Hello from a somewhat hasty blog. Rachael, Sara, Anna Beth and I are about to watch The Great Mouse Detective after a night out at Hobby Lobby, Barnes & Noble, and GADS. I'm actually looking forward to next year because I think I'm going to change my blogging day. Friday's great and all, but it's always just before all the fun happens. Sunday might be a good day to try out, and it's not like anyone else is using it :P
    This week's been mostly uneventful. Though I did place third in the fencing in-club tournament last night (which is a big improvement over last year). And today in English I got to listen to academic presentations from students on Harry Potter and Disney Princesses (which was Anna Beth's). Needless to say there was a lot of fun and interesting conversation.
    Today's the last day of November, and  I've essentially failed at Nanowrimo :(  I've done quite a lot of planning for the story and setting and stuff, just no actual writing...(I've been busy!....and lazy...). Maybe I'll just consider November "national novel Planning month and leave the writing for December.
    I do have one scene written (that I wrote last year). For lack of anything more interesting to write and because the movie's about to start, I'll share that ok?
I don't really know how to give context to the scene without going through quite a lot of the plot....so no context it is! Haha sorry. (though some of you know the story already, for those that don't, you can try to give me your opinion of the scene without actually knowing what's going on. So....yeah....here it is:
                Alex opened his eyes and groaned. New life lesson: a pool table is not necessarily the best replacement for a bed. Or chair. Or even a rock pit. Still, as he sat up he realized his aches may not have been solely a result of his poor sleeping arrangements. He recognized the pressure in his chest as the same feeling of betrayal he was consumed with just a few hours before. How could he have done it? Could anything become the butt of a joke to Blake? Even his own brother’s happiness? Maybe that was pushing it. Without a doubt Blake tended to blur the line a bit, but surely he didn’t know Alex’s feelings toward Wren?
Wren.                    
         The thought of her name brought to attention the central reason for his pain. Alex leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Right in the center of the pressure was something else entirely: a burning knot that came from the memory of seeing Wren run from him trying to keep back tears. It was a persistent sensation of torture. So much had gone wrong in such a short period of time. Alex didn't know how he could face her ever again and being sequestered in the cabin made it worse. He opened his eyes to stare through the skylight above. The many stars had been his anchor as he dwelled on events of the night, but they were barely visible now. The sky had turned from black to a navy blue with small streaks of dawn starting to show through. It would be morning soon.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wren awoke to the sound of a click and the slight creaking of the door opening.
“Hey, Wren,” came a whisper.
She looked up to see Alex standing just inside the room. Well, she thought it was Alex. But just look at where that kind of thinking had ended up. For all she knew it could be the imposter again. She bolted upright.
“It’s just me, Alex.”
            “Wha--? How did--?” She could have sworn she locked the door. It figures the twins would know how to pick locks.
            Her half questions were met with a sheepish smirk.


and yeah, that's essentially the extent of the story I've written which takes place about half way through. lol.
Ok, the movie's on, so I'll leave you with some funny videos my professor showed in Latin the other day
Eddie Izzard on Latin (sorry about the language in this one, but it's funny)
Life of Brian Latin Lessons (Monty Python!)

Love,
Jill

Hello from a blog post devoted to Sara's utter dislike of ABC's hit show Once Upon a Time. Today I'm going to talk about why Once Upon a Time is an awesome show that Sara should actually really like. I'm all for personal preferences, don't get me wrong. But  Sara's arguments for disliking the show are rather illogical and just a wee bit sad.
For those of you who don't know, Once Upon a Time is, well...this:

Basically, the residents of Storybrooke, Maine are all fairy tale characters, but they don't remember who they really are because of the evil queen's curse. And stuff's complicated. This is going to be a really difficult blog to write without spoilers, but I'll try it.
First, let me address some of Sara's criticisms of the show (after only watching half of season 1).
#1 "It's not funny enough." 
Okay, I'll admit, it isn't exactly a comedy. But there are a lot of small moments of humor, and while they don't really stand alone as hilarious, there are parts that are really funny once you get to know the characters. Like Henry calling David/Charming "Gramps," or the fact that there was an eighth dwarf called Stealthy, or...just so much of it is in the delivery of the lines and the characters' reactions more so than gags or jokes. Here's a video with just a few funny moments from the show. I couldn't find a really great one that summed them all up, but enjoy.

#2 "It is very dark."
I don't think I know how to refute this. I just disagree. Perhaps I could direct you to some actually dark shows/movies? Sara, don't you like Pan's Labyrinth? That's a very dark fairy tale. Like, very dark. Once Upon a Time is better described as suspenseful, exciting, fantastical, and intense, but not dark. Not really. Actually, despite dealing with sadness and peril sometimes, the overall mood of the show is upbeat, I think. Everyone's not happy all the time, but it's not a depressing show. The tone is hopeful, which keeps it from being dark.
#3 "They take away the happy endings, and I want them back! There's too much suspense and misery and sadness and DEATH and separation!"
If everything were happy and hunky-dory, there would be no CONFLICT! No PLOT! Furthermore, they don't take away the happy endings; they merely prolong their fulfillment, since it's only the second season. Do you actually watch the show and think, "There's no way Snow White and Prince Charming will end up together!"...No. They'll always find each other. It's just going to take a while. Have a little patience, dearie.
And yes, some characters do get killed off, and sometimes that's really sad. But that happens in a lot of your favorite shows. And I think it makes it a better show when the writers aren't afraid to kill off an important character. It's like no one is safe. It amps up the tension and drama.
#4 "They also change the story lines."
Yep. This brings me to another point about why Once Upon a Time is fun to watch. It adapts fairy tales, but it also incorporates the Disney retellings of the fairy tales. ABC is owned by Disney, so they can do that. And noticing the Disney vs. original fairy tales details is always fun. But, Sara, you're right. They do change things up a bit. Sometimes. Because, let's face it: if we knew how everything was going to turn out it wouldn't be quite so exciting. So, there are twists. Sometimes one person can carry multiple fairy tale roles, like Mr. Gold does. And sometimes there are sparks between characters from different fairy tales, like a possible love triangle between Aurora, Prince Philip, and Mulan. But I think that makes the story less predictable and more interesting. Also, if you've actually read the fairy tales written by the Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Andersen, they are very different from the Disney versions.  And they're WAY darker than Once Upon a Time.
#5 "They make the characters so ambiguous. You don't can't know who you're supposed to trust."
Okay, I'm thinking that your definition of "annoying" and my definition of "interesting" are lining up more and more. I love morally ambiguous characters! They're way more realistic, complex, and interesting to unravel. It's captivating to find out what makes them the way they are, and Once Upon a Time is great with backstory. Plus, you know, people in general are pretty morally ambiguous. We all do good and bad things, and in life you don't always know whom you can trust. While I can understand your frustration at that in real life, fiction is another story. Think of all the shows/movies/books you like that have morally ambiguous characters. Sherlock. Captain Jack Sparrow. Aladdin. Spike from Angel. Snape. Even the Doctor is morally ambiguous! Granted, you usually know who the good guys and bad guys are, but what makes Once Upon a Time so interesting is the fact that a villain can become good, and that characters can flip flop back and forth between doing good things and bad things. That's why morally ambiguous characters have more depth. They make mistakes. They do bad things, and sometimes they're not sorry. But sometimes they are and they try to redeem themselves. And then PLOT TWIST! They do something evil again and so on. It's cool.
Going along with my rant about morally ambiguous characters and how interesting they are, I'd just like to point out how even the obvious "good guy" characters are still complex. Because the show deals both with present-day Storybrooke and flashbacks of Fairytale Land, there is a lot of delving into character backstories. Also, the characters are just generally very likable. I can think of very few characters I haven't liked, and even with those, it's usually because I love to hate them. Even the villains are likable (some of them very likable). It's one of those shows that's very community-centered. There are main characters, but it seems like all of the characters are pretty important, and they mesh well together, despite being from different fairy tales.
So what are some other reasons to love Once Upon a Time?
The Casting
The cast is basically great. There are some really well known actors, and there are some that seem to come out of nowhere, but on the whole I'd say they're all pretty good. Even the guest roles are filled by impressive actors. I mean, I think I already mentioned how FLAWLESS Bailee Madison was as the younger version of Snow White!  (CAUTION: SPOILERS BELOW!)

The Costumes
No, this isn't a huge driving factor for me to watch the show, but the costuming is still excellent. The fairy tale outfits are amazing, and even the Storybrooke clothes are stylish and cute. Regina, particularly, has a nice wardrobe.

The Writing!
As the end of season one approached, we all knew that a very important thing was going to happen. And I wondered how the show would continue once the very important thing happened. And then the very important thing happened, but that brought on a whole new world of problems and possibilities for the show, and the writers just keep coming up with plot twists and mysteries to keep us guessing!
Plus, they keep expanding the fairy tale worlds. Like, now we have Wonderland, and Neverland, and Frankenstein has made an appearance. Mulan is there. And Lancelot. It's not just your traditional fairy tales anymore. While this makes me skeptical sometimes (coughFrankensteincough), mostly it's awesome! I can't wait to see what other worlds will be brought in later.
LOVE STORIES AND CHILDREN! What more could Sara want?!?!?!?
Okay, there aren't that many children (Henry, Grace, Hansel, Gretel, Baelfire). But Henry is one of the most important characters. Possibly the most important when you think about it. And he's a pretty cool kid.
And there's true love!!! Classic love stories like Snow White + Prince Charming, Beauty and the Beast...And new love stories and couples to speculate about. Like who will Emma end up with?
Okay, so I could talk about Once Upon a Time forever...or I could do my homework. But the overall point of this post is: SARA WHY YOU NO LIKE?!! 
No, but really, guys. This is a great show. If you haven't, watch it!
Love,
Anna Beth

Hello from all the feelings! Right now, I'm full of so many different emotions..why?
Well let's see if I can break it down:
1) Drum Major auditions: I conducted in front of the entire band on Monday, did the marching portion/giving instructions today, have an interview sometime next week, and emailed Mr. Morrison (old band director) last week for a recommendation letter. I feel I did AMAZING on Monday, but today, I had a huge brain fart and couldn't remember how to start the band vocally--and it was only THREE words!!! "Mark time mark"......uurrrgggg!!!! Ok, that is kinda out of my system. BTW Michael Aranda was a drum major, and Anna Beth said that to me right before I went to band on Monday and it gave me a little confidence,  hence the title.
2) SO MUCH WORK
I have to turn in a project first thing tomorrow with a concept statement for Design Studio. It turned out really well, but it was a lot of work. I also have to print out a color photo, but that cost real money; hopefully though, Jill will let me borrow her card that has Big Red dollars on it and I'll just give her the 50 cents.
Another project for Design Concepts is due tomorrow that I haven't started as well as putting together a presentation for Perspectives of Dress and practicing for it.
My final paper in English 300 due on Friday and I just learned today that my thesis is too broad. Yay.
Something else due on Friday by 2pm
and I'm probably missing something, but at least it helped me a little to write everything down even though it must be boring for you to read.

Ok, I only have 20 minutes till midnight, but let's see how many Disney villain's deaths I can talk about (in continuation of the Disney theme from last week):

Snow White (1937):
The evil queen falls to her death.

Sleeping Beauty (1959):
Maleficent turns into a dragon to stop Prince Philip from waking up Aurora, and the Prince kills her by throwing his Sword of Truth into her chest.

Black Cauldron (1985):
The Horned King...wait, did he die? Or did Gurgi's sacrifice safe everyone?

The Little Mermaid (1989):
Ursula was stabbed with a sunken ship that was resurrected by her whirlpool and steered by Prince Eric.

Beauty and the Beast (1991):
Gaston fell to his death after stabbing the Beast.

Aladdin (1992):
Jafar was only trapped by his own lamp at the end of the original, but in Aladdin 2, Iago uses the last of his strength to push the black lamp into a pit of lava, thus killing Jafar. 

Hello from I have to make a blog today! It probably won’t be too long, seeing as I have some work to get done before my art class tonight, but Tuesday is Tuesday, and I’m not about to let a little thing like homework get in the way of my perfect posting record :P No one actually gave me any questions for this blog, but that’s ok! You see, I’ve realized that, despite my diligence in preserving the weekly tradition that has become Question Tuesday, there is another part of this week day that, through no fault but my own, has been largely ignored over the past 11 months. I am speaking, of course, of Taco Tuesday! It’s a good thing I’ve realized this, too. Taco Tuesday is critical to the history of our friendship! So, in honor of this delicious lunchroom alternative to school food…

It’s Taco Tuesday! The day that I answer real questions about real tacos! 

(which basically means I Google searched taco questions- hey, it’s harder than it looks! :P)

Why are tacos so good?
Because they’re fatty and not all that good for you. And why is it that we like foods that we shouldn’t eat a whole lot of? I think Hank Green answers that question best: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMsW2oXors8&feature=plcp
Why are tacos healthy?
This sort of goes in direct contrast to the last question, but tacos aren’t completely bad for you. The meat in them has protein, which is healthy, and some people actually put vegetables on their tacos, like lettuce and tomato (crazy, I know). You can also use healthier primary ingredients, like grilled chicken or fish, I suppose. If you want to take the enjoyment out of eating it.
Why are tacos so delicious?
Sort of the same thing as question one. Maybe looking up questions on Google wasn’t the best way to do this…
Why are tacos bad for you?
They aren’t necessarily, but most of the time they have lots of grease and fatty food, like beef and sour cream, which are delicious, but as they come from animals, they tend to have a lot of saturated fats, which are solid at room temperature and are more likely to clog up your arteries and stuff. Or something like that. It’s been awhile since my last biology class.
Are tacos Mexican?
Yup, though I’m pretty sure traditional Mexican tacos are different from the stuff you find at Taco Bell.
Are tacos gluten free?
Not most of the time, though you can make them that way.
Are tacos fattening?
If you put fattening ingredients in them. So, most likely, yes.
Tacos or tacos?
I’m gonna have to go with tacos.
Tacos or pizza?
Hmm. I believe this has deeper implications of Italian versus Mexican cuisine preferences. One should not rush to answer a question that has such profound resonance with one’s psychological… Oh, who am I kidding? Pizza!
Tacos or burritos?
Usually tacos, though both have their merits. 
Tacos or hot dogs?
Definitely tacos. Hot dogs are just… no.
What should I serve with tacos?
Green beans!

So, that’s it for Taco Tuesday! You guys are probably really glad right now that I lose sole ownership of Question Days next year… and I have to say I agree with you… So, if you don’t want to see another Question Tuesday where I fail to find worthwhile questions to answer, maybe you should give me some? Or not. Whichever you find more entertaining, I guess. Have a happy taco day!



Love,


Sara

Hello from my lovely second Saturday of Thanksgiving break! I’ve loved reading all of the Disney blogs this week… and staying true to theme, as well as my love of music, here’s your “Top 15” Disney songs! I thought I’d do a “Top 10” Disney songs, but it’s ended up being so hard to eliminate songs that I decided to do a “Top 15.” (Yes, I had that many! – Plus an Honorable Mention selection list below. Try ranking your favorites- it’s not easy to do at all! It took me hours!!) Eventually, though, I completed my list… and although it was extremely difficult and I’m still not sure this is the way I really want it, this was so much fun to do! Let’s be honest: Can you ever have enough Disney?

I ended up ranking them the best I could, obviously influenced by personal preference, but I tried to stay true to general opinion… yet still throw a few curve-balls in there. As always, feel free to comment on rankings and ones left out- there’s so many good ones, it’s so hard to choose! Disney’s just that fantastic at music! *runs off to update her Disney playlist…*

15) “When You Wish Upon a Star” - Pinocchio

So lovely! Plus, look at the cute animal kiss (I’ve forgotten the names of the cat and fish). Classic Disney :) To start us off a bit controversially, I apologize for it being rated lower than it definitely deserves, but I haven’t seen Pinocchio.

14) “Bare Necessities” - The Jungle Book

I had to include this one… Unfortunately overlooked at times, this is a true “Classic Disney” song!

13) “Bella Notte” - Lady and the Tramp

Included partially because I couldn’t believe no one else has noted Lady and the Tramp on their lists, this was one of my favorite childhood songs. Plus, it’s the sharing spaghetti/meatball scene! So cute, yes? :)

12) “Cruella De Vil” - A Hundred and One Dalmatians

Haha- this is a song I grew up with- it’s fantastic! :)

11) “Once Upon a Dream” - Sleeping Beauty

While perhaps not one of the most immediately recognizable as a "Top 15 Disney" song, the song and animation is fantastic. Plus, Philip joining in the duet is so cute!

10) “Colors of the Wind” - Pocahontas

This is one of those picks for me that I didn’t expect it to actually make my Top 10 list- but I grew up with this song, and it’s under-recognized in my opinion. (Plus, 1:16 is such a powerful moment!).

9) “Part of Your World” - The Little Mermaid

Every little girl dreams of being part of another, seemingly more beautiful world. On the other hand, don’t you want to be a mermaid? This song is magnificent.

8) “Circle of Life” - The Lion King

Great song, just not as… Well, out of the ones in this list, it’s just not as memorable for me- perhaps it’s the tempo being just a beat too slow, or maybe it's just because it's not as whimsical. Still, it’s a fantastic song! I’m sure others will rate it higher, but I just enjoy some of the memorable moments from other songs more…

7) “Under the Sea” - The Little Mermaid

This song is so much fun! =D It’s one of my personal favorites!

6) “Hakuna Matata” - The Lion King

“When I was a young warthog,” I loved singing along to this song! Not to mention, it’s a great friendship-sing-along song!

5) “You’ll Be in my Heart” - Tarzan

Really, can you resist Phil Collins? Pure, classic Disney magic.

4) “Be Our Guest” - Beauty and the Beast

LOVE IT. LOVE IT. LOVE IT. Really, the animation really makes the song- what wouldn’t you give to be a dinner guest at that dinner? ;)

3) “Beauty and the Beast” - Beauty and the Beast

Ah, the song that always makes me go, “Awww…” Honestly, could anyone else but Disney create such a cute couple of a human and a beast? Plus, I’ve always wanted Belle’s dress… my Halloween Belle dress from when I was little came close… ;)

2) “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” - Mulan

SING-ALONG TIME!!! =D (The video’s not a sing-along version… but y’all know the lyrics anyway ;)

1) “A Whole New World” - Aladdin

When it comes down to it, the scenes in this song are iconic, classic Disney. Plus, it’s just so much fun to sing along to! This song likely introduced millions of children to “A Whole New World” of Disney- and I am so thankful for it! :) Plus, look at them- they’re so cute <3

Honorable Mentions (ordered alphabetically because I can’t rank any more!) are
-          “I Won’t Say I’m in Love” - Hercules
-          “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” – The Lion King
-          “I Just Can’t Wait to be King” – The Lion King
-          “Kiss the Girl” - A Little Mermaid
-          “Heigh Ho” - Snow White
-          “Someday My Prince Will Come” - Snow White
-          “Strangers Like Me” - Tarzan
-           “I See the Light” - Tangled

Of course, I couldn’t include all of my favorite songs here (though I tried to include as many as I could!), but I still hoped you enjoyed being reminded of some of your favorite Disney songs! <3 you guys! Have a great week! (Sorry this was so long, but I truly enjoyed doing it! :)

Hello from Black Friday aka my Thanksgiving! Both my brother and my dad worked yesterday so we're celebrating Thanksgiving today instead.
Also, Hello from THE MOST ANNOYING INTERNET GRRRRRRRRRR

    Today's Topic: Disney Horses.
I looked into it and found 15 horses from Disney movies that had names. And since that didn't seem like too big a number, I decided to focus on those fifteen. Note that doens't include Horace Horsecollar from the cartoons who I never liked anyway (he looked more like a cow than a horse). Without further ado, here's my top 15 list of Disney horses:

15.) Buck    
14.) Widowmaker    
13.) Cyril Proudbottom    

        These are more or less all paired together because they are the only movies eligible for this list that I’ve never actually seen (at least I don’t remember ever seeing them.)  So they’re ranked essentially on subjective premises. Buck is apparently one of the secondary characters in the 2004 film Home on the Range. I don’t really know much about the story or characters, and I only vaguely remember hearing about it or seeing the trailer. The only thing I did remember was the fact that I really didn’t want to see it at all. I can’t really explain it. It just didn’t seem very good. And since I had completely forgotten about its existence until I started looking into my topic and because I hadn’t heard anyone else talking about the movie either, I guess it’s a safe and ok decision to put Buck in the last slot.
         Widowmaker is the horse of Pecos Bill in one of the segments of the 1948 feature film Melody Time. I was rather curious about this one since I didn’t remember ever knowing about it, so I looked up a summary. [Spoiler Alert] Apparently a young Pecos Bill saves the young colt Widowmaker and they become friends for life. Then later Pecos Bill falls in love with a girl named Slue-Foot Sue, and Widowmaker thinks he’s losing his best friend to her and so becomes extremely jealous. Slue-Foot Sue wants to get married, in true cowgirl fashion, while riding Widowmaker and wearing a big bussel with a frame made of steal and springs. Widowmaker gets mad, starts bucking, and ultimately Slue-Foot Sue gets bounces all the way to the moon where she remains stranded. So…yeah, not so happy ending I guess. Idk.
        Cyril Proudbottom gets ranked highest simply because I like his name the most. He’s the horse of J. Thaddeus Toad in the The Wind in the Willows segment of The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad movie in 1949. Apparently Cyril gets to be a witness in a court case and gets a funny line…and that’s really all I know about these movies. Have any of you seen them? Do any deserved to be ranked higher?

12.) Bullseye     (Toy Story 2 – 1999)
    Ahh. A movie I’ve actually seen. He is of course the horse of Woody, to whom he is fiercely loyal and obedient. Though he’s a toy horse, he usually acts more like a dog and often licks Woody to show affection. Bullseye is also shown to hate fighting and hides in a can if the main protagonists are arguing. I personally ranked him so low because, well, I don’t find him all that interesting. Not that I dislike him at all. Bullseye is very happy-go-lucky, and he's heroic in the scene where he chases down the airplane. But still, I don’t think he’s the best. Maybe it’s because he’s a bit too much like a dog rather than having enough of his own intelligence. Though I may be being a bit hard on him considering one of my higher choices…

11.)  Achilles  
 (Hunchback of Notre Dame – 1996)
                I’ll admit, I don’t remember all that much about Achilles. I’ve seen The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but it’s been awhile and the horse is obviously not the first thing to come to mind. That being said, I did find out some interesting things about this horse. Achilles belongs to Phoebus and doesn’t do all that much in the story, though he does provide his fair share of comic relief. According to the DVD commentary, the directors jokingly refer to him as Philippe’s (Beauty and the Beast) dimwitted cousin, and his name was chosen purely for the purpose of making the “Achilles, heel!” joke. As a warhorse, he takes excellent direction such as sitting on command, though this also presents itself as relating the horse to a dog.

10.) Snowball
(Hunchback of Notre Dame – 1996)
                This one’s kinda unfair. I just think Snowball looks really epic (despite his name). I mean, look at him! So pretty! *cough* I mean…regal. Totally. Definitely a regal, handsome, epic looking steed. Though I guess he could look a bit happier in the picture…and you know maybe be a little less evil. Of course, he’s also a very loyal horse, he just happens to be loyal to the villain of the movie.

9.) Pegasus (Hercules – 1997)
                Despite the epic fact that he’s a winged horse, I’m actually not all that fond of Pegasus. I do however respect the amount of personality and character he is given in the film. Zeus made Pegasus out of the clouds as a present for young Hercules and the two were reunited years later. I like to describe Pegasus as being very much one of Hercules’s ‘bros’. Sometimes I just see this frat boy attitude in Pegasus. Maybe that’s just me. He’s also Hercules’s biggest fan, and becomes incredibly jealous of Meg.

It’s weird that rewatching that scene made me so interested in Pegasus’s character. It’s shown He’s not perfect and has his flaws like every other character, and he gets a little more snippet of storyline importance.

8.) Frou Frou (The Aristocats –1970)
                Frou Frou (easily the girliest name, even more than Snowball) is the horse of Madam Bonfamille and friend of Duchess and the kittens. Not only is she a likeable character, she kinda kicks butt despite just being a carriage horse. She helps in the effort to take Edgar down after finding out that he’s the catnapper and is trying to get rid of the cats for a second time.

7.) Philippe (Beauty and the Beast – 1991)

Philippe may get a bad rap for spending the majority of his time in the movie being scared, but I think it’s a realistic scenario. He does a good job representing how a real horse acts. There are no comparisons to dogs, and a lot of horses would spook easily with wolves nearby. That being said, Philippe shows a good degree of intelligence and common sense in his initial refusal to take Maurice’s shortcut, but eventually his loyalty to one of his owners wins out and he takes Maurice down the spooky path. And though he was terrified in his run through the woods, he doesn’t refuse to take Belle back into those same woods to try to save Maurice.
Philippe's first Scene (10:20-11:55) - Sorry it's a fandub, but it's not that noticeable.

6.) Captain (101 Dalmatians – 1961)
                Captain, along with his friend the Colonel the sheepdog and Sgt. Tibbs the cat, aids in the rescue of the stolen Dalmatian puppies. He is the first named Disney horse whose owner is never shown on screen. As a kid I actually assumed the three animals had no owner and lived on their own. But considering the fact that Captain wears a red blanket, they are probably owned by some military officer or something. In the live action movie, the character’s name is changed to Punch, probably reflecting the main purpose of a horse in this movie: to kick the villains.

5.) Samson (Sleeping Beauty – 1959)
                I kinda love Samson. He really has such a small role in the film but at the same time I was surprise by the amount of character they gave him since it was one of the earlier Disney movies. I don’t know why it was that surprising (it may have been more the similarities to a certain other Disney horse). Of course every horse that was given personality before Samson also had a somewhat dopy-looking, cartoon appearance. Samson was more on the accurate side animation-wise and was kinda the first to have his own wants shown (even if it was just extra oats and carrots) that don’t go along with whatever the protagonist wants. Also, he’s pretty epic in the ending fight scene between Prince Philip and Maleficent.
(1:30-2:50)


4.) Khan (Mulan – 1998)

        There’s a chance Khan may win on pure epicness. The majority of the pictures that showed up in my search showed Khan in some action pose or another. In the film he is portrayed as a very intelligent and confident horse. Khan risks his life to save Mulan in the avalanche scene when he could have just as easily stayed with the rest of the army.  He is obviously very close to Mulan to the point where I don’t think he’d really listen to anyone else. He certainly didn’t help Mushu when they were trying to fake orders from the general, but that may have been because Khan just doesn’t like Mushu.                

                So why did I put the horse from Cinderella above the one that ran into an avalanche to aid his owner? Mainly because of their story. It’s rather cute. It’s shown in the beginning of the film that Cinderella has had Major since she was a little girl. They both lived happily with Cinderella’s father and Bruno the dog (btw, I totally sense a bromance between these two). He’s somewhat proud, but being Cinderella’s friend seems to be the most important thing to him. He happily leads the line of horses pulling Cinderella’s wedding carriage at the end of the movie. I just thought it was kinda cool that the three that made up the original family get a happily ever after together. 

2.) Angus (Brave – 2012)

    Angus’s ranking is kinda personal preference thing. Disregarding the personality of the horses, I’d definitely want either Angus or Snowball. There was a period of my childhood where I adored Clydesdales. The idea of riding this massive was just awesome for some reason. I also like Angus because he’s one of the horsier horses. He doesn’t act like a dog half the time, he just gets to be Merida’s horse. And their relationship is sweet. Merida chooses to be the one to look after and care for him instead of allowing someone else to do it. Angus himself is a bit on the timid side, but it’s something that is easily overcome with Merida’s guidance.

1.) Maximus (Tangled – 2010)

                There was really no question that Maximus would get top spot. I mean, he’s awesome! Tangled was just overall an amazing movie, and I really think the comic relief Maximus provided made it that much better. He’s possibly the most independent horse Disney has ever created. Although he’s seen to have a rider, Maximus doesn’t need his guidance to get the task done. While he doesn’t share the same loyalty to his rider’s that a lot of the other horses do, he does have a large loyalty to the kingdom and is shown to have a large heart when he chooses to stall his capture of Flynn to help Rapunzel. He is also shown to often act much more like a dog than a horse.

    Maximus is brave, daring, bold, and not at all cowardly. He is incredibly intelligent and dedicated to his job. He becomes head of the Palace guard by the end of the movie, is the one to bring reinforcements to save Flynn when he’s locked up, and he even has his own freaking sword fight!!!
                Maximus and Flynn are a really fun twist on the idea of Prince Charming riding his gallant white steed. They don’t get along at first and Maximus is often the one doing the more heroic deeds rather than just being the simple sidekick. In fact:

Really, I should let Maximus’s performance speak for itself.

So yeah, there is no beating this horse. He’s the best there is.



Some Honorary Mentions:

Here’s to the unnamed horses, the background horses, and the horses that aren’t actually horses. Of particular note are Prince Ferdinand’s horse (Snow White) and the Fantasia Pegasi Family. Fantasia is just too awesome not to mention, and I really wanted to make a comparison between the Prince’s lack of personality and his horse’s same lack since they appeared in the first Disney animated movie. And for that matter, Chi-fu and his horse share an interesting similarity as well.


And now a [short] Analysis:
                The main characteristic that all of these Disney horses share is loyalty. It’s kinda obvious that a hero wouldn’t want a sidekick that wasn’t loyal. Disney also generally does an excellent job of showing a healthy and happy relationship between horse and rider.
                I can’t not talk about some of the other similarities these horses share. This blog was practically founded on the weird similarities between Samson and Maximus. Someone on YouTube says it’s like Samson is like Maximus’s great-great-great grandfather or something. If you really get into it, they’re not necessarily that similar. But at the same time, they’re both fairly independent and very heroic. Just swap out the carrots for apples and change the mane color, and there you go. And Pegasus and Widowmaker definitely are similar in their dislike of the female lead for fear that they're losing their best friend.
                And of course, there’s the prevalence of dog characteristics. Other than Pegasus who sometimes acts like a birdbrain, if a horse shares characteristics with another animal, it’s going to be a dog. Widowmaker (howls at the moon), Achilles, Bullseye, and Maximus all act like a dog at times, and the best friends of Major and Captain are both dogs are well. While the overall majority of Disney horses may not be this way, a large chunk are.

Eh, I could go on, but my Thanksgiving is today and the computer has been acting incredibly annoying so I'm done.
(BTW, I would just like to mention how annoying my brother is since he told me today that he searches the blog for his name. Hey Cameron, thanks for making writing this blog ten times more annoying than it should have been.)

Love,
Jill

Hello from Thanksgiving! I hope you're all having a wonderful day filled with family, food, and football (or dog shows, or whatever). As for my family, we decided to skip out on the whole cooking thing and get takeout from Hibachi Grill. SO. MUCH. CHINESE FOOD. It was beautiful! Anyway, whatever you're eating, I hope it was made with love...and/or fried rice!  ;)

Now, on to the Disney topic of the day: castles!  Obviously, a lot of Disney movies feature castles, so I set out to find real-life castles that resemble Disney castles. Let me tell you, it was a lot harder than I thought! These matches aren't that close, because, I mean, there aren't duplicate castles. But I tried. Let me know what you think.

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Meet Neuschwanstein Castle, the multi-castle look-alike. Built in the late 1860s, this castle is widely considered a symbol of the era of Romanticism (according to Wikipedia). It was also the inspiration for both Cinderella's Castle in Disney World and Sleeping Beauty's Castle in Disneyland. Let me know which you think it resembles more.

Next, I'd like to point out just how similar some of these Disney castles are. While they're not identical, the castles from Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, and Tangled bear close resemblance to one another. The Beast's castle is more different, but still kind of close. I also found a couple of real-life castles that have similar features.

Then there are the more unique castles: Jasmine's palace from Aladdin and Prince Eric's castle from The Little Mermaid. I found sort-of look-alikes for both of these. And as for King Triton's undersea castle...ummm, there's nothing that looks like that...not on land anyway.

So there you have it. Have a great Thanksgiving, and let me know in the comments which of the Disney castles you'd most like to live in!

Love,
Anna Beth

P.S. I'm pretty thankful for all of you! :) <3

Hello from my living room the day before Thanksgiving! I just got back from work and barely missed going out to eat with my dad and Jane...oh well, bologna (<- such a weird word!) and green beans sound good for dinner. As least I was really productive at work today.  As I just mentioned on Facebook, I saw that someone in my neighborhood already has their Christmas lights on, so I think that's a good indication that the holiday season has begun, even though I think it begins tomorrow.
Anyway! Lots of projects going on, most of them are my final projects, which means they are the last things I have to do in all of my classes! Woo!
On to more magical things! Like Disney stuff!
Open question: Do you think that Disney promotes alcohol (even accidentally)?

Examples!
Pinocchio (1940):

Pinocchio is at that creepy carnival place and playing a nice game of pool with his bad-influence-of-a-friend. While Pinocchio isn't actually seen drinking (only smoking a cigar..) this scene shows a very suspicious mug...

Dumbo (1941):

Being the friend he is, Timothy Q. Mouse brings Dumbo to a bucket full of fizzy drink to try to cheer up Dumbo after he visited her the the elephant jail (actually that scene is one of the saddest moments in Disney movie history). Timothy is shown here after he fell in the bucket of fizzy, does he look entirely sober to you? Yes, Pink Elephants on Parade was the result of Dumbo's drunkenness; something that most of us don't realize until we're older.

Peter Pan (1953):

A little more than 10 years later, Peter Pan is the next Disney movie to have alcohol. Captain Hook is trying to con Tinker Bell into telling him where the Lost Boy's secret hideout is. Smee gets a little tipsy when sampling the rum...

Sleeping Beauty (1959):

The minstrel in Sleeping Beauty samples the wine that the Kings are toasting with and finds it delicious, so he keeps sneaking more drinks until he's so drunk that he passes out under the table.

Beauty and the Beast (1991):

A big leap in time to 1991 (unless I missed a movie, if I did, I'm sorry) where the townspeople toast to Gaston during his catchy song.

Tangled (2010):

Another huge leap to Tangled where the drunk old man provides comic relief.

While going through these movies, I realized I don't remember the details of a lot of them so here's a list of movies that I suspect have alcohol, but I don't know exactly:
The Little Mermaid (1989), Pocahontas (1995),  Treasure Planet (2002): They're sailors, so there much be rum somewhere, right?
Ratatouille (2007): Paris is famous for its wine, no?
Brave (2012): I've only seen it once, so I'm not sure if there's alcohol at the feast near the beginning of the movie.

Hope this was enlightening! Feel free to add more movies if I missed any!
Rachael

Hello from Disney Question Tuesday! Munchkin started us off yesterday with top ten Disney kisses, so I was mostly overwhelmed with adorbs and awws :) And today you lovely people (namely Jill  and Anna Beth) have given me Disney-related Questions to answer, so let’s get started!

Jill:
Why is Disney awesome?
It just… it just is! There’s singing, and magic, and happy endings, and general happiness for everyone! I mean, doesn’t everyone want to live in a world where animals talk and people express their feelings through song without getting weird looks? Oh. Just me? Well fine then. I mean, Disney movies to me epitomize the life that we all kind of wish we could live only not really. Characters are pretty easily categorizeable (apparently Microsoft doesn’t recognize this as a word… oh well!) as good or evil. Magical things happen all the time. Sad or scary things may happen in the middle, but we can always rest assured that at the end evil will be vanquished, true love will be found, and everyone will live happily ever. It’s nice to be able to step outside the real world, where things don’t always make sense or turn out the way we want them to, and where the future is anything but certain, and for even just an hour and a half be little kids again, cheering on the hero and knowing that everything is going to be ok in the end.

What do you think of all the critics that say princesses are only sexual objects and nothing more?
I think they have issues. I mean, come on, these are kid’s movies! Just believe in the magic and stop trying to ruin it for everyone!  I guess it’s not that they don’t have a point. Disney characters are often quite stereotypical- the princess sings her happy little song and falls prey to an evil witch or devil or what have you, whereupon she is helpless to save herself and must wait patiently, possibly in a coma, for her handsome prince to come and save her. And all the while, her hair is perfect and her clothes are pretty and even quite revealing (Jasmine and Ariel, for instance, would definitely get dress code). But it’s important to understand that these movies are based on fairy tales that have been passed down for hundreds of years, and they’ve actually been cleaned up quite a bit to be deemed suitable for young audiences. In fact, a lot of these movies came out before modern feminist ideas became so integral to our culture, and it’s only from this modern perspective that anything seems wrong with the characters and storylines. I’m not saying that it should be excusable for all media to portray such stereotypical gender roles, but I don’t think that all movies should have to do the complete opposite, either. It’s important to recognize that trying to defeat stereotypes does not mean that no one can do or feel anything remotely in line with expectations. Just because I’m a girl
doesn’t mean I can’t love kids. It just means that society needs to recognize that whether you love kids and whether you have two X chromosomes have nothing to do with each other.
And Disney is certainly responding to more modern ideas of gender equality. Mulan was the heroine of her story- she saved all of China! Maybe Meg used her feminine charms to seduce Hercules, and maybe Snow White was an airhead who needed rescuing, but more and more Disney women have strong personalities and hold their own in their respective stories. Jasmine has quite the temper on her, Rapunzel threatened Flynn into getting her way, and Merida spoke out against the unfairness of being forced to marry and give up all her freedom.
So, sure, some Disney princesses have fairly stereotypical characteristics. But there is nothing inherently wrong with treating woodland creatures kindly or singing while cleaning. It is ultimately up to the viewer to decide whether they are going to focus on finding everything wrong with the Disney universe, or just sit back and enjoy the movie and its wonderfulness :)
Do you prefer animal, princess, or other Disney movies?
Probably princess movies. I find movies with actual people as the main characters to be more relatable and, therefore, enjoyable. Not that I don’t still love Lady and the Tramp and Lion King. I just find it easier to put myself in the characters’ places and imagine that I’m part of the story if said characters are of the same species as me.
What’s your favorite underrated Disney movie and why?
Umm… I’m not sure I’ve actually seen that many underrated Disney movies… so…
If you could live in any Disney story universe, which would you pick?
The Little Mermaid. Cause it’d be cool to be a mermaid :)

Anna Beth:
What’s your all time favorite Disney movie? Why?
Aladdin. It’s just my go-to Disney movie to watch. I kind of just love everything about it. The songs are the best, Aladdin is adorable, he and Jasmine are adorable (I love it when she figures out that he was the street boy she met, and he’s all flustered, and they’re just adorable!), not to mention that it’s got Robin Williams- Genie is the best!
Who’s your favorite princess? Why?
Hmm. It used to be Belle, because she’s smart and has brown hair and is therefore awesome. Plus that’s probably my second favorite Disney movie. But I think Rapunzel might have beat her out, both for favorite princess and second favorite movie. It’s just so adorable!!!! With the songs, and the chameleon, and the hair, and the AWWWW!!!!!!!!
Who’s your least favorite princess? Why?
Well, this isn’t going to be a completely fair choice. I haven’t seen Pocahontas, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, or Snow White in years. But, based on my current memories, my least favorite is probably…Aurora. I just… don’t remember her doing much of anything. She pricks her finger, she falls asleep, she wakes up. That’s about the whole movie. I also remember the fairies fighting over which color to make her dress, but other than that, she didn’t have much personality (that I remember), so she doesn’t really stand out to me.
Who’s your favorite Disney prince? Why?
It’s gotta be Aladdin. He’s just so sweet and adorable! But Flynn and Eric are tied for a close second.
Going along with Jill’s question, do you think Disney Princesses are good role models for little girls?
To an extent. They certainly aren’t bad characters. I don’t think a girl should model her behavior after one specific princess, but taken together, I think they demonstrate some very model-worthy qualities- they do well under adversity, they stand up for what they believe
in, they go after what they want, they are gentle and caring. Of course, they also disobey their parents, run away from their problems, blackmail people, and a few of them can be a bit lacking in personality. But no one, character on person, is perfect. And a lot of the times the bad qualities, like disobedience, come out of extenuating circumstances that I don’t think little kids would think of as something to imitate. Unless they’ve been locked up in a tower all their lives, I don’t think they would consider blackmailing a thief into sneaking them out of the house against their mother’s orders :)
What’s your favorite Disney animal movie?
Lady and the Tramp :) It’s just so cute!
What’s your favorite Disney song?
Oh dear. This is going to take some thinking about…Wait a second, never mind. It’s A Whole New World. Aladdin is really coming up a lot today, but I can’t help it. It’s just good at everything! Although I also really like the Tangled song, See the Light. It’s just so aww :)
Which Disney love story is the most like what you want with your future husband? (it doesn’t have to be from a princess movie or even be between humans, just love)
Ahh, this one’s hard! All the Disney movies have elements that I think are super adorable, but also things that I don’t like so much. It’s so sweet the lengths Aladdin is willing to go to be worthy of Jasmine, but he also lies to her about who he is, which I wouldn’t want. And I love how Belle and the Beast start out almost hating each other, but then they slowly get to know each other and see the good in the other. There’s just the issue of the Beast mistreating Belle’s father and holding Belle against her will. Tangled is sort of a combination of both of those things, they slowly get to know and love each other, but Flynn is a thief and lies and everyone is trying to keep them apart! And Eric is in love with Ariel from the moment he hears her voice, but then he doesn’t think it’s her, so it’s all one big misunderstanding, and he almost gets conned into marrying Ursula. Maybe I’m just overthinking this a little bit? :P
Ooh, what about Howl’s Moving Castle? Howl literally sweeps Sofi off her feet and you know they’re perfect for each other from the beginning. There’s just the small issue of Sofi being cursed into an old woman and Howl almost dying…
Ok, Disney movies are romantic and adorable and all, but upon reflection, I don’t think I’d actually want my love story to be like one. I don’t want my relationship to be based on abuse or deceit, and I don’t want people rooting against us and trying to pull us apart. 
I seriously think too much…
Why do some animals in Disney movies talk and others don’t? Example: In Cinderella, the mice talk but the horse and dog don’t.
It’s a matter of the fantasy genre in general (I should know, I just wrote a whole unit study about it :) It’s up to the creator of the universe to create the specific rules that the story will have to follow, since it doesn’t follow real world norms about animal communication and laws of physics and such. So if the creator decides that dragons can talk but crickets and horses can only communicate in grunts and squeaks, then that’s how it’s going to go. Come to think about it, do horses talk in any Disney movies? People ones, I mean. The horse doesn’t talk in Tangled, or in Cinderella, or in Mulan. I can’t think of any talking horses. Maybe they’re just not very chatty or something. Anyway, the writers decide the rules of the movie’s universe, and as long as they follow those rules and don’t break them and create unexplained inconsistencies in the following of those rules, it’s all hunky-dory. 
Who’s your favorite Disney character?
Umm. There are so many choices :/ It might be Peter Pan. I just love him :) Or Rapunzel, cause she’s the best. Or Aladdin, cause he’s Aladdin.
Should Giselle be a Disney Princess?
Probably not. I love Enchanted, but it strikes me as more of a spoof on the typical fairy tale, drawing from and expanding on other stories, than a fairy tale in its own right. Plus, Giselle spends most of the movie as a real person instead of an animated character, and that’s just not acceptable if she wants to be a Disney Princess :P
Favorite Dwarf?
Well, Dopey, of course! He’s just so clumsy and adorable :)
Though Grumpy is a close second.
Why is there no blood on the knife at the end of Tangled?
For the same reason that you rarely see blood in Doctor Who- it’s gotta be kid friendly, even if that means sacrificing realisticness. I mean, come on. It’s not like Tangled was very realistic to begin with :P
Why does Pocahontas 2 exist?
Because, awesome as Disney is, they never learn to quit while they’re ahead. I think this is a common feature of big companies in general, so we can’t be too hard on them.
What is the animal Gaston killed in Beauty and the Beast? You know, the one Lafou carries around before the Gaston song.
I couldn’t find a picture, but if memory serves, it appeared to be some species of Deercoon.
Who are the best Disney parents, and who are the worst?
First, I would like to ask if anyone else has noticed how rare it is to find a good mom in Disney? It seems like she’s always dead (Tarzan, Aladdin, Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast), and sometimes even replaced with an evil stepmother. What kinds of childhoods did these writers have?
As far as the best go, though, I’m thinking Peter Pan. Mrs. Darling is caring and gentle and good at telling stories, and while George Darling loses his temper a little bit in the beginning, it’s mostly because he’s stressed. Once he learns not to care so much what the neighbors think, you see how unconditionally he loves his children.
The worst parent award probably goes to… I don’t know. As far as biological parents go, most of the ones I’m thinking of seem to be great parents. They love their kids and want what’s best for them. Sure, they may lose their tempers or display intolerance, but they generally learn the error of their ways in time for everyone to live happily ever after. 
Step parents on the other hand, mothers in particular, tend to be quite ghastly. Out of these, Snow White’s is probably the worst- not many step-mothers actually try to kill their stepdaughters. They usually settle for holding them captive and/or forcing them into eternal
servitude.
If you could have any Disney character for a grandparent, who would you pick?
Of course you would ask this question, AB :P I’d have to say… Belle’s dad. As a father, he’s already tiny and adorable, and it would be fun to see all his experiments and help him try new
ones.
Should Merida from Brave be an official Disney Princess? Why or why not?
I see no reason why not. She is Disney, and she is a princess. Sure, it’ll wreck the whole even number ten thing, but Puerto Rico would wreck our even number fifty, and I still think they should have the right to statehood.
Does it matter if a Disney Princess doesn’t have a prince counterpart?
No, a princess is not defined by the man in her life. This is the twenty-first century, after all. Sure, love stories where the prince and princess fall in love and get married are adorable, but they’re not the only stories worth being written. Merida’s story is a pretty great one, and one of the main points was that she wasn’t ready to get married to some strange boy she hardly know. Had she been forced to go through with a marriage, it would have been kind of demoralizing and defeating. Though, now that I think about it, it might be kind of adorable to see a sequel where she falls in love with one of the princes…
Were there any Disney movies or characters that scared you when you were little? 
Mulan was probably the one that scared me the most. Especially the part when the Huns started popping up out of the snow. 
If you had to pair up characters from different movies (like a crossover), who do you think would make a good couple? Who would be best friends?
Well, I certainly wouldn’t want to break up any of the existing relationships. But I think Jane and Belle would be best friends. They’re both really smart and like learning and adventure and stuff. And Rapunzel would get along with everyone. I think Disney should just make a movie where they all meet each other and general awesomeness happens. Disney style. Not Once Upon a Time style.
Relationship-wise, I really don’t know. Once you eliminate the main characters, who are already spoken for, there aren’t that many choices left. At least that I can currently think of. Lol. I think it would be funny if Lotty from Princess and the Frog and Yao from Mulan- the short angry one- got together. Wouldn’t it just be adorable to see her running up to him and attacking him with a giant hug?

And that’s all the questions we have for today! I think Anna Beth wins this one- the love story question was fun to think about. I think I said the winner could have Question Tuesday again. So congrats :) I can’t wait for the rest of Disney Week!

Love,

Sara

Hello from Munchkin!
If you don't agree with me don't have a cow! Just nicely state why you don't agree and whose kiss is better is who you think should be on the list.

10. Esmeralda and Phoebus- The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Look at them kissing so passionately as Quasimodo's heart breaks

9. Aurora and Phillip- Sleeping Beauty 
She was cursed and sleeping and he kissed her...but after he slayed a dragon :p
Watch from 1:40 to the end. The other stuff is not kissing!

8. Belle and Adam- Beauty and the Beast
Wasn't expecting this kiss to be so low on the countdown but compared to the rest its okay

7. Rapunzel and Flynn- Tangled
Awww so cute!

6. Ariel and Eric - Little Mermaid and Little Mermaid II
Both really cute. In the 1st movie he twirls her which is so cute and in the  second movie they are already married and its still cute and playful. For a married couple to kiss like that after 12 years is winning ;p
Sorry for the Icelandic Watch from 44 to 1:06

Watch from 39 to 56 seconds

5. Pocahontas and John Smith- Pocahontas
Your stare was holdin',
Ripped jeans, 
skin was showin'
Hot night, wind was blowin'
Where you think you're going, baby? 

4. Tiana and Naveen- The Princess and the Frog

3. Hercules and Meg- Hercules
Hercules went to the underworld, got her soul, and sacrificed being a god for her...HERO!
watch from 2:18 to 2:51

2. Aladdin and Jasmine- Aladdin
AWWW

Tarzan and Jane- Tarzan
Adorable!

The End
Sincerely, Munchkin