Week 5: Pocahontas (1995)

This is another Disney movie that would make my top ten for sure. I can sing along with and quote nearly the entire movie. I remember clearly how many of my school friends and I would say, “Wingapo”, and do the arm motion. The year this movie came out, my Grandma Nelson gave me a lithograph of one of the scenes from the movie and a holographic watch with Pocahontas in it for Easter. I wore that watch until it became unreadable when a drop of water got inside it. To say I absolutely love this movie would probably be an understatement.

Plot Summary: An English soldier and the daughter of an Algonquin chief share a romance when English colonists invade seventeenth-century Virginia. (www.imdb.com)

Fun Fact: When the Native Americans are preparing for the battle, they are surrounding a big fire. Before they move to start the battle, they are all walking towards the center of the circle. As they do this everyone’s shadow is right in front of them, as if the sun was behind all of them. This isn’t possible since at least half of their shadows would be behind them and not in front of them.

Favourite Character: Pocahontas. But I am also quite partial to Meeko and Flit.

Favourite Song:

Just Around the Riverbend (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DE5a80I8EU

Colours of the Wind (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvvZ1TEQRB8)

Quotable Quotes:

I’ve seen hundreds of new worlds, Thomas. What could possibly be different about this one?

As the river cuts his path, though the river’s prod and strong, it will choose the smoothest course.

Listen with your heart, you will understand.

Sometimes our paths are chosen for us.

The ripples, so small at first, but then they grow. But someone has to start them.

You can never step in the same river twice.

I’d rather die tomorrow than live a hundred years without you.

You know your path, child, now follow it.

This is my path, what will yours be?

No matter what happens, I’ll always be with you. Forever.

Final Thoughts:

The love story between John Smith and Pocahontas is by far one of my favourite Disney love stories. These two are destined to be together and, yet, so many things try to get in their way. Nevertheless, when Pocahontas finally realizes her destiny and follows it – she and John Smith begin to change their world. Whatever your path may be, when you find it and follow it, things will begin to come together the way they are meant to.

5 Mickeys out of 5:

Next Week’s Movie: Pocahontas II: Journey to the New World

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Week 4: Oliver and Company (1988)

 

This is a cute story and the movie has a fairly decent Disney-esque soundtrack. But it wouldn’t make my top-ten list. The Lion King aside, it seems I vastly prefer the Disney movies where the main characters are people rather than those that are animals. I will say, though, that the cat and dogs in this movie are absolutely adorable – except for Jenny’s poodle, Georgette – she’s kind of an egomaniac.

 Plot Summary: A lost and alone kitten joins a gang of dogs engaged in petty larceny in New York. (www.imdb.com)

 Fun Fact: There are at least three cameos of other animated characters in this movie. In one of the opening scenes, where a large group of dogs are marching after Dodger – we see Peg from Lady and the Tramp. Then later, when we see Georgette’s room and all the pictures on her dresser of her suitors, we see Scooby Doo. Finally, later in the movie, we see one of the dogs has cornered Marie (Aristocats) up a tree.

 Favourite Character: Dodger

 Favourite Song: Why Should I Worry? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb7kJ-j_dKA)

 Quotable Quotes:

Absitively posolutely!

“You’re not being fair!” “Fairs are for tourists, kid.”

It seems rather dangerous to use one’s entire vocabulary in a single sentence.

After you, my little croissant.

 Final Thoughts:

You just never know who you might be able to count on.

 3 Mickeys out of 5:

 Next Week’s Movie: Pocahontas

 

Week Off

I’m taking a break from the blog this week because I borrowed Roots from the library…and, well, it takes some time to work through. I am really enjoying Kunta Kinte’s story (I’m on Episode 4 now.) Happy Easter, everyone, and I’ll be back next week with Oliver and Company!

Week 3: The Lion King (1994)

If I had to make a top ten list of Disney movies, this would be very close to the top. I am surprised my VHS copy did not fall apart from how many times we watched it. Also, fun fact, I had a matchy-matchy Lion King sweatsuit too – it was my favourite outfit at eight/nine years old. This is a movie I can quote almost in its entirety – and I can definitely sing the words to all the songs. (And I will. If no one is there to hear…haha.)  Fun fact #2: my brother and I once spent an entire weekend at my aunt and uncle’s house trying to pass the Lion King video game. We failed.

Plot Summary: Lion cub and future king Simba searches for his identity. His eagerness to please others and penchant for testing his boundaries sometimes gets him into trouble. (www.imdb.com)

 Fun Fact: Rafiki leads Simba to a lake claiming to show him Mufasa. Simba looks up from the lake when he hears Mufasa in the sky. He never moves all the while talking to Mufasa, which means he should be standing at the edge of the lake. But when Mufasa fades away Simba runs forward and we realize Simba was nowhere near the lake, but on a grassland. If he was near the lake, he should have fallen into it when he ran forward. (www.imdb.com)

 Favourite Character: Pumbaa

Favourite Song:

Just Can’t Wait to be King (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywjX6AF6oVc)

Hakuna Matata (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB5ceAruYrI)

Quotable Quotes:

He’s as mad as a hippo with a hernia.

Yuck. I can’t marry her! She’s my friend!

That’s MISTER Banana Beak to you, Fuzzy.

You gotta put your behind in your past.

Home is where your rump rests.

Your Majesty! I gravel at your feet.

You can either run from your past or learn from it.

 Final Thoughts: Running away from your problems doesn’t make them go away. All running away does is hurt the people you love – it’s better to “stick your behind in your past” and move forward trying to do better. The lessons you learned in the past should influence your future.

Five Mickeys out of five:

Next Week’s Movie: Oliver and Company

Week 2: Finding Nemo (2003)

This movie came out the year I graduated high school – yup, just told you all how old I am. I never saw it in theaters, but remember watching it about a year after it came out on “The Wonderful World of Disney”. That was my usual Sunday night ritual. I very much enjoy this movie, but find it somewhat disappointing that there are no earworm-type songs to get stuck in my head.

Plot Summary: After his son is captured in the Great Barrier Reef and taken to Sydney, a timid clownfish sets out on a journey to bring him home. (www.imdb.com)

Fun Fact: Among the toys in the waiting room are the jack-in-the-box and Buzz Lightyear and, on a shelf, the plane he used to “fly” in Toy Story (1995) and Pixar’s trademark ball from Luxo Jr. (1986). (www.imdb.com)

Favourite Character: Dory

Favourite Song: Interestingly enough, not your typical Disney soundtrack. Other than Dory’s sing-songy “Just Keep Swimming”, there are no lyrics to any of the music in this movie.

Quotable Quotes:

You know, for a clownfish, he really isn’t that funny.

Fish are friends, not food.

Just keep swimming.

All drains lead to the ocean.

I look at you and I’m home.

Final Thoughts: Just keep swimming. Keep moving towards your dreams, goals, that crazy idea you have in your mind. You’ll get there if you just keep moving in that direction.

3.5 Mickeys out of 5:

Next Week’s Movie: The Lion King

Week 2 Bonus Post: Aladdin (1992)

Of all the Disney movies I’ve watched, this is one I come back to over and over. It is far and above one of my all-time favourites. It’s pure Disney magic the whole way through – from Aladdin running from the guards to the Cave of Wonders and that memorable magic carpet ride. I may have seen it in theaters as a child – can’t quite remember for sure. Here’s what I do know: I had a matchy-matchy Aladdin sweatsuit as a child. I watched almost every episode of the Aladdin TV show. My friend, Joanne, and I spent hours upon hours playing the Super Nintendo Aladdin video game.

All that being said, Aladdin is one step ahead of the average Disney movie for me…

 Plot Summary: Aladdin, a street urchin, accidentally meets Princess Jasmine, who is in the city undercover. They love each other, but she can only marry a prince. (www.imdb.com)

 Fun Fact: After proving his abilities to Aladdin by getting them out of a collapsed cave, Genie calls Aladdin “Mr. Doubting Mustafa”. In the classic tellings of the Aladdin story, Mustafa was the name of Aladdin’s late father. (www.imdb.com)

Favourite Character: Genie

Favourite Song: One Jump Ahead (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkbOGaJqJmg)

Never Had a Friend Like Me (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grVzHu-_LcU)

 Quotable Quotes:

Look at that! I’m so ticked off that I’m molting!

If I were as rich as you, I could afford some manners.

Phenomenal cosmic powers! Itty bitty living space…

That’s Sultan Vile Betrayer to you!

Jafar, Jafar, he’s our man. If he can’t do it … GREAT!

 Final Thoughts: It really is what’s inside that counts. And even more importantly – a friend always keeps his word.

5 Mickeys out of 5:

 Next Week’s Movie: Finding Nemo (Actually, that’s this week’s movie…Aladdin’s just a bonus for you all. :))

Week 1: Lilo and Stitch (2002)

I had never watched this Disney movie before – as far as I can remember.  I really enjoyed it, loved the message and laughed the whole way through.

Plot Summary: A Hawaiian girl adopts an unusual pet who is actually a notorious extra-terrestrial fugitive from the law. (www.imdb.com)

Fun Fact: After Lilo throws her doll on the ground and then runs back and carries it away, it begins to smile. (www.imdb.com)

Favourite Character: Lilo

Favourite Song: Hawaiian Rollercoaster Ride

Quotable Quotes:

Ohana means family. And family means nobody gets left behind.

Stitch is troubled. He needs desserts.

This my family. Is little and broken, but good.

Oh good! My dog found the chainsaw.

Final Thoughts: No matter how little or broken your “family” is – always know that they are good just the way they are.

4 Mickeys out of 5:

Next Week’s Movie: Finding Nemo

What’s this about?

I love, love, love Disney. All things Disney. Everything Disney. So, I’ve started this blog where I will watch a Disney movie every week – let’s be honest, probably much more often than that, and then tell you lovely people what I think. I’ll share my favourite lines and songs from the movie, too.  I’ll rate the movies – 1 Mickey means I’ll probably never watch it again. 5? I’ll probably watch it again – TOMORROW. If you have any thoughts or ideas, I’d love to hear from you.