Disney Favorites

Hello! Still on my Disney streak. I promised in my last post that I would expound on my Disney love, so here we are. I made a post similar to this about a year ago, but it was rather biased because Tangled had just come out and I was on a MASSIVE Tangled-obssession streak. Therefore, I decided to do another one, now that I've had time to cool down and think about other movies and aspects of those movies more ^_^

(WARNING: Very long post ahead.)

1) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISNEY MOVIE?

The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Say what, Kelsi? Of all the movies, you pick THAT one? I know, I know, it seems a little weird. It's never been a super popular one. Usually people say their favorite is Aladdin, or The Lion King, or The Little Mermaid, or something. Not me though. I like this one for a number of reasons: The music is just plain EPIC, the animation is stunning, none of the characters are boring, the villain is extremely creepy and threatening, and it has a very dark theme, making it very different from the other Disney movies in the Disney Renaissance era (aka 1989-1999). I kind of like the darkish theme, (even though it's very toned up compared to the book) it makes it a little more intense and exciting. The part where Quasimodo rescues Esmerelda from the stake then climbs back into the cathedral and raises her above his head shouting "SANCTUARY!" just gives me chills! Everything about the film is just epic and sends shivers down my spine; the gothic-style music with the chorus and chanting can be beautiful and/or intense and always brings the mood. In summary, this movie is awesome!

2) WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE HEROINE?

Ariel.

Since there was no princess question, I'll just put my favorite princess here. Even after Tangled, Rapunzel did not manage to creep her way into top spot of my favorite princess. Actually, since this is a "favorite heroine" question, Esmerelda from HBoND is a big competitor for number one. Alas, Ariel still wins. Her singing voice is my favorite singing voice out of the princess's (my favorite speaking voice is Rapunzel's, but that's for another questionnaire I filled out). I love her big blue eyes and her bright red hair. She's the first princess with real spunk and independence and I love it!

3) WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE DISNEY HERO?

Flynn Rider.

I've put a lot of thought into this and have decided that it has not changed from the last time I did this. It's still Flynn Rider. (I'm going to call him Flynn and not Eugene since that's Disney's official name for him.) I like him for a good number of reasons, hence he is my favorite. He starts out a bit overconfident, cocky (just look at that grin in the above picture), and full of himself, but not in a disgusting way. It's sort of comical. He's sarcastic, witty, quick-thinking, and a bit of a jokester. However, he's got a soft side that Rapunzel unearths. He becomes a lot more considerate and sweet. He almost turns into a complete romantic sap, except for he still keeps his sarcasm, joking, etc. Anyways, I just love it! Plus I love his voice, speaking and singing (it has nothing to do with the fact that it's Zachary Levi *coughs*). No, but really, before I really knew who Zach was I liked his voice a lot.

4) WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE SIDEKICK?

Rhino.

This was a tough choice between Ray from The Princess and the Frog, and Rhino from Bolt, but eventually I decided on Rhino. He is just an entirely random, but totally genius character! I mean, a hamster in a plastic ball... named RHINO! Rhino? LOL! Why would you name your hamster "Rhino" of all things? It's just too epic! Now he is seriously the best character in the movie. I really don't even know how to begin describing him. He's just this little ball of fur who almost never leaves his plastic ball (that seems to be almost indestructible) and just does the most daring things because he "eats danger for breakfast". He's like a hamster version of me, I think. That is, in the sense that he watches TV a lot, is the ultimate fanboy and leaps at the opportunity to go with his TV hero.

5) WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE VILLAIN?

Hades.

Tough, tough, TOUGH! But I eventually decided to go with Hades. (Although Maleficent has got the most boss costume and Frollo still manages to freak me out the most.) Hades is sort of a unique villain. Apparently when the writers wrote Hades, the intended for him to be a sort of slinky, dark villain. But when James Woods came in and auditioned, he made the character sound sort of like a used car salesman and the writers loved it and cast him. I love it too. He's a fast talker, using his charming words and quick tongue to keep his listener at ease with him, exactly like a salesman (he's very fast, I always miss a lot of what he's saying). While making his deals and such he usually keeps his cool, but then if something doesn't go his way, he flips his lid and explodes... literally. He's very sly though. He makes deals, making it seem like it's all good for the other person, but there's always a downside for them. I also love his design, especially his flaming hair. "Whoa! Is my hair out?" XD

6) WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE COUPLE?

Rapunzel and Flynn.

Long ago I dubbed Rapunzel and Flynn the cutest Disney couple ever created and that opinion has not wavered in the slightest. They are like peanut butter and jelly, cheese and crackers, salt and pepper, fries and ketchup, bread and butter... OK, I'll stop. But really though! I don't think I really need to explain much, you just need to look at the picture I posted above to see what I mean, but I'm going to talk anyways ^_^. Their story of how they fall in love is cute, simple, and believable (not the actual Tangled story, just the romantic part). Flynn gradually starts to see that Rapunzel is not so strange and much of a nuisance and is actually a beautiful, talented girl, while Rapunzel realizes that Flynn is not such a hostile, irritating intruder, but actually a caring, sweet guy. About half way through the film is when they start being irresistibly adorable (in my opinion), starting with the campfire scene. The whole kingdom montage, their first "date" as I like to think of it as, is full of wonderfulness! And then, of course the lantern scene! I still get miffed every time the kiss doesn't happen there. But their actual kisses are very sweet (they were competitors for best kiss). Anyways, I better stop now XP

7) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DANCE SCENE?

Beauty and the Beast. (See here)

OK, so I was having the hardest time trying to pick between Beauty and the Beast's and Tangled's. They're both so different and I love them both to death. But I realized I mostly only liked Tangled's for the music rather than the actual dancing, so I put that one in a different category. So here I put Beauty and the Beast. Everything about this scene is wonderful. The song is great, the ballroom is beautiful, the "camera" movements are perfectly choreographed with the dancing, Belle's dress movements are gorgeous and fluid, and this couple are just perfect. I recently saw this movie in 3-D and this scene in particular was stunning. Anyone who disses Disney because they're "silly kid cartoons", I have to say, "DISHONOR! DISHONOR ON YOUR WHOLE FAMILY! DISHONOR ON YOU! DISHONOR ON YOUR COW!" because animation is freakin' art! This scene is proof of that.

8) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE KISS?

Naveen and Tiana. (See here)

Gah! Probably the hardest question on here because I love them all! I was weighing the scale between Beauty and the Beast and The Princess and the Frog... The scale tipped towards The Princess and the Frog this time though. They were both very magical kisses, but who doesn't love a good old transformation kiss? I've figured it must have been a VERY good kiss, because neither of them noticed that they had turned back into humans until they pulled away (you'd think you'd notice something like that while you've got your lips locked with someone else's XD). But I love this kiss. I had not made the connection that since Tiana had married Naveen, she was a princess, therefore capable of breaking the spell by kissing him. I feel a little silly, because a lot of people told me that they saw it coming, but I did not. So this scene was just so epically beautiful for me! And the kiss was just so magically wonderful!

9) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FAMILY SCENE?

Mulan's ending scene. (See here)

I really don't have much to say on it. The way her father just tosses those priceless tokens aside and hugs her. "The greatest gift and honor is having you for a daughter." It's beautiful.

10) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE EMOTIONAL SCENE?

Ray's death. (See here)

I used to think this was a hard question, but there's only one scene I can think of where I literally bawled my eyes out. That's Ray's death in The Princess and the Frog. I remember being in the theater blubbering like a baby. I mean, I've definitely cried during other scenes in other Disney movies, but there was something about this scene. It was just so unexpected and Ray was such a selfless, loving character who really didn't deserve to die. Plus it was one of those rare occasions in a Disney movie where the character dies and doesn't come back to life. Those are the worst. Even as he was dying, he expressed how happy he was that Naveen and Tiana were going to be together. I'm getting sad just writing about it. Why is that?

11) WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE DISNEY CHILD?

Thumper.

"If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all." Thumper's awesome. He's just kind of a cute little bunny (I know he grows up and he's awesome as an adult too) and you got to respect him for being the only boy in a family of all sisters.

12) WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE DISNEY ANIMAL?

Ray.

I suppose since I didn't get to put him as my favorite sidekick, I'll put him as this. Does a bug count as an animal? I say it does. Anyways, I absolutely adore Ray! I love his cajun accent, I love his big heart, I love that he's a hopeless romantic (like me), I love that he's completely selfless, and I love that he's voiced by the one and only Jim Cummings! Also, he sings one of the songs that was in competition for my favorite Disney song, Goin' Down the Bayou. I loved how he was in love with a star, thinking it was a firefly (a little shout out to another Disney movie there. Do you know which one? ;D). I was absolutely devastated when he died.

13) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISNEY SONG?

I'll Make a Man Out of You. (Listen here)

This has not changed from before (and most likely never will). However, I Won't Say I'm in Love and Goin' Down the Bayou were fierce competitors. It is such a boss song! I have yet to meet somebody who doesn't like this song at least a little bit. Plus it is sung by none other than the fabulous Donny Osmond! Who doesn't get pumped when they hear this song? Who doesn't feel a little bit motivated? Who doesn't at least want to sing along?

14) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INSTRUMENTAL SONG?

The Kingdom Dance. (Listen here)

Too many to choose from! I'm one of those weirdos who likes listening to the instrumental soundtracks to movies. Especially Disney movies. But give me a break, most of them are by ALAN MENKEN! The guy's a genius! His hands are probably worth more than Beethoven's or Bach's (well, to me they are). Anyways, Menken did in fact compose the music for Tangled, therefore he composed The Kingdom Dance. I don't know exactly what it is, but there's something about it that just makes me want to get up and dance with it. Just the strings, the woodwinds, the everything! Its sound, it's medieval with a bit of a modern twist. And at the peak of the piece, just... ahhhh. I also love the montage in the movie and the music blends with it perfectly.

15) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BEAUTIFUL SCENE?

Lantern scene. (See here)

Another toughie. Like I said before, Disney is not just a bunch of silly cartoons. They are epic pieces of art! But I have to pick just one... the lantern scene from Tangled. I know there's a lot of Tangled on here already. I'm not being biased, my obsession is over, but this scene really is absolutely stunning. You just have to look at it to understand, I can't really describe it. The colors, the lighting, the reflections on the water, the music, and of course the falling in love ^_^.

16) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FIGHT/BATTLE?

Beauty and the Beast. (See here)

or

Robin Hood. (See here)

Honestly, this is the one time I'm allowing myself a tie. They're both hilarious and epic. Beauty and the Beast is furniture beating people up (my favorite part is the kitchen bit with the knives popping out of the drawer and the stove cackling evilly), and Robin Hood includes stuff like pie throwing, a football game, and a marriage proposal. They are just awesome, you have to watch them to fully appreciate them.

17) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FUNNY MOMENT?

The Emperor's New Groove.

What kind of a question is this!? Sooooooo hard to pick just one moment from just one movie! But I have to say just the entire movie of the Emperor's New Groove is flat out hilarious. There isn't really one moment that I can pick out. So I'm just going to say the entire movie. The whole concept is ridiculous, and the jokes are endless, there's hardly a serious moment throughout the entire movie.

18) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE FROM ANY MOVIE?

Edward: Oh, Giselle! We shall be married in the morning! (See here)

Best. Quote. Ever! The end. No argument is valid. It took me forever going through a whole bunch of quotes that I love, trying to decide which one was my favorite. However, once I thought of this one, all the other ones were out in a flash. I love this quote because it's Disney poking fun at itself (specifically Aurora and Phillip's first meeting in Sleeping Beauty. Although pretty much all the Disney movies, especially the classic ones, have the two romantic leads fall for each other and then plan to marry within a very short span of time). The way the quote is said is so hilariously overdramatic. It's just so funny. She falls out of the tree into his arms, he learns her name, and then he announces that they shall be married in the morning XD.

19) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE OPENING SCENE?

The Hunchback of Notre Dame. (See here)

This hasn't changed from before. It gives me goosebumps every time. The way it starts out with the black screen and the chanting and the chiming bells. Then, 'Walt Disney Pictures', then black again. Then... BOOM! Epic chorus and a fabtabulous sky view of Notre Dame. The 'camera' zooms through the clouds and down into Paris where the narration begins through song. (Which BTW, Clopin's voice is just the most amazing thing on this planet).

20) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ENDING SCENE?

Pocahontas. (See here)

This hasn't changed either. The music is what really does it for me. It was one of the competitors for my favorite instrumental. I can't quite be sure why I like this ending so much, because it's not very happy. I guess, despite not being very happy, it's still epic beyond all reasons. Pocahontas sprints through the forest beyond her capacity until she finds herself standing on the cliff. Her hair begins to billow in the wind as the ship sails away into the sunrise, with that utterly amazing music to go with it. Yeah, I rest my case.