THE OBJECTIVE: Watch the 52 worst live action Disney movies, one every week, in 2015.
LIVE ACTION DISNEY MOVIES WATCHED SO FAR:
Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue, Westward Ho, The Wagons!, Johnny Tremain, The Shaggy Dog (1959), Ten Who Dared, Moon Pilot, Bon Voyage!, Son of Flubber, The Misadventures of Merlin Jones, The Monkey’s Uncle, Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N, Monkeys, Go Home!, and Never a Dull Moment.
THE JOURNEY:
This year it is my goal to watch through the 52 worst live action Disney films ever made. Over the last three months, I have watched 13 of them. The majority of these truly are bad movies, the exceptions being The Shaggy Dog, and arguably Moon Pilot. Since I’ve been watching chronologically, I have now seen Disney’s dregs from the ’50s through the late ’60s. It has been a fun ride (largely because I am a bit of a movie masochist). Aside from the joy of watching terrible old films, it has been interesting watching Disney rapidly shift from making shitty movies about the past to making shitty movies about the future.
Woody, meet Buzz Lightyear.
Seriously, before 1962’s Moon Pilot, every film I watched was rooted in history (even The Shaggy Dog‘s plot is spurred off by ancient magic). Then, suddenly, every shenanigan is science-based, from Professor Brainard’s flubbergas to Merlin Jones’s creepy hypnotic powers. Also, chimpanzees are everywhere now.
The future sure is bright.
THE SIDE EFFECTS:
I didn’t expect this experiment to have too great of an impact on my day-to-day life, and so far it hasn’t. My very first week, I had a dream about the Scottish Highlands that was clearly influenced by Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue, but since then I haven’t seen any indication that the films have invaded my subconscious. I have, however, gotten a number of songs by The Sherman Brothers lodged in my head, primarily “Bon Voyage!” and “The Monkey’s Uncle.”
And if you click this, it could be stuck in your head too!
So not all that much right now, but 3 of my next 13 movies are Love Bug sequels, so who knows, maybe come July I’ll be talking to my car.
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES WITH:
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1969)
