Modern times have seen the transformation of classic \u201ctoon\u201d tales into live-action films, but are these remakes truly honoring the originals?
\nThese adaptations have graced movie theaters since the beginning of the film industry. In 1961 the cartoon movie \u201c101 Dalmatians\u201d was released in the United States. Disney was in debt following the flop of \u201cSleeping Beauty\u201d in 1959 and desperately needed a hit.
\nThere were even rumors of closing down the animation division, so the company could focus on live action films, television and theme parks. Thankfully, the movie became the highest grossing movie of 1961 in the United States.
\nThen in 1996 Disney decided to revitalize the movie as a live-action film. The legendary John Hughes wrote the screenplay and Glenn Close, Jeff Daniels, Joely Richardson and Hugh Laurie starred in the film.
\n \u201c101 Dalmatians\u201d was released on Nov. 27, 1996. It grossed $320.6 million in theaters against a $75 million budget. Many critics and Rotten Tomatoes claimed the film was \u201ca bland, pointless remake,\u201d but praised Close\u2019s performance as Cruella de Vil. The film may have been described as a flop, but a second film followed.
\nMore recently tales such as \u201cBeauty and the Beast,\u201d \u201cCinderella\u201d and \u201cThe Jungle Book\u201d have been adapted into live-action films receiving mixed reviews.
\n Many audiences find it hard to recreate certain aspects of the original films. For example, I personally was let down as I watched the live action \u201cBeauty and the Beast\u201d and did not hear Angela Lansbury sing during the famed dancing scene, and I found Lily James\u2019s acting less than memorable in \u201cCinderella,\u201d who is recognized as \u201cthe\u201d Disney princess.
\nDespite having a stellar cast with Bill Murray, Idris Elba, Scarlett Johansson, Christopher Walken and newcomer Neel Sethi in \u201cThe Jungle Book,\u201d the relationships between Mowgli (Sethi) and Baloo (Murray) fell very short compared to the original, but there were moments between Mowgli and Shere Khan (Elba) that are quite terrifying and help the movie\u2019s storyline move forward.
\nAll in all these motion pictures were tolerable with a few exceptional scenes.
\nBut then there are some live-action movies that are better and more successful than the predecessor.
\n\u201cMaleficent,\u201d \u201cPeter Pan\u201d and \u201cPete\u2019s Dragon\u201d entangled me into their story more than the original ever did. In \u201cSleeping Beauty,\u201d Maleficent is an evil fairy and the self-proclaimed \u201cMistress of All Evil\u201d who, after not being invited to a christening, curses the infant Princess Aurora to \u201cprick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die\u201d before the sun sets on Aurora\u2019s sixteenth birthday.
\n Although \u201cMaleficent\u201d is told from the mistress\u2019 own perspective, Angelina Jolie gives the character depth, personality and the audience finds itself empathetic towards her.
\nIn the original she was simply the evil villain who turns into a dragon, but in \u201cMaleficent\u201d we see there is more to her than anger and hate.
\nPeter Pan has been recreated various times. The 1991 adaptation \u201cHook\u201d showed the audience what happens when Peter Pan grows up and leaves Neverland, and it\u2019s hard not to love when Robin Williams plays the forever wonder boy.
\n Because of the 2003 adaption, I cannot watch the movie without chanting \u201cI do believe in fairies! I do, I do,\u201d as Tinkerbell almost dies in Peter\u2019s hands after she drinks poison to save him.
\nFor me, these live action adaptations are typically very shaky.
\nSometimes they miss the mark, sometimes they surpass the originals and other times they land in the forest of adequacy.
\n I say audiences need to be wary and cautious when watching the live action films.
\n In the following months, and by next year, many adaptations such as \u201cAladdin,\u201d \u201cDumbo,\u201d \u201cThe Lion King,\u201d \u201cCruella,\u201d \u201cLilo and Stitch\u201d and \u201cMulan\u201d will debut in theatres. I won\u2019t expect a miracle, but I\u2019ll hope for the best. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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