Disney Schmaltz

[aeditimi]

One of the fun things about having a toddler (and a Netflicks subscription) is revisiting all the old Disney animated films one by one. The early ones are really awful. I guess Snow White and Sleeping Beauty are okay, but Alice in Wonderland and Pinocchio are disturbing, Dumbo is about humiliation and violence, Bambi is of course about the death of

Comments

[aeditimi]

I forget that we're not the same age, too. Of course that means I think you're younger, and I'm always bowled over when you mention your young adult son. Who is all of six years my younger. meep meep.

Most of the guys in my high school had a crush on Ariel. I think it's totally allowed.

[ext_80032]

It had darn well better be allowed. ;)

I have a hunch...

[2ndavemusic]

You'll be either surprised or dismayed to know that I've seen "Hunchback" only once. I really ought to watch it again. As such, I can't speak specifically about Alan's music, but I'll give him this:

Menken's a better composer than many give him credit for being, considering how often he writes for animation; he's out in full-court-dramatic-press mode here. Here's the thing: he doesn't write for animation any differently than he would for a feature film, or for Broadway. It all comes from the characters.

Diminishing not at all from Alan's achievement, Michael Starobin and Danny Troob orchestrated the score grandly and symphonically. Of course their work wouldn't mean squat without Menken's melodies and harmonies, but they're responsible for a lot of the sweep and power you hear and feel.