Woodbury —Remember all the classic Disney films you, your family, or friends would watch as a kid? Whether it was Mickey Mouse, princess movies, Cars, Star Wars, adventure movies such as Peter Pan, Toy Story, Hercules, or animal movies like The Jungle Book, Aristocrats, Bambi, or The Lion King, the film would be so great that it would become the next theme at your friends’ or siblings’ birthday parties.
The new trend for Disney is turning the classic movies into live-action. Some members of the Nonnewaug community love the new trend, but some think it takes away from the original feeling of the classics.
Katie Gorman, a teacher in the agricultural department shared, “I think the traditional will always be the traditional and they will stay most loved. I understand when they’re making it modern for the kids nowadays and the new generations to get them more interested and invested, but don’t alter the original story.”
Student Maria Eggers agreed, stating, “It stresses me out when they take my favorite ones and make it into real life, cause you don’t want them to take away from the original movie you grew up with. Lilo and Stitch is one of my favorites and the animation style is the heart of that film. I love the soundtracks, so I’m nervous to see the new one coming out soon that they remade into live-action.”
Disney has been around since October 1923, creating world famous movies and characters such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Mickey Mouse. Disney has created 723 films with a worldwide famous collection including fifteen different princesses. Children all around the world grow up watching Disney characters, looking up to them, and thinking of some movies as their childhood favorite when they grow older.
Nonnewaug agricultural mechanics teacher, Andrew Zielinski, stated, “You got to keep the classics. The originals are what made them cool and fun.”
Although some of these movies faced controversy at their release. Lady and the Tramp was criticized for racial stereotyping. Aristocats faced criticism for its presentation of substance abuse. Even The Lion King, Aladdin, and Peter Pan had their critics. Many of these movies are the same ones that are now being remade–and making millions or even billions of dollars. Due to not wanting the remakes to face controversy like the originals, some alterations were made to the storylines, but other alterations were out of creative thought which tore viewers’ opinions on liking or disliking this new trend.
Kristen Pisano, Nonnewaug math teacher, shared how she sees both sides of the opinion. “It’s fun that you get to experience it all over again when you see the old ones and now you get to experience them for the ‘first time’ all over again. It might be a hit or miss because they are the same but I find it unique.”
The first remake started with 101 Dalmatians in 1990, which made 320 million dollars. Since then, Disney has slowly and gradually started making more and more remakes. Some top-earning remakes have been Cinderella 2015 (679.3 million) and the newly made Cruella (163.8 million). Others have even made billions of dollars, including Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Alice and Wonderland, and The Lion King.
Student, Piper Dillane said, “I think that live-action movies are cool but I like the cartoons and I think someone should have stayed animated overall. It was a good idea, though.”
Disney is certainly not done with this trend and has a list of remakes they hope to make and release within the next several years. Nonnewaug students have their hopes and don’ts on what they would like to see.
Students Maria Eggers, Mia Castro, and math teacher Kristian Pisano are all in favor of a live remake of Tangled. Ag teacher, Jennifer Jed said, “I would love to see a real-life Frozen movie.”
Andrew Zelinski shared, “My wife loves Encanto, so I would like for them to remake that one. It would be cool.”
They all have their favorites of what they wish to see, but they all have ideas about what they hope not to see too. Students and teachers express their concern over remakes as well as how the CGI will make everything look.
Mia Castro said, “ I don’t want to find Nemo.”
Mrs. Pisano said, “I wouldn’t want to see Monsters Inc. That’s one of the movies that are better staying a cartoon.”
It’s that similar opinion that everybody shares about how some movies are meant to stay animated. Many have voiced they wouldn’t want to see a movie that’s supposed to be ‘real life’ with a lot of CGI.
Mrs. Jedd said, “I like seeing the movies overall. Some of the directions aren’t what I expect, but it turns out good anyways. But it makes me sad that they are not putting their efforts towards making new ideas and new movies and focusing on recreating the old ones, but if they do keep the storyline–don’t change it.”
