Tag Archives: tv

Most Controversial Disney Films Pt. 2

On Monday I took a look back at some of Disney’s more controversial movies from the 1940s through the 1960s. Today I’m going to finish my examination of their hot-button films, and try to find some sort of resolution about how we should approach them today. “Aladdin” (1992) – “Aladdin” sparked protests from Arab-American groups for its opening sequence. The original lyrics to the song “Arabian Nights” contained the line “where they cut off your ear if they don’t like your face” when describing the Arabic land/culture. The DVD release of the movie changed the line to “where it’s flat … Continue reading →

Most Controversial Disney Films Pt. 1

As an adult I’ve gone back and re-watched many of my favorite Disney films. They’re as wonderful as ever, but in some cases I am disturbed by the content I find in them. I realize that many of these movies were made in a different era, but part of me wants to believe that Disney was always squeaky-clean and welcoming to people of all backgrounds. In this two-part article I’d like to address how we might approach the controversial material in Disney films, both as adults and as parents. Here’s a rundown of some of the more controversial Disney films: … Continue reading →

Unlock Your Favorite Films with Disney KeyChest

Say goodbye to your DVDs and even your Blu-Rays, because Disney’s about to bring watching movies at home into a new era. At the beginning of the month the Walt Disney Corporation unveiled a new technology called KeyChest. KeyChest allows consumers to purchase television shows or movies, store them on remote servers, and then play them on various media devices, from TV’s to computers to mobile phones. KeyChest is expected to go on sale by the end of 2010. I don’t blame you if you can’t get your head around KeyChest. I couldn’t, at first. But after thinking about it … Continue reading →

Roy E. Disney Dies, Aged 79

On December 16, 2009 Roy Edward Disney, a powerful and fundamental force in the Disney company, succumbed to his year-long battle with cancer. Though his face bore a strong resemblance to his famous uncle Walt, Roy’s continuance of Walt Disney’s legacy involved far more than looks. The son of Walt’s brother Roy O., who co-founded the entertainment company with Walt in 1923, Roy didn’t join the family business right away. After attending Pomona College and then Harvard University, Roy first became a film editor on the television show “Dragnet” in 1952. Before long Roy did follow in his family’s footsteps … Continue reading →

Underappreciated Disney Films: Robin Hood

I’ve been talking a lot lately about Disney’s fairy-tale based films. They’re my favorite of Disney’s offerings because they appeal to the part of me that’s always loved fantasy stories. But I’ve decided to highlight some of Disney’s lesser-known but equally excellent films. Every few months I will profile one of what I call Disney’s underappreciated movies. This month I’ve chosen one of my favorite non-fairy-tale Disney films, and one that gets a bit more attention than the others due to its legendary subject: Robin Hood. The playfully anthropomorphic Robin Hood, released in 1973, is the perfect family film because … Continue reading →

Too Many Princesses

When I was little I never dreamed of being a princess. I would sing and dance and play along to my favorite Disney films “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid,” and “Aladdin,” but although I longed for the adventures of Belle and Ariel, I never wanted to be them, exactly. Ariel and Jasmine seemed to have too many boring responsibilities associated with their crowns, and aside from the gorgeous library, I preferred Belle’s original quaint cottage and village of residence to the echoing, impersonal castle she’d presumably inhabit as a princess. Yet everywhere I looked, the heroines of my … Continue reading →

Toddlers and Television: The Electronic Babysitter

I have been criticized more than once for letting my toddler watch television. It is often referred to as the electronic babysitter, mostly by people who don’t think toddlers should watch television at all. However, I do not consider the television to be an electronic babysitter, so much as a source of both entertainment and education. There have been times when I have joked that I’m happy to have my electronic babysitter. That usually occurs when I desperately need to finish dinner and my son wants to play ball. I need a few minutes to get plates on the table … Continue reading →

“Princess and the Frog” Hints at New Era for Disney

For the past decade, Disney Animation has meant little without Pixar. All of the sharp storytelling and visual artistry that made Walt Disney famous came not from the studio he started, but from a company originally founded by George Lucas. Some movies made in that time stood out, such as “Lilo and Stitch” and “Enchanted.” But they never quite achieved the magic Disney had lost. By 2004, Disney altogether stopped making hand-drawn animated movies. “Princess and the Frog” restores the glimmer of Disney’s previous glory to a respectable glow. The movie isn’t perfect, but the studio’s finally returning to form. … Continue reading →

Get Paid for Having Fun on TV

I love having fun in the great outdoors swimming, biking, sailing, hiking, and running. However, when it comes to bungee jumping from the skid of a helicopter into an active volcano or rappelling down an iceberg, you can count me out. Needless to say, my fear of heights (or more accurately, my fear of falling from high places) automatically disqualifies my family from appearing on TV’s latest reality series. The producers of “Amazing Race,” “The Biggest Loser,” and “The Office” are currently searching for America’s most outgoing families to compete in exciting outdoor challenges in the nation’s most beautiful national … Continue reading →

Introduction to Disney Addiction

“The fairy tale of film — created with the magic of animation — is the modern equivalent of the great parables of the Middle Ages.”—Walt Disney Hi, my name is Angela and I’m a Disney-holic. I got hooked when I was small and I still go see the studio’s movies in the theaters, by myself if need be. For my formal introduction on this blog, I wanted to share a little bit about the role Disney’s had in my life. Disney means a lot of things to a lot of people—production company, ultimate theme park, greedy global conglomerate—and while I’m … Continue reading →