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Your opinions on Disney's "Black Cauldron" and the "Black Hole"?

posted 6 years ago by BanditOne (98)
10 replies | jump to latest

Both movies are quite disowned by Disney. But both have been some childhood favourites of mine and I still watch them once in a while. And I still like them very much. Both are quite unusally dark for Disney...especially at the times they were released. But it's the darkness I embraced in these movies.

Cauldron is based on some books, which are pretty critically acclaimed. But the movie tanked. And I don't see why. Animations were nice, the story was good. But it was probably too dark for people who expected a sugar-coated Disney movie full of sing-a-long songs. The books - and the movie - seem quite to be inspired by LOTR. But that doesn't make it worse. Nice side-characters and one of the scariest bad guys ever in a Disney movie.

Similar things go for the Black Hole. Riding on the Star Wars and Star Trek wave it did a lot wrong you could say. Never clearly comedy nor true serious Sci-Fi. But what a cast: Maximilian Schell, Anthony Perkins, Robert Forster, Ernest Borgnine and Roddy McDowall!

Ok, the FX are badly outdated, many times you can see the strings that are holding Vincent and Bob (the robots). But I like the plot, I like the tension in the movie between the characters with the mad Reinhardt (Maximilian Schell). And the ship which is slowly but constantly heading into a Black Hole. There is quite the touching scene - even just a robot - where Bob sacrifices himself.

But it's the darkest part I loved most. The zombiefied crew and then of course the mad robot "Maximilian", boy is he scary. And it's the ending which will stick with you. Reinhardt in the body of Maximilian in some place which resembles hell....or some place between this world and heaven. A very dark ending....possibly one of the most memorable endings to a Disney movie...at least for the few people who have watched it.

What are your opinions on these two underrated Disney gems?

[–] ShogunofYonkers (78561) 6 years ago

The Black Cauldron I do not remember, I recall it was a cartoon and I don't like cartoons usually

The Black Hole was sort of lame...maybe if I rewatch it I'll feel differently but I doubt it

[–] PeteRose (2893) 6 years ago

I haven't seen the Black Hole, but the Black Cauldron I've seen many times and I really like it. I think people thought it was too dark or something, but it feels quite balanced and engaging to me, and indeed feels very Tolkien inspired.

[–] Stratego (31075) 6 years ago

I remember watching The Black Cauldron in theater as a kid and I was bored out of my mind.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I’m so glad you brought these movies up. I absolutely loved them both as a kid. I haven’t watched them as an adult, but I definitely will now that you mentioned them, thank you.

[–] BanditOne (98) 6 years ago

Glad to raise some childhood memories. Whenever you get around to watch them, let us know how you liked them.

[–] SteveG (1370) 6 years ago

I still love The Black Hole. Those robots were cool and one of them was scary.

[–] Otter (24464) 6 years ago

Both bad movies, but "The Black Hole" was kind of fun in its way. "The Black Cauldron" was just lame, a total misfire.

It's pretty high up on my personal list of movies that really ought to be remade, as long as Hollywood is remaking everything. The books it was based on were huge favorites of mine when I was a kid, I still have copies of "The Chronicles of Prydain" lying around somewhere. If Disney still has the rights, why don't they give it another go? They couldn't possibly do worse this time around!

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

The Black Hole was F******ng awesome!
I've got the book, which may make it better.
I rewatched it recently and , admittedly , some of the effects havent held up all that well , but what a film!

Its basically a Disney horror film!

[–] BanditOne (98) 6 years ago

How's the book? Maybe I should have a look into that.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

well , like all books of/from the film it goes into more detail, so more character building etc and , I think for this rather dark story , its better to read and use your imagination than *see* the events on film.