Just finished my annual rewatch. Great performances by Michael Caine and Rizzo the Rat. Aside from the creepy-ass Ghost of Christmas Past, itās a perfect film. On Disney+, under Extras, you can watch the version with the restored song āWhen Love is Gone.ā It was originally cut by Disney exec Jeffrey Katzenberg and lost for many years.
Had it on VHS as a child, and since we didnāt have cable I wore that tape OUT! I think itās forgotten/underrated in the muppet movie canon, but itās got great performances by the human actors, by the muppets, and itās got a great moral about finding yourself and loving yourself for being yourself - Gonzo (who is top 5 muppet for me) is a great vehicle for that message, and itās just always stuck with me to this day Plus, incredible soundtrack, lots of George Clinton and funk music, cannot be beat
(Not to be confused with the made-up drug from Riverdale.) I consider this to be one of the more enjoyable newer Christmas movies! I watched this one with my mom when I was quarantining at home and I honestly did not expect to like it as much as I did. It's a musical, and I'm going to be honest, none of the songs were memorable to me. But I find that's the case with a lot of modern movie-musicals, so I overlooked that. I just remember the costumes, colors, and choreography being great, and the story being heartwarming. It also has a very talented & diverse cast! Definitely on the more whimsical side; it reminded me of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium more than any Christmas classics. But I am a sucker for vaguely Victorian steampunk-y settings!
Who Framed Roger Rabbit, even though itās a hybrid of animation and live action, absolutely blew my mind when I first watched it, even though it was only like two years ago. But if weāre talking strictly animated, itād have to be the reconstruction project for The Thief and the Cobbler. It has one of the most interesting yet tragic production histories, but thanks to a devoted fanbase, itās come to see the light of day as its creator intended. Also features Vincent Price in his final performance before his death. Iām on mobile and I donāt know how to link lol but hereās the recobbled cut of it! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BKTCSLbjhtM
Iām not a parent and do not plan to be. Kids can wear me out fast with their high energy and noise level; it leaves me very over-stimulated. But itās pretty extreme when people say they āhate kidsā and I often feel itās a reflection of their childhood and beliefs around how kids āshould be.ā That they were expected to be quiet, obedient, and out of the way by their parents when they were little. Itās fucking hard to be a kid. Youāre dealing with a rapidly-changing body and underdeveloped brain, managed by flawed adults who are enforcing boundaries that you do not understand. Itās confusing and hard to manage your feelings and honestly just a lot. People are impatient with kids when theyāre brand new to the world and figuring it all out, and this is a time kids need a friend the most. Children can also be teachers to adults with how they are less habituated to the world. They teach us how to be free and open-hearted and silly and imaginative. A good practice is to be kinder and gentler with kids. If that feels difficult, start with gentleness toward your inner child. Maybe thatās the child in your life that needs your attention and kindness most.