Piglet Sketch

A Piglet sketch I made to brighten everyone's day! Made in Adobe Photoshop CC2020.

Editorial: Bob Iger Steps Down from Disney

Breaking News (Somewhat): Bob Iger steps down as Disney's CEO.

The Little Mermaid Live

 (Source: Wikipedia)

I had such high hopes for this production, since I knew if it was successful, it could have lead to similar shows based on Disney's other stage adaptations. Matter of fact, I am not the biggest fan of Disney's The Little Mermaid, and even I found it nothing short of disappointing. I expected a production similar to other networks' broadcasts of stage musicals, such as A Christmas Story Live, where they would essentially broadcast the stage adaptation in its entirety (based on the marketing of this "event"). Unfortunately, that is not what I saw being played out; instead, I was treated to a mere broadcast of the 1989 film intermixed with "live action" segments whenever it was time for a musical number.
The constant switch between the animated and live action segments broke the immersion, and made the production seem inconsistent overall. If they wanted to broadcast the original film, then they should have done so, and the same could be said if they wanted to show the stage musical. It did not need to be this poorly-executed hybrid of both; consequently, it was difficult to understand what was going on in some segments due to the constant switch between the two. Adding insult to injury, the production was wrought with technical issues, such as inconsistencies with volume. Even by the end, it seemed like they simply gave up on the live action segments, because they did not even perform a live version of the finale.
In regard to the new versions of the iconic songs, these were arguably the weakest part of the production. However, I will say I enjoyed the new versions of Fathoms Below and Poor Unfortunate Souls, purely because of the re-integration of some of Howard Ashman's cut lyrics (I have a bit of a fascination for deleted Disney lyrics).
The musical numbers lacked the energy of their animated counterparts, with the "live action" performers seeming like they were doing it for the big paycheck from Disney. This also ruined the emotional impact of certain songs such as Her Voice and If Only (the only two songs that carried over from the stage counterparts, and major moments for Ariel and Eric). The costumes also looked cheap and inconsistent, looking like they were bought from Wal-Mart's clearance aisle. Sebastian's took the biggest hit, being simply a red leather jacket (I wonder which Michael Jackson impersonator they took that from) without any claws, while the ensemble's crab costumes looked more like the character than he did.
In regard to the performers, I feel there were a few miscasts, such as Ariel herself and Chef Louis during the Les Poissons number. I enjoyed Cravalho's role as Moana, but I felt like her Ariel was underwhelming; during Part of Your World and its respective reprise, it seemed like she had trouble hitting those high notes, such as during the closing lyrics of the latter.  I think at one point during the production, her voice may have given out; because part of a song sounded like it was being overdubbed by Jodi Benson (Ariel's original voice actress) herself. Her singing was a poor fit for Ariel, and felt lifeless and off-key, making it difficult to invest in her performance. The only performer that I felt was making any effort was Queen Latifah as Ursula, since it seemed like she was having at least some fun in the role. Her take on Poor Unfortunate Souls had a bit of energy to it, and was at least tolerable.
Overall, I would not call this production "bad" (even though it was painful to watch), but "poorly-executed". It seemed like Disney did not know what they wanted to do beforehand, whether it was to re-broadcast the animated film or perform the stage adaptation; they should have either done one or the other, but not both. While it may work in a theatrical setting, the hybrid/live concert concept translates poorly to television, since it breaks the viewer's immersion and confuses them. If I could give some advice for future productions of this nature, please stick to one medium, and give the viewers what you advertised (and Disney, if you do Aladdin, include Proud of Your Boy). For fans of The Little Mermaid, stick with the original film, the stage musical, or the upcoming live-action remake; this is one production that is not really worth seeing unless you are curious.
What did you think of this "experiment"? Feel free to discuss in the comments below, and also be sure to like and follow for more Reviews and Retrospectives updates!

Top 5 Unpopular Opinions

The greatest aspect of an opinion is that everybody is entitled to their own; while many may have a similar opinion on one thing, there may be some that think differently. For example, some may think it is great to have more Dragon Ball content on the air with the advent of Super and the new movies, others may think the franchise has long overstayed its welcome. Another example is in regard to Disney's direct to video sequels; some may think a majority of them are horrendous trash, others may think there are quite a few hidden gems (I am in the latter camp, I loved the Lilo and Stitch, Lion King, and Aladdin sequels). I am just as guilty when it comes to unpopular opinions, matter of fact, here are five examples of my own (along with an honorable mention):

• One Piece is an anime that has long overstayed its welcome 
• Before explaining this unpopular opinion, let me give you all a disclaimer; One Piece is by no means a bad anime at all. However, I think an anime (or any ongoing series for that matter) that has gone on for well over 900 episodes is a tad excessive, and creates a problem in terms of pacing. I understand this series is about a band of pirates traveling the globe in search of the titular treasure, but we do not need to see every second of their adventure. If its creator were to streamline the story to the most important moments of the Straw Hat Pirates' adventure, then this series would be much more palatable and easier to get into. I have attempted to get into this series multiple times, but failed each time because the massive episode count and horrendous pacing makes it a chore to watch completely. This series has been ongoing for over twenty years, I believe it is well beyond time for the Straw Hats to reach their final destination and end this series. The longer it goes, the more difficult it will be for a newcomer to get into.

• The Wii U is a genuinely great console
• This one is pretty self-explanatory; Nintendo's Wii U console is one that is gravely underrated. It combines the best aspects of home console and portable gaming, it is Nintendo's first High-Definition console, and its Virtual Console represents all of their previous systems with the exception of the Gamecube. Unfortunately, it was unable to realize its true potential due to Nintendo's poor marketing of the product. They marketed the console as an upgrade to the original Wii, rather than its successor like it actually was. Additionally, third-party developers found it difficult to create games for it. As a result, the Wii U was a commercial failure to the company, similar to their Virtual Boy, and was quickly phased out in favor of the Nintendo Switch. Personally, I loved playing games on the Wii U, and was disappointed to see its quick demise. Matter of fact, it is one of my favorite consoles from Nintendo, next to the Gamecube and Switch. While the third-party support was severely lacking, its range of first-party titles was phenomenal! Games such as Hyrule Warriors, Super Smash Bros., and Nintendo Land were great experiences, and their remakes of Zelda games such as Wind Waker and Twilight Princess were massive improvements over the original. I never beat the original versions of the latter two games, but I quickly beat their Wii U remakes. If you ever get the chance to play this console, I can assure you it will be an unforgettable experience. However, there are some glaring flaws, such as having to be in the same room if you wish to stream the game to the GamePad controller. If you wanted to play purely on said controller, you had to be less than thirty feet away from the main unit or else the signal would be lost. 

• X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a solid film
• Ironically, I believe the X-Men films that are considered "bad" in the eyes of the general consumer to be fairly solid (with the exception of the recent Dark Phoenix); X-Men Origins: Wolverine is no exception. It presents a solid interpretation of Wolverine's origin story, and serves as an excellent lead-in to 2000's X-Men film. The pacing is also solid, with no events being too quick or overstaying their welcome, in addition to having a good balance of action, drama, and comedy. However, I do agree with one criticism of the work, Origins' version of Deadpool. I am glad this version of the character was quickly retconned into the snarky, crude, fourth-wall destroyer the public is familiar with. Ryan Reynolds' initial version of Deadpool was the polar opposite and a far cry from his counterpart in the comics, to the point of his mouth being sewn shut; the character is supposed to be a chatterbox, why make him mute? That aside, it was interesting to see Wolverine's beginnings and the cause of his memory loss in his later appearances. If you catch this film out in the wild, I would highly suggest giving it a watch.

• Disney's live action remakes are not as bad as people think
• Disney's recent trend of live action remakes based on their animated films has been a polarizing subject, with a general consensus finding them mediocre at best to horrendous at worst. Personally, with the exception of Maleficent, I found these remakes to be very enjoyable, gladly defending them whenever possible. I grew up watching the original animated versions of these films, and I am always excited to see new interpretations of these stories. While some may see these remakes as "cheap, soulless cash-grabs", I find these as opportunities for Disney to bring back concepts that were cut from the original films (along with elements from their stage counterparts in some cases), and integrate them with the stories we all know and love. Additionally, it allows the company to address the flaws found in the originals and expand upon them, such as how Belle and Beast's backstories are addressed. However, I will admit these new versions have their share of flaws as well (if you would like to see my opinions on Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King, click on their respective italicized names, as I do not plan to re-address them here). In the case of Dumbo, we are not only re-acquainted with the original story, but shown what happens afterward. Perhaps it is time to give these remakes another shot, seeing them for their own merits instead of in the shadows of their source material; you might find them as "diamonds in the rough", to quote Aladdin.

• Honorable Mention: Sonic 06 is not the worst game ever
• In many lists of "worst video games ever made", the 2006 reboot of Sonic The Hedgehog is frequently mentioned. While it is a barely playable mess with a plethora of frustrating glitches, there is some merit to the game. It presents an experimental scenario of placing Sonic and his cast in a realistic setting, along with a new design for series antagonist, Dr. Eggman (a design I think would work so much better in the upcoming live-action film). The game also introduced a new character to the franchise (Silver the Hedgehog), along with solidifying Sonic Rush's Blaze the Cat's place among the franchise's cast (despite retconning her origin). I am probably one of the few that finds Sonic 06 enjoyable; matter of fact, it was the game that made me want to get an XBOX 360 in middle school. It is by no means a perfect game, nor is it great, but it is a solid title in the XBOX 360's library despite its flaws. It is not the worst game in history either (that goes to the Atari 2600 game based on E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial), and is one that definitely deserves a second look. However, in regard to the Wii U title, Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric, that mess of a game deserves to burn in the nearest dumpster fire.

• The Little Mermaid's Ariel is a selfish protagonist
• While I understand this may cause me to lose a few readers, I will preface this by saying that I do not think The Little Mermaid is a bad film by any means whatsoever. It has amazing animation (being one of Disney's last to use traditional cel-animation before switching to the CAPS system), a great score from Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, and great characters.... aside from the aforementioned protagonist. In terms of Disney heroes and heroines, Ariel is probably one of the most naive and selfish in the studio's history. Her actions and motivation not only endanger herself, but her supporting cast as well. Her exploring the sunken ship at the beginning of the film almost caused her and Flounder to become shark food, and her desire to be with a human prince puts her entire kingdom at risk from Ursula as well. Her father had every right to be protective, since I have a feeling he knew all of this would happen. She is a protagonist that really needed to learn that all of her actions have consequences, both good and bad; throughout the course of the film, she thought little of how her actions would affect others, thinking only for herself. I do admit I am being a bit harsh on the character, but this is one major flaw that I hope is addressed in the upcoming remake. Ariel is a character that desperately needed to gain a sense of humility and consideration for others. 

What are some of your unpopular opinions? Feel free to discuss them in the comments below and on social media, and be sure to give a follow for future Reviews and Retrospectives posts. 

The Lion King (2019)

(Source: Amazon.com)

I will admit, this is one of Disney's remakes I waited for with much anticipation, and one of two I can definitely say I "loved" rather than simply "liked" (or in the case of Maleficent, did not care for at all). The original animated film this is based on is arguably tied with Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast for my title of "favorite Disney film", and this version can be said similarly for Disney's recent live action remakes. I grew up watching the animated Lion King across various forms of home media, going from the VHS, to the DVD, to my current Blu-Ray copy; matter of fact, I have seen the film so many times I know the story beats by heart along with its production history. Understandably, when I heard it was going to be another one of Disney's remakes, I was more excited for this than I was for Aladdin.

When I saw it fairly recently, I left the theater with a massive smile on my face seeing one of my favorite films with a new coat of paint; it remained faithful to the original (down to casting James Earl Jones as Mufasa once again), the songs were just as I remembered them and mixed elements of their stage versions, and managed to expand upon the story of the original in certain places. However, while I was more than satisfied with the finished product (and the burger I ate while watching it), I do have some flaws I would like to address.

The first piece of criticism that needs to be addressed was James Earl Jones' new interpretation of Mufasa. While initially, I was excited to see the original voice actor returning (considering he is one of my favorite actors, and Mufasa is one of my favorite characters), I was unfortunately disappointed seeing it in action. In the original film, Mufasa's voice had this booming power and regal tone to it, showing Jones was putting a massive amount of passion in the character. In this version, his delivery was flat, emotionless, and felt quite cheap. Unfortunately, that kills the mood in certain iconic scenes carried over from the source material, and sadly destroys their impact. Scenes such as him lecturing a young Simba under a starry sky, and the latter seeing his father's ghost later in the film lose the power and emotion they once had because of that flatline delivery. One could obviously see that Jones was not reprising his role for the fond memory of doing the original, but simply for a paycheck. A similar criticism can be given to Mufasa's brother, Scar; particularly regarding the new version of the villain song, Be Prepared.

I will preface this criticism saying that I liked the new Be Prepared; matter of fact, it sent chills down my spine moreso than the original and stage versions. The new version increases the intensity of the song, increasing its impact and the intimidating nature of the antagonist. However, like Doomsday's appearance in Batman v Superman, it also felt like it was tacked on to appease the fans since it was initially planned to be cut from the remake. This is definitely shown through the song's length and the lyrics, since over half of it is simply the phrase "be prepared" repeated multiple times. The song itself is also significantly truncated in comparison to previous versions, clocking in at slightly over two minutes as opposed to the three minute original. That and the hacked-together nature of the song disappointed me, because Be Prepared is my favorite song from the original film, and the one I was looking forward to seeing most. However, I love how it left me speechless as the number ending, simply mouthing "whoa" and attempting to process what I saw moments before. Moving past the negative aspects of the film, there are some massive positives that need to be recognized; for starters, those regarding the new Timon and Pumbaa.

Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen managed to gracefully uphold the legacy left by their predecessors, Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella. Matter of fact, there were times where the two managed to sound almost identically to the originals. Additionally, their versions of Hakuna Matata and the "live bait" scene kept me laughing. While the comedic aspect of the remake has been drastically reduced, I am  glad that Timon and Pumbaa still delivered on the laughs, and stole the show just as they did in the source material. I am going to give a slight spoiler, but my favorite scene with these two was when they were singing The Lion Sleeps Tonight, and their neighbors were looking at them like they were saying "oh god, not those guys again." Their expressions alone caused quite a few laughs from the audience.

In regard to the aforementioned reduction in comedy, while this take is substantially darker, it also means the emotional impact is increased. While I could emotionally connect with the characters in the original, there were moments where I was nearly to the point of shedding tears in certain moments in the remake. A prominent example of this was during the infamous stampede sequence; I tried to hold back tears as Mufasa put his own life on the line to Simba, but when Scar threw him off the cliff, I simply lost it. I do not remember the last time a scene in a film had that much of an emotional impact on me, but good job Lion King for pushing me to that point. I still cannot listen to the stampede's instrumental without having flashbacks of that scene, so thank you for that.

Overall, this is one of Disney's remakes I would highly recommend seeing; it is faithful to the original while also giving the viewer something new (along with references to the stage musical), it retains all songs and their charm from the original (something Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast did not), and is also beautifully animated. However, if you are going in expecting James Earl Jones to give another stellar performance as Mufasa or something as comedic as the original, then you will be somewhat disappointed. Myself, I am definitely looking forward to seeing it again when it is released on Amazon Prime Video; I absolutely loved it despite its flaws.

What did you think of the film? Feel free to discuss your thoughts in the comments below, and also please like and follow for future Reviews and Retrospectives posts.

Top 5 Disney Songs from the Stage Musicals

For a bit of context, whenever Disney makes a stage musical based on one of their films, they will usually include all or at least two of the following:

• All or most of the songs from the source material
• Songs written for the original film but cut (such as Human Again in Beauty and the Beast, and Proud of Your Boy in Aladdin)
• Songs written exclusively for the stage production

I have covered the first two in previous reviews, so it is fitting that I should cover some of the songs written exclusively for the stage versions. I will be discussing when this song takes place in the show (so there will definitely be spoilers), the impact it has on the overall story, and my overall thoughts on the number. As was the case with the previous two reviews of this nature, I will only be doing one song per production, so each show gets their chance in the spotlight (pun intended). I will also be including links to the songs for you to listen to, so you can develop your opinions on which ones you like as well. 

#5: I Need to Know, Tarzan

(Source: TLMBroadway193)

Plotwise, this song takes place during the scene where the young Tarzan is trying to determine who (or what) he is, after a fallout with the gorilla tribe's leader, Kerchak. This song could serve as the customary "I want" number in a musical, something the original 1999 film lacked. Tarzan is trying to determine where he belongs and his place in the world, unaware of his humanity at this point in the story. He is later comforted by his adoptive gorilla mother, Kala, whom essentially informs him that even though they look different, they are indeed one in the same. I like how this song is used to develop Tarzan as a character, and sets up his development for the rest of the production (considering it directly precedes the iconic Son of Man from the original movie).

#4: Esmeralda, The Hunchback of Notre Dame

(Source: Adam Ostrowski)

At this point in the production, we have learned of the desires of both Quasimodo and his adoptive father, Archdeacon Frollo. Essentially, they have the same desire, "the gypsy known as Esmeralda". Matter of fact, Frollo's desire for Esmeralda is so insane, he decides to burn down a majority of Paris simply to locate her; it essentially sounds like a stalker horror gone completely wrong. It serves as a turning point for the majority of the main characters; Phoebus turns on Frollo, Esmeralda decides to stand up for herself and the gypsies, we begin to see Quasimodo rebelling against his master, and Frollo (of course) goes insane. The song serves as a powerful finale for the show's first act, leaving the production on a powerful (and somewhat bleak) cliffhanger. Like the song preceding it (Hellfire) and The Lion King's Be Prepared (coincidentally, Frollo's actor played Scar in The Lion King), this is definitely one song that will send massive chills down your spine. 

#3: He Lives in You, The Lion King

(Source: TheSonicMaster123)

After reuniting with Nala and being persuaded to return to the Pride Lands to reclaim his throne, Simba is left confused on what he should do. He still believes he is the one who killed Mufasa, which makes him reluctant to return home. Essentially, this song takes place during the scene where Simba sees his father's ghost (one of my favorite Disney moments), and gives a powerful message; even though some are gone physically, they still live on in all of us. The message and Swahili vocals alone make this song one of my favorites, in addition to it taking place during my favorite part of The Lion King. Matter of fact, this song is so good, it serves as the opening for The Lion King II as an analogue to Circle of Life. It is one that reinvigorates and is a powerful showstopper before the final confrontation with Scar.

#2: A Million Miles Away, Aladdin

(Source: DisneyMusicVEVO)

After Aladdin and Jasmine meet, the audience learns of their desire to escape their current situations; Al wants to break away from being a street rat, and Jasmine does not want to be in an arranged marriage she has no consent to. They both decide to run away from Agrabah and start life anew, having only each other's company. A Million Miles Away discusses their plan and what they hope to expect from it, while also being a beautiful romantic ballad for the two. Matter of fact, this song also sets up their later meeting and A Whole New World, as hinted by Aladdin's short reprise at the beginning of the aforementioned song. I wish this song (or some equivalent to it) was used in the 2019 remake of Aladdin, as it would have further built their relationship. I love the song because it furthers the characters' development, it has a beautiful melody, and it hints at their relationship later in the show. Not having a duet like this in the remake was definitely a missed opportunity for the production staff.

#1: If I Can't Love Her, Beauty and the Beast

(Source: disneysoundtrack89)

Of course, my number one pick on this list is from my favorite stage musical, Beauty and the Beast; specifically, the finale of the show's first act. Taking place after Beast scares Belle out of the castle, the former begins to lament on possibly losing his only chance to break his curse. If he does not change his ways soon, "he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time". The song serves as the beginning of Beast's character development, along with being somewhat of an apology to those he's affected. It makes you want to cheer for the success of this character, and see him through his wish to regain his lost humanity. Like A Million Miles Away in Aladdin, If I Can't Love Her should have also been in its respective live action remake. Having this song and Evermore would have made perfect bookends to Beast's character development. (On a side note, I am glad that production I saw at Shawnee Mission Theater in the Park thought similarly. Instead of performing  If I Can't Love Her's reprise like usual, they performed Evermore instead. While I understand they were paying tribute to the recently released remake by doing so, it was definitely a smart move and gave Beast another well-deserved ballad.)

What are some of your favorite songs from Disney's stage musicals? What are some of your favorite musical numbers in general? Feel free to leave a comment below and discuss! Additionally, feel free to give me a follow for future updates on the blog. 

Disney's Aladdin (2019): Diamond in the Rough?

 (Source: IMDb.com)

Initially, I had mixed feelings when this remake was announced but was nonetheless excited (since this is adapting my favorite animated movie). However, this film was an example of one I should have viewed with no expectations whatsoever; I was one who hoped for deleted songs such as Proud of Your Boy, and essentially an adaptation of the stage musical using Howard Ashman's deleted lyrics. I will say if you are one who had those expectations like me, you are going to be slightly disappointed; as a minor spoiler, the only instance of deleted lyrics in the film are at the end of Arabian Nights and the new reprise of One Jump Ahead (which was surprisingly written for the original film but cut later in production, similar to the aforementioned Proud of Your Boy). Despite all this, this remake is one of Disney's best in their current trend of live-action adaptations. Admittedly, while this film is by no means perfect (nor does it hold a candle to the original and its stage musical), it still does a solid job adapting the source material while giving us something new in the process. 

Also, I am currently eating my words in regard to Will Smith's Genie and the rest of the cast (aside from Marwan Kenzari's Jafar). 

I loved the portrayals by Mena Massoud (Aladdin), Naomi Scott (Jasmine), Frank Welker (Abu, Raja, Cave of Wonders), and of course Will Smith. They did a phenomenal job portraying their respective characters in addition to fleshing them out; their renditions of the iconic songs were also beautifully done.... except for Will Smith's Prince Ali. 

While I know he was making a solid effort in that scene, the sequence as a whole lacked the energy of its animated and stage counterparts; it is disappointing because Prince Ali is my favorite song that was in the original film. I did like the part of the song where Genie was waiting for Sultan's approval to enter the palace, even though it messed up the song's flow. Harkening back to my earlier statement on deleted Ashman lyrics, I felt this song could have benefited most from using them; Genie could have used the lost intro as a means of transitioning into the main number (since the scene started rather abruptly), and the lost lyrics littered throughout the song could have been used to embellish "Prince Ali's" exploits (similar to the stage musical). Utilizing these deleted lyrics was one of main missed opportunities in this film, the other being everyone's favorite Scarlet McCaw, Iago. 

I was disappointed that Iago's role was drastically reduced from the original and stage versions, where in this version he is simply a regular parrot; he is still capable of speech, but now it is small phrases. Alan Tudyk did a great job in the role, but I wish we would have seen more from him. Aside from Abu (who remained mostly the same from the original, if not having a more expanded role), the animal characters were essentially pushed aside. 

While I am not the biggest fan of Abu, I actually enjoyed him much more in this version. He was given a more dynamic personality and was a catalyst for some events in the plot, making this little monkey one of the most enjoyable characters in the film. Additionally, he is given more time as a monkey than as an elephant, which is another bonus for the character. 

Regarding the film's events and pacing; while the story was very solid, there seemed to be somewhat of a lack of cohesion in the second and third acts, as it simply jumped from one event to another. There were plenty of moments I enjoyed (such as the scenes of Aladdin and Jasmine in the marketplace), but there were also times where it seemed like Guy Ritchie was going off a checklist, trying to hit certain points. There were moments he nailed perfectly under his direction, and there were some that could have used some work (such as the infamous "jams" running gag). 

I respect the efforts of director Guy Ritchie and the beautiful score by Alan Menken, they did a very solid job in making this film. The cast made the roles their own and did a great job, especially the main trio. Aside from Prince Ali, the entirety of Menken's score was also beautiful, and Jasmine's new song blew me away. I also loved the callbacks to the source material and the stage musical, such as making Prince Ali "of Ababwa" and the little snippet of Proud of Your Boy used at one point in the film (a moment which made me shed a few tears of joy since that is my favorite Disney song). If you go into this film with ZERO expectations, then you will have an enjoyable experience and come out satisfied. It is not exactly a "Diamond in the Rough" like one would think, but it makes a great effort in trying to be one. Aladdin is certainly worth a watch (or two or three), and I loved how it took the material of its predecessors and ran with them. However, Jafar seriously needed some work... he certainly does not hold a candle to Jonathan Freeman, not by a long shot.