What's Your Favorite Live Action Film with Animation?
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 7:57 pm
Okay, so, continuing the recent poll-trend.... Here's one that I thought belongs here, and wanted to add. What's your favorite of Disney's "mixed media" films?
Here's my list:
1. Who Framed Roger Rabbit
2. Mary Poppins
3. Enchanted
4. Bedknobs and Broomsticks
5. Song of the South
6. The Reluctant Dragon
7. So Dear to my Heart
8. Victory Through Air Power
Who Framed Roger Rabbit is one of those instant-classic sort of films. It was a great concept, that was executed brilliantly. Also, it gets extra points for Jessica Rabbit, one of the best heroines Disney has. Oh, and for using obscure Disney characters, like Danny and the Reluctant Dragon. There really isn't much else to say.
Mary Poppins is absolutely timeless. It's got great music, and I love how Mary uses mind tricks and psychology to turn Mr. and Mrs. Banks from completely disengaged into the perfect parents! Why isn't this my number one? I just don't think it's as original as Roger Rabbit, and some of the scenes tend to drag just a little bit. So it's a close second, but second nonetheless.
Enchanted was a great idea for a whole new kind of princess movie. I love all of the Disney references, and how Giselle and Robert kind of complete each other. And even Edward gets Nancy in the end! It's great, and delightfully romantic! I don't think it's quite as good as the other two, but it's just so wonderful.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks was one of my favorite Disney movies when I was younger. I still love it dearly, but it has slipped somewhat on my list. It has so much in common with Mary Poppins, without being quite as clever, and without as many catchy songs. And, I think some of the sideplots could have been better developed, especially with the preacher that wants Eglantine's house. Still, it's really very good.
Song of the South is very, very good. James Baskett actually perfected the "eye line" technique that allowed some of the other films in this list to even exist. To this day, I don't believe any actor has pulled it off as well, except Bob Hoskins. The animated segments are charming, and so is the main plot. I do think some scenes tend to drag, a bit though. Not as many catchy songs as Bedknobs, even.
The Reluctant Dragon is amusing, and I was pleasantly surprised by how delightful the frame story was. And all of the shorts were great, too. I just don't think it holds up as well as the others. And, even with the frame story being so cute, it's still basically a package film. Nothing against package films, mind you, but the whole episodic thing is definitely a factor in its placement on my list. The title sequence is a highlight, definitely!
So Dear to my Heart was a charming film, with sort of a similar tone to Song of the South, but I don't think it was quite as well done. I love that little black lamb, though, and Burl Ives is a delight! But I was disappointed at the very small amount of animation in this film. And the "Stick-to-it-ivity" song, aside from being obnoxiously catchy, almost feels like just an excuse to tack some more animation in there.
Victory Through Air Power is last on my list, with good reason. It's a fascinating look into the military strategy of WWII, and actually manages to be rather exciting on occasion, with the "History of Aviation" segment and the finale being highlights. But I just can't watch this movie when I'm sleepy, or I will not be awake for most of it. I'm so glad it's only an hour long, really. Any longer, and I think it could be considered "dull." As it stands, it is pretty interesting, but it's not really a story, or something you can really get into. So it's nowhere near as much fun for me as anything else on this list.
Here's my list:
1. Who Framed Roger Rabbit
2. Mary Poppins
3. Enchanted
4. Bedknobs and Broomsticks
5. Song of the South
6. The Reluctant Dragon
7. So Dear to my Heart
8. Victory Through Air Power
Who Framed Roger Rabbit is one of those instant-classic sort of films. It was a great concept, that was executed brilliantly. Also, it gets extra points for Jessica Rabbit, one of the best heroines Disney has. Oh, and for using obscure Disney characters, like Danny and the Reluctant Dragon. There really isn't much else to say.
Mary Poppins is absolutely timeless. It's got great music, and I love how Mary uses mind tricks and psychology to turn Mr. and Mrs. Banks from completely disengaged into the perfect parents! Why isn't this my number one? I just don't think it's as original as Roger Rabbit, and some of the scenes tend to drag just a little bit. So it's a close second, but second nonetheless.
Enchanted was a great idea for a whole new kind of princess movie. I love all of the Disney references, and how Giselle and Robert kind of complete each other. And even Edward gets Nancy in the end! It's great, and delightfully romantic! I don't think it's quite as good as the other two, but it's just so wonderful.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks was one of my favorite Disney movies when I was younger. I still love it dearly, but it has slipped somewhat on my list. It has so much in common with Mary Poppins, without being quite as clever, and without as many catchy songs. And, I think some of the sideplots could have been better developed, especially with the preacher that wants Eglantine's house. Still, it's really very good.
Song of the South is very, very good. James Baskett actually perfected the "eye line" technique that allowed some of the other films in this list to even exist. To this day, I don't believe any actor has pulled it off as well, except Bob Hoskins. The animated segments are charming, and so is the main plot. I do think some scenes tend to drag, a bit though. Not as many catchy songs as Bedknobs, even.
The Reluctant Dragon is amusing, and I was pleasantly surprised by how delightful the frame story was. And all of the shorts were great, too. I just don't think it holds up as well as the others. And, even with the frame story being so cute, it's still basically a package film. Nothing against package films, mind you, but the whole episodic thing is definitely a factor in its placement on my list. The title sequence is a highlight, definitely!
So Dear to my Heart was a charming film, with sort of a similar tone to Song of the South, but I don't think it was quite as well done. I love that little black lamb, though, and Burl Ives is a delight! But I was disappointed at the very small amount of animation in this film. And the "Stick-to-it-ivity" song, aside from being obnoxiously catchy, almost feels like just an excuse to tack some more animation in there.
Victory Through Air Power is last on my list, with good reason. It's a fascinating look into the military strategy of WWII, and actually manages to be rather exciting on occasion, with the "History of Aviation" segment and the finale being highlights. But I just can't watch this movie when I'm sleepy, or I will not be awake for most of it. I'm so glad it's only an hour long, really. Any longer, and I think it could be considered "dull." As it stands, it is pretty interesting, but it's not really a story, or something you can really get into. So it's nowhere near as much fun for me as anything else on this list.