Disney Blog Party: My Answers! :)

Hey everyone!  I meant to have this post up a couple of days ago, but this week turned into an absolutely crazy one!! ;)  I suppose it would be good for me to share my own answers, as I started the party. :D

Oh, and before I forget, I don't know how many of you read my update on my blog party post, but for those of you who want to join the party and don't have a blog, you can simply leave your answers in the comments underneath the blog party post.  You'll be automatically entered in the drawing for my B&tB sketch, too! :D

I'd like to thank everyone who's joined so far.  It's been so fun seeing all of the different answers!

So, without further ado, here are mine:

1. What is your all-time favorite animated Disney film and why?

       Hmm, how many of you can guess this one? ;)  My all-time favorite is, of course "Beauty and the Beast".  I have to admit, though, "Tangled" is right on its heels.

I love "Beauty and the Beast" primarily because it's not your typical Disney "boy meets girl, love at first sight" kind of movie.  Both characters have to grow and change before they begin to value each other.  Belle has to look beyond appearances and see the goodness within the Beast.  I also love the wonderful relationship she has with her father (as opposed to Ariel, Jasmine, and others).  I was (and still am!) really close to my dad, so I could really relate to this as a girl.  I appreciate so much that she was willing to give up her freedom to save him.  I think we all would love to be that selfless and giving.  

And "Tangled"...well, what can I say?  I was so pleasantly surprised by this movie!  I love the humor, the beautiful animation, and the return to the wonderful classic Disney films I grew up with as a girl.  The funny parts aren't just there for the sake of cramming pointless jokes into the movie, and it's not all centered on toilet humor, like so many of the contemporary animated films today. 

More than anything, though, I love the lessons and spiritual applications you can draw from this movie.  Getting to know a person before thinking you have them figured out, the power of a dream realized, and of course, the themes of sacrificial love, on the parts of both Rapunzel and Eugene.  I'm thrilled when there's an example of love in a movie that shows characters seeking the best for the other person rather than using "love" as an excuse to act without weighing the consequences.  Another rare treat in our modern society.

2. What is your all-time favorite Disney/Pixar film and why?

      For this one, I'm going to have to say it's a tie between "Monsters, Inc." and the Toy Story trilogy (but especially "Toy Story 3"). 

       I absolutely LOVE Disney/Pixar films.  I can remember being astounded by the animation and the story when I saw the first Toy Story in high school.  I've been impressed with every film they've come out with so far, and I have such high respect for John Lassetter and the quality entertainment he and his team of animators and employees produce.

       I like "Monsters Inc." mainly because of the sweet relationship between Sulley and Boo.  When I first saw the movie, I was married but didn't have any children yet, and I dreamed of having a cute little girl like Boo.  Now I have 3 cute little girls, and watching the movie makes me think of them every time.

      I love the Toy Story movies because I was always anthropomorphising my toys and dolls, from the time I was a child.  These movies were right up my alley! ;)  Once again, the themes of friendship, loyalty, and the growth and change we experience (as people or toys) are so meaningful.  And I love how they set up a believable toy world, with its own hierarchy and culture and everything! :) 


3. What was the first animated Disney film you remember seeing?

    Probably the first one I saw on video was "Winnie the Pooh".  We didn't have a TV growing up, but my grandparents did.  When they first got their TV, the only kid's movie they had was "Winnie the Pooh".  Apparently I watched it over and over again every time I went to visit.  My mom can still quote the whole movie.  Actually, my whole family can still quote the whole movie.  I think my hubby (boyfriend, at the time) was a little weirded out by all of us singing along to "I'm Just a Little Black Raincloud" while watching it. ;D

    The first Disney movie I saw in the theaters was "Oliver and Company".  I was 7 years old, and I cried when the movie was over, mainly because I was so emotionally affected by the sad part at the beginning where no one wanted Oliver and he was abandoned and lost. 


4. It's talent night at your school/job/etc...You have to perform a Disney song. Which one would you choose?

    This one's a toughie.  I would probably choose between "Belle Reprise" (it's really the only solo Belle has in the movie), "Home" from the Broadway version of "Beauty and the Beast", "Part of Your World" (just because it's fun to sing and is one of the first Disney songs I remember learning...besides Winnie the Pooh songs, of course), or "A Whole New World", if I had someone to sing it with (hubby is not into Disney songs). ;)  "Healing Incantation" or "When Will My Life Begin" from Rapunzel would be fun, too!


5. Name your top 4 Disney heroes or heroines (or any character, for that matter) and talk a little bit about why you admire them.

    1.  Belle:  She's willing to sacrifice everything to save her father's life and has the courage, determination, and compassion to see past the Beast's hideous exterior.  She's also smart enough to not fall for Gaston just because he's handsome (At least, he's supposed to be.  I always found him pretty ugly, myself!).  

    

2.  Flynn Rider aka Eugene Fitzherbert:  Although at first he seems like your typical shallow, swaggering guy, underneath it all he has a heart of gold.  Yet another example of sacrificing everything to save the one he loves.  He's just an all-around, memorable, lovable Disney character.  And a leading man with a personality!!  Yay!!!

    3.  Woody:  I know people tend to be either Buzz or Woody fans.  I'm a Woody gal myself.  Sure, he doesn't always make the right decisions.  He gets jealous and petty, and even misguided sometimes.  But underneath it all, Woody is incredibly loyal, especially to Andy.  He grows to value and appreciate Buzz as a friend.  I just think their friendship is such a great example of godly, brotherly love.  The type that's not afraid to call someone on something when they're making the wrong decision.  The kind that works with the other individual as a team to bring about the best result.  And the kind that makes them both a better person (or toy) just by knowing each other.

  

4.  James P. Sullivan aka Sulley:  I just love Sulley to pieces.  He's such a sensitive, caring, big teddy bear.  Or "Kitty", I guess. ;)  Like I mentioned earlier, I love his relationship with Boo and how he does everything in his power to protect her.  He goes against the flow to prove that everything they've been taught about kids is wrong, determined to make a change.  And when he frightens Boo, he does everything he can to make it right.

6. Who, in your opinion, is the most hideous Disney villain of all time?

      There are some pretty creepy Disney villains.  The Wicked Queen/Witch from "Snow White", Maleficent from "Sleeping Beauty", Chernabog from "Fantasia" (hideous!! I always asked my grandma to fast-forward that part), and Ursula from "The Little Mermaid" were the scariest ones for me as a little girl.

      A villain that really stands out to me as being absolutely detestable, though, is Frollo from "The Hunchback of Notre Dame".  [Note:  Jen, I promise I didn't steal your answer! ;)  He was who I'd decided on before you participated.  Also, to everyone else, I do NOT care for OR recommend this movie in any way, shape or form.  Okay, moving on.]  Manipulative, murderous, self-righteous, cowardly, lecherous...this guy is just a creep.  I was completely repulsed by him.  I was also disappointed that they included such a sensual "bad-guy song" for Frollo to sing in a children's movie. 

7. If you could spend a day with any Disney character, who would you choose? How would you spend your day?

     I think it would be fun to hang out with Mrs. Incredible.  We'd share funny and frustrating stories about motherhood.  I'd also see if she knew where I could get elastic legs and arms, too. ;)

8. Which Disney character is the most like you?

     I don't think there's any one character that's completely like me.  I'm actually a combination of Belle and Rapunzel...and probably a mix of Mother Gothel and Cruella de Ville on certain days of the month. :}

   I'm not completely like Rapunzel, but let me tell you, the whole "Best day ever/I'm a despicable human being" scene was SO me!! :D  So much so that my mom completely cracked up when she saw it because it made her think of me.  I always over think things and really worry about what other people will think of me.  I'm also incredibly influenced by guilt.   

    Belle's probably the closest to me.  We both have brown hair (a fact I was SOOO excited about when the movie came out), both love to read, both dreamed of adventure and romance, and both found our Beast/Prince. :D  The only difference is I would have been WAAAYY too concerned about getting the Beast mad to be brave enough to go to the West Wing.  Oh, and it might have taken me a little bit longer to get past his fur and his temper (a sad truth, but an honest one...I get really grossed out by animal hair and slobber and nasty smells...especially when I 'm eating).

9. What, in your opinion, is one of the greatest movie moments in an animated Disney film?

      For me, it would be a choice between the Beast's transformation and the floating lantern scene in "Tangled".

10. If you could pick which film Disney would make next, what would the film be?

 

     I was thinking that "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" might be fun.  They'd do it much more justice than the Barbie version!!  Although they'd probably get overwhelmed with that many characters and call it "The Five Dancing Princesses" or something. ;)  "The Princess and the Pea" could be fun, too.  Can you detect a theme here? :)

 

Wow, that was fun!  Discussing my Disney favorites just makes me smile.  So, how about all of you who haven't joined yet?  There's still time!!  You can get to the original post HERE.  Remember, the blog party ends on Saturday the 7th...only 3 days away! :)  Hope to hear from more of you!