MovieChat Forums > Thumbelina (1994) Discussion > It's hard to watch this as an adult

It's hard to watch this as an adult

posted 11 years ago by LadyMiraculous
5 replies | jump to latest

I'm sorry, I know how nostalgic you all might feel about this movie. I also loved this movie as a kid, but now....I just can't enjoy it as an adult. I'm not trying to rag on Don Bluth, I still love his other movies like: The Land Before Time, The Secret of NIMH, All Dogs go to Heaven, Anastasia and An American Tail. I even have a soft spot for Rock-A-Doodle (LOL), but the problem I have with Thumbelina, is that the story is almost too frustrating to follow.

Yes, I know Rock-A-Doodle had that one plot hole about the sun rising by itself, and The Pebble & the Penguin may have had a couple plot holes, though I'm not sure if they were really "big" plot holes. Thumbelina however, has plot holes driven throughout its ENTIRE STORY!

- Why is Hero the dog the only animal in this film that can't speak?
- How did Mrs. Toad know where Thumbelina lived?
- If Thumbelina didn't want to marry Grundel, then why did she blow him a kiss while she sang with Cornielious?
- Why couldn't Jacquimoe just pick up Thumbelina when she was about to go over the waterfall?
- How come autumn and winter only lasted a day?
- Why did it take Thumbelina so long to notice that thorn in Jacquimoe's wing?

Finally, and most importantly...
- WHY DIDN'T JACQUIMOE FLY THUMBELINA HOME BEFORE LOOKING FOR THE VALE OF THE FAIRIES?!!

I know that this is a fairy-tale, and I'm not expecting it to be realistic, but it doesn't hurt to explain some stuff either. Snow White, Cinderella, and Beauty and the Beast explained a few things, but this film doesn't bother to explain anything!

I knew that I was too old for a movie like this, but I chose to rewatch it again just to make sure and frankly, I don't think it holds up as well as I hoped. :/

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[–] cheedo 11 years ago

Really? After seeing it as an adult for the first time in ages I discovered I loved it more than ever. And it was not a movie I grew up watching all the time; it was one of the few I actually didn't own.

And some of those aren't actually plot holes. Mrs. Toad obviously followed them. Or I suppose she had asked around about a tiny girl.

Someone blowing you a kiss doesn't mean they want to marry you. It certainly doesnt when you're doing it on impulse to a stranger, like flashing/mooning the car next to you means you want to do it with them. She was in a romantic, flirtatious mood and never figured she would see him again.

Hero wasnt the same size animal as the toads, bugs, birds, etc. To someone Thumbelina's size he was a whole different kind of being. But I guess that doesn't make sense after all, since the bull was HUGE next to her. But it was probably also related to her mother- if she had a talking dog she probably wouldn't need Thumbelina as much so the fairy wouldn't have come by. If that makes sense. Hero was just her pet, not as big and important a character as say Jacquimo.

Speaking of him, his should be the clearest: he's impulsive and truly does not listen AT ALL. He's the definition of a person who thinks with his heart too. This means he probably won't be a very logical person. Even Thumbelina is frustrated by this.

And the thorn- well, if memory serves it was dark, he was just a crumpled pile on the ground, and she was busy 1) being depressed because of Cornelius' apparent death 2) seeing her friend hurt, period. Probably didn't help that Ms. Fieldmouse forced her to sing and entertain the mole when she probably just wanted to cry in bed all day. She's also not always that observant.

The season thing is the one true plothole that can hardly be argued away. I have no explanation except I do think it was more than just a few days when the movie occurs.

We're collecting dust, but our love's enough.

[–] mawalker-54-360633 11 years ago

You took the response right out of my mind. I have the same view as you did. (I'm watching it right now by the way!)

[–] Dave_Robicheaux 11 years ago

The solution: Watch it in russian, it blur the taste of Disney rip/off and show it like a sovietic classic, with a true sense of innocence of childhood.

[–] number1212 10 years ago

I found the movie to be so bad it's good to me.

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[–] TutuAnimationPrincess 10 years ago

^Yeah, this is the way to look at this one. This movie is definitely bad, but it's hilarious! I've almost convinced myself that the film was made to be an intentional parody, no way anyone thought this would work as a straight forward fairy tale film.

If everything is not all rainbows and kittens for you today, hopefully it will be tomorrow!