Top 10 Reasons Why Disney Remakes are HATED

It seems we cant go a week without hearing about a new announcement that the mouse house is going to be releasing a new movie based on one of their animated classics. What might have been intriguing at first with lesser-known titles such as Petes Dragon has almost become a parody by this point. Only to be confirmed when we found out 2016s Moana was going to be getting the same live-action treatment. Regardless of the quality of each flick, the sheer abundance in rapid succession has grinded audiences last nerves in recent years. Theres being persistent and theres banging your head against a wall.

You dont get more corporate or greedier than Disney these days, though who can blame them when their live-action remakes keep making so much money? Their Lion King remake as polarising as it was earned a total of over 1.6 billion worldwide. With a win like that, theyve been progressively ploughing through their old catalogue with the same live-action framework. Its the most blatant definition of cash grab, and everyone knows it. The same way everyone knows it wont be stopping anytime soon. Its a perpetual cycle that has stripped away numerous layers of magic and joy associated with the brand.

A live-action Disney remake is in of itself a catch-22. A shot for shot recreation is a pitfall waiting to happen. While on the other hand, deviating from the original stories too much feels like a slap in the face. Well touch on both sides momentarily. But for now, a question. How does one thread the needle between the two? Original stories thats how! For years now, it feels like Disney has been relying on the shoulders of giants rather than endeavouring to pave the way with new animation. There are of course exceptions - Zootopia, Moana, Big Hero 6, and Encanto are all phenomenal. But these days its like Disney is more interested in stepping back than taking bold steps forward. Wed honestly give them more credit if they had kept going the Maleficent route at least that felt like an attempt to be original with an established property.

Technology evolves, and with it, the movies that utilise it. While we all lament the decline of the hand-drawn animation that defined Disneys golden era, theres no debating that some of the modern animated flicks can be just as breath-taking. Even if the story wanes, the visuals and artistry on display keep us entranced. With a live-action remake, it all goes out the window. Ask anyone, and chances are theyll tell you how theyd much prefer to immerse themselves in the beauty of Dumbo compared to its 2019 counterpart. Its gotten to the point where wed rather have three Elementals each year than face another live-action Mulan.

Something new is always going to be preferable to retelling the same old tale with a different coat of paint. But there are limits, and Disney has crossed them several times over by now. For every intriguing reimagining of a one-note villain like Maleficent, you have Snow White becominga revolutionary? How about Mulan becoming an incredible warrior not by her own meritbut because the cosmos made her the chosen one? And for crying out loud did we need to give Will Smiths Genie a love interest?

It couldnt be more obvious, but it still bears discussing. We dare you to find a single moment in a live-action Disney remake that comes close to capturing the impact of the original. Oh sure, some may make a valiant attempt. Wed dare say that 2015s Cinderella made a charming effort to humanise the OG Disney Princess. The same way no one is debating how surprisingly good the performances were in 2016s The Jungle Book. But these are exceptions, not the rule. The Baby Mine song from Dumbo, the horror of Monstro from Pinocchio, the spaghetti kiss in Lady and the Tramp, Mufasas death scene in The Lion King - the live-action versions dont hold a candle to their magnificence.

If theres one thing that Disney animated films are known for its their powerhouse musical performances. And while the live-action remakes might hire great singers, theres no chance they can surpass the originals. In much the same way those seminal scenes from the Disney renaissance are buried into our brains, theres no way a modern rendition could ever uproot Can You Feel The Love Tonight, Be Our Guest, or Friend Like Me. Unless they play the original version of Your Welcome, Dwayne Johnsons performance in the upcoming remake is going to be worse than the first time he sang it.

Modern animation may still be able to inspire and evoke, but the bombardment coming out of the Disney VFX department is on track to give audiences an aneurism. At best, the CGI used to help bring the monsters and magical aspects of the film to life are distracting. At worst, they destroy the momentum and throw us right into the heart of the uncanny valley. For every shockingly realistic animal that props up in The Lion King remake, we have the undersea abominations in The Little Mermaid. Though that has nothing on the nightmare fuel that are the Seven Dwarfs. Bury them in poison apples!

Some of the changes made in these remakes have been truly baffling, but you could make the argument theyre the lesser of two evils when compared to the absurdity of a live-action Disney remake that changes absolutely nothing. You may like aspects of the remakes of The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and maybe even Pinocchio for some unfathomable reason but by following the story beats so faithfully, their mere existence is diminished. Everything that was nuanced or exciting or heartbreaking about the film had already been displayed on the silver screen decades earlier. Disney might honestly have saved more face by just re-releasing the originals in theatres every few years to cash in on nostalgia. Speaking of which

Fanservice, baiting, call it want you want, but these live-action remakes have been getting by (successfully, might we add) on luring older generations of moviegoers with the nostalgia of the classic Disney titles they grew up with, presented anew with all the bells and whistles one could want. Unfortunately, as weve seen time and time again, if the final results arent disappointing, theyre dead-on-arrival as far as quality is concerned. Its gotten to the point where everyone expects these remakes to be terrible, so even when one does look like it might break the mould a la the new Lilo and Stitch, were still dreading the arrival of the Hercules, Bambi, Robin Hood and Aristocats remakes that are on the way.
Do you think the live-action Disney remakes are here to stay or are they going the way of the cinematic dodo? Let us know in the comments!