by Daniela
Disclaimer: Daniela is not responsible for anyone not being able to "control their feels" or any hysterical crying that may occur. These include ugly sobbing, sad faces, and hitting anyone right in the childhood. You have been warned.
We have all fallen victim to the trap that are so-called "children's movies." They lure you in with their colourful and cheery appearance but once you realise that it was all a facade... it's too late. You're too invested and there's no turning back now. Fun fact, I actually don't cry in movies (Justine on the other hand) but I have come very close on a few occasions. I'm just the person who just gets really sad who just can't shake that gut wrenching feeling afterwards. Over the past day or two, I've been putting together a list of all these heart wrenching scenes from these movies from our childhood. I even asked my friends and very helpful tumblr followers. So please take note that this is only a part of that ever-growing list. In other words, I'll be writing a part 2 at some point. So grab your box of tissues and tubs of ice-cream and let's get started. *deep breaths*
Some of you may or may not know that I’m an avid listener of
the Rotoscopers: Animation Addicts Podcast and I also love their website. In fact, they were actually the inspiration to start this blog when I first mentioned the
idea to Justine. Earlier this year they posted a list of Disney Classics they’d
love to see on Broadway (which you can check out here) and it made me think
about what movies I’d like to see turned into full-blown musicals. So although
this may be a similar list, these are my own reasons.
Over the last year or so, I’ve started to really enjoy
listening to cast recordings like Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Wicked
and Newsies so I’m fairly new to the Broadway fandom (if you have any show
suggestions for me, please comment them down below or leave me a message on
tumblr). I enjoy musicals even though I don’t even know how a show is put
together. So please excuse my very unexperienced point of view. I’ve only seen
a handful of musicals in my 21 years. The first being one in Philippines with THE
Lea Salonga, unfortunately I can’t even remember what it was called… I was 5 or 6. I
did see Beauty and the Beast when I was 10! Now I constantly check the ticket
websites and try and find the next big show playing in the city.
Disney has had its hand in Broadway musicals and they’re pretty
good at it. Just check out their Tonys and nominations! Their most recent venture is an adaptation of Aladdin and they are
also currently working on developments for The Jungle Book and also Frozen’s big break on Broadway (it was bound to
happen). They’re also responsible for bringing Beauty and the Beast, The Lion
King, Tarzan, and The Little Mermaid to life on stage. Other shows also include
Mary Poppins, Aida, Newsies and many more. So here’s a few more movies I’d love
to see make their Broadway debut.
An "I Want" song is a monologue of sorts that defines what the character uhhh wants. For protagonists it's usually the start of the hero's journey and shows us what their main goal for the movie will be. Villains can have "I Want" songs too ahem HELLFIRE. But since I've already made a post about villain songs, we'll be focusing on our beloved heroes! As always, this is all my own opinion and just the order of songs that I prefer. Also, I had a hard time narrowing these down so I'm going to cheat a little bit and have my honourable mentions at the end.
10. One Jump Ahead (Reprise) - Aladdin
Aladdin wants people to find out that there's so much more to him! Unlike it's original, it's much slower and shorter. Part of me wishes it was a bit longer but I even though it's only a few lines long, it's incredibly effective and one of the most memorable scenes in the film. Fun fact, a song called Proud of Your Boy was deleted early on in the development of the movie and it would have made an amazing addition to this list. Fortunately, it made it into the Broadway production and it's pretty much amazing. You can check out Adam Jacobs (Aladdin on Broadway) singing Proud of Your Boy with the legendary Alan Menken on the piano HERE. (Prepare your tissues!)
If you've read our "About" section you'll probably know that Christopher Nolan is one of my favourite directors. His films are generally very thought provoking and coupled with an excellent plot. His screenplays are top notch and I appreciate the inventiveness and originality that he produces without fail. If you've never heard of Nolan (you poor, sad soul), here's a few things you should know:
He's only 43!: Ok, so to us that probably doesn't sound that young but in terms of his filmmaking success that's pretty damn good. He was only 29 when he made the iconic Memento and a mere 34 when he started The Dark Knight trilogy.
He's a Brit: London born, Nolan attended University College London where he started making films alongside his future wife.
He's a triple threat: Well, in filmmaking terms anyway. Nolan writes, produces AND directs. Sometimes he manages to do all three in the space of one film! Busy, busy man.
He likes Michael Caine: You know how Tim Burton ALWAYS has Johnny Depp in his films? Well for Nolan it seems his go-to is Michael Caine. Caine appeared in all three Batman films (as Alfred), Inception (as Cobb's father) and is set to play a role in Nolan's upcoming film Interstellar.
He only knows one Asian guy: If you've watched Batman Begins and Inception you'll notice that "Ra's al Ghul" (if you've seen Batman Begins you'll know what that's in inverted commas) and Mr Saito are the same guy. Yeah.
He certainly paid attention in psychology class: Nolan seems to have a keen interest in the mind whether it's the concept of fear as exemplified through The Scarecrow, the idea of insanity displayed by The Joker, or whether he's looking at mental conditions like anterograde amnesia in Memento. He of course then goes on to delve into the dream sphere with Inception.
Ok, so let's get down to my top 3 Christopher Nolan films.
3. Inception
Admittedly I had to watch this movie at least twice before I fully understood the whole thing. It's definitely one of those thinking movies and I would advise you to pay attention while watching. It's not one of those films where you can text and watch at the same time. The concept was excellent. I alway feel that movies/books that can develop a whole other world are the most successful. The dreamscape is intriguing and makes sense in the nonsensical sort of way (e.g. ever had that dream where you're falling and then you wake up? Yeah, that's kind of important here). Unfortunately, this film seemed to have the DiCaprio curse in that it seems to have been largely snubbed by the almighty Academy. Personally, I felt this film integrated the three most important devices in filmmaking: good plot, effective use of special effects that don't dominate the storyline, and good script. This also had the added bonus of "novel idea" so props to Mr. Nolan for this.
2. The Dark Knight
I should probably mention here that I'm generally more of a Marvel fan as opposed to DC but Nolan definitely sold me Batman. Aside from Christian Bale's stupid Batman voice ("I'm Batman"), I thoroughly enjoyed this film. It stands out from the rest of the trilogy. If you're going to watch any of the Batman films, watch this one. The first and third pale in comparison. What I loved about this film was the characterisation. Heath Ledger as the Joker clearly overshadowed Batman. He lived the madness from his speech patterns to his little twitches. Despite the fact that it has been pointed out to me that the meticulous planning of the Joker's destruction of Gotham completely violates the idea of anarchy which the Joker is supposed to stand for, I still think this can be easily overlooked. This movie has everything: action, great plot, excellent characters and one hell of a script. The script has got to be my absolute favourite thing about this film. Ledger's lines are flawless and the creepy thing is, he makes sense. I sort of tossed up between putting this in second and third place but I think Ledger's performance just tips it over the edge.
1. Memento
Memento is hands down Nolan's best work. It's clear that this is significantly low budget in comparison to The Dark Knight and Inception. This film is all plot and script. There are no super fancy car chases or explosions. There's no fantastical landscapes, just a small, gritty town and brief cast of characters. The film basically follows one man with anterograde amnesia (that means he has short term memory loss). He remembers things before the "accident" but barely anything after. To make up for this he leaves notes for himself, takes polaroids of people he should know and information about them and even tattoos important information on his body. The concept of this film is unlike any other I've ever seen. The film moves in reverse and the twist at the end is just fantastic. I love films that can catch me off guard and that you can watch multiple times and still be hanging on the edge of your seat. It may not look like much on the surface but I guarantee you simply cannot NOT love this film.
So those are my top 3 Christopher Nolan film! Definitely check them out and let me know what you think!
In case you didn’t know, I’m the resident Disney fanatic.
Whether it’s music or movies or the musicals on Broadway... I’m your girl. So
here’s something a little different today. I’ve put together a few songs from
the Disney films (*Edna Mode voice * NO SEQUELS) and just to clarify, this is
purely my own opinion! I’d love to hear about other songs that you feel should
be on this list too! So let’s get started…
10. Prince Ali (Reprise) – Aladdin
It's the end for Aladdin's Prince Ali sham through a short, but really catchy song ending with Jafar's infamous maniacal laughter. He uses his newly granted magical powers to expose Aladdin as a street rat and sends him flying. Like a real Disney villain he enjoys the misery of others... while singing a song. At least it's unlike your traditional villainous monologues. One wonders what would have happened if he got his own song in the original... I imagine it would be full of amazing puns.
Farewell ex-Prince Ali!
9. Cruella de Vil – 101 Dalmatians
When one thinks of 101 Dalmatians, this song is definitely one of the first things to pop into your mind. Unlike the rest of the songs on this list, this song is sung completely by one of the protagonists, Roger. We are first introduced to the "wretched, wretched" woman herself, Cruella when she visits Roger and Anita. Judging from his lyrics she's not exactly a daaaaarling. Growing up I always considered this as one of my favourite parts in the movie and let's be honest, Roger creeping about and making a racket with all the instruments makes the whole scene.
If she doesn't scare you, no evil thing will...
8. The Mob Song – Beauty and the Beast
The song title is pretty self-explanatory, pitchforks, and torches a-blazing. I've always appreciated the Broadway-like tunes of Beauty and the Beast and I love how The Mob Song utilises the entire cast. It's a piece of lyrical genius and full of great, memorable lines that basically tie the themes of the movie together. "We don't like what we don't understand, in fact it scares us..." It sets up the idea that the villagers are just reacting because the Beast is automatically associated with terror and destruction. Therefore, their first instinct is it kill it before it kills all of them. And to top it all off it's lead by Gaston, the who isn't the villain the eyes of the villagers.
KILL THE BEAST!
7. Friends on the Other Side – The Princess and the Frog
Now here's where the creepiness levels start to go up a few notches. In this scene, Dr. Facilier calls upon the help of his voodoo friends by showing a naive Naveen his future through tarot cards. He goes from a sketchy shaman to a frightening voodoo, hoodoo witchdoctor in one number. I love the animation of the cards and it must be voodoo if he can deal them like that! Plus, Keith Davis' voice is hypnotising yet also menacing. When the transformation sequence begins, the bass kicks in and the colour scheme changes, adding a daunting feel. Naveen MUST have been distracted by Dr. Facilier's smooth voice and fluid card tricks. The poor Prince probably only realised he was in deep trouble when it was too late. Dr. Facilier definitely earns some villain points with his creepy skull mask exit as the scene fades to black.
Are you reaaaaady?
6. Mother Knows Best + Reprise – Tangled
Mother Knows Best is one of the most manipulative and abusive villain songs. At this point, we know that Gothel was the old lady who kidnapped the baby in the opening but the poor girl is left in the dark. To an innocent and gullible Rapunzel, it may seem like Gothel is merely warning her about the dangers of the outside, but there are hints of Gothel's true intentions. For example, she holds Rapunzel's hair to her face when she sings about keeping her "safe and sound." The reprise is probably one of my favourite reprises in the Disney universe. If you compare the two, Gothel already looks much older and more dangerous when Rapunzel refuses to go back to the tower with her. The first she sings, Mother Knows Best is light and upbeat but the reprise is the complete opposite as she attacks Rapunzel for her naivety in a more harsh manner. Also, they're both undeniable catchy!
Skip the drama, stay with mama!
Don't be a dummy, come with mummy...
5. Savages – Pocahontas
War is about to break out between the Native Americans and the English, John Smith is about to be executed and it's up to Pocahontas to stop the hatred amongst the people. One of the most controversial songs from Disney is Savages from Pocahontas. I'm actually not too sure if this one is counted as a villain song but hey, Ratcliffe sings some pretty thought provoking lines. I can say that I was part of the group of children who were completely oblivious to the lyrics and message in the 90s. Revisiting the songs when I was a bit older was nothing short of an eye-opener. The difference with this song is that both the Native Americans and the English claim that the other party is more dangerous. There are so many elements to this song that make it memorable. Especially how it cuts to each camp every line or so or even with Pocahontas singing her own tune over the top of the chanting of SAVAGES, SAVAGES.
They're not like you and me, which means they must be evil!
4. Be Prepared – The Lion King
Mufasa is the king of the Pridelands but not for long if Scar has a say... or song about it. Scar's voice is enchanting, sultry, captivating and at times hypnotizing as he sashays his way around the hyenas. Instead of the traditional villainous monologue we get a whole song about Scar's plan to kill Mufasa and Simba therefore making him the, wait for it... LION KING. Although, in my opinion it may not have the catchiest lyrics, it definitely has a contagious beat. As if it wasn't eerie enough, let's add a pinch of Nazi allusions and a dash of Communism references too! This is another display of me being completely oblivious in the 90s... yay.
My teeth and ambitions are bared... be prepared!
3. Gaston + Reprise– Beauty and the Beast
This is the second time a song from Beauty and the Beast has featured in my countdown but Gaston goes in a different direction in comparison to The Mob Song. The whole song is a pick me-up for the narcissistic but dejected Gaston after Belle refuses to marry him. LeFou tries to keep Gaston's spirits up by proving that there's no man in town half as manly as the one and only Gaston. This song is probably one of the main reasons why Gaston is one of my favourite Disney villains of all time (that's a whole other list for another time!). If we compare this to The Mob Song, it spends its entirety praising the actual villain in the story while the latter depicts the Beast, one of our heroes, as a vicious monster. To quote Belle "he's not a monster Gaston, YOU ARE!" It's a great drinking song and seriously, how does the man not have high cholesterol from the amount of eggs he eats a day?
As a specimen yes, I'm intimidating!
No one plots like Gaston, takes cheap shots like Gaston!
2. Poor Unfortunate Souls – The Little Mermaid
After King Triton destroys all of Ariel's treasures, she's ready to be a part of the human world and escape the rule of her father. She then seeks out the help of Ursula, the sea witch and hopes her magic will give her a pair of legs to walk along those streets with the humans. Poor Unfortunate Souls comes in at a very close second in this top 10! From Ursula's over-dramatic performance, to the moment where Ariel signs her voice away, to the BODY LANGUAGE! Poor Unfortunate Souls has become an iconic scene/song in Disney history. It's often been pointed out that the song is full of terrible messages to send to Disney's target audience about the relationships between men and women. She insists that "it's she who holds her tongue who gets her man." Don't worry ladies, Ariel does prove her wrong in the end. Ursula is manipulative, strategic, cunning and deliciously evil.
BODY LANGUAGE!
1. Hellfire – The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Hellfire is a clear winner and I often wonder how Disney even got away with this. It's another of Disney's most controversial songs as it toys with ideas about hell, damnation and lust. We start off with Heaven's Light, Quasimodo's song about his love towards Esmerelda and suddenly, we transition to the dark and heavy themes of Hellfire. Frollo prays to Mary and questions why he lusts for Esmerelda, a gypsy, who he believes to be the vermin of Paris. Terrifying hooded figures appear all around Frollo and sing mea culpa (throught my fault) as he pleads and tries to explain that his infatuation with Esmerelda was caused by the devil. He imagines Esmerelda dancing in the fire and is completely captivated by her image but blames her for being a temptress. In the end he decides that he'll burn down all of Paris if she doesn't choose him. Hellfire is the perfect combination of villainy with jaw-dropping lyric, frightening visuals, and taboo themes. To top it all off, Frollo is hair-raisingly creepy yet you also want to smack that smirk off his face.
