Hollow Immitations: Live-Action Remakes

Within the last 10 years, there has been a trend of live-action remakes of animated classic films or series. The most prominent example of this shift is displayed by The Walt Disney Studios, adapting their beloved works for the modern age with updated technology and real-life actors, but telling virtually the same story. Examples include Aladdin, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Pinocchio, and many more.

Live-action film adaptations of pre-existing animated stories produce exceedingly high box office results, demonstrating undeniable commercial success. However, they are typically not well-received by audiences and critics, with many perceiving these films as a sign of desperation and lack of creativity. And yet, they continue to be produced and continue to make hundreds of millions of dollars, capitalizing on nostalgia for profit rather than telling creative stories.

Conversely, films containing original stories recieve less recognition and tend to flop at the box office, further incentivising the continuation of live action remakes.

While they are lucrative, live-action remakes of animated stories lack the soul and passion of their original counterparts. Most of the stories told, particularly classic Disney films, were told in animated format to enhance the whimsical and expressive nature of their respective narratives and characters. When that core element is stripped away, all that is left is a mere imitation of a beloved story that a live-action adaptation could never recapture, let alone surpass.

Disney Live Action Remakes: Do They Have a Future? - Wright State Guardian

Picture Credit: Google

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