Tag: film review

Reviews

The Happiest Millionaire (1967)

The Animation Commendation20 Comments

the happiest millionaire

(If this is your first time on this blog, I ask you to read my “About” page first! You can find a link to it at the top left-hand corner of this blog. Thanks!)

After Disney had HUGE success with “Mary Poppins”, they naturally looked for a way to recreate that success. This is where “The Happiest Millionaire” comes in.

Based on a non-musical play which was in turn based on a true story of an eccentric millionaire in early 1910s Philadelphia, this movie musical featured much of the same crew who worked on “Mary Poppins”. And sadly, this was also the last film that Walt Disney personally worked on as he died during its production in 1966. The film would be released to theaters in 1967.

And would the film be a hit? Umm….no.

bummer

The film didn’t do well at all, not even coming close to the unprecedented success of “Mary Poppins”. One factor that may have caused its downfall was its extremely long running time. The film was actually 172 minutes long, making it the longest live-action Disney film till date. Heck, it’s STILL the longest live-action Disney film ever!

"You mean there's actually a Disney movie longer than me?"
“You mean there’s actually a Disney movie longer than me?”

So, due to the failure of the film, it was later cut down to 164 minutes and even later cut down to 144 minutes!

But, we are lucky to be living in this era because the film in its entirety (all 172 minutes of that entirety) would be released on DVD in a special “Restored Roadshow Edition” of the movie. Yay, us!

yaySo the question arises, was the film actually “bad” or was it because the runtime was just too darn long? Well, let’s find out together! Ladies and gentlemen, this is “The Happiest Millionaire”. Continue reading “The Happiest Millionaire (1967)” →

Reviews

Mary Poppins (1964)

The Animation Commendation30 Comments

mary poppins(If this is your first time on this blog, I ask you to read my “About” page first! You can find a link to it at the top left-hand corner of this blog. Thanks!)

I can easily say that my most awaited film for this year is “Saving Mr. Banks”. Releasing in December, the film is about the story of how the Disney film, “Mary Poppins” was made. Well, it’s more about how Walt Disney took years to convince the author, P.L. Travers, to sell him the rights to her book. And as the stories have said, P.L. Travers wasn’t the biggest fan of what Walt did with her story!

In other words, “Saving Mr. Banks” is about Disney history which is like the Disney fanatic’s dream come true! Firstly, we get to see Walt Disney as a character in a film!

Unfortunately, my attitude towards Tom Hanks playing him is best shown in Emma Thompson's face in this picture!
Unfortunately, my attitude towards Tom Hanks playing him is best shown in Emma Thompson’s face in this picture!

And secondly, this movie looks like it’ll let us venture into P.L. Travers’ past and see what exactly was her inspiration in writing the book. Maybe this can help us understand why Ms. Travers felt so disgusted by Walt Disney’s film.

So while we wait for that film to come out, why not take a look at the film, “Mary Poppins” itself? So without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, here’s everybody’s cherished “Mary Poppins”!

And remember, SPOILERS AHEAD!!! Continue reading “Mary Poppins (1964)” →

Reviews

Oz: The Great and Powerful (2013)

The Animation Commendation17 Comments

oz-the-great-and-powerful-dvd-cover-05

(If this is your first time on this blog, I ask you to read my “About” page first! You can find a link to it at the top left-hand corner of this blog. Thanks!)

L. Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz” was probably the first major American children’s tale that wasn’t inspired by either European fairy tales nor by tales from other Eastern cultures. It affixed itself to be the true American children’s story; so it seemed imminent that it would get adapted for the screen in a matter of time. And after the success of Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, MGM went on to do just that and created the 1939 musical classic, “The Wizard of Oz”.

The one that started it all...despite it not being the first film adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz"!
The one that started it all…despite it not being the first film adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz”!

It wasn’t until after a few re-releases did the film become a megahit and a household name! And it wasn’t long after that people would try to recreate the magic of this musical masterpiece and the books that inspired it. Walt Disney himself would be one of these people. He had even begun working on a film entitled “Rainbow Road to Oz” featuring his Mouseketeers. It was supposed to be Walt’s first live-action musical, but due to his lack of satisfaction with it, he quickly gave up on that idea and made “Babes in Toyland” instead.

Annette Funicello, we miss you!
Annette Funicello, we miss you!

But the Disney Studios wouldn’t give up on the wonderful world of Oz so easily! Oh no, they would eventually make two live-action Oz-related films! The first was a sequel to the 1939 film entitled “Return to Oz”. Released in 1985, it sadly was a financial disappointment, but has since gained cult status!

I haven't seen it, but I know it ain't as cheerful as this cover is portraying it to be!
I haven’t seen it, but I know it ain’t as cheerful as this cover is portraying it to be!

And the second was an official prequel to the 1939 film entitled, “Oz: The Great and Powerful”, which is the subject of today’s review! So sit back and enjoy as we venture through this 2013 box office sensation!

And remember, SPOILERS AHEAD! Continue reading “Oz: The Great and Powerful (2013)” →