Disney - Dross?

[Tony Walker]

I know this will sound like treason, but I hate Walt Disney and all his works!

To me, it seems as if anything touched by Disney's dead hand turns to dross. Peter Pan - a British book and play, miraculously transformed into saccharine garbage. Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Books - brilliant stories, but after Disneyfication - crap! A childhood favorite of mine was A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh stories, but once again, Disney transformed the bear into a cuddly, American curmudgeon.

Am I alone in detesting Disney?

[James Waters AKA. NineSpeed]

While I do agree to a point with you especially with some of the more modern offerings, most of us in America only know the versions of these stories presented to us. We do not have the privilege of having seen these stories in their original format. The wind in the willows ... By Kenneth Grahame, comes to mind. A beautiful story, Bastardized as you would put it by Americanization.

One Disney movie that comes to mind is "The Song Of The South" band by the ACLU, Never to be show in the US. again, in the 60's for being racist. Imagine that. I think it all boils down to what you are exposed to as a child. And of course Personal interpretation.

[Mishka]

One would hope that these dummy-downed versions would inspire children, when they've grown, to explore the source and discover the true magic underlying--unfortunately, I doubt that's often the case... most would probably be disappointed that it wasn't true to the nostalgia of their memories. I wouldn't confine it to just Disney, either, though I think (for the most part?) movies are getting better at catching the essence of the books they come from... but Disney doesn't really try for the essence of something--they turn it into a musical faerie tale (i.e. Americanized, watered-down faerie tale) with their same-old, same-old regurgitated formula... but other than that--yeah, yeah, no, I like 'em just fine.....

[James Waters AKA. NineSpeed]

I agree Mishka, it does go beyond Disney. Look at what they call cartoons these days. They promote promiscuity, homosexuality, violence, and a host of other socially unacceptable behavior. I'll take a nostalgic musical over that crap any day. Chock one up to the new Europeanized America. Thanks but no thanks. Is Americas quest to become more like Europe worth the cost to family values? I for one say no.

[Cary]

I sort of agree. But like James said, this is what we grew up with and know. However -- I do agree moreso now that Disney has acquired the rights to Marvel Comics than I used to.