A Goofy Movie

1995

Director: Kevin Lima

Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures / Buena Vista Pictures

Key Elements: Story – Lines –Characters – Message – Music

My Review:

I was crazy about this movie when it came out. I was ten years old and felt like this movie was made especially for me. With great animation, funny lines and sequences and an important message, it’s one of the better original Disney movies to be made in a while.

But the best part about it is that it shows the importance of a father in a boys life. Max and Goofy are at each others throats through most of the story. But when they open up to each other, they find they can understand each other and finally come together.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• This is a vacation with me and my best buddy.
  - Donald Duck?
  No, silly, with you!
• Good-bye, hopes... Good-bye, dreams... Good-bye, Roxanne...
• How many cups of sugar does it take to get to the moon?
  - Uh... three and a half?

Stills:

Hauru no ugoku shiro (Howl’s Moving Castle)

2004

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Distributor: Studio Ghibli / Buena Vista Home Entertainment

My Review:

So a buddy and me went through this phase where we were watching a lot of Anime, and this one blew us away.

Miyazaki is basically Japan’s Walt Disney, pioneering animation and making advances in both form and story.

Howl’s is based on the novel by Diana Wynne Jones and tells the story of how a cursed girl and a tormented wizard develop and friendship and romance while saving their world from darkness and war.

I honestly can’t pinpoint what I like about this movie. Gorgeous animation, beautiful music and loveably understated characters - It’s just a good watch.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• What's going on? Someone just told me you floated down into our balcony! - So that did happen, it wasn't a dream.
• Wow! He must have been a wizard then.
  - But he was so kind to me. He rescued me, Letti.
  Of course he did, he was trying to steal your heart. You were so lucky Sophie, if that wizard were Howl, he would have eaten it.
  - No he wouldn't, Howl only does that to beautiful girls.
• What a dump. When I think of castles, it's not what I picture
• She was once quite beautiful, so I decided to pursue her, then I realized she wasn't, so then, as usual, I ran away.
• I give up. I see no point in living if I can't be beautiful.
• He's calling the spirits of darkness... I saw him do this once before when a girl dumped him!
• You shouldn't keep flying around like that. Soon you won't be able to turn back into a human.
• That boy is extremely dangerous, his powers are far too great for someone without a heart. …If he stays selfish, I'm afraid he'll end up just like the Witch of the Wastes.
• This war is terrible, they bomb from the southern coast to the northern border. It's all in flames now.
  - I can't stand the fire and gunpowder. Those dopey guys have absolutely no manners.
• My own kind attacked me today.
  - Who? The Witch of the Wastes?
  No, some hack wizards who turned themselves into monsters for the king.
  - Those wizards are going to regret doing that. They'll never change back into humans.
  After the war, they won't recall they ever were human.
• I'm such a big coward, all I do is hide. All of this magic is to keep everybody away. I can't stand how scared I am.
• A heart's a heavy burden.
• They say that the best blaze burns brightest, when circumstances are at their worst.
• Sorry, I've had enough of running away, Sophie. Now I've got something I want to protect. It's you.

Stills:

Sleeping Beauty

1959

Director: Clyde Geronimi

Distributor: Buena Vista / Walt Disney Pictures

Key Elements: Story – Symbolism – Message – Visuals

My Review:

A prince fights a dragon to rescue a princess from a curse. You can’t get much more fairytale than that.

And behind it all are highly stylized, beautifully layered hand-painted backgrounds. This movie’s style actually stands out among the rest of Disney’s work at the time.

But my favorite thing about this movie is how it symbolizes the gospel.

Aura is under a curse that has her indefinitely asleep – similar to how we are all dead in our sins. Along comes the prince to conquer the dragon – just as Jesus conquered sin and death on the cross. Afterwards, he awakens the princess with a kiss and they live happily ever after – Our relationship with Jesus gives us new, abundant life with Him.

I also like that the prince is a character in this story, not just an accessory awarded to the princess in the end like a lot of Disney movies.

Clip:



Quotes:

• Sweet princess... if through this wicked witch's trick, a spindle should your finger prick... a ray of
• hope there still may be in this, the gift I give to thee. Not in death, but just in sleep, this fateful prophecy you'll keep. And from this slumber you shall wake, when true love's kiss, the spell shall break.
• Maleficent doesn't know anything about love, or kindness, or the joy of helping others. You know, sometimes I don't think she's really very happy.
• Now, father, you're living in the past. This is the 14th century!
• Rose! Rose! Don't touch ANYTHING!
• The Forest of Thorns shall be his tomb! Move through the skies on a fog of doom! Now go with the curse, and serve me well! Round Stefan's Castle, CAST MY SPELL!
• Now sword of truth, fly swift and sure, that evil die and good endure!For true love conquers all!

Stills:

The Sixth Sense

1999

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures

Key Elements: Concept – Lines

My Review:

I like this movie because it is one of only two that I have seen that REALY creeped me out.
Also, the scene where Cole tells his mother about the things his grandmother never told her is incredibly moving.

And NO, I didn’t see the ending coming.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• I see dead people.
• Do you know why you're afraid when you're alone? I do. I do.

Stills:

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

2003

Director: Gore Verbinski

Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures / Buena Vista Pictures

Key Elements: Characters – Lines - Concept – Music

My Review:

I don’t think anyone would have expected a movie based on a theme park ride to be THIS good.

The greatness of the movie is due in large part, of course, to Johnny Depp’s charismatic character. When the sequels were made, something of the Jack Sparrow character was lost. He was made into a purely comedic character - a sort of lucky bumbler. But in this fist movie, his humor comes from how sly and clever he is. And that’s what made the character great in the first place.

Trailers:



Quotes:

• Captain... Captain Jack Sparrow.
• We are cursed men, Miss Turner.
• You need to find yourself a girl, mate.
• This shot was not meant for you.
• So, there is a curse? That's interesting.
• Stop blowing holes in my ship!
• The only rules that really matter are these: what a man can do and what a man can't do.
• This is either madness... or brilliance.
• Well, yes mate. See, I'm dishonest. And a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly. It's the honest ones you need to watch out for, because you never know when they're going to do something incredibly... stupid.
• This is the day that you will ALWAYS remember as the day that you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow
• He’s a pirate… and a good man.
• Now... bring me that horizon.

Stills: