Musicals

Before I made this list I thought I had seen dozens of musicals. It turned out that no, I did not. From a very short list of about 15 movies, these are the 10 that stood out the most.

 10. Moulin Rouge
The first time I watched this movie, I hated it. I still dislike it, but I've fallen for the theatricality of the whole thing. And some of the songs here are pretty catchy. However, let it be known, I still dislike this movie. But the music was so good!






9. Singing in the Rain
While I wasn't into the movie in it's entirety, this song is pretty amazing. Many a time I have walked in the rain humming this tune! Nothing spectacular in this movie, except the music.





8. Fiddler on the Roof
A decent movie but with one of the best songs I've ever heard in a musical film! In its entirety, it wasn't that great. In fact, this song is the only reason it made it to 8. I'm quickly learning that I don't like most musicals. This is a simple scene with nothing too spectacular yet the song, and the dance especially, made this one hell of a good musical.





7. Labyrinth
This had to make it into the list. There's no denying that this was one strange movie (David Bowie?!) but it was still pretty cool. Not the best thing I've ever watched but the setting and crazy characters along with decent songs make this one of the better musicals I've watched.




 6. Annie
Annie was fun. I like a spectacular movie and this was not a spectacular movie. Despite the lack of grandour, I was still pleased, if not glad, that I watched Annie. The songs are fun and that girl is so funny looking. What more could you ask for?




5. The King and I
And now we get to the good stuff. The King and I, with all it's costumes and elaborate designs, fits the profile of the musical I'm looking for. With bitchin' songs and an interesting story, this film is the one that got me into the musical scene. And how could you go wrong with this song?





4. Mary Poppins
Probably the second musical I fell in love with after discovering The King and I, Mary Poppins was above and beyond the scale of The King and I. This musical combined a good film and good musical scenes so well that it's no wonder that its legacy still lives on today.





3. The Nightmare Before Christmas
I hate the majority of people who love this movie, but I do love the movie. Hot Topic makes 90% of it's profits by slapping this name on everything (a lie). And that Nightmare Revisted CD? What the fuck? Despite the ugly following and disappointing merchandise, this musical still contains some of the best songs ever, the coolest setting ever, a good story, and it's stop motion! Watch it and forget everything else and this would definitely make it into the top 10 musicals. Now top ten movies, that's a different story...





2. Grease
Of course Grease. This movie has some of the best songs I've ever heard in a movie and it was just super cool. John Travolta was good but it was Olivia Newton John that I was going crazy for. And she's totally hot at the end. This musical was just pure fun and deserves a top spot for that, but not the top spot.





1. Chicago
Definitely the best musical I have ever seen. First of all, it takes place during the best time period and is completely suitable for the story, which was also really good. The production costs were high and it shows. This musical was beautifully choreographed, shot superbly, acted finely, sung amazingly, and was just crazy good. This is what all musicals should be.



Due to the lack of good musicals, there are only 2 honorable mentions.

• Little Shop of Horrors
• There's No Business Like Show Business

Disney Introduction Songs

So Disney likes doing this a lot and, let's face it, there really is no other easier OR fun way of introducing a character than through the wonder of song! I picked Disney this time because there are tons of musicals out there that I haven't seen and Disney kind of deserves it's own catagory when it comes to this subject. When I watch even more movies containing introduction songs, I'll make one of those. So for now, sit tight, and enjoy.



10. The Court of Miracles (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)
You may feel like this shouldn't have made the list. I mean, there are so many other songs out there to choose from. Well I don't care, this song tops the Fun-o-Meter. Clopin turns out to be one surprisingly (not really) crazy guy who likes to hang people and comes up with a great song to get that message across. It's a great introduction to the world of the insane outcasts. And in the end, hey look who's also part of this crazy group!





9. Belle (Beauty and the Beast)
This song pretty much sums up three things. Belle hates her town (every morning just the same?), she's beautiful (I guess?), and Gaston wants her. This, plus the intro explaining the origin of the beast, tells us everything we need to know and the rest of the movie is just a build up to a fight between the two for her. It does all this whilst being an enjoyable song and so I place this at number 9!




8. Prince Ali (Aladdin)
Prince Ali isn't really a new character being introduced. It's more Aladdin after finding some magic guy who changed him into a prince. So he may not be a new character but the introduction to this fraud is catchy and the parade is a feast for the eyes. There's also the Genie's references to modern day things (they had to reference the Macy's parade) and his funny guy antics. This is one of the best songs in the movie and really does it's job as an introduction to a guy the princess isn't too fond of. Who would be?




7. I Wanna Be Like You (The Jungle Book)
Now this is a great song all around. Lyrics, music, and purpose. As the Monkey King tries to get the secret of fire from Mowgli, he tells us how all he wants is to be a human. Don't know about you but the idea of an orangutan obsessed with becoming human is pretty awesome. He kidnapped the kid in order to find out and for some reason he's so menacing while being a fun loving primate. Actually...he's kind of scary. But it's Louis Prima! Singing! In a Disney movie!




6. He Mele No Lilo (Lilo and Stitch)
I don't really know the lyrics but this is very different from the other stuff Disney has done. A good movie, there is never really a part where the characters break out into song. I mean, they do sing and dance, but it's different. Anyway, this song is catchy and does good in showing us what kind of person Lilo is. She's crazy, weird, and is not very responsible. I wonder who will change that.




5. Strangers Like Me (Tarzan)
Tarzan, for the most part, had no singing or dancing in it like most other Disney films. That still doesn't change the fact that the Tarzan soundtrack is AWESOME. Good job Phil Colins. While we were already introduced to Tarzan about twice already (Baby Tarzan whose parents get eaten, Young Tarzan who's an outcast but becomes accepted, and Adult Tarzan who's an outcast again but becomes accepted, again!). Every introduction has a pretty awesome song with it but this one is one of the better ones.



4. Friend Like Me (Aladdin)
One of the best songs AND scenes in Disney movies, Friend Like Me serves as the introduction to the Genie. Probably the best character in the movie (Jafar might be better), he also gives us the best song. He basically boasts how great he is and tells Aladdin that he can give him three wishes. Aladdin really messed up on the wishes though. Becoming a prince, freeing the Genie? Jafar was on the right path. One of the most memorable and effective introductions to a character, this one deserves its spot.




3. When We're Human (The Princess and the Frog)
I absolutely love jazz and therefore had to include some song from The Princess and the Frog. Though it's not really an introduction song, it does remind us of what the characters are searching for and also introduces us, at least in song for, to Louis (he's that alligator). The catchiest song from the film also has some pretty amazing animation to go along with it, Friends on the Other side being the other song which surpasses the animation. Thank you for this, Randy Newman.






2. The Virginia Company & Steady as the Beating Drum (Pocahontas)
It's kind of two songs in one but the transition between them is so subtle they might as well be one. Also, they're both introduction songs. They might as well be one song. The first part introduces us to Captain Smith and his quest with the Virginia Company. The song becomes a thousand times more epic as we turn to the Indians and their reaction to the newcomers. We are introduced to the guy who loves Pocahontas and Pocahontas herself, as the girl in search of something more. One of the best introduction songs ever, and one of the best introductions ever, this song deserves the second spot. And if you want to argue, think about this, there's Indian chanting (sort of)!




1. The Bells of Notre Dame (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)
Even I was surprised when I realized that The Hunchback of Notre Dame earned two spots on this list. The music overall turned out to be pretty amazing. Epic and fitting for the period, actual words in all the music (that IS Latin they're singing), and great animation. The introduction is actually one of the most amazing things I've ever watched. It's so eerie and the story is intriguing. Also, they're reminded me how fucking crazy Frollo is. He is a genuine badass. The only thing that bothers me is when the boat guy asks for money. It didn't really seem to fit in but that's easily overlooked. If you haven't watched this or forgot about it like I did, you have to check it out. Hands down the best introduction song ever.




Honorable Mentions:

• Bare Necessities (The Jungle Book)
• Les Poissons (The Little Mermaid)
• Circle of Life (The Lion King)
• Two Worlds (Tarzan)
• Honor to Us All (Mulan)

Traditionally Animated Movies of All Time

Traditional animation has had a somewhat long history, a history that Disney mostly owns. With good reason too. Computer animated movies are so many that they deserve their own category. Here are some of the best animated movies to come out since Snow White appeared on the big screen in 1937, and not all belong to Disney.



10. Tarzan (1999)
With great music by Phil Collins,this great film from Disney is the last major hit Disney had before it's hand drawn movies went downhill when it entered the 2000's. While many would argue my decision to even include it in the list, I feel like it deserves to be here because of the animation and story. C'mon guys, it's Tarzan.




9. Akira (1988)
Apparently based on a manga, this film by Katsuhiro Otomo is one of the weirdest things I've ever watched. But I loved it. The animation was amazing and the last 20 minutes of the movie were kind of scary, visually that is. The setting and story are what got to me the most and deserves to be on this list.



8. Pinocchio (1940)
Probably the first animated movie I ever watched, it's also one of the best. The second in the Animated Classics line of movies, Pinocchio is an epic adventure which includes some scary and evil characters (Stromboli?!). Also, kids turned into donkeys. This was one scary movie which features good songs and good animation. Another win for Disney?



7. An American Tail (1986)
Directed by Don Bluth, who left Disney in '79, this movie features some fantastic animation coupled with a cool story that takes place in New York City. The beginning of the movie immediately caught my attention and I was not let down by the rest of the movie. I'll admit, I got a little choked up during some parts. And the rat was actually a cat!



6. The Little Mermaid (1989)
Yet another Disney Classic. I feel like the movie was nothing special as a romance story but the songs are some of the best I've heard and Ursula is one of the most badass villains in the whole Disney Villains line-up. Always a fun watch and always fun to listen to. Deserving of the number 6 spot.



5. The Land Before Time (1988)
Another Don Bluth film, this Universal Studios release is one of the best animated movies of all time. Great songs, a great story, great animation, and dinosaurs. This is one truly amazing film. With an amazing opening and an amazing climax, this is one movie from my childhood which will never be forgotten.



4. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Apart from having a kick ass poster, this Disney movie features some of the best songs I've heard Disney churn out. The characters, like Gaston and the Beast, were great and though I wasn't too fond of the sidekick, the clock guy and the candle guy were great. The settings were fantastic as well. Just about everything in this movie was amazing but it's still only at number 4.



3. The Lion King (1994)
Mufasa and Scar, brothers. Scar is an asshole and Mufasa is a king. What followed was one amazing death scene and some of the catchiest songs from Disney. Story, setting, characters, and songs. This one had them all and some of the most memorable scenes in animated film history (stampedes! murders! graveyards! hyenas!).



2. All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989)
People will not like my choice of number 2, especially after I put it in front of the Lion King. This Don Bluth film however, will not change place because it features some of the coolest characters of all time and one truly bad dog named Carface. The animation is impressive and the story is predictable but the execution is amazing. And there's a singing crocodile! I love singing crocodiles. Or alligators.



1. The Rescuers (1977)
Numer one is, of course, a Disney film. A beautiful film with some good songs and a good story. When Tomorrow is Another Day and the two mice were flying across New York, I was in awe. The villains were not top notch but they things they did will not be forgotten. Very arguable as the number one but for now, it will remain in that spot.





Honorable Mentions:

• The Hunchback of Notre Dame
• Charlotte's Web
• Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
• The Princess and the Frog
• Anastasia
• Bambi