The Black Cauldron Appreciation Thread

[Gregorian Chant]

You have to give props to a movie that features as one of its main characters a clairvoyant pig. And Gurgi looks like the secret love child of Stitch and Walter Cronckite. I have to give it .

[Evil Genie Jafar]

So much talk about the movie and you made me want to watch it right now.

It is 1:00am and I most say the movie works so much better this late than during daytime. (Basically, in order to watch it should be in a theater way; everything dark... or you'll loose the atmosphere). Frankly I'd say I'm starting to like it more this way; it kinds of remind me The Neverending Story.


PS

It is a shame that instead of making sure these movies never existed, Disney should make profit out of these unpopular movies (The Black Cauldron, The Rescuers, The Great Mouse Detective...).

By the way, in Disney World, is there any mention of this movie? An attraction or at least if they sell toys or stuff of it?

[Lazario]

The Black Cauldron: A good movie that works best late at night. I found that I like it better than The Great Mouse Detective...

I did too. In fact, I just watched The Great Mouse Detective yesterday and though I liked it even better than the first time I saw it (it deserves a Platinum or Masterpiece special/anniversary edition release of it's own!), I too think The Black Cauldron is truly one of Disney's best films. It's not cool that it's taken such shots just because it was a little darker and had no songs. I still found it to be quite light. I'd actually like to see someone name 10 Disney movies that are really better. I can't even imagine what would be wrong with a person that would hinder them from seeing the greatness of this film. It's really a perfect Disney movie, pitch perfect. And that's not something that can truly be said of all the animated Disney 'classics'.

[Evil Genie Jafar]

I've decided to bring up this topic again because I was reading the whole story behind this movie on dvdtoons, and it was very interesting. And by the looks of it, it seems that real hidden gem in the list of Disney Animated Classics is The Black Cauldron.

It seems that this movie did get a cult following.

So we should be lucky to have it released on DVD. And if you're not sure to buy this movie, please do. For historical purposes and because I'm quite sure that with each viewing you'll learn to appreciate it more.

It's a shame Disney didn't follow the footsteps of Hercules (how this movie used the boom of the live action series) and using The Lord of The Rings phenomenon brought back this movie in a really nice edition.

Don't know why Disney is so ashamed of this movie. And besides, with the DVD format they could bring so much material (deleted scenes, making of, documentaries...) that would help people learn more from it.


PS

I went to a Blockbuster and found a VHS version of it, and it is funny on how Disney labeled it as "Masterpiece", so what happened?

[Escapay]

By the way, in Disney World, is there any mention of this movie? An attraction or at least if they sell toys or stuff of it?

Well, the never-used quick service food area called "Lumiere's Kitchen" (next to "Mrs. Potts' Cupboard") was formerly known as "Gurgi's Munchies and Crunchies".

And I think it's either in Tokyo Disnyland or in Disneyland Paris, but the Horned King is featured beneath the castle. Something with a walk-through attraction or something?

Escapay

[Kram Nebuer]

By the way, in Disney World, is there any mention of this movie? An attraction or at least if they sell toys or stuff of it?

Well, the never-used quick service food area called "Lumiere's Kitchen" (next to "Mrs. Potts' Cupboard") was formerly known as "Gurgi's Munchies and Crunchies".

And I think it's either in Tokyo Disnyland or in Disneyland Paris, but the Horned King is featured beneath the castle. Something with a walk-through attraction or something?

Escapay

It's Tokyo. Many of the villains are featured in the Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour. It is impossible to have the Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour at the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Paris.

Anyhow, WDW had a pin this summer commemmorating Black Cauldron's 20th Anniversary. Eilonwy looks creepy:



Though Disney doesn't have very many pins for this 20 year old movie (http://www.pinpics.com/cgi-bin/search.c ... 68&view=v2) as compared to http://www.pinpics.com/cgi-bin/group.cgi?group=2339

Also, I remember reading in the Art of Animation (or something like that)that the Disney animators were the ones most ashamed of this movie. They already had so much trouble finding a story and fitting it together, then Katzenberg comes in and basically says "Hi! Gimme the movie. I wanna chop it up and fix it for you. By myself. No one bother me." and then all their work finally makes it to theaters and has painful returns and big losses. So it's basically like you worked super hard on a term paper for school then some person helps you edit it then you get it back with a big fat red F and your self confidence drops waaay below "C" level. That is why Disney is ashamed of this movie.

[Isidour]

I just don´t get this:
How could we appreciate something that the very Disney is ashamed of?

[Escapay]

I just don´t get this:
How could we appreciate something that the very Disney is ashamed of?

Just because Disney is ashamed of it doesn't mean we have to be.

Escapay

[Sendur]

Yes, I love the movie so much
it's one of my favourites
I think the score is really great, and the story is a masterpiece!
they should make a SE of this movie, because I think we now appreciate the movie more than back in 1985....

[Evil Genie Jafar]

I just don´t get this:
How could we appreciate something that the very Disney is ashamed of?

The way they put the story together is not the best naturally but everything else works great.

1) nice animation (the attack of the dragons, the army of the death...); I was very impressed by it. It is still very impressive by today standards.

2) the music fits the movie perfectly and has some very nice songs (like the one that accompanies The Horned King)

3) The Horned King is a very interesting character

4)...if they decide to make a Special Edition with everything that went going on at the time, I'm sure people will get to comprehend and appreciate it more

5) it is not a movie to be ashamed of despite all against it. It's not that its a terrible film as it is; they're far worse ones.

[Lazario]

I just don't get this:
How could we appreciate something that the very Disney is ashamed of?

I hate to follow suit with everyone else, but... EXCUSE ME?! If you had given that statement proper thought, you would remember that Disney is apparently quite ashamed of a little movie they made called, Song of the South. How to appreciate that one... And they proved just how ashamed they were of Make Mine Music when they clipped the Martins and the Coys section out of it, and otherwise altered Fantasia, Aladdin, and Melody Time. Nobody appreciated their embarassment of those movies, and each movie's fan appreciated each one of the movies just fine on their own. Disney's embarassment is what's responsible for all of the damage they do! Why are you supporting it?

[Evil Genie Jafar]

.... not to mention how "heartless" Alice in Wonderland is and it received a 2 Disc Edition (with a restored video; the main important thing). And it got quite a few followers.

[Isidour]

ok, I think that my last post was quite "commented" by everyone

Well, it certanly have something good, but I don´t really think of it as a real Disney work(compared with the other movies)anyway, maybe I need to look harder

[Nausica's biggest fan]

I like the bc but it does compare to the other snow white and the others

[GhostHost]

The Black Cauldron is the third best disney film(pixar included) since the Jungle Book.
Ranking of Post Walt films:
1.Lion King
2.Fantasia 2000
3.Black Cauldron

[Enchantress]

I've always liked this movie. It has one of the most underrated 'princesses' ever: Eilonwy. It's funny how Disney has that trademark everywhere, but they keep forgetting about Kida and Eilonwy and include someone like Mulan.

Rock on! Unfortunately, being a part of all the Disney princess merchandise is really just a popularity contest. Shame on you, ladies. Let Eilonwy in your little group!

And what about Nala? She gets descriminated against just because she's a lion!

And Feline ..come to think of it...would Jane from Tarzan be a princess?

ANYWAY

I watched The Black Cauldron the other day, i wasn't too bothered by it, i thought it was original enough, but i just didn't warm to it in the same way that many of you have, it just wasn't my cup of tea

[Isidour]

I watched this movie yesterday and I still don´t get what you all think is great.

I mean, the draws of the characters..I felt like I was watching a non-Disney movie

[Gwildor]

Well, in my opinion, the movie is a little bit messed, but even that way, I feel that is one of the bests between Sleeping Beauty and The Little Mermaid!
Without a doubt better than Aristocats, Fox and the Hound and other animal's movies from that decade!

I'm really sorry that the project did't worked out very well, the story had a great potencial and some strong characteres like the Horned King, that could have been one of the best disney villains! It's really a shame...

But after all, I still think that the movie is not that bad, I love the dragons sequence, and the witches of Morva!

[Isidour]

also a solid end would had helped
I mean, they get the...what was he...or she...or it? but we never knew what happened after to the black cauldron, if the witches used it or even if the sword had another special quialities

[castleinthesky]

also a solid end would had helped
I mean, they get the...what was he...or she...or it? but we never knew what happened after to the black cauldron, if the witches used it or even if the sword had another special quialities

There is no end, because you are supposed to have formulated what you think happens next. That is a major literary device. It's common in many Disney works.