Should Disney make and animated version of Romeo and Juliet?

[Beast_enchantment]

i think that Romeo and Juiet would be a wise move for Disney. recently they seem to be returning to origianl sources for animated movies (Rapunzel, Princess and the Frog)
yes, there are certain adult themes conveyed in the renowned play such as sex, suicide and murder but it think disney could find a way to overcome these aspects - not to remove them but to take away the harshness i.e. keep the tragic ending but have there souls live on to soften the blow.

[I Love Bambi]

Yes. Disney could easily... disnify the parts unsuitable for all ages. The only problem with them making it now is that it would probably have computer animation in it, and would probably have the characters acting 'hip'. In fact, it probably wouldn't even be named Romeo and Juliet. But if Disney did do R&J the traditional way, with no CGI, that would be great.

Also, remember how in The Little Mermaid, Ariel died in the book but not in the movie? Well, disney could do the same thing here with this film.

[Beast_enchantment]

Yes. Disney could easily... disnify the parts unsuitable for all ages. The only problem with them making it now is that it would probably have computer animation in it, and would probably have the characters acting 'hip'. In fact, it probably wouldn't even be named Romeo and Juliet. But if Disney did do R&J the traditional way, with no CGI, that would be great.

Also, remember how in The Little Mermaid, Ariel died in the book but not in the movie? Well, disney could do the same thing here with this film.

i hope Disney doesn't make it 'hip' lol or infact set it in the present as oppsoed to the original medievil setting like they intended to do with Rapunzel. it would ruin it. i think Disney could have a happy ending to R&J but i think the play is too well known and it could dissapoint alot of people. i like the idea of seeing them as spirits like in the original ending to the Little Mermaid fairytale

[Aladdin from Agrabah]

Romeo and Juliet is a Shakespearean play that's considered a classic - the MOST classic love story EVER- because the main characters absolutely and totally DIE in the end, and their love and youth remains eternal. The death of the two lovers also helps both families understand that they were wrong. If Disney makes this an animated film they will definately alter the ending. Which is blasphemy!!!!! If Disney someday decides to make animated films that contain death of the main characters, violence and sex scenes -not for children, in short- that would be totally fine with me! I don't see why animated films should only be for children or always have a happy ending. But I don't think they will ever try something like that, it's Disney, remember?
On the other hand, there is Pocahontas, which I enjoyed very much for breaking this rule: someone could even assume that John Smith was going to die after the end of the movie (until the 2nd movie came out and we all found out that John Smith was alive and Poca a sl*t).
Anyway, I didn't vote because I didn't find this choice: "No. Disney should better leave this ultimate and eternal classic U N T O U C H E D!!!"

[I Love Bambi]

I may be in the minority here, but I actually like how disney makes tamer endings to their movies when compared to the original story. I probably wouldn't have like TLM as much as a child, if I had seen Ariel stab herself in the end. I also believe in movies that are fun for all ages. While I understand how some fans feel about the play, some of the elements there still wouldn't be suitable for an animated disney film. Fans of the play could always just ignore the film, too, if a "kiddy" version bothered them that much.

[Prudence]

"I don't know."
They changed The Little Mermaid drastically. It could be good.

[BelleGirl]

On the other hand, there is Pocahontas, which I enjoyed very much for breaking this rule: someone could even assume that John Smith was going to die after the end of the movie (until the 2nd movie came out and we all found out that John Smith was alive and Poca a sl*t).

Try to ignore the second part! If it should have kept closer to history it would have worked better; that is Poca marrying John Rolfe in Jamestown before she ever found out Smith was still alive.
But if Disney can break the 'happy ending' rule once, they can do it a second time I think. So for R&J I voted " I don't know."

[Aladdin from Agrabah]

"I don't know."
They changed The Little Mermaid drastically. It could be good.

The Little Mermaid is a fairy tale. Fantastic indeed, but a fairy tale.
Romeo and Juliet is a classic Shakespearean theatrical play and the most "famous" and cherished hymn to love, not to mention its great artistic value. A masterpiece of literature.
Huge, huge, huge difference.
I've read so many books that have TLM's ending altered or not given exactly as in H.C.Andersen 's story, just because it survived through time as a fairy tale for children and as that it's being treated.
It very rarely happens to come across an altered version of R&J's ending. And when it happens it is never appreciated just because it alters the whole meaning and essence of that classic- which is considered a classic BECAUSE of the two lovers' death, at a very high percentage at least!
We'd better not compare Andersen to Shakespeare. They both were great at what they did but their paths were very different.

[Isidour]

No
it would be an horrible damage to the origina story

[blackcauldron85]

I may be in the minority here, but I actually like how disney makes tamer endings to their movies when compared to the original story. I probably wouldn't have like TLM as much as a child, if I had seen Ariel stab herself in the end. I also believe in movies that are fun for all ages. While I understand how some fans feel about the play, some of the elements there still wouldn't be suitable for an animated disney film. Fans of the play could always just ignore the film, too, if a "kiddy" version bothered them that much.

I 100% agree with you! I think that if Disney were to make "Romeo & Juliet", they wouldn't make it just be R&J- like how "The Lion King" is somewhat based on "Hamlet", Disney could incorporate the themes of R&J into a film. I'm glad that Disney Disneyfies movies- I've read the novel "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and I cried. I like happy endings to my Disney movies...!!!

[Aladdin from Agrabah]

I think that if Disney were to make "Romeo & Juliet", they wouldn't make it just be R&J- like how "The Lion King" is somewhat based on "Hamlet", Disney could incorporate the themes of R&J into a film.

But we already have some films that have a forbidden love like R&J's as a main plot. Ariel and Eric, Pocahontas and John Smith, even Aurora and Phillip -since they didn't know each other's true identity, so their love was forbidden. That's why Romeo and Juliet is unique: because they die in the end. If Disney disneyfies R&J then we'll have another Pocahontas or something. Another useless movie, that is, with nothing new to present.

[Lazario]

I can think of a lot of stories that it would be a good idea for Disney to do, in terms of how much money they would make. If that's the most important thing to you. Disney will do any idea, and just make it the mainstream pop formula and make lots of money. All they need to do is make it just like everything else coming out now, which they will anyway- no matter what story they choose. So, I actually think it's a bad idea for them to do any stories I like. I don't enjoy seeing good things desecrated.

[blackcauldron85]

I wasn't thinking about that, Al- you're right. "Pocahontas" is a lot like R&J in the fact that Pocahontas' family/friends & John's friends/co-workers don't want them to be together...

If the ending has to stay sad, then I can't see Disney making R&J. That's just my opinion. If they did make the movie, I just can't see them not having a happy ending.

[Isidour]

unfortunatelly, if the end wouldn't be sad, it won't be Romeo and Juliet

This is because R&J isn't just an impossiblelove story, the ending it's crucial and make it unike.
As Cinderella would't be the same without it's slipper, or Aladdin without the lamp.

Then a Disney happy ending on R&J would turn it into another "love" story

Besides...wasn't enchanted when it's initial phases ment to be a R&J kind of story?

[BelleGirl]

I wasn't thinking about that, Al- you're right. "Pocahontas" is a lot like R&J in the fact that Pocahontas' family/friends & John's friends/co-workers don't want them to be together...

If the ending has to stay sad, then I can't see Disney making R&J. That's just my opinion. If they did make the movie, I just can't see them not having a happy ending.

So you mean every Disney movie has to have a happy ending? That certainly limits possibilities storywise. The classic R&J without a tragic ending is like the story of Joan of Arc without her tragic death at the stake. In other words:inconcievable.

Lazario has really low expectations of Disney's artisitc ambitions it seems

The problem with Disney is that IF they show more artistic ambition and deviate from the 'formula' they're either labelled as ' pretentious' or get complaints that the work isn't entertaining or funny enough (or not suitable for 3 year olds). They're in a straitjacket... partly this may be their own choice but it's also because the public wants them to be.

You know how one critic labelled Pocahontas? As the 'antithesis' of Disney!

[Lazario]

The artwork, animation, you name it in the technical department of all of Disney's animated films is stunning. You won't hear a bad word on that area from me.

I'm saying, they'll ruin it like they ruin everything else- by hiring annoying voice actors to play dumb, uninteresting characters, making it just like every other animated film. In fact, when was the last time Disney made any kind of animated film with any real dramatic quality to it? Or humor that deviates from the approved Hollywood family-comedy formula?

[BelleGirl]

The artwork, animation, you name it in the technical department of all of Disney's animated films is stunning. You won't hear a bad word on that area from me.

I'm saying, they'll ruin it like they ruin everything else- by hiring annoying voice actors to play dumb, uninteresting characters, making it just like every other animated film. In fact, when was the last time Disney made any kind of animated film with any real dramatic quality to it? Or humor that deviates from the approved Hollywood family-comedy formula?

I think Tarzan had real dramatic quaility. There even was some in the more light-hearted Lilo & Stitch. But that's my opinion, you may not feel that way.

I suppose you have decided already that upcoming movies like "Rapunzel" and "The Princess and the Frog" will have dumb, uninteresting characters , no dramatic quality and humor according to the "approved Hollywood family-comedy formula"?

[Siren]

If Disney stuck with the original story and kept it ending with R&J dying at the end, I am all for it. As stated before, the whole point of killing them off was to make the people around them realize how wrong they are. If you ever saw it, think of American Beauty. That movie has the same quality of R&J. In the end, everyone around him figures out how screwed up they really are. And how they are to blame in the scheme of things.

[Lazario]

I think Tarzan had real dramatic quaility. There even was some in the more light-hearted Lilo & Stitch. But that's my opinion, you may not feel that way.

I agree with Tarzan (but that was quite some time ago), haven't seen Lilo & Stitch yet. I saw a few bits of the TV series- seems nice enough. I guess I never had much of an interest in it but, now that you endorse it, I might make an effort to see it. I'd have to buy it, though.

I suppose you have decided already that upcoming movies like "Rapunzel" and "The Princess and the Frog" will have dumb, uninteresting characters , no dramatic quality and humor according to the "approved Hollywood family-comedy formula"?

You know that's always up to Disney to decide. I don't think anyone approving projects at that company cares about making really good movies anymore. So, whatever script develops from these stories (which for some strange reason, seem more likely to be made elsewhere than Disney), the people releasing these movies who approve the scripts, won't choose a good one without dumbing it down first. I wish I could say I was more optimistic.

Since this is about Romeo & Juliet... an animated version of R&J? That just stuck out like a sore thumb. I don't know if I even responded to that yet. Never going to happen. But if Disney ever made a version of it, the ending would be changed in some way. They might die somehow, but it won't have the same impact.

Anyway, Disney doesn't make animated movies anymore unless they can make them comedies and inject a lot of pointless humor. Although, that having been said- my roomate got a copy of Ratatouille for Christmas and I've yet to watch it. My opinion might change after that (depending upon whether it was actually Disney or just Pixar that Disney put their name on).

[Siren]

When it comes to an animated R&J, anime would probably be the way to go to keep the ending the same. I doubt Disney would ever kill off its two major characters. But many anime companies would do it. They already did Little Mermaid and kept to the original story, so it would probably be the way to go.