'Strange World' Disney's 2022 Animated Film

[TP2000]

So, to be clear, you don’t consider such content inherently inappropriate for children unless the company producing the film is Disney?

I think studios like DreamWorks, even Universal, are afforded far more leeway in adding stuff like Viking butt jokes to their movies.

If Frozen had a joke about a gay Viking checking out that lumberjack's butt, it would have caused huge controversy for Disney. And because Frozen was branded Walt Disney Animation, I would find the controversy understandable.

It also sounds like the mentions of the gay Viking's sexuality were coded and nuanced. A passing line like "That's why I don't have a wife. That and another reason." likely goes right over the heads of children. Perhaps even some naive adults. I doubt it came up in discussion on the car ride home.

 

[mickEblu]

It's not unreasonable at all.

But we've somehow gotten to a place where if you don't bow down and pretend that it's entirely responsible, and even mandatory, to explain gay marriage and homosexuality to your child as soon as they reach pre-school then you are a hateful bigot living in the Dark Ages.

There is great nuance to this topic. An 8 year old is radically different than a 14 year old. And parents instinctively know that.

I feel the same way. If my son was 12/13 AND the movie had great reviews I’d probably take him to see it if he wanted to go. Do I particularly care for it in any Disney animated movie? No. Plus it’s a moot point as I don’t think Disney will ever make PG 13 animated movies. Then again maybe they should if they continue losing money?

 

[TP2000]

I feel the same way. If my son was 12/13 AND the movie had great reviews I’d probably take him to see it if he wanted to go. Do I particularly care for it in any Disney animated movie? No.

That gets us back to the branding angle to this story. Burbank seems to have forgotten what their brands were, and how they differed.

Plus it’s a moot point as I don’t think Disney will ever make PG 13 animated movies. Then again maybe they should if they continue losing money?

Never say never on PG-13 rated animation from Walt Disney Animation. They don't release G rated movies anymore. A decade ago Frozen was rated PG, for instance. I haven't figured out if that's due to the MPAA changing its standards for G ratings versus PG ratings, or if Disney changed its content in its family animation. It's probably a combination of those two things.

It ALWAYS cracks me up now when the ratings warnings show up that lump in nudity and profanity with "smoking".

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Thought I’d add this for reference for those who haven’t seen the film, these are all the “controversial” scenes.

Not exactly xxx.

 

[doctornick]

well, while I would argue that both look like guys, I will say that the designs for both characters are such that I think an inattentive viewer might think that Diazo is a girl. Ethan both had a male name and is frequently called “son” so it’s not ambiguous but I could see someone being confused about Diazo.

 

[BuddyThomas]

well, while I would argue that both look like guys, I will say that the designs for both characters are such that I think an inattentive viewer might think that Diazo is a girl. Ethan both had a male name and is frequently called “son” so it’s not ambiguous but I could see someone being confused about Diazo.

Diazo is a male name and this thread has become freaking ridiculous.

 

[BuddyThomas]

I feel like anyone who’s has spent enough time with gay men would probably not be surprised by Diazo’s look. He looks like plenty of gay men that I’ve run into.

He looks like my best friend from college,

 

[Prince-1]

Seriously, thank you for being such a strong ally to the community. Standing up to these people often results in deletions, warnings, and bans. I know you are straight and am very grateful for your support to the LGBTQ members of this site.

This truly means a lot to me. You know I have a son who is gay and I know that it is not a choice he made but rather how he was born. I don’t put up with ignorance and homophobic remarks from close minded individuals. Period.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

When I saw Lilo and Stitch as a kid (saw it at Michael Jackson’s Never Land Ranch, fun fact), I picked up that Pleakley was not only gay, but a cross-dresser immediately. Pretty sure the other kids in the theater did, too. That was 20+ years ago.

Based on the movie I just saw it that Pleakley is an alien and wears human clothing to fit in. He wears women's clothing because, as an alien, he wouldn't realize that humans assign certain types of clothing to different genders.

If we had to explain to an alien that boys must wear blue and wear pants while girls must wear pink and wear dresses the alien would be baffled that we would arbitrarily make such rules and adhere to them.

 

[BuddyThomas]

I would argue that to most people, they would watch a movie before posting opinions about it.

 

[Prince-1]

This truly means a lot to me. You know I have a son who is gay and I know that it is not a choice he made but rather how he was born. I don’t put up with ignorance and homophobic remarks from close minded individuals. Period.

@The Mom - Thanks for leaving this post up.

 

[doctornick]

Diazo is a male name and this thread has become freaking ridiculous.

Is it? I’ve never heard the name before so I have idea. I’m sure many people would not know if it is a male or female name.

And again I’m just saying that I could see people who aren’t paying close attention not realize he is a guy. My spouse turned to me late in the film (I think during the talk between Ethan and his grandfather) and was like “wait, is Ethan gay?” Not that it was problem or anything, just that it wasn’t noticed.

 

[TP2000]

Is it? I’ve never heard the name before so I have idea. I’m sure many people would not know if it is a male or female name.

Diazo sounds like an entirely made up name, a random collection of syllables. It's certainly not English, or any other normal boy's name on this planet because Strange World doesn't take place on this planet. Which doesn't explain why Ethan in Strange World is named after one of our great nation's Founding Fathers, so maybe the planet on Strange World got decades-old radio signals from Vermont where they mentioned Ethan Allen?

But Diazo is a made up name for a child. When you Google it, you get either references to the Strange World character, or some sort of sub-atomic process of molecular biology that makes my head spin. There's also apparently a forgotten reference to old Ditto machines the school secretary used to use in high school to print out our exams. Also, since it has an "o" at the end, I guess it's the masculine form of the name?

But if we're trying to be Inclusive, shouldn't we call him Diazx instead?

Definition of DIAZO

relating to or containing the group N2 composed of two nitrogen atoms united to a single carbon atom of an organic radical —often used in combination; relating to or containing diazonium —often used in combination… See the full definition

www.merriam-webster.com

 

[MoonRakerSCM]

Just finished watching it (hey, it was better than that dumpster fire of a show Willow).

It's there. It's bland. Characters are fairly unlikable. A bit messy but not horribly so. Looks to me like Disney took a known weak story/setting and used it as a platform for gay teens, environmentalism, and avocado toast.

Splat was meh, the main kids voice didn't match well, the flip flopping of various character drives near the end were rushed and contrived.

Overall a lot of misfires and mediocrity. Almost as if they would've focused more on fleshing out the story/characters/and setting over a forced environmentalism message and avocado toast they wouldn't have lost 100+ million.

I wasn't yelling at the screen like I was during Obi-Wan, so its got that going for it.

 

[TP2000]

It's there. It's bland. Characters are fairly unlikable. A bit messy but not horribly so. Looks to me like Disney took a known weak story/setting and used it as a platform for gay teens, environmentalism, and avocado toast.

Oh, that was exactly what I needed! I'm laughing out loud, and I only had one glass of Pinot Noir earlier tonight! Thank you!

And I love some good avocado toast. Sometimes I even order it instead of the Eggs Benedict. When I'm in a mood.

I think we can now lock this thread up and send it into the history books. It's all been so fun and hilariously entertaining!

 

[LittleBuford]

Is it? I’ve never heard the name before so I have idea. I’m sure many people would not know if it is a male or female name.

Even if it’s made up for the film, I think the –o ending is supposed to indicate that it’s a male name comparable to those we know from our own world (Diego being the closest I can think of).

At the end of the scene in which he’s first introduced, Searcher says to Ethan, “Hey, Diazo seems cool. I see why you like him.” Even before this line, the pronouns used establish Diazo as a male character.

 

[Heppenheimer]

Diazo sounds like an entirely made up name, a random collection of syllables. It's certainly not English, or any other normal boy's name on this planet because Strange World doesn't take place on this planet. Which doesn't explain why Ethan in Strange World is named after one of our great nation's Founding Fathers, so maybe the planet on Strange World got decades-old radio signals from Vermont where they mentioned Ethan Allen?

But Diazo is a made up name for a child. When you Google it, you get either references to the Strange World character, or some sort of sub-atomic process of molecular biology that makes my head spin. There's also apparently a forgotten reference to old Ditto machines the school secretary used to use in high school to print out our exams. Also, since it has an "o" at the end, I guess it's the masculine form of the name?

But if we're trying to be Inclusive, shouldn't we call him Diazx instead?

Definition of DIAZO

relating to or containing the group N2 composed of two nitrogen atoms united to a single carbon atom of an organic radical —often used in combination; relating to or containing diazonium —often used in combination… See the full definition

www.merriam-webster.com

As someone who once upon a time needed to pass that pre-med speed bump that is organic chemistry, that was my first thought. "Wait, diazo is an orgo prefix!", although I admit I had long since forgotten exactly what structure it referred to. Well, I think Aryl is also a given name now, so why not Diazo? Add an "e" to the end of "Ethan" and you get "ethane".

Was there by chance also a woman named "Ethyl" in this movie?

I think we're through the looking glass here, people. Strange World actually has a pro-petrochemical agenda!

 

[Disstevefan1]

As someone who once upon a time needed to pass that pre-med speed bump that is organic chemistry, that was my first thought. "Wait, diazo is orgo prefix!", although I admit I had long since forgotten exactly what structure it referred to. Well, I think Aryl is also a given name now, so why not Diazo? Add an "e" to the end of "Ethan" and you get "ethane".

Was there by chance also a woman named "Ethyl" in this movie?

I think we're through the looking glass here, people. Strange World actually has a pro-petrochemical agenda!

Well, they do cook with gas, so...

 

[Phroobar]

Well, they do cook with gas, so...

Makes you wonder where they get the gas.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Makes you wonder where they get the gas.

LOL, that was a total blooper, especially since the agenda of the film was really about getting rid of fossil fuels.

I love at the end it was dark and everyone was using candles.

I wonder if I can run my smart phone using candle power?