They don't make 'em like this anymore

Metal Mario · 04-19-2010, 10:15 PM

I just got done watching Lady and the Tramp for the first time in years, and it was absolutely wonderful from beginning to end. It's good to watch these old Disney classics after you've reached adulthood, because then you can appreciate the movie on its artistic merits; you can take pleasure in the visuals, and the music, and the writing, and the voice acting, instead of just viewing it through the eyes of a simple child who needs to be entertained for ninety minutes. (If you haven't seen Sleeping Beauty lately, watch it; it'll blow your ****ing mind.)

And you know what? They just don't make them like this anymore. Lady and the Tramp was an utter delight. It had drama, comedy, suspense. The story was original, the dialog was thoughtfully written, the animation was pristine.....even Disney themselves can't manage something like this today. Today's children's movies are contrived, cynical, and joyless. They're preachy, their narrative is practically nonexistent, and their characters are grating. And they're filled with fart jokes, sexual innuendo, and smart-ass references to Paris Hilton and Quentin Tarantino and a hundred other things that young children have no business knowing anything about.

It's a lost art. Too bad.

***CaptHayfever*** · 04-19-2010, 10:46 PM

Princess and the Frog, man. Totally old-school.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

**Valigarmander** · 04-20-2010, 07:49 AM

Not too long ago, I rewatched a few old Disney movies that I hadn't seen in a while. Watching them as a child is completely different than watching them as an adult, and there's a lot of stuff that just goes over your head when you're too young to understand it. I remember watching The Great Mouse Detective and The Rescuers: Down Under and thinking "they don't make 'em like this anymore," too.

I also rewatched A Bug's Life a couple weeks ago. Meh.

Metal Man · 04-20-2010, 03:13 PM

Sleeping Beauty is especially a wolf in sheep's clothing.

All kinds of PR is done on the cutesy princess and prince part, but then you have Maleficent and suddenly it seems closer to the Wizard of Oz for dark destruction than a Disney movie.

Erdawn Il Deus · 04-20-2010, 03:57 PM

Rescuers. Down. Under. Best opening scene of any movie ever.

CuccoLady · 04-20-2010, 04:50 PM

I love re-watching old movies, because in some cases you realize what utter crap it was that you used to watch, and in others [thankfully] you realize how freakin' awesome they are to watch, and all the great details you totally missed out on as a kid.

PK FIRE! · 04-20-2010, 05:13 PM

I love the princess and the Frog it really recaptures alot of the greatness that Disney films once had. Also upon rewatching Bambi I must say I'm kind surprized by the mood whiplash that happens after the death of his mother.

I saw the new Alice in Wonderland a few weeks ago, it was okay, then a rewatched the old animated Disney version, witch was better(to me atleast.)

Though, the the whole time I was watch both I kept thinking to myself that heaving read the book seemed to take some charm out of them to me. Speaking of witch I need to go reread that to figure out why Burtin set his film up the way he did.

- You stupid dog.

Metal Mario · 04-20-2010, 06:54 PM

^Save yourself some time and just read Through the Looking Glass. That's where most of it comes from.

ZeldaGirl · 04-20-2010, 08:52 PM

I love Sleeping Beauty, and it's waaaay under appreciated.

But:

Quote:

They're preachy, their narrative is practically nonexistent, and their characters are grating. And they're filled with fart jokes, sexual innuendo, and smart-ass references to Paris Hilton and Quentin Tarantino and a hundred other things that young children have no business knowing anything about.

What exactly are you referring to? Live action Disney, I can see it a little, but their animation for the most part has been spot on.

**Valigarmander** · 04-20-2010, 09:11 PM

I don't think he was talking just about Disney movies, just children's films in general.

And he's right, a lot of films today go more for cheap jokes and pop culture references than a better focus on storyline and more integrated humor. I remember watching Monsters vs. Aliens last year thinking, "I want my seven dollars back so I can rent The Fox and the Hound."

ZeldaGirl · 04-20-2010, 09:56 PM

^Ah, I had just assumed based on this statement:

Quote:

even Disney themselves can't manage something like this today.

Wasn't quite sure. But, yes, I'd agree with that sentiment, for the most part...

Rainbow Dash · 04-20-2010, 10:22 PM

i enjoy pop-culture references because i get them

***Booyakasha*** · 04-20-2010, 11:35 PM

I like 'Aladdin', but I can't but wonder---will my niece 'get' the Genie's impressions of Jack Nicholson and Rodney Dangerfield? Will her children? grandchildren? I mean, eventually, the vast majority of people won't understand the joke there---hurts the 'timeless' quality you expect from classics.

ZeldaGirl · 04-20-2010, 11:44 PM

Well, I mean, I didn't really get the references at the time, but it didn't matter to my child-self.

**Valigarmander** · 04-20-2010, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Booyakasha

I like 'Aladdin', but I can't but wonder---will my niece 'get' the Genie's impressions of Jack Nicholson and Rodney Dangerfield? Will her children? grandchildren? I mean, eventually, the vast majority of people won't understand the joke there---hurts the 'timeless' quality you expect from classics.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy from "The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy"

Are you a genie that grants wishes, while doing imitations only my dad gets?

Metal Mario · 04-20-2010, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Booyakasha

I like 'Aladdin', but I can't but wonder---will my niece 'get' the Genie's impressions of Jack Nicholson and Rodney Dangerfield? Will her children? grandchildren? I mean, eventually, the vast majority of people won't understand the joke there---hurts the 'timeless' quality you expect from classics.

Jack Nicholson movies will live on just as sure as Aladdin will, so I don't think that'll be an issue.

***Booyakasha*** · 04-21-2010, 12:59 AM

^You're missing the point. Familiarity with any source material is inevitably going to be less common as time wears on. And even if a Jack Nicholson reference is still hugely recognisable a hundred years from now, will there be even one man in a thousand who'll recognise the William F. Buckley impression Genie did twice in the movie? (I mean, one can hope, but realistically...)

***CaptHayfever*** · 04-21-2010, 09:41 AM

The thing with referential humor is that if it's done right, even people who don't know the source can laugh at it because they'll just think it's absurdist humor. And kids love absurdism.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

04-19-2010, 10:15 PM	#1
Metal Mario Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Gender: Posts: 16,435 Thanks: 72 Thanked 190 Times in 127 Posts	They don't make 'em like this anymore I just got done watching Lady and the Tramp for the first time in years, and it was absolutely wonderful from beginning to end. It's good to watch these old Disney classics after you've reached adulthood, because then you can appreciate the movie on its artistic merits; you can take pleasure in the visuals, and the music, and the writing, and the voice acting, instead of just viewing it through the eyes of a simple child who needs to be entertained for ninety minutes. (If you haven't seen Sleeping Beauty lately, watch it; it'll blow your ***ing mind.) And you know what? They just don't make them like this anymore. Lady and the Tramp* was an utter delight. It had drama, comedy, suspense. The story was original, the dialog was thoughtfully written, the animation was pristine.....even Disney themselves can't manage something like this today. Today's children's movies are contrived, cynical, and joyless. They're preachy, their narrative is practically nonexistent, and their characters are grating. And they're filled with fart jokes, sexual innuendo, and smart-ass references to Paris Hilton and Quentin Tarantino and a hundred other things that young children have no business knowing anything about. It's a lost art. Too bad.

04-20-2010, 11:35 PM	#13
*Booyakasha* SuperMod of War Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wisconsinland Gender: Posts: 9,945 Thanks: 157 Thanked 1,481 Times in 763 Posts	I like 'Aladdin', but I can't but wonder---will my niece 'get' the Genie's impressions of Jack Nicholson and Rodney Dangerfield? Will her children? grandchildren? I mean, eventually, the vast majority of people won't understand the joke there---hurts the 'timeless' quality you expect from classics. Last edited by Booyakasha; 04-20-2010 at 11:41 PM.

04-21-2010, 12:59 AM	#17
*Booyakasha* SuperMod of War Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wisconsinland Gender: Posts: 9,945 Thanks: 157 Thanked 1,481 Times in 763 Posts	^You're missing the point. Familiarity with any source material is inevitably going to be less common as time wears on. And even if a Jack Nicholson reference is still hugely recognisable a hundred years from now, will there be even one man in a thousand who'll recognise the William F. Buckley impression Genie did twice in the movie? (I mean, one can hope, but realistically...) Last edited by Booyakasha; 04-21-2010 at 01:18 AM.

04-19-2010, 10:46 PM	#2
*CaptHayfever* Smash SuperMod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 27,659 Thanks: 1,991 Thanked 2,486 Times in 1,513 Posts	Princess and the Frog, man. Totally old-school. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

04-20-2010, 07:49 AM	#3
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,700 Times in 2,580 Posts Blog Entries: 20	Not too long ago, I rewatched a few old Disney movies that I hadn't seen in a while. Watching them as a child is completely different than watching them as an adult, and there's a lot of stuff that just goes over your head when you're too young to understand it. I remember watching The Great Mouse Detective and The Rescuers: Down Under and thinking "they don't make 'em like this anymore," too. I also rewatched A Bug's Life a couple weeks ago. Meh.

04-20-2010, 03:13 PM	#4
Metal Man Fairy-Slaying Maniac Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: 1592 Miles Away From Here Gender: Posts: 18,062 Thanks: 148 Thanked 683 Times in 482 Posts	Sleeping Beauty is especially a wolf in sheep's clothing. All kinds of PR is done on the cutesy princess and prince part, but then you have Maleficent and suddenly it seems closer to the Wizard of Oz for dark destruction than a Disney movie.

04-20-2010, 03:57 PM	#5
Erdawn Il Deus Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Threading the jeweled thrones of earth under my sandalled feet Gender: Posts: 3,056 Thanks: 4 Thanked 47 Times in 41 Posts	Rescuers. Down. Under. Best opening scene of any movie ever.

04-20-2010, 04:50 PM	#6
CuccoLady Anime and Cartoons Mod Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: THIS LOCATION REMINDS ME OF A PUZZLE, LUKE Gender: Posts: 9,077 Thanks: 2,825 Thanked 1,222 Times in 822 Posts	I love re-watching old movies, because in some cases you realize what utter crap it was that you used to watch, and in others [thankfully] you realize how freakin' awesome they are to watch, and all the great details you totally missed out on as a kid.

04-20-2010, 05:13 PM	#7
PK FIRE! Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: On the run. Gender: Posts: 9,544 Thanks: 175 Thanked 150 Times in 120 Posts	I love the princess and the Frog it really recaptures alot of the greatness that Disney films once had. Also upon rewatching Bambi I must say I'm kind surprized by the mood whiplash that happens after the death of his mother. I saw the new Alice in Wonderland a few weeks ago, it was okay, then a rewatched the old animated Disney version, witch was better(to me atleast.) Though, the the whole time I was watch both I kept thinking to myself that heaving read the book seemed to take some charm out of them to me. Speaking of witch I need to go reread that to figure out why Burtin set his film up the way he did. - You stupid dog.

04-20-2010, 06:54 PM	#8
Metal Mario Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Gender: Posts: 16,435 Thanks: 72 Thanked 190 Times in 127 Posts	^Save yourself some time and just read Through the Looking Glass. That's where most of it comes from.

04-20-2010, 09:11 PM	#10
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,700 Times in 2,580 Posts Blog Entries: 20	I don't think he was talking just about Disney movies, just children's films in general. And he's right, a lot of films today go more for cheap jokes and pop culture references than a better focus on storyline and more integrated humor. I remember watching Monsters vs. Aliens last year thinking, "I want my seven dollars back so I can rent The Fox and the Hound."

04-20-2010, 10:22 PM	#12
Rainbow Dash been dreamin', i've been waitin' Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: a bomb-ass cloud house bachelorette pad Gender: Posts: 24,401 Thanks: 173 Thanked 1,179 Times in 716 Posts	i enjoy pop-culture references because i get them

04-20-2010, 11:44 PM	#14
ZeldaGirl Awesome member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Why do YOU want to know...? Gender: Posts: 15,896 Thanks: 1,130 Thanked 1,919 Times in 1,046 Posts	Well, I mean, I didn't really get the references at the time, but it didn't matter to my child-self.

04-21-2010, 09:41 AM	#18
*CaptHayfever* Smash SuperMod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 27,659 Thanks: 1,991 Thanked 2,486 Times in 1,513 Posts	The thing with referential humor is that if it's done right, even people who don't know the source can laugh at it because they'll just think it's absurdist humor. And kids love absurdism. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"