“The Fox & the Hound” (1981)

The Fox & the Hound  

Brief Description:

A fox named Tod and a hound named Copper vow to be best friends forever. But as Copper grows into a hunting dog, their unlikely friendship faces the ultimate test.

Date:

Genre: American animated buddy drama film

Running time: 1 hour 23 minutes 

Cast: 

Mickey Rooney (Tod)

Keith Mitchell (Young Tod)

Kurt Russell (Copper)

Corey Feldman (Young Copper)

Pearl Bailey (Big Mama)

Jack Albertson (Amos Slade)

Sandy Duncan (Vixey)

Jeanette Nolan (Widow Tweed)

Pat Buttram (Chief)

John Fiedler (Porcupine)

John McIntire (Badger)

Dick Bakalyan (Dinky)

Paul Winchell (Boomer)

Director: Ted Berman, Richard Rich, & Art Stevens

Production company: Walt Disney Productions 

Based on: The Fox & the Hound by Daniel P. Mannix

Wikipedia page

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Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 3/5

Cute little American southern backwoods setting. :)

Characters: 3.5/5

Copper and Tod are nice enough fellows, and I like Widow Tweed, especially when she faces off Amos. He’s pretty nasty but the ending gives me hope for him. ;) Big Mama is nice, and D & B are so much fun. XD

Plot: 3.5/5

Meh. The first time I watched this, I was super disappointed because I thought it was a super sweet, sad film. It’s a comedic, dramatic film. The second time, I enjoyed the comedy but still felt the drama was through the roof, especially for a kids’ film. Though I understand why it’s there. I really like the subplot of Dinky, Boomer, and Squeaks though. 

Romance: 3/5

They’re cute. 

Theme/Message/Topics: 4/5

Letting go of friends after a certain season, even best friends… that touched me though. 

Content: 4/5 (low)

Mild language (gosh, darn, etc). 

Violence: 3/5 (medium)

Amos, Chief, & Copper are hunters; guns, traps, skinning, attacking, etc, galore. Plus a wild bear fight at the end. 

Overall: 3/5

It’s fun enough, it’s just not my favourite and I don’t know if I’ll rewatch it. 

“The Man Who Invented Christmas” (2017)

The Man Who Invented Christmas 

Brief Description:

In 1843 London, author Charles Dickens finds himself in financial trouble after writing three unsuccessful novels in a row. Desperate for a hit, Dickens relies on real-life inspiration and his vivid imagination to bring Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and other classic characters to life in “A Christmas Carol,” forever changing the holiday season into the celebration known today.

Date: 2017

Genre: Christmas biographical comedy-drama film 

Running time: 1 hour 44 minutes 

Cast: 

Dan Stevens (Dickens)

Ely Solan (Young Dickens)

Mark Schrier (Presenter)

Patrick Joseph Byrnes (Stage Manager)

Miriam Margolyes (Mrs. Fisk)

Morfydd Clark (Kate Dickens)

Justin Edwards (John Forster / Ghost of Christmas Present)

Cosimo Massimo Fusco (Signor Mazzini)

Jasper Hughes Cotter (Walter Dickens)

James Heffernan (Charley Dickens)

Aleah Lennon (Mary “Mamie" Dickens)

Ella Mai Delaney (Katey Dickens)

Donna Marie Sludds (Maid)

David McSavage (William Hall)

Ian McNeice (Edward Chapman)

Miles Jupp (Thackeray)

Pat Mooney (Garrick Club Waiter)

Anna Murphy (Tara / Ghost of Christmas Past)

Jonathan Pryce (Dickens’ father)

Ger Ryan (Dickens’ mother)

Sam McGillicuddy (Young Charles’ Brother)

Rory O’Neill (Young Charles’ Brother)

Nancy Quinney (Young Charles’ Sister)

Alanna Manning (Young Charles’ Sister)

Glynis Casson (Society Lady)

Amelia Crowley (Mrs. Grimsby)

Bill Paterson (Mr. Grimsby)

Derek Hanna (Toothless Man)

Derek O’Sullivan (Grave Digger)

John Delaney (Grave Digger)

Christopher Plummer (Scrooge)

Gerard Lee (Cleric)

Stephen Ball (Clerk)

Martin Philips (Pawn Broker)

Donald Sumpter (Haddock / Jacob Marley)

Kevin McCormack (Bailiff)

Aideen Wylde (Charlotte Wigmore)

Simon Callow (John Leech)

Katie McGuinness (Fanny Dickens / Mrs. Cratchit)

Marcus Lamb (Rev. Henry Burnett / Cratchit)

Pearse Kearney (Henry Jr. / Tiny Tim)

Paul Kealyn (Warren’s Foreman)

Richard Coombs (Punch / Judy)

Michael Judd (Pie Man)

Eddie Jackson (Scam Artist)

Anthony Morris (Newsagent)

John Henshaw (Butcher / Mr. Fezziwig)

Annette Badland (Butcher’s Wife / Mrs. Fezziwig)

Linda Gough (Charwoman)

Jack Gunning (Cratchit Child)

Christina Martina (Cratchit Child)

Ava May Taylor (Cratchit Child)

Adam Dolan (Warren’s Factory Boy)

Cameron Simpson (Poll)

Degnan Geraghty (Christmas Tree Vendor)

John Colleary (Constable Copperfield)

Sean Duggan (Mr. Grub)

James Daniel Wilson (Grip the Raven)

Desmond Bird (Lover)

Fabiano Roggio (Ghost of Christmas Future)

Franco Moscon (Nobleman)

Mark Quigley (Middle Class)

Roisin Whelan (Maid)

Samantha Kelly (Minor Role)

Séamus Hanly (Audience Member)

Valeria Bandino (Tart)

Director: Bharat Nalluri

Production company: Parallel Films & Rhombus Media

Based on: The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford

Wikipedia page

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5

Another film I watched in March with friends, and it stayed with me for weeks. I LOVED THIS. The 1843 aesthetic is ON POINT! The flashbacks to the past were super well done and the home & warehouse fit the scenes so well (and I want Dickens’ study). 

Characters: 5/5

Okay, Dickens was the absolute best. Dan Stevens CARRIED this film. He was the perfect Dickens. Such an amusing guy—such a writer—and yet very deep and complex. I never expected the analyzation and exploration of his childhood traumas, and how it would affect not just his relationships but his life habits and his writing. The writing portrayal here was absolutely legendary. I have never seen writing portrayed so well in any film, maybe even any book! So many little things, like not being able to find the character until you had the right name… or how books stall because they hold a message you are figuring out yourself just then… it was amazing. So amazing. 5/4ths of my favourite part of the movie. (Yes, I mean 5/4ths). 

All the other actors were great and played splendid supporting roles. All-around amazing cast. 

Plot: 5/5

It was fantastic. Hilarious. Deep. So, so writerly. Historical. Just checked all the boxes and made me understand Dickens so much better. I don’t remember much about it anymore but I know I loved it. 

Romance: 4/5

I felt like the romance between Dickens & Kate was a little lacking—he was very dismissive—but he realized his issues and did try to work on them. 

Theme/Message/Topics: 5/5

The messages of forgiving, especially one’s parents for the past, and understanding people’s personalities—amazing. I don’t recall others but I remember being VERY well satisfied with the messages. 

Content: 4/5 (low)

I don’t remember anything but these are the few notes I have: 

Language (Da**ed; Bl**dy; G**’s teeth; G**’s sake; D**il ; G**). Champagne, mentions of fairies & ghosts, drinking. 

Violence: 5/5 (n/a)

I can’t recall. 

Overall: 5/5

I need this film. I need to rewatch it every year. I. love. it. so. crazy. much. I cannot wait to rewatch it someday—hopefully soon!!! 

*To be updated upon rewatch. 

“I Heard the Bells” (2022)

 I Heard the Bells

Brief Description:

Known as America's Poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow leads an idyllic life...until the day his world is shattered by tragedy. With a nation divided by Civil War and his family torn apart, Henry puts down his pen, silenced by grief. But it's the sound of Christmas morning that reignites the poet's lost voice as he discovers the resounding hope of rekindled faith.

Date: 2022

Genre: Drama biographical family film 

Running time: 1 hour 50 minutes 

Cast: 

Stephen Atherholt (Longfellow)

Jonathan Blair (Charley)

Rachel Day Hughes (Fanny)

Zach Meeker (Ernest)

Carl Anderson (Josiah)

Jacob L.T Bates (Civilian on Porch)

Jared Frederick (Massachusetts Infantryman)

Jeremiah Hornbaker (Man at train station)

Daniel Stargel (Sumner)

Wes Wise (Richard)

Director: Joshua Enck

Production company: Sight & Sound 

IMDb page

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5

Okay, so to be honest I watched this ages ago, back in March, with friends, and forgot to write a good review then. So I may have forgotten things. But I do remember I loved this! The setting was sooo 1850/60 and beautifulllll…. I loved the houses (and their details!) and the dresses, and the beautiful churches… it was amazing. 

Characters: 5/5

To be honest, I struggled with Longfellow’s character after he gave up on his kids. I realize the reason and empathize with him but he was their father. I felt a couple times that he could have exerted himself a little at certain places. I also felt the actor over-dramatized him at times? Be that as it may, he was a fantastic portrayal of a writer and this made me want to study up about him. And his arc was well done overall.

Fanny was the sweetest, prettiest, most amazing thing ever. <33 Enough said. 

Charles made me mad (hello, oldest sibling, YOU CAN’T JUST RUN FROM YOUR DUTY) but I couldn’t help linking him, overall. But my favourite was Ernest. HE WAS AMAZING. <33 Just an all-around amazing son and brother. Very, very responsible. 

Plot: 5/5

I don’t remember the plot all that well, but I remember absolutely LOVING the adorable home/daily life scenes (my heartttt) and then the drama ramped up during the Incident (which wasn’t too drawn out or too awful on screen, and fortunately I knew it was gonna happen or else I would have been SHATTERED) and the war and Longfellow’s depression and then the CLIMAX and the ending was sososososo well done and wrapped up perfectly and touched so many threads and YESSSSSS. 

Romance: 5/5

Fanny & Longfellow are the cutest thing ever. <3 

Theme/Message/Topics: 5/5

UGH YES! Okay, I need to read Longfellow. First of all, I love I Heard the Bells and The Children’s Hour and several other of his poems, which I already knew. But this one introduced me to some new ones, like “the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts.” The messages on hope and forgiveness and Christmas and Christianity and salvation were all EPICCCCC and beautifully woven in. 

Favourite Quotes:

The world need poets, not politicians. 

Look not mournfully into the Past. It comes not back again. Wisely improve the Present. It is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy Future, without fear, and with a manly heart.

Content: 5/5 

none! 

Violence: 5/5 (low)

Mild war violence & wounds, nothing graphic. 

Overall: 5/5

One of my top favourite films ever and I need my own copy so I can watch it again and again. <33

*Review to be updated when I rewatch!