Muppets Haunted Mansion Provides Delightful Halloween Fun

 I have loved the Muppets for pretty much my entire life.  I grew up watching Sesame Street and The Muppet Show.  I have seen all the Muppet movies - the ones made for tv and all the ones that were released in theaters.  I have watched all the tv shows.  Even though I was interested in some of the things that were exclusive to Disney +, I only signed up once Muppets Now was being released.  The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance is what got me to finally sign up for Netflix.  If the Muppets are involved, I will watch it.  I have enjoyed all of the Muppet movies and shows, though some have been better than others.  I have been looking forward to Muppets Haunted Mansion since I first heard about it earlier this year and it did not disappoint me.  I have already watched it twice and I’m sure I’ll be watching it more.

Muppets Haunted Mansion is a Halloween special that is only available on Disney +.  It became available to view on October 8, 2021.  It is short at only 49 minutes long, but it is very entertaining and well worth watching.  I would not have minded if it had been a bit longer.  The story is resolved by the end without things feeling rushed.  The special features Muppet characters and elements from the Disney attraction The Haunted Mansion.  It is the first Halloween special featuring the Muppets.

Gonzo has been invited to an event at a haunted house with ties to his favorite magician, The Great MacGuffin, on the same night that the Muppets are having their Halloween party.  Pepe the King Prawn is going with Gonzo and thinks they are going to a party full of famous people.  Once they arrive and receive a few warnings about the house being haunted, they start to realize that something else is going on.  The Host shares that Gonzo was invited to see if he could survive a night in the mansion with the ghosts.  If he can’t, he and Pepe will be trapped there forever.  Gonzo encountered several ghosts, some of which resemble their friends.  One ghost, Constance Hatchaway, sets her sights on one of them.

There are no extra scenes in the credits, but a version of Dancing in the Moonlight performed by Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem plays over the credits while little bits showing the human cast singing and dancing with the Muppets is shown.  It is just fun and joyful that it had me smiling as soon as it started.  It is just delightful and makes me so happy.  It really looks like the human actors were having fun with this part. The part with the song is on YouTube and I don’t even know how many times I have watched it.  It truly fills me with joy and makes me happy.  I honestly can’t remember the last time I felt this happy watching something.

Gonzo and Pepe are the main Muppet characters in Muppets Haunted Mansion.  It is not the first time for Gonzo to be in this position in one of the Muppet projects.  That started with A Muppet Christmas Carol, though he was paired with Rizzo then and in other projects after that.  It was a little odd to me for Rizzo to not be with Gonzo.  From what I have been able to find out, Rizzo was retired after Steve Whitmire was fired in 2018 instead of another performer taking over the character.  Rizzo was originally created by Whitmire and no one else has ever performed the character.  Pepe is fine, but I did miss Rizzo being with Gonzo.  The two characters have worked together well previously, so it is a bit different but it still works.

The story for Muppets Haunted Mansion is straightforward without any major surprises.  That didn’t make it any less fun or entertaining for me.  There are a few more heartfelt moments that I hadn’t expected before I started to watch.  Those bits do fit in with what is going on well and they fit with the Muppets overall as well since there is usually something like that in most Muppet projects.  It has a spooky feeling without being really scary.  There is one or two small jump scare like moments that do work with what is going on.  Those things could scare children more, but I do think this is very family friendly.  It is a fun Halloween special that is well worth watching.  There is humor throughout as well.  Some of it is a little corny, but that works too.  It is the same type of humor that turns up in most Muppet projects.  .  

Music has always been a part of every Muppet project and Muppets Haunted Mansion is no different.  A little bit of the cover of Dancing in the Moonlight plays at the very beginning.  I was a little disappointed when the whole song didn’t play at that point.  I was very happy when it played through the credits and the inclusion of the footage of the actors singing and dancing with the Muppets made it perfect.  There is also a cover of Grim Grinning Ghosts from the Haunted Mansion attraction.  There are three new original songs, Rest in Peace, Life Hereafter, and Tie the Knot Tango.  The songs fit in well and help to move the story along.

Some of the Muppets are shown briefly as themselves as the Halloween party that is briefly shown when Gonzo talks to Kermit on the phone at the beginning of Muppets Haunted Mansion.  The Muppets are wearing costumes for Halloween.  Kermit is dressed as Miss Piggy and Miss Piggy is dressed as Kermit.  That was not something I had expected and while it was a tad different, I am ok with it.  Once Gonzo and Pepe are inside the mansion, several of the various ghosts look like their friends.  The ghosts have a transparent, glowy look.  I have no idea how that was done, but I’m sure some sort of special effects were used.  The human ghosts have the same sort of look, though I think they did seem to glow a little more than the Muppet ghosts.   

There are references to previous Muppet projects, the Haunted Mansion attraction, and even a few other scary movies throughout Muppets Haunted Mansion.  The wallpaper in the mansion looks like what is in the attraction, though it is a Muppet version.  Miss Piggy shows up as Madam Pigota, a version of a character from the attraction.  There are other ghosts that are versions of ghosts from the attraction.  At one point, Muppet ghosts are dancing and telling each other bad jokes, which is like the At the Dance sketch from The Muppet Show.  Wayne and Wanda, two Muppet characters that have been rarely seen since the first season of The Muppet Show turn up.  I also spotted Johnny Fiama, Sal Minella, Lew Zealand, Nigel, Crazy Harry, and Marvin Suggs and a version of his Muppaphone briefly.  Some people who haven’t been watching the Muppets as long may not recognize all of the Muppet characters that make some kind of appearance.  It made me very happy to see so many of the characters again.

Matt Vogel now performs as Kermit.  He took over the part after Steve Whitmire was fired.  Vogel has been working with The Jim Henson Company since the 1990s, taking over several characters, including some on Sesame Street, as the original performers retired or passed away.  Vogel performed as multiple Muppets in Muppets Haunted Mansion.  His Kermit still sounds different to me, though I haven’t seen that much of his as Kermit yet.  Whitmire was Kermit for just over twenty years, so I had a lot of time to get use to his version of the character.  I thought Kermit didn’t sound right when Whitmire first took over the part as well.  I think Vogel’s Kermit sounds closer to Henson’s Kermit than Whitmire’s did.  I did watch The Muppet Movie again after watching this special, and Vogel’s Kermit doesn’t sound as different to me after doing that.  Several Muppet characters appear at least briefly.  It would have been nice if some of the characters had more to do, but it makes sense given the time limits of the special.  

Will Arnett as the Host has the biggest part of the human cast.  The other human actors just show up briefly, usually as a ghost of some kind.  Many of them are just on screen for a minute or two.  That has happened in all of the previous Muppet movies and specials as well.  There would be one or two main human characters, and the others would be in short cameos.  

Muppets Haunted Mansion is a little silly at times, but it is very fun and entertaining.  I think it is the best thing with the Muppets in many years While I enjoyed the 2015 series The Muppets overall, I didn’t like the changes to the personalities of some characters, especially Kermit.  Those changes seem to be forgotten with this special, which I think is a good thing.  It is delightful and gave me so much joy to watch.  It really reminds me of the Muppets of my childhood and that makes me so happy.  It also makes me hopeful for more good Muppet projects in the future. 

Cruella - A Villain is Born

 Disney has been making live action versions of some of their more popular animated movies for years now.  Some of them I have liked and others I wasn’t interested in.  The studio has also started to make live action movies focused on villain characters.  Cruella is the latest of those movies.

Cruella was released to theaters and through Disney + with Premiere Access on May 18, 2021.   The movie became available to view without Premiere Access on August 27, 2021.  That is when I watched it.  Since I would be the only person watching it, the extra fee for Premiere Access is a bit high, though depending on the movie, I’m not saying I would never do it.  I just haven’t so far.  I do think it makes sense if multiple people will be watching.  I do like that there are other options for people, though I know that may change in the future.  

I’m only going to briefly discuss the plot of Cruella.  Really the only thing I knew about the movie before watching it was that it would show a younger Cruella before the events of 101 Dalmatians.  

**Minor Plot Discussion**  

Child Estella Miller is very creative where fashion is concerned.  She is picked on at school because of her unique hair.  She is rebellious and can be a bit cruel at times.  Her mother comes up with the name Cruella for that side of her.  Estella ends up on her own in London after a tragedy.  As a young adult, Estella still has her love of fashion and dream of somehow becoming a designer.  She starts doing things as Cruella, gaining attention for her unique fashion and antics while also working toward her ultimate goal.

**End of Minor Plot Discussion**

There is a short scene during the credits that helps to further connect the movie to 101 Dalmatians.

Cruella is rated PG-13.  There is some mild swearing - the word that rhymes with luck is never used.  There are a few intense scenes that may be upsetting to younger children.  There is mild violence, but nothing excessive or explicit.  Parents should just watch the movie themselves to make the determination on if their children could handle it.  

I believe Cruella is a prequel to 101 Dalmatians, both the animated and live action versions.  The movie ends before the events of the other movies.  I’m not completely sure how much before 101 Dalmatians Cruella ends.  I’m honestly not sure if this movie is supposed to be considered a reboot or not.  There are differences to the character of Cruella in this movie from how she has been previously depicted, but there are also a lot of similarities.  Some things do give some sympathy to the character, though I don’t think she was changed so much that she wouldn’t end up as she was in the other movies.  Certain things that happen can be why the character is the way she is in 101 Dalmatians.  Little things here and there can definitely tie into the events of the other movies.   I did recently read that there are now plans for a sequel.

Cruella does cover a long time frame, from Estella’s childhood to when she is an adult and becomes Cruella.  Most of the movie is focused on a period of time when she is in London as a young adult.  I’m not sure exactly how much time passes during that part of the movie.  It covers at least several months.  Estella/Cruella goes though a lot over the course of the movie.  I did think a few things were predictable, but the movie is still entertaining.  There is a little bit of action in a few scenes without making the movie action packed.  The movie takes place in the 60s and 70s and a lot of music from then is used throughout the movie.  I did recognize most of the music and I think it worked with what was going on.  Fashion does play a huge part in the movie and a lot of it is amazing looking.  

A few important moments from Estella’s childhood are shown.  Those moments do have a lasting impact on her and influence decisions she makes as an adult.  She definitely had a rebellious side as a child that got her into trouble, though she wasn’t evil.  Once she is an adult, she is trying to be good and responsible, but she does turn more and more to her darker side as she becomes Cruella.  She does act and even speak differently as Cruella, something her friends notice and they are not as happy with the change to Cruella at times.  Emma Stone is wonderful in the part.  

Baroness von Hellman, almost always referred to as the Baroness, is a well known, successful designer in charge of a fashion house.  She a self-absorbed narcissist who treats everyone horribly.  She is willing to do anything to get what she wants.  She is a very unpleasant woman.  Emma Thompson is great in the part.  Mark Strong is in a few scenes as John, the Baroness’s valet who has worked for her for a very long time.  

Horace and Jasper are thieves who befriended Estella when they were all still children.  They worked together for years and formed a sort of surrogate family.  They do things for Cruella, though they are not happy about several things once Estella is Cruella more often.  In the previous movies, Horace and Jasper seemed to just be bumbling idiots hired to do Cruella’s dirty work.  There was no indication of a longer or different relationship between them and Cruella like there is in this movie.  They are criminals, but they really aren’t evil.  They are nicer than there have been in the previous movies.  Joel Fry and Paul Walter Hauser are good in the parts. Roger and Anita, the main characters in 101 Dalmatians, do show up in a few scenes each.  Artie, played by John McCrea, owns a vintage fashion shop that Estella discovers and the two become friends.   

Cruella is an entertaining movie that is worth watching.  There are a few moments that are slightly disturbing and could upset children, but the movie is still good and worth watching.  It is interesting to see a somewhat different version of the character. 

Maleficent - Angelina Jolie is Magnificent (Spoiler Free)

Disney has created many wonderful animated movie, fully of memorable characters, some good some evil.  One of the most memorable characters from a Disney movie - Sleeping Beauty - is Maleficent, the villain of that story.  On May 30, 2014, the live action movie Maleficent was released.

I am only going to briefly discuss the plot of Maleficent.  I will probably mention some things that could be spoilers for people who haven’t seen Sleeping Beauty or who don’t know the story. 

** Minor Plot Discussion **
A young and powerful fairy, Maleficent, lives in the magical land of The Moors which is next to a human kingdom.  The two lands do not get along and the people of each have no contact with each other.  One day Maleficent meets a boy, Stefan and they develop a friendship that lasts for years.  Stefan eventually betrays her in order to be named the next king.  Maleficent turns darker which causes changes to The Moors.  When she learns that Stefan, now the king, has a daughter, Maleficent shows up uninvited and curses Aurora.  Maleficent and Stefan spend the next sixteen years dealing with the consequences of the curse.
** End of Minor Plot Discussion **

Maleficent is being shown in 3D and 2D.  I ended up seeing the movie in 3D because of when the show times were.  The 3D is more subtle, which could disappoint some viewers.  It mainly adds depth to the various scenes, especially the ones set outside.  There really aren’t any images coming out of the screen, something else that could be disappointing to some people.  Personally, I like when that is done in 3D and think it looks cool.  There are definitely points in the movie when that could have been done.

This movie is based on Disney’s animated Sleeping Beauty as well as a few fairytale versions of the story.  I have seen the animated movie several times - it is actually one of my favorites - but I have never read any of the fairytales.  The movie is definitely connected to the animated movie, telling the same main story focused on Maleficent instead of Aurora, but there are differences as well.  Some people may not like the differences or that certain things have been changed.  I really enjoyed the movie and like the different take on the character.  I guess I am able to look at this as a different version of the story, so I am able to appreciate the changes the story take.  Other people may not be able to do that.  I have had issues with that sort of thing in other movies, but I think it works well this time.

The movie starts by showing Maleficent as a child before showing the betrayal that ultimately causes her to curse Aurora.  I have always thought that Maleficent was intriguing, so I have been interested in seeing this movie since I first heard about it.  A few younger versions of her are briefly shown early in the movie.  She is an adult for the majority of the movie.  I had thought that her horns were just part of a headdress when watching the animated movie.  This movie shows that the horns are part of her.  Younger versions of Aurora are in a few scenes, with the older version seen the most for her too.  Slightly different versions of other characters from Sleeping Beauty turn up as well, including King Stefan, who is shown at different ages.  Versions of Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather appear as well, though they have different names - Knotgrass, Thistletwit, and  Flittle - and they are pixies.  I remember them being called fairies in the animated movie.  I think the story is straightforward and makes sense, though others may not agree.  It is interesting and entertaining.  The story is somewhat dark, so parents should keep that in mind when making a choice for this movie.  It is possible that some people won’t think that the movie is dark enough.

Special effects are used throughout Maleficent to show magic different characters use as well as to show fairies, pixies, and other magical creatures of The Moors flying.  Certain parts of the movie wouldn’t have worked without the special effects.  They were done well overall, though one thing seemed a little off or odd.  The pixies start off small and then later in the movie they make themselves human size to blend in.  When they are small, something with their heads look a little off.  Action turns up in some scenes as well without making the movie action packed. 

The characters are interesting overall, though some of them, like the Queen, are barely shown and have no development.  The pixies seem to mean well, but they are far from the best caretakers for a child.  Stefan seems to be nice at first, but his ambition takes over, twisting him into someone different.  Aurora is shown to be sweet, loving, curious, kind, and gentle even though she doesn’t receive as much development.  In this version of the story, she is more of a supporting character.  Elle Fanning is good in the part.  Diaval is a crow who becomes Maleficent’s servant when she saves him.  She uses magic to transform him into a man or any other creature that would be helpful in a situation.

This version of Maleficent is much more complex than the version from the animated movie.  While that version is one of the great Disney villains, she really is kind of flat.  That is not the case here.  She starts off kind and trusting before she is betrayed.  She is justifiably angry while also showing a softer side every so often.  Angelina Jolie is absolutely stunning and magnificent as Maleficent.  She is perfect in the part and makes the movie.  I honestly don’t think anyone else could have portrayed this character.  I know that some people don’t care for Jolie, so those people may want to avoid this movie.

Maleficent is a very entertaining movie that gives a different take on a classic Disney movie.  Some may not like that difference, but I think it is well worth checking out.  Angelina Jolie is absolutely magnificent as Maleficent.

Tangled

I still love animated movies and many of the Disney animated movies I saw when I was younger are still among my favorites.  I have been interested in seeing Tangled since I first saw a trailer for the movie.

Tangled adds Rapunzel to the line of Disney princesses.  I’ve thought that Disney should do a Rapunzel movie for years, so I was happy when I found out they were making out.  The title was changed and I have read that it was in an attempt to attract more boys to watch the movie.  I don’t know if that is why or not.  The main male character, Flynn Rider, receives more attention than the male characters have in many of the other Disney princess movies.  That does make it a little different.  In other ways, it is more like the earlier Disney princess movies.  The characters are interesting and the voices fit them all very well.

It has been years since I last heard or read the Rapunzel fairytale and I had forgotten most of it before seeing the movie.  Really all I could remember was that she had really long hair and was stuck in a tower for some reason.  After seeing the movie, I did look some things up and know what was changed for this version of the story.  The main story is pretty much the same, though some of the details are different.  I really like this version of the story and think it works very well to make an entertaining movie.

Tangled is in 3D in some theaters.  I did end up seeing the 3D version, mostly because of the timing.  The 3D effects are well done, though mostly subtle.  The effect is done amazingly well in a later sequence involving floating items.  The movie has a beautiful look for the settings.  Rapunzel’s hair is very impressive.  She utilizes it in some unique ways that help make the movie more entertaining. 

The plot for Tangled is interesting and entertaining even though it is somewhat simple.  I was surprised by a few things that happened.  I may not have been surprised by those few things if I remembered more from the original story.  I do think there is a good amount of humor in the movie, much of which is provided by Rapunzel’s pet chameleon Pascal and Maximus, a horse who acts like a dog.  In addition to the humor, there are a few more serious moments in the movie as well.  There are songs, and while they are done well, none of them are as strong as ones from earlier Disney movies.  A bit of romance turns up without it being the driving force of the movie. 

Tangled is another wonderful Disney animated movie.  It is one of the better animated movies I’ve seen in a while.  It is definitely worth seeing.  I know I’ll be adding it to my movie collection.

I did get a review posted on Epinions.


Tangled