My top 5 underrated Disney films

 

Hello everyone, 

today, I decided to do something a little different from my usual post and instead of a mini-review, I'm presenting to you my top 5 choices for Disney films I consider to be underappreciated. If you have thoughts of your own, that's great! I always appreciate your ability to think of what I say critically. :) 

 

Before we start...

I'd just like to lay off some rules for this list:

1. Only feature-length films. That means no shorts or TV specials. 

2. No sequels or remakes, since these could be a list of their own (which I might be making soon, but I WON'T promise it just yet). 

3. No Pixar films. For same reasons as above. 

4. This is meant to be a fun list and it's all MY OPINION! So, take it with a grain a salt. 

With that on mind, let's start! 

Honourable mentions 

Here are some films which, in order to avoid making this list too predictable, didn't make the cut. That obviously DOESN'T mean these are bad pictures in any way, shape or form!

- The Rescuers, 

- Oliver & Company, 

- Brother Bear, 

- Treasure Planet,

- Meet the Robinsons, 

- Robin Hood, 

- Lilo & Stich,

- A Goofy Movie,

- Air Bud.

5. Pooh's Heffalump Movie (2005) 

I still remember this film fondly from when I first saw it as a little girl. This movie is just so adorable! Actually, that could be said about almost all the other Pooh movies. 

The plot revolves around Roo, Kanga's son, as he tries to prove himself to be just as brave as his older friends after they refuse to let him participate in a Heffalump hunt they organised. Our little hero decides to embark on a mission to catch one of these terrifying creatures on his own, only to capture a baby Heffalump called Lumpy. Along the way, these two start to form a friendly bond...

What makes this movie work in my eyes is not only the beautiful animation, but also the amazing music, heartwarming script and of course, the likeable characters and a strong message about friendship and having an open mind. Sure, it's something that mostly younger kids will enjoy, but this fact doesn't disqualify it from making this chart. 

4. The Aristocats (1970) 

This film starts in Paris, where Duchess the cat lives a luxurious life with her owner - a retired diva called Madame Adelaide, her three kittens - Marie, Brezlioz & Tolouse; and Madame Adelaide's English butler, Edgar. One day, when Edgar finds out that Adelaide declares that the cats are to inherite her fortune in her will, he decides to get rid of them by stranding them in the countryside. It's upon our feline heroine and her kittens to come back home now. 

One thing I love about this movie is the romance between Duchess and Thomas O' Malley, as well as the fun story and amusing humour. Duchess' kittens also have their own cute and funny personalities and talents. Another thing I like about this film is the beautiful French setting, as well as the fantastic music and gorgeous animation. 

3. Princess and the Frog  (2009) 

The story takes place during the 1920s in New Orleans. A young woman named Tiana, inspired by her late father, decides to open her very own restaurant. One day, she unexpectedly meets Naveen, a prince turned into a frog by evil Dr. Facilier's magic. Naveen tries to convince Tiana to kiss him and thus, reverse the spell. But once the girl kisses the frog, she ends up becoming one as well! Our heroes need to embark on a long journey to Mama Odie in order to become human again. 

This adventure has peaked my curiosity as a kid and for good reasons! We're in for some catchy musical numbers, interesting characters, astonishing animation and lots of magic along the ride. The film also puts a rather clever spin on the story of a Frog Prince. Despite not being perfect, Princess and the Frog is a great watch for the whole family. Oh, and did I mention that Dr. Facilier is one of my favourite Disney villains of all time? Yeah, that's true. 

2.  Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) 

It's 1914. Milo Tatch, a young linguist from the Smithsonian Institution , dreams of finding the legendary land sunken land known as Atlantis.  One day he gets introduced to a millionaire and an old friend of his late grandfather, Thaddeus, called Preston B. Whitemore by Helga Sinclair. Preston funds an expedition to find the afforementioned legendary land after Milo's grandfather found the Shepherd's Journal. Milo agrees to participate in the journey and joins a unlikely crew of characters from various national backgrounds as a translator and so the search of Atlantis begins. 

What I like about this feature is hugely in its concept. I mean, doesn't a story about searching for a mythical lost land just sound exciting? Other good things about Atlantis: The Lost Empire include: the romance between Milo and Princess Kida, the visuals, sound design, the other characters, voice acting and a powerful moral about greed and materialism. There's a lot to be enjoyed by adventure fans both young and old here, so if you like this type of movie, go check it out! 

1. Bolt (2008) 

The plot of this Disney film centres around the life of titular dog TV star called Bolt and his owner, a young girl named Penny. One day, after shooting another episode of the series named after our protagonist, the dog thinks his owner is in danger, thus, he escapes the studio in search of her. Along the way, he meets a female cat named Mittens and Rhino, an eccentric hamster and a huge fan of his, leading to Bolt discovering  his new identity in the life of an ordinary dog. 

No wonder I instantly fell in love with this movie when I was 6! Despite its imperfections, Bolt still holds a special place in my heart several years later with its memorable story, endearing characters, great use of CGI graphics and themes that are a lot to chew on for both kids and adults, such as exploitation, abandonment, finding yourself and the value of family. 

Phew, that was my first top 5 list on this site. I hope you enjoyed reading this and everyone had a good time following my thoughts. See you all later with new types of posts coming besides the usual mini-reviews. For now, have a good one. 

Kisses,

           your Diva ❤

P.S. My next post is going to be a surprise.