Disney live-action remakes: are they worth the watch?

By Travis Conant

Disney has made several live-action versions of their classic animated movies in the past decade, there are mixed reviews.

Walt Disney Studios was created Oct. 16, 1923. The first full-length movie the studio made was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and was played at Carthay Circle Theatre on December 21, 1937. It was released nationwide in the United States on Feb. 8, 1938.

It has been almost 80 years since the release of the first full-length animated movie. In that time, Disney has released more than 140 movies. For the most part Disney is known for its animated movies, but live-action remakes of the classics and are a recent trend.

Some of these remakes include Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Maleficent, The Jungle Book and The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. There are also more than 20 live action remakes rumoured to be released in the next five years, including Aladdin, Mulan, Dumbo and The Lion King.

Morgan Murphy, Is a student at St. Clair College and has been watching Disney movies since she was a little kid, including her favourite, Lilo & Stitch.

“I think they should continue remaking movies,” said Murphy. “I don’t have a good reason, I just really love Disney and want all the Disney I can get.”

The new Aladdin movie is set to release on May 24, 2019 and a teaser trailer has been released.

The success of the current remakes, such as Beauty and The Beast and The Jungle Book, shows fans love the newer live-action movies.

25-year-old Melissa Bonnett said she has watched The Jungle Book, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast as they have been released.

“I grew up watching these movies and loving them, so to see them be made into live-action and not be exactly like the cartoon versions, or to take out songs that are beloved by so many fans is just sad and changing something that did not need to be changed,” said Bonnett.  

Bonnett said she is not looking forward to the release of Aladdin and Dumbo because she doesn’t like the look of the animals. For Dumbo, Bonnett said the animals look creepy.

“The fact that it’s being made by Tim Burton will just change it completely,” said Bonnett. “I love Burton but I don’t feel like Dumbo needs a dark spin on it.”

For Aladdin, Bonnett said she doesn’t think it is a good idea for Will Smith trying to replace Robin Williams as genie. She said she thought Jack Black would have been a better choice for genie.  

The next Disney live-action movie set to be released is Aladdin and will be released May 24, 2018. Will you be seeing it in theaters?