Disney’s Live-Action Remakes Are Not Just About The Movies

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Since Disney started transforming its animated masterpieces into live-action films, numerous fans have pondered the straightforward query: Why? After all, these iconic Disney animations are often regarded as classics, and reimagining a classic appears to be an endeavor destined for failure. Admittedly, some of these movies have been financial successes, but I’m hard-pressed to find someone who would argue that any of them surpass the original in quality.

I previously expressed my opinion that the classic tale of Snow White could potentially be enhanced through a modern retelling. After watching the latest adaptation under certain circumstances, I’ve discovered that the purpose behind these re-imaginings, if any, doesn’t lie in telling the story anew; it is about recreating an immersive experience instead.

Taking My Daughter To See Snow White Brought Me Full Circle

Currently, I’ve had the pleasure of watching the live-action “Snow White” movie not once, but twice. On the opening night on Thursday, I made sure to catch one of the first screenings, given my role as a Disney enthusiast at TopMob. Although many critics found the film less than enchanting, I was pleasantly surprised by my experience. To be honest, I’ve never been a fan of the original “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” but this updated version, which infused the story with a contemporary musical twist, resonated with me.

I was really fond of it and believed my family members would feel the same, so a few days later, I revisited it, this time inviting my wife and seven-year-old daughter along. She claimed to have watched the initial movie on Disney+, but I only recall showing it to her when she became frightened. Now that she’s grown up, I thought the new version would be less frightening for her.

Instead of saying “My daughter, who is already an amateur film critic, did love the movie,” you could say “My film-critic daughter really enjoyed the movie.”

Regarding your second sentence, “Although I was eager to watch it again, my attention was primarily drawn to the overall theater experience and the chance to take my daughter to see a Disney classic, just as my parents did years ago.

Once a week, my current role takes me to a cinema, and I must admit, I’ve never grown bored of the cinematic experience. As a child, I didn’t frequent the movies often, but the times we did go felt particularly memorable. Furthermore, watching a Disney film in theaters was always an exceptionally unique and cherished event for me.

Before Live-Action There Was Another Way To See Disney Classics In Theaters

In ancient times, prior to streaming services, before Blu-ray and DVD, even before VHS tapes, a significant portion of Disney’s box office income stemmed from re-showing their popular animated movies in cinemas. As there were no other means available at the time, watching a beloved film again could only happen when it was “released from Disney’s vault”, since that was the only way to watch it.

For Disney, re-releases proved crucial during World War II when European markets were inaccessible. This allowed them to generate income without investing heavily in a new film. Movies such as “Fantasia”, which initially struggled to find an audience, were given a second chance to resonate with the public through these re-releases.

Indeed, Disney chose to revive these beloved tales for more reasons than just box office success. They have substantial investments tied to these characters, ranging from merchandise to theme park rides. Yet, it’s not only the financial aspect that makes these stories enduring; every new generation experiences them as fresh and novel.

It seems I’m from the generation that was fortunate enough to witness Disney’s timeless animated masterpieces as part of their strategic re-release strategy. At a time when VHS was gaining significant momentum, Disney fiercely resisted releasing its films on this format, primarily because theatrical re-releases played a crucial role in the company’s financial success. However, after much deliberation, they decided to venture into VHS sales, which turned out to be incredibly successful and became a significant contributor to the company. Consequently, the theatrical re-releases gradually lost their prominence.

For the first time, as a child, I watched numerous Disney classics at the cinema alongside my brothers and mom. Although I can’t recall watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs explicitly, I’m confident that I did. However, I distinctly remember watching Bambi and Fantasia when they were re-released in theaters. These memorable experiences played a significant role in fostering my passion for movies, particularly Disney films.

Remakes Pick Up Where The Re-releases Left Off

Disney is remaking these films not just to generate substantial income, but also because there’s a void left when re-releases became less popular. Occasionally, a classic movie might still be shown in theaters, but it doesn’t draw the audience it used to. With the shift towards digital media and streaming, it seems we’ve moved on. When Pixar released its pandemic movies in theaters, attendance was minimal.

Recently, I managed to treat my daughter to a showing of “Snow White”. It was an unforgettable moment, one that wouldn’t have been possible without this film or something similar. Forty years ago, I had a similar experience, and now I’ve shared it with her. For her, it was merely a fun day at the cinema; for me, it was a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Whether she remembers that day or not, it wasn’t just about her; it was about me re-living my childhood through her eyes. Now, I understand how my parents must have felt when they took me to see a movie that they first saw in theaters as children with their own parents.

I’m thrilled to have a Disney+ subscription, enabling me to watch nearly every Disney film whenever I want. I can’t wait to pass these timeless classics on to my children as well. However, there’s something uniquely magical about taking my daughter to watch Snow White in the cinema. The fact that it was that particular movie, even if it was a remake, added an extra layer of enchantment.

Just because every Disney live-action remake isn’t guaranteed to be a great movie, it doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll be taking my kids to all of them. It’s not clear if anyone at Disney has intentionally linked animated re-releases with live-action remakes, but there could still be some connection. From now on, I’ll approach these remakes with a new perspective. They might not always be necessary, but they do serve a purpose.

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2025-03-27 23:07