Disney Plus - Round-up
Sunday comes around, with its usual slow and easy feeling now less poignant and reassuring as the days have begun to blend together almost as smoothly as your banana bread batter. In our household however, 3pm on Sunday marks the Disney slot as we settle in to watch one of the latest Pixar hits that we failed to see in the cinema because, who really has the time for that when things are normal? Or, to rewatch a classic and become gooey and nostalgic about our childhood attachments to the characters.
There has been a significant amount of pressure during lockdown to appropriately utilise our time in order to be as healthy, mindful, charitable and productive as possible. Nevertheless, in a disorientating and difficult period for many of us, it is important also to find happiness in the easiest and simplest ways. For me, the shameless coinciding of the Disney Plus launch with the beginning of lockdown, has brought no end of easily achievable joy.
So in the spirit of lockdown happiness, here's a rundown of some of our top recommended films from the (virtual) kingdom where dreams come true…
Best for: Female Empowerment
Moana (2016)
Image: Disney
A relatively recent and certainly revolutionary addition to the Disney princess quad, Moana is the independent and multi-dimensional young woman that Disney fans had been yearning for. The feature-length animation follows the teenage daughter of a Polynesian island chief on her perilous adventure across the Pacific ocean. Instead of searching for true love's kiss or prince charming, Moana is looking for a deeper understanding of her family's history and her own self-identity. In case you're not already sold, Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the soundtrack – need I say more.
Best for: escaping
Peter Pan (1953)
Image: Disney
In this COVID-19 era, parents and children alike have been made to 'grow up' somewhat more quickly than expected, with each of us taking on responsibilities that we are not quite accustomed to. What better way to escape these burdens than by flying away to Neverland with the little boy who never grows up? Based on JM Barrie's canonical story, Peter Pan tells of the adventures of the Darling children as they fight pirates, rescue fairies and swim with mermaids. An oldie, but definitely a goodie.
Best for: a classic reimagined
Jungle Book (2016)
Image: Disney
In a bid to attract Generation Z, in recent years Disney has been working through its portfolio of classics and making 'reimaginations' of some of our favourites. Jungle Book topped the list, with its slick CGI bringing awesome, spine-tingling life to the once-animated jungle. The score is almost as heart-rendering as Neel Sethi's portrayal of Mowgli and on top of that the cast includes Scarlett Johansson as a rather creepy Ka, Christopher Walken bringing his staple other-worldliness to King Louie, Idris Elba who was apparently born to be Shere Khan and Bill Murray doing serious justice to Baloo's Bare Necessities. This one is hard not to love.
Best for: tackling adult issues
Inside Out (2015)
Image: Disney
Joy, Fear, Disgust and Anger are the main characters in this clever installation by Pixar. Each emotion is personified and living in a control centre which watches over the life of sixth-grader Riley Andersen. The story manages to evoke difficult messages about mental health including the importance of occasionally letting negative emotions flow in order to achieve a more well-rounded happiness. Amy Poehler leads as Joy in what is probably best described as a technicolour rollercoaster lesson in mindfulness.
Best for: noughties nostalgia
Princess Diaries (2001)
Image: Disney
Frizzy haired and somewhere between embarrassed and invisible, Mia Thermopolis was the spirit-child of our teenage years. It is impossible to indulge in this coming-of-age comedy without feeling as invested in Mia's makeover as you did on the first watch, despite knowing every word of the script forwards and backwards. The big-screen debut for the now-adored Anne Hathaway, Princess Diaries is effortlessly funny and a real slice of tiara-topped comfort.
Best for: modern marvel adventure
Black Panther (2018)
Image: Disney
Black Panther is one of the newest additions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Chadwick Boseman plays T'Challa aka Black Panther, heir to the technologically advanced kingdom of Wakanda. Whilst featuring all the usual components of a superhero movie, Black Panther offers much more than action, also providing a perspective on the issues facing modern African-Americans. The film challenges institutional bias whilst exploring the themes of race, poverty and altruism. Characters make jibs at oppressors and colonialism and African traditions are reflected throughout. Directed by African-American Ryan Coogler and featuring an almost exclusively black cast (apart from the comedic choice of Martin Freeman), the music, costumes, colours and landscapes all help to display Africa and its descendants in a gloriously beautiful light. Even if you're not a typical Marvel fan, this is a must-watch.
Best for: a cathartic cry
Dumbo (2019)
Image: Disney
The story of Dumbo, our favourite (it was a hard choice) flying elephant, is heart-breaking by its very nature, telling of a baby who is separated from his mother and fights for their reunion. However, as blubbery as you may have been watching the 1941 animation, the magnificent CGI in last year's feature brings Dumbo's ears closer to real-life than ever, and with it, viewers' tears! Tim Burton's gothic touch is hard to mistake amongst the eerie circus stalls and austere performers that prop up the spectacle, while the angelic portrayals of Dumbo's saviours, the Farrier children, add softness to the film. Dumbo is a tale of the special relationship between humans and animals told through an impressive production that sucker punches you where you can feel it.
Best for: being practically perfect in every way…
Mary Poppins (1964)
Image: Disney
An all-time Disney classic, perhaps we love Mary Poppins the most because of its London skylines and traditional British sentimentality. Nonetheless, its iconic soundtrack and heart-warming message about the importance of family certainly help. Be swept up by the chimney-sweeps and let this little spoonful of sugar calm those lockdown anxieties – at least for a couple of hours.
Words by Lucy Firestone
