Disney – Duane S. Montague

You Don’t Have to Build a Rollercoaster

My favorite Disney cartoons of the past few years have been the ones about close family relationships. The “What are we going to do today?” question of Phineas & Ferb wouldn’t have been nearly as memorable without the genuine affection their sister Candace and their parents had for the inventive kids. Gravity Falls‘ weird and wonderfulContinue reading “You Don’t Have to Build a Rollercoaster”

Disney’s “Zootopia” is a Powerful Fable About What it Means to Be Human

The first thing you need to know about Disney’s Zootopia: it’s funny. It’s also clever, very witty, beautifully animated, and has a lot to say about life. In short, it’s more than just a cute idea–it’s a crime film, a comedy, and ultimately, a surprisingly deep study of what it means to be, well, human. “In Zootopia,Continue reading “Disney’s “Zootopia” is a Powerful Fable About What it Means to Be Human”

ABC’s “The Muppets” is More Like the Original than You May Remember

Last week, ABC premiered a new show which was the highest-rated new comedy of the year. Called The Muppets, it was a brand-new take on the classic characters created in the 1970’s by Jim Henson, who got his start in creating puppet-based sketches for adult television, broke into children’s entertainment with Sesame Street and went on to createContinue reading “ABC’s “The Muppets” is More Like the Original than You May Remember”

“Inside Out” May Very Well Be Pixar’s Greatest Film

While I love Woody and Buzz and McQueen and Mater and Sulley and Mike, they all take a back seat to the two standout heroines of Inside Out. A film set in the mind of an eleven year old girl, Pixar’s latest is easily its most difficult, its most cerebral (literally), and its most deeply felt.Continue reading ““Inside Out” May Very Well Be Pixar’s Greatest Film”

You Should Go “Into the Woods”

When you think of Disney fairytales, you probably think of happily ever afters, catchy musical numbers, charming princes and beautiful princesses. Into the Woods, the new film from Walt Disney Pictures, has all of that, and more. It’s beautifully filmed, wonderfully acted, and nearly perfect adaptation of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. Into the Woods isContinue reading “You Should Go “Into the Woods””

Disney’s “Very Bad Day” is So Very Good

Everyone has had one of those days where nothing seems to go right, where everything seems to be just terrible, horrible, no good, and just plain very bad. It’s one reason why Judith Viorst’s book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day has been popular since it was first published in 1972. The bookContinue reading “Disney’s “Very Bad Day” is So Very Good”

10 Things You Can Learn from Disney’s “Frozen”

It’s the biggest movie in years, crossing over from family and little girls who love princesses to being a global phenomenon. It’s a two-time Oscar winner with thousands of YouTube covers of its songs, and beginning its 16th week in theaters, even after it was released on Digital Download, it was number 6 at theContinue reading “10 Things You Can Learn from Disney’s “Frozen””

You are More than What You Have Become

I watched The Lion King the other night. It was the first time I’d watched the movie in years. (I know that sounds weird coming from a true Disney fan. People usually assume all you watch are Disney films. I don’t. I actually want to like the movies, and as Shakespeare once noted: “familiarity breedsContinue reading “You are More than What You Have Become”