I'm a newbie here, so...hope to be here for a while. Seems a nice place.
I'll give it a go, though, I guess, regarding my story. It'll be a long one. I have a tendency to ramble, to spill information...when I write.
The first film I saw (in the theaters, or have memory of seeing, anyway) was Oliver & Company. I even had the soundtrack on a casette tape...that is long busted and gone. So I have fond memories of that film, of the songs. "Good Company."
But, when I was little (and for all my life until now, at school), I lived on a farm in the country. We never had a lot of money (until my dad went back to school). We never went to the movies often. When we did, it was more often than not to see Disney films, and back in the early 90's (I was born in '84; I'm 19 now) we would get Disney movies on VHS for Christmas, birthdays...so they sort of got imprinted on me. And maybe because I'm from a conservative state, because I'm rather shy...the films go so well with my personality. Though many can be intense (The Lion King, the death scenes in Brother Bear), the films come across to me as gentle, sweet, fun, and a wonder to look at and take in. They comfort me and make me feel safe, and they immerse me in their lushly drawn worlds, with characters I would like to know. They appeal to the senses, to the heart, and to the mind as well. For me, they work on all levels: artistic, intellectual, and most importantly, emotional.
They satisfy what I'm looking to get out a movie...
The Rescuers Down Under was one of the first of these, or the one I really latched on to. And I recently rediscovered it on that VHS copy...and searched for the DVD (found it at Wal-Mart), and to this day, I find it such a romantic, adventurous film, lovely animation and everything. The flight scenes with Cody and Marahute are perhaps my favorite animated moments. Flight captured in grand, romantic style, in a way that computers could never mimick, aided by such a noble score. And the heart-warming romance between Bernard and Miss Biana (voiced perfectly by Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor). It just makes me feel good, warm, safe, even. RDU (and most Disney films, for me) is a comfort.
And then with Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, my interest continued, but I will admit...with Hercules and the Hunchback of Notre Dame, I sort of drifted away. Not that I didn't like Disney anymore, but just lost complete interest, in a way...
In the meantime, I was becoming interested in classical/orchestral music, and that's when I heard about Fantasia 2000. I wanted desperately to see it on the IMAX (but my family wouldn't take me; "It doesn't have any words!" LOL. But I won't get into that; I've had this arguement one too many times...), but I finally did see it during its regular theatrical release (with my grandma), and it was a sweeping, glorious collection of animation and music, various styles and colors and forms. A true, earnest, artistic endeavor...and also entertaining and emotionally satisfying. The Pines of Rome, with the flying whales, sparks the imagination, and is a perfect expample of a good mixture of how 2D and 3D can compliment each other. The Steadfast Tin Soldier was very romantic, rich in style, tone. And all the rest...
So I got the soundtrack for that, and with that single film, my interest in Disney jump-started. I was on my way...but, admittedly, it was Lilo & Stitch that propelled me into being a hard-core fanatic (LOL), if you will, into falling head over heels for Disney and its films.
I heard about Lilo & Stitch about 8 months before it came out (thanks to the teasers they ran on Disney Channel). It caught my interest, because Stitch was invading Beauty and the Beast (one of my favorites, after RDU, from when I was little). When I saw the blue alien crash the dance sequence, my interest was piqued. (The marketing campaign for that film was genius; they also marketed well for Brother Bear.) I've always liked science-fiction/fantasy. I had been a huge Trek fan, but after DS9 went off the air, I faded from that, too (and remain that way; Enterprise and Nemesis have done nothing for me, and are rather aimless).
So I did some research on the internet. I was just starting to become a big film fan in general (after following Crouching Tiger and Fellowship of the Ring at the Oscars, and having loved both films), but Fantasia 2000 having provided the base, I was motivated to see, learn more...about animated features and Disney.
I was enchanted with the idea for Lilo & Stitch, a romance of sorts between a girl and her alien dog. And the animation looked very simple and warm, rounded, with watercolors. Lush. And Stitch is so cute! It looked to be a quirky, fun film, and entering my senior year at high school (and struggling in so many of my classes and trying to get into college), I sort of latched onto that film. It was, in a sort of way, I guess, the last movie of my youth, if that makes any sense. Before I had to leave home...but more of a safety device, both a diversion and a comfort. Because I could very much relate to the themes of loneliness that the two leads endured...
It was released on the first day of summer, and it was a perfect fit for the time and season. I ended up seeing it three times (the first with my mother and brothers, the second time alone, and the third time I dragged my father and sister; none of them loved it like I did. They liked it, but...).
I even got the Art Of book, the soundtrack (which started me making a collection for each Disney film: the soundtrack, Art Of book, a Disney Store plush, and the DVD; so far I've done this for Lilo, Finding Nemo, and Brother Bear; though not with the DVD yet on Bear, obviously; though I skipped this for Treasure Planet, as it never...clicked with me; but I'm really anticipating Home on the Range, the next one up).
So, after Lilo & Stitch, I was a hard-core Disney enthusiast. It's my favorite all-time film.
And I love the traditional films the most, by far. I can appreciate and be in awe of Finding Nemo and the like...but I find it so much easier to attach myself to, to invest myself in, to love...the traditional films. Disney films make me feel good, and they bring a rush of memories and emotions from the past, and make new ones for the future. And I'm grateful for that...
And now I'm starting a collection (on DVD). I have about 11 films (including Lilo and The Rescuers Down Under and Fantasia 2000)...and other collectible Disney things...and I follow all their releases before and after they hit theaters. I'll be rooting for Brother Bear to nab a few Academy Award nominations (Animated Feature and Song) this winter...though it probably won't win, I would be so happy to see it representing animation and Disney during film's biggest night, to be a part of the pageant...
But I'm probably the only 19 year old male college student here (as far as I know) that's such a Disney fan (LOL). (I saw Brother Bear twice during it's opening weekend; loved it.) And everytime I'm with my family and we happen to be near a mall, I'll ask my mom if we can stop so I can go to the Disney store. She'll roll her eyes.
But I'm an eternal optimist (in regards to Disney films, anyway), and have liked a lot of their current features, so I'm hopeful that things will turn out fine (what with the 2D vs. 3D debate and everything else)...Atlantis and Treasure Planet were disappointing to me, but...so I'm not blindly enthusastic, but I am a big fan, yes.
Sorry for rambling!
If you have imsomnia watch these films. I have most of the animated Disney movies and a few soundtracks. I love WDW and first went there when I was two, Mickey stole my bottle and I never did fully forgive him. I like watching the sunset, candle lit dinners and long walks on the beach. :lol:j/k
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