DVDizzy Forum

UrsushH.Bear wrote:If they could just figure how to do Elliot on stage- and update a bit- it could be Broadway.

Perhaps they could use the original intention of having Elliott invisible throughout, with the cast just pretending he's there!

UrsushH.Bear wrote:I also thought this would lend a hand at a sequil, or series with Elliot going around helping other children.

Kind of like the Care Bears, he helps a different child in need each week

You know back in the height of DTV sequel mania I seem to remember a Pete's Dragon II was on the drawing board.

that's werid I remember Pete's Dragon two being on the works but I guess they cancled it

I think I remember reading about a Pete's Dragon 2 also. As for a Broadway show, I don't think it would be impossible for them to construct some sort of mechanical Elliott puppet or Elliott costume, but I don't think that it would work to have him invisible throughout the show. That would be fine if no movie existed, but now that Elliott is known to look a certain way, audiences would be majorly disappointed to go see "Pete's Dragon" and not get to actually SEE Pete's dragon.

They really COULD have made (or still could, really), a great television series, possibly entirely animated, based on "Pete's Dragon" though, and I think it could have been really great.

Then again, I think you can make a great series or sequel for anything if the writers are good enough.

I really enjoy this film too. I have some minor complaints with it, but I mostly love it for the nostalgic feeling I get when I watch it because I remember watching it with my family as a kid. It's got plenty of heart and follows the formula of many, many other feel-good Disney family flicks.

If you haven't seen it, I recommend it solely on Jim Dale's performance. He's one of my favorite character actors, and his performances of "Passamaquoddy" and "Every Little Piece" in this film are fantastic.

Voiceroy wrote:I really enjoy this film too. I have some minor complaints with it, but I mostly love it for the nostalgic feeling I get when I watch it because I remember watching it with my family as a kid. It's got plenty of heart and follows the formula of many, many other feel-good Disney family flicks.

If you haven't seen it, I recommend it solely on Jim Dale's performance. He's one of my favorite character actors, and his performances of "Passamaquoddy" and "Every Little Piece" in this film are fantastic.

Totally agree. Jim Dale steels the show for me!

Timon/Pumbaa fan wrote:Might as well post before Aaron does.

Shame on me for not posting in this until now. Pete's Dragon is my favorite Disney film of all time. It's one of those movies for which my affection can't easily be summed up in a quick post and I never have the time to sit down and write it all out. I hope that it is given its due with a 2-Disc Masterpiece Edition release in the near future and that I in turn have the opportunity to review it. The movie has its weaknesses (Wonderlicious hit on one of them), but they are easily overshadowed by the many positive qualities. Magic is brimming throughout the whole thing, with some of the best music Disney has ever featured in a movie and a heartfelt relationship between the characters that more fondly remembered movies like <i>The Fox and the Hound</i> never comes close to. Elliott's role in Pete's life is probably one the best commentaries on childhood I've ever come across, rivaling the very best of children's literature!

Ichabod, reading your introductory post puts a smile on my face. It's nice to see someone else appreciate the movie for what it is. I have to say that while I do find some weak areas in the movie, Helen Reddy's performance has never been among them. She's a less flamboyant character than those around her, but then she's supposed to be. She's the beacon (forgive the pun) of sanity in Pete's life, just as she is his saving grace. That requires a more straight-laced performance, but I've always thought that she does it with more humor and flair than you would expect from the role. She runs on beer-filled barrels and dances on a bar for Pete's sake! (Again, forgive the pun). But hey, even if you don't like her acting, you've got to admit she sounds awesome in the songs.

I'm curious, what is everyone's favorite song? My 'all-time' favorite PD song is naturally "Candle on the Water", but I think my actual favorite is probably "Bill of Sale". I love the way Reddy sounds in that song and her lines are so heartfelt. In particular, I love her closing line: "I'll protect him as long as I'm alive", with the last note held out beautifully. The song really demonstrate Pete's need for protection and the defender that he has found in Nora.

I think I'll end my rambling about <i>Pete's Dragon</i> here, as I've already written more than I meant to. I'm vowing to listen to the soundtrack tomorrow, though, something I haven't yet done on my Bose speaker system!

-Aaron

UrsushH.Bear wrote:If they could just figure how to do Elliot on stage- and update a bit- it could be Broadway.

I meant to reply to this as well. Crunkcourt and I are always discussing how this might be pulled off, though we've come up with no good solutions. Of course, you would have to have Elliott on stage and he'd need to be quite a spectacle. If not, a lot of people who paid to see Pete's Dragon aren't going to be happy when they don't. I can't help but think of the Maleficent dragon used in WDW's Fantasmic or of Nigel in Finding Nemo: The Musical. Those are good examples of giant creatures being used on stage but while Elliott wouldn't need to be nearly as big, he would need to be a lot more mobile. More crucially, he would need to be able to disappear both in part and in whole and then reappear fairly quickly. I don't know much about stagecraft but it's difficult to think of a way in which that might be pulled off. Perhaps something to do with special material and lighting. Anyone have any ideas?

I agree with you, though, <i>Pete's Dragon</i> is the ideal musical for Broadway adaptation. They just need to figure out how to handle Elliott.

EDIT: One more thing I wanted to comment on... ichabod, my general impression is that more people recognize PD than BaB as well. I wonder if maybe it's different in the US than in Europe.

-Aaron

AwallaceUNC wrote: I'm curious, what is everyone's favorite song?

All the music is wonderful, but my top 3 is: "It's Not Easy", "There's Room for Everyone", and "Brazzle Dazzle Day".

AwallaceUNC wrote:I'm curious, what is everyone's favorite song?

Candle on the water! what an amazing song!! sells the movie for me

Pete's Dragon is ridiculously over the top. Although, that's par for the course with musicals (which I've never been a big fan of). But, if you watch it all by yourself, you never have to cringe during the sillier, more bloated moments. Certainly, "Candle On the Water" is a very touching, personal song. Maybe a little too personal / internal. Not likely to make large audiences stick their lighters in the air, hum, and rock side-to-side along with the music.

But, the movie has a good message. And some prime, freaky 70's camerawork. Especially during the "Every Little Piece" and "In These Hills" numbers. Oddly framed / hung closeups that get you a leeetle too close to shifty peoples' creepy faces.

Disney really blew it by not releasing a special edition of this movie. Mickey Rooney (Lampie) won't be around forever, and this is one of their last chances to interview him.

I would have LOVED to have a 30th Anniversary 2 Disc Special Edition of "Pete's Dragon". Its such a good movie.

jediliz wrote:

Disney really blew it by not releasing a special edition of this movie. Mickey Rooney (Lampie) won't be around forever, and this is one of their last chances to interview him.

I would have LOVED to have a 30th Anniversary 2 Disc Special Edition of "Pete's Dragon". Its such a good movie.

Disney has blown it when it comes to these movies, Mary Poppins is the only movie so far that has gotten a well put together special edition. Disney missed Bedknobs And Broomsticks and the original 1976 Freaky Friday, Disney these stars of these films aren't going to be around forever, so get out a decent special edition while there still alive.

I saw Pete's Dragon when I was in fourth grade. It was like the day before we were let out for Christmas or something, and they needed something to keep us busy.

Most of the class hated it, while I was one of the only few who enjoyed it.

My favorite song is definitly "Candle on the Water." It's so beautiful, and beautifully sung. Has anyone ever heard Anneliese Van der Pol's rendition of it? It's amazing!

My favorite scene and song of Pete's Dragon is Brazzel, Dazzle Day, I use to sing that song over and over again when I was a kid. The lighthouse in the film was something I also loved as well, this and Miss Price's Seaview Cottage are two of my favorite Disney structures.

SwordInTheStone777 wrote: The lighthouse in the film was something I also loved as well, this and Miss Price's Seaview Cottage are two of my favorite Disney structures.

Me too! Particularly Eglantine's cottage, I credit it with my fascination with English Tudor style architecture.

-Aaron

Absolutely love Helen Reddy in this movie! She's so lovely.

And next time you watch the "There's Room for Everyone" musical number, keep an eye out for the obnoxious boy who pushes a little girl out of the way for his solo. Was this staged or was he a complete diva? Either way it's hilarious!

I wish The lighthouse was still around. Disney should of left the lighthouse on the hill after the movie, let it become a real lighthouse.

PeterPanfan wrote:My favorite song is definitly "Candle on the Water." It's so beautiful, and beautifully sung. Has anyone ever heard Anneliese Van der Pol's rendition of it? It's amazing!

Napster expects $0.99 for it, so I can only hear the 0:30 second sample... It sounds pretty standard of Disney's music compilation CD's. Her voice is gorgeous, but the musical accompaniment (rest of the song - the sound of it) is blah. Yeah, if she can get the right sound, she could be an amazing breakthrough singer!

SwordInTheStone777 wrote:I wish The lighthouse was still around. Disney should of left the lighthouse on the hill after the movie, let it become a real lighthouse.

Disney moved it from the sight to the studio after completing the film so it could be part of a WDW or Disneyland attraction. Since the attraction was never built, it was left to rust on the studio lot beyond repair. Sad, really.

Flanger-Hanger wrote:

Disney moved it from the sight to the studio after completing the film so it could be part of a WDW or Disneyland attraction. Since the attraction was never built, it was left to rust on the studio lot beyond repair. Sad, really.

It's a shame the lighthouse had to rust away, just like Trara from Gone With The Wind did.

btw Flanger-Hanger, where did you find out that the lighthouse from the movie was moved from the hill back to the studio lot and that an attraction was going to be made from Pete's Dragon?