There are a number of Disney live action films in the pipeline, it will continue on, but what do they offer? The point of these adaptations is do they add something to the story, experience, possibly content from original stories the animated movie adapted in turn. The first adaptation is Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book (1994) directed by Stephen Sommers, he also directed The Adventures of Huck Finn (1993) for Disney before directing The Mummy (1999).
Jason Scott Lee played Mowgli who brought martial arts prowess in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993) and voiced David in Lilo & Stitch (2002). Of course, Mowgli was a boy in the first Jungle Book (1894), but becomes seventeen in The Second Jungle Book (1895) by Rudyard Kipling. Lena Headey played Katherine “Kitty” Brydon so this is a Tarzan and Jane story. This is seventeen years before she played Queen Cersei Lannister. The animals did not speak nor were there songs until the 2016 adaptation. It was of course loosely based on the animated The Jungle Book (1967).
The next adaptation was very successful, 101 Dalmations (1996) directed by Stephen Herek. He also directed The Mighty Ducks (1992) and The Three Musketeers (1993) for Disney. The screenplay was by John Hughes of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) and Planes Trains and Automobiles (1987) fame. Jeff Daniels played Roger and Joely Richardson was Anita, but the standout was Glenn Close. She made Cruella de Vil so memorable that it led to a sequel, 102 Dalmatians (2000).
This was a sort of a boom for Disney live action adaptations. The 2010’s exploded with Alice in Wonderland (2010) directed by Tim Burton. He had directed the short, Frankenweenie (1984), also released in 2012, and then Ed Wood (1994), the bio drama, for Disney. It also teamed up Burton with one of his favorite actors, Johnny Depp from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. The script was by Linda Woolverton, who also wrote the animated Beauty and the Beast (1991) and one of the screenwriters for the 1994 Lion King.
She also wrote the screenplay for Maleficent (2014). I’m not certain what is the magic of those films. Joe Roth produced The Three Musketeers (1993), Alice in Wonderland (2010), and Maleficent (2010). Still, it may be lightning in a bottle, since the sequels failed; Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016) and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019). Both written by Woolverton and also produced by Roth, but with different directors. It may be the early interest in live action Disney.
I’m not a fan of any of those movies just different and strange, I get Maleficent was a twist that the villain is really just misunderstood. There just is no subtlety or enough nods to the original animated movies. This includes the songs. The music-less adaptations almost finished with Cinderella (2015) directed by Kenneth Branagh. He had of course previously directed Thor (2011) and later Artemis Fowl (2020). Lily James is a great singer, on the soundtrack they feature her singing “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes” and note that she was the lead character and sings in the musical sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018).
I prefer this version that filled out the prince character and made it feel fresh to me. The animated film was really told from the perspective of the mice and Cinderella was sidelined as a supporting character for me. The same with the charming performance of Helena Bonham Carter’s “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo (The Magic Song).” Carter also sung and acted in Sweeney Todd: The Demon of Barber Street (2007) and Les Misérables (2012). Jon Favreau directed The Jungle Book (2016), this time with songs. He had made Iron Man (2008) and its sequel for Paramount Pictures, but produced by Disney, so this was the first solely Disney movie for him.
Plus, The Jungle Book was entirely filmed on sound stages, pre-The Mandalorian’s Volume stage. It showed incredible visuals of the jungle and Mowgli’s world. I really like Neel Sethi’s performance as Mowgli except his singing. In this case, I would be entirely happy if he was dubbed. If the songs are identical without new additions, then the new film is in danger of bringing up the original movie. The charm of Phil Harris and Louis Prima’s vocals can’t be matched. Bruce Reitherman, who originally voiced Mowgli, mentioned that if it had new songs, then it would not invite comparisons.
The live action Beauty and the Beast had four original songs besides the six classic songs. I like this balance. It was directed by Bill Condon who also directed Dreamgirls (2006) and wrote the screenplay for The Greatest Showman (2017). I thought this adaptation answered many of the questions I had for the animated original. The witch doesn’t curse the servants, they stayed out of loyalty, or were the last ones to try to leave the castle. This seems cruel to people who were innocent of the prince’s selfishness. I like the book that transports the Beast and Belle to another location, in this case, her Paris home where she finds the truth about her mother who was not in the original.
I also like Kevin Kline’s performance of his song, showing he is not the goofball of the original, just sad, looking back at the loss of his wife, and just staying strong for his daughter. This also gets away from the Stockholm Syndrome, falling in love with your captor, from the original. I love “Days in the Sun” having Mrs. Potts explain they cared for the prince after being mistreated by his father, missing his mother, and the servants missing their time as humans. Lastly, Dan Stevens’ “Evermore” is one of my favorites, his sacrifice of losing Belle so she could be free, love it. Now, it was pointed out that Emma Watson’s singing voice was sweetened, it might be for most of the cast, in the end, I don’t care.
Wrapping up, Christopher Robin (2018) directed by Marc Forester was charming. Three new songs by Disney Legend Richard M. Sherman, one half of the Sherman Brothers duo. Dumbo (2019) by Tim Burton, his last it is said for Disney, I didn’t have interest in. Aladdin (2019) is fascinating. First from its director, Guy Ritchie, known for action films, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Sherlock Holmes (2009). This turned out to be his most successful film. Where the movie was original in expanding the story was brilliant, the downside was clinging to the original.
I think this shows in Will Smith’s Genie; when he followed closely Robin Williams, it was weak. Just compare his “Friend Like Me” to the end title version with DJ Khaled. I absolutely love Naomi Scott’s “Speechless” and hope she does more singing. She had sung for the Disney Channel movie Lemonade Mouth (2011). The sequel would probably have more original songs and it would remain to be seen if Smith returns. The following year, The Lion King (2019) directed by Favreau, was a disappointment. I think it offered less than the original.
It could have been expanded with material from the 1997 musical, the direct-to-video sequels, or even the animated series, The Lion Guard. “Be Prepared” which sums up the villain, shortened. I think the dung beetle really sums up the movie. Even Beyoncé “Spirit” didn’t stand out, her off-screen chemistry with Donald Glover is almost non existent. To top it off the song is “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” which was sung in the film during the day. Then, Mulan (2020), another live action with no songs and really no content. There is no consistency with the story, interest with the characters, and no respect for the culture.
Finally, this year’s Pinocchio, directed by Robert Zemeckis, didn’t see it. He had previously directed A Christmas Carol (2009) for Disney and just seems to be caught in the Uncanny Valley of CGI characters. I don’t know where the live action adaptations will go, I’m interested in The Little Mermaid next year, directed by Rob Marshall who directed Into the Woods (2014) and Mary Poppins Returns (2018) for Disney. Then, there is Peter Pan & Wendy next year directed by David Lowery. He directed Pete’s Dragon (2016) for Disney. Last, but not least Snow White, set for release 2024, directed by Marc Webb. Just for the mere fact that it stars Rachel Zegler from West Side Story (2021) and Gal Gadot who voiced and sang in Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018).
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