Sean Akizuki's Fantasy Critic

Since Disney is with Marvel, here's one fantasy match I am up to. Marvel's Hades and Disney's Hades both hate to be compared to the cartoon dog. During the time Marvel's Hades was using his name "Pluto" he hated it being referenced to a cartoon dog. Hades in Disney also hated the name when it was given to him by the Romans. Just note that Hades isn't evil in the original myths but a neutral god compared to these two incarnations. Disney's Hades Disney's version of Hades is goofy. Yes, he is powerful but he is goofy. He manipulated Megara into service or two, he has every scheme against his nephew Hercules BUT most of them usually are predictably stupid. He's fast-talking and doesn't really have too much power. Also, he doesn't really have that much minions to dispose of. He does have some magical powers, mystic flame (and he can use them as fireballs) but he can't inflict paralysis, empower or depower and he can't teleport b...

It's time for some nostalgic 1990s. Right now, it's no secret that I hate most of the Disney bland live action remakes. Heck, I have even ZERO INTENTION to watch the upcoming Snow Woke movie. Okay, but I enjoyed the Aladdin live action remake -- to a certain extent! I have nothing against Emma Watson as an actress but she wasn't the right person to be Belle IMHO.  I was making comparisons of Kaia Gerber looking like Belle. What I noticed or never noticed was that Belle (1991) kinda looks like an animated Cindy Crawford. The same kind of face model was also used for Quest for Camelot by Warner Bros. I believe it's a coincidence like certain celebrities from one country after the other -- have a lookalike. I don't think Disney's animators had Cindy in mind when they made Belle. However, there's the possibility that they did. With Kaia Crawford Gerber lacking her mother's mole -- she does look closer to Belle!  It's probably just a coincidence. It's...

I could care less about unattractive actresses. I've watched some K-Drama where the leading lady was anything but pretty. For example, I don't find Shin Hye Sun pretty but she's LOVEABLE. However, the more I watched Rachel Zegler's interviews -- the more I'd say, "The problem isn't her face -- it's her ATTITUDE!" I could handle someone who looks like Rachel IF the woman doesn't have that woke attitude! As I watched the trailer -- what happened to Snow White ahem Snow Woke? Just looking at Snow Woke forcing the dwarves to do work for her -- is CRINGY. Since when did a woman doing domestic work become degrading and she must force men to do it? There's nothing wrong with men doing domestic work either. Domestic work is done by both men and women. Snow Woke's "Whistle While You Work" is absolutely CRINGY.  It's going to get more hilarious from there huh? 

Disney is nothing but a bad joke now. People can go ahead and think I'm just bashing the Beauty and the Beast (2017) movie because Emma Watson isn't hot enough for Belle. Okay, maybe I am but I've been watching some Korean dramas where the actress isn't even pretty (ex. Shin Hye Sun who's obviously a smart girl). I looked at what's leaked out and am I even surprised. There's always this feeling of "Oh I'm so easily offended!" going on! The latest Snow White isn't even snow white at all. It's Latina actress Rachel Zegler. I could start out that I had nothing against Halle Bailey as Ariel IF the Africanization was done right I did cite Happily Ever After: Stories for Every Child and how it remade a lot of stories into different settings. It had A Little Mermaid happen in Taiwan, The Emperor's New Clothes in Japan, and Beauty and the Beast in Africa. I think I'd probably have been interested to watch a black Ariel IF the whole stor...

Okay, I'm not too happy at racist comments made against My Little Mermaid (2023) . However, I have a feeling that casting a black woman as Ariel here while Prince Eric is STILL WHITE might just be forced diversification. I also feel having a black mermaid here and a white human might be nearly an SJW message. I feel like if Disney truly wants to try out a black Ariel - why not move the whole plot to AFRICA? Sounds funny but that's what I think should've been done. I could remember when HBO created Happily Ever After . Many stories were reimagined outside their country's setting. The episode "The Emperor's New Clothes" relocated the setting to Japan. Heck, even the Aladdin episode was retold as Chinese when it's an ARABIAN story. Yeah, I know an earlier version of Aladdin happened in China but later versions moved it to Arabia where it should be. We had A Little Mermaid moved to CHINA. The episode "Beauty and the Beast" even relocated Belle t...

  Well, Disney screwed it again, right? I always thought about a couple of times I actually nitpicked Beauty and the Beast (2017) because I wanted Emma Roberts to be Belle. However, even if Roberts were Belle but a bad script and bad directing would still flop. They got Crystal Liu to finally become Mulan. Yes, this Mulan is hotter but is the script any good? I'm not really going to compare it to Mulan (2009) which was NOT for children. Instead, I'd like to really show Disney's indecisiveness regarding what it wanted to do with Mulan (2020) . They were set for a "more realistic" story yet they added Wuxia magic and aimed for a PG-13 rating. A PG-13 movie is not necessarily a bad thing. The first Mortal Kombat movie by New Line Cinema won Midway (and later Netherrealm) was pretty good though I wanted it to have some of that gore from the game.  I just wonder did Disney EVER learn its lesson? Or better yet, did Modern Disney ever learn its lesson? There's so muc...

Since it's December and there's the term Disneycember - I just want to throw in a bit of a joke right now. I always feel the return of Palpatine is simply asking the evilest Sith lord to bail them out of possible criticism. I also feel that Disney now has a hotter Mulan just as another desperate attempt to bail them out. So, I'd like to throw in a bit of a crude joke to make fun of the two situations. They could've done it last 2017. While I did write about casting Emma Roberts as Belle  - I just want to divert it on. Roberts is more or less a live version of Belle complete from the pretty face to rather being flat in some way. Since, Liu Yi Fei is actually a way hotter Mulan - I thought Disney could've thought of having a hotter Belle. My pick would be Gracie Dzienny as Belle. It's because she's not only pretty but she's also really sexy - she would have made Belle way hotter than she was in 1991. It was a beautiful desperation Disney could've pu...

I remembered writing about Emperor Palpatine's sudden appearance in The Rise of Skywalker . Now, I heard Disney is retconning Palpatine as a figurehead which is WTF in contrast to the Lucas Canon. Palpatine himself under the strings of a woman? Why do I smell SJW stupidity again? Now, I want to consider the Mulan (2020) film which may actually be nothing more than a desperate bailout. So, they did get a less hot Princess Jasmine in Aladdin (2019) which did work in some way. Personally, I prefer the less attractive Jasmine. Though I still think Naomi Scott should've been Mother Guan Yin Though people know how much I yap and yap about how Belle in Beauty and the Beast (2017) was nowhere near as hot as Beauty and the Beast (1991). I just think Emma Watson was definitely not a good choice. Come on Disney, are you blind? I'd still consider this move a pathetic attempt at a bailout for Disney. So, I was wondering if they were thinking, "Okay, we didn't get a hotter Bel...

Is it me or does Disney really RUIN everything now? Marvel is ruined by them with SJW agenda. Now, I even think they've ruined ALMOST. EVERY. CLASSIC. they made themselves. Now, it's time to think about how Star Wars itself is ruined by Disney one way or another. I really find the Disney Canon to be dull and uninspired in contrast to the Legends Canon. Yes, the Legends Canon by George Lucas. I could understand if Disney wanted to make their own Star Wars continuity to avoid conflict with the Legends Canon but it's not really worth a drop. Now, it's time to consider that Disney may have had the nasty habit of trying to bail itself out at the superficial level. Palpatine is indeed returning for The Rise of Skywalker, which is just a bailout for me. Everybody in the Star Wars fandom just loves Palpatine as a villain, right? If there's any Star Wars villain I'd say is also iconic aside from Darth Vader (who's apparently more popular) then it's Darth Sid...

While The Lion King isn't exactly a copy of Jungle Emperor Leo (and we know, inspiration begets inspiration) -- you can't deny that both shows are well-loved franchises that defy logic in several levels. I can't decide which is weirder between The Lion King and Jungle Emperor Leo with that logic defiance. Both of them have plenty of WTF logic considering that you've got talking animals who act and feel like human beings. I can't even decide which is dumber between Simba eating bugs and Kimba trying to become a herbivore. There are many similar characters in both well-loved franchises -- yet there are differences too. Kimba is trying to act grown-up for a lion cub while Simba is your typical child who matures into a great king. Scar is Simba's uncle while Claw isn't related to Leo or better known as Kimba in the west.  What's so weird about both shows? The lion is the king of the jungle. In real life, the lion eats other animals. Remember the who...

While Aladdin (2019) had some good remakes such as Will Smith as the Genie or the new rendition of the classic song "A Whole New World" -- Lion King (2019) just fails to get what made Scar truly menacing. I can still remember this scene sent me chills that made The Lion King (1994) a real classic. The voices, the music, and just EVERYTHING about that movie made it a worthy classic. Just listen to how Scar (1994) was really that menacing that you'd hate his character while loving the voice behind him. But Scar (2019) is pretty much too robotic! You can see the problem when an old school ends up shaming the new school! Shouldn't the new school seek to get better? Unfortunately, this isn't the case with the "Be Prepared" song sung in 2019!

The Lion King originally had an intended (but fortunately deleted) love triangle that would happen between Simba and Scar for Nala. Scar decided to make Nala his queen so he can have a pack of little Scars. It would be disgusting considering the fact that Nala is, in fact, young enough to be Scar's daughter just like how Jafar is old enough to be Jasmine's father. So why do I actually ship the whole love triangle that happened in the remake (but sadly, dull) movie? It deepens the very petty stupidity of Scar. Scar is obsessed with Sarabi and he wants to make her his . He kills Mufasa not only for the throne but also for his sister-in-law he so covets. He's a sore loser and doesn't want to accept his losses. The scene in the original Lion King having Scar hit Sarabi somewhat hinted he did have feelings for her. Remember when Sarabi mentions Mufasa and Scar gets mad? I always assumed that there must have been a love triangle between brothers -- something that wa...

Whenever there's a remake -- I set a low bar these days. I was expecting Aladdin (2019) to be disappointing BUT I was amazed at how Will Smith made a good Genie, a less pretty Princess Jasmine has its own charm, and maybe a younger Jafar made the whole lust scenario less disgusting. But now, I'd like to drag the attention to Mulan. Liu Yi Fei did act well in the Forbidden Kingdom movie where she did well. But she didn't appear in any more Hollywood movies after that. My beef with most American films these days is how deteriorated most of them have become. I remembered how I thought the Beauty and the Beast (2017) movie just lacks the life or maybe it was just because Emma Watson's not hot enough to be Belle. The scenario of Mulan (2020) is different because now Yi Fei is more than hot enough to be Mulan. But is her being Mulan just a desperate bailout and hoping to use her beauty to win a score. Though Yi Fei in due fairness has been more known for her thorns tha...

I do still miss the late Robin Williams but like Naomi Scott -- Will Smith does his part as the Genie rather well. No autotuning and I decided to really give the film its own credits. While I still go "BAH!" with Luke Evans singing "Gaston" -- Smith actually did good in his own way. Nostalgia is getting there but just listen to his remake version of Prince Ali.  Smith has plenty of acting experience to play a rather complicated, hammy character. What Williams has -- Smith has in his own way. We can see how he decides not to hide behind the greatness of Williams and become his very own genie. The movie even made some alternations to the Genie such as turning him into a human in the end. Also, the Genie singing the Arabian Nights song makes him his very own genie.

After considering that Jasmine being less attractive has its own charm (but I haven't changed my mind about Emma Watson as Belle) -- I still thought of a possible alternative casting. So here are my picks for Jafar and Jasmine... I thought the cast doesn't have to be of Middle Eastern descent. Will Smith is of African-American descent. Naomi Scott is half-Indian. Now, I want to think that the better Jafar over Tunisian-Dutch actor Marwan Kenzari could've been Luke Evans. Evans looked more like Jafar than he would as Gaston. Kenzari is what I'd call too hot to play the role of Jafar who wasn't known for being attractive. Kenzari could play any attractive villain which I think makes him not the best choice for Jafar. On the other hand, Evans wasn't really attractive enough to play Gaston. As said, that part should've been for the much younger Zac Efron. Although Scott did a good job -- I thought Victoria Justice could've made a more attractive Pri...

I remembered being such a fan of The Lion King as a child. As an adult, I don't know if the remake will still hold up to the original classic movie -- this is coming from someone who thinks Aladdin (2019) is an interesting remake! One whole thing in Lion King is that remember it's not entirely science but the supernatural is hugely involved. Remember when Mufasa talks to Simba via the clouds or when it suddenly rains after Scar is defeated? It just feels so weird! So here's a really good theory considering that Lion King is full of supernatural elements... The idea that the clouds follow the rightful king may make sense. The drought started immediately like so shortly after Simba left and Scar became king. Scar wasn't even meant to be the rightful king so the clouds didn't follow Scar. The very statement that Mufasa made that the past kings join the stars may also account for that. I always found it funny that it rains after a more mature Simba finally def...

It's ironic how Naomi Scott made me hesitate over Power Rangers (2017) but hasn't done the same effect for me for Aladdin (2019). So how did Princess Jasmine being less hot actually work? Princess Jasmine (1992) is  too hot for her own good. Jafar in the 1990s version goes from a scheming vizier who soon got Jasmine's hotness into is head later in the game. But the 2019 version has a less attractive Jasmine actually worked. How do I think it worked? It doesn't distract me from the changes the story had. For instance, Jasmine being presented to be less attractive (but still attractive in her own way) makes you want her more for power than appearance. Jafar (2019) is more focused on, "I must marry the princess to legitimize my planned tyranny." He even attempts to marry her rather than that disturbing scene in the 1990s version where Jasmine was forced to become what could be a sex slave for Jafar. Jafar (2019) focuses on marrying Jasmine so he could finally ...

I know I've had issues with Disney capitalizing on their past successes such as Beauty and the Beast but I can't deny this cover is actually pretty good. I'd still like the original better (due to Lea Salonga-Chien singing Jasmine's voice) BUT I don't want to dismiss whatever good qualities this has. So, just sit down and enjoy although the end credits version is just facedesk due to how lifeless it is. Better than autotuning Emma Watson for the 2017 version of Beauty and the Beast. Though I still love this version for nostalgia reasons. Is a generation gap really affecting me or what? 

As if casting Naomi Scott as Kimberly for the Power Rangers movie by Lionsgate wasn't weird enough (and I hope Toei and Hasbro will abandon the movie project altogether) -- I just felt casting her as Jasmine is kinda awkward. How so? Scott herself is half-Indian and half-British and not of Middle Eastern descent. It almost feels as awkward as Chinese TV series that make Chinese celebrities play non-Chinese characters, having American actors play French characters (ex. various incarnations of Hunchback of Notre Dame) or how several incarnations of The Monkey King have Indian characters played by Chinese celebrities! Her appearance in the Aladdin movie makes her look like Avalokitesvara the Bodhisattva of Compassion instead of Princess Jasmine. Right now, I'd rather imagine the actress playing the role of an Indian princess who gave up her birthright and swears herself to celibacy to achieve enlightenment, gave the ultimate sacrifice of giving her eyes and arms to cure her ...

As much as I find the Beauty and the Beast (2017) to be really bland in terms of acting but it did add some backstory like why Beast turned out like that. It was revealed in the 2017 version that well Beast's mother died at a young age and he had a selfish father. So I'd assume that this selfish father died prior to the events of the movie. I thought it was a nice addition though I thought about trying to alter the curse's origin. Whether or not the Beauty and the Beast midquel should even be considered canon is somewhat debatable. I remembered the slight contradiction where he didn't dismiss her twice but only once prior to the curse. It does add some problems such as when was Chip born or was Beast really only eleven when the curse happened or was ten years an exaggeration? I wanted to even shorten the deadline for the curse. So if Belle is presumably 17 years old and Beast would be 20 going 21 -- then I thought about what about if the curse happened to him in h...