Aida as a live action musical film could be amazing.

It could also be great when animated, but then it should be in a mature way, as that's what the material asks for. So no silly fart-jokes and the songs cut in half, but going all the way.

Ming-Na Wen as Mulan's mother would be PERFECT!

As for Aida, I'm still waiting for Disney to be bold and put it on the big screen. A live action film would be so incredibly beautiful, heart wrenching, and meaningful. There wouldn't be a dry eye in the theater. And if they want a star cast, I honestly wouldn't mind Zac Efron in it with maybe Lady Gaga as Amneris. She could still do her fashion show in "My Strongest Suit." Beyoncé would still be a fantastic Aida.

Completely!

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The thing is, so many of Disney's movies really are pretty mediocre when looking back. I'll say that I think Sleeping Beauty is absolute perfection to this day, and Snow White was a revolution in filmmaking (although I find the whole movie a little creepy), but Cinderella has just an okay score and I never was a huge fan of Peter Pan, Jungle Book, Bambi, Dumbo and a lot of others. Everything they made in the 70's and 80's is absolutely dreadful (especially The Black Cauldron, which scarred me as a child), although i did enjoy Aristocats.

As for the Renaissance, The Little Mermaid, Beauty & The Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King are all fantastic and truly worth being listed as among the best. Pocahontas and Hunchback, while having some occasional bright spots and a few great songs (Just Around the Riverbend being maybe my favorite Stephen Schwartz lyric of all time), they are just okay movies. I have a soft spot for Hercules despite its plotholes and for Mulan, because I think both have great songs.

Disney then released mostly crap for the next decade (other than Enchanted, another favorite of mine), but I enjoyed the Frog and absolutely love Tangled to pieces, and Frozen (while it has its many detractors especially on this board for some reason) I thought was incredibly well done and a return to form for Disney movie musicals (although I'll never be okay that it wasn't Alan Menken that wrote the score). A live-action musical version of Mulan may be good, but I doubt it's necessary.

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It's going to be PERFECT, Showface. A less magical film makes it more realistic to place onscreen. Mulan is one of Disney's more adult cartoons and better ones at that. She is by far the best princess heroine in the Disney vault. You're being a negative nancy. It will be SUBLIME.

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Updated On: 3/31/15 at 06:09 AM

Valid point, disneybroadwayfan. Although I do wish the Disney films now (Frozen, tangled, Princess and the frog) were on par with the 90's films (beauty, Lion king, Hunchback).

Disney never really struck gold again after the 90's. I commend Princess and The Frog for it's effort, as it was closest to being on par with the Disney renaissance.

You MIGHT say Frozen is on par, based on how much money it made, but from an artistic viewpoint, Frozen doesn't even come close to touching the 90's films, in my opinion. The 90's films didn't rely on one song to carry the film's success. They were full score Broadway musicals set to animation. I'd give anything for Disney to go back to that route. Ohwell.

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Updated On: 3/31/15 at 06:47 AM

Couldn't agree more about Maleficent. That one really hurt. The 2 minute trailer was better than the whole movie. They took one of Disney's most complex characters and turned her into Elphaba. No subtext, nothing under the surface, just some token rogue Strong woman you would see in Lord of the rings. All fluff.

I can't wait for Disney to buy the rights to a Wicked film, so we don't have to suffer through anymore films "subtly" wanting to be wicked... *cough* Frozen *cough*

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I think arguing about the artistic merit of Disney properties is absolutely ridiculous and petty. Not only is it kind of something lame to argue over, but you're arguing about a commercial product by a major for-profit corporation intended for mass consumption. Say what you want about "Hunchback" or "Pocahontas," but it doesn't matter. It is all about the $$$$. Nothing more.

I would kill to see a live adaptation of Aida. Wasn't one planned?

Yes. Back in the mid-2000's. It had reached the initial developmental stages. I know there were discussions (not "negotiations" as bilbo / broadway guy incorrectly states) with Beyonce for Aida, Christina Aguilera for Princess Amneris, and Justin Timberlake for Radames. It just fell apart and never panned out. They were trying to capitalize on the recent Broadway run, even though it wasn't very successful.

AS IF DISNEY COULDN'T GET ANYMORE DESPERATE:

Disney Plans Live-Action ‘Winnie the Pooh'; Alex Ross Perry to Write

Winnie the Pooh?

Why? I'm all for Disney redoing some of their films for live-action, but...all of them? No.

If I were to choose the next live action film, it would be a live action based off of Disney's Pinocchio!

Never underestimate Disney junkies compulsion to return to their own sick.

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What are the options for live-action animal movies? Real animals like Babe. CGI like Paddington. A slightly stylized CGI like Stuart Little. People in costumes... like... I can't think of a movie where that ever worked. I think the style of the animation is a large part of the success of Winnie the Pooh so I can't pretend to understand this decision.

You know, I was thinking and I'm actually cool with these Disney remakes. If these remakes the only way to keep the magic of Disney alive, so fine! Go for it. What else can Disney do for the classics to keep the legacy alive? Yes, there are TV shows like House of Mouse & the 90s shows, but there are so many slots to fill in. Broadway shows? Expensive as heck and limited theaters. Disney Parks? Expensive and a lot of people can’t go. Clothes, books, toys….little kids stuff. What about adults, teenagers? What can parents give to kids for the magic of Disney? How can Disney prevent people from getting bored with the same things and forget about them?