So, today I watched some Disney Classics. The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, as well as Sleeping Beauty. And in that order. Nostalgasm ensued. These childhood highlights of mine are certainly something I don’t I’ll ever get tired of. It should be noted that today was my first time watching any of these in English, and I actually kept singing the German songs in my mind while watching. Which is funny in a sense, because when I was quite younger, I hated how Disney movies had soooooo much singing in them (the realist in me wondered how they’d turn everything into a musical number), and now I can safely say that the latest from Disney doesn’t seem to have enough music in it.
Never mind that they can’t seem to quite reach to the niveau of the classics. I don’t mean to sound like a purist here; I don’t have when they do computer animation or use real actors, but among those and every new sequel and/or prequel that comes out, it seems that the classic feel just isn’t there anymore. I could be wrong, but in innocent childhood naiveté, I’d like to believe that they used to make those movies with a focus on enchanting families, whereas now it’s about raking in the cash. And competing with everyone else on the market, though as there are people who believe that everything animated is Disney. At least in ‘merica. 
Ah, but this isn’t going to turn into a rant, of course. So let me revel in those memories some more. The Lion King is among my favourites. For some reason I have memories of watching it in the movie theathers when I was young for 3 times. Somehow that can’t be true, but I actually remember it as being true. That said, it is undoubtedly one of the best movies ever. The art, the sound, the story… and yes, I do realize that people who’ve watched Kimba the White Lion (which I also fondly remember) will notice an awful lot of similarity; however Kimba’s art now seems dated whereas Lion King’s does not. Or so it appears to me. In any case, it’s one of those few movies of which I can say with certainty that I will never, ever get tired of watching this movie.
Beauty and the Beast had a surprise in store for me: there were two scenes, one of which included a song, that were entirely new to me. I faintly recall that yes, there was going to be something new in the movie upon re-release, but when I watched it, for a moment there I thought that I had been in-attentive as a kid while watching this. Well I never! But, one thing hasn’t changed for sure; you see, since watching it for the first time those many, many years ago, I’ve come to the conclusion that the Beast is much more preferable while it is such. I don’t find his original, princely form all that attractive. But I suppose looking like that beats dying, and since Belle had to break the spell to save his life and castle, it’s a minor inconvenience. And, well, I’m not the one who has to marry him, and most of his screen-time is as a beast, so I suppose I can still let this one slide. XD
Ah, and then, particularly well known through the castle (which I had a miniature, Polly Pocket-ish version of), Sleeping Beauty. In retrospect I find Prince Phillip to be rather useless. I mean, seriously, without the Fairy Godmothers’ powers, he wouldn’t have lived to see the day to kiss her. Except maybe as grandpa like Maleficient intended it – her German name is Malefiz btw. And I do recall the fairies being Flora, Fauna and Fiona, but some time her name got changed to Sonnenschein (= Sunshine -> = Merryweather). Huh, I don’t remember why that was. The triple F alliteration was way nicer.
Well, either way, so much nostalgia… I have the urge to see more classics, in English, though the fond memories are also accompanied some of lesser happiness… But, as the charming warthog had said so nicely:
Sometimes you’ve just got to put your behind in the past.
