Home on the Range

[Squirrel]

I'm listening to the HOTR soundtrack right now (in the library here at school), and it's very nice. The songs are good (especially, I think, Little Patch of Heaven and Anytime You Need a Friend). And Alan Menken's score effectively captures a western-like atmosphere, and is both light and dramatic. (He even sings a piano reprise of Anytime You Need a Friend, the last track.) It's very pleasant, and enjoyable.

It goes the way of the Lilo & Stitch and Brother Bear soundtracks (which I really liked, also), wherein it combines songs from two or three artists or so, comprising about two-thirds the CD. And the rest being 15 to 20 minutes of orchestral/symphonic score ... I would recommend it.

Can't wait to see the film (which will be on Saturday, for me; and probably again on Sunday).

[quiden]

I do! And if you've ever loved anything about the Disney legacy, you should embrace the film and see it in theaters. In this troubled time for 2D, it's a duty all diehard animation fans share. Only if Home on the Range does nice boxoffice numbers will Disney consider 2D again in the next few years.

Oh, and, didn't we do a thread about the PG ratings before?

I don't think I really agree with that. I mean I really resent the fact that I have to watch a Disney movie before my 4 and 6 year olds see it to make sure that there isn't anything too bad in it. I know that somewhere along the line they must have thought that the reason The Lion King did so well was because it appealed to adults, which was true, but I don't think that making movies more violent or having them swear makes them any more appealing. It's story!

I think the same is true about the muppets nowadays. Their old stuff was just sincerely funny and clever, but now the stuff they do since Jim Henson's death reeks so much with innuendo that I question its appropriateness for kids.

So, my point is, I want to support 2D animation because I love the medium, but I don't want to support cartoons chock full of crude humor and mild profanities, so for that reason, I don't really want to see HOTR.

There was none of that in Finding Nemo and look how well that was received. Does anyone think that HOTR will fare as well? I don't think that FN's success was solely because it was 3D.

[quiden]

By the way, speaking of PG ratings, anyone here seen the original Planet of the Apes with Charlton Heston? That was rated G! Things have changed quite a bit, eh?

[goofystitch]

quiden,
I don't think the times have changed as much as the MPAA has. In my previous post on this topic, I mentioned that even Ebert and Ropert are upset at the way the MPAA rates things nowadays. I say "Teacher's Pet" which was PG for the same reason that "Home on the Range" is and it wasn't that bad. The jokes that made it PG where over my 11 year old brother's head, so I doubt your younger kids will find anything naughty about "Home on the Range." Do they understand why the joke "Yep, they're real. Quit staring" is funny? Probably not.

[AwallaceUNC]

A lot of really good points made here. Paka, I think you hit the nail on the head with the polarization. I think the reason so many of us are saying there has been more comedy is that heavy drama content in films has existed moreso in vintage Disney animated classics than has comedy, until lately. Most of the earlier stuff is a wonderful blend of both, however, and this needs to be returned to.

Squirrel, I also like your point that the few comedies that do exist have come out of this decade, thus the feeling of overwhelming comedy (for lack of a better term- it's not really overwhelming).

Quinn- I definitely agree that you should be able to turn on a Disney film without worrying about innuendo. Adults can turn on any PG-13+ movie and see that stuff, and I just don't believe they are looking for it in Disney films, so I don't see it attracting them. More thematic elements DO attract adults (i.e. Lion King) as well as knee-slapping clean humor (i.e. Finding Nemo), and those should be concentrated on more. As for the muppets, I've always thought they are a slightly more mature level of humor, though they are overall fairly clean. I don't have as much of a problem with this, b/c I feel that it's always been that way, though I will agree that it has escalated in recent times.

-Aaron

[Rebel]

There are plenty of sources for crude humor available to anyone who wants it. I see no reason for Disney to include any crude humor in any of their animated movies. Does anyone honestly believe that more people will go see a Disney animated feature because it contains crude humor?

A movie can be laugh out loud, rolling on the floor funny without any sexual innuendo or anything crude.

It is not like G rated family movies are a saturated market.
How many Rated G movies coming out this year?

Hopefully Pixar will keep The Incredibles as G, but that will not be out until November. I am also crossing my fingers that The Polar Express will be G too. Any guesses about the rating for The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie which is also scheduled for November? Or what about Bill Cosby's live action Fat Albert due in December?

Anyway, those are all 7-8 months away...

What movies are we supposed to take little kids to see this summer?

[quiden]

What movies are we supposed to take little kids to see this summer?

I totally agree! Whatever happened to Disney being the "Trusted source for family entertainment?" Now you can't trust that what they are putting out will be totally appropriate for kids and what adult is going to go see a movie like Atlantis or Treasure Planet to screen it for their kids? I sure wouldn't, but I did take my kids to see Brother Bear and Finding Nemo because I trusted that they would be appropriate.

Are there any Kids movies coming out this summer? Shrek 2 maybe? I sure won't take my kids to see it before I see it and if I'm going to go see a movie, I'm going to one that interests me first like Spiderman 2 or something like that.

[MickeyMousePal]

What movies could kids see this summer?

Answers:

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Garfield
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Movie
Shrek 2
Spider-Man 2
Scooby-Doo 2 (if still playing in the summer).

Most movie ratings could be G or just PG-13.

[goofystitch]

You don't have to go and screen these films before letting your kids see them because you can easily find all of the answers to your questions shortly after the film opens by reading reviews on amazon.com. I often review films like this and tell people what was so wrong with the film. And like I have already stated, movie studios don't rate their films, the MPAA does and Ebert and Ropert both agree that the MPAA has been rediculous with their ratings latley. I am assuming that "Home On The Range" isn't going to be as inapropriate as you are expecting.

[PatrickvD]

I read a review on rottentomatoes.com (I think) that said that HOTR is actually a G movie and that the rating for that one rediclous joke is outrageous. Like kids actually get that joke... and besides, they see MUCH worse thigns on tv that parents have NO idea of... I dont think there is any reason why you should screen HOTR before letting your kids see it

[Rebel]

You don't have to go and screen these films before letting your kids see them because you can easily find all of the answers to your questions shortly after the film opens by reading reviews on amazon.com. I often review films like this and tell people what was so wrong with the film. And like I have already stated, movie studios don't rate their films, the MPAA does and Ebert and Ropert both agree that the MPAA has been rediculous with their ratings latley. I am assuming that "Home On The Range" isn't going to be as inapropriate as you are expecting.

If a movie has a G rating then I feel pretty safe having the kids watch it without me having to preview it first. I am very glad that the MPAA is picky about giving G ratings because I am picky about what young children should be exposed to.

If a movie is given a PG rating then it may or may not be suitable for children. There is always some reason for the rating whether or not you agree with the reason. So before taking children to a PG movie, I have to either screen it myself or have someone I trust screen it. I do not trust the reviews posted to the web by random people.

Although movie studios do not exactly give the MPAA rating to their films, they know the rating system and they choose what goes into their films. If the film is a borderline case and the movie studio does not like the MPAA rating that they received, they have the opportunity to change the film and thus change the rating. If it would require too many changes then it is not really a borderline case.

[Rebel]

What movies could kids see this summer?

Answers:

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Garfield
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Movie
Shrek 2
Spider-Man 2
Scooby-Doo 2 (if still playing in the summer).

Most movie ratings could be G or just PG-13.

I am talking about children with single digit ages. PG-13 is out. Many PG movies are also unsuitable.

The previous 2 Harry Potter movies have been rated PG. There are rumors that the next one will be PG-13. We will have to wait and see.

I have seen very little regarding the content of Garfield, but I will be rather surprised if it ends up being a G rated movie. With Garfield's attitude, I fear that it will be more like "The Cat in the Hat" type of movie that is allegedly supposed to be for kids, but in reality is not really suitable for anyone.

The Princess Diaries 2 hopefully will be a G rated movie, but it is not really targeted for the interests of young children.

They ought to be able to make a G rated movie for Yu-Gi-Oh, but it would not surprise me if they push the limits of G and end up being PG. However, regardless of the rating, I really do not expect Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie to be a great movie. The kids enjoy going to the theater and eating popcorn regardless of the movie, but if I am going to spend $40-$50 for us all to go then I would prefer it to be quality entertainment for the whole family.

Shrek 2 could be a very funny movie with a G rating, but Dreamworks will probably make it PG or PG-13.

Does anyone think that Spider-Man 2 will be anything less than a PG-13? I thought that the first one was a great movie, but it was not for little children.

The first Scooby Doo movie was better than the sequel. Not only is SD2 less entertaining, it also seems to contain more rude humor and language than the first. Based upon this week's box office returns and movie reviews, it is doubtful that it will still be in theaters this summer.

[Mermaid Kelly]

I am talking about children with single digit ages. PG-13 is out. Many PG movies are also unsuitable.

Yea I know, little kids see so much these days. My best friend's nine year old sister sees many rated R movies, (she is very snotty and doesn't give up till she gets her way). I think that's terrible though, she knows curse words, all kinds of "sex talk", slutty looking dance moves, etc. and she's only nine.....wow. It bothers me to think about it.

(I don't think Home on the Range is bad at all though).

[AwallaceUNC]

The MPAA may be overly-scrutinizing some G-quality films, but I still say this joke alone warrants a PG rating... it's not an "all audiences" thing. It may not be bad enough for PG, maybe there should be a G.5... but how bad is PG, anyways? It's still mostly family-friendly. The PG library is comprised of films that are mostly clean but have a few adult elements or jokes, like this one, but none too serious.

-Aaron

[Rebel]

I am talking about children with single digit ages. PG-13 is out. Many PG movies are also unsuitable.

Yea I know, little kids see so much these days. My best friend's nine year old sister sees many rated R movies, (she is very snotty and doesn't give up till she gets her way). I think that's terrible though, she knows curse words, all kinds of "sex talk", slutty looking dance moves, etc. and she's only nine.....wow. It bothers me to think about it.

(I don't think Home on the Range is bad at all though).

I am not saying that Home on the Range is necessarily bad; my complaint is that I have to find out how bad it is before taking children to see it. I just do not understand why Disney failed to make it a G rated movie. Not everything has to be G rated, but children's movies like Home on the Range should be.

It would not surprise me if Roseanne's involvement had some influence though. Have you all seen this interview that she did about the movie? Although the topic was a family movie, she mentioned porn, referred to herself as sexy, called computers the spawn of Satan, and talked about people being "assholes." Her interview says very little about the movie, but it does indicate that Roseanne is not a very G rated person.

[quiden]

Here's my case-in-point about my concerns for having my kids see a PG rated movie. Shrek has many funny things in it that the kids got, and some that they didn't, I don't mind that because that humor was sophisticated, not nasty, but there were a few nasty parts that I really didn't appreciate. My example is when Farquad is sitting in his bed with a drink in one hand and his other hand over his lap having the mirror show him Fiona over and over again. As the "camera" gets closer to Farquad you see a bulge under his sheet around his groin area and he looks down at it and quickly lifts up his sheet to hide it and looks embarrassed (the point being that Farquad got an erection). I think that this is totally inappropriate content to put in a movie that will appeal to kids regardless of whether or not they get it!

If you don't believe me that it's in there, watch it for yourself! After seeing that, it is seriously making me doubt whether my kids should see PG rated movies before I screen them first.

[Jack]

I'm sure there are many who will be seeing Disney's latest and last traditionally-drawn animated project today. When you do, please post your reviews here! Let's try to keep this a spoiler-free as possible.

I thought it was a really fun movie, but nothing more. Like most of the Disney comedies, its so filled with the characters being wacky and lighthearted, that when it comes to actually caring for them, I didn't. But its a very entertaining movie anyway, and very remeniscent of Emperor's New Groove and Hercules. The entire thing looks like a Chuck Jones cartoon, and feels very much like a homage to that type of animation in general. Except for getting a tad slow in the dead center (due to loosing direction somewhat), it was very, very fast-paced and filled with energy, which served it well, overall. The music was alright, with "Little Patch of Heaven" being the only stand-out for me - what a catchy, upbeat song!

Favorite part: When Slim yoddles a herd of cows into a trance, what follows is one of the most cool-looking sequences in recent Disney history.

[Paka]

Yeah - good topic idea, Jack! I'll be seeing it in a couple hours myself, so I'll post back here when I get home (I'm also gonna see Hellboy back-to-back, so I'll be a while ).

And a good way around spoilers is to post them in white - like this. Then the people who really want to read the spoilers can highlight the text with their mouse. I'll probably be posting my reactions in this way, so you have been warned!

[indianajdp]

My 3 1/2 year-old daughter just got back from seeing it with her Grandma and Pop-Pop. She liked it...especially the "burps".

So there you have it. The first official HotR review

[Jens]

Wow, amazing review idnianajdp :PI'll have to wait untill July to see it, I hate living in Europe!