Day 49: Home on the Range

Holy Cow! : Our 49th movie!

1. What movie did you watch?
Home on the Range (In which we are complaining about this movie until the cows come home). Released in 2004, it was the last 2D animated Disney film released until The Princess and the Frog in 2009. The concept of the film was originally developed in the 1990's with the title Sweating Bullets, but was reworked for several years before it went into full production. Fun Fact: The movie marked the return of animator/director Will Finn, who briefly left Disney Feature Animation to create The Road to El Dorado.

2. Have you seen it before/ how long has it been since you last saw it?
Maddie: Yes, but not since it was in theaters. Thank goodness.
Alexis: It's been YEARS since I've seen it. I think there's a reason Disney doesn't replay this movie anywhere...

3. What memories did it recall?
Maddie: None...
Alexis: I originally saw this film at my younger sister's birthday party. I don't remember being disappointed in it when I saw it in the theater, but I now feel so bad for my poor parents who not only had to take 10 kids to the movies, but also had to suffer through this nonsense feature. 

4. What did you think of it?
Maddie: This movie was a trip. It was part Pied Piper and part Western. It was just so much and I can't.
Alexis: Wow, just not good. The plot, the dialogue, the three main characters... everything was either bad or annoying. 

5. Favorite moment:
Maddie: All of the minor characters in this movie are great: Rusty the dog, the flies, and Slim's nephews:

Also, there's essentially another pink elephants sequence:

Alexis: Slim's nephews provided much-needed actual comic relief from the rest of the just-plain-bad "jokes". I don't know if I even had a favorite part, maybe the beginning with the song on the farm? 

6. Any other comments:
Maddie: Nope
Alexis: All I can say is, Dame Judi Dench what on Earth were you thinking when you signed up for this?

* All pun credit goes to Amy

Day 48: Brother Bear

 #NotAllBears: Our 48th film!

1. What movie did you watch?
Brother Bear. The film was released in 2003, and was the third and final Disney animated feature produced primarily by the Feature Animation studio at Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando, FL (the studio was shut down in March 2004, not long after the release of this film in favor of computer animated features). Fun Fact: This movie was technically inspired by the Lion King! After its success Disney CEO at the time Michael Eisner urged for more animal-based animated features, and suggested a North American backdrop, taking inspiration from an original landscape painting by Albert Bierstadt that he bought.

2. Have you seen it before/ how long has it been since you last saw it?
Maddie: Yes, but not in a very long time. I maybe saw it once or twice total.
Alexis: I watched it a lot as a kid because we owned it, but I haven't seen it in many years. Although we do have a family friend who tries to convince us to watch it every time we have a movie night...

3. What memories did it recall?
Maddie: I remembered some of the songs when my roommate pointed out that they were from Disneymania but otherwise it really made me think about Disney California Adventure and the play area that is Brother Bear themed (and now has been changed to Up themed). 

Alexis: For some reason I remembered all the songs really well? Also, watching it made me remember how much my sister and I loved the moose. We would play "I spy" like them and just call out trees for hours on road trips.

4. What did you think of it?
Maddie: It was only okay to me- I appreciated the ideas behind the film, and like Alexis, I liked Koda but otherwise the pacing was rough. The middle section was very meh.

Alexis: I liked it, but didn't love it. I think the animation is beautiful, and I like the overall story, but it's actually not super exciting. The mythology is cool at the beginning and end, but the rest is just a whole lot of middle. Also, I don't really like Kenai but Koda is definitely my favorite character, look how cute he is! 

5. Favorite moment:
Maddie: I know this is nerdy, but the backgrounds were really what stood out to me! They were so painterly and beautiful. After some research, I found out they were inspired by one of Michael Eisner's favorite painters: Albert Bierstadt. You should go check him out- the similarities are remarkable.

Alexis: As previously mentioned, the two moose playing I Spy gets me every time!

6. Any other comments:
Maddie: I just want a little Koda to play with.

Alexis: Even as a kid I thought the oldest brother was hot. 

Day 47: Piglet's Big Movie

Small but Fierce: Our 47th movie!

1. What movie did you watch?

Piglet's Big Movie. The film was released in 2003. Several of the stories in the movie were taken from the plot of A.A. Milne’s original stories. American singer-songwriter Carly Simon wrote seven new songs exclusively for the film. (Not So)Fun Fact: By this point, John Fiedler was the only original voice actor left of the original cast of characters. He reprised his role of Piglet.  

2. Have you seen it before/ how long has it been since you last saw it?
Maddie: No! This is exciting!
Alexis: Yes, but many years ago when they would show it on Disney Channel.

3. What memories did it recall?
Maddie: Piglet was always the Pooh character I most related to, so I was excited for this and connected with that part of it.
Alexis: Mainly memories of how much I love all the Winnie the Pooh characters! I will watch any story that takes place in the Hundred Acre Woods, no matter which character it's focused on. Also, I remember this movie always made me sad as kid, much like the Tigger Movie, just because I felt so bad for Piglet!

4. What did you think of it?
Maddie: It was sad at points but so cute!! Never underestimate people just because they are small! Piglet was so underappreciated. He's so amazing. Ugh- MVP.

Alexis: I think it's a really sweet movie. I enjoy that they went back to the old format of including several short narratives within the movie, like the original and unlike Pooh's Grand Adventure or the Tigger Movie. I'm especially glad they included the House at Pooh Corner.

5. Favorite moment:
Maddie: The part with Piglet and Kanga when they first met Kanga and Roo! It was so sweet. Also, the part when they remake Piglet's book after ruining it.

Alexis: Definitely the montage of all the characters re-drawing Piglet's book of memories. I love the drawing animation! 

6. Any other comments:
Maddie: Not a huge fan of all of the Carly Simon music, but it all had nice sentiments. The lyrics are just so literal.
Alexis: Agreed, the Carly Simon music was just not good.

Day 46: The Jungle Book 2

Jungle Book 2 Much 2 Handle: Our 46th Movie!

1. What movie did you watch?

The Jungle Book 2. The movie, released in 2003, is a sequel to Disney’s The Jungle Book, but is not based on the book The Second Jungle Book. Plans for the movie began in 1990, but they were shelved in favor of original ideas during the Disney Renaissance. Almost all of the characters from the first movie returned, except for King Louie because of a legal dispute with Louis Prima’s estate. Fun Fact: At one point in the film, two prickly pears fall and stick to Kaa’s head, giving him the appearance of Mickey Mouse. This counts as one of many Hidden Mickeys scattered through Disney films.

2. Have you seen it before/ how long has it been since you last saw it?
Maddie: Yes- when they used to air it on Disney channel- but not since then.
Alexis: We used to have it on DVD so I know I've seen it multiple times, but I can't remember when the last time was.

3. What memories did it recall?
Maddie: As we know, The Jungle Book is in my top 5 of Disney movies- so it really made me think more of that, and made me very emotionally connected.
Alexis: We used to have a McDonald's happy meal toy of Shanti. I've come to the realization that for a lot of these "in between", forgettable Disney movies, the only clear memory I have attached to them is playing with happy meal figurines in our basement with my sister. I swear we didn't go to McDonald's that much.

4. What did you think of it?
Maddie: I had a lot of problems with it- but also loved getting to see my favorite characters again.
Alexis: It's pretty meh. As far as Disney sequels goes, it's definitely toward the bottom in my opinion. The plot seems intriguing at first, with Mowgli having to deal with missing the jungle and living among humans, but it never really goes anywhere and we end up seeing the same villain/climax as the first movie which makes it unexciting. Also the new kids are annoying.

5. Favorite moment:
Maddie: I love Bagheera- so his relationship with Ranjan is my favorite part. It's so sweet. 

Alexis: Any scene with Bagheera, he's also my favorite.

6. Any other comments:
Maddie: What did Shanti think she was going to do when she found Mowgli??? She can't fight the jungle animals...Stupid.
Alexis: John Goodman sounds nothing like Phil Harris.