Confessions From a Disney Fanatic: I Love the Live-Action Movie Remakes

You better grab some ice — we’re in for a hot debate. While it’s not just Disney that’s been on a movie remaking spree lately, Disney is in a somewhat unique position in that they can make essentially the same exact movies they already own, but in live-action (or CGI) form.

Some of Disney’s live-action adaptations are completely different from their animated counterparts (like Cruella, Maleficent, and Alice in Wonderland), while others follow the original plot pretty faithfully. Either way, some Disney fans have strong opinions on the new live-action films, but let’s talk about what’s working in the remakes. 

The Casting

No matter how you may feel about Disney’s live-action remakes, many can’t help but take an interest in the cast that brings Disney’s animated characters to life. Remember when Will Smith was cast as the Genie? Or when Emma Stone revealed that she would be playing Cruella de Vil?

In some cases, Disney’s casting choices can open a dialogue about diversity and inclusivity. For example, Disney cast Rachel Zegler as Snow White in the upcoming Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs remake, and Halle Bailey brings Ariel to life in a refreshing new way in The Little Mermaid film.

When news broke that a live-action Moana movie was in the works, Auli’i Cravalho, the original voice of Moana, took to Instagram to share that she would not be reprising her role as Moana. Cravalho explained that it is important to her that casting accurately represents the story being told.

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A post shared by Auli’i Cravalho (@auliicravalho)

 

By casting culturally-accurate characters in Disney’s live-action films, Disney can broaden the audience that’s able to connect with some of its most beloved characters on a deeper, more personal level.

And don’t worry — Disney’s animated classics aren’t going anywhere! Now that we’re seeing more inclusive casting, more and more people can connect with those iconic Disney stories.

The Story

Can we take a moment to appreciate the soundtracks that accompany the new live-action films?

With Disney’s new movies, songs like “Evermore” in Beauty and the Beast and “Wild Uncharted Waters” in The Little Mermaid give us a new perspective and added context that wasn’t previously available in the animated films.

Additionally, Disney’s live-action films often dive deeper into the story to answer our long-held questions or correct harmful and dated messages. While the overall story remains the same, movies like Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid take a few moments to give us that little bit of backstory that helps us understand the characters’ intentions and motivations.

In some cases, like Cruella and Maleficent, the plot may even give us a whole new point of view!

Plus, famous directors like Guy Ritchie can bring a whole new life to animated classics with visually stunning costumes and sets. Just look at this scene from Aladdin — it’s gorgeous!

Speaking of costumes, many fans can agree that Disney’s live-action Cinderella movie had some of the most beautiful costumes EVER. Cinderella’s wedding dress is the stuff of dreams.

Even older live-action remakes like Alice in Wonderland gave characters like Alice a stronger, more confident voice, which helped more people connect with the character. (The costumes were incredible in this movie, too)

Let’s face it: Disney doesn’t seem to have any plans to stop making live-action adaptations of its classic movies any time soon, so we might as well embrace the good and offer our honest feedback when the films are released. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more!

BREAKING: A Live-Action ‘Moana’ Movie Is in the Works at Disney!

Which live-action remake is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

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