SPOILERS: Snow White live action (March 21, 2025 release)

[erasure fan1]

It's not worth remaking anything unless you do it right.

I'd really change that last part to, do it better in my opinion. If it's not going to be better, what's the point really?

 

[JAN J]

I grew up in the 80s and 90s and loved almost all the classics. So this is always an interesting topic for me as I was enjoying them 40-50 years after they were released. With that said, I’d say the 40s / 50s were much more similar to the 80s than the 80s are to the 2020’s. Especially in terms of content and the sheer abundance available to kids now.

I did find Bambi and Fantasia boring but even as a kid I was already a completionist so I watched them anyway and appreciated them for what they were and for the music. Always loved the “April Showers” song too. It’s very charming/ classic/ nostalgic for me for some reason. Just really encapsulates the classic Disney charm of that era. Another reason it remains special is that you never hear it playing anywhere unless you re watching the movie. It’s not on Disneys playlist and they haven’t burned us out on it. With that said I’d like to hear a snippet of it played on Storybookland canal boats or in the queue.

You can hear a very brief part of Little April Shower in Fantasmic, right before be our guest, during the water projection.

 

[mickEblu]

You can hear a very brief part of Little April Shower in Fantasmic, right before be our guest, during the water projection.

Oh wow. Tells you how long it’s been since I’ve seen Fantasmic

 

[LittleBuford]

I'd really change that last part to, do it better in my opinion. If it's not going to be better, what's the point really?

None of the remakes, to my mind, has been better than the originals. I really don’t think any of them is aiming to be, or capable of being, better, no matter how well made.

 

[DKampy]

I am of the opinion…. Do something different with the remakes… either expand the depth of the story or change some aspect rather then a shot for shot remake otherwise what is the point

IMO… those getting so upset about remakes is a bit over dramatic… if you don’t like them don’t watch… the original is still there

 

[erasure fan1]

None of the remakes, to my mind, has been better than the originals.

That's not even a debate. All of them are far below the originals. I totally agree.

I really don’t think any of them is aiming to be, or capable of being, better, no matter how well made.

True, but that's my point. Why make, knowingly, an inferior product? That's more rhetorical than anything as we all know why. They're chasing the nostalgia train. But In my opinion you should always strive to make something better. It just all seems like a whole lot more trouble than it's worth.

 

[Agent H]

That's not even a debate. All of them are far below the originals. I totally agree.

True, but that's my point. Why make, knowingly, an inferior product? That's more rhetorical than anything as we all know why. They're chasing the nostalgia train. But In my opinion you should always strive to make something better. It just all seems like a whole lot more trouble than it's worth.

Because Disney has learned that they can make them and make a lot of money with ease.

 

[mickEblu]

That's not even a debate. All of them are far below the originals. I totally agree.

True, but that's my point. Why make, knowingly, an inferior product? That's more rhetorical than anything as we all know why. They're chasing the nostalgia train. But In my opinion you should always strive to make something better. It just all seems like a whole lot more trouble than it's worth.

Although the characters designs aren’t as unique due to the realistic CGI, I think live action Jungle Book is better than the original animated version as a whole. Definitely miss Phil Harris’ voice though. Songs are better in the animated version too. But the live action is the better movie and it’s not even close.

 

[Agent H]

Although the characters designs aren’t as unique due to the realistic CGI, I think live action Jungle Book is better than the original animated version as a whole. Definitely miss Phil Harris’ voice though. Songs are better in the animated version too. But the live action is the better movie and it’s not even close.

I’d say it’s better at telling the story in a way that feels satisfying and it’s definitely the best live action remake but I can’t decide if it’s better than the animated version or not.

 

[LittleBuford]

That's not even a debate. All of them are far below the originals. I totally agree.

True, but that's my point. Why make, knowingly, an inferior product? That's more rhetorical than anything as we all know why. They're chasing the nostalgia train. But In my opinion you should always strive to make something better. It just all seems like a whole lot more trouble than it's worth.

Like @DKampy, I tend to prefer remakes that put a new spin on the originals. A faithful recreation seems pointless to me (which is why I hated the “live-action” Lion King).

As to your final sentence, many (perhaps most) of the remakes have absolutely been worth the trouble from a financial perspective, regularly earning more than a billion at the box office. That’s the real reason they’re continuing to churn them out.

 

[easyrowrdw]

Although the characters designs aren’t as unique due to the realistic CGI, I think live action Jungle Book is better than the original animated version as a whole. Definitely miss Phil Harris’ voice though. Songs are better in the animated version too. But the live action is the better movie and it’s not even close.

I liked Pete’s Dragon also. Didn’t care for any of the others

 

[mickEblu]

I liked Pete’s Dragon also. Didn’t care for any of the others

I liked the vibe of that one but I don’t think I finished it or I may have fallen asleep. Not necessarily a knock against the film- it happens to me often these days.

 

[mickEblu]

I’d say it’s better at telling the story in a way that feels satisfying and it’s definitely the best live action remake but I can’t decide if it’s better than the animated version or not.

The Jungle book live action seems like its most peoples favorite (or close to it) live action remake so it compares favorably against the animated Jungle Book which is more middle of the pack. I have it lower than most of the Golden Era and all of Renaissance films (Mermaid - Lion King) as well as a few of the more modern animated films if we’re able to take nostalgia out of it. Jungle Book like Alice in Wonderland isn’t a great movie but what it does have is a good cast of characters (+ some iconic Disney songs).

 

[erasure fan1]

Because Disney has learned that they can make them and make a lot of money with ease.

Is it though? They've hit big in some cases and some not so much. And the ones that did ok it's debatable if they made "a lot" of money due to crazy budgets. And even something like lion king that made a ton, only hurt the brand image as most hated it.

Although the characters designs aren’t as unique due to the realistic CGI, I think live action Jungle Book is better than the original animated version as a whole.

While I'd say it was probably the best of the remakes. I don't think it's anywhere close to the original.

 

[JAN J]

Is it though? They've hit big in some cases and some not so much. And the ones that did ok it's debatable if they made "a lot" of money due to crazy budgets. And even something like lion king that made a ton, only hurt the brand image as most hated it.

I guess when they started it was a good idea because it was a fresh new idea, they could work with characters and franchises that were already established and liked (so a lot of creative ground work already done), and back then Disney was on a high wave where everything they made was a massive cash hit (notably all the Avengers movie).

Unfortunately times have changed. What started as interesting take on the original stories (Maleficent, the jungle book) moved to scene by scene less creative films (Aladdin/Cinderela/BatB - all nice but nothing too innovative), to some weird/disliked takes (the lion king), to bringing politics and social agenda into the story (the little mermaid) to downright nonsense (Snow White - Disney in name only). COVID did not help as well and made movie goers more selective.

I like your last sentence a lot though. I feel that Jungle book and Maleficent brought more value to the brand, Aladdin/Cinderela/BatB were neutral, and the other 3 I mentioned did more harm than good to the brands. Though I feel it's somewhat temporary and in time the "live-actions" will pass as a fad while the classics will remain.

 

[DKampy]

I guess when they started it was a good idea because it was a fresh new idea, they could work with characters and franchises that were already established and liked (so a lot of creative ground work already done), and back then Disney was on a high wave where everything they made was a massive cash hit (notably all the Avengers movie).

Unfortunately times have changed. What started as interesting take on the original stories (Maleficent, the jungle book) moved to scene by scene less creative films (Aladdin/Cinderela/BatB - all nice but nothing too innovative), to some weird/disliked takes (the lion king), to bringing politics and social agenda into the story (the Little Mermaid)

What was political about the Little Mermaid…. And no someone’s physical appearance is not political…. What is the difference between The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast which also had some character Changes…such as Lefau being gay

 

[doctornick]

That's not even a debate. All of them are far below the originals. I totally agree.

I think The Jungle Book live action is actually superior to the original animated film, but that's the only one I'd say. (And I don't think the original isn't a great film itself, but just that they managed to make some improvements)

Edit: I see this was already discussed later in the thread

 

[Tony the Tigger]

• She said she watched it once and was scared of it.
• She Said it was dated in a condescending tone.
• That she fell in love with a guy that literally stalked her (weird/weird)
• Once she got the role she said she wasn't going to bleach her skin
• She said all the of the prince's scenes could be cut (it's Hollywood baby)

She may not have said "I don't like the original" but she absolutely took her time to bash on it.

You’re pretty bad at drawing conclusions from what you’ve read. Had that been an SAT question, and you answered that the main idea of the article was, “She doesn’t like Snow White,” you’d have gotten it wrong.

In fact, she was Snow White for Halloween as a kid - not the most common costume.

So stop making things up because you don’t like her. The fragility in feigned outrage over something you didn’t write or produce is off-putting.

1. If that does not say "I did not like it" (at least as a child) I don't know what does

Clearly you don’t know what it does say.

 

[JAN J]

What was political about the Little Mermaid…. And no someone’s physical appearance is not political…. What is the difference between The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast which also had some character Changes…such as Lefau being gay

Perhaps politically correct would have been a better term. That film to me was the point where they started to change things that bothered pretty much no one like the lyrics for poor unfortunate souls and kiss the girl, removing Les poissons … that whole crappy kiss controversy that looked like a last minute addition in Snow White.
Lefou ‘s scene was so quick that I swear to you, I did not even see it. And if it is meant for something, it’s not at all what they highlighted in the film.
Plus the actor that plays Gaston is gay in real life and no one has any issues with that.
All that to say that Lefou’s change is absolutely minutely minimal in comparison to Snow White.
And TLM was way better than Snow White but way worse than the previous live actions

 

[JAN J]

You’re pretty bad at drawing conclusions from what you’ve read. Had that been an SAT question, and you answered that the main idea of the article was, “She doesn’t like Snow White,” you’d have gotten it wrong.

In fact, she was Snow White for Halloween as a kid - not the most common costume.

So stop making things up because you don’t like her. The fragility in feigned outrage over something you didn’t write or produce is off-putting.

Clearly you don’t know what it does say.

Though kids have some say, in the end it’s the parents choice what they wear. I guarantee you a bunch of kids dressed as vampires witches and other terror folklore characters and have no appreciation for them as adults.
So you can say that all that I listed is not a good reason for saying she dislikes it, but saying she liked it because she dressed like Snow White in Halloween is about as shallow as someone can be.