Animated Disney movies have shaped many of our childhoods, creating characters and stories that people still feel connected to years later.
In the last ten years, Disney has started releasing live action versions of our favorite fairytales. These movies often spark strong reactions from fans whenever Disney changes elements from the original films. Senior Harprit Sidhu, is one of many Disney fans who believe that live action films should keep coming out. Sidhu said, “They should keep making live action movies because they’re cheaper and also easier to make. Actors can show more complex emotions in live action movies that animations can’t.”
In January, Disney announced casting news for the live-action version of Tangled, which quickly caught the attention of fans online. Teagan Croft, best known for her role as Raven in Titans, was casted as Rapunzel. Milo Manheim, who previously starred as Zed in Disney Channel’s Zombies, is set to play Flynn Rider.
Because many people grew up watching the animated movie, the announcement has been exciting for some fans while leaving others feeling disappointed. Senior, Giovanna Zahedi-Marsh is excited for the film to come out but also has her worries. Zahedi-Marsh said, “I like Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider but I think they could have done better with Rapunzel. But, I’m a hundred percent going to see it because I love seeing Milo Manheim in movies. He’s very emotional and I believe he will perform the role very well.”
Over the years, Disney has released several live-action adaptations of animated classics such as Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid. While these films often perform well at the box office, many fans have different opinions about these movies. Drastically changing the plot of these movies can leave fans unhappy with the outcome like Senior Noah Powell who has gone to see many of the live action remakes of our favorite childhood movies. Powell said, “I think it’s okay to change it, but you have to keep the original storyline because they’re magical for a reason and if you change them it takes away the magic.”
While opinions differ, it’s clear that Disney’s live action remakes continue to spark conversation and strong reactions among fans. Whether viewers feel disappointed or excited, these films remain a major part of today’s movie culture.
