2 topics...in one post!

Hollywood has this insatiable desire to not leave well enough alone. They find the need to unnecessarily screw with the classics, leaving the viewer to sit there, blankly staring at the screen, and mumbling, “What the fuck???” What is the need to revamp, redo, and inevitably muss up, films that didn’t need it? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?

Since the invention of silent films, there have been thousands, probably MILLIONS, of movies made. So I can see where it would be difficult to come up with something original. But isn’t that the POINT of getting into that business? To flex your creative muscles and be able to look at something proudly, saying, “Yep. I made that shit up.”

Yet a lot of writers and directors find it easier to go “eeny meeny miney mo” and redo an oldie. Oftentimes, it’s an oldie that should just be left alone. Check out Wikipedia, here and here, for a gargantuan list of movie remakes. I couldn’t believe there have been that many, though a lot I’m not familiar with. There are also those that have been redone MORE than once.

Here
and here


Once you’re done browsing those links, come back and check out the REAL point of today’s post…

And that is, it seems Disneyland is now jumping on the “mess things up for no good reason” bandwagon.

(From the AP) "Walt Disney's nearly half-century-old vision of peace-loving dolls of the world is getting a revamp. The dolls at the "It's A Small World" ride will be replaced by more than two dozen of Disney's popular cartoon characters, including Aladdin, Nemo and Ariel…
The ride's trademark earworm will also change. Disney has woven a few bars from some of its hit soundtracks into the classic "Small World" melody.”

WHAT?! Are you serious?! The ride has worked – AS IS - for damn near 50 years. Why does it need to be changed now?? When I get older and have kids, I can’t take them on that ride and say, “Mommy did this ride when she was your age! It hasn’t changed a bit! And now, just like mommy did so many years ago, you also get to have the song stuck in your head for a solid week!!!”

They want to keep the “aging” ride “appealing to younger generations and give it a new twist”. Isn’t that what the rest of the park is for? That park, as far as I know, is constantly changing to include and incorporate all the new films Disney keeps churning out. I’ve never been to Disneyland but I’ve been to Disney World. Twice. Is the Peter Pan ride even still there? What about the Pirates of the Caribbean? I’m sure if the Pirates ride is still around, it underwent a few changes over the course of the past couple years. (Think: Johnny Depp)

But that is UNDERSTANDABLE. A movie was made by the Disney coporation…and they have a ride by the same name. “It’s a Small World” has NOTHING to do with The Little Mermaid, or Aladdin, etc.

To me, the message of this ride is what’s more important than giving it a “new twist”. The ride depicts children of all races and nationalities coming together peacefully and playing, hanging out, being friends. If you can point that out to your children and explain the significance of it, especially in today’s times, THAT is what matters. Not having glitzy animated mermaids and fish and other cartoon characters. I think by doing that, the ride loses a lot of meaning and charm and becomes just another moneymaker.