I'm not huge on Archimedes but he's definitely better than Kay and Ector.
Sword in the Stone is middle of the road for me because while it has great scenes and goes to great lengths to get the message that Merlin is sending to Wart across, as you mentioned often times things happen with no build-up because so much time has already been spent on the episodic transformation scenes. Other than the ending (and while I agree that the duel is great) Mim has no build-up. We're shown an evil old lady and immediately she's presented to us as "the evil Merlin". In fact, Mim's first appearance might be the latest in a film the "main antagonist" is actually revealed.
SMDC does sort of spoil the film though because the characters are so massively overrated. Merlin at least makes sense, but Archimedes and Girl Squirrel have performed ridiculous well over the years and it makes me almost despise the latter of those, even though I find the squirrel scene to be very cute and the best of the transformation sequences. I guess I just hate seeing a minor character outlast major ones time and time again.
A charming and vastly underrated movie with some really good character interaction (especially between Merlin and Archimedes). There were some decent songs, but nothing really Renaissance-quality. They get the job done, though. The film is lacking a bit in the villain department (Sir Kay is just a mere bully, and Madam Mim has no real relevance to the main story), but the other characters are so good it's only a minor issue. This movie also has the cutest scene Disney has ever done (and one of the saddest, what with the way it ends). I'm, of course, talking about the squirrel scene. The Girl Squirrel in this scene is one of only two classic Disney era females with, y'know, a personality (many props to Disney for not going with the much overused 'chipmunk mode' of speeding up the soundtrack, but rather having her speak in sort of a chattering squirrel language which turned out awesome). Plus, she single-handedly fights a wolf and wins. Badass. The Sword in the Stone is an absolutely incredible movie, but sadly it misses the top ten by the narrowest margins.
Best: Character: Merlin
Everyone's favorite time-traveling wizard is the heart and soul of this movie, and there is no way this award could go to anyone else. His humorous antics steal most every scene. Old geezers have never been this awesome.
Worst Character: Sir Ector
In a movie filled with such colorful characters, Ector is uncharacteristically bland. He doesn't ever really do much anything of importance, he's just kind of there.
-- SuperNiceDog is about 20% cooler then the other gurus.
At the risk of unpleasant arguments... may I ask how either of those characters have more personality than any other classic age characters? Girl Squirrel is somehow "deeper" than Cinderella or Lady?
The Great Mouse Detective: (I like Vincent Price and all, but I like the others a lot more. Also, it's comics are a blight, clogging up spaces for more scrooge and donald comics)
Fantasia 2000: (I'm still not sure whether I like the sequel better or not, but it's a great watch nonetheless. Firebird, Blue, and Donald segments are my favorites)
The Princess and the Frog: (good god, not this one!)
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Aww, I lost to SuperNiceDog, Winner of the Rivalry Rumble Guru Contest
Doc! Our friendship is over :-o... Not for putting The Sword in the Stone so low, but for clearly disliking Archimedes!
I DON'T BELIEVE IN ELVES!! *hoping Tinker Bell drops dead at this moment*
Well, uh, good thing she's not an elf. <_<
And you fell for my trap, Vish! If there was anything to get you into this topic I knew it would be ranking The Sword in the Stone now and Archimedes as the worst!
Best Character: The Sprite Worst Characters: The celebrity hosts
It’s true; I prefer Fantasia 2000 to the original. No, this film in not as innovative and it’s not a classic. But it does have more enjoyable segments. It’s also shorter, which causes me so much less boredom than the first one did. Not to say there aren’t any boring segments in this one – there are. Simply that this film has more segments with a coherent plot, and fewer boring ones that drag on for far too long. In fact, this film took the best segment from Fantasia and brought it back a second time, complete with a better supporting cast of segments to surround it! While I respect Fantasia for creating The Sorcerer’s Apprentice first, that doesn’t hold much weight when I rank the films. Fantasia 2000 takes the best segment from Fantasia and then shells out more segments that I happen to enjoy. And that is why I prefer Fantasia 2000.
Even the mandatory abstract opening segment was improved upon. It’s still my least favorite from the film, but Symphony No. 5 in C minor was actually pretty good. It showcased a tense battle between light and darkness that captivated much more than the opening segment to the original did. This film really doesn’t include any segment I dislike. Pomp and Circumstance is a take on Noah’s flood with Donald playing the part of Noah’s first mate and Daisy as his assistant. Piano Concerto No. 2 is a take on the Steadfast Tin Soldier that has an easily recognizable plot and climax, as well as decent characters. I really liked the scene where the toy soldier is sent down the sewer. The Carnival of the Animals was a short but funny piece about flamingos and a yoyo. It reminded me of something Pixar would do for its opening shorts. Pines of Rome was the second segment in the film, and had one of the most beautiful settings in the entire film. I didn’t care much for the plot, but it was beautiful to look at, especially the portion where the music was animating the aurora borealis.
The remaining three segments were exquisite. I won’t go into any more detail on the Sorcerer’s Apprentice as I already discussed it in the write-up for Fantasia. I’m just glad that this was the one segment they brought it back. One of my favorites of the film is Rhapsody In Blue. This segment details the lives of a few individuals living in New York around the time of the Great Depression in an animated style popular at the time. It’s actually pretty funny, and I found the music to match the art style perfectly. There are a number of different protagonists, each given enough time to develop their goals and personas enough so the audience can appreciate them.
I may be in the minority here, but I liked the Firebird Suite more as a closer than Night on Bald Mountain. Both are spectacular, but the Firebird Suite introduces the sprite. From the small amount of time she is given on film she is able to make a lasting impression on the audience. She exudes beauty and kindness, and the way she dances and flows with the accompanying music is beautiful to watch. Really the entire segment is beautiful, complete with excellent animation and a backdrop homage to Mt. St. Helens. This segment to me embodies what Fantasia is about. The animation operates with the music wonderfully, memorable characters are established, the imagery is beautiful, and there’s clear tension and an arc between the sprite and the Firebird. The ending is perfect for the closure of Fantasia 2000, ending with a triumph for good and symbolizing rebirth.
The only thing I can think of that I preferred in the original is the introductions given to each segment. The original Fantasia has such a majestic air about it, with every introduction making it seem like you were about to watch an exquisite piece of art. Fantasia 2000 replaces this air of mystique with celebrities who take away from the upcoming performances. Other than that I pretty much enjoyed everything about Fantasia 2000 over its predecessor. It contains a great library of segments and does so all the while maintaining the vision from the original.
I too prefer 2000 to the original. Most people by now know I don't highly value nostalgia as a factor for liking something and I think a lot of people prefer the original due to its nostalgia value which often overrates the film. The original had 3 segments which I would call "pretty good", but 2000 has 4 and I'd consider the ones not included as "good" are "less boring" than the original's.
Overall, I'd not have ranked this film this highly but it probably is the best "shorts collection" film in the Disney canon nevertheless.
Good writeup about Fantasia 2000. I agree with everything you said and I was hoping you'd put the celebrities as the worst. I guess the only thing I'd do differently is rank it like 20 spots lower XD.
I'll say Sleeping Beauty is next.
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"THIS is how you make Nintendo win another generation. Good job, Sony and Microsoft, you're idiots." - Vlado
The official lineup is Cinderella, Aurora, Snow White, Belle, Ariel, Jasmine, Tiana, and Rapunzel, and some licensed products also include Mulan and Pocahontas, though not always like the others. Kida and Eilonwy were never included, possibly due to the fact that their movies were not nearly as successful as the others.
-- darkx 3DS FC: 5241-2144-5671 (add me and pm me urs!) http://i40.tinypic.com/mabj1t.gif
I know it's not necessarily Disney-related, but the development-hell-ridden Thief and the Cobbler is now up for Instant Streaming on Netflix. I might just have to watch this to see if it's as Godawful as everyone says it is.
-- darkx 3DS FC: 5241-2144-5671 (add me and pm me urs!) http://i40.tinypic.com/mabj1t.gif
Best Character: Dr. Facilier Worst Character: Lawrence
Although I like Tiana as a character more than Snow White, Cinderella and Aurora, their films are just more enjoyable to me. It’s too bad that she’s the first princess to fall, but oh well! I have no sentimental attachments whatsoever to the south, yet this movie is all about it. Its customs, its food, its culture, its atmosphere – the film embodies my mental image of the South. If someone had more of a sentimental attitude towards the South I could see it placing higher, but I don’t.
This film was a tremendous leap for Disney, and I’d argue we’re in the early stages of the next Disney Renaissance. To me it started a year earlier with Bolt, but The Princess and the Frog is definitely a film worthy of the praise it receives. I’m so glad that Disney not only brought back a princess movie, but one that used classic animation and included songs! I’ve missed Disney musicals so much over the years, and I was so glad that they finally brought them back. I was more hyped for The Princess and the Frog than any other Disney film that I can remember if only because I knew it was going to be a musical. I was so looking forward to discovering a song or two that would potentially catapult into my top 10.
Unfortunately I was a little let down by the songs. There are only two songs that I can remember off the top of my head, and one of them is actually pretty weak. Facilier’s song has some great visuals, but the song itself is very lackluster. Facilier doesn’t really sing it… he just sort of talks with slight musical intonation. The song also repeats itself in a number of circumstances, indicating sloppy writing to me. The other song I remember is My Belle Evangeline, which is actually pretty good. It has a good atmosphere, develops the romance between Tiana and Naveen, and provides a great moment between Ray and Evangeline. The rest of the songs just don’t do it for me. I’ve never been a fan of jazz, and the fact that the film drew such a huge influence from jazz doesn’t help my enjoyment of the film.
The characters are really the highlight of the film for me. Dr. Facilier is a great Disney villain that looks like he came right out of the films from the Disney Renaissance. He’s got great style, and I love his gimmick with his friends from the other side. I wish they went more in depth with their relationship, but it was ominous enough that I still enjoyed watching it. I also especially love his gimmick with his shadow. It’s the little things in the background that make me appreciate his shadow so much, and it’s entertaining to look out for them. While the rest of the cast doesn’t quite hold up to Facilier, most are good in their own way, especially the supporting characters. Just from his voice I though Ray would be obnoxious, but he’s actually really easy to root for and has some genuinely touching scenes revolving around his love for Evangeline. Louis is also a good complimentary character, as he inserts just the right amount of humor into a few of the scenes. Lottie is kind of annoying, but I suppose she provides a good contrast between herself and Tiana. Mama Odie is kind of forgettable, and another example of a song I didn’t like in the film. Lawrence is by far the worst of them all, however, as he’s nothing but a spineless coward.
As far as the protagonists go, honestly I was a little disappointed with them. Naveen is very annoying towards the beginning of the film, but thankfully turns a corner and becomes more likable near the end. On the other hand there’s Tiana, who just preaches the same thing over and over again. She’s a hard worker that doesn’t have time for any kind of fun. She’s able to let loose a little bit when she and Naveen are frogs, and it’s these scenes when they’re together that really bring out the best in both of them. That said, I wish they weren’t frogs for so long. I understand that’s the point of the film, but a few of the scenes where they’re frogs are just filler. I would’ve rather seen a little more background on the two of them (especially Naveen) or even Dr. Facilier.
This film is definitely one of the better films released during the 2000’s. It showed that Disney was still capable of producing high-quality films akin to the ones they produced during the Renaissance, and did so complete with songs and 2D animation. It provided hope that Disney was perhaps ready to undertake a new Renaissance, and so far the outlook is great. Tangled was phenomenal, and I have high hopes for Wreck-It Ralph and Frozen.
Pinocchio Bambi Cinderella The Jungle Book The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh The Great Mouse Detective The Little Mermaid The Lion King Tarzan Bolt Winnie the Pooh
I excluded Mulan, Beauty and the Beast and Hercules because of the plural.
-- darkx 3DS FC: 5241-2144-5671 (add me and pm me urs!) http://i40.tinypic.com/mabj1t.gif
Oh cool. I don't love Princess and the Frog as much as most people do so I'm glad to see it not go any higher. I personally found Tiana annoying with her going on and on about hard work all the time. We get it, Tiana. You're boring. And so are most of the side characters. Facilier and Naveen carried that movie.
It would be cool if Bambi was next.
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"THIS is how you make Nintendo win another generation. Good job, Sony and Microsoft, you're idiots." - Vlado