Let It Shine is a 2012 Disney movie that left such a huge impact on me as a child. It was the first time I had really seen myself on a Disney movie where it was a big part of what the movie was about. Let It Shine takes you through the story of two best friends named Cyrus and Kris. Both are into the rap scene but Cyrus is more of the rapper and Kris is more of the dancer. The dynamic between the two of them is one we see a lot is Disney friendships. Cyrus is more shy, keeps to himself, and is focused on what his parents want him to do. Kris on the other hand is more outgoing, and loves the attention that comes with being in the spotlight.

I appreciate how this movie shows the different aspects that come with being in a black household that also is religious. Cyrus’s dad is a pastor and the church he goes to and thinks rap music is the devil basically. He forbids him from going to the club he works at and even holds some distaste for Kris because he dances at the club they go to. The balance that Cyrus has to have between being the pastors kid and also trying to pursue his dreams happens in real life in these types of dynamics. Cyrus even submits one of his tracks to a rap contest in hope that he will be able to sing with his old childhood friend; Roxy. Roxy is now a huge superstar and when she sees the photo Cyrus submitted of him and Kris she thinks Kris is the one rapping on the track.

The movie is enjoyable and also stressful to watch and Kris and Cyrus try to keep up this façade, switching places and even having Kris lip sing over Cyrus’s voice. But when Roxy starts to fall for the person she hears in the lyrics that Cyrus is writing she doesn’t understand why Kris doesn’t have the same vibe. I love every song that is sung in this movie from, “Guardian Angel” to “What I Said” Its one of Disney best movies lyrically and I listened to them outside of the movie way to many times. Roxy is also trying to find a balance in her life just like Cyrus. She is trying to balance being this huge popstar and also just herself who wants to sing with her real voice.

Eventually all gets revealed of what Kris and Cyrus have done, and Roxy is the one most hurt in the situation. The way the movie has you rooting for Cyrus the whole time while also wanting to smack him because of how stupid he is being is something that I will feel every single time I watch this movie. Even the way Roxy forgives him and they find a way to have balance in both of their lives, together makes you squeal with joy at the end. The representation, general life lessons, and amazing songs all make this Disney movie one of my favorites.

TW: Harassment, Racism, Genocide, Religious Topics

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is of Disney’s most darkest movies, highlighting topics that they don’t usually take on in their movies just for the fact that it would not go over well with parents and children alike. Though not a movie I saw when I was a kid, I watched it more recently and really appreciated the topics it took on. The Hunchback of Notre Dame follows the story of  Quasimodo, the cites bell ringer who struggles with his body as he was born with a deformity and is living under an atrocious archdeacon Claude Frollo.

This movie really takes the watcher through a few different plot lines. It does focus mainly on Quasimodo showing how his mom was chased down when he was baby and eventually killed by Claude Frollo who takes him in only because a fellow preacher forced him to live with the guilt of what he did. But Frollo doesn’t feel guilty, he is a cruel, racist, evil man who only wants to get rid of gypsies and ‘cleanse’ the city of whoever he believes doesn’t fit in with his vision. This plot line gets so much darker as the movie progress with Frollo continuing to berate Quasimodo calling him ‘ugly’ and ‘deformed’ his whole life while hunting down the gypsies in the city.

I was in shock watching this movie because it frankly didn’t feel like a Disney movie. That isn’t to say it isn’t a great movie, because it is absolutely amazing it just sets a tone I don’t think kids could take on. The movie shows graphic scenes of Frollo being specifically obsessed with Esmeralda who is a independent women making her way throughout the city who is trying to attack her. He corners her in what is supposed to be a safe haven, threatens her family, and even tries to kill her once he realizes that she will never be his. Esmeralda befriends Quasimodo and when Frollo finds this out he stops at nothing to manipulate Quasimodo breaking him down more than he ever has before.

This movie encompasses so much from genocide, racism, damnation, and the concept of sin. The way it lets you know who the villain is from the very beginning should make you bored with the movie but it instead wraps you up in it, making you want to see how this evil man will be taken down. Frollo is a character we see in real life, he isn’t hateful based on a fantastical reason, he is hateful based on realism and that might make him one of the scariest villains in a Disney movie. The movie makes you cry for Quasimodo and Esmerelda, it makes you furious at Frollo and every knight engaging in the murder of innocent people, it makes you inspired seeing how they fight back not letting someone tear them down or suppress them.

Before I address the amazing ending to the movie I want to mention how much the music in it is so important to the message. Every song in it had a purpose and a message. They pushed that knife into the audience heart with the lyrics that gave us an insight to what each character what thinking or feeling in that moment. The composition of every song, in particular “Hell Fire” (which Frollo sings exposing his wickedness in every form) and “God Help the Outcasts” instrumentals that could bring anyone to tears.

The ending to The Hunchback of Notre Dame is satisfying in every single way. We see Quasimodo come to terms with himself and who he is. He fights back against Frollo and in a heated battle after he tries to attack Esmerelda and falls to his death in what ironically was the city on fire that he created. Did Frollo deserve the death he got? I definitely would say yes and I would recommend this movie for older teenagers and adults more than kids but it still is a great watch. It will leave you thinking more than other Disney movies.

“And If It Weren’t For Fear, We Wouldn’t Know When To Run Away…” – Skyler 

Girl vs. Monster (Made in 2012) is a Disney channel original movie that is one of my more lighthearted Halloween movies I watched when the season comes around. It is a part of what I like to think of as Disney’s best original movie era, where they were pumping out great teen movie after movie. It follows the main character, Skyler Lewis who discovers her family is a long line of monster hunters dating generations back right as Halloween is around the corner.

On a different take to Disney’s usual Halloween movies, Girl vs. Monster deals with concepts like fear, and anxiety when it comes to fictional things like the ghouls and ghosts she fights and also more realistic battles like speech anxiety. Skyler and her two friends (Henry and Sadie) are just trying to go out to a party for Halloween but Skyler’s parents refuses and when Skyler accidentally unleashes their worst enemies she finds out why. Her parents were always protective as three witches/demons have tried to take her soul before.  The movie takes you through the journey of Skyler learning how to actually give into fear. Throughout her entire life Skyler had never felt an ounce of fear towards anything and now it all comes rushing towards her.

I appreciate how Disney gives us a different perspectives when it comes to the idea of feeling afraid or anxious. Skyler’s friend, Sadie, is absolutely terrified of public speaking, and though she does know what she is talking about, the idea of speaking in front of people stops her right in her tracks. Each of the friends faces one of the demons Skyler unleashes and for Sadie it is the old black witch, (the one all the wall to the right) who belittles her as she tries to say anything. As the movie progresses we see Skyler, Sadie, and Henry all face off against the demons all taking personal leaps to vanquish them. Whether that be finally giving a speech, standing up to a bully, or accepting the fear for what it is and moving with it instead of away from it in the end the demons are vanquished.

“And It’s Not Like You Can Get Rid Of Fear. Some Things Are Always Gonna Be Scary, Like Public Speaking.”- Skyler

This Disney Original has a great plot for the time, and great songs a long with it. Many of the songs throughout the movie didn’t really have a impact on the plot but they were catchy and fun and were a nice break away from the movie. One of my favorites “Fearless” actually does progress the plot as we see Skyler finally overcome that fear she was holding tight onto and sing to attract the demons to her and away from the partygoers. The realistic side of the movie really helps separate it from other Halloween movies I love that Disney has created and even though it isn’t set in a town where its always Halloween I still love it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I’m just very interested in your hair and the magical qualities that it possesses.” – Flynn Rider 

So I’ve realized that this blog has slowly shifted to me just gushing and detailing the better half of Disney movies I just adore but I promise some weird ones are coming soon. Tangled, coming out in 2010, is one of those timeless classics (if you were born in the 2000’s) and for this movie I’m going to address some key things that make it one of the top movies from our childhoods.

Tangled follows the story of Rapunzel, a women who is trying to find herself is a closed off environment that doesn’t allow for her to grow or even be herself. You see, Rapunzel was stolen when she was just a baby by who she thinks is her mother, Mother Gothel. She doesn’t know her real parents are the king and queen of the land and to her all Mother Gothel wants to do is protect her. In Disney movies we see horrible parents, or evil villains and yet in Tangled its framed differently. Rapunzel doesn’t think of her mom as evil, she loves her mom and thinks though she wont let her outside all she is doing is protecting her.

(This link will take you too “Mother Knows Best”

Mother Gothel’s tactics of keeping Rapunzel under her control is not out right evil, she manipulates and gaslights Rapunzel and has done that her whole life to take her power from her. Telling her going outside would be fatal for her, people would use her, beat her, and even kill her! “Gullible, naïve, positively grubby, Ditzy and a bit, well, hmm, vague, Plus, I believe, gettin’ kinda chubby, I’m just saying ’cause I wuv you.” She continues this for a whole song, guilting Rapunzel for even wanting to leave, this has worked for almost 17 years until Rapunzel’s curiosity and a thief named Flynn comes along and upturns all she has known.

“All at once, everything is different, now that I see you.” – Flynn & Rapunzel 

(This link will take you too “I See the Light”)

The way Disney lets Tangled be about Rapunzel’s growth and her finding herself while also incorporating a romance that doesn’t overshadow Rapunzel is very rare and between when it to Disney movies. Rapunzel and Flynn (a thief who steals what happens to be Rapunzel’s crown) run, explore, and almost die together both on this journey for different reasons and yet coming together to realize there was also love waiting for them. We see Rapunzel enjoy things she never got to before, like running through a field of grass, singing in a bar, and finding out what it means to be brave. Its not that she needs Flynn to understand herself, it’s that she is understanding herself and also wanting to be with Flynn. That makes the world of a difference when it comes to little girls watching this movie and then looking towards romance.

(This link will take you to “When Will My Life Begin?)

The realism in the way Disney portrayed Rapunzel’s reaction to Mother Gothel’s betrayal and realizing she can’t trust her anymore is everything. Rapunzel is devastated and almost falls back into Mother Gothel’s arms after she tries to convince her Flynn is just using her to get to the crown. Not every person that finds themselves are sure, and Rapunzel having loved Mother Gothel like a mom for 18 years is so confused. This aspect of the movie does lean towards more older people as younger kids might not get the nuances of Mother Gothel’s and Rapunzel’s relationship with each other but it shows its ok to have doubt along the way.

Tangled is one of those movies you watch again and find new things you hadn’t even noticed last time. It is timeless and always will be a great film to watch casually and if you want to look more deeply at a movie and really analyze it. It does have many lighthearted parts and songs, and will make you let out a chuckle along the way.

 

 

“Their songs always inspired hope, though hope always inspired their songs.”

For my very first non-animated Disney movie I wanted to take a look at one of my very favorites, Lemonade Mouth. Lemonade Mouth came out in 2011 with a lot of great Disney movies surrounding it like, The Muppets, Cars 2, and one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Clearly it had a lot of competition and yet still stands out to me as one of the better Disney movies that were being made at the time.

Lemonade Mouth follows five separate stories of students that come together and form a band with all the troubles that follow that decision. Bonds are made, bonds are broken, songs are written, and people go to jail. I will start at the beginning, you have the lead singer, Olivia (pictured on the very right with her hand up) who is shy and deathly scared of sharing her voice and music. Then there’s Stella and Mo (pictured at the end holding guitars) who both are trying to be who they really want to be while also not disappointing their parents. Lastly the boys, Charlie and Wen each have separate issues with their parents, not fitting into a certain image and feeling left out from what really going on in the family.

I can say I have seen this movie more times than I can count and still love the scene were all individual characters come together to form this band that they didn’t even know was a possibility. They do the very cool trope of all making different sounds then magically coming together to make a song. I love the way the story progress as we see the band rise to the top preforming at the top their Halloween dance and entering a contest to breaking up as a group once one performance goes sideways.

 

“Push Until You Cant, then Demand More”

This Disney movie has amazing songs, honorable mentions being: Determinate, More Than A Band, Somebody, and She’s So Gone, all of these songs bring out sad, hopeful, and reminiscent emotions. They all fit exactly with the plot and even progress it further allowing the audience to get a peek into the feeling of the main characters we might not have seen before. The movie does end with them getting thrown into jail for protesting what made their band in the first place, but eventually they solve their issues with each other, their parents, and themselves.

(This link will take you to “Determinate”)

In Disney movies when we see conflict its usually a big over arcing enemy or thing that causes it. With Lemonade Mouth the conflict relied on the characters finding themselves and solving their conflicts with each other rather than with someone else. Now there is another band who they are competing against but that just plays a role into the inner conflict already going on.

Lemonade Mouth is one of the movies you could watch over and over again, and the outfits always bring me to the later 2000s. If you haven’t seen Lemonade Mouth I do recommend it but if musicals aren’t your taste then this one might not be your favorite!