ChargewithSword
Zelda Dungeon's Critic
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2009
- Location
- I don't want to say.
Ah yes, the Black Cauldron, truly the darkest Disney Film (in the Animated Canon mind you) made yet. Sadly it is also the most underatted and ignored Disney Film among the canon. The reason I am showing this at this forum specifically, is because this is a Zelda forum right? Well, this film may be based on a series of books (really loose though, nearly no connection what-so-ever) it actually resembles a Zelda film if you think hard enough. But anyways, on with the info.
Plot: <Copied off Wiki> On the small farm of Caer Dallben, Taran (Grant Bardsley) is an Assistant Pigkeeper to the enchanter Dallben (Freddie Jones), with dreams of becoming a great warrior. However, he has to put the daydreaming aside when his charge, an oracular pig named Hen Wen is kidnapped by an evil lord known as the Horned King (John Hurt). The villain hopes Hen Wen will show him the way to The Black Cauldron, which has the power to create a legion of invincible undead warriors, (known as "The Cauldron Born"). With the aid of Princess Eilonwy (Susan Sheridan), an exaggerating middle-aged bard named Fflewddur Fflam (Nigel Hawthorne), and a pestering but ultimately loyal creature called Gurgi (John Byner), Taran tries to save the world of Prydain from the Horned King. As the new friends face witches, elves, magic swords, and the Cauldron itself, Taran starts to learn what being a hero really means and that some things are more important than glory.
History: During the dark age of Disney animation Disney had decided to release a number of films. Most of these films had suffered in the box office at the time though. However, Disney refused to quit and started production of their own version of the Chronicles of Prydain series. However, this film went through a messy period (as I said) and this caused the film to be delayed numerous times until it was finally released in 1985, after being in limbo for 7 years. So how did this film do? It bombed... horrendously. It sadly only made half of it's $44 million budget (in 2010 money, that is a $88,630,148,698.88 budget, so ouch.) This caused Disney to shelf the film until it was finally released on VHS in 1998. (I'm sure some of you saw this film on VHS.)
Here is something else that you might not know. This is Disney's first PG film, now why is that important? It's important because, in 1985, PG was the equivalent of PG-13. This film nearly got an R rating (twice as intense back then as well) but sadly, Disney managed to change that.
By deleting numerous scenes in the film, Disney managed to scale the movie down to a PG rating.
What I remember of this Film: What I remember? What I remember is being scared witless of this film back in my childhood. This movie had the freakiest Disney Villain in history, and the horrifying skeleton army. I was so scared of this film that I almost didn't go to sleep the first time I saw it. So why did I love it? I love fantasy and this film was ripe with fantasy, adventure, and fillers. I remember always wanting a Gurgi doll when I was younger.
What Makes it seem like Zelda: Taran- Link
Princess Eilonwy- Zelda
Bauble- Navi (there are fairies in this film too.)
Horned King- Ganondorf
If you watch this film, you'll even feel like your watching a Zelda film. It's just so interesting.
Why I am telling you guys this: I wrote this as a way to get you guys interested in the closest thing we have to a Zelda film by Disney. I'm also telling you guys that a Blu-ray release of this film is coming out in June with all the deleted scenes put back. So in honor of this film being Disney's first attempt at not being uber kid friendly I suggest you look out for the release.
Plot: <Copied off Wiki> On the small farm of Caer Dallben, Taran (Grant Bardsley) is an Assistant Pigkeeper to the enchanter Dallben (Freddie Jones), with dreams of becoming a great warrior. However, he has to put the daydreaming aside when his charge, an oracular pig named Hen Wen is kidnapped by an evil lord known as the Horned King (John Hurt). The villain hopes Hen Wen will show him the way to The Black Cauldron, which has the power to create a legion of invincible undead warriors, (known as "The Cauldron Born"). With the aid of Princess Eilonwy (Susan Sheridan), an exaggerating middle-aged bard named Fflewddur Fflam (Nigel Hawthorne), and a pestering but ultimately loyal creature called Gurgi (John Byner), Taran tries to save the world of Prydain from the Horned King. As the new friends face witches, elves, magic swords, and the Cauldron itself, Taran starts to learn what being a hero really means and that some things are more important than glory.
History: During the dark age of Disney animation Disney had decided to release a number of films. Most of these films had suffered in the box office at the time though. However, Disney refused to quit and started production of their own version of the Chronicles of Prydain series. However, this film went through a messy period (as I said) and this caused the film to be delayed numerous times until it was finally released in 1985, after being in limbo for 7 years. So how did this film do? It bombed... horrendously. It sadly only made half of it's $44 million budget (in 2010 money, that is a $88,630,148,698.88 budget, so ouch.) This caused Disney to shelf the film until it was finally released on VHS in 1998. (I'm sure some of you saw this film on VHS.)
Here is something else that you might not know. This is Disney's first PG film, now why is that important? It's important because, in 1985, PG was the equivalent of PG-13. This film nearly got an R rating (twice as intense back then as well) but sadly, Disney managed to change that.
By deleting numerous scenes in the film, Disney managed to scale the movie down to a PG rating.
What I remember of this Film: What I remember? What I remember is being scared witless of this film back in my childhood. This movie had the freakiest Disney Villain in history, and the horrifying skeleton army. I was so scared of this film that I almost didn't go to sleep the first time I saw it. So why did I love it? I love fantasy and this film was ripe with fantasy, adventure, and fillers. I remember always wanting a Gurgi doll when I was younger.
What Makes it seem like Zelda: Taran- Link
Princess Eilonwy- Zelda
Bauble- Navi (there are fairies in this film too.)
Horned King- Ganondorf
If you watch this film, you'll even feel like your watching a Zelda film. It's just so interesting.
Why I am telling you guys this: I wrote this as a way to get you guys interested in the closest thing we have to a Zelda film by Disney. I'm also telling you guys that a Blu-ray release of this film is coming out in June with all the deleted scenes put back. So in honor of this film being Disney's first attempt at not being uber kid friendly I suggest you look out for the release.
