Hey there everybody,
Last week I talked about the famous family, The Duggars, with there 18 kids and counting show on TLC and this week, by request of Kayley Erlandson, I will be talking about another TLC show, Little People, Big World.
For those of you whom have never heard of this show, it is based around the lives of the Roloff family. They are a family from Helvetia, Oregon. Oh did i forget to mention that they are a family of dwarfs?! Well, technically only three out of the six members of the family have the syndrom but there story is pretty interesting.
Matt and Amy are the parents. They are both dwarfs! Matt suffers from a type of dwarfism called Diastrophic Displaysia which kept him in the hospital for much of his child hood and has kept him in crutches for almost all of his life. His wife, Amy, has a more common type of dwarfism called achondroplasia. They have four children; Zach (18), Jeremy(18), Molly(15), and Jacob(12). Zach and Jeremy are twins but you would never guess it because Jeremy 6 feet tall and Zach is 4'4". Yes, that's right Zach is the third dwarf in the household. He shares the same kind of dwarfism as his mom.
The show focuses on their daily life and difficulties of trying to be normal in a big sized world. It's an interesting show to watch because it lets you see first hand what "small people" have to deal with in this world on a daily basis that we take for granted. Even going to a grocery store can be a difficult task by just trying to get something off of a top shelf. However, the family is completely normal and loveable.
All of the kids play soccer and Amy, the mom, coaches the youngest son's, Jacob's, soccer team. They deal with all of that and they have a farm. However, this isn't just a regular farm. It's a pumpking patch and amusement center that they run through out Pumpking picking season. Through out the years they have done so much to there farm including remodeling there house and building on to the amusement center. They've also gone as far as to build a trebuchet, which is a wooden machine used to launch pumpkings.
They are on to their fourth season already and you can't help but enjoy watching them. Especially, with the boys starting to date and get there driver's licenses. Seeing them all grow up and watching the farm progress is a really interesting process and i encourage everyone to watch atleast one episode to see what it's like to live like them.
BONUS: If you've ever seen Pirate's of the Caribean you might remember a dwarf pirate that worked for Capt. Jack Sparrow. His name is Martin Klebba and he is a good friend of the family and is featured in a few episodes. :)
Well i hope atleast some of you take the time to watch an episode or have already seen it and have some opinions you'd like to share. For those of you who are afraid of midgets (yes, you can be afraid of midgets! It's an actual phobia called mycroanthrophobia) then i hope that just by reading this you've learned a little and are one step closer to over coming your fear. Keeping fighting the good fight! :)
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed!
Friday, May 8, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Hey all,
So, my last blog was about the fabulous show Jon & Kate plus 8 and this week I'd like to keep with the theme of TLC shows by moving on to another big, loveable family, The Duggars. You may have heard of them. They are the family that has eighteen children. That's right, i said EIGHTEEN!!! Can you imagine? Well anyways, you can see their show on TLC. It's called 18 and counting.
This family is not only unique because of there size but also because of how self-less they are. The parents have said numerous times that they will have as many children as God will bless them with. Some people are shocked, some even offended. Another interesting fact about the family is that all of the children's names start with a J. The kids ages range from 21-3 months.
I remember watching this show one day in the dorm and eventually having a big group sit down and watch it with me! Half of the people watching really seemed to like how wholesome and sweet the family, while the other half spent thirty minutes complaining about it afterwards.
In my opinion, I don't believe that the Duggar's have done anything wrong! However, not everyone feels that way. Some people think that the parents are ruining the children by not letting them experience the "real world".
Another controversial issue that came up was about some of the rules. A big rule they have is that you can not kiss your girlfriend or boyfriend until your wedding day. I can see where this would be a hard concept to grasp, especially now and days, but it's interesting. Another controversial thing they do is praying in public.
Praying in public used to not be that big of a deal but these days it seems as though people have lost their faith or are leaning more towards spirituality rather than God. For some people praying in public makes them feel embarrased or awkward but for the Duggar's it's just another part of there everyday lives.
So what do you think about this family? Have you ever seen the show? How do you feel about there decision to have such a big family?
To check out more about the Duggar's you can visit there home page at http://www.duggarfamily.com/index.html or you can watch there show on TLC.
I've also included a list of all of there names below since everybody is usually pretty curious about that as well.
Thanks for reading!
Jim Bob and Michelle are the parents and then (from youngest to oldest) you have Joshua (& wife Anna who are expecting a baby of there own this year), Jana & John-David (twins), Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy-Anna, Jedidiah & Jeremiah (twins), Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah, Jennifer, and Jordyn-Grace. :)
So, my last blog was about the fabulous show Jon & Kate plus 8 and this week I'd like to keep with the theme of TLC shows by moving on to another big, loveable family, The Duggars. You may have heard of them. They are the family that has eighteen children. That's right, i said EIGHTEEN!!! Can you imagine? Well anyways, you can see their show on TLC. It's called 18 and counting.
This family is not only unique because of there size but also because of how self-less they are. The parents have said numerous times that they will have as many children as God will bless them with. Some people are shocked, some even offended. Another interesting fact about the family is that all of the children's names start with a J. The kids ages range from 21-3 months.
I remember watching this show one day in the dorm and eventually having a big group sit down and watch it with me! Half of the people watching really seemed to like how wholesome and sweet the family, while the other half spent thirty minutes complaining about it afterwards.
In my opinion, I don't believe that the Duggar's have done anything wrong! However, not everyone feels that way. Some people think that the parents are ruining the children by not letting them experience the "real world".
Another controversial issue that came up was about some of the rules. A big rule they have is that you can not kiss your girlfriend or boyfriend until your wedding day. I can see where this would be a hard concept to grasp, especially now and days, but it's interesting. Another controversial thing they do is praying in public.
Praying in public used to not be that big of a deal but these days it seems as though people have lost their faith or are leaning more towards spirituality rather than God. For some people praying in public makes them feel embarrased or awkward but for the Duggar's it's just another part of there everyday lives.
So what do you think about this family? Have you ever seen the show? How do you feel about there decision to have such a big family?
To check out more about the Duggar's you can visit there home page at http://www.duggarfamily.com/index.html or you can watch there show on TLC.
I've also included a list of all of there names below since everybody is usually pretty curious about that as well.
Thanks for reading!
Jim Bob and Michelle are the parents and then (from youngest to oldest) you have Joshua (& wife Anna who are expecting a baby of there own this year), Jana & John-David (twins), Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy-Anna, Jedidiah & Jeremiah (twins), Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah, Jennifer, and Jordyn-Grace. :)
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Jon & Kate plus 8
Hey everybody,
So one of Shannon's last emails said that we didn't have to talk about the same stuff we've been talking about for the past weeks. Yay! Because personally I was getting a little bored and running out of good ideas for my "Inside Disney Movies" topic. So I've decided to switch (at least for this week) to another one of my favorite TV/movie topics: Jon & Kate plus 8!
I personally love this show! I am so addicted. I've watched almost every episode of the show and can't seem to get enough. However, not everybody shares my same feelings on this topic. Some people think the show is a little less than perfect. Maybe it's because of Kate's over bearing temper and her mood swings. Maybe it's because of one of the twin girls, Maddie, who is a never ending snot. Either way, I love the show.
In the family they have a dad named Jon, a mom named Kate, twin girls named Kara & Madelyn (Maddie for short), and the sextuplets. The sextuplets are three girls and three boys named Joel, Aiden, Colin, Hannah, Leah, and Alexis. They are the cutest kids you will ever see. As if eight kids weren't enough, they've recently added two German Shepard puppies to the household.
The show has so many viewers and for good reason too. People are curious how two people manage to raise eight kids and, for the most part, keep their sanity. The family is also good to watch because all of there personalities are so different. The parents are complete opposites along with the twins. Each one of the sextuplets has their own unique personalities and traits.
When you watch the show the first time you may be a bit over whelmed by everything that goes on in these people's lives but after a while you start to get used to their bickering and tempers and you may even find yourselves being able to predict what they are about to say.
One of my favorite things about the show is that it is completely unscripted! (And you can tell that in the first few minutes of the show) Everything is real; the screaming, the drama, the love, the playfulness. And it's all entertaining. It may be a little crazy but at the end of every episode they always manage to throw in a little slice of love. (Awww, precious)
To see why I am such a big fan of this show, you can watch it on Monday nights at 8 pm on TLC or you can log on to tlc.com and go to the Jon & Kate plus 8 link to watch webisodes. For those of you who are already seen it, why do you like or dislike the show? and Who is your favorite kid? I know it's wrong to have a favorite but admit it, we all have one!
Happy Easter everybody,
Courtney
So one of Shannon's last emails said that we didn't have to talk about the same stuff we've been talking about for the past weeks. Yay! Because personally I was getting a little bored and running out of good ideas for my "Inside Disney Movies" topic. So I've decided to switch (at least for this week) to another one of my favorite TV/movie topics: Jon & Kate plus 8!
I personally love this show! I am so addicted. I've watched almost every episode of the show and can't seem to get enough. However, not everybody shares my same feelings on this topic. Some people think the show is a little less than perfect. Maybe it's because of Kate's over bearing temper and her mood swings. Maybe it's because of one of the twin girls, Maddie, who is a never ending snot. Either way, I love the show.
In the family they have a dad named Jon, a mom named Kate, twin girls named Kara & Madelyn (Maddie for short), and the sextuplets. The sextuplets are three girls and three boys named Joel, Aiden, Colin, Hannah, Leah, and Alexis. They are the cutest kids you will ever see. As if eight kids weren't enough, they've recently added two German Shepard puppies to the household.
The show has so many viewers and for good reason too. People are curious how two people manage to raise eight kids and, for the most part, keep their sanity. The family is also good to watch because all of there personalities are so different. The parents are complete opposites along with the twins. Each one of the sextuplets has their own unique personalities and traits.
When you watch the show the first time you may be a bit over whelmed by everything that goes on in these people's lives but after a while you start to get used to their bickering and tempers and you may even find yourselves being able to predict what they are about to say.
One of my favorite things about the show is that it is completely unscripted! (And you can tell that in the first few minutes of the show) Everything is real; the screaming, the drama, the love, the playfulness. And it's all entertaining. It may be a little crazy but at the end of every episode they always manage to throw in a little slice of love. (Awww, precious)
To see why I am such a big fan of this show, you can watch it on Monday nights at 8 pm on TLC or you can log on to tlc.com and go to the Jon & Kate plus 8 link to watch webisodes. For those of you who are already seen it, why do you like or dislike the show? and Who is your favorite kid? I know it's wrong to have a favorite but admit it, we all have one!
Happy Easter everybody,
Courtney
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Disney Songs
Hey all,
So this week we're going to be talking about one of the best parts (in my opinion) in movies....the songs! As musicals such as the recent hits of High School Musical 1, 2, and 3, and Hairspray have taught us, Music can make...or break a movie. Disney has had some pretty amazing songs in the past such as the the music from Snow White and Cinderella to Toy Story 2 and Cars.
When Disney movies were first made the music used in them was more orchestrated than anything. Now and days, the music is pretty much ready to air on the radio! Think about it, the music in Sleeping Beauty was orchestrated by George Bruns and it was adapted Tchaikovsky Ballet. Now, on the other hand, one of the songs from the movie Cars (Life is a Highway by The Rascal Flatts) which quickly became a hit on the US billboard Hot 100.
There have been some great movies and even greater soundtracks. Alan Menken won 6 awards for his work on The Little Mermaid, 7 awards on The Beauty and the Beast, 4 awards for Pocahontas, and 8 awards for Aladdin. And you can't forget Elton John's amazing work on The Lion King!
Obviously Disney movies are going to keep changing with the times (High School Musical for example) but that doesn't mean that they're never going to be good, as so many people think. With that being said I would like to know what you all prefer? Do you like listening to the ever catchy "When you wish upon a star" song from Pinocchio or newer songs like that of "Life is a Highway" by the Rascal Flatts?
I personally enjoy both but prefer the older style. It not only reminds me of my childhood a little bit but that type of music tends to calm me. :)
Either way, I want to know how you feel! So what do you prefer? What is your favortie Disney song? Also, what is your favortie "older" song and your favorite "new" song?
Have a great week!
So this week we're going to be talking about one of the best parts (in my opinion) in movies....the songs! As musicals such as the recent hits of High School Musical 1, 2, and 3, and Hairspray have taught us, Music can make...or break a movie. Disney has had some pretty amazing songs in the past such as the the music from Snow White and Cinderella to Toy Story 2 and Cars.
When Disney movies were first made the music used in them was more orchestrated than anything. Now and days, the music is pretty much ready to air on the radio! Think about it, the music in Sleeping Beauty was orchestrated by George Bruns and it was adapted Tchaikovsky Ballet. Now, on the other hand, one of the songs from the movie Cars (Life is a Highway by The Rascal Flatts) which quickly became a hit on the US billboard Hot 100.
There have been some great movies and even greater soundtracks. Alan Menken won 6 awards for his work on The Little Mermaid, 7 awards on The Beauty and the Beast, 4 awards for Pocahontas, and 8 awards for Aladdin. And you can't forget Elton John's amazing work on The Lion King!
Obviously Disney movies are going to keep changing with the times (High School Musical for example) but that doesn't mean that they're never going to be good, as so many people think. With that being said I would like to know what you all prefer? Do you like listening to the ever catchy "When you wish upon a star" song from Pinocchio or newer songs like that of "Life is a Highway" by the Rascal Flatts?
I personally enjoy both but prefer the older style. It not only reminds me of my childhood a little bit but that type of music tends to calm me. :)
Either way, I want to know how you feel! So what do you prefer? What is your favortie Disney song? Also, what is your favortie "older" song and your favorite "new" song?
Have a great week!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Pixar vs. Disney
Hey Everyone,
So if you read the title of this post you obviously know that i'm about to compare Pixar to Disney. Some of you may be thinking, "Doesn't she know that Pixar is Disney?!". Well, yes I know that but look at the differences in the type of cartoons! Both types of movies are good and fun to watch but which is better?
So i'll leave this to you readers. Below are two list of movies; one that lists Disney movies and one for Pixar. Read over them and calculate which list has more movies that you like. Then tell me why you prefer them more. For the most part it's probably going to be because of the stories....but if it isn't let me know!
Disney
So if you read the title of this post you obviously know that i'm about to compare Pixar to Disney. Some of you may be thinking, "Doesn't she know that Pixar is Disney?!". Well, yes I know that but look at the differences in the type of cartoons! Both types of movies are good and fun to watch but which is better?
So i'll leave this to you readers. Below are two list of movies; one that lists Disney movies and one for Pixar. Read over them and calculate which list has more movies that you like. Then tell me why you prefer them more. For the most part it's probably going to be because of the stories....but if it isn't let me know!
Disney
- Snow White
- Bambi
- Cinderella
- Peter Pan
- Aladdin
- Pocahontas
- Hercules
- Lilo and Stitch
- Chicken Little
Pixar
- Toy Story
- A Bug's Life
- Toy Story 2
- Monsters, inc.
- Finding Nemo
- The Incredibles
- Cars
- Ratatouille
- Wall E
So what do you think? Disney or Pixar? If we're judging these movies strictly by animation alone you have to ask yourself, "Do I want these characters to look like old school cartoons or like they could be walking around in real life with me right now?" What a thought! I personaly love Disney movies because they remind me of my childhood but when asked, my roommate said, "I would rather watch a Pixar movie because they're more 3D. They look like something you could touch." Well put senorita.
Well, let me know what you think and why. Can't wait to see!
Have a great week everybody!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Disney movies...which is the best?
Throughout the past 72 years Disney has been producing films…..some great, others not so much. No matter what though, Disney has created movies that have enchanted, amused, and inspired children of all ages and generations. While I do not approve of everything Disney has ever done (obviously by my blogs) I still think they have a good heart and truly want children to enjoy and realize the magic in life.
Disney has jumped from such movies as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (their first movie) to Chicken Little (their latest film). Throughout the years they have obviously improved on their animations and graphics which is always a plus. Through the use of computers they have made the characters more visually realistic and have reduced the need for animators. The number of animators it took for Snow White to become a moving motion picture is astounding. Also, for movies made in that time period they tended to need models to pose and act out each scene of the cartoon so that the artists could replicate movements accurately. They used a young dancer by the name of Marge Belcher for Snow White and Tinker Belle was modeled after Margaret Kelly. Now and days they still use models but they tend to be used mostly for animal sketches (such as they did with the Lion King).
Below is the list of all of the 45 movies Disney has under its belt from the past 72 years.
1 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs December 20, 1937
2 Pinocchio February 1, 1940
3 Fantasia November 12, 1940
4 Dumbo October 22, 1941
5 Bambi August 12, 1942
6 Saludos Amigos February 5, 1943
7 The Three Caballeros February 2, 1945
8 Make Mine Music August 14, 1946
9 Fun and Fancy Free September 26, 1947
10 Melody Time May 26, 1948
11 Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, The October 4, 1949
12 Cinderella February 14, 1950
13 Alice in Wonderland July 27, 1951
14 Peter Pan February 4, 1953
15 Lady and the Tramp June 21, 1955
16 Sleeping Beauty January 28, 1959
17 101 Dalmatians January 24, 1961
18 The Sword in the Stone December 24, 1963
19 The Jungle Book October 17, 1967
20 Aristocats, The December 23, 1970
21 Robin Hood November 7, 1973
22 The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh March 10, 1977
23 The Rescuers June 21, 1977
24 Fox and the Hound, The July 9, 1981
25 Black Cauldron, The July 23, 1985
26 Great Mouse Detective, The July 1, 1986
27 Oliver and Company November 17, 1988
28 The Little Mermaid November 16, 1989
29 The Rescuers Down Under November 9, 1990
30 Beauty and the Beast November 14, 1991
31 Aladdin November 10, 1992
32 The Lion King June 14, 1994
33 Pocahontas June 22, 1995
34 Hunchback of Notre Dame, The July 20, 1996
35 Hercules June 26, 1997
36 Mulan June 18, 1998
37 Tarzan June 17, 1999
38 Fantasia 2000 December 30, 1999
39 Emperor's New Groove, The December 14, 2000
40 Atlantis: The Lost Empire June 14, 2001
41 Lilo and Stitch June 20, 2002
42 Treasure Planet November 16, 2002
43 Brother Bear November 7, 2003
44 Home on the Range April 2, 2004
45 Chicken Little November 4, 2005
Which one is your favorite and why?
Let me know and i hope you enjoyed :)
Disney has jumped from such movies as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (their first movie) to Chicken Little (their latest film). Throughout the years they have obviously improved on their animations and graphics which is always a plus. Through the use of computers they have made the characters more visually realistic and have reduced the need for animators. The number of animators it took for Snow White to become a moving motion picture is astounding. Also, for movies made in that time period they tended to need models to pose and act out each scene of the cartoon so that the artists could replicate movements accurately. They used a young dancer by the name of Marge Belcher for Snow White and Tinker Belle was modeled after Margaret Kelly. Now and days they still use models but they tend to be used mostly for animal sketches (such as they did with the Lion King).
Below is the list of all of the 45 movies Disney has under its belt from the past 72 years.
1 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs December 20, 1937
2 Pinocchio February 1, 1940
3 Fantasia November 12, 1940
4 Dumbo October 22, 1941
5 Bambi August 12, 1942
6 Saludos Amigos February 5, 1943
7 The Three Caballeros February 2, 1945
8 Make Mine Music August 14, 1946
9 Fun and Fancy Free September 26, 1947
10 Melody Time May 26, 1948
11 Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, The October 4, 1949
12 Cinderella February 14, 1950
13 Alice in Wonderland July 27, 1951
14 Peter Pan February 4, 1953
15 Lady and the Tramp June 21, 1955
16 Sleeping Beauty January 28, 1959
17 101 Dalmatians January 24, 1961
18 The Sword in the Stone December 24, 1963
19 The Jungle Book October 17, 1967
20 Aristocats, The December 23, 1970
21 Robin Hood November 7, 1973
22 The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh March 10, 1977
23 The Rescuers June 21, 1977
24 Fox and the Hound, The July 9, 1981
25 Black Cauldron, The July 23, 1985
26 Great Mouse Detective, The July 1, 1986
27 Oliver and Company November 17, 1988
28 The Little Mermaid November 16, 1989
29 The Rescuers Down Under November 9, 1990
30 Beauty and the Beast November 14, 1991
31 Aladdin November 10, 1992
32 The Lion King June 14, 1994
33 Pocahontas June 22, 1995
34 Hunchback of Notre Dame, The July 20, 1996
35 Hercules June 26, 1997
36 Mulan June 18, 1998
37 Tarzan June 17, 1999
38 Fantasia 2000 December 30, 1999
39 Emperor's New Groove, The December 14, 2000
40 Atlantis: The Lost Empire June 14, 2001
41 Lilo and Stitch June 20, 2002
42 Treasure Planet November 16, 2002
43 Brother Bear November 7, 2003
44 Home on the Range April 2, 2004
45 Chicken Little November 4, 2005
Which one is your favorite and why?
Let me know and i hope you enjoyed :)
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Fairy Godmother, etc.
Hey there all,
So, last week I talked to about sidekicks and this week we're going to talk about something just as important! Fairy Godmothers!!! Would Cinderella have been able to go to the ball without her's? I think not! Would Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) have stayed out of the way of the Evil Witch for so long if not for her's? No stinkin' way!
Without these fabulous helpers in their lives how would some of our greatest princesses have made it as far as they have? But just imagine, for a moment if you will, what the princesses lives would have been like if their Fairy Godmothers hadn't have been there.
Also imagine this! What if instead of them being Fairy Godmothers if they were Fairy GodFATHERS!!!
What if the princess's had Fairy Godmother's instead of the princesses?! How do you suppose the stories would change? Would the princes be more sensitive towards the princesses? Who's to say but there's something to consider.
However, not all princesses had Fairy Godmothers. Pocahontas obviously couldn't have had a Fairy Godmother so....instead she had Grandmother Willow! She helped Pocahontas out just like a Fairy Godmother would....except without using magic....and she was a tree.
Fairy Godmother's tend to come into the lives of those who really need them. She was there for those who tended to not have a "mother-figure" in their lives; such as Cinderella. If you think about it, that's all they were. Nice ladies who took care of you and helped you to have your dreams come true...just like mother's tend to do!
So the next time you see a Disney movie with a Fairy Godmother in it thank your mom and remember all of the things she's done to help you get where you are today. For those of you who connect more to your father's, think of him in the same light. Because after all that's what parents are for; to love you and support you.
Well now that I've finished my "Lifetime" moment of the day....
I hope you've enjoyed this blog and will take another look at your parents and Disney's "helpers" (aka Fairy Godmothers, etc.).
Thanks for reading!
So, last week I talked to about sidekicks and this week we're going to talk about something just as important! Fairy Godmothers!!! Would Cinderella have been able to go to the ball without her's? I think not! Would Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) have stayed out of the way of the Evil Witch for so long if not for her's? No stinkin' way!
Without these fabulous helpers in their lives how would some of our greatest princesses have made it as far as they have? But just imagine, for a moment if you will, what the princesses lives would have been like if their Fairy Godmothers hadn't have been there.
Also imagine this! What if instead of them being Fairy Godmothers if they were Fairy GodFATHERS!!!
What if the princess's had Fairy Godmother's instead of the princesses?! How do you suppose the stories would change? Would the princes be more sensitive towards the princesses? Who's to say but there's something to consider.
However, not all princesses had Fairy Godmothers. Pocahontas obviously couldn't have had a Fairy Godmother so....instead she had Grandmother Willow! She helped Pocahontas out just like a Fairy Godmother would....except without using magic....and she was a tree.
Fairy Godmother's tend to come into the lives of those who really need them. She was there for those who tended to not have a "mother-figure" in their lives; such as Cinderella. If you think about it, that's all they were. Nice ladies who took care of you and helped you to have your dreams come true...just like mother's tend to do!
So the next time you see a Disney movie with a Fairy Godmother in it thank your mom and remember all of the things she's done to help you get where you are today. For those of you who connect more to your father's, think of him in the same light. Because after all that's what parents are for; to love you and support you.
Well now that I've finished my "Lifetime" moment of the day....
I hope you've enjoyed this blog and will take another look at your parents and Disney's "helpers" (aka Fairy Godmothers, etc.).
Thanks for reading!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Sidekicks and then some.
Have you ever noticed that in every movie there has to be a 4 main characters? The lead, the villain, the damsel, and the leads best friend (also known as the sidekick). A sidekick is a part of making a good foundation for every film. They are the glue that hold the film together. They are the comedic relief when the situation gets too depressing. They are the leading characters "realization", the thing that helps them realize what the right thing to do is. They also tend to take the blame for the lead and even some abuse. Some of them also have the hard task of falling in love with the lead but never being able to pursue that love because they are too good of a friend.
People sometimes say that they like to cheer for the underdog, well I think we should all be cheering for the Sidekick. They are one of the most valueable tools used in cinema. They go back all the way to the beginning.
Some of my personal favorites when it comes to sidekicks would be the fabulous 5 from Aladdin (Iago, Abu, Genie, Rajah, and Carpet), Timon and Pumba from the Lion King, Flounder and Sebastian from The Little Mermaid, Tinkerbelle from Peter Pan, and last, but certainly not least, Lefou from Beauty and the Beast.
I never actually realized how many sidekicks the movie Aladdin had but now that I think about it it makes sense! It was a good movie so of course it had so many! Out of those five sidekicks I'd have to say that my favorite is Genie. He's one of the best examples of a sidekick that was the comedic relief but also took the abuse. He was a good genie and an even better friend.
Tinkerbelle was a rare form of sidekick. She couldn't speak and she was fiesty as hell. She was an example of a sidekick who loved her leading character. I mean she died for him! It wouldn't have worked out between them though so maybe it would've have been better for her to go find a little fairy of her own.
My favorite Sidekick is and will forever be LeFou. Most of you may not know him by his name but this little guy brought many of the laughs in the movie Beauty and the Beast. He played Gaston's little companion. He received alot of abuse and was still there to comfort Gaston in the end. Did you ever wonder if maybe there was something more to that relationship then meets the eye? If you didn't before you sure do now!
All sidekicks, whether they be a sidekick to a bad guy or not, all have good intentions. So next time you're watching a movie make sure to pay attention to the Sidekick. Afterall, the movie would be nothing without them.
People sometimes say that they like to cheer for the underdog, well I think we should all be cheering for the Sidekick. They are one of the most valueable tools used in cinema. They go back all the way to the beginning.
Some of my personal favorites when it comes to sidekicks would be the fabulous 5 from Aladdin (Iago, Abu, Genie, Rajah, and Carpet), Timon and Pumba from the Lion King, Flounder and Sebastian from The Little Mermaid, Tinkerbelle from Peter Pan, and last, but certainly not least, Lefou from Beauty and the Beast.
I never actually realized how many sidekicks the movie Aladdin had but now that I think about it it makes sense! It was a good movie so of course it had so many! Out of those five sidekicks I'd have to say that my favorite is Genie. He's one of the best examples of a sidekick that was the comedic relief but also took the abuse. He was a good genie and an even better friend.
Tinkerbelle was a rare form of sidekick. She couldn't speak and she was fiesty as hell. She was an example of a sidekick who loved her leading character. I mean she died for him! It wouldn't have worked out between them though so maybe it would've have been better for her to go find a little fairy of her own.
My favorite Sidekick is and will forever be LeFou. Most of you may not know him by his name but this little guy brought many of the laughs in the movie Beauty and the Beast. He played Gaston's little companion. He received alot of abuse and was still there to comfort Gaston in the end. Did you ever wonder if maybe there was something more to that relationship then meets the eye? If you didn't before you sure do now!
All sidekicks, whether they be a sidekick to a bad guy or not, all have good intentions. So next time you're watching a movie make sure to pay attention to the Sidekick. Afterall, the movie would be nothing without them.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Princesses
So, in the past few weeks I've talked to you viewers about bad guys and good guys. This week were going to talk about what most of the arguments between those two types of guys are usually about...the girls. Yes, that is correct. We will be talking about princesses, damsels in distress, and heroines.
My favorite out of all of the Disney princesses is without a doubt Belle from Beauty and the Beast. In my opinion, she was the most realistic. She wasn't weak and she wasn't afraid to put the Beast in his place. She knew what she wanted, which to me is a very admirable quality. At the same time she was still open to new things and ideas. She was also very bright and educated, even though it was less than popular.
One character that was referred to as a damsel in distress but showed that she was her own person was Meg from Hercules. She was one opinionated lady but she could also be sweet when she felt comfortable enough. She also had Hercules...lucky! She dealt with Hades and she looked fierce. She was quite something...even if she was a fictional cartoon character.
The best heroine I can think of, from the movies I've seen, is Mulan. She started out weak and timid but eventually became something great and powerful. She brought her family honor and got the guy! She was worried about fitting in with the guys and learning what they were trying to teach but in return she taught them so very important lessons as well. She also got some pretty great friends out of it.
Not all of the princesses are up to snuff. For example, Arial from The Little Mermaid was kind of a little snot. Think about it, she disobeyed her father constantly, ran away, talked to the evil sea witch, and ended up abandoning her family for Prince Eric who she knew for about all of three days. Maybe it's just me but that relationship and choice seems a little bit rushed.
Well, I know i'm not the only one that feels this way, so tell me who your favorite leading ladies are or about which one's really get under your skin! Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it.
My favorite out of all of the Disney princesses is without a doubt Belle from Beauty and the Beast. In my opinion, she was the most realistic. She wasn't weak and she wasn't afraid to put the Beast in his place. She knew what she wanted, which to me is a very admirable quality. At the same time she was still open to new things and ideas. She was also very bright and educated, even though it was less than popular.
One character that was referred to as a damsel in distress but showed that she was her own person was Meg from Hercules. She was one opinionated lady but she could also be sweet when she felt comfortable enough. She also had Hercules...lucky! She dealt with Hades and she looked fierce. She was quite something...even if she was a fictional cartoon character.
The best heroine I can think of, from the movies I've seen, is Mulan. She started out weak and timid but eventually became something great and powerful. She brought her family honor and got the guy! She was worried about fitting in with the guys and learning what they were trying to teach but in return she taught them so very important lessons as well. She also got some pretty great friends out of it.
Not all of the princesses are up to snuff. For example, Arial from The Little Mermaid was kind of a little snot. Think about it, she disobeyed her father constantly, ran away, talked to the evil sea witch, and ended up abandoning her family for Prince Eric who she knew for about all of three days. Maybe it's just me but that relationship and choice seems a little bit rushed.
Well, I know i'm not the only one that feels this way, so tell me who your favorite leading ladies are or about which one's really get under your skin! Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it.
Monday, February 16, 2009
The Good Guys
Hey there,
So last week we discussed a few villains of Disney and I tried to have you take a different look at them. After all, perhaps some of the villains are just misunderstood? With that thought, are "Good Guys" really as good as they seem?
To me they're as good as they seem, I just wanted to put that thought in your head. In this blog I'm going to be talking about some of my favorite heroes; Hercules, John Smith, and Tarzan.
All of the heroes and good guys have wonderful qualities but my favorite is Hercules. The best part about him is that he's so innocent. He doesn't understand that people aren't alwasy honest and good. However, this is probably his downfall as well! He's also forever faithful to Meg. I mean, he gave up Mount Olympus for her! He was strong and brave without being boastful and he was quite modest. All-in-all, he was a pretty great guy.
Next on my list of awesomeness is Tarzan. Tarzan may have been very naive but he had such a good heart, no matter what. He loved Jane and his friends...even his "step-father" although he didn't like him much. I can't think of one bad thing Tarzan has ever done. Although he's not the ideal type of hero, he turns out to be one of the best. He's there for his family, for Jane, for his friends, and he still makes time to fly around the jungle.
Last but not least, I will be talking about John Smith from the movie Pocahontas. When thinking of heroes one doesn't always think about John Smith but in fact he was quite a good guy. He wasn't open-minded at first but the more he hung out with Pocahontas the more open he became. He fought for the Native Americans and for their land. Through his experiences he became a better person than he was before, which seems to be the way it goes with...everybody!
Well, hopefully this blog brought you back to your childhood a little bit and helped you remember what good guys are all about. So, til next time, have a great week!
Courtney
So last week we discussed a few villains of Disney and I tried to have you take a different look at them. After all, perhaps some of the villains are just misunderstood? With that thought, are "Good Guys" really as good as they seem?
To me they're as good as they seem, I just wanted to put that thought in your head. In this blog I'm going to be talking about some of my favorite heroes; Hercules, John Smith, and Tarzan.
All of the heroes and good guys have wonderful qualities but my favorite is Hercules. The best part about him is that he's so innocent. He doesn't understand that people aren't alwasy honest and good. However, this is probably his downfall as well! He's also forever faithful to Meg. I mean, he gave up Mount Olympus for her! He was strong and brave without being boastful and he was quite modest. All-in-all, he was a pretty great guy.
Next on my list of awesomeness is Tarzan. Tarzan may have been very naive but he had such a good heart, no matter what. He loved Jane and his friends...even his "step-father" although he didn't like him much. I can't think of one bad thing Tarzan has ever done. Although he's not the ideal type of hero, he turns out to be one of the best. He's there for his family, for Jane, for his friends, and he still makes time to fly around the jungle.
Last but not least, I will be talking about John Smith from the movie Pocahontas. When thinking of heroes one doesn't always think about John Smith but in fact he was quite a good guy. He wasn't open-minded at first but the more he hung out with Pocahontas the more open he became. He fought for the Native Americans and for their land. Through his experiences he became a better person than he was before, which seems to be the way it goes with...everybody!
Well, hopefully this blog brought you back to your childhood a little bit and helped you remember what good guys are all about. So, til next time, have a great week!
Courtney
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Disney Villains
Hey there ya'll,
This week were are going to get to know a some of the best Disney villains. Some of the best are Malifecent (Sleeping Beauty), Cruella DeVille (101 Dalmations), Jafar (Aladdin), and Ursella (Little Mermaid).
We only see these people as being bad. We never think about why they act and react the way they do. Maybe they had sad childhoods or were abused! Disney is the first time we experience in our lives that it's okay to not get both sides of a story and to judge without guilt.
We don't know why Cruella DeVille despised animals so much...or that she despised them at all! Maybe, just maybe, she had such a strong affection for them that she wanted them around her all the time which is why she wears fur all of the time. If she did despise animals, maybe it was for a just reason! Perhaps she was attacked by an animal as a child which caused her to have a fear of alive animals!
Malifecent is a villain who never gets much street cred. She had a good plan that was very well thought out. However, she did make a bad choice when she decided that Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) should die. This may be way out there but maybe Malifecent and Aurora's dad had a little something something going on! If you really think about it, and I mean think about it hard, Malifecent kind of helped Aurora out. If she hadn't have put that spell on her then the fairy godmothers wouldn't have had to hide her in the forest and the Prince would have never found her! Also, he had to kiss her to break the spell which helped her know that he was her soul mate!
Last but not least, I'd like to draw your attention to Hades from Hercules. If you were in his shoes i think you'd be a little cranky too! If you had to deal with dead people and the after life and chill in a super hot place every day for your entire life I bet you wouldn't be chipper.
I'm not justifying the villains actions here, i'm just asking you guys to take a different approach to looking at them. Just because they're different and maybe a little scary doesn't mean that they're all bad. Sometimes in life all you need is a friend. :)
Well, for now, Goodbye and have a great week,
Courtney
This week were are going to get to know a some of the best Disney villains. Some of the best are Malifecent (Sleeping Beauty), Cruella DeVille (101 Dalmations), Jafar (Aladdin), and Ursella (Little Mermaid).
We only see these people as being bad. We never think about why they act and react the way they do. Maybe they had sad childhoods or were abused! Disney is the first time we experience in our lives that it's okay to not get both sides of a story and to judge without guilt.
We don't know why Cruella DeVille despised animals so much...or that she despised them at all! Maybe, just maybe, she had such a strong affection for them that she wanted them around her all the time which is why she wears fur all of the time. If she did despise animals, maybe it was for a just reason! Perhaps she was attacked by an animal as a child which caused her to have a fear of alive animals!
Malifecent is a villain who never gets much street cred. She had a good plan that was very well thought out. However, she did make a bad choice when she decided that Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) should die. This may be way out there but maybe Malifecent and Aurora's dad had a little something something going on! If you really think about it, and I mean think about it hard, Malifecent kind of helped Aurora out. If she hadn't have put that spell on her then the fairy godmothers wouldn't have had to hide her in the forest and the Prince would have never found her! Also, he had to kiss her to break the spell which helped her know that he was her soul mate!
Last but not least, I'd like to draw your attention to Hades from Hercules. If you were in his shoes i think you'd be a little cranky too! If you had to deal with dead people and the after life and chill in a super hot place every day for your entire life I bet you wouldn't be chipper.
I'm not justifying the villains actions here, i'm just asking you guys to take a different approach to looking at them. Just because they're different and maybe a little scary doesn't mean that they're all bad. Sometimes in life all you need is a friend. :)
Well, for now, Goodbye and have a great week,
Courtney
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Disney and low self-esteem
Hey, hey, hey,
So this week i'm going to tell you all about how Disney plays a part in our self-esteem.
As children we admire the princesses and other heroine figures we see in the Disney movies...but why? What about them draws us in? Is it their beauty, their clothes, fancy life styles? Maybe it's all of the above? What children don't understand, though, is that their minds are being programed to be set for high exceptions.
Most children, along with me, when they first saw Pocahontas thought, "Wow! She's really pretty and thin and her and John Smith really love eachother." However, in real life Pocahontas was not thin, not too clean, and she never ended up with John Smith. Nobody ever told us that though!
You have to wonder, "Why didn't Disney portray Pocahontas they way she really was?". Why is that? Is it because "thin is in"? Is it because if Pocahontas was thin she would have more sex appeal, and let's face it, sex sells!
We don't know for sure but we can guess. If Pocahontas would have been a "full-figured" girl in the movie would the movie have had such success? In many movies in order for their to be bigger people in them those people have to be the humorous side-kick.
In this day-and-age things are constantly changing, do you think we could have a romantic, full-figured, female lead in a movie? Probably not yet...but i'm keeping up hope. After all, many thought we would never have an African-American president.
Well, hopefully this didn't leave you all to depressed or angry. I was just trying to shine some light on this topic.
So until next time, have a great week!
Courtney
So this week i'm going to tell you all about how Disney plays a part in our self-esteem.
As children we admire the princesses and other heroine figures we see in the Disney movies...but why? What about them draws us in? Is it their beauty, their clothes, fancy life styles? Maybe it's all of the above? What children don't understand, though, is that their minds are being programed to be set for high exceptions.
Most children, along with me, when they first saw Pocahontas thought, "Wow! She's really pretty and thin and her and John Smith really love eachother." However, in real life Pocahontas was not thin, not too clean, and she never ended up with John Smith. Nobody ever told us that though!
You have to wonder, "Why didn't Disney portray Pocahontas they way she really was?". Why is that? Is it because "thin is in"? Is it because if Pocahontas was thin she would have more sex appeal, and let's face it, sex sells!
We don't know for sure but we can guess. If Pocahontas would have been a "full-figured" girl in the movie would the movie have had such success? In many movies in order for their to be bigger people in them those people have to be the humorous side-kick.
In this day-and-age things are constantly changing, do you think we could have a romantic, full-figured, female lead in a movie? Probably not yet...but i'm keeping up hope. After all, many thought we would never have an African-American president.
Well, hopefully this didn't leave you all to depressed or angry. I was just trying to shine some light on this topic.
So until next time, have a great week!
Courtney
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Dirty Disney
Heidi ho everybody,
So, last week I talked about one of the positive things I have learned about Disney movies (that Tinkerbelle was modeled after an actress). However, this week I would like to inform you about the dirtiness that is Disney! So if you have innocent ears, take caution.
The first movie I would like to draw to your attention is The Little Mermaid. If you look on the front of the movie case very closely you will see that one of the pillars of the church is in the shape of a penis! Not very appropriated Disney! But there's more. In the scene when Eric is about to marry Ursela on the boat it goes to a side view of the priest. If you look closely you will see that the priest has a boner. Tsk, Tsk Disney.
The second movie to draw to your attention is The Lion King. In the scene where Timone, Pumba, and Simba are looking up at the stars and Simba tells the story that his father shared with him about what the stars are they go to a shot of the sky. Written in the stars is the word sex! Not to tactful Disney!
The third and final movie I wish to bring to your attention is Aladdin. In Aladdin's "balcony scene" Aladdin is trying to prove that his feelings for Jasmine are real and that he likes her for being herself and not for being a princess. Well, it appears he doesn't really like her for either of those reasons. After rajaa comes out and growls at him, turn your TV up and you will here Aladdin say, "Take your clothes off". It appears that the feelings he is trying to express to Jasmine are what health teachers like to call "hormonal feelings".
Some of you may have already heard about these "Slip-ups". For those of you who have I would like to hear your thoughts on this issue. Do you think it's funny, sad, interesting, intriguing, or all of the above? If you've heard of any other movies with mishaps such as these let me know! I'd love to see things that we tend to miss seeing in movies.
Thanks for reading,
Hope you enjoyed!
So, last week I talked about one of the positive things I have learned about Disney movies (that Tinkerbelle was modeled after an actress). However, this week I would like to inform you about the dirtiness that is Disney! So if you have innocent ears, take caution.
The first movie I would like to draw to your attention is The Little Mermaid. If you look on the front of the movie case very closely you will see that one of the pillars of the church is in the shape of a penis! Not very appropriated Disney! But there's more. In the scene when Eric is about to marry Ursela on the boat it goes to a side view of the priest. If you look closely you will see that the priest has a boner. Tsk, Tsk Disney.
The second movie to draw to your attention is The Lion King. In the scene where Timone, Pumba, and Simba are looking up at the stars and Simba tells the story that his father shared with him about what the stars are they go to a shot of the sky. Written in the stars is the word sex! Not to tactful Disney!
The third and final movie I wish to bring to your attention is Aladdin. In Aladdin's "balcony scene" Aladdin is trying to prove that his feelings for Jasmine are real and that he likes her for being herself and not for being a princess. Well, it appears he doesn't really like her for either of those reasons. After rajaa comes out and growls at him, turn your TV up and you will here Aladdin say, "Take your clothes off". It appears that the feelings he is trying to express to Jasmine are what health teachers like to call "hormonal feelings".
Some of you may have already heard about these "Slip-ups". For those of you who have I would like to hear your thoughts on this issue. Do you think it's funny, sad, interesting, intriguing, or all of the above? If you've heard of any other movies with mishaps such as these let me know! I'd love to see things that we tend to miss seeing in movies.
Thanks for reading,
Hope you enjoyed!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Hey all,
For my first post I wanted to write about something that i'm sure not alot of you have heard about. I'm talking about Tinkerbell. That's right, I mean Tinkerbell, the little fairy from Peter Pan.
What you may not know about her is that she was not just a figment of someone's imagination but that her likeness was created from an actress by the name of Margaret Kelly. You can google her and it will bring up pictures of her pantomiming with props for the movie Peter Pan. You can see her peeking through a keyhole, dancing on mirror, and trying to open "the drawer" with a big scissors.
As Margaret Kelly pantomimed pictures were taken and drawers were brought in to study the way she moved and reacted. They paid attention to her facial expressions, especially, because facial expressions are one of Tinkerbelle's main source of communication.
There is a rumor, to this day, that says that Tinkerbelle was modeled after Marilyn Monroe. That rumor is false. People assumed that because Marilyn Monroe was an up-and-coming actesss with a growing movie career. However, Monroe was not popular until late 1953 and Peter Pan came out in early 1953 and had been in the process of production and creation since 1949.
Well, I hope you were able to learn something new from this. If not....why did you read this! Just kidding. I hope you enjoyed it and keep your eyes peeled for my next blog. The next one won't be about something as sweet as Tinkerbelle. I will be getting into the ugly side of Disney.
Talk to you soon,
Courtney
For my first post I wanted to write about something that i'm sure not alot of you have heard about. I'm talking about Tinkerbell. That's right, I mean Tinkerbell, the little fairy from Peter Pan.
What you may not know about her is that she was not just a figment of someone's imagination but that her likeness was created from an actress by the name of Margaret Kelly. You can google her and it will bring up pictures of her pantomiming with props for the movie Peter Pan. You can see her peeking through a keyhole, dancing on mirror, and trying to open "the drawer" with a big scissors.
As Margaret Kelly pantomimed pictures were taken and drawers were brought in to study the way she moved and reacted. They paid attention to her facial expressions, especially, because facial expressions are one of Tinkerbelle's main source of communication.
There is a rumor, to this day, that says that Tinkerbelle was modeled after Marilyn Monroe. That rumor is false. People assumed that because Marilyn Monroe was an up-and-coming actesss with a growing movie career. However, Monroe was not popular until late 1953 and Peter Pan came out in early 1953 and had been in the process of production and creation since 1949.
Well, I hope you were able to learn something new from this. If not....why did you read this! Just kidding. I hope you enjoyed it and keep your eyes peeled for my next blog. The next one won't be about something as sweet as Tinkerbelle. I will be getting into the ugly side of Disney.
Talk to you soon,
Courtney
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