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5.14.2009

oh disney, my disney


A couple of things have led me to this post.

First: my inability to load a video to blogger, which led to youtube, which led to youtube searches.

and

Second: a four hour nap at 7 pm tonight (woops, it's two am now and I might be up for a while); that being said my best work is done in the wee hours of the morn when the candle burns from both ends (whatever that means).

What can i say? Sometimes the stars align and a post is born.

So I was on youtube and decided to search for the film Newsies--it's been on my mind as of late and since itunes doesn't have the soundtrack a girl has to make do however she can.

My friends. Let's be serious for a moment. Have you seen this film? 

option a: no
my response to option a: no?! (shock and indignation). Amend this immediately. Our very friendship hinges on this.

option b: Of course, any mid-eighties to early-nineties child worth their salt has.
my response to option b: Ahh, good man/woman. So right. And the code to contra, they all know the code to contra (though the time period might lean a bit earlier on that end--eighties, not so much nineties) 


Are you still reading this? Are you as confused as I am? Bear with me--it is two in the morning. 

Okay, so seriously if you haven't seen the movie, I've included a brief clip below to wet the palate. 

And if you have seen it, then this is just to tickle your fancy.



1. Okay sooo...I don't know anything about dancing. but I'm pretty sure this dancing is sick--sick in new millennium vernacular meaning, off the chain. 

2. Christian Bale was an insanely good looking teen.

3. And now, this is where the post turns serious: why doesn't Disney make films like this anymore? This movie was about the newsboys strike of 1899 in New York City (source: good-ole Wikipedia), meaning...this movie was actually about something--something important and meaningful and exciting. 

Hanna Montana, Lizzie Maguire, High School Musical. Are you kidding me?! Disney, what happened? When did you become so...so...vapid. Okay, so no, Newsies wasn't a rousing commercial success (but helloooo...you shouldn't have released it on the same day as Fern Gully {I could have told you that}). Disney, this isn't just about Newsies--this is about a time when you stood for something--when the stories meant something--when it wasn't all direct to dvd junk--or about the promotion of one child star at the expense of all else. I long for Cinderella and Mulan (did you see Mulan? oh, another truly exceptional animated film--one of the last greats. Or what about An American Tail with the much beloved Feivel. Okay so yes, Pixar is still making the greats, Finding Nemo (a personal favorite). But Pixar left you Disney--think about it. Remember the glory days when Walt (bless his soul) would fire animators for almost imperceptible errors in continuity? The man had standards. Bring those standards back.

All I'm saying is when my kids grow up on Disney films, as they will, they will be the films of yester year. So in ten years or so I'm gonna need you to unlock that magical vault in a really big way. Because Wizards of Waverly Place: the movie, part 345 just ain't gonna cut it. 


Postscript: ironically enough the choreographer and director of Newsies is the man in charge of the High School Musical movies. Obviously, the man has chops. And listen High School Musical has a time and a place, but it is what it is, you know?

Post-postscript: another great movie from back in the day that's worth another visit, The Sandlot. Quite, quite funny. And yes it made by Fox.



pppppps: Is this not the sweetest thing you've ever seen?

21 comments:

SofiaLoves said...

couldn't agree more girl!
i LOVE an american tail.
I just HAD to post the vid on my blog!
Just in case I forgot about it.
{and thankfully I'm not the only one who stays up late blogging... haha}.

Brooke Leigh said...

i'm a early 90's baby and i've definitely seen the newsies! thats how I even knew who Christian Bale was. and I've been dancing for 13 years and that dance is pretty "sick" haha.
The Sandlot is also an amazing classic.
I pray Disney goes back to making good movies like that.
The reason Disney loves "HSM" and "Hannah Montana" so much is because they make so much money off of them and there merch.
They don't have any morals anymore.
it saddens me.
It makes me even more sad to little girls walking through the mall in "Hannah Montana" wigs.
Disney used to be about being your own person.
Now everyone wants to be a hannah or gabriella.

William Street Store said...

I have never heard of the newsies but it looks awesome!
But the Sandlot!! OMG I LOVE THIS MOVIE!! SOOO much!
Have you ever seen the warner bros movie "Little Giants" with a very young, spunky Devon Sawa?? Amazing! A must see!!

High school musical and the latest children movies just aren't up to the par!

(Very cute video too! So sweet!)

Also darling, I awarded you on my blog xxx

Jodi said...

So, I've been reading your blog for a little while now and I've yet to comment. (I guess I'm comment shy at first?) However tonight, I cannot go to bed without saying a huge AMEN to this entire post. I hadn't ever seen Newsies until about 2 years ago. After I saw the first HSM.
Perhaps when I have kids someday I won't tell them about whatever movies are currently playing but I'll indoctrinate them with the Disney classics. Beauty and the Beast. Little Mermaid. There's a reason I know every word to every Newsies song and not HSM.

Krysta said...

Christian Bale as a teen: oh. my. goodness.

And I second your thoughts on The Sandlot. So good! I think I have seen that film nothing short of 700 times.

As far as the evolution of Disney goes, it seems a little like a what came first sort of thing. I mean they are obviously in business to make money so are they responding to what the market wants or does the market adapt to what it is given?

elizabeth Langgle: said...

I LOVED newsies growing up and have it now on DVD... i think christian bale was one of my first movie crushes before the world really even knew who he was :)

Christie said...

I totally forgot about Newsies..I LOVE that movie (netflix-ing it now).

I agree about Disney's descent into ridiculousness. Pixar is really where the creativity seems to be these days (why give your kids Hannah Montana when they could have Wall-E?!).

It's also not Disney, but one of my childhood favorites was the Goonies. I think I still have a crush on Brand Walsh.

Allie said...

meg,

while from a slightly different generation than you, i too feel the kids/teen movies are just not up to snuff these days. (although i will admit that grease was/is one of my all time favorite teen movies - who can resist an early john travolta chasse-ing in tight black clothes to "greased lightning.")
but i must call you out on the "sick" dancing in this video. i saw the "robocop." if you are unfamiliar, this would be a short lived (thank goodness) dance from the late 80s. http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Dance-the-Robocop-18631081. this is decidedly not sick. ;)

Sara said...

God help me- Newsies? Mulan? The Sandlot?

I may just blow of work right now and spend the rest of the day with my butt on the couch and my face pointed toward the television while I remind myself of the greatness that once was.

Have I mentioned I lurve Newsies? In fact, I think I will open the gates and seize the day!

Wisdom + Understanding said...

Awww that mouse is soooooooo cute, my heart literally warmed up listening to that, thanks Meg!! :)

P.S. You are that much cooler for thinking Mulan is one of the greats, I think I can quote that movie verbatim.

P.P.S. I think that Newsie's dance copied some Bollywood moves, just sayin' just sayin' hahaha ;)

Meandering Mel said...

I LOVE Newsies!!

And I agree about Disney plunging itself down a toilet. I've kind of given up on Disney. :(

Rachel said...

What a clever post! And I couldn't have said it better myself. I love the Newsies... I have to admit, I only saw it recently. I know, I know... how sad???

I love love Mulan and the An American Tail. Oh, and Sandlot.

=)

The Girl in the Yellow Shoes said...

Ummm... definitely option B. Newsies was where I fell in love with Christian Bale. I LOVE that movie and can still sing all the songs. I'm pretty sure my little bro has the soundtrack and sings to it on roadtrips. Yes, we love it that much! And my little girl may already be in love with the Dalmations. We like the classic Disney movies at our house. Bring on the good stuff! (Although I do agree with you on Pixar.) Great post!

jess said...

ahh this brings back fond memories of memorizing the songs and dances to Newsies and then performing them in my friends living room... I loved christian bale but I also thought David and Spot conlin (the one with blue eyes) were HOT!!

Unknown said...

You are truly a woman after my own heart. I have been irritated with Disney's lack of substance/originality/romance (*sigh*)/good stories for many years now.

And I was going to say more, but I realized that I was basically just writing a post in your comments...


So I posted, too. Haha!


Viva la (old) Disney!

iheartkiwi said...

this post has obviously struck a nerve with your readers!

i totally agree... disney just isn't turning out the classics anymore! kiwi grew up in new zealand and the poor man has never seen ANY of the disney greats. i took him to see lion king on broadway and it was totally lost on him. i mean i could sing every word!

american tale, sandlot, fern gully, mulan... amen sister. amen.

Unknown said...

I loved American Tale ...as for Newsies ...I went to prom with the actor exactly 10 seconds in ...lollololol!

Kelsey M. said...

I LOVE newsies! And mulan. And all of the disney classics. They really do not make them the same these days. The sandlot is a fantastic movie. ...Did you ever see the 2nd one? I didn't wanna waste my time cause it was years later and obviously not the same actors.

Aline said...

I have not seen this, but I think I need to!!!

faryle said...

Amen, sista! Totally agree with everything.

I bought Newsies on DVD a few years ago when I was lonely at school and needed something from my childhood to cheer me up. Well worth the 14 dollars to have Disney amazing-ness at my finger tips.

Caitlin said...

When I was in junior high I saw Newsies on TV and made my mom buy me the VHS. I watched it 13 times in one week and memorized the dance that you posted here. I was also in love with Kid Blink. Now I have the soundtrack and several DVDs so never have to be without it. Yes, I am a Newsies nerd.

And proud of it.