Topic Question
Added 2022-04-13 01:37:54 +0000 UTCWhat is your favorite Disney movie and why?
Comments
Narnia (2005). The kids are so well realized and distinct. There is added psychological depth as they are sent away to escape the Blitz, and Narnia could be interpreted as child's fantasy as they grow as people and connect as siblings in a far away land. The evil takes the form of the Witch's manipulation of Edmund, rather than just being some nebulous force (cough, LOTR). This is actually one of the most nuanced films Disney has ever created, despite the target audience usually being one they condescend to (wait, that's every audience). All of the major characters are given so much dimension. This is how to make a children's film. The soundtrack is also one of the most memorable to my mind, as there is a haunting quality to it.
Cavatica
2022-04-24 23:34:48 +0000 UTCLilo & Stitch is Disney’s crowning achievement. It’s a beautiful, funny and rewatchable story that’s been with me for most of my life. The animation is top-tier, the music is fantastic, the jokes still hold up, and they worked extra hard to capture a respectful and charming slice of life in Hawaii.
Jared Angcanan
2022-04-14 22:56:49 +0000 UTCHopefully this isn't just recency bias, but Encanto, because it breaks the formula. There's no princess story, no big bad villain, and it's an original screenplay (not based on a fairy tale or book). Its messages of valuing yourself and your family for who you are really resonate with me.
Derek H.
2022-04-14 02:00:12 +0000 UTCThe Lion King. I know the story is basically just Hamlet for kids, but there’s just something about the scope of that world that’s extraordinary even for Disney animations. The music is also fantastic. The instrumentation in the score is classical yet diverse especially for Hans Zimmer and Scar’s “Be Prepared” is probably the best song for any Disney villain. There might be Disney movies that resonate with me more as I get older, but the Lion King remains for me to be Disney’s best in terms of capturing a sense of wonder for the natural world, something that’s crucial for animation as a medium. Can’t believe they decided to remake it in a live action setting. I never saw it but it sounded like an utter cash grab.
Jackson Littlewood
2022-04-13 23:24:06 +0000 UTCI haven’t seen it in a long time, but I always loved Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. While there were lots of warm and charming scenes, I still remember how scary and riveting some scenes were, the fleeing in the woods and the evil queens ending is all very grim for a childrens movie. I feel like this is something you sadly wouldn’t really see in the newer eras of Disney movies. Also the animation in that age of Disney is yet to be surpassed, it aged way better (excluding the audio quality) than any 90s Disney movie imo
Mees
2022-04-13 21:47:55 +0000 UTCI would say that any Disney film seen as a young child by anyone would be considered the best. Those are the years when you’re at your most impressionable, and the sensory experience is heightened because you haven’t fully acclimated to watching a movie yet. For me, I’d say it was Beauty and the Beast. I remember going to the theater and being overwhelmed by it all. The boisterous songs, the high emotions, the visual pageantry…they all made for a heady experience. At that time, the Beast was one of the scariest things I’d ever seen. “Be Our Guest” was the craziest aural/visual extravaganza I’d ever witnessed. The love story was the greatest I’d ever known. Because everything was fresh and new. And because Disney conceives their movies with kids in mind, I was able to follow the story and characters. Belle with her sweet compassion, Gaston with his supreme narcissism (I knew even then that no one should be that pleased with himself), and even the Beast—the most complicated character—I understood that underneath his scariness, he was someone who wanted to be loved. It was, in short, one of the first times a story came to life before my very eyes and I was able to take it all in. I’m sure that other movies can be argued as being of higher quality, but Disney movies, and children’s movies in general, I think, tend to be beyond criticism anyways because they reside so firmly in our unconscious. They’re more than just movies. They’re childhood memories.
Bennett Oliver
2022-04-13 19:56:18 +0000 UTCexcluding (I'll do a separate one of that one)
Deepfocuslens
2022-04-13 19:24:36 +0000 UTCNot a direct answer to your question but the Disney film with the best score is Jerry Goldsmith’s Mulan. Beautiful marriage of Asian and European influences. The Hun’s Attack, chef’s kiss 👌🏼
Emerson B
2022-04-13 04:21:40 +0000 UTCThe original One Hundred and One Dalmatians. It sadly gets overshadowed because of the 1996 live action remake and the recent Cruella, both of which are vastly inferior. It's way more grounded and mature and had Cruella DeVil as more ruthless and terrifying as she should be instead of a Saturday morning cartoon villain. I also love the unique urban London setting which looks amazing despite the fact that it was a lower budget Disney work at the time and I'd be an idiot if I didn't mention Sergeant Tibbs who is probably the greatest side character in any Disney film well before Sidney Poitier made that name famous.
Wolfman Brandon
2022-04-13 02:56:27 +0000 UTCI've become really fond of Hercules. I love the gospel and soul inspired music. I love the art style which feels just a bit more heightened and uniquely stylized compared to their other 2D style particular during the 90s. And I really love James Woods as Hades who might be my favorite Disney villain. And I have a soft spot for Greek mythology so that's a big plus. Maybe not the best movie in their catalog but it's one I find myself wanting to watch the most nowadays.
Tyler Shobe
2022-04-13 02:01:23 +0000 UTCIncluding or excluding Pixar?
Derek H.
2022-04-13 01:48:33 +0000 UTC
