Are Disney Remakes Worth While? Pro

The Walt Disney Company has an expansive library of classic animated films that has stood the test of time. So much so, that in recent years, live-action adaptations of some of their most beloved titles have graced the silver screen.

Some of these adaptations didn’t reach their full potential despite achieving box office success, such as Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” in 2010 and the “Sleeping Beauty” spin off “Maleficent” starring Angelina Jolie.

But interestingly enough, the live-action adaptations of films such as “Cinderella” and “The Jungle Book” have achieved both critical and financial success.

In the case for those two films, “Cinderella” took an old-fashioned approach mixed in with the beautiful set design and costumes along with Kenneth Branagh’s gravitas behind the camera.

Director Jon Favreau brought “The Jungle Book” to life with some of the most stunning visual effects ever put into film, which led to an Oscar win for the same.

After the success of those two films, audiences were given David Lowery’s underappreciated “Pete’s Dragon” remake and of course, Bill Condon’s adaptation of “Beauty and the Beast”.

Disney isn’t stopping with these live-action remakes anytime soon. Adaptations of “Mulan”, “Aladdin” and “The Lion King” are currently in development.

But given the fact that Hollywood seems to operate on bringing previously established material back to the big screen, are these live action remakes really worthwhile?

Given the fact that nostalgia for these timeless stories is at an all-time high with the millennial generation, these adaptations are a no-brainer.

Much of the modern moviegoing audiences today were young children when they were first shown these animated movies, and seeing those stories being told to a new generation with new technology is hard to resist.

Also, older audiences today get the opportunity to introduce the classic stories to their own children. Sure, they can show them the original movies at home on DVD or Netflix, but having the opportunity to show these larger-than-life stories on the big screen would be a great introduction.

Thankfully, Disney has hired some remarkable filmmakers and performers in bringing a new interpretation for a new generation of audiences.

Thanks to his success on “The Jungle Book”, Favreau will now direct the live-action adaptation of “The Lion King” with Donald Glover, James Earl Jones and potentially Beyonce in the film’s cast.

Also, with films such as “Mulan” and “Aladdin”, Disney has the opportunity to cast diverse performers for these stories. An open casting call for Chinese and Middle Eastern actors and actresses was released for both productions respectively.

Thanks to this opportunity, the younger and diverse audiences have the chance to look up to more film characters that look just like them.

Disney’s animated films are a staple of popular culture that has played a major part of millions of people’s memories that stem back to their early childhood.

Come to think of it, it’s fascinating that the company owns cultural phenomenons such as Marvel Comics and the “Star Wars” franchise. Both those intellectual properties have been part of the pop culture consciousness for multiple generations.

It’s easy to dismiss live-action adaptations of classic animated films as a pointless cash grab, but as long as the right talent has the passion for these stories to pay reverence to them while also implementing their own sensibilities, then let’s keep them coming.

Besides, a remake of a classic does not erase the original from existence. And if the remake turns out to be good, you now have two movies to enjoy.