A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time

Disney etc.

March 9, 2018

Children's, Drama (tuned out before anything magical)

DVD

C-

This modern-day adaptation of the award-winning 1960s Madeleine L'Engle's novel felt off, from the search engine to the lack of glasses.  Ava DuVernay directed, after Middle of Nowhere and Selma.

Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken

Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken

Disney

May 24, 1991

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

The story, based on Sonora Webster Carver's memoir A Girl and Five Brave Horses, is OK but the acting's not very good.  Steve Miner directed, the year before Forever Young.

The Wild

The Wild

Disney

April 14, 2006

Children's, Animation, Comedy, Fantasy

DVD
D

Not only unfunny and sometimes pointlessly frantic, but crawling with toxic masculinity (including lack of consent). However, the 3D animation isn't bad.  Steve 'Spaz' Williams directed and co-wrote.

White Fang (1991)

White Fang (1991)

Disney

January 18, 1991

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Boring but, yeah, at least there's scenery.  This is of course based on Jack London, and directed by Randal Kleiser.

The Watcher in the Woods (1980)

The Watcher in the Woods (1980)

Disney

April 17, 1980

Children's, Horror

DVD
D+

I didn't think this worked as either horror or a kids' movie.  This is based on the novel by Florence Engel Randall, and co-directed by John Hough and Vincent McEveety.

Up

Up

Disney/Pixar

May 29, 2009

Children's, Animation, Dramedy?

DVD
D+

I think more than any Pixar movie, this made me loathe the company, especially as I found the whole "marriage in a minute" montage incredibly manipulative.  Watching the first quarter hour today, I just found the movie, well, bland, especially the character design.  But, yes, I didn't detest it, so I've mellowed.  Peter Docter and Bob Peterson co-directed, and co-wrote with somebody else.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)

Disney

December 23, 1954

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

Even with Peter Lorre and a bit of sea life, I wasn't intrigued.  I'm going with "historical drama" as the genre, since I tuned out before anything sci-fi, but this is an adaptation of Jules Verne.  Richard Fleischer directed, so this is his sixth movie I've rejected in this project.

Turning Red

Turning Red

Disney/Pixar

March 1, 2022

Animation, Children's, Comedy [I tuned out before the "fantasy" element]

DVD

D+

I didn't like the main character or her mother.  Domee Shi directed and co-wrote.

Tuck Everlasting

Tuck Everlasting

Disney etc.

October 11, 2002

Historical Drama, Fantasy

DVD
C-

I liked this movie at the time, although not as much as the Natalie Babbitt book (reviewed here https://rereadingeverybookiown.blogspot.com/search?q=tuck).  This time, the changes from the book all served to weaken the story (and I only watched the first quarter hour).  Jay Russell directed.

Treasure Planet

Treasure Planet

Disney

November 27, 2002

Children's, Animation, Sci-Fi, Adventure

DVD
D+

Setting Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island in space makes it much less interesting, but it was nice to hear David Hyde Pierce do voicework.  Ron Clements and John Musker co-directed, and co-wrote with others.

Trail of the Panda AKA Xiong mao hui jia lu

Trail of the Panda AKA Xiong mao hui jia lu

Ying Dong Media/ Disney etc.

27 April 2009

Drama?

DVD
C-

Too much about the panda trappers.  Zhong Yu directed.

Toy Story

Toy Story

Disney/Pixar

November 25, 1995

Children's, Animation, Fantasy, Comedy

DVD
C-

The go-to example of how I don't like but generally don't hate Pixar.  This is my third or fourth attempt at this movie, although this time I tuned out before I actually saw Buzz.  John Lasseter directed and co-wrote.

Tomorrowland

Tomorrowland

Disney

May 22, 2015

Sci-Fi, Historical Comedy
DVD
D+

Annoying, although it did make me wonder what the inevitable "It's a Small World" movie will be like.  Brad Bird directed and co-wrote.

Thor: The Dark World

Thor: The Dark World

Marvel/ Disney

November 8, 2013

Fantasy, Action

DVD
C-

Bumped up a notch or two for the stealth romcom (with Chris O'Dowd and Kat Dennings as not-good-enough-date and filter-free friend of Natalie Portman) snuck into a run-of-the-mill mythic superhero movie.  Alan Taylor directed

Tex

Tex

Disney

July 30, 1982

Drama

DVD
C-

Another S.E. Hinton adaptation, by director Tim Hunter.

The Sword in the Stone

The Sword in the Stone

Disney

December 18, 1963

Animation, Children's, Historical Comedy, Fantasy

DVD
D+

Kind of flat.  Based on T.H. White's novel and directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, who did four other Disney movies in this project, so far, Sleeping Beauty the best of the lot.

Space Buddies

Space Buddies

Disney etc.

February 3, 2009 (direct-to-DVD)

Children's, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Comedy
DVD

D

I didn't realize that this is in the same series as Snow Buddies, although it reminded me of it once it got started.  I consider it worse because of the pointless scene of a teacher being "humorously" trampled by kids and puppies.  Robert Vince directed and co-wrote, as he did with Snow Buddies.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Disney etc.

July 14, 2010

Fantasy, Action

DVD
D

Tedious and cliched.  Jon Turteltaub directed.

Snow Buddies

Snow Buddies

Disney etc.

Direct-to-video February 5, 2008

Children's, Fantasy, Comedy
DVD
D+

Cliched and yet implausible, even by children's fantasy comedy standards.  Robert Vince directed and co-wrote.

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Disney

January 29, 1959

Children's, Fantasy, Musical

DVD
B-

While I like this better than Snow White and Cinderella,  I am not dazzled by the then-modern design style.  The characterization, especially of the three fairies, has always been my favorite part.  This go round, I noticed how this movie influenced Disney's later modern fairytales Enchanted and Tangled, which are more entertaining in almost every aspect.  Still, I can't get that damn "Once Upon a Dream" song out of my head, so I guess that counts for something.

This is based on various versions of the fairytale.  The many directors are Les Clark, Clyde Geronimi, Eric Larson, Wolfgang Reitherman, and Hamilton Luske.