My Top 10 Disney Movies

What are your favourite kinds of posts to read? I like to read a variety of posts, but I am partial to one with a “favourites” theme.

It’s very interesting to see the different things that people consider their “favourites” and you can usually guarantee you’ll get something a little different each time. It’s refreshing amidst the sea of product reviews and such that can get a little samey after a while.

I’ve been wanting to start my own Favourites series for a while now, but wasn’t really sure how to do it. I don’t really buy new make-up/skincare products that regularly so I’m pretty certain my favourites would get pretty repetitive, pretty quickly.

So I’ve come up with an idea which I think might work, and I very much hope you’ll agree. Each week I’ll do a Friday Favourites post (may as well hop on that band wagon) but the theme of the post will change each week. Sometimes it will be pretty standard and serious (e.g. fave films or books), other works will be downright silly (I’m thinking biscuits and Disney Villains).

I will be more than happy to take suggestions/requests (as long as they’re not too inappropriate!) and I’ll keep this up until I run out of ideas or get bored…. Whichever comes first.

So without much ado, let’s get the ball rolling. I’ve recently come across a new blog “That Disney One” and her recent Disney challenge has got my thinking about which I’d pick as my favourite Disney films.

So here they are, in no particular order: My Top Ten Disney films

The Little Mermaid

“Teenagers. They think they know everything. You give them an inch, they swim all over you.”

Absolutely had to be on the list – my all-time favourite for as long as I can remember. Amazing music, gorgeous animation, fabulous plot and characters. A classic. (just don’t go looking for plot holes – what happens to the fishing trade in the Kingdom once Ariel and Eric marry?)

Tangled

“You should know that this is the strangest thing I’ve ever done!”

I had started to go off of Disney and had begun to think I was too old. Then they released Tangled and I realised that the old magic was still there. This was a turning point for me as Disney went back to what they did best – beautiful stories with stunning music and a range of interesting characters. A classic fairytale with a more modern feel. Love it!

Frozen

“It’s me, Anna, your sister who didn’t mean to make you freeze the summer.”

Couldn’t really leave this one off of the list could I? I have never, ever seen a reaction to a Disney film like the reaction to Frozen. It seems a bit clichéd to include this on my favourites, as probably most people would do the same, but it’s just so funny, the songs are great and it’s nice to see a few of the old tropes get knocked on their head. Looking forward to Number 2!!

Enchanted

“Oh my, this is a twist in our story! It’s the brave little princess coming to the rescue.”

I wasn’t sure if I’d like this at first, but now it’s right up there with the best of them. I love the way that the filmmakers made little jokes about classic Disney princess movies, while still managing to honour and respect them. Plus, it’s wonderful to have a Disney romance twisted a little, as Giselle realises her true love may not be who the stories would suggest.

Sleeping Beauty

“Now, father, you’re living in the past. This is the 14th century!”

This one gets on the list for pure artistic merit alone. I adore the artwork in Sleeping Beauty and how everything looks a little like a Medieval tapestry. So beautiful – I really should find some prints to put in my house (Go on, make the “Some Prints” joke – I dare you) Also, I just love the scene where the fairies try to bake a cake and sew a dress without magic – Hilarious!

Beauty And The Beast

“There may be something there that wasn’t there before….”

Come on, it’s the “Tale as old as time”! Seriously, Beauty and The Beast has to be the most perfect love story ever written. The age old story of the love of a good woman saving the scarred, wounded beast of a man has launched 1001 Mills and Boon novels and the Disney version is about as perfect an adaptation as you could ask for. Literally cannot wait to see the live action version. Hope they throw in a few extra songs from the musical.

Lilo And Stitch

“And you like me better as a sister than a rabbit, right?”

Before you start to think this list will only include Princess films, let me throw Lilo and Stitch into the mix. Normally I steer clear of the non-princessy films as they’re not really my scene – Yes, I am that girl. However I watched Lilo and Stitch for the first time while babysitting (a loooooooong time ago) and I was converted. It may be the funniest film I’ve ever seen, Lilo is adorable and Disney should be commended for including a bit of voodoo in there (“My friends need to be punished”). It’s surprisingly dark and still very sweet. Plus, the soundtrack includes a lot of Elvis. Enough said.

 Mulan

“My baby’s all grown up and saving China!”

You can’t beat Mulan for a bit of old-fashioned girl power.  The songs, as ever, are fab, Mulan is outstanding and Mushu is just….well, Mushu.  He’s so funny.  Plus, kudos to the first ever Disney film to openly acknowledge a woman’s breasts!

Hercules

“I’m a damsel, I’m in distress, I can handle this. Have a nice day.”  

What’s not to love about Hercules? It ticks pretty much every box for me.  It boasts one of the coolest villains and the sassiest heroine. I also love that fact the Disney once again decided to use a different art style, making the animation look like the paintings on Ancient Greek pottery. I’m also a MASSIVE fan of Greek mythology so this was a clear winner for me.

 Tarzan

 “Now, you stay away from me. Like a very good wild man.”

This is the only film on my favourites list that I don’t actually own!  I shall have to rectify that asap.  But it is on Netflix and is always worth a watch. The story is sad and sweet and exciting all at the same time.  I may also be on my own here but I love the Phil Collins soundtrack – All together now “You’ll be in my heart”.

Wait a minute….did I say Top Ten??  I just realised I missed one….and it’s a doozy…

Wall-E

This film is so far out of my ordinary watch-zone that I just had to include it.  It is funny and cute and sentimental and most of the emotion is conveyed by a robot whose dialogue consists mainly of “Eva” and “Wall-E.”  If you haven’t watched it – you have to.  It’s a bit of a slow burn, but it’s a beauty.

So there you have it – my favourite Disney movies.  I could probably have gone on forever and it was so hard to narrow it down.  In the end I just had to choose the films I could watch on repeat if I had the chance.

So what about you?  Do you have a favourite Disney film?  Or do you have an idea of a favourites theme that you might like to see me write in the future?  Leave me a comment below or tweet me @messindressblog