Saving Mr. Banks - Review

Saving Mr. Banks - Review

Yesterday I went to see “Saving Mr. Banks”. What an amazing story and a well done movie!! I will not spoil the movie for those that have not seen it.

“Saving Mr. Banks” is the a mix of the stories about how Walt Disney encouraged P. L. Travers to sign over the rights to Mary Poppins so  he could keep his promise to his girls to make the movie and the story of the childhood of Helen Lyndon Goff (P. L. Travers).

As the trailers show Pamela Travers was a feisty woman set and determined not to allow Walt Disney to make a movie about her beloved Mary Poppins. Her reasons to withhold the rights are as complex as the woman herself.

As the story progresses you hear why it was so important to Walt Disney to make this movie. As he said, “As a daddy I made a promise to my girls and a daddy never breaks his promise!” You also see why Mrs. Travers does not want to let go. Both consider the characters “family”. Walt does understand that Mrs. Travers considers Mary Poppins and the Banks family her family and is protective of them. He remembers Oswald being stolen and attempts of some to take Mickey Mouse from him. Both are determined in their goals.

Some think this movie shows Disney as a pushy, aggressive movie producer, determined on getting what he wants without concern about the feelings of those whose intellectual property he wants to use. Others think it is an unfair and unflattering portrayal of P. L. Travers. In truth I think as a dramatization of 50 year old events. Some parts are on totally factual while some are “retellings” that you have to consider are stretched for better storytelling.

After hearing four of the Imagineers that worked with Walt Disney speak at the last D23 Expo about what Walt was like and their feelings about seeing early screenings of “Saving Mr. Banks” I believe it is a great look at Walt the man. It shows what drove him and what it was like to be around him. It was fun to hear one of the characters in the move quickly say, “Man is in the forest!” after hearing Walt’s cough as he neared the open door. From many accounts I’ve heard Walt would cough when approaching an open door to let people know he was coming and when he was known to be in a particular part of the building the warning, “Man is in the forest!” would go around letting people know he was there.

What I found interesting was what I took away from the movie. It was not anything to do with Disney or Travers. What I took away was a look at my own past and how it has shaped my own life and attitude. It makes me rethink my motivations and encourages me to let go of the past and keep moving forward.

If you are a Disney Fan I suggest you go see this movie. If you enjoy Mary Poppins and P. L. Travers I encourage you to check this movie out. I believe you will not be disappointed.

My Christmas book, “An Angel Remembers 25 Voices of Christmas” is available!!

This is a collection of 26 short Christmas stories that together bring the amazing events of Christ’s birth alive. It is my hope that this will help encourage families to spend 10-15 minutes a day together during the busy holiday season remembering the true reason for the season.

You can find it for ALL eReader formats and PDF at:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94784

For your Nook the link is:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-angel-remembers-25-voices-of-christmas-carolyn-hoagland/1106912931?ean=2940032802624

It is also available at the iTunes book store and many other ebook seller sites.

The only big site not carrying my book is Amazon.

You can download a Kindle version from Smashwords.com

Happy Birthday Walt Disney

Happy Birthday Walt Disney

December 5^th, 1901 to December 15^th, 1966

Walter Elias Disney was an American Entrepreneur. Many consider him an Entertainment Icon and film maker. Walt Disney was more than just a Motion-Picture, Television producer, Animator and showman.

Walt Disney was a pioneer. One theme kept being repeated in many of the things he said, “Keep Moving Forward!” In other words don’t rest on your laurels and past accomplishments. Instead move forward and do something new and different! Walt did that and made that a company focus.

Besides making the first feature length animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs he developed new ways of creating his movie magic over the years. From art classes for his animators to new technology such as the Multi-Plane Camera he pioneered new ideas.

After making his money in movies Walt wanted more. He wanted an entertainment venue unlike any other. He wanted a place where families could come together to “play” and spend time together. He envisioned parents doing things with their children not just watching from a bench as he had when his girls were little. Years after the general idea came to him he build Disneyland. Once Disneyland was set and doing well he started working on ideas for a much larger Walt Disney World. He did not get to see WDW finished but his brother did. Roy O Disney, and the company he left behind made sure his ideas came true as always.

So what is so special about this simple man from the farmland of America? He never graduated High School and had no further “formal” education. He dropped out of school at 16 and lied about his age to join the Red Cross as part of the team in Europe at the end of WWI. He started 3 studios that failed and went broke before finally coming to California and starting the Disney Brothers Studio in 1923 at the age of 22.

Walt Disney gave the world memories. From movies that generations can and do enjoy together to “Theme” Parks where families and friends are immersed in a world of Yesterday, Tomorrow and Fantasy. Disney created an empire that continues decades after his death that looks back to his life and focus to “Keep Moving Forward”.

He gave us many wonderful characters to enjoy. He gave us Mickey Mouse to model our lives after, an everyman with a good heart and positive attitude. Goofy with his constant troubles and laughter in response, always the optimist! Donald with his grumpy attitude ready to explode but truly with a heart of gold. Donald teaches us to control our temper and not act like him all the time. All of these and more have been examples for us as children and for our children to model their lives on and learn from.

Walt shared with the world his love for America. He felt as long as America was strong the world would be strong and all would be right. He was not arrogant or rude about it. He did not believe that the world needed to become like America. He loved the differences in cultures and understood that each is precious and needs to be treasured. He just felt that America, as a mix of cultures was the best.

Walt Disney left a legacy that is still going strong today. There have been threats and his family has stood firm to protect it. There have been lies about him and again his family stood up to show people Walt the Man.