Nostalgia, comfort, delight—these words may come to mind when a Disney princess movie is mentioned. With the live action recreations of these classics, fanatics are gifted the thrill of experiencing these feelings all over again; however, these adaptations have not received the feedback that Disney might have anticipated.
The remakes of the original movies have the tendency to be hit-or-miss, ultimately depending on the individualization of the movie. In an attempt to appease modern audiences, Disney producers have taken the liberty of updating elements of the characters and plot. While some viewers appreciate this effort, others prefer an unaltered storyline.
Junior Skylar Conner-Bennet of Ocean Township shared that her favorite adaptations were those that closest resemble the classics she watched in adolescence.
“I loved the new Little Mermaid and Cinderella,” Conner-Bennet said. “I like when the plot stays the same.”
“The Little Mermaid” (2023) live action adaptation was released on May 26 of this year with Black actress Halle Bailey cast as Ariel. Disney surprised audiences with this non-traditional casting in an effort to incorporate and encourage inclusivity. The film has grossed over $568 million and was the number one movie in the box office during its debut week. Along with its financial success, it was well-received by viewers, who are pleased with the choices producers made regarding the film.
Junior Sol Zavala of Wall Township commented that there is a happy medium when dealing with these movies.
“I like seeing modern spins on things as a new life is breathed into the story,” Zavala said. “However,the storyline shouldn’t be altered so drastically that the film is unrecognizable or the overall message is defeated.”
However, this is the issue that audiences are having with the recently announced live action “Snow White” (2024), where Snow White will be played by Latina actress Rachel Zegler. Recent interviews have shown Zegler revealing plot alterations and criticizing the original film. Since the release of these comments, there has been backlash regarding Disney’s decisions on the movie.
The loss of original components tends to correlate with the loss of childhood sentiment, which is one of the largest selling points of the remakes. Junior Bailey McBride of Matawan declared that she’d rather the creation of entirely new films instead of modified originals.
“I think changing old stories is limiting the Disney franchise and creating unnecessary controversy,” McBride said. “They could be channeling their energy into new projects altogether.”
