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Post by Butterscotch on Oct 5, 2007 8:18:44 GMT -5
There are way too many cases where somene feels like somebody else stole their idea and made millions with it, so they want a piece of the action. Seeing that Tezuka's family isn't suing leads me to believe that they either think any similarities are pure coincidence, or they're okay with it because there may be some people who will now watch The White Lion who may otherwise never even heard of it. Either way, I don't think the Tezuka family is overly concerned about any possible swiping of ideas on Disney's part. Their work stands for itself on it's own merits. I have to agree there. I mean, look at how many people claim that JK Rowling has stolen ideas from people. People have even accused her of ripping off stuff that was published after the first Harry Potter books. o.o Sometimes, people just have really similar ideas. It has been known to happen. The downside is that people often don't want to believe that.
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Post by Briar Rose's Dark Knight on Oct 5, 2007 23:43:26 GMT -5
I was thinking about all the accusations that have come out against Rowling. It gets ridiculous. I think sometimes people are jealous because Rowling hit the jackpot first(and probably wrote a better story), or they don't want to accept that some stories contain basic human themes that touch people's lives.
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Post by Silver on Oct 6, 2007 12:07:14 GMT -5
Despite the negativity brought towards this film, a few things will remain or have remained the same. It is the most successful 2-D animated ever made. It is among only three animated films to win the Golden Globe for Best Comedy/Musical. (Along with Beauty and the Beast and Toy Story 2) It was the third film to have a Platinum Special Edition release. Many critics still rank it as a "Landmark Entertainment Event"! And audiences around the world still consider it one of the most beloved animated films of all-time. Also as Briar Rose's Prince mentioned, people of all ages continue to cry, laugh, and sing along with the film. Make of it what you will as far as controversy goes, The Lion King still holds it's place as a Disney Masterpiece!
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Post by Briar Rose's Dark Knight on Oct 7, 2007 1:04:00 GMT -5
I believe that this controversy was stirred up by a small group of fans who are really into a style of animation that most people would not consider mainstream(this in no way is a criticism of fans of said style of animation or even of said style of animation). It's just that elements of this sound like people trying to bring publicity to something they love and think others should see. When a film like TLK, which has lions as main characters and similar themes, comes along, they see an opportunity to try and bring their beloved film into the spotlight. All they really did was circulate a petition and demand that Disney give a certain film credit.
Noticably absent from this is any commentary from the family of Tezuka. Given the financial success of TLK, you would think that Tezuka's family would want(and be entitled to) a share of the profits. Instead, they have not brought a lawsuit, nor apparently said anything in public about the issue. From this, I believe that Tezuaka's family likely believes any similarities to be coincidental, and not subtle dishonesty on Disney's part.
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Post by Silver on Oct 8, 2007 13:09:53 GMT -5
Well I'm glad that Tezuka's family has been so classy about it. Or maybe they don't want to be apart of this stir which in some ways may have gotten out of hand. Either way TLK is still strong as an animated classic, and like Briar Rose's Prince said. Maybe Kimba has recieved more attention. (I'd like to watch it myself some time)
But away from this controversey note, I loved so this film as a whole! I've stated how much I adore the story and characters. But I haven't yet spoken about the animation. I may not be an artist but this piece was "Spectacular". The very first sequence sent chills up my spine! The imagery combined with the first number was geinus. (At least I think so) It captured the essance of the film within the first 5 minutes. And gave the audience an even bigger reason to be excited in what was yet to come. Throughout the film I felt I really was apart of a safari ride. I could feel the passion and joy the filmmakers had when studying the landscape and animals within it. They wasted no time but truly focasing on the heart of the savannah. My favorite shots in the film are the first time we see Pride Rock, when the rain comes pouring over the Pridelands and seeing the jungle after Simba decides to live with Timon and Pumbaa.
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Post by Briar Rose's Dark Knight on Oct 9, 2007 1:06:10 GMT -5
The opening scene of TLK is one of the most breathtaking sequences ever seen in animation. From that sequence, you know you're in for something special. When you look at the Disney classics, they all have some sort of scene early on in the film that lets you know what you're in store for. It indicates that what you're about to see is nothing like anything you've ever seen before in an animated film.
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Post by Silver on Oct 9, 2007 19:08:07 GMT -5
I agree that in each Disney classic, at least one scene is remembered fondly. But TLK is especially noted for it's opening! In many other Disney films it's the romantic sequences that create the highlight. Such as Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Aladdin and Sleeping Beauty. The Lion King was complemented for it's ability at creating a scene that stood as a milestone at first impression.
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Post by Briar Rose's Dark Knight on Oct 11, 2007 1:12:36 GMT -5
I acutally think that Beauty and the Beast's opening shot after the prologue was remarkable too, but it got lost in the shuffle since we already knew the story. What helped TLK's stand out was the fact that we didn't know what was coming. As with many Disney classics, TLK instantly transported the audience to the locale of the story wth the opening shot. I think because it was Africa made it really stand out.
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Post by Silver on Oct 15, 2007 23:22:31 GMT -5
I agree that Beauty and the Beast has incredible animation. To be honest, that film has my favorite animation. (I'm not saying the best, just my fav) But of course my favorite film follows in a close second. And I think a special ingrediant may have offered a tasty treat. "The Music"! Hans Zimmer created a score that was breathtaking and magical! I feel the emotion of a scene was driven by the score itself. The African Chorus didn't have to speak English nor did the instruments have to be mainstream. All the audience had to do was feel it. From what I've heard Lebo M (The Musical Director) and Hans Zimmer have not dissapointed. They certainly didn't with me.
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Post by Briar Rose's Dark Knight on Oct 16, 2007 0:12:38 GMT -5
TLK's score is very thematic. While it has been adapted into a musical, the music itself is very conducive to film. I think that's part of why it resonates so strongly with people. Many people mistakenly assume that Disney films are for children because they're animated. Like many of Disney's classics, TLK contains elements that children enjoy, but have stories that are much more grown up. The score for TLK does a great job of that. It helps the film to feel more like a live action movie than an animated film. Not all great animated films need/must feel like live action, but when you can make an audience care about your animated characters,(audiences were in tears during Snow White) you've tapped into something powerful.
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Post by joplin4 on Oct 18, 2007 22:22:41 GMT -5
I agree. I was very upset when Mufasa was killed. I got chills when I saw the opening scene. The film is so emotional in part due to the score.
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Post by SpellWovenNight on Oct 21, 2007 15:59:20 GMT -5
I love the Lion King and its amoung my top favorite Disney films but I liked reading the controversity of The Lion King and the White Lion. I'm not saying I believe Disney ripped the idea off, I don't believe that at all. Lots of movies are very simliar. Disney movies here aren't all that loved from the teenager's point of view, but the one film they remember is The Lion King, well that and Aladdin, but The Lion King is everyone's favorite. I think that has always bugged me a bit. I like now hearing with this one is so well liked because no one really ever answers. I do think this film is very important, it holds a lot of stunning scenes, like the opening. I didn't know Hans Zimmer wrote the score, that's so cool! I love him, although I've gotten used to see him with Jerry Bruckheimier.
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Post by Silver on Oct 23, 2007 1:08:45 GMT -5
I love the Lion King and its amoung my top favorite Disney films but I liked reading the controversity of The Lion King and the White Lion. I'm not saying I believe Disney ripped the idea off, I don't believe that at all. Lots of movies are very simliar. Disney movies here aren't all that loved from the teenager's point of view, but the one film they remember is The Lion King, well that and Aladdin, but The Lion King is everyone's favorite. I think that has always bugged me a bit. I like now hearing with this one is so well liked because no one really ever answers. I do think this film is very important, it holds a lot of stunning scenes, like the opening. I didn't know Hans Zimmer wrote the score, that's so cool! I love him, although I've gotten used to see him with Jerry Bruckheimier. I understand what you mean by teenagers not taking as much of a liking to Disney. But then again I think there are more out there who highly enjoy at least a couple family-films. Maybe they're just embarrassed to say it. I admit I was for awhile but now I'm not scared at all to say The Lion King is my favorite film! But I do find it funny that you say The Lion King is everybody's favorite. From what I've seen, the film has decreased quite a bit on the favorite scale on several Disney sites. On the last forum I was on, barely anybody enjoyed it. I always thought (at least from what I've seen) Beauty and the Beast was almost everyone's favorite. I can also understand where you're coming from when you say it seems something is so popular but your opinion differs. It makes you feel a tad awkword (I'll also admit that's how I feel when it comes to Beauty and the Beast) I still enjoy the film but it hasn't become an all-time favorite like it has with so many other people. So I understand when people say they're not as fond of some sucessful and beloved films such as The Lion King. Opinons will always vary.
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Post by Briar Rose's Dark Knight on Oct 23, 2007 21:04:20 GMT -5
The interesting thing about TLK is that it is a more "mature" film if you will. The themes are very grown up and it's a coming of age story. The score is more like something you would see in a film as opposed to the more stage musical feel of TLM, BatB, and Aladdin.
Perhaps the apparent decline in popularity of this film has more to do with the recent DVD releases of the Walt Disney era classics. It's not so much that people like TLK less, but more that they're connecting with films they haven't seen in years, if ever. I'm that way with Sleeping Beauty. I've always loved the film, but it wasn't until the DVD release that I "fell in love all over again" with the movie.
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Post by Silver on Oct 24, 2007 23:33:25 GMT -5
That's a great point! ^^ Many of the successful contemporary films did tend to overshadow some of the classics for some time. (And I'm glad people are starting to show more appriciation for them) For me, it doesn't matter when a film was released. It's about me having a conection with the story and characters. But as SpellWovenKnightess said: Many people can relate more closely with a film they might have grown up with. But I have noticed many reviewers (on other sites) say that because TLK didn't follow the same tradition as it's recent predessors, therefore it had less appeal. Many have said there wasn't enough romance, it was too dark, and it didn't do justice to what Walt Disney stood for. (I disagree) But many also claim this was actually the beginning of the decline in the Golden Era. (Another Disagreement) I think TLK is mixed as far as reviews go. To each his own though. But that's as it should be.
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