I can't even make it through the "Rescue Me" song in the opening credits without getting teary eyed. Then that darn scene with Rufus! How can a movie that makes one so darn sad be so addictive?
shareBut seeing as how it IS a Disney movie, there is a happy ending. In fact, for me, that ending rescue scene MADE this movie. Had it been done any other way, it would've done the film a serious injustice. But they pulled it off perfectly.
I like it the best of the Disney movies. Penny ends up rescuing herself from serious and real danger---the mice just cheer her on. She's not trying to get a boyfriend/married. She's discovering she can save herself.
shareThat's why Penny was such a great character. Sure she was a damsel in distress, but that kid had spunk. She wasn't afraid of two man-eating alligators and she could tell Mr. Snoops where to stick it. Sure, she was afraid of Medusa because, well let's face it, that woman was a psychopath. But even when her back was to the wall and Medusa had a rifle pointed at her, Penny was still brave enough to step forward and say, "you gimme my teddy bear."
Usually in these types of movies, the child character is obnoxious or a wimp. Penny was neither. She proved she could take care of herself...with a little help from some little friends.
You know as someone who probably holds the record for crying during animated films, I've never cried during this one once. I can't even think of a scene that has come close. I really like this film, it's probably the best Disney film of that era, but I don't get an emotional connection with this one.
"Unless you're an alien, time traveler, or esper, your opinion doesn't matter."
I kind of found this movie sad at times, but overall, I got some laughs from it. The Fox and the Hound was far sadder if you ask me.
"Last week?!? The school burnt down six years ago"-Mr. Strickland (Back To The Future Part II)
I really think this is Disney's feminist movie. More so than Mulan.That one goofs up by having her and Shang fall in love.
I've never tired of watching The Rescuers--even as an adult. It's going to be the only Disney movie I allow my children (when I have them) to watch.
The Rescuers is the first Disney film to explicitly bring up the question of traditional women's roles in society (brought up by Mr. Chairman) and has two pairings (Madame Medusa and Mr. Snoops, as well as Ellie Mae Luke) in which the female half imposes the role of leadership upon herself; Miss Bianca and Bernard are far more balanced, without falling into Mulan's trap of needing to portray men as idiotic in order to make a female character stand out. Penny, despite not reaching the age of defined gender, is the film's fourth strong female lead, by using her own means to try to better her position, rather than wait around for male (or in this case, adult) assistance.
After having the same signature for, what, ten years? I'm not sure what to put here now.
I think it challenges it.
The chair insists that Miss Bianca takes a Co-agent. Miss Bianca intentionally selects the Janitor, who is obviously lower in status than she is re: employment position at the organization. She is not assigned a partner despite the assignment being 'dangerous' and Bernard not actually being an agent. Miss Bianca realizes she has more experience and field agent skills compared to Bernard.
Out in the field they meet Luke and Ellie Mae. Ellie Mae is assertive and wants to physically take on the much larger Madame Medusa herself. Luke is more easy going and does not question her.
Penny is the one who drives the swamp boat and escapes.
But Madame Medusa has to come to the Devils Bayou (where they are keeping Penny) because she was caught sending messages in bottles.
Mr Snoops is idiotic because he was unable to stop Penny from successfully sending out these prohibited items. Indeed this is how the rescue aid society dispatched Bianca and Bernard to find her. Mr. Snoops is portrayed as idiotic because he was outsmarted by a child. Madame Medusa expected him to keep an eye on Penny in her absence.
Mr. Snoops is not portrayed as idiotic, but rather, conflicted. Unlike Madame Medusa, Mr. Snoops is not evil. He is every bit as greedy as she is but being mean or wicked is not in his nature, so he struggles with it. He is scolded for being too soft, but when he tries to leave his comfort zone and impose ruthless authority over Penny, he is scolded for that as well (which is what makes his interactions with Madame Medusa so freshly comical).
After having the same signature for, what, ten years? I'm not sure what to put here now.