The Latest Disney Trend

Let’s have a talk about these upcoming Disney movie remakes.

About a week ago, I went to the mall with my friend Bubba. The local mall is home to my favorite stir-fry noodles. If I could, I would eat these noodles at least once a day. Sadly, my wallet and my waistline would probably protest this.

The best spot to eat said noodles is by the carousel (yes, our mall has a carousel) and the movie theater. That way, you can hear calliope music blaring in your ears while you eat, and you can look at the “Coming Soon” movie posters, too.

So while we were slurping up noodles (yes, Bubba got those stir-fry noodles too because they are amazing), I noticed that out of the ten movie posters on the wall, three of them were for Disney remakes (Aladdin, Dumbo, and The Lion King).

These three posters gave me pause. I didn’t know how to feel about them. Still don’t, if I’m being entirely honest.

I wouldn’t call myself a Disney nut, but I own nearly every Disney animated movie on VHS. You name it, I probably own it. My sister and I would watch them together back when we shared a room as kids. We can quote from a Disney movie as well as anyone, and we have favorite songs from each one, too.

So I’m talking from the perspective of someone who has been steeped in Disney.

On the one hand, I’m extremely fond of all the movies. Seeing any of them remade does give my heart a little flutter because they are getting attention. It’s like hearing a remix of your favorite song on the radio. You just have to listen to it (before you judge whether it’s good or not) because it’s your favorite song.

But on the other hand, it’s also extremely irritating to me.

On multiple levels.

It feels like a cash grab. Is that just me? Am I the only one feeling that? And what makes this sensation all the more sour is the fact that even though I know it’s a way for Disney to make money, I’m still going to pay to go see them.

It also rubs me the wrong way because, at least in regards to Aladdin and The Lion King, the originals were perfect. I feel like the cartoon versions of those movies were made the way they were meant to be made, and trying to remake them is like trying to improve on perfection.

The same issue came up with the Beauty and the Beast remake they did a few years back. The original animated film was gorgeous. And while the live-action remake did add a few things, nothing they added really boosted the story because the story was already at its peak.

Dumbo is in a different category of remakes, similar to The Jungle Book. Early Disney movies did not have the narrative strength that more recent ones have had. Remaking those is like a civil service.

Well, I’m still going to see all these Disney movie remakes when they come out, like the Below Average person I am. (Actually, depending on the box office numbers, I may be square in the average category this time around.)

So what do you think about this latest Disney trend? For? Against? Or somewhere in the middle like me?