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Disney Princess Film Festival 2014: Pocahontas (1995)

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Review by CJ

Pocahontas

Director:
Mike Gabriel, Eric Goldberg

Starring:
Irene Bedard, Mel Gibson, David Ogden Stiers, Russell Means, Christian Bale

Other notable appearances:
Billy Connolly, Linda Hunt, Frank Welker, John Kassir

Running time:
81 minutes

Watch this if you liked:
Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Mulan

 

When the English land in the ‘new world’ they are searching for gold and glory. What Englishman John Smith doesn’t expect is that he will find love with native Pocahontas. They must overcome prejudice on both sides before their love can blossom.

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Disney Princess Film Festival 2014: Sleeping Beauty (1959)

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Review by CJ

untitled

Director:
Clyde Geronimi

Starring:
Mary Costa, Bill Shirley, Eleanor Audley, Barbara Luddy, Barbara Jo Allen, Verna Felton

Other notable appearances:
The most adorable owl in the history of Disney woodland critters

Running time:
75 minutes

Watch this if you liked:
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid

 

After years of hoping, King Stefan and Queen Leah finally have a child, Princess Aurora. However, when they present their daughter to the world they do not invite the evil fairy Maleficent and invoke her wrath. The wrath comes in the form of a curse that their baby girl will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die before the sun sets on her 16th birthday.

Good fairy Merryweather is the only fairy left who can bless the princess, but even she cannot remove the curse. Instead she changes it so that Aurora will not die, but will fall into a slumber only to be awakened by true love’s first kiss.

Merryweather and her fellow good fairies, Flora and Fauna, whisk Princess Aurora off to a cabin in the forest to raise her as a peasant in the hopes that Maleficent will never find her there. When the curse comes true, it is up to the dashing Prince Phillip to escape Maleficent’s clutches and rescue the princess for her happily ever after.

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Dear Dracula (2012)

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Review by CJ

Dear Dracula

Director:
Chad Van De Keere

Starring:
Nathan Gamble, Ray Liotta, Emilio Estevez, Ariel Winter

Other notable appearances:
Matthew Lillard, Marion Ross, Tara Strong, Yuri Lowenthal

Running time:
42 minutes

Watch this if you liked:
Hotel Transylvania, ParaNorman, Monster House, Frankenweenie

 

Sam (Gamble) is a classic horror movie aficionado who lives with his grandmother (Ross). When Sam begs for the latest Dracula action figure, his grandmother suggests that he writes to Santa and asks for the ‘doll’. However, with Halloween significantly closer than Christmas, Sam decides it would be a far better idea to write to Dracula instead. This leads to a washed-up Dracula (Liotta) deciding to pay young Sam a visit with his minion Myro (Estevez).

I watched Dear Dracula on a whim because it was free, available and looked like fun. I have never been more happy to judge a book (movie) by its cover (promotional image).

At only 42 minutes, Dear Dracula is a movie that is shorter than most television shows I watch. However, in doing so the creators have ensured it isn’t stretching for material that isn’t there. For the story that is told, the length is perfect and adding to it would only diminish the quality.

The story is endearing as Sam helps Dracula get his scare factor back and Dracula helps Sam get the girl. Dear Dracula also has some very funny moments, including Dracula explaining why vampires who sparkle are not okay.

The animation leaves a bit to be desired at times but overall the aesthetic is good, especially for an animation studio that isn’t Disney, Pixar or DreamWorks.

Overall, with its fun story, amusing characters and subtle undermining of the less than horrific horror/monster films, I would highly recommend Dear Dracula for kids both young and old.

Rating: 4/5