Live-Action Remakes Are Controversial Water-Cooler Topics
Not everyone was on board with the idea of remaking classics. The opinion on whether they are needed is mixed. Some love them, but others feel as if the legacy of the films is in danger. Two films show this contrast very well, and those are Dreamworks’ “How to Train Your Dragon” and Disney’s “Snow White.”
Both of these films came out this year, but had different reactions from critics and fans. When “How to Train Your Dragon” was released on June 13, it was received well, and critics admired how faithful it was to the original.
“Snow White” was released on March 21. This movie was criticized and surrounded by controversy due to casting, and it was far from the original animated work in style and story.
On Nov. 27, 1996, the live-action remake of “101 Dalmatians” came out. This would start the long line of Disney live-action remakes.
There are many reasons why Disney began reproducing their classic animated films as live-action remakes, including financial motivation and knowing they would succeed due to previous reception.
When Disney+ launched in November 2019, media executive Bob Iger promised it would hold the entire motion picture library. Some of the films included in the Disney+ library include “The Jungle Book,” “Pocahontas,” and “Peter Pan.” All of which include themes of racism.
In the original animated version of “The Jungle Book,” the monkeys speak in jive slang. With “Pocahontas,” the settlers were prejudiced against the Native Americans and veered off from the real story of Pocahontas. “Peter Pan” includes an offensive song about Native Americans. To not repeat its racist history, Disney decided they needed to remake their classics.
Despite these criticisms, Disney continues to produce live-action remakes. Some confirmed upcoming remakes include “The Aristocats,” “Hercules,” “Cruella 2,” “Tangled,” and “Robin Hood.”
These five films could get a good reception based on the final product. Others are rumored, such as “Jungle Book 2,” “Aladdin 2,” and “Tink.” Depending on how these are received may dictate the future of other remakes. Similar to how the live-action “Tangled” was suspended after “Snow White” was received so poorly.
