Animated Classics vs. Broadway

[Atlantica]

Just thought this would be an interesting discussion .....

Are there any songs/moments from the animated Classics stage productions that you would possibly wish to be in the actual film ? Not in a 'put back' way like 'Human Again', but just included in the film in the first place.

Personally, I think 'Home' could have been a nice addition to Beauty & the Beast. Though yes, admittedly it may have been overkill with songs for Belle, but I could still see it having a place in the movie.

And 'If Only' (the quartet version) would have been a magical inclusion to The Little Mermaid. Adding to the relationship between Ariel and Triton, and fleshing out Eric.

Any thoughts guys ?

[FlyingPiggy]

I love Shadow Land and I've played with the idea of it being the movie in the first place, it would change the movie a bit though. Nala hunting Pumba wouldn't be her grown up self's revel scene. So, that might be played differently.

[Atlantica]

I'm not familiar with the Lion King show; how would her entrance differ?

[Marky_198]

I would love to see an animated sequence of "For the first time" in Tarzan.

I really miss a lovesong in that film.

[Sotiris]

I really miss a love song in that film.

The movie works just fine even without a love song. Besides, the bridge of "Strangers Like Me" serves as a love song.

[Icea]

Personally, I think 'Home' could have been a nice addition to Beauty & the Beast. Though yes, admittedly it may have been overkill with songs for Belle, but I could still see it having a place in the movie.

I believe that if any song from the Braodway version should've been inserted into the movie it should be "If I Can't Love Her". We hear Belle sing a lot in the movie, and therefore it would be nice to balance things out a bit. That, and it's a fabulous song.

[Super Aurora]

Shadowland and Endless Night for Lion King.

[Icea]

Oh and of course, if Hunchback had been more like the novel, some of the songs from the German stage version of it could be added to the movie (yes, I know it's not technically Broadway, but I figured I could squeeze it in anyway ). "Wie aus Stein" is one of the best (if not THE best) songs in the entire musical, including all the songs from the movie.

[ProfessorRatigan]

I don't know... (with the obvious exception of Human Again) I think every additional song in Beauty and the Beast's broadway show is godawful. I saw that show and it seemed that every time a quiet, beautiful moment from the film was about to occur (the Beast lets Belle go, the death of the Beast, etc.) a horrible, cloying song was stuck in its place, totally killing the moment.

I think Tim Rice is a hack. I hate his songs in Beauty and the Beast, I've always hated his songs in Aladdin and I hate every song except for Be Prepared and the Madness of King Scar in the Lion King. (And I think I like the CHARACTER singing those songs more than the songs themselves...)

Frankly, I thank god Disney didn't insert any of Rice's songs in Beauty and the Beast...they have no place being in there. They certainly do not deserve to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Howard Ashman penned lyrics, at least as far as I'm concerned.

But, then, I hated every additional song for The Little Mermaid, too. That was Glenn Slater, wasn't it? Tarzan, I have no idea. Never was a fan of the songs from that movie to begin with, turning it into a broadway show just seemed stupid as hell to me.

I fear Aladdin's broadway debut, because you just KNOW they're going to insert some more goddamn Tim Rice songs in to pad the runtime instead of using the brilliant songs from Howard Ashman's original score. At least that's what it's looking like from the Seattle and St. Louis productions. The clips I've seen have been...ugh. Just depressing.

[Disney's Divinity]

Of course, I don’t really want any additions. But as far as songs/moments that I would like to have seen in a fantasy-world:

TLM ~ Not sure, since most of the new songs are pretty bland. I do like “Her Voice” and “One Step Closer” (particularly the latter), to flesh out Eric. I don’t think any of the WA/IWtGTB songs for Ursula are necessary since her first scene is fine. Still, I’ve been in love with “All Good Things Must End” since I first heard it, even though it didn’t make it into the musical in the end. I personally don’t like “If Only,” though I know a lot of people do. It had more potential than it really ended up being.

Beauty and the Beast ~ Not sure. I think “Home” is good for showing Belle’s reaction to her imprisonment, but the lyrics are a little…eh. Same with “If I Can’t Love Her.” They’re both good in concept, but not crazy in the execution.

TLK ~ I’m with SuperAurora, “Shadowland” and “Endless Night” would both would be great in the film. I feel the 2nd half of the film is weaker because the characters aren’t really defined as much. I would even throw in “The Madness of King Scar,” just because it’s hilarious and it also gives you some view of Scar’s rule over the PLs. With those three songs, all the main characters get more depth.

Tarzan ~ I like "For the First Time," but it's extremely cheesy even though it would develop Jane more. That said, I adore "Everything That I Am"--the lyrics are very climactic/satisfying--and it would be perfect for the moment when Tarzan dresses in his father's old clothes at the end. I also like "Different," but I don't think it would add anything to the film at all.

[Atlantica]

I do like Ariel and Eric singing to each other at the end of the show; it is more similar to the deleted ending of Mermaid where Ariel was to come out of the sea singing a reprise to 'Part of your World'.

[toonaspie]

Batb - I would just add "If I Can't Love Her". "Human Again" was okay but the way it was animated for the special edition seemed out of place from the rest of the film.

TLK - "Grasslands Chant", "The Lioness Hunt", "Rafiki Mourns" (all three songs as background vocals), "Madness of King Scar", "Shadowland"

TLM - "She's in Love" Kinda catchy though not fitting the film. Could work.

[Atlantica]

It doesn't just have to be about songs, it can be anything, any moment from the shows that you would have liked to see in the movie.

I thought 'Human Again' worked in the show, but is a little OTT for the film, personally.

[xxhplinkxx]

From The Little Mermaid I think One Step Closer and If Only would have been great additions. And while I LOVE I Want The Good Times Back, not sure it would've fit into the movie just because they, for whatever unknown reason known to man, decided to make Ursula such a "comical" character in the show. But they could modify it somehow to make it fit for the by far superior movie Ursula.

[tsom]

The Little Mermaid: I think Beyond My Wildest Dreams and One Step Closer would be great in the movie. Although I don't like it very much, Her Voice would've set a great purpose and makes us understand why Eric is so hell-bent on finding this mystery voice.

[Atlantica]

It would have been tricky, but I do wish Vanessa was included in TLM show. She is a highlight for me of the second half of the film.

[Mooky]

I have a question to ask, but I didn't want to start a new thread so I apologize for hijacking this one.

I'll be visiting New York in October and one of the things I plan to see is a Broadway show. As a Disney fan I'm inclined towards a Disney show -- "The Lion King" specificially, given its popularity and longevity on Broadway. However, as I probably won't be able to see another Broadway show in a long time and that the tickets are pricey, do you think it's worth seeing over "Aladdin" or other popular Broadway shows like "Wicked" or "The Book of Mormon"?

"Aladdin" is one of my top three Disney films, btw.

Thanks in advance.

[Sotiris]

Just go see Aladdin. You know you want to. You just want us to reassure you.

If I were you, I'd totally choose Aladdin over Wicked or The Book of Mormon. It has everything; spectacle, humor, romance, and heart (Adam Jacobs' powerful performance of Proud of Your Boy is heart-rending).

[Flanger-Hanger]

I have a question to ask, but I didn't want to start a new thread so I apologize for hijacking this one.

I'll be visiting New York in October and one of the things I plan to see is a Broadway show. As a Disney fan I'm inclined towards a Disney show -- "The Lion King" specificially, given its popularity and longevity on Broadway. However, as I probably won't be able to see another Broadway show in a long time and that the tickets are pricey, do you think it's worth seeing over "Aladdin" or other popular Broadway shows like "Wicked" or "The Book of Mormon"?

"Aladdin" is one of my top three Disney films, btw.

Thanks in advance.

I'd say no. "Wicked" is a better overall show than "Aladdin" and while I still have not seen "Book of Mormon", from what I know of the show it's superior to most other productions. I also thought both "Something Rotten" and "An American in Paris" were great...and better than "Aladdin".

Use broadwaybox.com to get your tickets at a discounted rate without standing in line for hours for rush seats.

[Tangled]

I think that The Lion King is the best show to bring a person who's never seen a broadway show to. The pure spectacle is phenominal. I don't even like the animated!Lion King nearly as much as the animated!Aladdin yet I'd easily pick seeing the Lion King musical live more than the Aladdin musical. The Aladdin musical just didn't make me appreciate the story or feel emotions any more than the animated film did, unlike the Lion King musical.

It even hooked my parents, who aren't huge fans of movie musicals, to broadway. Funny enough, they decided to see Book of Mormon as their second broadway-style show (I live near Toronto, so my judgement is based on the touring productions). They loved that too...just for very different reasons. Your opinion on the Book of Mormon will probably depend on how you feel about crude humor. Sure, it's smart, satirical, crude humor, but there's no denying that if you hate South Park, you'll probably also hate Book of Mormon. For me, personally, the South Park Movie is honestly one of my favorite non-Disney animated musicals (I'm serious), so the Book of Mormon was great for me. Just don't expect any spectacle on the level of Wicked or any Disney musical. Speaking of Wicked, I didn't like its story at all, but I'm biased because I read the much better Gregory Maguire book that it's based off. The score, lyrics, and visual design are hit-or-miss too. There are some standout scenes ("No Good Deed" in particular) but I wouldn't choose it if I only had a couple nights in New York. Well, maybe I would if Kristen Chenowith and Idina Menzel were still in it, but I don't have a time machine.