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MovieMeditation presents...
HIS FILM DIARY 2015
total movie count ........... current day count
212 .......................... 224
__________________________
June 13th
—— 1961 ——
One Hundred and
One Dalmatians
—— animation ——
DISNEY CLASSIC no.17
REWATCH
To be honest, I wasn’t a fan when I watched this
for the first time a few months ago...
The film felt whitewashed and spotted with problems, while being visually covered in a very rough animated style I wasn’t sure how to feel about. But with this revisit I felt like I could peel off the rough outer layer and finally notice the lovely little tale hidden underneath, which was a story so simple but full of character and familiar family entertainment. Somehow that accomplishment should be awarded with a medal, since the fundamental plot is centered around a cruel and devilish old hag who wants to kill, skin and wear little innocent puppies for the sake of her own twisted fashion statement…
If you ask me, this film is all about the atmosphere and the charm within these cute furry characters, while the rough animated style has enough character to carry both plot and pups from beginning to end. The human owners of the puppies and their parents are very likable as well, while the nanny is the perfect companion to make our heart warm enough to have it melt completely when we spot those little rascals. Disney also did a fantastic job when breathing life into each and every one of these puppies, which could easily be a problem due the fact that there are quite a few to say the least. But thankfully, they don’t form a hundred and one from the very start, so you do have some time to count, connect and recollect with all these pups before enough is enough. Our long lost puppies and their parents run into several interesting characters, who are all able to spot the paternal pain within the father and mothers eyes, coming from the eternal love for all those missing spots in their lives who are now gone.
Pongo and Perdita cannot seem to sniff their way to their lost pups, hope is nowhere to spot and their search is without luck but nevertheless heartfelt. The reason for that is because a certain someone definitely wasn’t out of luck and her hope has never been easier to spot, because this heartless woman named Cruella De Vil won’t have to knock on doors and present her finest puppy eyes anymore to have a chance of adopting these puppies – she simply knocks down doors while abducting the puppies instead. Well, actually, it is her two moronic minions who does all the dirty work for her, while De Vil knows damn well she should have done it all herself. Obviously, things don’t go as planned, when in the hands of a classic pair-up of a thick and thin imbecile in the vein of Disney tradition.
But there is also a wolf in sheep’s clothing among us, who is anything but tradition, which is of course, Cruella De Vil. What a character! This furious fur collector is so extremely intimidating, and when she tries to sound sweet she comes off as too sugary, with that oozing cigarette just adding to the bitter aftertaste of her presence. Her appearance is so perfectly designed, a woman dressed to kill in the finest of fur clothing, carrying her character on the outside, while underneath she is actually this empty soul who can break like a stick if she doesn’t wear her fake costume or drive her fancy car. When wanting to have “the cape of a superwoman”, she sets out on a mission to collect fur from little innocent puppies, but little does she know that those who are in fact suited to fit the fur like the tight glove on her skeletal hand, has the power to completely overrule her. Her black and white personality is ultimately fooled by dogs with a black and white perception, but it is just enough to cloud her judgment.
‘101 Dalmatians’ is a fun flick from Disney, which may not stand as the strongest of the bunch, but it has plenty of charm and heartwarming themes to satisfy the everyday viewer. It is nice and furry on the outside and even warmer on the inside, which may leave it without much depth, but this film doesn’t really need it nor does it aim for it. I can definitely find some flaws here and there, but I can also provide you with one hundred and two reasons to watch this film – it has one hundred and one charming Dalmatians and one hell of a crazy bitch. Enough said.
-
__________________________
HIS FILM DIARY 2015
total movie count ........... current day count
212 .......................... 224
__________________________
June 13th
—— 1961 ——
One Hundred and
One Dalmatians
—— animation ——
DISNEY CLASSIC no.17
REWATCH
To be honest, I wasn’t a fan when I watched this
for the first time a few months ago...
The film felt whitewashed and spotted with problems, while being visually covered in a very rough animated style I wasn’t sure how to feel about. But with this revisit I felt like I could peel off the rough outer layer and finally notice the lovely little tale hidden underneath, which was a story so simple but full of character and familiar family entertainment. Somehow that accomplishment should be awarded with a medal, since the fundamental plot is centered around a cruel and devilish old hag who wants to kill, skin and wear little innocent puppies for the sake of her own twisted fashion statement…
If you ask me, this film is all about the atmosphere and the charm within these cute furry characters, while the rough animated style has enough character to carry both plot and pups from beginning to end. The human owners of the puppies and their parents are very likable as well, while the nanny is the perfect companion to make our heart warm enough to have it melt completely when we spot those little rascals. Disney also did a fantastic job when breathing life into each and every one of these puppies, which could easily be a problem due the fact that there are quite a few to say the least. But thankfully, they don’t form a hundred and one from the very start, so you do have some time to count, connect and recollect with all these pups before enough is enough. Our long lost puppies and their parents run into several interesting characters, who are all able to spot the paternal pain within the father and mothers eyes, coming from the eternal love for all those missing spots in their lives who are now gone.
Pongo and Perdita cannot seem to sniff their way to their lost pups, hope is nowhere to spot and their search is without luck but nevertheless heartfelt. The reason for that is because a certain someone definitely wasn’t out of luck and her hope has never been easier to spot, because this heartless woman named Cruella De Vil won’t have to knock on doors and present her finest puppy eyes anymore to have a chance of adopting these puppies – she simply knocks down doors while abducting the puppies instead. Well, actually, it is her two moronic minions who does all the dirty work for her, while De Vil knows damn well she should have done it all herself. Obviously, things don’t go as planned, when in the hands of a classic pair-up of a thick and thin imbecile in the vein of Disney tradition.
But there is also a wolf in sheep’s clothing among us, who is anything but tradition, which is of course, Cruella De Vil. What a character! This furious fur collector is so extremely intimidating, and when she tries to sound sweet she comes off as too sugary, with that oozing cigarette just adding to the bitter aftertaste of her presence. Her appearance is so perfectly designed, a woman dressed to kill in the finest of fur clothing, carrying her character on the outside, while underneath she is actually this empty soul who can break like a stick if she doesn’t wear her fake costume or drive her fancy car. When wanting to have “the cape of a superwoman”, she sets out on a mission to collect fur from little innocent puppies, but little does she know that those who are in fact suited to fit the fur like the tight glove on her skeletal hand, has the power to completely overrule her. Her black and white personality is ultimately fooled by dogs with a black and white perception, but it is just enough to cloud her judgment.
‘101 Dalmatians’ is a fun flick from Disney, which may not stand as the strongest of the bunch, but it has plenty of charm and heartwarming themes to satisfy the everyday viewer. It is nice and furry on the outside and even warmer on the inside, which may leave it without much depth, but this film doesn’t really need it nor does it aim for it. I can definitely find some flaws here and there, but I can also provide you with one hundred and two reasons to watch this film – it has one hundred and one charming Dalmatians and one hell of a crazy bitch. Enough said.
-
__________________________