snow White, who falls into a death-like sleep that can be broken only by a kiss from a prince..."

Click the images to enlarge...

When Disney finds a trend that makes money, the company will more or less run it into the ground. If the Marvel Cinematic Universe is doing well, it will continue to churn out feature films and TV miniseries until the market is oversaturated. If "Pirates of the Caribbean" is successful, it will try out all the sequels, "Lone Rangers," and "John Carters" they can to emulate the same success. Over the last several years, Disney has struck gold with a series of big-budget remakes of its well-worn animated classics. "Aladdin," "The Lion King," "Beauty and the Beast," "The Little Mermaid," "Dumbo," and multiple others have been remade to the enthusiasm of audiences and to the indifference of critics.

Due for release on March 22, 2024 is Marc Webb's "Snow White," a live-action remake of the 1937 film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," originally directed by David Hand, Perce Pearce, William Cottrell,...

One can almost set their watch to film adaptations of J.M. Barrie's celebrated 1904 play "Peter and Wendy." 

The story of the flying elf boy from Neverland and his friendship with a human girl from Earth was such a massive success and left such a strong cultural impact, that sequels and cross-media adaptations began cropping up only a few years after its debut. Barrie himself would turn the play into a novel in 1911, but that wasn't before he had already written two Peter Pan sequels in 1906 and 1908. The first filmed version of "Peter Pan" would be made by Herbert Brenon in 1924.

Perhaps the best-known adaptation, however, came to cinemas in 1953 when Walt Disney Studios released their animated version directed by Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi, and Wilfred Jackson. The iconography from the Disney "Peter Pan" remains entrenched most firmly in the pop consciousness, and it continues to be one of the...

Festival to also honour French cinematographer Caroline Champetier with honorary Berlinale Camera.

The Berlinale has added the world premiere of documentary Love To Love You, Donna Summer and a tribute to a century of Disney animation to its upcoming 73rd edition.

The additions complete the lineup for the Berlinale Special sidebar at the festival, set to run February 16-26.

Love To Love You, Donna Summer is co-directed by Roger Ross Williams, Oscar nominated in 2016 for Life, Animated, and US actress Brooklyn Sudano, who is the daughter of Summer and makes her directorial debut with the film.

The documentary will explore...

U2 documentary ‘Kiss The Future’ added to Berlinale Special; further Generation titles revealed.

The Berlinale has completed the Panorama section for its 2023 edition with a raft of world premieres including UK thriller Femme, starring George MacKay and Candyman star Nathan Stewart-Jarrett.

The festival, which is set to run from February 16-26, has also revealed fresh titles selected for its Generation competition and the addition of U2 documentary Kiss The Future as a Berlinale Special screening.

The Panorama strand will comprise 35 films from 30 countries, including 28 world premieres and 11 debuts. Having previously announced several titles, the festival revealed that animated feature The...

The Berlin Film Festival’s youth-focused sidebar Generation 14plus is set to open with “When Will It Be Again Like It Never Was Before,” the anticipated next film of Sonja Heiss and und Zeevonk von Domien Huyghe.

Based on Joachim Meyerhoff’s eponymous novel, “When Will It Be Again Like It Never Was Before” tells the comedic and moving story of a childhood and youth spent on the grounds of a psychiatric clinic.

Meanwhile, Domien Huyghe’s moving film “Sea Sparkle” will kick off the Generation Kplus competition. The film follows 12-year-old Lena who relentlessly battles with the tides of her grief after the death of her father, which she blames on a sea monster.

The Generation selection pans 25 feature-length and 31 short films, including 40 world premieres. The Berlinale team said this year’s lineup will invite audiences on an “exploration of young perceptions of the world.”

“The films in this...

At last count, Disney Animation Studios has canonized 61 of their features. The central "Disney Canon" refers to an ill-defined section of the studio's animated feature output that, as far as one might surmise, serves as examples of the studio's preferred "house style." The Disney Animated Canon includes several animation styles and media, of course, but the 61 films in question are considered to be "official." Canonized Disney films cannot be co-productions, they must be pointedly toyetic, and are typically not auteur-driven. One might not be able to, for instance, recall the directors of "Cinderella" (1950) off the top of their head. Their names, incidentally, are Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske. The trio also directed Disney's animated films "Lady and the Tramp," "Peter Pan," and "Alice in Wonderland."

For Disney, though, the company is the auteur, and weird, smaller projects tend to be excluded from the Disney Canon. "A Goofy Movie,...

By 1937, the Walt Disney animation studio had already established itself as a power player in the medium. The studio had already won five Academy Awards for its short films — "Flowers and Trees" in '31/'32, "The Three Little Pigs" in '32/'33, "The Tortoise and the Hare" in '33/'34, "The Orphan Kittens" in 1935, and "The Country Cousins" in 1936 — and was about to release its very first feature-length animated film, a coup in terms of the studio's creative output. In the spirit of their higher-profile nursery-rhyme-inspired shorts, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," directed by David Hand, with sequences directed by William Cottrell, Wilfred Jackson,...

The post The Nsfw Inspiration Behind Snow White's Lost Soup Sequence appeared first on /Film.

Song of the South is an animated/live-action hybrid film from Walt Disney Pictures directed by Harve Foster and Wilfred Jackson which follows an innocent young boy from Atlanta named Johnny (Bobby Driscoll) who moves with his mother to his grandmother’s plantation where he learns a series of life lessons from Uncle Remus (James Baskett) in […]

The post Disney’s Controversial ‘Song of the South’ is the Subject of ‘You Must Remember This’ Podcast’s New Season appeared first on /Film.

After five years of combining animated short subjects, and a combo live-action/animation feature, Disney dove into full feature animation fantasy again with the most basic of Fairy Tales. Just because he learned to create animation for a price doesn’t mean that the quality slacked off — the wondrous design and animation is augmented by terrific songs. Yes, half the picture is about cute mice and birds and other critters … which are done so well, the show is worth seeing multiple times. This handsome Signature Collection release follows earlier Diamond and Platinum releases … and don’t ask me to decode that classification system.

Cinderella

Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Code

Walt Disney

1950 / Color / 1:37 Academy / 75 min. / The Signature Collection / Street Date June 25, 2019 / 39.99

Voice Actors: Ilene Woods, Eleanor Audley, Lucille Bliss, Rhoda Williams, Verna Felton.

Songs: Mack David, Al Hoffman, Jerry Livingston

Directing Animators: Les Clark, Marc Davis, Norm Ferguson, Ollie Johnston, Milt Kahl,...

I’d love to know the backstory behind the news today that Warner Bros. Animation Group is going to be making a Speedy Gonzales film. Warner Bros. has been much better about embracing their animation legacy than Disney has because they’ve never hidden from their own past. One of the smartest things Warner has done when releasing collections of their older animation is including cartoons that have uncomfortable racial or sexual material, pointing out that they are the product of their time rather than pretending they never happened. It bothers me that Disney is willing to continually exploit the characters from Song Of The South at the Splash Mountain attraction and in merchandising, but they keep the film locked up in a way that only makes it seem more dangerous or offensive. Instead of putting together a release that would honor the work of James Baskett and the innovations...

Since 1989, the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress has been accomplishing the important task of preserving films that “represent important cultural, artistic and historic achievements in filmmaking.” From films way back in 1897 all the way up to 2004, they’ve now reached 675 films that celebrate our heritage and encapsulate our film history.

Today they’ve unveiled their 2015 list, which includes classics such as Douglas Sirk‘s melodrama Imitation of Life, Hal Ashby‘s Being There, and John Frankenheimer‘s Seconds. Perhaps the most popular picks, The Shawshank Redemption, Ghostbusters, Top Gun, and L.A. Confidential were also added. Check out the full list below.

Being There (1979)

Chance, a simple-minded gardener (Peter Sellers) whose only contact with the outside world is through television, becomes the toast of the town following a series of misunderstandings. Forced outside his protected environment by the death of his wealthy boss, Chance subsumes his late employer’s persona,...

"Fantasia" wasn't a huge hit when it was first released 75 years ago (on November 13, 1940).

Since then, however, over the course of multiple re-releases, the Disney feature has earned a reputation as a masterpiece for its blend of lushly recorded classical music and dazzling Technicolor animation. It eventually became a huge success in both theaters and on home video and spawned several sequels and spinoffs, not to mention parodies by other studios.

Still, as many times as you've enjoyed the ballet-dancing hippos or Mickey Mouse's botched attempt at using magic to shirk drudgery, there's a lot you may not know about "Fantasia." Read on, and watch out for those magic mushrooms.

1. The germ of the film began when Walt Disney bumped into legendary Philadelphia Orchestra conductor Leopold Stokowski (pictured) outside Chasen's restaurant in Hollywood. Disney told Stokowski of his idea to make one of his trademark "Silly Symphony" shorts out...

As we continue on, I need to once again clarify that if this list was “Joshua Gaul’s 50 Favorite Movie Musicals,” it’d be a quite a different list. But, if my tastes determined what is definitive, I’d be asking you all to consider Aladdin as a brilliant piece of filmmaking and wax nostalgic about my love for Batteries Not Included and Flight of the Navigator (not for the musicals list, of course). Much to my dismay, my tastes are not universal. I’d like to think my research methods are.

courtesy of themoviescene.co.uk

30. Annie (1982)

Directed by John Huston

Signature Song: “Tomorrow” (http://youtu.be/Yop62wQH498)

Originally a 1924 comic strip, the beloved stage musical about a red-haired orphan girl was brought to the big screen in 1982 and directed by John Huston (yes, that John Huston – director of The Maltese Falcon and The African Queen, not to...

Alice in Wonderland

Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske

Written by Winston Hibler, Ted Sears, Bill Peet, Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi, Milt Banta, Bill Cottrell, Dick Kelsey, Joe Grant, Dick Huemer, Del Connell, Tom Oreb, and John Waltridge

Starring Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Verna Felton

I should not pride myself in my ability to not be bored stiff by black-and-white movies, or by a supposedly stilted style of acting present in films from before the 1960s. There is a perception in the world, though, that audiences under the age of 30—I’m nearing the precipice of being on the opposite side of that line, but not yet—are, for the most part, unable to deal with older films or engage with them properly. On one hand, I bristle at the stereotype, not just because of my love for film of any age, but because I know from writing for this website,...

Continued from here...Cinderella (dir. Clyde Geronimi/Wilfred Jackson/Hamilton Luske, 1950 USA)Winner of Golden Bear for Best Musical at Berlin International Film Festival, Nominated for 3 Academy Awards, including Best Original Score Charles Webb, Contributing Writer:First, a brief bit of personal biography before I talk about why I found Cinderella to be a chore to sit through. Before she married my wonderful stepdad, as a single mother, my mom worked an almost obscene amount to keep us in a home and clothes, meaning that a Vcr wasn't a luxury we could afford during my formative years. It was only after my little brother was born when I was 17 that I saw any Disney animated films made before 1985 (that would be The Aristocats). It was maybe in...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Blu-ray Review

Peter Pan

Directed by: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske

Cast: Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont, Hans Conried

Running Time: 1 hr 16 mins

Rating: G

Due Out: February 5, 2013

Plot: Wendy and her brothers are whisked away to the magical world of Neverland with the hero of their stories, Peter Pan.

Who’S It For? Everyone knows the story of Peter Pan, but perhaps you haven’t seen it for a while. This review will clue you in if your child is ready.

Movie:

Since we all know the basic concept of the film, but are perhaps years (or decades) removed from seeing it, I’ve decided to do a running diary review of Peter Pan. I hope you enjoy.

“All of this happened before, and it will happen again.” That’s where we start, which I guess is referring to history repeating itself, but with other children, as opposed to...

Welcome to another weekly preview of upcoming Blu-Ray releases! In this week’s edition, Flight makes a good case for taking the train to your next vacation destination, Here Comes the Boom hits store shelves with a – well with a boom I guess, and a beloved family classic finally gets a Blu-Ray release.

Ready for this week’s Blu-Ray releases? Then read on.

Flight

Starring: Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly, Bruce Greenwood, and Melissa Leo.

Director: Robert Zemeckis

An American drama film from Academy Award-winning director Robert Zemeckis. It was well received by critics and was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Actor (for the film’s star Denzel Washington) and Best Original Screenplay.

Plot: An airline pilot saves a flight from crashing, but an investigation into the malfunction reveals something troubling.

My Thoughts: I haven’t watched it yet, but I’m looking forward to it.

On Tuesday (February 5), The Walt Disney Studios celebrates the 60th Anniversary release of Walt Disney’s classic, “Peter Pan,” as it soars to all-new heights – with a new digital restoration and high definition picture and sound – for the first time on Blu-ray™. The classic tale that taught us all “to believe” and first introduced us to the Darling children – Wendy, John and Michael – as they flew with Peter Pan and Tinker Bell past the second star to the right and straight on ‘till morning to the enchanted world of Never Land. Rediscover the magical adventure and relive childhood memories of this great bedtime story. In anticipation of the upcoming release of the 60th Anniversary Edition of Peter Pan, check out the slideshow featuring 1950s Live Action Reference photographs from Walt Disney Studio’s Vault!

The “Peter Pan” Diamond Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy & Storybook App) is a...

Saludos Amigos

Directed by Norman Ferguson, Wilfred Jackson, Jack Kinney, Hamilton Luske, William Roberts

Written by Homer Brightman, Bill Cottrell, Dick Huemer, Joe Grant, Harold Reeves, Ted Sears, Webb Smith, Roy Williams, Ralph Wright

Considering Saludos Amigos in comparison with its follow-up, The Three Caballeros, is akin to analyzing the pregame to the Super Bowl. (Our guest, Jeff Heimbuch, may disagree but will surely appreciate comparing these two movies to such a titanic worldwide event.) I’m often very vocal about not enjoying Disney’s release strategy for some of their lesser animated films—or, if you like, films they consider to be lesser even if the fans of those films are legion—specifically how they combine films in a Blu-ray combo pack. If you like Pocahontas and want it on Blu-ray, great! You’re cool if the film is packaged with its direct-to-dvd sequel, yeah? Well, you don’t have a choice,...

Blu-ray Release Date: Feb. 5, 2013

Price: Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo $39.99, Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo $44.99

Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

For its 60th anniversary, Disney’s movie adaptation of J.M. Barrie‘s classic children’s book adventure, Peter Pan, got a restoration for its high-definition Blu-ray debut.

The 1953 animated film tells the wonderful story about the Darling children — Wendy, John and Michael — who travel to Never Land with the boy who won’t grow up, Peter Pan. But in the fantasy land, they discover an ongoing war between the Lost Boys, Peter’s gang of runaways, and the evil pirate Captain Hook. But nothing can’t be fixed without some pixie dust from Tinker Bell.

The movie was directed by three men with plenty of classic animation pedigree: Lady and the Tramp‘s Clyde Geronimi, Cinderella‘s Wilfred Jackson and 101 Dalmatians‘ Hamilton Luske. And Peter Pan was executive produced by Walt Disney himself.

Over sixty years have passed since Disney’s Cinderella first screened to mass audiences. Yet, the film is as poignant today as it was over a half century ago.

The storybook tale of a young girl and her mice friends is filled with a heartfelt abundance of laughs and toe-tapping music. Whether you’re listening to a group of mice singing “The Work Song” or Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother casting magical enchantments to the tune of “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo”, it’s hard not to instantly fall in love with Cinderella’s soundtrack. The humor holds up surprisingly well. Watching Gus and Jaques (both voiced by James MacDonald) face off against Lady Tremaine’s cat Lucifer never gets old.

The new Diamond Blu-ray release features a crisp 1080p HD picture, presented in a 1:33:1 aspect ratio. The sound has been remastered to optimize all the music tracks. Listening to Ilene Woods, who voiced Cinderella,...

Fantasia

Directed by Samuel Armstrong; James Algar; Bill Roberts and Paul Satterfield; Ben Sharpsteen and David Hand; Hamilton Luske, Jim Handley, and Ford Beebe; T. Hee and Norm Ferguson; & Wilfred Jackson

Starring Deems Taylor

A few weeks ago, I read a great article by Drew McWeeny of HitFix wherein, while describing how his two children responded to one of the first and most important Disney live-action films, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, he posed this question: are Disney movies automatically “for kids”? This is, unfortunately, a very common criticism levied by people who either should know better or don’t educate themselves on the history of film, let alone Disney films. You know what criticism I mean: “Oh, that’s just for kids.” “It’s a kids’ movie. Who cares?” Sometimes, when I nitpick some aspect of a Disney film, whether it’s live-action or animated, I hear that complaint. Why...

Lady and the Tramp

Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske

Written by Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi, Ralph Wright, Don DaGradi

Starring Barbara Luddy, Larry Roberts, Verna Felton

Whether you’re a Disney nut like me, a film buff, an animation buff, or just interested in 20th-century Americana, you’d do well to read Neal Gabler’s biography of the late Walt Disney, called Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination. Though it’s an unauthorized work, Gabler had a high amount of access to the official Disney archives, so the book is well-sourced, detailed, and a compelling read. Gabler digs deep into Disney’s childhood, the tough times he had as an animator and businessman before creating Mickey Mouse, one of the truly seminal icons of American history, as well as the difficulties he faced and sometimes created once he became a household name. And yet, despite...

Check out clips from the Diamond Edition of Disney's Lady and the Tramp. Relive the classic animated romance and fall in love with Walt Disney's Beloved Lady And The Tramp - now unleashed in glorious high definition for the first time ever on Blu-ray! Experience like never before the thrilling adventures of Lady, a lovingly pampered cocker spaniel, and Tramp, a freewheeling mutt with a heart of gold. This heartwarming tale now charms a new generation of families and fans with its exquisite animation, unforgettable songs brilliantly restored with high definition sound, and all new bonus that reveals the extraordinary making of process behind one of the greatest love stories of all time. Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson and Hamilton Luske direct the film which features the voice talents of Peggy Lee, Barbara Luddy, Larry Roberts, Bill Thompson, Bil Baucom and Stan Freberg.

Check out clips from the Diamond Edition of Disney's Lady and the Tramp. Relive the classic animated romance and fall in love with Walt Disney's Beloved Lady And The Tramp - now unleashed in glorious high definition for the first time ever on Blu-ray! Experience like never before the thrilling adventures of Lady, a lovingly pampered cocker spaniel, and Tramp, a freewheeling mutt with a heart of gold. This heartwarming tale now charms a new generation of families and fans with its exquisite animation, unforgettable songs brilliantly restored with high definition sound, and all new bonus that reveals the extraordinary making of process behind one of the greatest love stories of all time. Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson and Hamilton Luske direct the film which features the voice talents of Peggy Lee, Barbara Luddy, Larry Roberts, Bill Thompson, Bil Baucom and Stan Freberg.

Check out clips from the Diamond Edition of Disney's Lady and the Tramp. Relive the classic animated romance and fall in love with Walt Disney's Beloved Lady And The Tramp - now unleashed in glorious high definition for the first time ever on Blu-ray! Experience like never before the thrilling adventures of Lady, a lovingly pampered cocker spaniel, and Tramp, a freewheeling mutt with a heart of gold. This heartwarming tale now charms a new generation of families and fans with its exquisite animation, unforgettable songs brilliantly restored with high definition sound, and all new bonus that reveals the extraordinary making of process behind one of the greatest love stories of all time. Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson and Hamilton Luske direct the film which features the voice talents of Peggy Lee, Barbara Luddy, Larry Roberts, Bill Thompson, Bil Baucom and Stan Freberg.

Disney To Release Two Amazing Classics From The Vault In 2012. Lady And The Tramp & Cinderella Both Films Will Soon Be Added To The Company.S Prestigous

Collection Of Blu-ray. Hi-def Diamond Edition Classics

The Walt Disney Studios proudly announces the addition of Lady And The Tramp and Cinderella to its coveted, cutting-edge Blu-ray. Diamond Collection line-up of animated classics. Released from the Disney vault for a limited time only, the lovingly pampered cocker spaniel and the mutt from across the tracks will unveil on February 7, 2012 and Cinderella.s clock will strike midnight in Fall 2012.

Disney.s Blu-ray Diamond Collection represents The Walt Disney Studios. most prestigious and treasured animated classics. Diamond Edition titles boast the highest level of picture and sound; feature groundbreaking, state-of-the-art immersive bonus content; and include unprecedented levels of interactivity, personalization and customization, made possible because of Blu-ray technology.

To date, the company has released four Diamond...

Two of Walt Disney's animated classics are emerging from the Disney Vault in 2012. Lady and the Tramp and Cinderella will both be available for purchase. Tramp will be available first on February 7, and Cinderella in Fall 2012.

Here is the official press release:

The Walt Disney Studios proudly announces the addition of Lady And The Tramp and Cinderella to its coveted, cutting-edge Blu-ray™ Diamond Collection line-up of animated classics. Released from the Disney vault for a limited time only, the lovingly pampered cocker spaniel and the mutt from across the tracks will unveil on February 7, 2012 and Cinderella’s clock will strike midnight in Fall 2012.

Disney’s Blu-ray Diamond Collection represents The Walt Disney Studios’ most prestigious and treasured animated classics. Diamond Edition titles boast the highest level of picture and sound; feature groundbreaking, state-of-the-art immersive bonus content; and include unprecedented levels of interactivity, personalization and customization, made possible because of Blu-ray technology.

Another bumper edition- I hereby pledge never to write several 2000 word reviews a week while neglecting this beautiful little column- with three weeks worth of viewing listed below.

An added element to the Film Diary this time around is the sub-challenge A Disney A Day, instigated at the behest of my girlfriend, who discovered that between us we now own every Disney home release- except the somewhat controversial Song of the South (which, despite featuring one of Disney’s most released soundtrack songs, is yet to see a DVD release)- and has decided that it would be a missed opportunity not to watch all of them as quickly as possible. Seems my spirit may have rubbed off there a little…

The count so far: 101 Films

Anyway, into three figures now, and catching up to the 1 film a day rate (though that’s slow for me). Read on, lovely Diary...

Voices By: Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Richard Haydn

Director: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson & Hamilton Luske

The Scoop: (1951) Last year's epic 3-D sequel version of "Alice in Wonderland" may hold the box office title, but for most people, the original animated classic from Walt Disney still holds a special place in their hearts.

Special Features: Picture-in-picture retrospective, deleted scenes, alternate music, archival footage, featurette, interactive game, trailer

Rated G, 75 min. | Watch the trailer...