Once upon a time, Disney chanced upon a miracle. In 1996, it released a live-action version of 101 Dalmatians. The real dogs were cute. Glenn Close revelled in her role as Cruella de Vil. The story seemed as magical as its 1961 animated predecessor.
Let's do more, Disney said. They rolled out Alice In Wonderland in 2010. Bright, overproduced, stiff. Weird? Yes. Fun? No. Then, in 2015, they did a live-action remake of Cinderella. CGI, Richard Madden as Prince Charming, floaty dresses. It still lacked sparkle. In 2016, they unleashed Jungle Book. Dark, rich, haunting. But no songs, no Kaa. Why?
Each remake was lacklustre but profitable, so Disney persisted. There's been a Beauty and the Beast, a Dumbo, an Aladdin, The Lion King, Pinocchio, even The Little Mermaid. Older fans can't recall a single scene from the remakes. Here's what the studio still hasn't realised: Sometimes, twodimensional drawings are more evocative than actual actors.
This story is from the March 23, 2024 edition of Brunch.
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This story is from the March 23, 2024 edition of Brunch.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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