Notre Dame

Cash Grab?

4/10/2019

Over the past 95 years, Disney has been a truly inspiring part of everyone’s childhood. Their success has grabbed the attention of millions of viewers around the world, leaving them with a sense of awe and wonder. Recently, Disney has set much of their time turning all their classics into live-action remakes. Past movie remake success in the box office has led to Disney’s realization of one prominent thing that all their fans desire more than anything: nostalgia.

On April 10, 2019, the first official trailer for the live action movie The Lion King was released. We get to see some sneak peeks of our favorite characters from our childhood; waiting in anticipation for its release onto the big screen on July 19, 2019. It may seem as though it is a great idea to provide a new experience for the public, but is it really anything other than a cash grab?

Disney knows they have audience members eating out of their hands. What other low-risk way to make tons of money is there other than remaking what people already know and love? Familiarity brings a sense of calm that Disney knows anyone would pay for. Remakes do often offer a different twist to them, but they can never surpass the original. But then again, it doesn’t matter as long as they get their money, right?

The Lion King isn’t the only one that’s been remade in this year alone. Dumbo and Aladdin are also used as an attempt to show audiences a different perspective. Some argue that these remakes are ruining the feeling that the originals used to give them--such as the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don't fix it.” Others say that it is a perfect way to bring back memories in a new style.

Do you think Disney is gaining their massive amount of money in the correct manner? Or should they use their resources to make something new and original? Do remakes change the way you think of the original classics?

43 Comments

Brooke

4/14/2019 03:38:26 pm

While I see both sides of this situation, I am fine with Disney creating live-action versions of the classics. If you don't like it, don't go watch it. One of the reasons that Disney is actually remaking these movies is because of Walt Disney himself: he placed a sticky note on his desk, once upon a time, that said to remake the movies every decade or so--with the advancing technology--in order so that each generation can relate to the same stories we, as children, loved, but in a new way. I guess it's becoming something of a trend, now. I am wondering that when they remake a decent amount, if they will wait another twenty or so years until the process repeats? Viewing each story in a new light is exciting for me, and brings a new magic to the tale. Given, some do not meet the bar of the past originals, and that understandably offends people and makes them weary for more, but I think Disney is not going to cease their profits gained from it.

Rachel

4/14/2019 05:09:46 pm

I agree that Disney is making a substantial profit off of all the new remakes. I also had never heard the story of Walt Disney, that is pretty cool that he wants each new generation to enjoy the movies the same way we did as kids. I agree that the new ones will never meet the bar of the classics, but it is a fun way to "add a new magic to the tale" as you said.

Kelsey

4/14/2019 05:25:11 pm

I didn't realize that Walt Disney had left such an influential note - how progressive! It makes sense shifting the materials to match the times - people are interested in modern culture and seem to always want something new.

Kenna

4/14/2019 06:56:08 pm

While I do think Disney is making these movies for easy money even if Walt Disney himself wanted them to be remade, I can appreciate them and be glad that a new generation gets to enjoy these movies.

Mckinlee

4/14/2019 07:53:08 pm

I really love that Walt Disney wanted he movies remade, and that Disney is following his wishes. I totally agree that it’s exciting to see the new ways the stories are interpreted and made with new technologies.

Challis

4/15/2019 09:09:55 am

Honestly, it was Walt Disney's wish and we should respect that.

Rachel

4/14/2019 05:06:48 pm

I do not mind the remaking of the original movies. I do however believe that they will never be as good as the originals. I grew up loving the Disney classics, and the Lion King was one of my favorites. Because of this, I do plan to go see the new live action version. If it is really only a cash grab, then I fully admit that I am playing right into their hands. I do not expect the new ones to be better, but I like the idea of remaking them for the next generation. I hope that the classics will never be forgotten, and I know that I will always enjoy going back and watching them.

Kelsey

4/14/2019 05:20:33 pm

Yes, it is a nice thought that they will not be forgotten. If there was a remake of a Disney movie you have never seen, would you want to go to it, or would you only want to see the remakes of the ones you love? I admit, I am also a pawn in the cash-grab because I am excited to see the real-life Lion King!

Rachel

4/14/2019 05:54:13 pm

If there was a remake of a Disney movie I had never seen, I would want to see the original first. I firmly believe that the classics are better then the remakes and would want to have a basic understanding before I saw the new one. Then again, it would be interesting to see the new one first because it would probably be a very different experience than if I knew the story from seeing the original.

Katherine

4/14/2019 06:16:30 pm

I am the same way, I have grown up watching classics and I will go watch the remakes. I don’t think the new ones will be as good, just because it is hard to recreate things the way they were or to make them better. I think it is good for the next generation though to be seeing the remakes.

Conrad

4/14/2019 06:20:45 pm

It is cool to see how the new technology can change a film, and that is why there is remakes, it is just important to judge these films as a remake and not against the old one as it is intended to be a remake.

Brooke

4/14/2019 06:52:41 pm

Agreed, I think the new ones can never replace the old magic. That may make our opinion bias, being as we grew up with them, but what opinion is never fully unique?

Kenna

4/14/2019 06:57:56 pm

I agree they never will be as good as the originals, at least to us. People who grow up on these movies might say something else though.

Mckinlee

4/14/2019 07:51:31 pm

I think is super cool that they’re remaking the lion king! I love the new animation. I also feel like when kids watch the newer versions they’ll somehow find out about the classics and end up watching them. Like how we would watch a movie and a parent or grandparent would remark how it’s actually a remake. It’s interesting to compare them

Jesse B.

4/14/2019 07:59:43 pm

I agree that the new movies will never be able to live up to the originals. If this whole idea is just a money making scheme, I think that it will not end the world of Disney. These movies also give us a chance to relive our childhood. Would you remake a classic if you had a chance and which one?

Challis

4/15/2019 09:10:51 am

They will never be as good as the originals because the originals are what made our childhood. We have happy memories with them.

Sariah

4/15/2019 09:21:36 am

I can agree that the new ones never will be as good as the originals but when is something ever better than the original? It is very rare. Your confession to wanting to go happily and voluntarily supports exactly what I was saying about people not minding spending their money on the remakes.

Kelsey

4/14/2019 05:16:15 pm

I do not mind the remakes, along as Disney is also putting out new movies. We need to know that they still have creative, new movie ideas. Personally I would like to see the remakes simply because I'm curious. But, we should still hold on to and remember the originals because they are a part of history. We should continue evolving with the times, however, we shouldn't cover up important pieces of art (such as the original lion king) for good. That means recognizing that the remakes are in fact a remake of an original - just as we recognize that the Lion King is a remake of Hamlet.

Katherine

4/14/2019 06:14:54 pm

Disney’s should definitely continue making the remakes only if they put out new movies. The new movies change Disney and help evolve it towards a new direction. I agree also that we should recognize the classics as the classics and the remakes as the remakes

Conrad

4/14/2019 06:19:21 pm

I agree that it is perfectly fine to see some remakes, as they can be interesting to see. Like I said before, I want to see some effort put into the remakes. New movies are also good to see as well.

Katarina

4/14/2019 07:59:03 pm

I agree Disney should keep creating movies but they need to he original. Lion king is a classic and they shouldn’t try to one up it.

Sariah

4/15/2019 09:24:06 am

It is smart that you brought up how the Lion King is a remake of Hamlet. I wonder how many people actually recognize this? I would assume it is fewer than we would think. I definitely don’t remember my mom telling me it was when I was watching the original Lion King. Do you think it is important that your kids will know right away that it is a remake of Hamlet?

Katherine

4/14/2019 06:13:35 pm

Like Brooke said, Walt Disney said to remake the movies about every ten years. I think it is cool to see the advancement of technology in this way and to see what we can make. If one doesn’t want to support them and “end the cash grab” they don’t have to go to it. It’s a person choice to watch these movies and something like money shouldn’t be the difference maker. The remakes don’t really make me change my perspective on the classics, however I do tend to appreciate the classics more.

Saylor

4/14/2019 07:49:48 pm

I agree, it is our choice to watch the movies. We all know we will enjoy a new Disney movie no matter what.

Conrad

4/14/2019 06:15:49 pm

As a person who has never really seen any Disney films, I cannot be one to really answer with any degree of accuracy or ethos. I do hate movie makers that create so so content just to create the massive amounts of money. I want sequels that are actually good films, not ones that depend on the name of the series to make money. For example, I think that in the Star Wars line, the movies Rogue One and Solo could have both been done a bit better. Not to say I didn't enjoy them, but I think that movie companies can remake things or extend series as long as their content is well made.

Bailey

4/14/2019 08:00:29 pm

I see where you're coming from. I have seen all of the original Disney movies, and I am a firm believer that what is done should remain done, and not e remade. On the opinion of the Star Wars films, I believe they should have stuck to the original six, and not made any others. Recreating the whole universe just to gain some money and keep an actor happy is not a good thing, and I wholeheartedly disagree with it. Especially since the new movies ended up being crap, and the only one to turn out halfway decent from the awful additions to an already fantastic movie series was Rogue One.

Jesse B.

4/14/2019 08:02:59 pm

If it is just for the money, I do agree that it is not right for them to do so, but I think that many of the creators of these new films have good intentions. Rogue One was arguably one of the better Star Wars films in the series, but that's just my opinion. I definitely see where you are coming from though. Would you ever want to remake a TV show or movie from your childhood?

Kenna

4/14/2019 06:51:10 pm

These new live-action Disney movies are a way for Disney to make easy money. They play into the nostolgia factor that most people have for these movie, and it works. People will continue to pay for these movies just because Disney makes them. I know I will. I do want Disney to make more new movies though.

Brooke

4/14/2019 06:54:18 pm

If Disney wants to keep remaking the old movies, I won't complain. But I agree that they should create new content as well--that's just as important.

Jazz

4/14/2019 07:48:13 pm

If a Youtuber produced the same video multiple times, no one would watch their videos anymore, and I wish it was the same with movies, but every is a sucker for nostalgia. I don’t understand why it is so dang hard for Disney to create a new fricking story.

Saylor

4/14/2019 07:48:39 pm

I will always love the classics and the remakes of those. It would be really nice to see Disney take a step and advance into newer more creative movies. With all the technology we have it shouldn't be hard to make an amazing movie out of a single thought.

Katarina Whitson

4/14/2019 07:57:58 pm

I agree I feel as though they are too lazy to work for their money by creating new movies.

Jazz

4/14/2019 07:45:17 pm

This has been a complaint of mine for a while now. At first, the live action remakes seemed fun, but after Beauty and the Beast, just the thought of a remake pisses me off. I’ve never been a huge fan of parody stories. After story upon story about two star crossed lovers on opposing sides of a feud, I’m just disgusted by listening to the same tune sung by different voices. Plato believed that art such as painting could not be considered truly creative as the artist was only imitating rather than making. While I don’t thank that imitating or alluding to another story is necessarily bad, I can’t help but criticize the lack of creativity. I personally just prefer new stories, I like when creators challenge themselves to make something completely out of the box. Even with Marvel, after all the Avengers are dead and gone, they’re probably just going to shift the story onto their children and give them the exact same powers instead of focusing on one of the other hundreds of characters in existence. Big companies are so scared of starting from the very beginning with new stories because there might not be as much money with it at first. But making any type of art should never be just about taking in the cash! I think Disney is absolute trash for remaking the same story instead of actually trying to create new content.

Sadie

4/15/2019 11:48:11 am

My thoughts EXACTLY. Thank you Jazz.

Saylor

4/14/2019 07:47:28 pm

It is really cool that Disney is remaking the classics, but it would be really refreshing to see something new from them. It is easy money remaking movies that have already been created, but where is the challenge? I want to be inspired by new Disney movies like I used to be. Seeing the same movie made over and over again gets boring. It shows that Disney is getting a and cant accept the challenge of a new inspiring movie.

Jazz

4/14/2019 07:50:24 pm

I agree that there is an extreme lack of challenge and inspiration. Maybe Disney should stop focusing on buying everything that they possibly can and try to come up with some new ideas. I guess that might be too hard for them though.

McKinlee

4/14/2019 07:49:07 pm

I love love the classic Disney movies. But I am all for them being remade! It’s cool to see how the new ways of animated can be incorporated into the movies. And it’s also nice because it gives the younger kids their own movies. I do think they need to continue making new movies as well though, they shouldn’t just focus on remakes. But if this is how they want to make more money then so be it. I don’t think people should be upset about the remakes. They don’t have to go watch them. Who cares if it’s for the money I really like the remakes but that doesn’t mean the classics are suddenly forbidden or anything.

Bailey

4/14/2019 08:06:52 pm

I disagree with you. I believe that if a movie was already good once, why go to the trouble of remaking it? Just because there is new technology doesn't mean that it should be used for the purpose of seeking after money by creating a flop of a remake. So far, I haven't liked any of the remakes/sequels that Disney has done for existing movies (like Star Wars), that being said, they might yet surprise me.

Jesse B.

4/14/2019 07:56:42 pm

Without a doubt in my mind, Disney is making millions upon millions of dollars off the “new” movies that are being released, such as the live-action Lion King. Even though they are telling the story in a different way, it is not the most righteous action to take with these movies. They are just riding off of nostalgia from an older audience. Disney does own the rights to their movies, so they can do whatever they please with them. Even though I think that this is not the best way to make movies, I am glad that they are doing something and not allowing the greats to be forgotten. Plus, we would not have the musical Newsies if Disney chose not to remake any classics.

Katarina

4/14/2019 07:57:17 pm

Personal I think they should stop with the live action remakes. We’ve already seen the movies how they were meant to be seen.. as animations. Leave it at that. As you said why cant Disney spend their money coming up with a new animation.

Bailey

4/14/2019 08:04:30 pm

While I believe that money is a good thing to seek after, it should not be the sole reason behind remaking an already good movie. The remakes have so far turned out to be flops, whereas the original ones were blessings to a younger generations. I would only advocate for remakes if they were going to be good ones, and not flops with bad acting and CGI. They waited around fifteen years to make Incredibles 2 as an add on to the already fantastic Incredibles movie, and while it wasn't a remake, it was a bad sequel. So far, the only movie series' that I have seen to have good sequels/prequels are the original six Star Wars movies (which were an absolute blessing to humanity, and if you haven't watched them: sin), and the How to Train Your Dragon series. So I am ultimately against remakes and bad sequels.

Challis

4/15/2019 09:08:29 am

Disney is a company and they are supposed to do things thta make them money. Getting mad at them for doing so is pointless. They need money to be successful. Also, I feel like people do not like these remakes because they are afriad of change and not open minded about it.

Saiah

4/15/2019 09:17:03 am

I support Disney in their decision to remake their creation by making them live action. It is amazing how technologically advanced the movie industry it now. I mean heck, if they can create animals that look like real animals to talk and still portray the character well, go for it. I would jump on that opportunity too. It does please the majority of the audiences and most I would argue have no problem spending their money on it. It is a business after all and you can’t blame them for doing their job.

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