The idea of bringing old and cherished stories to life is a tale as old as time. We see it happen with music, TV shows, and movies all the time; sometimes, a modern touch is added to give the story a brand-new perspective.
In the Disney universe, the trend started with the live-action remake of Alice in Wonderland by Tim Burton. The project was a huge success, and it was soon realized that old animated classics are a goldmine. Many of our favorite cartoon movies from childhood have been remade with real people and advanced computer-generated imagery.
A number of live-action movies are an accurate adaptation of the original; some are better described as spin-offs, and the rest showcase minor or major variations. In some cases, the creativity of the producers paid off, and few did not quite hit the mark. Nonetheless, each of the Disney live-action movies created a lot of buzz – the good and the not-so-good kind.
In my opinion, you need a big-screen TV, surround sound system, and fast internet for an immersive and fulfilling experience. It’s no fun watching a Disney movie on your cellphone at standard or low-quality resolution because the Wi-Fi is no good. Ever since I signed up for Cox Bundles, I only stream in HD – it truly brings out the true beauty of live-action remakes.
I’ve watched each and every one of Disney’s live-action versions to date, and here are my top five:
1. Aladdin (2019)
I think Aladdin is probably the most entertaining live-action remake ever, and I’d openly gape at anyone who disagrees. Everything from the aesthetics to the soundtrack was vibrant and delightful. Naomi Scott was beautiful as Princess Jasmine, and she managed to add more personality to the character. On the other hand, Mena Massoud was equally convincing in the role of Aladdin.
I’ve heard mixed reviews about Will Smith as the beloved Genie, though I believe nobody else could do a better job. The filmmakers couldn’t cast Robin Williams (voice of the original Genie) because he passed away before the film entered production, so Smith was a good choice.
The costumes worn throughout the film correctly represented what we saw in the animated version; thus, it was genuinely nostalgic. This might be an unpopular opinion, but I enjoyed the live-action remake more than the original.
2. Cruella (2021)
In case you’re confused, Cruella is the antagonist from Disney’s animated classic, 101 Dalmatians. She was largely known as the cruel old woman who wanted to skin the poor dogs, but that spectacle of her changed since the release of Cruella in 2021 – a smashing hit and dare say the best thing to happen in the summers that year!
We all love a heartfelt backstory of fictional villains, and expectations were met in the original story of Disney’s Cruella. It turns out that Cruella was once a simple yet talented young girl named Estella. Wronged and abandoned by her own mother, she grows up as an orphan and becomes a grifter.
Even so, Estella has an eye for fashion and is determined to make a name for herself in the challenging industry. This film is a fashion fiesta and addictively dramatic; not to mention, Emma Stone does an incredible job portraying Cruella.
3. Maleficent (2014)
Here’s the trend-setting villain backstory that blew our minds. Who cares about Sleeping Beauty when we have Maleficent – a dark and dangerous fairy with a heart of gold? In addition, casting the enigmatic Angelina Jolie as Maleficent was a stroke of genius.
The Maleficent from the animated classic Sleeping Beauty was viewed as an evil witch who cursed an infant for no justified reason. In the live-action remake, we discover that Aurora’s father was the real bad guy all along. He betrayed Maleficent (who was in love with him) and cut off her wings before abandoning her.
This Sleeping Beauty spinoff conveys the meaning of true love and teaches us that everything is not as it seems. Since Maleficent was an epic blockbuster at the box office, a sequel was released later in 2019.
4. Alice In Wonderland (2010)
How can we not talk about the film that started it all? The live-action version of Alice in Wonderland is a Tim Burton masterpiece. It’s a tad bit dark and generously wacky, i.e. the way it should be! The Alice in the live-action movie is 19 and embodies a strong-willed woman – a clever and powerful take on the original.
Johnny Depp as the Hatter and Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen certainly make the movie more exciting. The movie nicely preserves the plot and concept of the original, yet makes it better with more details, slight adjustments, and crafty exaggerations.
5. Beauty And The Beast (2017)
The live-action Beauty and the Beast is possibly the closest to its original animated version. It appears that the filmmakers decided to stick to the script and replicate the characters to the fullest extent. Emma Watson is almost perfect as Belle, and all the side characters blend in flawlessly.
If you watch the original and live-action movie back-to-back, I bet you’ll agree that the resemblance is uncanny. The backdrops, get-ups, and dialogues will likely bring up warm memories from your childhood. To conclude, at times it’s more than okay to keep things the way they are.
What’s your favorite Disney original? Has your favorite animated film made it to the live-action category yet? Was it everything you dreamed of, or a total miss? Share your thoughts!
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