When I get asked what my favourite Disney classic is, I always struggle to answer. "The Little Mermaid", I say. "Oh no no, The Lion King" I continue. "Oh but wait, Alladin!" and the list goes on.. I still struggle with the answer even years after watching them over and over again as a child.
I decided to use the lockdown period to re-watch all my favourite classics and travel back in time. There is nothing more heartwarming than a movie night snuggled up on the sofa singing along to Disney classics. So here you go, a list of classics to watch over again.
1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The first animated Disney feature film ever. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs tells the story of a lovely princess exiled by her evil stepmother to the woods. She meets a band of archetyped miners who invite her to live in their home. These are the seven dwarfs, all have their unique querks reflective of their names. The first ever animated movie features wicked forces, poisoned fruits, and true love’s kisses. All this gave Mr. Disney a lot of praise and criticism back in the day. But, hey, it was 1937, and outdated happily ever after or not, this superb animated feat is a cornerstone picture for Disney.
2. Cinderella
Oh how I wish I had a glass slipper I can leave behind for a handsome prince to find. No matter how many decades or feminist values we put between ourselves and the fairytales full of ancient ideologies, we can’t help remain under the spell of of Cinderella. The bibbidi-bobbidi-boo enchantment of Disney is an animated masterpiece. Did you know that Cinderella was a three-time Oscar nominee in 1950?
3. The Little Mermaid
She wants be where the people are and live in our world. But what wouldn't we do to be a mermaid and live under the sea? Disney music writing duo Alan Menkin and Howard Ashman have their Academy statues for their work for this movie. The underwater fairy tale features an unapologetic, rebellious mermaid named Ariel. Ariel not only has the most beautiful singing voice, but also is willing to trade it for a pair of legs is an all time favourite. She trades her Mermaid life we all watch with envy to walk on land with the prince she’s loved from below sea level. Conflict comes courtesy of Ursula, an evil sea witch who imprisons merfolk in a polyps garden, and who has cast a spell we still remember today. One of my favourites of all times. And yes, I still want to be a mermaid. Not to mention, her best friends Flounder and Sebastien are the coolest best friends ever!
4. Mary Poppins
When will she ever walk through our door and snap her fingers and make everything better? Mary Poppins beats every queen, king, princess, and Prince Charming in Disney’s magical kingdom. She can fly, make spells, and dance with cartoon penguins. And all without the kiss of true love for once! A timeless classic about an enchanting nanny adored by critics and fans alike. Starring Julie Andrews in an inimitable performance and excellent soundtrack to sing along. I liked today's remake with the incredible Emily Blunt, but nothing beats flying a kite with Julie Andrews.
5. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Can you even imagine if this would really happen? This Disney movie that forever changed the way view our backyard. Rick Moranis is a wacky inventor patriarch who builds an electromagnetic shrinking machine. This machine zaps his two kids and their neighbor friends into little ant sizes, then tosses them out back with the garbage by mistake. Almost a dramatic comedy, the movie features the kids battle beetles, lawnmowers, and other booby traps whilst trying to make it home. I remember loving this movie but also being slighly terrified about being shrunk!
6. Mulan
She's not the classic Disney princess. She's empowering. In fact, Mulan isn’t even a Princess at all. Inspired by a Chinese legend,she begins her journey as a young woman seeking purpose. She disguises herself as a man and replaces her weak father in war, and leaves as a fearless warrior who leads to victory. It’s an inspiring story with a lucky cricket, spunky pocket-sized dragon. The song, “Reflection” made an absolute hit back in the day and is one of my all time favourites. I was also super impressed by the re-make live action version of Mulan.
7. The Lion King
What better way is there it end off than the mention of the old time classic of the Lion King? As I type, the opening song from the soundtrack rings in my ears. You know the one I'm talking about. Often referred to as a Shakespearean tragedy served by a cartoon lion and his warthog and meerkat buddies. Voiced by vocal duo Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Matthew Broderick, Simba comes of age and kinghood in the African Pride Lands. He finds out that his Uncle Scar killed his father to have the proverbial throne. A two-time Oscar winner for its original music and score, the film still has The Best opening sequence of any Disney film. It was so good that the remake was a bit of a disappointment for me.
8. Beauty and the Beast
The 1992 Best Picture nominee making it onto my list. This animated musical features the story of Belle, a village girl living with her father with bigger dreams than her village life. Focusing on the relationship between the Beast - a prince who was transformed into a monster and his servants into household objects as punishment for his arrogance. He imprisons Belle into his castle whilst she goes looking for her missing father. A tale as old as time, it still gives me goosebumps watching the Beauty and the Beast fall in love with each other. Also, did you know that Beauty and the Beast premiered as an unfinished film at the New York Film Festival on September 29, 1991? WOW
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