Live Action Disney Remakes Ranked

 I’ve just been thinking about all the Disney live action remakes lately. I’ve actually watched a couple recently and it got me thinking about the others. Some of them ARE actually good enough to watch more than the one time in the theater when you were curious to see how it compared to the original. Then, some of them really are total trash. I started going through the list, comparing them and ultimately decided to write down my thoughts… here they are lol

I have them in order from my least favorite to favorite. (Dumbo is not included because I haven’t seen it. I also will not be including sequels like Alice Through the Looking Glass.)

Mulan (2020)

The more I think about this, the more upset I get. At first I was in denial because I was thinking “how could they have messed this up so bad?” But no… it really was that bad. Its only redeeming quality was that it was beautiful. Everything else was utter garbage.

Nothing made any sense. What was all that nonsense about embracing your chi? In the original, Mulan had a solid character growth as she worked hard and discovered who she was inside. But in this version she was just born a warrior and didn’t have to work for anything. Girl power… yay. Then they had this weird ending where she chose to go home instead of joining the palace guards, but then she accepted anyways. Like, what?? Defeats the purpose! I could go on and on about all the stuff that didn’t make sense.

The biggest insult was that it wasn’t fun or funny in the slightest. The original was such a light-hearted movie with fun characters and great jokes interspersed with serious subject matter and great action scenes. This remake was SO serious. I can think of one, maybe two jokes in the entire thing. And they weren't actually funny. Ridiculous!

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

I have never liked this movie. I know lots of people are huge fans, but I’ve always found it extremely irritating. It’s like a Tim Burton knock-off, but the sad thing is is that it’s actually Tim Burton. The most annoying thing is that they’re trying to make a complicated plot out of something that’s supposed to be nonsensical. There’s no need for more than a simple plot. Wonderland is all about being completely mad and never making sense. Now suddenly there’s a prophecy? Plus, this Alice is completely bland. I could never get behind her character.

Maleficent (2014)

I also never liked this movie. It’s like it’s trying really hard to be this huge fantasy epic, but I find it not very creative. It steals all its stuff from every other fantasy film out there, especially Lord of the Rings. I also didn’t love that they made Maleficent a good guy in the end. She was always one of my favorite Disney bad guys, so why make her the misunderstood good guy? I wouldn’t mind them making her more sympathetic since its her story, but she HAS to be evil in the end! Grrr! 

I will say that the casting was spot on though.

Lion King (2019)

This movie was just kinda boring especially in comparison to the original which is an absolute masterpiece! The backgrounds are uninteresting and while the CGI on the animals is extremely impressive, their faces don’t emote much. Plus, it’s basically a shot-for-shot remake with out any color or fun. They didn’t add or take away a whole lot, just a few things here and there. At least you can enjoy it for the plot, but why watch it when you’ve got the original?

Beauty and the Beast (2017)

I’m quite divided on how I feel about this one. I’d say it’s one of the more beautiful of the remakes. The set design, the costumes, the choreography, everything is great (except for Belle’s ballgown… don’t even get me started on that). 

I feel that its biggest problem is that it lacks energy. Everyone is just a little dull and isn’t putting their full effort into their performances. Everything feels forced most of the time. This is most obvious during the musical numbers. These should be the most fun and energized, but sadly, they’re the most dull part of the film. It all feels robotic. It’s not the singing (which I think everyone overreacts about. It’s not great, but it’s not THAT bad), it’s the energy. 

The CGI is great most of the time, but the Beast is a little uncomfortable sometimes. I feel like they shouldn’t have gone with CGI-ing over Dan Steven’s face. It had too much of an uncanny valley effect. They should’ve straight-up CGI-ed a beast in that was more monster looking and had Dan voice over. 

I do appreciate a lot of the changes made and it explains away a lot of the plot holes in the original. Plus it develops Belle and the Beast’s relationship further. I do like that.

Jungle Book (2016)

It’s been a while since I’ve actually seen this, but I remember liking this a lot. I remember the CGI being extremely impressive and the environment being beautiful. The acting and voice work was also very good. Sometimes you know there’s a celebrity voice in there just because they’re a celebrity, but even though there were a lot of celebrities in this one (Bill Murray, for example), I thought they all fit their roles. 

All the changes to plot fit well and made it more interesting. Although, I wasn’t a HUGE fan of the ending because it sort of defeated the moral of the story. Oh well.

Aladdin (2019)

I think almost everything about this movie is great. It would be a pretty solid movie is just a couple things were tweaked. First off, Mena Messoud is not the strongest actor and he comes across as a little flat most of the time. If he were just a secondary character, this would be fine, but unfortunately, he’s the main guy. Yes, he DOES look the part and he can sing, dance, and all that jazz, but he just lacks a little in the acting department. 

Second, I feel that Jafar was seriously miscast. I don’t care if they want to make him younger, more handsome, or whatever, but the guy just did not play him right. He did not come across as sinister, calculating, or pure evil like Jafar should be. He just seemed like a sniveling, desperate little guy who was grasping for power.

So obviously if there’s problems with both the hero and the villain, the overall quality of the film sort of sinks. However, I think everything else is pretty solid. Not perfect, but not too bad. Costumes are stellar, CGI is astounding, songs are fun! Will Smith for sure is the best part.

Cinderella (2015)

First off, I will mention the best part of the movie: her ballgown. I will never get over it. Probably the most beautiful dress I have ever seen! *chef’s kiss* Why couldn’t the Beauty and the Beast costume designer take notes from this costume designer?

Sweet and simple. I can’t think of anything I didn’t like about this film. It is perhaps a little low key which some people might consider boring. Also it’s a little… I don’t know exactly what you’d call it… overly fairytale-esque. It’s all “dreams can come true” and “have courage and be kind” and everyone’s so happy and smiley and all that CONSTANTLY. I could see how that could get old. I personally don’t mind.

Again, the costumes are fantastic! They’re very stylized, especially the wicked stepmother and stepsisters. I love how it shows how Cinderella was eventually fazed from family into servant. I also appreciate that it gave more depth to Cinderella and the Prince’s relationship. 

It’s just a cute story with brilliant cinematography. Very well done.

Lady and the Tramp (2019)

This one seriously surprised me at how good it was. The way it develops the relationship between Lady and the Tramp is so sweet and believable, like a real love story. It delves in deeper than the original. It also gives more backstory to the Tramp and develops both characters more. A++

I loved all the little shoutouts to the original and the changes made were not bad ones. It made the story flow better and appeal better to modern audiences. The scenery, the costumes were on point as usual. Plus, the dogs are adorable. The CGI on the dogs talking is not even terrible. 

It’s one fault is really what keeps it from being number one. It sometimes is what makes me turn it off because it is so cringe… the people acting. Gah! Clearly all the budget went into the voice work for the dogs and they hired a bunch of people off the streets to play the owners and stuff. You do NOT buy anything they do or say, especially not that they’re actually married or that really own this dog they’re acting with. Holy cow!

101 Dalmatians (1996)

With all the live action remakes coming out nowadays, everyone forgets about the remake that came out back in the 90s. Perhaps it’s the nostalgia talking, but it’s my personal favorite. There are a lot of changes from the original cartoon, but none of them are bad, I think. I appreciate both the original and this version for different reasons which I consider an accomplishment. I don’t see the remake as inferior to the original unlike the rest on this list. 

I appreciate that they decided not to make the dogs talk in this. If they had, it would have seriously dated this film with horrible CGI and really taken away from the experience. I think this movie does an amazing job at conveying the dogs’s emotions through camera work, musical score, and dog training. It’s usually hard to train a dog to act because you can tell that it’s just obeying someone behind the camera, but I really believe that these dogs were acting of their own free will.

Then, of course, Glenn Close as Cruella is AMAZING!! She knocks it out of the park every time! 

Honorable Mentions (because they’re not technically REMAKES, but they kind of fall into the category):

Christopher Robin

Cruella

Top 5 Star Wars Characters

I’ve been on a bit of a Star Wars spree lately (what else is new? I always seem to come back to this, don’t I?). Well, I got to thinking about who is my favorite character because there are just SO MANY! I remember being asked this several years ago and I had to think about it for a bit before answering. After some pondering, I believe my answer is still the same as it was then, but I have to give credit where credit is due; I have a list of my top five favorite Star Wars characters whom I appreciate quite strongly for various reasons... this is that list.

5) Princess Leia

There are not very many women in Star Wars, but you don’t even need a ton when you got one like Princess Leia. She is just effortlessly kick-butt and a strong leading lady without shoving it down your throat. I love how sassy she is and ALWAYS takes command of whatever situation she’s in. Also, what I appreciate in my leading ladies that modern films have such a hard time with is that she actually has faults. Yes, she’s awesome, beautiful, smart, and can hold her own in a fight, but she’s not good at everything and she has some things she can improve on. A+ woman character! Love her! 

4) Darth Vader

How could one of the most iconic villains of all time not be on the list? And look at him, he’s iconic for a reason! The helmet, the black, the breathing. Ooh! From his very first chilling appearance, emerging from smoke and nonchalantly standing over dead bodies to him mercilessly choking out all his admirals for failing him to the earth-shattering reveal of “I am your father” to the most amazing lightsaber massacre ever put to screen: the “hallway scene” from Rogue One to the mind-blowing twist of fate when he chooses Luke over the Emperor... Vader has had some of the most incredible screen time of any of the Star Wars characters and I am HERE for it! And I haven’t even touched on how actually tragic his whole story is. His character arc is what drives the entire saga forward and the fact that he dies at the end of it like some tragic Shakespearean hero is incredibly sad... and it’s so poetic. I love it! 

3) Luke Skywalker

Luke Skywalker is everyone’s childhood hero and for good reason. He is often referenced as having one of the greatest character arcs in any modern story. I know that in many of my creative writing classes, Star Wars was often referenced, especially for following the Hero’s Journey. I love Luke so much! And I love his journey so much! He starts off as this naive, impatient young farm boy and goes through all these trials and loses so much before ultimately coming out on top as one of the most powerful Jedi who ever lived. Ever heard of the phrase “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”? That seems to be Luke’s motto. What a role model! One of my favorite scenes in all of Star Wars is his confrontation with the Emperor in Return of the Jedi where Palpatine is trying so hard to get him to give into his anger and turn him to the dark side. And while Luke wavers a little and gets angry, he finally gains control of himself and chooses right even if it does mean death. Talk about self control and being the bigger person! *applause* 

2) R2-D2

Honestly, the only character that really matters in Star Wars. Seriously, everyone would be dead in the water without him. The ultimate GOAT. I love how he’s just a droid who only speaks through beeps, but he has so much personality. He’s so brave and sassy and he always just plunges right into danger without a second thought. And he’s SO loyal! Golly, everyone needs to be more like R2. He’s always risking his life for his friends. Not to mention how smart and mechanically-minded he is. He can reprogram anything, hack into any computer, fix anything. I mean, seriously, where would any of these characters be without him? 

And finally, my favorite character... 

1) Obi-Wan Kenobi

Whether he’s Ewan McGregor or Alec Guinness, he’s just got this charm and wisdom about him. He’s not the most powerful Jedi or the wisest or anything like that, he’s just sort of an average one who’s out there doing his best... and I think that’s why I appreciate him so much because I kind of relate to that. Also, I love that despite all that he’s gone through and lost, never once was he tempted by the dark side (not seriously at least). I mean, really, I think out of all the characters he’s lost the most: his master, the love of his life, his apprentice/best friend, ALL the Jedi, and then wound up alone as a hermit watching over their last hope on a desert planet before ultimately dying himself while protecting him. And never once did he think of turning. Plus, he’s just so dry and sassy. The Clone Wars tv series dives into that aspect of his personality even deeper and I could never stop laughing at his scenes; such a troll. (As he’s literally getting beaten to death by a revived Darth Maul: “I like your new legs. They make you look taller.” OMG!) 

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Darth Maul

One of the prequel’s biggest mistakes was killing off Darth Maul right away and not making him a major villain. This is rectified in the Clone Wars tv series and he is SO awesome! 

Din Djarin (The Mandalorian)

It’s one thing to be a total bada**, but one of the most endearing things ever is for a guy to flip the world upside down in order to protect his child.

Melanie Cellier Books- A Brief Review

Recently, I’ve taken up a job in a bakery making pies for eight hours straight. It’s just me in the back, making pie after pie for hours with no one to talk to and nothing but the background noise of the kitchen nearby. At first, I let my mind wander in aimless thought. However, I recently took up listening to audio books to pass the time... that is, until events outside my control stopped this and I had to go back to listening on my own time -__-

Anyways, my point is, I came across a book series: The Four Kingdoms by Melanie Cellier. It was recommended to me when I was searching for something else and I was intrigued by some of the book descriptions. 

They’re fairytale retellings. I was drawn to them simply because I saw some fairytales I don’t see often getting a lot of attention (Rumplestiltskin, Twelve Dancing Princesses, Princess and the Pea, etc.) The descriptions sounded interesting enough, so I decided to give a couple of them a try... then I was instantly hooked.

They’re a bit cheesy sometimes, all-to predictable, and never very deep. However, I have to acknowledge their clever reworking of their source material. I always look forward to seeing how the story will get twisted and how everything will work out in the end. The characters are almost always fun and likable, the world-building is sound, the action scenes are engaging, and the romances are sweet. And while the writing isn’t anything exceptional, it’s still good enough to keep me entertained.

Well, I thought I’d give a brief, spoiler free review of each of them below:

THE FOUR KINGDOMS SERIES

The Princess Companion... The Princess and the Pea

Alyssa, a woodcutter’s daughter, finds herself lost while traveling and seeks shelter from a storm in a nearby castle. She is at first mistaken for an expected foreign princess, but the matter is quickly sorted out and Alyssa takes up a position as chaperone to the two young princesses. She engages the girls while the queen seeks to marry off their elder brother, the prince, to the most eligible princess available.

PROS: Extremely enjoyable. Good characters. The little girls were sweet and mischievous; very believable as children. The main fairytale plot was kept front and center in the form of the prince’s looming engagement and the search for his future wife. Interesting tie-in to another fairytale that brings up the complications of marrying a commoner.

CONS: While the romance had good buildup, it was a little TOO cheesy in the way it finally played out. I’m all about the cheese, mind you, but... I don’t know. The villain(s) were actually quite good, but were not a very present threat through most of the book so the stakes didn’t feel that high until the end.

The Princess Fugitive... Little Red Riding Hood

After an assassination attempt, Princess Ava flees her kingdom with only her personal guard and her wits. After playing the perfect princess-- cunning, poised, and beautiful-- for so long, Ava struggles to find out who she really is all while uncovering the plot surrounding her kingdom.

PROS: An actual bit of character development. A different type of love interest from the author’s usual man. The monarchy trials were actually pretty intense. In fact, the entire book sort of kept me on the edge of my seat (more-so than most of the other books). I even had my jaw drop one or two times. The romance, while still cheesy and predictable, actually had me smiling and rooting for them.

CONS: Not a huge tie-in to the original fairytale-- minor shout outs rather than an actual retelling. Even though there was character development, it was a little too easy and sudden.

The Princess Pact... Rumplestiltskin

When Princess Marie discovers a dark pact was made in the past with her at the center of it, she seeks out a band of rebels in search of their leader, hoping he will provide some answers.

PROS: A very fresh take on the original fairytale. It kept Rumpelstiltskin a conniving trickster and you never really knew of his true motives until the end. You could guess, especially if you knew the original fairytale, but it was kept pretty unclear. 

CONS: The overall plot was a little boring. There wasn’t a lot of action or suspense until the end. The climax felt a little anti-climactic.

The Princess Game... Sleeping Beauty

Celeste has been cursed since she was a baby, but not in the way everyone thinks. While her aunt cursed her with death, she was instead blessed with life... a cursed one: sleeping in her head-- always appearing out of her wits. Therefore, she is a prisoner inside her own head, unable to show the world her true intelligence... the sleeping princess. Celeste turns this curse into a weapon by creating an alternate personality to spy on enemies of the kingdom and keep her family safe.

PROS: Super engaging plot (even if it was a little vague on some things). It kept me on the edge of my seat most of the time and had an an intriguing mystery. It was basically a superhero book. Great tie-ins to the original fairytale. Actual threats that seemed real with a legitimate climax that wasn’t too easily resolved. A nice romance that was less cheesy and cringe-worthy than usual and was more sweet and natural. Main character felt like a real girl with real feelings.

CONS: A lot of exposition. While it was an interesting twist on the curse, it was a little confusing on its limitations and how/why it worked. A bit of forced character growth.

The Princess Search... The Ugly Duckling

Evangeline is hired as the official royal seamstress while the two princes and their sister take a tour of their kingdom. While Evie is grateful for this chance to prove her worth as a seamstress, she is also afraid of digging up her unpleasant past she has worked so hard to forget.

PROS: A charming take on the original tale, making it not about inner/outer beauty, but about acceptance and belonging. Great world building. An endearing main character. Even though there was a plot with a threat and everything, it was almost unnecessary because everything revolving around Evie and her past was interesting enough. Finally, a character who has gone through real hardship and came out with scars and is not just fluttering through life.

CONS: Could have had a little more tension and mystery built up with Evie and her past. She also overcame the things that have haunted her for so long a little too easily. 

BEYOND THE FOUR KINGDOMS SERIES

A Dance of Silver and Shadow... The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Liliana and her twin, Sophia, head to a neighboring kingdom for some adventure and receive more than they bargained for when they are swept up in the Princess Tourney; a tournament where all eligible princesses must compete for the hand of the prince who called for it. Lily and Sophie are suddenly faced with all manner of dangers and thrills. They begin to wonder whether it’s better to win or lose.

PROS: Great world-building. Lots of interesting and strong female characters. An engaging twist on the fairytale with plenty of shoutouts. Fascinating scenarios for the tournament. Managed to keep close to the original story and have all the elements there.

CONS: Not very high stakes. While there was danger, I never truly felt like there was a serious threat on any of their lives. I just would’ve liked to see a little more intense danger. Also, while the romance was sweet, it wasn’t my favorite type of love story (that’s just my personal preference, though. It’s not that it wasn’t well done).

A Tale of Beauty and Beast... Beauty and the Beast

Sophie heads to an unknown kingdom to meet her new betrothed, not fearing that he and his kingdom have been cursed. However, when she arrives, she finds the entire place deserted and only the prince remains who is just as beastly in form as well as in attitude. The longer Sophie plots her escape, though, the more she begins to wonder who it is that truly needs saving.

PROS: Amazingly well-done romance. Probably one of the best adaptions of Beauty and the Beast I’ve ever come across. It has the perfect transition from fear and uncertainty to friendship to love over a good amount of time that it’s perfectly believable. You also see both characters (but especially the Beast) becoming a better person throughout. The mystery surrounding the curse on the kingdom is a fascinating layer on top of everything. It’s very clever how the elements of the original fairytale are interwoven into the story.

CONS: A little slow in the beginning. A lot of exposition. Kind of a rushed ending.

A Crown of Snow and Ice... The Snow Queen

Princess Celine is invited to visit the kingdom of Eldon. However, when she arrives, she finds the entire kingdom frozen over in the middle of spring and the inhabitants even more cold and unfeeling. Luckily, Celine posses the “gift of fire” from her godmother and while figuring out what exactly that means, she manages to free the prince from his cold demeanor. Together, they try to find out what exactly has the kingdom under its icy spell... or who.

PROS: A very endearing romance that was never too cheesy (just a little bit as per usual with these books lol). Legitimately funny at times. Extremely likable characters. I liked Celine even before this book (she shows up in two or three others) and I love that she finally got to be the main character. She cracks me up.

CONS: The fire powers were a bit much for me. It just seemed too easy somehow. Like, she should’ve been able to defeat the evil using her fiery spirit or something, not literal fire. It just... was a bit odd for me.

A Dream of Ebony and White... Snow White

Princess Blanche-- or Snow as her friends call her-- has lived in fear of her upstaging, condescending stepmother her entire life. Now that the king has died, Snow is the rightful ruler of the land. However, her stepmother usurps her and takes over instead. Matters get worse when Snow’s childhood friend gets wind of the new queen’s planned assassination of Snow and they are forced to flee into the woods. Fortunately, Snow is able to take refuge with seven orphan children in the middle of the forest. The longer she stays hidden, the more she realizes she must come to grips with her own strength and courage to be the leader her people need in order to take back her kingdom.

PROS: Pretty close to the original fairytale with a few twists, but still managed to keep it interesting. I was worried they weren’t going to include the whole poison apple bit or change it up too much, but it was kept strictly the same. A++ because that’s so iconic. A great improvement on character growth from the previous stories. She started out almost a pathetic character and then through experience and determination, she turned out a better, stronger person (through a lot more showing and not telling than usual). You could see her progression and it was nice. I also particularly enjoyed that the romance was kept as a platonic friendship for the majority of the book and was even pushed to the back burner-- it actually gave them more of a foundation and built more tension between them. 

CONS: Even though I really appreciated that it kept to the original fairytale quite closely, I would’ve appreciated a little more of a shakeup because it was just slightly boring; only because I felt like I’d heard all this before. I also would’ve liked to see more of a rivalry/buildup between Snow and the queen and then a more triumphant showdown between the two of them in the end. 

A Captive of Wing and Feather... Swan Lake

Princess Adelaide has been missing for five years, and that’s how she wants to keep it. Unfortunately, she is discovered by a scheming noble with unknown nefarious plans and he curses her; she has to come back to his lake every night or else suffer deadly consequences. On top of that, she has been cursed with a swan’s voice during the day. While feeling trapped, a prince from her childhood happens upon her and together, they try to work out how to break the curse as well as free the land from the increasing strange happenings.

PROS: I’ve always loved Swan Lake so I liked seeing the shout outs and twists playing out. Honestly, there aren’t a lot of pros. This might be my least favorite of all the books, which is sad because I was really looking forward to a cool twist on Swan Lake and I just got a lot of nothing. It couldn’t even stick really closely to the original tale and give me that at least.

CONS: The romance was extremely forced. I didn’t see any connection between them and there wasn’t a proper build up. The characters didn’t have much of their usual charm; not even the love interest who is always fun and likable. The main character, in particular, wasn’t very likable and I didn’t much like her arc. The story and curse was way too confusing and convoluted to follow-- it should’ve been kept simple like the original: she’s turned into a swan by day and a girl by night. That’s it, none of these weird loopholes and stuff that takes 100 years to explain. There was a lot of outrageous scenarios that really stretched my suspense of disbelief. Then, there was tons of explaining and yet, still, I felt like everything wasn’t explained.

A Princess of Wind and Wave... The Little Mermaid

Isla is a mermaid princess who has never felt completely at home under the sea. She awaits the time her people can resurface and join the other kingdoms, but that time does not seem imminent. All she has to cling to is the memory of the boy she once saved from drowning years ago and the thought that the land dwellers can not be all bad if they're anything like him. After making a rather rash decision with a critical vow where she can no longer sing, Isla finds herself fleeing to the surface and onto the shore of a nearby kingdom in an effort to set things right.

PROS: A clever reworking of the classic tale with nice additions that kept things interesting. The whole twist on her losing her voice was actually a good one and for once, it wasn’t incredibly complicated and convoluted like some of the other books. I thought it was clever in its simple limitations-- she just can’t sing, therefore, she can still talk and form bonds with the people she meets. I also actually liked that the mer-folk had legs when they weren’t in the water. It made Isla’s transition to life on land a lot smoother and more believable. Then, there was a really good villain. Lots of good tense moments. Lastly, a very realistic boy/girl dynamic-- girl getting upset over something the boy did and boy being clueless over it lol. 

CONS: Even though there was a really good villain, not much was done with her. She had great motivations and was wholly evil and 100% manipulative, but was also a little sympathetic. However, you weren’t even aware there even was a big baddie until like the last third of the book, so she didn’t have a lot of build up; also, she was pretty easily defeated despite how manipulative and bad she turned out to be. I was expecting her to be more of a force to be reckoned with. My other big problem was the whole matter of world-building... it could’ve been better. There was a serious lack of descriptions of this underwater world. Missed opportunity there. Also, there was way too much exposition, especially right at the end.

So, to sum up...

Favorite story:

The Princess Game

A Tale of Beauty and Beast

Favorite romance:

A Tale of Beauty and Beast

A Crown of Snow and Ice

Favorite leading lady:

The Princess Game

A Crown of Snow and Ice

Favorite romantic lead:

The Princess Fugitive

A Crown of Snow and Ice

Most creative twist on the original tale:

The Princess Game

The Princess Search

A Dance of Silver and Shadow

Least favorite story:

The Princess Pact

A Captive of Wing and Feather

Live-action Disney Remakes

 I’ve been thinking about Disney’s obsession with remaking all their old classics recently. People have been complaining about how they’re so unnecessary and have no value or merit whatsoever. While I agree with that somewhat in most cases, I do think that there are some redeeming qualities in a few of these movies. 

In my personal opinion, what qualifies a movie for a remake is if it becomes outdated (like the special effects need updating or the writing is somehow offensive or something), but qualities of the story are still redeemable. Or else the story, characters, effects, etc. are fine and it’s a perfectly quality movie, but it somehow slipped under the radar when it was made and/or has been forgotten over time and needs to be brought back into the spotlight.

Therefore, I don’t think a lot of these Disney remakes fall under any of these categories. They’re selecting very famous and well-made movies from their collection only to make a quick buck (or a quick million). Unfortunately, picking an already extremely well-made and well-loved movie to remake comes with severe hardships because there’s not a lot you can do to it to make it better and more loved without either completely ruining it or else just remaking it exactly as it was and therefore making it seem uneccessary.

I’ve created a ranking list of the most well-made and redeemable live-action Disney remakes and you’ll notice that the ones at the top of my list mostly consist of the less beloved classics-- ones that were good, but definitely could use with some modern updates and improvements.

Here we go:

Disqualification:

DUMBO

Only because I haven’t seen it yet. 

I’ve heard mixed reviews. Personally, I was offended by the trailers because the whole point of the original Dumbo was that he was isolated and rejected by everybody because of his big ears. He had no friends and was put on display by the circus as a clown because of how funny he looked. The trailer made it look like a feel-good movie and the circus children were his friends... I was irritated. No! He HAD no friends! Which was why his rise to the top was so satisfying in the end. Pfft! 

Anyways, I haven’t seen it yet to ascertain if my impressions from the trailer were right or wrong yet.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

I could go on and on about what is wrong with this movie. The plot holes, the stiff acting, the boring plot, the boring characters, the ugly look (when usually I love Tim Burton’s style), the confused message, mixing up the lore of its source material... which, makes it a very bad adaption. I hate it because while the original Alice in Wonderland is all about surreal, dream-like nonsense. This movie turns it into this gritty war movie driven by some ancient prophecy. Why would a world that’s driven by nonsense and madness even have prophecies and political turmoil? Good grief! One last thing that drives me crazy is that the place isn't actually called Wonderland, it’s called “Underland.” Why? -__-

MALEFICENT

People are extremely divided on this one: they either love or hate it. Personally, I hate it. Now, I’m not normally one to turn my nose up at creative fantasy worlds and giving backstories to side characters or villains... if it’s done right. I was actually really excited for this originally because Maleficent is one of my favorite Disney villains. I actually think Angelia Jolie does a great job with the role and she definitely looks the part. Unfortunately, basically everything else is butchered. 

The story falls into practically every single cliche imaginable, it tries to be this big fantasy war epic (like Lord of the Rings or something) but only manages to be generic and boring, most of the acting is stiff, none of the characters have chemistry, and the consequences for everyone’s actions are never that severe (meaning, while they temporarily lose something, it always comes back in the end). This in particular frustrates me because then the stakes aren’t actually that high AND there’s not that much character growth.

I had absolutely no desire to see the sequel after watching this one.

MULAN

The most recent release. I had high hopes for this one knowing how much rode on it (approval from China, Disney’s biggest audience besides the USA, to name one). The trailers looked really good so I was eager to see what they would do with it. I knew it would be different from the original and I knew they were going for a more realistic take on the story. 

Unfortunately, this meant sucking all the fun and soul out of the movie. Literally every single character was serious and somber. I think there was probably two jokes cracked through the entire film (and they weren’t even that funny). This was a major insult as an adaption since the original Mulan is one of the funnier and more light-hearted of the Disney films. It worked especially because you could see the camaraderie of all the soldiers as they trained and worked together. In this film, they were so distant and serious. It was so boring and brought you as a viewer down.

As per usual with recent Disney films, it fell into the trap of making Mulan herself a Mary Sue (which you can read more about HERE). This definitely took away from the film since she didn’t have much character growth or an interesting journey to follow.

I will say though, it’s a little higher on the list because the costumes, the makeup, the sets, the directing, and the action were extremely good. It was, an overall, very well-made, high-budget film just with a sloppy script.

THE LION KING

Of any of the Disney movies that definitely didn’t need a remake, it was this one; probably the most perfect Disney film ever made. Of course though, Disney just HAD to pounce in order to get that $$$. It’s funny to me that it’s called a “live-action” remake because really all it is is just really realistic-looking CGI. 

It is basically just a shot-by-shot remake of the original. There’s a few tweaks here and there, but the story itself is not changed at all. I am curious as to why the backgrounds are so ugly though, Isn’t it supposed to be set in the Savanna? 

So, I couldn’t call it a bad adaption, but it’s just extremely unnecessary. I’d way rather watch the original instead if given the choice. There is great talent in it though (as its main redeeming quality).

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

When I first saw it, I loved it, but then the longer I went without seeing it and stewing over people’s negative criticisms, I decided I didn’t like it. However, I just watched it again a week or so ago and decided, again, that it is actually quite good. It’s definitely not as good as the original (because that version is one of my favorite Disney movies ever), but I think this is one of the better adaptions. Sure, it’s got its faults as people have pointed out (like the singing, the lack of chemistry, the distracting CGI, Belle’s HORRIBLE ballgown, etc). However, I actually don’t think any of it is THAT bad; noticeable, but not that bad. Actually, my main irritation is one people don’t bring up that often: putting more focus on Belle’s backstory as well as the servants’ emotional turmoil, leaving less time for Belle and the Beast’s growing relationship. 

Oh well. It’s actually a surprisingly enjoyable movie with gorgeous sets and costumes and a stellar cast. 

ALADDIN

I was debating whether I liked this one or Beauty and the Beast better. I actually don’t really know. They could probably swap places in all honesty. I think I just decided to put this one higher up because the two leads had a bit more chemistry and the singing was better. The costumes and sets are on an equal level of beauty with Beauty and the Beast though (just in different ways). 

For all that praise, this movie isn’t without its faults. There’s a lot of awkward moments and random additions. And while it was funny, it was not AS funny and light-hearted as it could have been. A lot of the humor felt forced and stiff. This is unfortunate because the original Aladdin was an all around fun adventure movie. 

Plus, I thought the casting of Jafar was WAY off. While the actor did a pretty good job with the role, I was never fully convinced. Jafar is supposed to be this scheming creeper. Sure, the filmmakers could’ve made his a bit younger than the original if they wanted, but here, they made him way too young and too handsome. It just didn’t work. 

I know there was a lot of apprehension about Will Smith as the Genie, but I thought it worked well. He did a great job of making the role his own without trying to replicate Robin Williams’s performance. Plus, the CGI did not look as bad as everyone thought it would.

THE JUNGLE BOOK

The first recent live-action movie I truly approved of. It put plenty of twists on the original story so that you didn’t know exactly what to expect, but it still remained true to its source material so it was familiar and recognizable. Even though it changed up a lot of things, it still kept the adventure exciting and interesting. A main criticism of one of the changes is that they changed the ending. While this new ending wasn’t exactly bad, it did negate any real character growth. In the original, Mowgli finally decides to leave the jungle, something he’s been afraid of doing the entire time. But in the live-action, he decides to stay; getting what he wanted the whole time, therefore not having to make a tough decision. However, it did still work in this case because they changed up the story a little: in the original, they wanted him to return mainly to be with his own kind, in the new version, they only wanted him to return to escape Sher Kahn. So, after Sher Kahn was killed, there was no immediate danger/reason for him to leave. 

The CGI was good on the animals, the acting was excellent, and even though there were some weird parts, it still held together as a well-made movie.

CINDERELLA

Another one of the earlier ones. While I thought Cinderella herself was made a bit more passive as a character (she doesn’t really fight for what she wants and just kind of smiles her way through life), the overall story was updated for the better. At least they gave her and the prince a little more screen time together and made the prince more than just a plot device. Their love story was a bit more believable than the original which was nice; better than the whole love at first sight. Plus, the two actors actually had chemistry. Cate Blanchett as the evil stepmother was absolutely brilliant. Then, of course, there’s costumes and sets. Don’t even get me started on her ballgown. Easily, the most gorgeous gown I’ve ever seen in my entire life! *O*

As an adaption, I thought it did a decent job of updating the original Disney movie with plenty of changes to the story and adding modern twists while still keeping hints of the original so that it was easily recognizably an adaption from the Disney version and not just a random Cinderella story. 

(Random tidbit, but nothing will ever top Ever After as a Cinderella adaption.)

CHRISTOPHER ROBIN

There were a lot of clunky, slow parts in this movie, but the heart-warming, nostalgic, sweet parts really outshone those making you forget all about them. They completely captured the essence of Pooh’s character-- a naive and innocent, yet wise and caring friend-- which radiated through the entire film. This is important in any adaption of Winnie the Pooh; getting Pooh down. Watching this film, I was definitely reminded of the original stories my dad read to me as a kid, it was exactly as I pictured. THAT is the sign of a good adaption.

There may have been some problems with the story and people might have been weirded out by the look of some of the characters, but what was most important to me was the tone of the movie. I also thought the main character’s journey was extraordinarily well done. Thus far, most of the characters on this list haven’t had a great arc-- changing for the better through their journey. In this case, Christopher Robin clearly goes through a change and comes out better in the end.

101 DALMATIANS

People often forget this one because it was made back in the 90s before the rush of Disney live-action remakes recently. It could be partially my nostalgia talking, but I actually REALLY like this one. It does an amazing job of updating the story and putting a new spin on things while still holding true to the original plot. I also thought it was very risky and yet smart to not have any of the animals talk. The director did a very good job of conveying the supposed thoughts and emotions of the dogs through camera work. It doesn't seem like they're dogs staring at a person behind a camera. It's like they're actually acting.

Glenn Close does a great job as Cruella deVille. She’s so over-the-top and insane. I love it. Plus, her clothes and makeup are amazing! 

LADY AND THE TRAMP

A lot of people kind of overlook or forget about the original film, but it’s actually quite sweet and fun... which qualifies it for an update. This live-action version does not disappoint. It’s pretty close to the original as far as story goes, but it gives both the leads a little more personality and backstory (excuse me while I go cry about the Tramp’s backstory one more time). It excludes any outdated um... representations. The CGI for the talking animals doesn’t look hokey and the voice work is stellar. And, of course, as always, the sets and costumes are stunning!

My one main criticism would be that some of the human acting is a little stiff or forced. They’re not very convincing in the roles they’re in and definitely not as dog owners/handlers. You just know all the money went into hiring big actors for the voices and into the sets/costumes... the rest went into getting minor actors for the human roles. Ha! Oh well. At least the movie is not really about them.

It is an extremely charming and entertaining movie with great characters, stunning visuals, and cute puppies. (Not to mention that every single dog in this film came from a shelter.)