Number 10

101 Dalmatians II; Patch's London Adventure picture image

Patch

 

101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure – Aside from the meanness of the puppies, I was surprised by this one. I thought it would suck but It was largely ok. It didn’t rehash and the satire on art was silly. Cruella is also a villain that I would think wouldn’t learn her lesson so her doing what she does in this one  is understandable.

Number 9

Mulan and Shang Mulan II picture image

Mulan and Shang

Mulan II – Let’s be real here, Mulan 2 doesn’t measure up to Mulan but as a movie it doesn’t suck that much and that’s all a Disney sequel as really be.

Number 8

Pocahontas and Rolfe, Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World picture image

Pocahontas and Rolfe

Pocahontas II: Journey To A New World – Pocahontas 2 did have a lot of dull annoying parts but as a story it worked. It continued the story in a logical direction and none of the characters were overly annoying and Pocahontas’ bodyguard drinking tea, classic.

Number 7

Timon in drag with his mother and Uncle Max The Lion King 1 1/2 picture image

Timon in drag with his mother and Uncle Max

The Lion King 1 1/2 – This might have checked out higher except for the midquel chunks. I really loved the start and end of the movie but the parts that kill it just poop on the original which was the point.

Number 6

Kiara and Kovu, The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride picture and image

Kiara and Kovu

The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride – Again this one might have ranked higher if not for the fan-fiction-ness of the plot. But aside from the weirdness in the plot, which is a big factor, the other aspects of the movie are fine, the songs are good as well as the animation and the characters are fine except for Simba, who the plot makes into a tool and that Andy Dick lion but he dies.

Number 5

Nita and Kenai Brother Bear 2 picture image

Nita and Kenai

Brother Bear 2 – I’m a little surprised at myself for putting this at number 5 but Brother Bear 2 did approve from the first one, I mean it made that little bear more BEARable, heh, puns. It may have been contrived but it was an enjoyable little movie.

Number 4

Iago and Jafar, The Return of Jafar picture image

Iago and Jafar, The Return of Jafar

The Return of Jafar – It was the sequel that started it all but Return Jafar did give us a different story as it looked a minor character from the first movie and gave him an interesting characterization. The movie in it of itself isn’t that bad and it did continue the story.

Number 3

Cassim, Iago, Jasmine, Abu, Aladdin, Aladdin and the King of Thieves picture image

Cassim, Iago, Jasmine, Abu, Aladdin, Aladdin and the King of Thieves

Aladdin and the King of Thieves – Personally I don’t really like this movie but it is decent looking and has a semi-interesting story about Aladdin and his dad. I wish the other characters did more but it was a good way to end Aladdin, though that treasure hunting plot was dumb.

Number 2

Cinderella and The Prince Cinderella III: A Twist in Time picture image

Cinderella and The Prince

Cinderella III: A Twist in Time – Yeah. it’s a dumb plot but it gave characters to characters who needed them. Cinderella and the Prince have to work to be together which makes us care for them. It also has good humor and looks good. I love the Prince jumping out the window when the king tells not to take another step down the stairs.

Number 1

Cody and Marahute The Rescuers Down Under picture image

Cody and Marahute

The Rescuers Down Under – Yeah this really isn’t fair as this movie is part of the Disney Cannon but screw it, my list. This is the only sequel that is better than original. It’s bigger and grander and the animation is stunning. I would say it lacks some emotional feels that the original has but I think the scope and the characters make up for that.

Next time the worst of the Non-Disney Princess Movies…… this might be more painful than the sequels.

With the Non-Disney Princess Movies done I thought before jumping into the next set of movies that we would take this month to revisit the previously reviewed movies and I would give my take on the best and worst Disney Sequels and Non-Disney Princess Movies and then I will say what the next bunch of movies will be.

So let’s start with the WORST Disney Sequels. And Just a note I’m not including the Pooh movies or shorts, which there was one only but still.

So here they are the Worst of Disney’s crap!

Number 10

Ariel and Flounder at The Catfish Club The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning picture image

Ariel and Flounder

The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning – Sure the animation was better than most but the movie lacked focused. We were promised Ariel’s beginning and we get Sebastian’s. Other than that the movie is just clumsy but at least it’s a different story. Really this makes the list for it’s lack of focus and false title.

Number 9

Ariel and Melody, The Little Mermaid II; Return to the Sea picture image

Ariel and Melody

Little Mermaid II; Return to the Sea – This one was just a lukewarm rehash of the original Little Mermaid and was lazy to boot but I would rather watch this than most sequels if not because I didn’t hate when I FIRST saw it and if they were just going to copy a movie I can think of worse movie to rehash than the Little Mermaid but it’s still bad.

Number 8 IT’s A TIE

Mowgli and Baloo Dancing The Jungle Book 2 picture image

Mowgli and Baloo Dancing

Peter Pan and Jane Return to Neverland picture image

Peter Pan and Jane

 

 

 

 

 

The Jungle Book 2Peter Pan 2: Return to Neverland – I really couldn’t decide between these two. Both have the same issues, they are dull, safe and annoying plus they were somehow deemed good enough for theaters, What? These movies both suck. At least Shere Khan is awesome.

Number 7

Angel and Scamp, Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure

Angel and Scamp

Lady and the Tramp II; Scamp’s Adventure – Speaking of rehashing, however unlike the Little Mermaid this movie doesn’t get the style right plus the characters are annoying as shit. Puppies couldn’t help this movie and that is just so tragic.

Number 6

Belle and the Beast Ice Skating, Beauty and the Beast; The Enchanted Christmas picture image

Belle and the Beast Ice Skating

Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas – What can you say about this one? Beast is a Scroogey-grinch, a Jewish Axe, for I dunno why and evil emo Tim Curry organ, this should have been AMAZING with such core story components but alas this was just weak as Zima.

Number 5

Madeline and Quasimodo in Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney Sequel 2 picture image

Madeline and Quasimodo Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame II – Now technically I didn’t review this for the Sequel series as I had already looked at it in length because it’s Hunchback but it’s still sucks. Quasimodo tricks a girl with low self-esteem to like him when he see nothing really beyond her looks. I suppose he liked her a bit for seeing the gargoyles but as we see in the original the gargoyles can pick and choice who they interact with like Hugo with Djali and the whole they fight against the soldiers. But coupled with the dumb plot, the songs and animation it’s just awful but I would rather watch it than the rest of the movies on the list and that how it only ranked fifth.

Number 4

Tod and Copper The Fox and the Hound 2 picture image

Tod and Copper

The Fox and the Hound 2 – First off, Midquels are just yucky by nature, second, they joined a freaking band. So dumb, there is nothing in this of substances or entertainment. And again a puppy and a baby fox couldn’t save it. Disney what is wrong with you?

Number 3

Kronk and Miss Birdwell do the spaghetti scene from lady and the tramp Kronk's New Groove picture image

Kronk and Miss Birdwell do the spaghetti scene from lady and the tramp

Kronk’s New Groove – This movie, this movie made want to drink bleach to forget it. I really do believe I’m stupider for having watch it. This movie should have been fun but it was just movie reference after movie reference till you break down and weep from the lack of creativity. This one is just an over-all Disappointing.

Number 2

Belle and the Beast, Belle's Magical World picture image

Belle and the Beast

Belle’s Magical World – Groans, this was yet another Midquel but it wasn’t just any Midquel it was the first Midquel. As a Midquel is just took a shit on the first one since when would have the events had happened? Beast starts acting nice to Belle on first night at the castle when she thanked him from saving her life from the wolves. This movie is dumb and muddles the original.

Number 1

Obby and Milo Atlantis; Milo's Return picture imahe

Obby and Milo

Atlantis: Milo’s Return – OMFG this was literally painful to watch. I hated every single second of this minus the Lava Dog thing. This one is just a lifeless turd. There is nothing interesting or memorable about this movie. My brain is hurting just having to think about it again, Oh, the pain is too much.

Next time the Best or rather Comparatively the Top Ten Best Disney Sequels.

This is no joke the write-up for the Disney version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame on the Netflix app for the PS3, could for other app I just say it on the PS3 one.

Esmeralda and Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda reading Quasimodo’s palm Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

“A deformed bell ringer falls for a beautiful gypsy girl and lives happily ever-after? Hey, it could happen.”

Expect everyone knows it doesn’t. It’s kind of the psedo-clever default joke of the movie like Belle’s two hour Stockholm Syndrome. There is just so must fail in that little write-up that I had to share it.

 

 

For those of you who read the blog, you know I like Final Fantasy. I have been playing the franchise’s second MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV; A Realm Reborn. FF14 has a lot of references to a lot of things for titles of quests. I was doing a quest to level up one of my classes  and the quest was called Topsy-Turvy Time. For the quest you just have to gather scaffolding logs, hence the name.

 Topsy-Turvy Final Fantasy XIV; A Realm Reborn picture image

Topsy-Turvy Time Levequest

I don’t know about you but when I hear the words “Topsy-Turvy” I go to the Disney song right away. Is it a direct reference to Hunchback? Only the localization team knows for certain but I think it is and that all that matters.

There could be more references to Hunchback in game but I’m sure there are more Disney ones.

Naomi Scott picture image

Naomi Scott

A while back someone suggested Naomi Scott for the role of Esmeralda and after researching her a little I would agree.

Naomi Scott picture image

Naomi Scott

Scott is part Gujarati and part English giving her a nice look for Esmeralda, pending her backstory, though novel Esmeralda does have dark hair and black eyes so actresses with these features have an edge. She also has lovely yet innocence look to her which I think is lacking trait from the majority of actresses who play Esmeralda. Scott also has an advantage in that she can sing which Esmeralda does a lot but it is rather showcased in movies.

Naomi Scott as Mo from Lemonade Mouth picture image

Naomi Scott as Mo from Lemonade Mouth

As far as acting goes I have only seen her in Disney’s made for Tv movie Lemonade Mouth , which is not my kind of movie, a teen band movie where the lovable underdogs rise above the popular jocks and cheerleaders, yeah not my thing. However I didn’t loath the movie has much as I thought but to be frank a made for TV live-action Disney movie is not really a place to judge someone on acting. However like I have said, at Esmeralda’s core basic characterization, it’s an easy role to play and I think Scott would pull it off nicely.

Naomi Scott picture image

Naomi Scott

What do you think? Would Naomi Scott make a good Esmeralda?

Because rumor has it, it’s too beautiful. I obtain this book  though secret covert maneuvers.

Hunchback Watch Book Disney  picture image

A new Hunchback book with Disney Illustarion?

The cover is really pretty,  but let’s take a look on this inside.

Hunchback Watch Book Disney picture image

A watch!

 

What sort of devilry is this? A Watch?

Hunchback Watch Book Disney picture image

It’s a very nice hunchback watch

I actually got this as a gift from a friend of my family. The watch is very nice with a leach wrist band and the book box is very nice. There are  a lot of Hunchback watches out there. You can find this on eBay along with lots of others. There is one hunchback watch on Amazon which is of Quasimodo and Esmeralda, The Hunchback of Notre Dame Collectible Plastic Watch in Blisterpack.

Sorry for the less than stellar pictures, I took them very quickly.

Mickey's Twice Upon A Christmas  picture image

Mickey’s Twice Upon A Christmas

Mickey’s Twice Upon A Christmas isn’t a sequel to Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas but it follows the same short story with lessons about giving and shit. Some of the stories are ok and some are teeth-grinding abysmal but what makes this video in-terminal are the CGs, they reek of sour poo.

Pluto, Mickey, Minnie, Scrooge, Daisy, and Donald Mickey's Twice Upon A Christmas  picture image

Pluto, Mickey, Minnie, Scrooge, Daisy, and Donald

The first story is about Minnie and Daisy having a contrived feud for attention on ice with the Hippos and the Alligators from Fantasia. It was ok, I just wished it was not a story but purely about the visuals and the music. I’m not even sure why they were mad at each other either.

The second story is Huey, Dewy and Louie break in to Santa’s workshop to put their names on the good list being they are hellions apparently. They then ruin Christmas, then fix it and they put Uncle Scrooge’s name on the list since that is the only this he were wanted that he couldn’t buy with money. In doing so the boys get on the list. This story is the worst one as the duck boys are just really insincere and I don’t recall them being such selfish jerks in DuckTales. I mean they are still selfish twits in the end.

The third story is Max is brings a girl home for Christmas and fears being embarrassed by Goofy. I thought I was going to HATE this one since that is pretty much a rehash of the Goofy movies, Max being embarrassed by Goofy, but it was all told in like a music video. The song was stupid but it wasn’t that bad as a whole.

The fourth story was Donald just wants to spend some quiet time at home with hot cocoa but fuck that, that is selfish behavior so Donald has to go to a mall with Daisy and the boys. Donald is tormented by the song We wish you a Merry Christmas, so he goes a little crazy and Daisy and boys get mad at him. So he gets their forgiveness by having a sing-song of the song. This one was dumb, I side with grumpy Donald. I really hate it when people tell me how I should feel about Christmas, it just makes me want to act grumpy.

The fifth and final story is Mickey getting mad at Pluto for accidentally wrecking his decorations. Pluto runs away and hangs out with Santa’s reindeer. Mickey I guess learns some lesson about decorations don’t mean anything when to comes to friends. It was just sort of tacted on, not a bad story though.

Donald, Daisy, Minnie and Mickey  Mickey's Twice Upon A Christmas  picture image

Donald, Daisy, Minnie and Mickey

The thing that struck me about this video from the on-set was that this wished it was a Fantasia. All the stories had a musical component and I have to say wouldn’t a Holiday Fantasia movie be awesome? They should make that for some Christmas.

Daisy, Huey, Dewy, Louie and Donald Mickey's Twice Upon A Christmas  picture image

Daisy, Huey, Dewy, Louie and Donald

This video should be harmless but the very plastic ugly CG made it hard to watch. Of course it begs the question which is worst, Bad seemingly hand-drawn animation or ugly competent CG stuff? It’s a tough question. Call me old but there is a heart  that even in the bad hand drawn stuff has that is harder to get in CG animation, CG animation often looks cold. It’s getting better but this video is just cold and artificial feeling.

Also the jokes are so dull and predictable especially in the second story with Huey, Dewy and Louie.

Mickey with Santa Mickey's Twice Upon A Christmas  picture image

Mickey with Santa

In all the Disney Christmas videos I have watched this month this one was the hardest to watch. I think if Disney had just loose up with the lessons and had more fun stories it would have been fine but the trite lessons and those CGs just make for a cringe-induceing viewing experience
Also in the Huey, Dewy and Louie story did anyone else think it was ironic that Srooge would say there is more to life than money? It’s a direct-to -video Disney movie, making money is its reason for existing.

Mickey's Magical Christmas:  Snowed in at the House of Mouse

Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse

I admit it I’m a little stumped on Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse. It’s very much all over the place. Some of it is good and some of it just confounding. This video was released in 2001.

Minnie and Ludwig in The Nutcracker  Mickey's Magical Christmas:  Snowed in at the House of Mouse  picture image

Minnie and Ludwig in The Nutcracker

The basic plot is that all the, or most of the Disney characters are snowed in at the House of Mouse and Donald is being a grump, so Mickey uses clips and shorts to try and cheer him up. Which doesn’t work since it’s only when Mickey asks him to put the star on the tree that he lightens up.

The first story is called Donald on Ice. It’s Donald skating and failing a lot. But the ending is cute. Donald runs in to an abominable snowman who wins a snow man contest and wins skate, that was cute.

The second story is Pluto’s Christmas Tree from 1952. Where Mickey cuts down tree with Chip and Dale inside. Pluto barks at them and havoc happens. It’s cute enough.

The third story is The Nutcracker with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Ludwig. It was fun enough. I enjoyed the narrator.

The fourth story is the 1983 Mickey’s Christmas Carol which is a classic.

Scrooge in Mickey's Christmas Carol  Mickey's Magical Christmas:  Snowed in at the House of Mouse  picture image

Scrooge in Mickey’s Christmas Carol

One of the big problems is the leaps in animation quality. The House of Mouse parts are really poorly animated which is jarring with the 1952 and 1983 compared to the 1999-2001 animation. The older stuff is just so much richer.

Minnie, Goofy, with Jafar, Pain, Tigger, and Pooh Mickey's Magical Christmas:  Snowed in at the House of Mouse  picture image

Minnie, Goofy, with Jafar, Pain , Tigger, and Pooh

The House of Mouse parts are the weakest parts but some of the quips from the characters were a little silly but the whole Donald is grumpy is a weak premise and unnecassary. The only thing that was enjoyable about it was a reaction from Grumpy. Did I mention that the animation in those parts are REALY bad?

Donald with Daisy and Goofy Mickey's Magical Christmas:  Snowed in at the House of Mouse  picture image

Donald with Daisy and Goofy

So I’m a little stumped most of Mickey’s Magical Christmas:  Snowed in at the House of Mouse is alright and some of it bad and pointless. I would recommend just going to bathroom or getting a snack for the House of Mouse parts or just watching the clips on there own.

Also the wikipedia page said Victor and Hugo from Hunchback were in this but I didn’t seem them and I found it so weird that Belle doesn’t get a line, she sings but Beast says the lines.

So the La Jolla production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame musical is in full swing and the Papermill playhouse show is on the horizon. The La Jolla veriosn is considered to be the American debut of the German musical Der Glockner von Notre Dame which was based on the Disney movie. But you know it was not the first time the musical was adapted in English.

Esmeralda and Quasimodo singing On Top of the World King's  Academy Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda and Quasimodo singing On Top of the World 

In 2013 the musical was performed at King’s Academy in Palm Beach County Florida which is private catholic high school. The musical was done in collaboration with the school and Disney. However it has some differences with the Glockner version that warrant discussing.

As I have already discussed the Disney version and the Glockner version before and I hope to discuss the musical more in future (hint hint) I’m not going to spread too long talking about it and as the performers are high school students (or at least were), I’m going to go easy them in terms of acting and singing.

So for the next five weeks, we will look at this version.

Also please note, the whole thing was on youtube a few weeks ago and I did watch it  but now most of it not available but I won’t let that stop me, Gwahahahahahaaa.