But there is more to consider than money. These originals had Rotten Tomatoes ratings in the high 90s while the remakes were in the 50s, showing the more positive response to the originals than to the remakes. Sophia Cummings, a Paly sophomore, points out that the magic of Disney comes from innovation and, in a remake, this essential aspect is lost. “It is disappointing because growing up, every movie I would see would be this new, creative story,” Cummings said. “I feel like Disney is getting kind of cheap by just remaking their old ideas.” Righting past wrongs However, what some see as a crutch, others view as an opportunity for growth and reconciliation. Paly junior Andy Wang believes that there are benefits to remaking movies decades later, when initial audiences have grown and cultural settings have shifted. “The remakes bring back nostalgic feelings of when we watched them when we were young,” Wang said. “And at the same time, they provide viewers with a more modern interpretation.” Remakes give Disney the opportunity to right past wrongs with plot modifications that cut out the cultural insensitivity and sexism that is evident in some of the company’s original films. Examples include the description of the Middle East as “barbaric” in the original “Aladdin,” and Disney princesses being portrayed as little more than pretty faces awaiting a princely rescue. Disney is also able to increase the diversity of characters within the new films. For example, Halle Bailey, an African-American singer and actress, has been cast as Ariel in the upcoming live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid,” and in the remake of “Beauty and the Beast,” Disney introduced Lefou, Gaston’s sidekick, as the first openly gay Disney character. “I think remakes can be an awesome way to retell stories in a way that includes marginalized voices that may have been
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intentionally or accidentally left out of the original narratives,” Williamson said. Technological talent In addition to incorporating underrepresented perspectives and careful editing of original plots to make them more culturally sensitive, the remakes show off the amazing technology Disney has developed in the years since its original classics. “We now have the capabilities to make previously only imagined situations possible with real actors, so things don’t have to be animated to be fantastical,” Williamson said. “The Lion King” remake shocked many with its lifelike animation. Some like Williamson believe that this realism helps bridge the gap between remakes and the movies on the screen, helping to invite that magic into our own world. The happiest place on Earth While there was debate over the remakes, the Disney dilemma extends beyond this single issue. In his creation of Disneyland, Walt Disney hoped to create a magical place for people of all ages to experience his stories brought into our world. Today, however, that experience comes at a steep price. The cost of admission rose in early 2019, with the price of a one-day adult peak ticket rising from $135 to $149 and with the annual pass, granting access to both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, increasing from $1,579 to $1,949. Prices were raised across the board, illustrating the trend of Disney increasing money making efforts. New frontiers Disney will also be opening up yet another source of revenue through a new streaming service, Disney Plus, which will become available in November. The platform will provide access to much of Dis-
ney’s domain, including Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars movies, as well as the animated classics. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as the service will come at a relatively cheap price of $6.99 a month. However, it means that access to the companies’ products will be restricted since they will be pulled off of other streaming platforms. The Disney of our parents’ generation is certainly different from the Disney of today, which calls into question what lies in its future. Perhaps the classics will be all but forgotten, overshadowed by hyper-realistic remakes. Perhaps Disney will take on even more industries, expanding beyond film, beyond amusement parks, beyond streaming, into whatever domain it wishes to conquer. Or perhaps Disney will return to its roots of whimsical storytelling. Purpose and power It is up for debate whether Disney’s new direction is for the better or worse. However, the power of film is undeniable. In the right hands, movies can be hugely beneficial for those who watch them — and Disney, with an exceptionally impressionable youth audience — is no exception. “I think one of the main goals of filmmaking is to help people feel less alone,” Williamson said. “Narrative, characters, diegetic worlds, all of these look for ways to help the audience either relate to their own personal experiences or experience something they’ve always wanted to, beyond their everyday lives.” v