Luna Marina

Although Beauty and the Beast is one of Disney's most beloved movies, it is also one of the studio's crowning achievements, and one of the very, very few that can be ranked up with Walt's movies. This, in my opinion, is the best movie of the so-called "Disney Renaissance", and is better than The Lion King. Maybe it's just me, but this film has more of that Disney magic than Lion King ever had. The animation, story, characters, and songs are all top notch. If you have seen some of my other reviews, you may notice that I am very biased towards classic Disney movies, and many of the modern movies don't have the same magic as the ones made by the man himself. But, like I said previously, this one does. It feels like home, with a clean story, but also a grand, classy touch. The animation, obviously using the CAPS (Computer Animation Production System) method, looks stunning, and blends the CGI used in scenes such as the famous ballroom scene perfectly. I think it's worth mentioning the intro, which is one of the my favorite movie moments. Instead of opening with a storybook, the prologue is shown visually with stained glass windows, which already makes the movie stand apart from many others made by Disney. The chorus at the end pays homage to the classics, and the songs are extremely memorable. Of course, although a fairytale, many have considered this to be a "reverse fairytale" because the prince is not handsome from the start, and the princess has to "save" him. Speaking of Belle, she is easily one of the best Princesses, and is a perfect representation of how to show a feminine woman with both brains and beauty, inside and out. The character development is great, especially with the Beast, and the side characters have wonderful personalities in addition to bringing importance to the story. Gaston is a quintessential Disney villain; right up there with Malificent and Cruella De Vil. He's one of the more realistic ones, and you could probably spot people like him in real life, since his motivations and attitudes are similar to that of Lady Tremaine and even Frollo. Despite all these raves about this fantastic movie, my favorite part has to be the lore behind the curse. The logic of it always fascinated me, and every moment/scene of the movie has a purpose; whether it is to develop Belle and Beast's relationship, or show the dynamics of the supporting cast. The story flows well, and although some may believe that Belle stayed at the castle for a few days or even a week, it always made the most sense to me for her to be there for at least a couple months. I'd highly recommend you to see this movie, but you've probably already seen it, right? Well, it's definitely worth multiple watches, and you learn more about the story with each viewing. The magic is still there as you grow older, and ages like fine wine; it's one of those childhood staples that only gets better with age.

I believe that there are two words that are perfect for describing classic Disney films: "Hauntingly beautiful". Believe it or not, Bambi fits those two words seamlessly. When I first watched Bambi, it was in two parts, and I didn't know what to think of it. However, when I decided to pop in the 1989 VHS tape out of curiosity, I finally realized what a masterpiece of a film Bambi was. We open the movie to "Love is a Song", which ends in a glimpse of this gorgeous forest. Tyrus Wong did a majority of the backgrounds for Bambi, and they were actually done with oil paints. The efforts obviously paid off, because every single piece of artwork in this film is absolutely stunning; definitely some of the very best animation not from just Disney, but some of the best I've EVER seen. Honestly, I could cry during the opening scene; it's just so beautiful. If you ever bring up Bambi in a conversation, most will recall being traumatized by the death of Bambi's mother, which is the most infamous scene in the entire film. Disney also markets the film as sweet, cutesy fluff. But in reality, the film is anything but that. Sure, there are a few wholesome scenes, but the film definitely deserves a spot on a list describing Disney's darkest films, and it got just that. In 2007, it was listed in the "Top 25 Horror Movies of All Time" list by TIME magazine. Otherwise, Bambi takes a somewhat "slice of life" route, and is probably a prototype of the genre. It shows us the joys and wonders of life itself, but not without the dark undertones. The story is, quite literally, a display of what life is; showing us how life evolves as we grow more accustomed to it. Life can be joyful and fun, but in addition to that, it can also be haunting, scary, and one single event can forever impact us, showing us that we have to learn and move on from the past. With gorgeous, engaging animation and a haunting soundtrack by Frank Churchill, Bambi is the epitome of a perennial classic. Though one of the riskiest of Walt's works, it has grown in reputation to be considered one of the greatest animated films ever made. It is a film that everyone should see at least once, as a film passed down from generation to generation, similarly to a beloved family heirloom.

When most people think of Pinocchio, they think of a little boy whose nose grows when he lies, and that's exactly what I thought it was about as a little kid. But now that I am older and appreciate stories for their morals, I can say with full confidence that Pinocchio was a step in the right direction for The Walt Disney Company, and a huge improvement over Snow White in just about every way. Now, don't get me wrong, I have a huge soft spot for Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (I watched it often as a kid) but Pinocchio is absolutely astonishing. It will always be one of Disney's greatest masterpieces that is very famous, but often overlooked at the same time. The animation is just- WOW, the animators really knew how to put that multiplane camera to use. This is one of those Disney movies that the animators went all out with detail; it has such a gorgeous, timeless feel to it. Pinocchio was groundbreaking in the realm of animation, bringing special effects such as water and lighting to life. As for the story, it is perfect for both the young and old, but be warned, it is much darker and complex than it seems! The first part of this film has an overall lighthearted feel, but as you move through the story, you see how terrifying and sad parts of it can be, especially with Pleasure Island and Monstro the Whale. Pinocchio is a true work of art, and you can feel the heart and soul that went into both the story as well as the visuals, since this whole movie was drawn by hand, which makes it even more meaningful. The opening theme "When You Wish Upon a Star" is Disney's anthem which has a message that can be carried throughout all of the company's movies as a signal of hope. This is most definitely one of Disney's darkest, but also most beautiful films. It's no wonder it has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and considered one of the greatest animated films of all time! So, in conclusion, I highly recommend this masterpiece of a film to anyone; not just the young, and not only the old. It is such a touching story that is not only one of the greatest animated films, but one of the greatest films of all time, period.