A lot has been said about Disney's decision to remake so many of its animated classics into live-action films. Many people don't want their childhood favorites to be trifled with. Others think less beloved or successful movies from the past, like Treasure Planet, should get this treatment instead.
It's understandable since most of the live-action remakes haven't been in the same class or as well-received as the originals. While that's true, there are certain aspects of these movies that are actually surprisingly superior to what came before it. Whether they be changes to the plot, casting choices, or something else entirely, they found ways to improve the original.
The Genie Gets A Side Story (Aladdin)
As is always the case with Disney's live-action remakes, there was some concern coming into 2019's could anyone live up to Robin Williams?
It mostly worked out, with Will Smith doing irably in the role. The addition that worked was diving deeper into the Genie's story. Giving him a love interest, leaning more into his bond with Aladdin, and having him be the person telling the story gave the character something new.
Emma Watson As Belle (Beauty and The Beast)
When it comes to iconic Disney films, there aren't many that can match up to live-action movie was tough as it had to live up to the animated take as well as the well-received Broadway version of the tale. In 2017, Disney mostly got it right with one major aspect.
As much as everyone loves Belle from the original, Emma Watson was a spirited casting choice. She was one of the highlights and managed to carry the human aspect of it all while being surrounded by CGI creations. Watson also nailed the singing, which was a tall task.
The Cast (Cinderella)
While nobody in 2015's the highlights were the leading ladies of the film.
There were big glass slippers to fill for Lily James as the titular Cinderella but most reviews felt like she excelled in the role. Helena Bonham Carter had one of her scene-stealing performances as the Fairy Godmother, while Cate Blanchett was delightfully wicked as Cinderella's stepmother, Lady Tremaine.
Wackiness In Wonderland (Alice in Wonderland)
The biggest selling point of redoing Alice in Wonderland was to depict Wonderland itself in a new way. The book allowed your imagination to run wild, while the animated film did a solid job of bringing the world to life. However, 2010's Alice in Wonderland took it to the next level.
The movie made great use of the budget. The Red Queen, Cheshire Cat, Absolem the Blue Caterpillar, and everything in the world looked fantastic. On top of that, it all felt exactly as wacky and trippy as it needed to. It was just what audiences hoped it would be like.
The Costume Design (Cinderella)
When you consider the setting of Cinderella, one aspect that needed to be done properly was the design. Whether that be the set or the costume, it was important to get the aesthetic right. 2015's Cinderella did just that, especially in of the costume work.
Lily James was as majestic as she could be in her gown for the iconic scene. The same could be said for how Richard Madden looked as the Prince. There's a reason this was nominated for Best Costume Design almost everywhere, including at the Oscars. Sandy Powell did an excellent job with it.
Visual Effects (The Jungle Book)
Obviously, the original The Jungle Book didn't have much in the way of special effects since it was an animated movie from 1967. However, that was one of the toughest things to pull off about the remake. It had to create a jungle where most of the characters were animals that still felt realistic.
Jon Favreau and his team did a wondrous job. The 2016 film looks spectacular and the animals don't feel at all off-putting the way some felt it did in The Lion King, which came out years later. It earned every award it got for that department and was arguably a better film than the original.
Production Design (Beauty and the Beast)
As noted, there was a lot to live up when adapting Beauty and the Beast in 2017. The team behind bringing the world to life was one section that certainly got it right. They managed to take what was in the original and honor it by remaining true to it.
However, they also managed to pay homage to the Broadway version and put just enough of their own twists on it. Some Disney animated films don't translate well to the live-action take but the setting of Beauty and the Beast was perfect. It's almost as if it was meant to be done that way.
The Mad Hatter (Alice in Wonderland)
Heading into 2010, there weren't many actors with a more bankable name in Hollywood than Johnny Depp. Fresh off of a multi-billion dollar franchise in Pirates of the Caribbean, he was kind of an ideal choice to lead Alice in Wonderland even if he wasn't the titular character.
Depp took on the role of The Mad Hatter and it was right up his alley. He always found his most success with the characters who were strange. While the animated version of The Mad Hatter is memorable, this one is superior from both a visual and a storytelling perspective.
The Action (Mulan)
Released in 2020, Losing Mushu hurt some of the fun of the film, while the songs being taken out removed one of the best things about the original 1998 take. However, there was some high-octane action.
What it lost in of fun it made up for with some of the better action sequences ever seen in a Disney movie. There are some top-notch set pieces, great uses of color, and battle scenes that feel incredibly epic. The extra runtime all seemed to go towards these grandiose action moments.
Shifting The Focus (Maleficent)
It's often said that a remake should only happen if there's something new to add to the story or if there's something unique being done. Disney doesn't always follow that concept but they certainly did with 2014's Maleficent. It retells Sleeping Beauty from a different perspective.
Putting the focus on Maleficent, the villain in the original story, felt like a case where Disney was trying something different. Angelina Jolie brought the character to life with one of her better performances, which helped things out. This daring attempt proved to be a hit as it was a box office success that spawned a sequel.
