This is the story of a guy called John Carter. He’s a protagonist from a series of Edgar Rice Burroughs science fiction novels. The first is called “The Princess of Mars” because the book is as much about Dejah Thoris, the titular princess, as it is about Carter. Today Disney releases its adaptation of the book, called “John Carter.” Wait, what? “John Carter” sounds like an Oscar-bait movie about an unassuming middle management guy who has a mid-life crisis and learns the meaning of family, or something like that. It definitely doesn’t bring the genre “space epic” to mind. So … Continue reading →

Disney’s dropped the ball. This year Pixar animator Rodrigo Blaas put out a short called “Alma” that he created on his own time. Pixar or Disney did not make or distribute it. I admit that when I first skimmed the story and watched the short, I assumed that “Alma” was a Pixar production. The first thing out of my lips when finishing “Alma” was “wow.” It was fantastic, but not like what I’d expect from Pixar, especially for the frothy, if brilliant, clips they put in front of their feature lengths. It boasts a sinister ending, though not one so … Continue reading →

The original Rapunzel has little voice. Her own story is named for her, but she has next to no agency within it. Her prince doesn’t fair much better; like many princes in fairy tales though he has a bit more control over his destiny he doesn’t appear important enough to earn his own name. “Tangled” changes all of that. Disney’s latest movie, which has the distinction of being the 50th full-length animated film to come from the House of Mouse, is probably not the first to deepen the characters of the Rapunzel myth’s two leads. But it’s the best I’ve … Continue reading →

I’ve possibly been a bit unfair towards “Cars” in complaining that it gets a sequel, the forthcoming “Cars 2,” when it’s my least favorite Pixar film. I know “Toy Story 3” was fantastic, but I just wasn’t as excited for it or into it as I have been for years about Pixar, because I’m sad that they’re not being encouraged to further innovation. Unfortunately for it, “Cars 2” has borne the brunt of my disgruntlement over the whole issue. Its existence incorporates all the things I don’t like about the direction in which Walt Disney Corp. CEO Bob Iger is … Continue reading →

On Monday I introduced the concept that the stereotypical images presented by the leading men in Disney films might have a harmful impact on young boys’ growing ideals. I suggested that many of the main male characters in Disney films are one-dimensional and teach boys that good looks and martial prowess are essential facets of the ideal man. We need to look at the overall image the Disney princes/men present to young boys. Most of them are princes, and even those who aren’t are still handsome, dashing, and masterful in a fight. So that’s the sort of men boys think … Continue reading →