...which ones would you like to see adapted? The Princess and the Frog (A 1920s New Orleans Jazz version of an old fable called The Frog Princess) and the long postponed adaptation of Rapunzel are both already greenlit.
Personally, I'd like to see Hans Christian Anderson's The Snow Queen. Not only is it the rare Anderson fable with an unambiguously happy ending, but it's so rich in characters, places, and action ripe for a lavish treatment.
(Disney once had the story in development, but under the waning days of the Eisner years it got turned into a wretched 'Shrek' clone before mercifully being shelved.)
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I like the fairy tale about the girl who leaves her kingdom with these three amazing dresses. I can't really remember what it's called or much else about it, just that I really liked it when I was a kid. The dresses are made I think out of like sunlight, moonlight and starlight or something like that, and she has a big coat of furs and ends up as a cook in a castle in another land, but she goes to the ball in these dresses and looks amazing, but eventually they catch her. I wish I remember more about it, but I always liked it as a kid.
As far as "traditional" stories goes, nothing comes to mind. But a new version of Sword in the Stone might be cool.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
The story you describe exists in many different forms under many different names. Jim Henson once did an episode of Storyteller based on a version of the tale called Sapsorrow.
Fantasy author Robin McKinley did a darker, more sophisticated full-length novel version of the tale called Deerskin. It was based partially on the more controversial elements of certain older versions of the story.
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
I would love to see more of the old myths. Alan Garner did a gorgeous retelling of one of the Welsh Mabinogion tales called The Owl Service, and perhaps they could do something like that. Or some of the Irish tales. The Isles have never really got much of the Disney treatment, except for that horrible mashing of Lloyd Alexander's Black Cauldron in the 70s.
Posted by Dobbie (Member # 3881) on :
Earth in the Balance.
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
Annnnnnd Dobbie for the de-rail, woo-hoo!
I used to read a story called The Tinderbox that involved a tinderbox that summoned giant dogs... Might make an interesting movie. Sort of a combination of Jack in the Beanstalk with magic-prevents-the-oppression-of-the-innocent elements.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Beowulf? The Hobbit? Ender's Game?
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Disney's "The Hobbit"?
I'd say sure, but I don't want to see Nicholas Cage as Gandalf.
Besides, New Line will make it before the end of the decade.
Posted by Leonide (Member # 4157) on :
Which decade? *wry
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
A very, very good chance of THIS decade, sassy pants.
Posted by Evie3217 (Member # 5426) on :
THE TINDERBOX!! OMG! Sterling you are my HERO! I remember reading this story when I was really young and I loved it, but I could never remember the name of it. I've literally been looking for it for years. Do you know who it's by? Nevermind, I'll look it up.
Oh, and Puffy, you stole my idea for the Snow Queen. I love that story. It's one of my favorites. Oh Hans Christian Andersen.
Also, I would love to see the Grimm Brother's Dancing Shoes. It's about 12 sisters whose shoes are worn down every night, and the king doesn't know why, so he makes a lot of gorgeous princes do it. It's an amazing story, and my favorite Grimm story. And I love Grimm stories.
Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
Did anyone ever read The King of Ireland's Son? I only have vague memories of it, but I feel like it would make a good movie, though probably not a Disney movie.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I have a book with lots of fairy tales, illustrated by Tasha Tudor, and "The Tinderbox" is one of them.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
quote:Also, I would love to see the Grimm Brother's Dancing Shoes. It's about 12 sisters whose shoes are worn down every night, and the king doesn't know why, so he makes a lot of gorgeous princes do it. It's an amazing story, and my favorite Grimm story. And I love Grimm stories.
Didn't they do a Barbie DVD version of that last year? Sounds like it might have an audience among the young, then...
Posted by Evie3217 (Member # 5426) on :
Barbie? Really? That hurts my soul. But still, it's a great tale. Definitely one of my favorites.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Honestly, that makes me feel better. Hopefully your soul won't hurt so much now. Posted by Juxtapose (Member # 8837) on :
I would watch a Disney adaptation of The Phantom Tollbooth. I'm pretty sure that book is why I have a an over-fondness for puns.
Posted by Fyfe (Member # 937) on :
Oh yes! Dancing Princesses! I adore that story! And I would definitely vote for "The Six Swans", if Disney were willing to make it dark enough. That's always been a favorite of mine.
And has anyone ever read "The Necklace of Princess Fioromonde"? That could be quite cool, though not their usual kind of thing.
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
quote:Originally posted by Evie3217: THE TINDERBOX!! OMG! Sterling you are my HERO! I remember reading this story when I was really young and I loved it, but I could never remember the name of it. I've literally been looking for it for years. Do you know who it's by? Nevermind, I'll look it up.
Hey, I get to be someone's hero. That makes my day.
I read it in a collection of fairy tales when I was in first grade, so I'm afraid I don't remember the author. There were something like four books of three to four stories each. I remember one of the others was the story of Bluebeard (pretty grim reading for first grade!)
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
I actually really liked Disney's Hercules. There's about 1,000 Arabian nights still untouched. Also, I kind of liked "Ben and Me." I could see more American History being interesting.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Robin McKinley did a version of Dancing Princesses fairy tale that was excellent. It was in one of her short story collections. A Door in the Hedge, In think?
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:I could see more American History being interesting.
Which is more objectionable: bowlderizing fairy tales or history?
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
For me, history.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
"This is the story of Lewis, Clark, Sacajawea, and their sassy but hilarious talking bobcat companion, Tufty!"
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
For me as well.
If Disney did history, I'd be afraid of it turning out as bad as they Johnny Appleseed one they did.
Posted by Dobbie (Member # 3881) on :
Rats. Dobbie pointed out that it's another HCA before I could.
I adore his tales. I'll watch any Disney version that DOESN'T completely change the ending. (So no Little Match Girl, I'm thinking.)
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
How do they change the endings? By which I mean, are they making them more G-rated or something, taking the edge off?
Posted by porcelain girl (Member # 1080) on :
Johnny Appleseed didn't bother me so much since he became a tall tale; I remember liking it as a child.
Pocahontas was evidence enough that they should not tackle historical films, especially if they are trying to maintain the status quo. Ugh. What a travesty.
They changed Hunchback, Lyrhawn. They have been known to sugarcoat a lot of details from literature and fairytales. I would argue it is more permissible (though potentially just as annoying)with the latter.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: How do they change the endings? By which I mean, are they making them more G-rated or something, taking the edge off?
Two words: Little Mermaid
Two more: She DIES!
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I just finished having a conversation with my best friend about how annoyed we are that when we were kids, there were darker films aimed towards kids, but now everything is so watered down and sugarcoated it's a shame, and we'll make our families someday watch 80's movies for kids.
It's a shame they feel kids need to be sheltered like that.
Posted by Juxtapose (Member # 8837) on :
It's a shame that the parents feel that way, and that the movie companies need to cater to that to stay in business.
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
I don't know. I saw Karate Kid for the first time a couple weeks back, and I was a little freaked out by the violence in it. I suppose it's not bad for high schoolers, but everyone I know was pretty little when they watched it.
I wonder if it came out before they invented the PG-13 rating and no one's parents knew any better?
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
Yes. PG movies from the early eighties can be pretty intense.
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
I seem to recall Bluth's Secret of Nimh being pretty intense, too, and I think it made it under the 'G' mark.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sterling: I seem to recall Bluth's Secret of Nimh being pretty intense, too, and I think it made it under the 'G' mark.
I was repeatedly traumatized by that movie as a child. They showed it on rainy days at my daycare, and I would freak out and cry, and then everyone would make fun of me...
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
You know, I just watched Pocahontas with Nathan tonight -- his pick -- although I love it, too.)
I always wonder what people's reaction would have been if they named the two main characters anything BUT Pocahontas and John Smith and slightly changed the geography/time.
Setting aside the lack of verifiable history (which frankly is NOT what cartoons are made for -- watch PBS for that sort of show), I thought the cartoon movie had several things going for it:
1) A strong female lead who even *gasp* chose to live her life without Prince Charming (a new one on Disney, to be sure). 2) A clear message that when you take what isn't yours, there will be protest by the original inhabitants/owners. 3) It takes two to fight. 4) One person can make a huge difference in an outcome. 5) Cool music to sing along with -- that offered some nifty messages: all the earth is alive and valuable; no one owns the earth; people are afraid of what makes them different from each other, but when they take some time to get to know each other, they can discover some wonderful things.
Along other mentions:
I liked Johnny Appleseed! And the Secret of Nimh -- although I was at least 12 when I saw it the first time. Along with Watership Down -- also pretty intense . . .
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
quote:Originally posted by rivka: I adore his tales. I'll watch any Disney version that DOESN'T completely change the ending. (So no Little Match Girl, I'm thinking.)
Did you watch a copy of the recent special edition DVD release of The Little Mermaid?
It has a (mostly) silent adaptation of the Match Girl as one of the special features. They kept the original "she dies" ending. I was impressed.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
No, I haven't seen the DVD. Is it the short on YouTube? Yup. I hadn't remembered that was Disney. It's quite well done.
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