Ralph and Paperman

I picked up a blu-ray copy of Disney's Wreck-It-Ralph at the local Wal-Mart a week or so ago. I wanted to see it in the theaters when it came out last November but never got around to it (often, the story of my life). Anyway, most everyone gave the movie high marks and enjoyed it. When I saw the 3D trailers last year, it looked like a fantastic idea for a movie where various characters from some classic vintage (and modern) video games come together for laughs, fun, and adventure. And certainly Wreck-It-Ralph is entertaining enough. The problem is the movie just quite didn't live up to some lofty expectations I had for it. 

The movie is fun, told a good story, but really didn't stick me with me in any memorable way. And while Disney Animation did a fine job with rendering the film in CGI, it doesn't quite equal Disney's own Pixar Animation Studios quality. You can see that Pixar, given their pedigree, puts a little more color and polish (and money) into their animated films.

Liked Ralph, didn't love it. Should have rented it.

Disney's short animated film Paperman, which brought Disney its first Academy Award for an animated short film in decades this year, is included with the Wreck-It-Ralph blu-ray package. Paperman is worth the price of a Ralph purchase even if it is only about 5 minutes long or so. Disney as a company started with Walt animating short cartoons. It is where the company began and Paperman would make someone like Walt Disney proud. Paperman isn't a kids cartoon like Mickey, or Donald, or Goofy. Paperman is adult elegance in animation, telling its simple love story through drawing rather than words. Add a terrific music score and it is easy to see why Paperman got its Oscar. Let's just hope Disney continues to fund these efforts in animation and recaptures some its glorious past.

The Devaluing of Pluto

Pluto, the planet, was discovered in 1930 and was considered the 9th planet of the solar system from 1930 until 2006. In 2006, Pluto was re-evaluated by scientists and astronomers and since it did meet all the requirements for planetary status was reclassified as a dwarf planet.

Pluto, the dog, is Mickey Mouse's pet dog. Pluto, the dog, is considered one of Disneyland's "Fab Five", the 5 main cartoon characters created by Walt Disney himself. As part of the Mount Rushmore of Disney's cartoon characters which also Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck, and Goofy, Pluto, the dog, has achieved lofty status in Disney echelon. Other than being Mickey's dog, I'm not sure why Pluto fits in with this group. The dog, other than being cute and lovable, does nothing as far as I can tell.

You can understand the status of Mickey and Minnie even if their relationship through the years makes no sense at all. Mickey and Minnie are the real king and queen of Disney characters. "Fab Five?" You bet. You can understand Donald Duck, a classic character, whose ill tempter makes him one step away from a full on expletive laden tirade. Fab Five material?" Sure. Goofy.... well he's everyone's uncle Dave, the well meaning relatative who tries hard but is basically.....an idiot. "Fab Five?" He's funny, absolutely. But Pluto? Pretty darn useless if you ask me.

I don't know a lick about the history of Walt Disney animated characters. Maybe there is something about Pluto that makes Fab Five worthy. I haven't seen it yet. Maybe the status of Pluto, the dog, needs to be re-evaluated and devalued like Pluto the planet was a few years ago. If you want to be at the top, you have to earn your way there. It can't be just handed to you just because you're cute and like to be scratched behind the ears....

Then again. What do I know?

Disney's Wreck-It Ralph Trailer

I can't say I look forward to the release of too many animated feature films. Maybe I did when Toy Story 3 came out. I certainly look forward to the next release of the Despicable Me Minion's movie but that still is over a year away I think. But I do look forward to the release of Disney's Wreck-It Ralph set to come out November 2 if I'm not mistaken. Ever since I saw the trailer below with the previews shown before The Avengers, a mental note has been made to see Wreck-It Ralph in the theaters, in 3D, and maybe even IMAX if that is available. This looks like a lot of fun as Disney Animation takes a big step to make a movie Pixar probably should have made instead of their last two. Ralph has all the makings of being a major hit for Disney.

Why I'm Not A Fan Of The Lion King - Sorry

As mentioned in my What's New In Disney News - Vol 2 post a couple of weeks ago, Disney's animated classic The Lion King is having something of a rebirth.  Now remastered in 3D, Disney re-released the 17 year old film in theaters for what was supposed to be a two week limited engagement before the new 3D version hits retail stores with all the special packaging sometime here in October.  Well that limited engagement has been 3 weeks now as The Lion King remains on top, or close to the top of the weekly box office reports.  My post a few weeks back ended with "Three cheers for The Lion King" as I can only tip my hat to the magic of Disney taking down all comers with a 17 year old movie.

But....

I am not a big fan of The Lion King.  You can admire its brilliant animation qualities, its triumphant story line, its wonderful musical score, and I certainly do but for me, The Lion King possesses one key element that I find horribly unsettling and is present in many Disney animated features going back to the time of Walt Disney. And that is the need to tragically, and often quite sadly, kill off a featured character.  Does death belong in an animated movie that is primarily targeted for children?  I come up on the 'No' side of that argument and I find the Mufasa death scene absolutely heartbreaking in a movie I really want to enjoy.  The Circle of Life doesn't always trump death.

And for the life of me, I cannot explain why Disney imagineers would want to include the Mufasa death scene in World of Color.  It almost seems like an over the top grab at an audience's emotional heart strings rather than letting a story naturally play out.  For me, this almost cheap grasping at sentimintality keeps the show from being all it could be.  Three cheers for The Lion King but in the theaters or buying the new version in the store, I'll pass.

The Main St. Cinema

Do any regular Disneyland park visitors actually go into the Main St. Cinema? I'm thinking not many. Vintage black and white Disney cartoons playing on six 'screens' simultaneously, it's not the most exciting to in the park to check out. Kids will wonder where's the color. Most will think "these are old".  I've seen people walk in and about 5 seconds later, walk out. Too bad. This is history. This is where it all began. Now I don't go into the Main St. Cinema on every one of my trips but every couple of years or so, I'll go in and spend a few minutes with a Mickey that most people don't remember. Attractions like this is what makes Disneyland special, remembering its history and reflecting on the past.