Wednesday, December 03, 2008
204th post
UNDERRATED DISNEY MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS
#5. Treasure Planet
Due to poor marketing and infortuitous timing (released at the same time as Die Another Day and the second Harry Potter movie), Treasure Planet ended up becoming Disney's worst box office bomb ever, helping "break the back" of their animation department. Nevertheless, the film was a hit with critics and those moviegoers who did see it; and despite containing only two songs, this has one seriously powerful soundtrack. (Above: "I'm Still Here")
#4. Robin Hood
Disney's "quiet classic", Robin Hood is one of those best movies you always remember last. Sure, it's not exactly high drama, but the fun flick has enough of everything, from comedy to romance to plain old adorableness to, yes, even a bit of drama. The songs are phenomenal as well: "Love" was nominated for an Oscar, and country star Roger Miller wrote and performed three of the others, including the moving "Not in Nottingham". (Above: lighter fare "The Phony King of England")
#3. Oliver & Company
Billy Joel! Bette Midler! Huey Lewis! While not as highly regarded as the Disney movies that came right after it, those of the so-called "Golden Age of the '90s", Oliver & Company is not bad by any stretch of the imagination--especially not in the songs department, with that all-star lineup belting out such catchy tunes as "Why Should I Worry?" and "Streets of Gold". (Above: "Once Upon a Time in New York City")
#2. A Goofy Movie
Who says you need to be a Disney Masterpiece in order to have great songs? Apparently, the makers of A Goofy Movie didn't get that particular memo, fixin' up for your listening pleasure a toe-tapping soundtrack highlighted by R&B crooner Tevin Campbell's "Stand Out" and "I 2 I". (Above: "Stand Out")
#1. Home on the Range
Let's see, lightly-regarded film? Check. Wide range of songs? Check. All-star performers? Double check. Extreme catchiness? Check, check, check. Bonnie Raitt, k.d. lang, Tim McGraw and the Beu Sisters all pitched in to make the soundtrack the most memorable part of this otherwise forgettable movie, that marked Disney's temporary abandonment of 2-D animation, thanks in no small part to the return of songwriter Alan Menken after a 7-year hiatus from Disney. (Above: "(You Ain't) Home on the Range")
TODAY'S BOOK: "Fantastic Mr. Fox", by Roald Dahl ((c) 1970)
#5. Treasure Planet
Due to poor marketing and infortuitous timing (released at the same time as Die Another Day and the second Harry Potter movie), Treasure Planet ended up becoming Disney's worst box office bomb ever, helping "break the back" of their animation department. Nevertheless, the film was a hit with critics and those moviegoers who did see it; and despite containing only two songs, this has one seriously powerful soundtrack. (Above: "I'm Still Here")
#4. Robin Hood
Disney's "quiet classic", Robin Hood is one of those best movies you always remember last. Sure, it's not exactly high drama, but the fun flick has enough of everything, from comedy to romance to plain old adorableness to, yes, even a bit of drama. The songs are phenomenal as well: "Love" was nominated for an Oscar, and country star Roger Miller wrote and performed three of the others, including the moving "Not in Nottingham". (Above: lighter fare "The Phony King of England")
#3. Oliver & Company
Billy Joel! Bette Midler! Huey Lewis! While not as highly regarded as the Disney movies that came right after it, those of the so-called "Golden Age of the '90s", Oliver & Company is not bad by any stretch of the imagination--especially not in the songs department, with that all-star lineup belting out such catchy tunes as "Why Should I Worry?" and "Streets of Gold". (Above: "Once Upon a Time in New York City")
#2. A Goofy Movie
Who says you need to be a Disney Masterpiece in order to have great songs? Apparently, the makers of A Goofy Movie didn't get that particular memo, fixin' up for your listening pleasure a toe-tapping soundtrack highlighted by R&B crooner Tevin Campbell's "Stand Out" and "I 2 I". (Above: "Stand Out")
#1. Home on the Range
Let's see, lightly-regarded film? Check. Wide range of songs? Check. All-star performers? Double check. Extreme catchiness? Check, check, check. Bonnie Raitt, k.d. lang, Tim McGraw and the Beu Sisters all pitched in to make the soundtrack the most memorable part of this otherwise forgettable movie, that marked Disney's temporary abandonment of 2-D animation, thanks in no small part to the return of songwriter Alan Menken after a 7-year hiatus from Disney. (Above: "(You Ain't) Home on the Range")
TODAY'S BOOK: "Fantastic Mr. Fox", by Roald Dahl ((c) 1970)
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# posted by MetFanMac @ 10:36 AM 
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I always did like Billy Joel's song "Street Savoir Faire" from Oliver & Company.
Goofy Movie and Robin Hood are actually GREAT comedies. Robin Hood, though, gets smacked around a lot for the ways that corners were cut, though. In that "Phony King of England" segment, for example, instead of coming up with new animation for the dances, the animators instead rotoscoped entire sequences from Snow White, Jungle Book, and Aristocats!
Goofy Movie and Robin Hood are actually GREAT comedies. Robin Hood, though, gets smacked around a lot for the ways that corners were cut, though. In that "Phony King of England" segment, for example, instead of coming up with new animation for the dances, the animators instead rotoscoped entire sequences from Snow White, Jungle Book, and Aristocats!
"Why Should I Worry?" is the correct title for that song.
I agree that corner-wise, Robin Hood is probably the most-cut Disney film; but let me tell you something: After being unable to watch it for several years (about 7), I finally got the chance to do so again in 11th grade. I popped the cassette in, and for the next hour and a half sat there grinning like a fool. This is one entertaining movie.
Anyway, when I was little I treated the technical goofs like a game--a sort of "Spot the Re-Traced Animation", if you will :)
A good film makes you ignore or forget that.
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I agree that corner-wise, Robin Hood is probably the most-cut Disney film; but let me tell you something: After being unable to watch it for several years (about 7), I finally got the chance to do so again in 11th grade. I popped the cassette in, and for the next hour and a half sat there grinning like a fool. This is one entertaining movie.
Anyway, when I was little I treated the technical goofs like a game--a sort of "Spot the Re-Traced Animation", if you will :)
A good film makes you ignore or forget that.
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