Top 3 Sassiest Animal Characters (Elizabeth)

What Disney movie is complete without its animal companions? They provide both comic relief and solace for the hero/heroine while spicing the movie up with their fun personalities, which is why today I'm listing the top 3 sassiest animal characters, in no particular order.

3. Abu

Abu is Aladdin's tiny partner-in-crime in Aladdin.

While he has a tendency to be a tad greedy...

He's also generous--though grudgingly so.

Abu is both adorable and feisty, with a personality that's bigger than he is.

2. Pascal

Pascal is Rapunzel's companion in Tangled. Above all, he's protective and cautious.

Not to mention brave! I mean, how many friends do you have that'd be willing to give someone a wet willy on your behalf?









Though he's tiny, he keeps not only Maximus, but Flynn Ryder in line.

Overall, Pascal is there for Rapunzel when she needs him, and he never lets his tiny size get in the way of protecting her.

1. Mushu
And lastly, there's Mushu, the mighty guardian of Mulan in... Mulan. Go figure ;)

Despite his size, Mushu can be terrifying, awe-inspiring...

But he also has a motherly side.
Mushu: [stuffing breakfast into Mulan's mouth] No time to talk. Now remember, it's your first day of trainin', so listen to your teacher and no fightin', play nice with the other kids, unless, of course, one of the other kids wanna fight, then you have to kick the other kid's butt. 
(from imbd.com)

And he's pretty clever when the situation calls for it...



What are your favorite animal sidekicks from movies?

Thanks for reading!
Elizabeth Newsom

Attributions:
Pictures of Abbu: Aladdin, 1992.
Pictures of Pascal: Rapunzel, 2010.
Pictures of Mushu: Mulan, 1998.

Live Action Remakes - What Should Be Next? (Laurie)

Erin's last Top 3s post involved her favorite live action movie remakes. I'm super behind on movies, so I'm ashamed to admit I haven't seen any of the movies that made her list, but I did finally see the 2015 version of Cinderella a few weeks ago. I'll be honest, while it was sweet and the visuals were beautiful, I didn't feel it added much to the large array of Cinderella remakes already out there. My favorites are still Ever After and the Brandy version of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical :)





That being said, I can't wait for the Beauty & the Beast live action remake coming out in 2017! My favorite Disney movie starring Emma Watson and featuring what look to be some amazing special effects to create the Beast's Castle? Yes, please!

And since today is a Your Turn Thursday, that brings me to our question: which animated movie(s) would you like to see remade in live action? Any special requests for cast members?

Maybe if we get enough votes for a certain movie, we can start up a petition for Disney :)


Thanks for reading!
Laurie


Attributions:
Cinderella: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/b/b4/Cinderella_2015_1.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20141119151633
Beauty & the Beast: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/5/5a/Beauty_and_the_Beast_2017_teaser_poster.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160715085129
Sleeping Beauty: http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/5/5f/Sleeping_Beauty_1990%27s_Re-Release_Poster.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20131219054505
Aladdin: http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/9/96/MPW-10542.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160617153548
The Little Mermaid: http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/0/09/The-Little-Mermaid-Poster-walt-disney-characters-19222477-1032-1500.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130629230339
Pocahontas: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/5/57/Pocahontasposter.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160617124923
The Hunchback of Notre Dame: http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/a/a5/The_Hunchback_of_Notre_Dame-_1996.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130420022954
Hercules: http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/7/76/Hercules.png/revision/latest?cb=20151108163136
The Princess and the Frog: http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/f/fa/Frog_official_poster_500.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120915095456
Mulan: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/a/a5/Mulan.JPG/revision/latest?cb=20140316163838
Snow White: http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/4/45/Snow_White_Poster.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160617160623
Tangled: http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/c/ca/Tangled_rapunzel_poster_20.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110929034113
Brave: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/0/07/Brave_poster.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20141201050701
Frozen: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/5/58/Frozen-movie-poster.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160606223222

Which are Your Favorite Princesses? (Elizabeth)

Since I really enjoyed combining Top 3 Posts and a Your Turn! post last time, I thought I'd try it again!

Today, we're going to find out which princess is the most popular. If you'd like to see why each of us (me, Erin, and Laura) like the princesses, I'll include links to the coordinating Top 3 post below:

Elizabeth: Mulan, Elsa, Belle
Erin: Fiona, Cimorene, Cinder
Laura: Cinderella, Elsa, Anna


Are there any princesses we missed? Which princesses of yours weren't included in this poll, and how do they inspire you? Which princesses did you vote for and why?

Thank you for participating!
Elizabeth

Top 3 Princesses (Elizabeth)

I don’t know about you, but I love a good Disney princess movie. I love seeing the heroine defy expectations and falling in love—as most of them do—somewhere along the way. So, here are my favorite princesses:

3. Mulan

Mulan has never fit in with the other girls, and she doesn’t like pretending to, but she’ll do anything to make her family proud.

I can’t help but feel sympathy towards her, and then admiration when she decides to take her fathers place. Facing the penalty of death—even to save your father—would be terrifying. Mulan is one of my favorite Disney princesses for her compassion, courage, and clumsiness, which I can relate to better than I’d like.

2. Elsa

At first, I didn’t really like Elsa. After one incident, she completely shut her sister out. 

Even when Anna’s outside of Elsa’s door after her parents’ funeral, begging her to open up, Elsa doesn’t. It wasn’t until later that I realized how much of Elsa’s fear was for Anna rather than herself. Did Elsa want to be alone during her parents’ funeral? Of course not. But after the emotional trauma, her powers were so out of control that she couldn’t afford to let anyone in—not even Anna. 

Elsa is my second favorite Disney princess for her selflessness… and epic ice powers.

1. Belle

“With a dreamy far-off look, and her nose stuck in abook, quite a puzzle to the rest of us . . .”

For one, Belle loves books, and as you probably already know, so do I! I thought it was so cool that a Disney princess was as enraptured with books as I was. Though she’s beautiful, she doesn’t let that get to her head or get in the way of her principles. Just like Mulan, she doesn’t fit in either, but she accepts that and doesn’t let that get in the way of being herself, something I strive to do. 

And I just love the relationship between her and the Beast and how she sees more than just what’s on the surface. 

Belle is my favorite princess because she reminds me of me, she’s intelligent, and she upholds her principles.

So who are you favorite princesses? Are there any non-Disney princesses you like? What traits in a character do you most admire?

I look forward to seeing your comments!

-Elizabeth Newsom

Attributions:

Pictures from Mulan (1998), Frozen (2013), and Beauty and the Beast (1991). 

Top 3 Super Powers (Laurie)

I must admit that I am highly unqualified to write a post on super powers, as I don't think I've ever read a single comic book and have seen very few superhero movies. But Hannah got us off to a great start with her post last week, and super powers are really fun to think about even for someone like me, who doesn't have a lot of data on the subject :)

So, if I were to be endowed with a super power, here would be my top 3 choices:

3. Cryokinetic Powers (Cold and Ice Manipulation)

Seriously, how cool would it be to build your own ice palace? And wouldn't it be fun to have your very own talking, singing snowman as a sidekick?

What draws me to cryokinetic power is its wide range of uses, as Elsa demonstrates in Disney's Frozen. She can defend herself, create stunning architecture, and manipulate the weather, all with her one super power. I felt a lot of sympathy for her when she lacked control over her ability, but once she figured out how to regulate it, it seemed like it would be a pretty awesome power to have.

"The cold never bothered me anyway..."  (Okay, that's not true in the least, but I couldn't resist!)

2. Invisibility

Invisibility would be such a fascinating super power. Just think how many interesting places you could go if you were invisible, and how much secret information you could gain. In addition, people rely so heavily on their sense of sight, that it could really come in handy if you were battling a villain. Or even if you're not required to fight bad guys, at the very least invisibility would allow you to play some very entertaining tricks on people.

If I'm honest with myself, I probably wouldn't use my power of invisibility for anything nearly as interesting as what I described above. I'm guessing it would mostly come in handy for getting out of awkward social situations :)



1. Telekinesis

Maybe it's just because I'm lazy, but I would absolutely love to be able to move things around with my mind. Want to rearrange the furniture? Done. Want to clean up the toys the kids left lying around? Done. Want to get the remote without walking across the room? Done.

Telekinesis is another super power that I find desirable because of its versatility. It could be used for so many every-day tasks like the ones I just mentioned, but also could be extremely effective in combat, as you wouldn't be limited by your own physical strength in manipulating the items around you, and the fact that everything can be done with your mind allows for an element of surprise.

And if you could be invisible and use telekinesis? Your enemies would never know what hit them!


All right, superhero fans, lay it on me. What amazing super powers have I missed due to my lack of knowledge? Would any of these make your list? What super power combinations do you think would work the best?

Thanks for reading (and putting up with my lame jokes)!
Laurie

Attributions:
Elsa from Disney's Frozen: http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/frozen/images/3/3b/FeaturedLetItGo.png/revision/latest?cb=20140408025002
The Invisible Woman: http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Invisible_Woman
Violet from Disney's The Incredibles: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/0/0a/Violet_Parr.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150215212030 
Prue from Charmed: http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/charmed/images/3/36/TelekinesisPrueHand.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20100114170746

Top 3 Animated Movies (Elizabeth)

3. Aladdin (1992)

My family recently ordered this off of Netflix, and I was reminded of what an awesome movie this is. I love how Aladdin is a street rat that no one would look at twice—unless he happens to be stealing a loaf of bread—yet he has so much character. We see his unbelievable compassion when he offers his hard-stolen loaf of bread to a pair of orphans. We see his courage when he protects the same children from the whip of an aristocrat. We see his dreams when he stares at the palace in the distance, knowing he has the potential to be so much more.

And then there’s Jasmine, feisty and independent. She doesn’t want a man that will lavish her with luxury (she has plenty to go around), showcase his exorbitant wealth, or marvel at her beauty. She wants a man who will love her.

“If I do marry, I want it to be for love.” 

-Jasmine

And, of course, who doesn’t love the flamboyant Genie?

“Three wishes, to be exact. And ixnay on the wishing for more wishes. That's it. Three. Uno, dos, tres. No substitutions, exchanges or refunds.”

2. Tangled (2010)

Not only is the story structure of Tangled practically perfect, but it has magic, romance, and a seventeen year-old longing for freedom. I can relate, Rapunzel. The foreshadowing was great—something I’d really like to emulate in my stories. The minor characters all had their own flare, especially Pascal and Maximus. 

And the songs were so much fun. From the haunting tune of Rapunzel’s Flower Gleam and Glow song to the character-revealing Mother Knows Best to the fun and rather ironic I’ve Got a Dream.

“Bruiser knits.

Killer sews.

Fang does little puppet shows.”

Each song reveals a little more about the characters involved. And then there’s Flynn.

Dashing, handsome, and a scoundrel to the core. At first. His character development is so fun to watch. I especially love the montage in Corona, where they dance, read, and hide from soldiers while eating cupcakes. I mean, who wouldn’t want to do that with a cute guy? I wouldn’t mind! ;)

And then there’s Rapunzel. She’s like Aladdin, with big dreams, but no way to fulfill them—until Eugene Fitzherbert comes along… Hmm, I’m not completely sure if she had a positive character arc or a flat character arc. What do you guys thinks?

1. Inside Out (2015)

Oh, I really, really loved this movie. If I had participated in Best Movie of 2015 Poll, Inside Out would have been my #1 choice. It’s so ridiculously fun to watch the emotions run around inside Riley’s head. A recent bible study I read by Hannah Duggan (it’s not published yet, but it soon will be) mentioned how instead of emotions battling for control inside of us, it’s a battle between the mind, spirit, and flesh. As soon as her bible study, Dare Greatly, is published, I would highly recommend reading it.

I love how at the end of Inside Out, Joy realizes that the other emotions have their places too. It’s okay to be sad, angry, disgusted, and afraid. We all are at times. And watching the credits is so much fun. I love seeing the cat’s emotions and the bus driver!

Now, somewhere around this point, I would have had Beauty and the Beast, but Laurie snatched it first ;) Of course, I could’ve done it again, but I wanted this to be original. So, Beauty and the Beast gets an honorable mention. Frozen was a great animated movie as well. I really like Disney Princesses J

So, do you think Rapunzel had a positive or flat character arc? Which of the Disney princess movies are your favorites? And, if you didn’t get a chance during the last Top 3s Animated Movies post, what are your favorite animated movies?

Hope you enjoyed reading!

-Elizabeth

Attributions: 

Aladdin Cover: http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/File:MPW-10542.jpg

Genie Photo: http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/File:Aladdin3192.jpg

Tangled Cover: http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/File:Tangled_poster.png

Pascal and Maximus Photo: http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/File:Tangledever-disneyscreencaps.com-66.jpg.jpg

Flynn Rider Photo: http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/File:Tangled-disneyscreencaps.com-6492.jpg

Inside Out cover photo: http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/File:Inside-Out-60.png

Disney Prince / Princess Matchmaking! (Laurie)

Since we've been talking about animated movies and Valentine's Day is just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to do a little matchmaking :)  If you could take the Disney princesses/heroines and princes/heroes and match them into new couples, who do you think would go well together?

I can't wait to see what creative matches you come up with! And feel free to include characters from other animated movies, too - I'm not picky :)

See you next time!
Laurie


Attribution:
http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/2/25/Lineup-with-Anna-and-Elsa-disney-princess-35598431-3097-1371.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140314021237

Top 3 Animated Movies (Laurie)

As much as I hate to leave our favorite villains behind, it's time to move on to something new - let’s discuss animated movies! I think what I love most about animated movies is they aren't limited by reality - they have no bounds aside from the artists' skill and imagination. Animals, even inanimate objects, can talk. The characters can go anywhere, experience anything. Plus, they tend to have great music, often including pieces sung by the characters themselves, and let me tell you, I adore a good musical :)

So, after much deliberation, here are my top 3:

3. Anastasia (1997)

The music in this movie is fantastic. I still belt out “Once Upon A December” and “Journey to the Past” when I get the chance :)  Meg Ryan, who happens to be one of my favorite actresses, gives Anastasia so much spunk and personality that viewers are pulled into her story right off the bat. Now for my confession - Dimitri has always been my biggest animated character crush. I mean, come on ladies, he’s cute, right? He’s such a likable reformed bad-boy. And that hair! I guess I shouldn’t be surprised I ended up marrying a red-head :)

2. Shrek (2001)

I absolutely adore this off-the-wall fairy tale. It is so creative, not to mention hilarious. I love movies like this where it’s appropriate for kids but there’s humor for older audiences as well (Monsieur Robin Hood and his Merry Men crack me up every time!). Yet the love story and the lessons learned in this movie are compelling. The scenes during “Hallelujah” are especially well done, conveying so much emotion in the course of a few minutes. I’m almost ashamed to admit how many times I’ve watched this movie, considering I was in high school when it came out. Almost :)

1. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

This has to be the most beautiful fairy tale retelling of all time, with lovely animation, amazing music, humor, and powerful themes of second chances and seeing past appearances. I’ve always felt a connection with Belle, beyond just dancing around pretending to be her :) The burly, handsome guys in town certainly weren’t chasing after me, but lines like “With a dreamy far-off look, and her nose stuck in a book, quite a puzzle to the rest of us . . .” could’ve easily applied to me growing up. She has taught so many kids that it’s okay to be different and to dream far beyond their immediate surroundings.

It was hard to narrow my list down to three, so I have to give honorable mentions to two of my other favorite animated movies – Pocahontas and Mulan. My sister and I sing “Just Around the Riverbend” and “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” every time we go canoeing together, much to the delight of onlookers, I’m sure :)

Would any of these movies make your list? Which ones did I miss? I’d love to hear what you think!

See you next time!

Laurie

Attributions:

Anastasia: http://foxsanastasia.wikia.com/wiki/Anastasia_%28film%29?file=Anastasia_Poster.jpg

Shrek: http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/shrek/images/c/c5/2u4ihsm.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20100521211203

Beauty and the Beast: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/3/39/Beauty_and_the_Beast_OST.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140704195126