BY: Sarah A. Oxales (a classmate of mine in Pisay)
Sometimes, Disney irritates me with how gets its stories all wrong. It messes up so many of the good parts in a classic story.
I noticed it a couple of days ago, as we were watching The King and I. The movie’s last scene was of Anna and the king having a giddy ballroom dance in a gazebo. In the movie, Tuptin has a happily-ever-after life with a prince. But, as most of you probably know, The king dies in the end in the original story, and so do Tuptim and her lover.
Have you ever heard of Disney’s Hercules? Remember his uber-dramaic ending, where Hera’s all sweet with Zeus? It’s not real. Hera hates Zeus. She has a long history of plotting to get rid of him. Why? It’s because Zeus is a flirt. He has so many illegitimate children; the gods who are not his children are the minority. As for the main character, Hercules kills Megara later on. That’s the original story.
And Mulan? She was punished with death for her deed. The little mermaid killed herself.
Now, do you see what happens? They sugar coat every story so that it’s ‘child friendly’. They mean well, I’m sure and I remember (and admit to) singing and dancing to a couple of those songs when myself when I was little.
“…No chance, no way, I won’t say it, no no…”
Haha…. until now.
Why don’t they show the cold hard truth to the kids? Is it because they don’t want them to end up as pessimistic drones? They’re too late and it seems almost a shame that some children still acquire (seem to want to acquire) a world-weary point of view, despite their best efforts. (and, hello, kettle? This is Sarah, the pot, calling. I just want you to know, you’re black )
Sometimes, when you see your little brother or sister or cousin or niece or just some kid you don’t really know, laugh and sing and say the occasional “I wanna be a knight/princess!” line, don’t you feel more than just a little bit jealous?
Their lives seem so simple (thanks to Disney), with the harsh reality of life hidden from them.
Admit it, everyone wants a Disney life. Even a small shred of you wants a life where all the bad parts seem to disappear. Disney does life a favor; it makes the worst seem better
And if that seems foggy to you, think of it like this. If you were Meg, from Hercules, wouldn’t you rather have a boyfriend who’d pick you over being a god, rather than one that kills you, right after getting you out of that last horrible relationship? Of course you would.
Sometimes, I admire Disney as well. They make lies seem so much better than the truth.
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I wish people weren’t so pessimistic….
Epicurealis 