Disney is the movie studio that paved the way for the feature length animated film with the release of Snow White when it was released back in 1937 and characters such as Mickey Mouse, Simba, Elsa and the dwarves pop into mind when you think about some of Disney's greatest characters.
Into The Woods
However, Disney is not just about animated films, having produced a wide range of live action movies of the years. And a live action Disney movie is set to hit the big screen today in the form of new musical Into The Woods, which is based on the Broadway musical by Stephen Sondheim and puts a darker spin on some of our favourite fairytales.
To celebrate the release of Into The Woods - which has already picked up a handful of Golden Globe nominations - we take a look at some of Disney's best live action movies that have thrilled audiences over the years.
- Maleficent
Maleficent is one of Disney's most recent live action movies, which saw Angelina Jolie take on the title role in a great new -retelling of the Sleeping Beauty tale that we all know so well. Maleficent is one of Disney's most iconic villains and yet this film uncovered a new side to this fantastic character.
Jolie plays a perfect vengeful villain as the queen fairy of the Moors (Maleficent.) The film follows her perspective as she interacts with Princess Aurora (played by Elle Fanning.) Jolie and Fanning were joined on the cast list by Sharto Copley, Sam Riley, Brenton Thwaites, and Imelda Staunton.
Maleficent was a box office smash upon release and went on to gross in excess of $757 million at the global box office. Not only was it the third highest grossing movie of 2014, it was the second highest grossing none-sequel and the highest grossing female led movie of the year.
- Enchanted
Academy Award nominee Amy Adams stars as princess Giselle, who is thrust from her home in the animated world of Andalasia and onto the streets of modern-day New York City by an evil queen. The impressive cast includes the likes of Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Susan Sarandon, and Idina Menzel.
The film is a self-parody of Walt Disney animated classics, and is quite witty and heart-warming. Adams plays the naïve and optimistic princess character effortlessly, and shows off her singing skills with original songs like "That's How You Know."
The film was both a box office and critical success - it grossed over $340 million worldwide - and garnered two Golden Globe and three Academy Award nominations.
- Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins is one of Disney's most iconic films of all time. Starring Hollywood royalty Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, the film is based on the best-selling book series of the same name.
It follows the story of a magic nanny who comes to work for a cold banker's unhappy family. The film won five Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Original Song for "Chim Chim Cher-ee."
The film even inspired the creation of another Disney film in 2013 called Saving Mr. Banks, starring Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks, which centred on the creation of the Mary Poppins film and the true story behind it. Mary Poppins may have been released back in 1964, but it remains one of the most loved musicals of all time and is a must see for any child growing up.
- Pirates of the Caribbean
The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is one of Disney's most successful live-action endeavours: inspiring four sequels and a fifth which is currently in production! The first three films star Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley and Johnny Depp as the legendary Captain Jack Sparrow.
These pirate-fantasy films are filled with action and amazing visual effects. The franchise actually originated with the Pirates of the Caribbean theme park ride in Disneyland in 1961 and is now the eighth highest grossing film series of all time.
The first three films were nominated for a whopping eleven Academy Awards, winning one: Achievement in Visual Effects for the second film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dean Man's Chest. On Stranger Tides was the fourth film in the franchise to be released 2011, and also went on to enjoy billion-dollar success. So far, the four films have grossed in excess of $3.7 billion at the global box office.
Dead Men Tell No Tales is the fifth film is in the pipeline and will see Depp back as Jack Sparrow, while Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg will be in the director's chair for the first time.
- Remember The Titans
Many of Disney's live-action films are inspiring sports stories, but nothing quite compares to the incredibly moving 2000 film
Remember the Titans. Starring Denzel Washington and Will Patton, this true story follows a newly appointed African American football coach during his high school team's first season as a racially integrated unit. The film is a tearjerker that addresses racial issues head on, also serves as an inspiring story of brotherhood and teamwork.
Be sure to look out for Donald Faison, Hayden Panettiere, Kate Bosworth and Ryan Gosling in some of their first roles ever!
- Into The Woods
Disney's latest live-action film brings Stephen Sondheim's original musical of the same name to life. It tells an original story of a Baker and his wife who have a curse thrust upon them while intertwining some of our favourite fairytales: Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Jack and the Beanstalk.
The film stars Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Chris Pine, Anna Kendrick, James Corden and Emily Blunt, as well as a group of promising newcomers with musical backgrounds. The film will not disappoint in bringing animated Disney magic to its live portrayal.
Into The Woods marks the return of Rob Marshall to the director's chair for the first time since the success of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. And he is no stranger to the musical genre with the likes of Chicago and Nine already under his belt.
The movie has already picked up three Golden Globe nominations - Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical for Emily Blunt and Best Supporting Actress for Meryl Streep.
Into The Woods is out now.
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