In recent years, Disney has come out with a slew of live-action remakes of its animated classics. From Cinderella to Aladdin, fans have seen their favorite animated friends step into reality. Sometimes it's for the better, other times, it's for the worse.
The new live-action remakes have somewhat of a stigma attached to them, but that doesn't mean they aren't without some redeeming qualities. Here are five fantastic elements that worked, as well as five failures that didn't.
Fantastic: Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter
Not since Captain Jack Sparrow has Johnny Depp played a character so visually impressive and distinctly iconic. While Burton's Wonderland might not be everyone's favorite live-action adaptation, the Hatter is certainly a favorite amongst many Disney fans. Never before has there been a more wild and complex adaptation of the character. From the mercury-poisoning inspired details to Depp's mad ramblings, it's an unforgettable performance.
Fail: The Beast’s Needless CGI
CGI is a double-edged sword at the best of times, and Disney continues to prove that time and time again. While fans greatly enjoy their CGI animation in animated films, some live-action films tend to be too reliant on it for certain effects.
With movies like Maleficent having awesome makeup work, why was this computer-generated monstrosity created">The Beast should have been the perfect palette for a monster makeup artist, and the directors went with a complete waste of pixels.
Fantastic: Maleficent’s Fantasy Creatures
On the subject of CGI monstrosities, there are a certain few that are exceptions to the rule. While the film might have some Disney fans split, one can't deny the magnificence of Maleficent's monsters. Every fairy, every goblin, every horrifying tree creature that would give Groot a heart attack has a very distinct design and visually interesting presents. CGI animation might be a divisive medium, but it has its moments.
Fail: Alice in Wonderland’s Overly-Complex Plot
Jumping back down the rabbit hole, we return to Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. The thing that has many Disney fans upset is that this was almost the perfect live-action remake.
It had the right director, it had the right cast, it had the right visual style, it had the right music, and it would have been perfect if it wasn't for one thing. The plot was convoluted and overly complex, resulting in a mish-mash mess that squashed the film. Don't even mention its sequel...
Fantastic: The Lion King’s Shenzi
Credit to Jon Favreau as remaking one of the most beloved animated features of all time was not an easy task by any means. No matter what the guy did, he would inevitably upset somebody. Though some choices weren't the best, one of the best was breathing new life into Shenzi and the hyenas. Taking a page from nature, the hyenas were led by the malicious matriarch, Shenzi, and definitely had more of a predatory edge.
Fail: Pooh’s Dead-Eyed Stare
For the record, Christopher Robin isn't a bad movie. Jim Cummings gives the performance of his life as both Tigger and Winnie the Pooh, but the problem is that... well, Pooh looks dead.
Disney attempted to combine styles by using both their version and the actual toys owned by Christopher Robin as visual guides, resulting in these uncanny versions of the characters. Pooh's black button eyes are unblinking and nonemotional, which makes for a slightly unsettling effect when paired with his soft voice.
Fantastic: Dumbo’s Pink Elephants
Tim Burton definitely made up for his mistakes with Alice by giving Disney fans his interpretation of Dumbo. While the elements from the original are present, the overall product is indeed something new and inventive. But it wouldn't be Dumbo without a parade of pink elephants. Danny Elfman truly shines in this adaptation of the psychedelic sequence, and no elephants were drunk during production to boot.
Fail: Mary Poppins Returns' Villain
Mary Poppins Returns might have been a fun movie, but it was by no means perfect. It did very little things different from the original. However, one thing it did do completely on its own was creating a villain in the form of Mr. Wilkins who wants to take the Banks family house.
The question is: who on Earth thought this was necessary? Mary Poppins is not a story that really warrants a villain, resulting in Wilkins's appearance feeling forced.
Fantastic: Glen Close’s Cruella
Disney remakes are nothing new. In fact, one could trace them back all the way to 1996 with this reimagining of 101 Dalmatians. It's a fun film, but the best part is Glen Close's absolutely hysterical performance as Cruella de Vil. Wild doesn't even begin to describe Close's Cruella in this film. She's so engrossed in the role and blatantly enjoys it, who wouldn't with a laugh like that?
Fail: The Entirety of Pete’s Dragon
If there's one film that earns the bane of Disney fans everywhere, it's the sorry live-action adaptation of Pete's Dragon. Aside from the title, it has absolutely nothing to do with the original musical. They couldn't even animate a good Eliot. The original had Don Bluth, the remake had a CGI grass stain. Did they even see the original?
