To Blog . . . or Not to Blog

I know, I know: I just used the most-quoted/paraphrased line in the history of quoted/paraphrased lines as the title of this post.  But it's late at night and I don't care right now.
I'm wondering why I even started this blog at all, what I hoped to accomplish with it.  I guess what I wanted most was to have people reading my writing, but that didn't quite succeed to the extent I'd hoped, considering how few readers this blog has.  I also wanted motivation to actually write, and a medium through which to explore creative new methods for writing-styles and topics.  Considering that this is the first post I've done in four months, I wonder how effective it's been in that regard either.
This leads to the question of why anyone blogs at all, which I suppose is simply a variant of the question: why do we write at all?
I think it has a lot to do with the longing for community in the human heart, that we naturally desire to share our creations with others because it is a gift of self that, when returned, gives us a sense of fulfillment.  We are social animals, but we are also the most lonely animals.  We are constantly striving to find ways to bridge the gap between our own selves and the others who exist independently of us.  There is a voice in our hearts that cries out for encounter with an "other".
And yet it is so easy to get wrapped up in ourselves and close ourselves off from our brothers and sisters.  We need to learn how to break out of our isolation, to pierce the dome of the petty realities that we make for ourselves and encounter someone who loves us.  We all desire this, even when we fail to realize it and when the desire manifests itself simply as loneliness and misery.
We blog in response to this desire.  We hope that these words which we send out into the world-wide-web will be read by someone who will love them and, by loving our creation, love us in some fashion.
Call me sentimental, call me over-poetic, but I sincerely believe we blog because we want to be loved.

Disney Classics: 53 Films Rated and Evaluated, Part 1

Walt Disney revolutionized the children's film industry with his first full length film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, creating in it an enjoyable, magical experience for Adults and Children alike, and allowing us all to enter into a different world wherein True Love, Mirth, and Goodness co-mingle in a beautifully drawn, expertly told Story. Now, in thinking about Walt Disney, and his movie making magic, I have decided to post an extensive, cursory glance at all 50 of the Classic Disney Animated Films, rating them each on five different aspects, and as a whole film.

The Five Elements (and their rating scale):
Animation
1. Mind Blowing and Ground Breaking
2. Beautifully Administered
3. Decently Enjoyable
4. Not Memorable

Plot
1. Masterfully Cohesive
2. Charmingly Told
3. Entertaining
4. In-cohesive

Humor
1. Superb, Lovable
2. Fun and Memorable
3. Entertaining
4. They Tried

Music
1. Beautifully Crafted
2. Pretty and Memorable
3. Entertaining
4. Not Memorable

Characters
1. Superbly Crafted
2. Memorably Lovable
3. Entertaining
4. Not memorable

SO, now that that's out of the way: let's get rating!

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS: number one in time, number 1 in Rating!
Animation was perhaps the most groundbreaking of any film of all time!, and not to mention beautiful - 1
Plot is Cohesive and Enjoyable - 1
Humor is alternately slapstick and soft, and always brings a smile - 1
Music is appropriately exciting and beautiful, and has lasted memorably through the ages - 1
Finally, the Characters are all wonderful (except for perhaps the Prince, who really received no character development, but as he is only one character in the whole movie, he is not sufficient reason to lower the rating), and fleshed out and enjoyable - 1

PINOCCHIO: a film of adventure and naughtiness and trying to be a REAL boy. This film is wonderful...but not perfect - 1.6
Animation was once again astounding - 1
Plot is rather disjointed, but still a charming tale - 2
Music is catchy, and one of the aspects we all remember most - 1
Humor falls a bit short, for though entertaining, sometimes we wish the overall somberness could be relieved with a bit more - 3
Characters are all lovable and wonderful! Pinochio is the little innocent we're all rooting for, Gepetto a sweetheart, and who doesn't love Figaro and Cleo? - 1

FANTASIA: I did not grow up with this film. I watched it as an adult, and found 0 appeal. However, I know others who love it. But here is my rating: 3.8 (to be fair, since this is a disjointed, episodal film, it can be unfair to judge it all as a whole. But, for the sake of consistency, that is what I must do)
The Animation was interesting, but nothing new, expect that is was unrelentingly dark in hue - 4
The Plot, well, there wasn't one. Now, while that's the point, the animators did not manage to compensate for it's lack of a real story. One got a vague idea that stuff was happening, but without offering any real enjoyment in the vagueness. - 4
Humor was entertaining. There were a few times I smiled and enjoyed myself - 3
Music: none of the music is original, but that does not count against it. What does count against it is the choices of music: these are slow, sleepy, or dark pieces, not the best choice for a young audience. - 4
The Characters were unfortunately not memorable in any sense - 4


DUMBO (one of my personal favorites!) This little guy gets a 1.2! Almost Perfect!
Animation is like a wonderful children's book on the screen, with bright colors, wonderful shapes, and grippingly muscular roustabouts! - 1
The Plot, however, is not perfection: a wonderfully told tale, but not much of a story line to it - 2
Humor is what this film is all about: Timmy the Mouse, and those fantastic Crows! - 1
Music is memorable and tearful, funny and wonderful - 1
And finally, Characters. It's these guys that stick with you and bring you back to the film again and again. - 1

BAMBI: A good film: I can see why many people like it, but I am not a big fan. I just never found it very entertaining as a whole.
Animation: Beautiful! - 1
Plot: Lacking, in my opinion, though I think a case could be made - 3
Humor: When they have it, it is very enjoyable! Who doesn't love Thumper? - 2
Music: Some music is very fun, but some is slow: it feels like Fantasia a little too often - 2
Characters: not very developed at all. Perhaps it is an intended barrier between human viewer and animal characters, but when the movie ends, one is left with the impression that he did not, nor ever really could, understand the inner workings of the animal world - 3

(I have never seen Saludos Amigos, The Three Caballeros, Make Mine Music, Fun and Fancy Free, or Melody Time. And Ichabod and Mr. Toad is a vague memory in my mind. Therefore, until I can find them, I will hold off any judgments.)

CINDERELLA: that hope of Dreams coming true and a Forever Castle: that emblem that has become a symbol for all children of Magic and Childhood. She receives a perfect, bippity-boppity-boo! 1
Animation: Beautiful and perfectly suited to the story. We all know the thrill that accompanies the magical appearance of Cinderella's Gown! (even though we all liked the Mice's dress better - I mean, it was pink and soft and had bows!) - 1
Plot: each point naturally flows into the next, each scene setting up the rest, and the little mice escapades never detracting from the full feel of the film. - 1
Humor: We all Laugh! - 1
Music: A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes - need I say more? -1
Characters: The patient, hopeful Cinderella, The danger prone Gus and Jaq,  the evil conniving Step-mother, the stupid inept Step-sisters, the Fiesty Fat King, the Overwhelmed Duke! (and once again, in favor of all the other characters, I will ignore the underdeveloped Prince) - 1

ALICE IN WONDERLAND. One of my favorite books of all time, I have always wanted to love the movie, since it seems to follow it so closely: but I can never seem to do so. 2.2
The Animation is wonderful! Posters of that film are some of the most common, for the bright colors, the decks of cards, the falling down the rabbit hole, all stand out in our minds, popping up in them when we least expect it - 1

The Plot falls just short of Perfect; in fact, I'm tempted to give it a one, but I can't. For the film is just too hectic. Despite the fact that all flows in its unflowableness, and all is cohesive in its incohesiveness, (a trick allusive and impressive) yet the film feels rushed, and one must take a deep breath at the end. So, I give it a - 2
The Humor is just entertaining. There's little more to it than that, for even those silly scenes with the Mad Tea Party and the Evil Queen feel so over the top, that one is left little inclination to laugh at the immense muchness of the silliness. - 3 (and yes, I said Muchness! though in the wrong context)
Music: The Music again feels rushed and over the top. Entertaining, but not extremely memorable - 3
Finally, the Characters. They ARE memorable, perhaps precisely because of their over-the-topness. But who can forget the Red Queen, the little red king, the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, or the Caterpillar. And who can forget Alice? - 2

LADY AND THE TRAMP. Another perfect film! - 1
Animation: The Beauty of Lady and the Tramp has captured the hearts and imaginations of us all! - 1
Plot is perfectly cohesive and captivating and just the perfect combination of danger, love, and man's best friend! - 1
Humor: Who doesn't enjoy a good Jockism? "Now there, Lassie. I wouldn't worry my wee head about that. Remember, they're only humans, after all." - 1
Music: Tony and Joe singing Bella Notte, and then the Siamese Cat song - every bit of music fits perfectly into the moment, creating the moment, and etching it into our memories forever. - 1
Characters: Fully fleshed out, perfectly collaborated, and wonderful interactions. - 1

PETER PAN, where Children never grow up and Pixie Dust raises us to the Stars! - 1.4
Animation: The animation, while not particularly ground-breaking, yet is perfectly attuned to the feel of the film. It is light, colorful, and fun. - 1
The Plot is well developed and enjoyable, but not complex or particularly mature: it is significantly less refined than previous films - 2
Humor: It is fun and slapstick. We cry, we laugh, we love: 2
Music: The music is very memorable and always just right for the moment - 1
Characters: All fun, memorable, Tinker Bell is a staple character for all Disney, and we all love poor Nana! - 1

SWORD IN THE STONE: Fun, Frolicking, and Forgotten! 2.2
Animation: Nothing impressive, but still enjoyable to watch, especially the dish washing scene - 2
Plot: the story has nothing impressive about it, and constantly takes long breaks. While these deviations are fun, they contribute little to the actual storyline. - 3
Humor: Really it's one great point. Merlin and Archimedes relationship is hilarious! - 1
Music: Fun, but not memorable - 3
Characters: Some good, some forgettable - 2


SLEEPING BEAUTY: Another Film I wish I could give an unequivocal #one, but I cannot. There are a few lacking elements. 1.6
Animation: Riveting, ground-breaking, gorgeous - 1
Plot: It's weakest point. Disney spent so much time and money on the animation, that they ran out of money halfway through, and had to finish up in a hurry. This is why our two main characters, Aurora and Phillip, do not speak in the second half. It is unfortunate, since otherwise, this film may have reached perfection above and beyond most other Disney Films. - 3
Humor: Very enjoyable, but disjointed throughout, mostly due to the lack of dialogue in the second half. For the fairies are wonderful, but not enough to compensate to make it a one. Maleficent's servants should have been funnier in the battle with Phillip, if they were to remain in character - 2
Music: The Music is Perfect! - 1
Characters: They are all extremely lovable, and huggable, and we finally have a developed prince! - 1

These are the first eleven films. I will post about the next ten soon!