Disney
Sadly, this is an evergreen part of the post, though I wish it wasn't The Disney remake. Specifically, Disney has taken an animated movie and decided to remake it in live-action form and whatever 2019 The Lion King was.
I could write about how a remake was bad, like totally bad, but that probably has been done and also be like beating a dead goat. (what?) I'd like this blog to do things that stand out somewhat, just because. This time, I'm making the case for a good Disney remake. Funny enough, it's not a remake of an animated film turned live-action. It's a remake of a live-action/ animation hybrid into live action/animation hybrid. (Though, I'm here for a Disney live-action turned into animation remake)
Pete's Dragon is a 1977 Disney movie that seemed to take a long time for Disney to even think about putting together in concept in the first place. It's not a bad film either, that's also me having a soft spot for 1970's Disney live-action movies in general. (Like Freaky Friday) This film is pretty fun and a charming musical. It also has Helen Reddy so yes, The original movie did make money, but it didn't seem to be big in the Disney canon. It is kind of a surprise they wanted to remake it, but they did.
Pete's Dragon 1977 /Copyright Disney
In 2013, Disney announced they were going remake this movie. There was going to be some differences to the original film. One thing, it wasn't going to be a musical - Disney, minus Disney Channel, wasn't into the whole musical thing, and we really don't get musicals in theatrical movies anymore. (Though, yes, Disney did take High School Musical and put a film version in theaters with the third film) This is kind of a remake in the sense that the title was taken and there's a boy named Pete and there is a dragon, but all the rest was going to different , making a new story. That's interesting.
The movie is written by David Lowery and Toby Halbrooks. Lowery also directed. The duo worked on indie films. Sometimes even together. Funny enough, Lowery had been asked to work on remakes before, but turned them down, but something made him want to jump at the chance. Disney seemed to want make a remake but in mostly name only. The movie changes from it's original, beyond not being a musical, by having the movie not take place pre-depression era or in New England. Instead, it's the Pacific Northwest and maybe the 70's or 80's but leaving space to not feel hooked to a time. There still would be Pete and a dragon (duh). (
Source)
To note on that, I'm big remake person, in general. There can be ways or something that can hook me into one, but that's something that has to work for me. The concept of it being something different from the original is something interesting. That also makes it hard because that can also be something that can be a turn off , so even that depends. Though, I do have to note that doesn't take away the original existence - unless they somehow wipe it out. (odd statement)
Pete's Dragon, the remake, came out in 2016. Which is also interesting that's the same year The Jungle Book remake came out. Disney was going for some theme. That one came out first, just like how Jungle Book came out before Pete's Dragon. (Time is a cube) I will not be doing any comparisons to the 1977 film because that'd be unnecessary, but I will remark on surface similarities- like having a boy named Pete. (duh)
The movie starts and you can already tell, something bad is going to happen. It's parents in a station wagon with their young boy, Pete, and yeah oh no no. (Might as well just stick a sign on the screen the yelling THIS IS GOING TO NOT GO WELL, THERE WILL BE DEATH) Pete, who is 5, in this starter is learning to read and is reading a book about a puppy named Elliot. (I'm going to mention that someone on Wikipedia thinks the movie starts in 1977, which would be a good touch and a fun Easter egg) Remember that.
What a wonderful day to be alive, I hope nothing makes us not alive soon/ Copyright Disney
Having writers who worked in indie films before this, can be seen in the core of the film. Actually, if you strip away the Disney logo at the start, it wouldn't feel out of place to think of it not as a Disney film. The movie starts quiet and gentle as it builds up to the bad thing that's going to happen and start the story.
Pete asks his parents what 'adventure' is (alright, there is a part of this movie that's being too on the nose, calm down). Anyway, Bambi gets revenge, a deer runs in front of their station wagon and that apparently causes them to swerve to death. (I'd hope a Live-action Bambi movie, would have Bambi going on a revenge mission and takes out people in their cars) Three things: 1) Cutting to the deer as it seems to be watching in delight of it's murder is something, 2) 70's station wagon crash kills parents, but young boy in only a lap belt, because 1970's car is alive, 3) I'm going to assume Pete knows what death is. Just going to assume that.
"Yeah I killed them, I'll kill again," /Copyright Disney
This movie was filmed New Zealand, instead of the actual Pacific Northwest, the actor for young Pete was Levi Alexander who is from New Zealand. Being filmed in New Zealand but not in PNW is not a knock against the movie, just found that an interesting tidbit.
Anyway, little Pete is then surrounded by wolves. (Hey Wolves, don't eat the boy, there's a deer I need you to talk too). I would say the wolves seem a little to excited to want to eat a human boy there, like one licked its chops. The cinematography for the movie is good, it's well done. This part is dark, because it's almost night and dark because well there's danger right there as Pete could possibly die. The only thing that might take away from the urgency is that it's called Pete's Dragon and that probably means he's not going to be wolf food at like 4 minutes in. (unless... [don't you start])
It was from that day, Pete swore his revenge on deer / Copyright Disney
In speaking of Pete's Dragon, the dragon shows up and scares off the wolves. (Hey we got Pete and the dragon in under 5 minutes, good work!) I like Pete's question to the dragon, asking it if it was going to eat him, expecting an answer. He didn't ask the wolves that, but I guess they made their intentions clearer.
The original film, the dragon was animated like an animated movie at the time, but put into live action. Since this modern times, we have technology. So yes, computer generated dragon. Which to bring up "The Jungle Book" 2016 that movie also was using computer animals as it was all animated except of Mogwai and you can see Disney is working some tech here, that would probably lead into a 2019 film of some Lion sort thing going on. Also fuzzy dragon. I like the idea of it being fuzzy, it's different, and kind of gives him a more friendly vibe that fits for a movie where the dragon won't be wiping out Seattle. (You can read the reason why he's fuzzy here and that's good reason)
I ate that deer for you, let's be friends/ Copyright Disney
The part where the dragon [I'm holding off on using his name to remark on it later] stretches out it's paw? paw? for Pete to get on in a trust moment was nice too. Let's see we got Pete, and the dragon so roll the title card. (I was wondering what movie this was)
The movie skips ahead six years. That's where you can join us after the jump.