Pete's Dragon - Disneycember

Originally aired in December 2013. Doug takes a look at Pete's Dragon.
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[@isaiahwilliams2642]

Fun Fact: The Dragon's animation was directed by Don Bluth.

[@Mr.C723]

Well eventhough I like the live-action version better at least the animation was made by an animation legend and maybe one of the people that made the Disney Renaissance

[@iHeartsNostalgiaPit]

and yet he gets no recognition for it

[@SteveCarras]

VERY well-known.

[@FantasticBeasts2024]

I like this film. I feel it is quite underrated. Sure it's no Mary Poppins or Bedknobs and Broomsticks but it is still a good film. It doesn't get enough love and seems to get forgotten. It looks good, it has some good musical numbers, it has heart, some good villains and some laughs. It is far better than many other Disney live action films.

[@leob4403]

It gets more than enough love, you don't need to cry for this movie.

[@Danieru-San]

@@leob4403 it doesn't

[@davidhileman8567]

Yeah. I actually think it's a pretty nice film! Good effects, good animation on the title character Elliott (directed by Don Bluth himself, while he was at Disney), very cool song sequences, either with the choreography, or the songs themselves, or both, and the performances, most especially Helen Reddy, who sings quite well, Shelley Winters, who does a very good redneck, along with the other Gogans, Mickey Rooney, who does quite an exceptional town drunkard, and Red Buttons and Jim Dale, who do a very enjoyable villain and bumbling sidekick routine.

[@OnlyRoke]

Just wanted to share this one: My family has quite a positive connection with the movie. In Germany it's called "Elliott, das Schmunzelmonster" ("the adorably-smirking monster", obviously referencing the dragon as the main star) and my mom and dad saw this movie when it was in theatres. They really liked it and because their first shared car was green, they decided to nickname it Elliott. Ever since, they have fond memories of that movie and it's kinda really sweet. I guess it's innocent, over-the-top fun from a much simpler time :)

[@maximumrisk2004]

+OnlyRoke I know where you are coming from, I am from Austria and for my Family it was Herby. So we tended to refer to our Car as Herby since it tended to have its own Will. To this Day I refer to mine as Herby as well, since that MF is stubborn sometimes.

[@questworldiangreenknight7455]

👍🏻😄

[@sirMAXX77]

This is like one of my most cherished movies from my childhood.

[@MickeyFan1928]

This has a nice combination between Live action and animation. But Roger Rabbit of course tops it off

[@theGreenGoblin]

+MickeyFan1928 It should, having been made like a decade later

[@tnoble]

Pete's dragon is still a great movie, I grew up watching it and we watch it with our kids

[@jazzdaddycriticisms7049]

I feel like this material lends itself better to a stage show. The remake was good in its own right, in fact better as a film, but I think if they wanted it to be like this film, a stage show would be interesting to pull off. And the dragon could be a wonderful ginormous puppet, with plenty of practical effects.

[@Gat720Dua]

Better being cheesy than awful.

[@stlouisrocker100]

+Gat the Man Agreed 100%

[@SomaCruz666]

+Gat the Man "It ain't easy, being cheesy"

[@MrGabeanator]

true

[@MrGabeanator]

true

[@MrGabeanator]

@Olivia 757 oh

[@Rogun987]

I wore out the VHS tape of this movie when I was a kid,

[@billnumber3324]

Same

[@zachsutton9866]

Same here

[@CaptainCat101]

When the remake came out, my mom couldn't stop talking about how much she loved this movie as a kid

[@john_o]

Who knew Armin Arlert had a pet dragon?

[@juant8631]

WHY DOESN'T HE USE IT?!

[@scribblebee5412]

I have a new outlook on this film now

[@ironmaster6496]

attack on titan prequel?

[@apostolosfilippos]

+Blonic Rainboom his bff is also a titan !

[@BeenieBomb]

+Blonic Rainboom LMAO

[@dextercooper3090]

I bought the original Theatrical poster of Pete's Dragon 🐉 and had it beautifully framed for my niece that's currently in Virginia. And her heart just melted instantly just as soon as she received it. Because she was born in 97 and when she could understand the enjoyment of movies this was one of her first cherished Disney Films. I still enjoy Pete's Dragon with everything it had to offer in a Disney feature. Not bad at all after Mr. Disney's passing. Hats off to the late Director Don Chaffey who did a classic job with Jason and the Argonauts in his earlier collaboration with Ray Harryhausen and Charles H Schneer. Greatly choreographed by Onna White 🤍. The cast excellent 👌🏾. Shelly Winters as Lenna Gogan was more like Wearing the pants in the family of a raucous and rancid adoptive parent. Jim Dale as Doc Terminus played his role terrifically even if he knew he could ham it up. 😆 Red Buttons and Mickey Rooney deserves charming recognition be it drunken or sober as Hoagie and Lampy . But hats off to the Late Helen Reddy as Nora. Her brilliant hopeful poignancy of her song I'll be your Candle 🕯️ on the Water. When she watches the quiet ocean while atop of the light house was such a soothing scene.

[@Advent3546]

It's odd seeing this after the flat out executing it got on Cinemasins.

[@1aundulxaldin]

F*cking agreed. I mean, the real life equivalent I could think of as a counterpart was Someone hanging the movie by a noose, next cutting open the stomach, and then restuffing the emptied body with a puppy's fecal matter laced with hookworms, while holding a huge outdoor roast with the body's organs burning on the grill.

[@madibrandt8244]

totally agree

[@pkmntrainermark8881]

What do you mean?

[@omarsalem1219]

Ikr I

[@StuffAboutSandwiches]

Imagine actually taking Cinemasins even slightly seriously

[@SarahJaneOmega]

I kinda like this movie, even though I agree it's cheesy, corny, etc. However, I often enjoy movies that are like that. I do REALLY like the villain in this. He's just so much fun to watch. They could have easily gone for a a guy who is evil personified (granted, I do like those villains too), but I do like the more comedic villains, which Doc Terminus is.

[@questworldiangreenknight7455]

Agreed

[@cherryspice1011]

this was my CHILDHOOD

[@edt49er]

I watched this so much as a kid, it was my favorite film growing up, I watched it probably as much as you did Mary Poppins

[@joefalcone6164]

One of my favorite Disney movies, I love you guys who try to an

[@MidnightSonnet]

This film will always hold a special place in my heart, if only for nostalgia purposes. I adored it as a kid. I do agree, though, that it's hella cheesy. :P

[@MovieLover1995]

That bar sequence doesn't really last that long. It's only like, 4 minutes. And I agree, that wild musical number just came right out of nowhere. They don't speak about it ever again, afterwards. BIG LIPPED ALLIGATOR MOMENT!!!

[@billnumber3324]

Although Mickey Rooney does mention in a later scene that he does want to bring the dragon to the tavern to prove that he actually exists.

[@questworldiangreenknight7455]

😂😂😂

[@disneytriviabuff8188]

The song itself wasn't a BLAM but the dance break where the father is suddenly laughing and drinking when seconds ago, he was freaking out about the dragon, his daughter is smiling and dancing when she was just yelling at the other men for mocking her dad and everyone rolls on the beer barrels until they explode definitely was.

[@fatalrob0t]

I love this movie! My grandma also loved it. we used to watch it together.

[@dvass7253]

The remake is coming out next year. Here's hoping it won't suck.

[@cjdstruction1]

+D Vass my gut feeling says it will suck.

[@Raymk1]

THERES A REMAKE!!! HELL YEA!

[@petplatypus]

+KanaTokisho you expect the impossible. of course it will be CGI.

[@KanaTokisho]

petplatypus WHY! I'm not against CGI but this is like fucking nostalgic for me and they will RUIN it with CGI. I pray not mainly because CGI is everywhere nowadays be nice to have some drawn stuff in the remake.

[@petplatypus]

+KanaTokisho Because it would BOMB. Sadly no one wants to see 2D animation in movies anymore. Some come out in theaters but no one ever hears or sees them until they are possibly nominated for Oscars. That's how I found about Song Of The Sea (great movie btw) It really is sad that there is no balance. TV has a balance between 2D and 3D but with movies it's slowly dying.

[@tuschman168]

I loved this as a kid. The cornyness didn't even register with my 6 year old past self. Heck, at that age even real life people still talk to you in a kind of corny way. And the songs are just great.

[@thegreatherox]

I think this would have been better as a100% animated movie, it would have allowed for the cheesyness to be played out better.

[@erikstensaas1202]

They could have turned the Reluctant Dragon into that, but maybe they did I dont know

[@SaviorGabriel]

I need to watch this movie again. I watched this on Disney Channel a bunch of times, and thought it was pretty good.

[@billnumber3324]

I watched this one countless times as a kid, and still enjoy it today, though I do admit most of that enjoyment is fueled by nostalgia, and I do concede a lot of the points Doug makes about the film. Not one of Disney's crowning achievements, but definitely worth a look.

[@m4y4123321]

I love Petes dragon, it's my childhood...can't wait until the remake

[@OfficialGeoffreyTraylor]

Wow, I remember this! It was the first movie I had ever seen that mixed live action & animated!

[@rkallen09]

Very first movie my family purchased on VHS. I have watched this movie a hundred times or more.

[@sarahwalter7198]

did he like the new version of the movie?

[@8ByteBrian]

Blasphemy! This came from an era of films like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mary Poppins & Bed Knobs & Broomsticks. Disney was having a re-awakening on the big screen & giant musical numbers were still a huge pull at the time, making these types of films appeal to both adults & children. Pete's Dragon is an all time classic & one of the most timeless Disney movies of all time. If you can't understand the time period for the movie & also the point at where the studios were at because of the success previous films had...well than your blind! This is a more of a lop-sided rant, than anything that could be considered close to a film review...I love your work Doug, honestly i do, you're one of my favorite personalities on KZbin, but I have to say you missed the mark entirely on this one.

[@questworldiangreenknight7455]

I love Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

[@mikewarnke404]

Ah, jeremy from cinemasins favorite movie!

[@questworldiangreenknight7455]

I loved the villain song “Every Little Piece” ever since I was a kid lol 😂 The remake made so mad!

[@danjohnparker7806]

I watched this when I was a kid, my brother and I use to sing and dance to the song “money money money by the pound” this movie is pure nostalgia for my brother and I. We didn’t care how crappy it was or how goofy it was, we were kids we found the goofiness hilarious.

[@PetProjects2011]

It will always boggle my mind how Mickey Rooney somehow looks *older* in this film than when he actually WAS old...

[@CallMeSheyzie]

my sister and i rented this movie from the video store so many times, they eventuslly let us keep it. we watched it over and over until we pretty much destroyed in from overuse. :)

[@RangerBadger]

I remember we had to watch this in music class when I was in 1st grade. Everyone was so bored, kids just started having Pokemon tournaments.

[@starfinder79]

I loved it when i was little.

[@wormmon2006]

God, I remember this from when I was a little kid!

[@Caliber-fg8cl]

Ya know, I think Don Bluth had something to do with this movie. I wonder what.

[@cjdstruction1]

+Caliber1314 the art

[@Caliber-fg8cl]

+cjdstruction1 Don't you know sarcasm when you read it?

[@cjdstruction1]

Caliber1314 I do, I just answered it.

[@Mello-Martin]

+Caliber1314 The boy who played Pete did also the voice of the boy in Bluths first shortfilm "The Small One", that camed out a year later!

[@getmario64]

Hey I like this movie Doug Walker! Don't mess around with my pet animated dragon. Well, if it's not the one that your not participating with, it's another remake for you.

[@gokaury]

Mickey Rooney sure looks like he's playing it waaaaay too over the top.

[@questworldiangreenknight7455]

Tell me when he doesn’t lol 😂

[@Onezy05]

All I remember from this film was "A DRAGON, A DRAGON, I SWEAR I SAW A DRAGON!" (takes a shot)

[@KJjonjon]

This movie and E.T. got me into alot of fights as a kid

[@brianlevine871]

I remember hearing about this movie for some time, mostly with Elliot the dragon. When the remake was about to come out, I decided to give the original a look. I thought this one was okay. Like you, I enjoyed the animation on the dragon, the effects, some of the songs, the mother figure, and the villain. But while I think the whimsical tone gives the film some charm, it did get grating at times. Plus, the songs feel more like they are padding the film rather than progressing it, which took me out of the movie at times.

[@gothnerd887]

The actor who plays the villain was in Carry On Screaming, Carry On Doctor and Carry On Again Doctor just to name a few

[@misscrackwood]

I loved this movie as a kid but watching this I realise I don't remember a single thing about it XD

[@AnimeExpoTookMyMoney]

I never saw it coming when this movie was getting a live action remake

[@Tgr2k1]

Review is spot on. Well said. Although I still kinda have a weird nostalgic soft spot for the country hick family hunting Pete. Their songs were so fun!

[@nine_tails137]

All I remember about this film is the invisible Dragon knocking some guys into a mud puddle, and maybe the Dragon trying to get away with only turning partially invisible. Other than that, I completely forget everything about this movie.

[@chantellepride6368]

Better being cheesy than awful! This is one of my favourite Disney films!

[@yankeedoodle7365]

I still like it

[@ChachiTelevision1979]

I really love this one. The cheesiness, while I get that it's a turn off for some people, I really dig.

[@Mira_Dunia]

1:27 is my jam.

[@airachica]

I remember watching this movie as a kid, but I can’t for the life of me remember HOW I watched it cause I sure as shit didn’t have it on VHS. And I remember not understanding ANYTHING of what was going on, and I can’t remember the movie like at all x’D

[@labyfan1313]

I have a fondness for this film. I watched it as a child. I love Elliot. I shed a tear every time I watch the part where he gets scolded in the cave for causing trouble for Pete even though he drove me crazy too by not behaving properly and making a mess of things. It's not as well done as other Disney films. The Gogan's were mostly annoying. I have to say I didn't like the remake. They sucked all humour out of this show. And Elliot was disappointing. I don't know if they made him furry just to soften what a CG version of a dragon would look like (maybe too menacing) or what they were going for. And then he didn't make trouble for Pete at all like the original. Just humorless and depressing.

[@vitmir9099]

Very nice and lovely 😍 movie

[@embersinmoss]

"I saw a dragon!" Goes on a barrel dancing tangent.

[@redt7935]

The remake is way better anyway.

[@supernintendo6983]

Red T Blasphemy. How dare you say that. Besides it's two different movies you can't really compare it. One is more drama and one is a musical. I prefer the older one.

[@jamesmcclean2179]

I like the old (1977) version better!

[@mercenaryknight5419]

The remake is awesome, the original sucks.

[@wiisalute]

Kind of funny that Dr Terminus narrates the Harry Potter books lol

[@nathanstrother7593]

Dr. Terminus: I finally found it NOW WHO'S GONNA STOP ME

[@neru4788]

i never saw this movie but i have a toy of that dragon. i been asking myself "where this dragon come from?" now i know xd thanks doug :D

[@RyuTora2808]

This is actually one of my favorite movies from when I was a kid. The songs are fun, the dragon is pretty cool, the story is...well, a typical, simple kids' movie story, but it's how silly and over-the-top they go with it all that makes it fun anyway. I fear for the non-musical remake. No songs, no hillbillies, no over-the-top con man...They're going to try and epic-ize it, and that's not what "Pete's Dragon" is. It's not an epic, it's a surreal, goofy, weird musical about a boy and his dragon.

[@mrl_krx8845]

oh boi a new video

[@louismonnichii7619]

LOVE this movie in all its corniness! Dr. Terminus and Hoagie are the best things about it. "Poddamaquossy...no no Macamosoddy..no Pasaamamassy......uh Quodamapaddy....P-p-p-Passamadaddy?...." ROFL Oh! AND Eliott!!! I wanted one of those as a kid! (BTW the animation director was our good friend DON BLUTH!)

[@SteveCarras]

Gotta lkove Jim Backus! Dragon has ham, huh, Doug?:) Happy new Year! That Helen Reddy IRIP) as the mom, Red Button s and Mickey Rooney as the villians, as wlel as Jim Dale, who wrote "George Girl" & was apparently something of a Disney thing here.

[@darthstarkiller1912]

Elliott is a dragon I'll always keep close to my heart! ^_^

[@nerdcraftercoley7305]

cheesy is great and so is Pete's dragon

[@deliciator855]

I was never able to take Jim Dale serious as the villain in this even as a kid. I think it's because I was too used to seeing him in the Carry On films

[@nickpetersen5934]

It's funny, the villain is played by Jim Dale, a man many know as the narrator for the Harry Potter audiobooks. It blew me away to know he had done this, which is ok, then the audiobooks, which are some of the best of their kind (IMO of course).

[@emmacrooke807]

And a comedy star in the British Carry On films

[@RLSteve]

As a kid, I thought the Gogans were so scary. As an adult, I thought, "What? This whole time, they were that cheesy!?"

[@MegaSoulHero]

Never seen it but I might see the reboot.

[@MickeyFan1928]

I think they are making one

[@MegaSoulHero]

+MickeyFan1928 They are. It was already announced.

[@goldenboybenny7511]

I just came from the. Disneycember review of the Pete’s dragon 2016 remake.

[@moviemaniac2159]

I'm surprised he didn't mention the father, Lampie, was played by Mickey Rooney.

[@MyLittleWonderWorld]

I just rewatched it last night on Disney+ and the bar sequence is very short. There are clips in this video that I’ve never seen in the movie. Anyone else experienced this, or did they edit it just for the Italian viewers?

[@MichaelBrookham]

On the contrary, Doug. I enjoyed it. However, I did find the dragon song with Mickey Rooney and Helen Reddy did go rather long and by the middle of it, it seemed to have nothing to do with the dragon. But I did like the movie and I enjoyed the performances. Another thing to notice: In the movie, the guy who played Doc Terminus (the villain) was Jim Dale, who was born in 1935. The guy who played Hoagy was Red Buttons, who was born in 1919. Assuming that Hoagy was older than Terminus, there is a part where Terminus says that he knew Hoagy since Hoagy was nine. I wonder if Terminus met Hoagy at the sandbox when he was 1, or something. Sorry, Doug, I just had to be like you and make that comment. I figured it would be something you would have said.

[@Komicklepto]

He doesn't say "when you were nine" he says "when you were nothing", you misheard what he said.

[@Jillbles]

I loved it as a child, but I agree that it didn't age well. Still, it does have some good bits in, & Jim Dale really is great as the villain.

[@jdzencelowcz]

Doug needs to talk about the remake.

[@ColonelEviscerator]

Kid leads an elder being to a seaside town where it causes mischief and woe to befall the citizens until they are enthralled... Are we sure this wasn't supposed to be Pete's Dagon?

[@NameEntry]

Nice!

[@questworldiangreenknight7455]

😂😂😂

[@rocknrollkid90]

I think the remake of, "Pete's Dragon," has a serious tone and more drama, than the original that is mostly musical.

[@wherefancytakesme]

Not only is I Saw A Dragon long and pointless, but it turns out there's even a minute-and-a-half long deleted scene.

[@Geck0GC]

I'm expecting the remake next month

[@YamiSpyroX]

Here's that song about butchering a dragon into little bits and selling them for profit including salvaging it's tears:JESUS!! And I thought the Sorceress from Spyro 3's evil scheme was psychotic! Imagine if she teamed up with the villain from this movie!

[@klimmr]

Why didn't you review the remake for Disney Live-Action Remake Month? Just replace it with The Jungle Book and everything would be fine.

[@mrcat4508]

what's the definition of corny because I don't think there is a reason to dislike this film its so good

[@Vykk_Draygo]

+yosef Strimling Lame, silly, ham-fisted, ridiculous. I like it, but I can see why you wouldn't. I only like it because of nostalgia (and the music is amazing).

[@BubblesZap]

Corny and cheesy are kinda similar

[@maximumrisk2004]

+yosef Strimling I have not watched this movie in a long time, but even I remember the Family moments to be a bit to strong. I mean they have a song dedicated to painting together and most People being cheery and living in song and harmony, So yeah that constitutes cheesy and corny, but in general a awesome movie. You just have to take it for what it is.

[@kitsunekyubino9345]

Why does the dragon look so familiar when I'm sure I've never seen it before? Not even a trailer.

[@YanzerTheRagdoll]

+Roberta Tallienne Shiny Dragonite

[@kitsunekyubino9345]

Erm... what the hell is that????

[@YanzerTheRagdoll]

op, sorry xD it's a pokemon thing ^^'

[@kitsunekyubino9345]

Oh right. A shiny Dragonite. Also, what is a Dragonite?

[@crownified]

house of mouse?

[@haroldflower9095]

This was my shit as a kid

[@1LilSpark]

I expect the remake in Disneycember 2k17

[@accidentalalicorn5323]

Dragon cartilage makes you thin. Hmmmm *grabs dragon killing equipment* nothing to see here folks

[@Ayden_B]

Did you know that the animation in this movie is done by Don Bluth

[@girlwiththeartfolder1854]

Please do the remake version.

[@absurdious]

''Pete Targaryen''... it would be a hell of a different movie with this title

[@thefirstbourne149]

Doug Walker, you agree with CinemaSins...a very surprising 80% of the time.

[@hannahyoung2137]

I once overheard a kid and mom get in a fight in Disneyland over who was Pete and who was Elliot..... My mom thought Elliot was named Pete.....

[@johnnysparkle]

You should do a nostalgia Citic review of this movie

[@Daddy-ue1du]

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!!

[@UTubeSponge5601]

There's going to be a remake soon! Will that movie be in 2016's Disney-cember?

[@nikosafer1]

i thinks Doug Walker will like the reboot (remake)

[@ironfox4990]

They're remaking it and it's coming out this summer, so I'm not sure how Disney is going to make it different or be different from this version.

[@MrGabeanator]

drawn to animation brought me here

[@wetfart9813]

I looked up this movie and the sad thing is.... Half the people in this movie are now dead

[@wjzav1971]

Funny, Jeremy from CinemaSinns tore that movie apart, like he never did before, he hated this movie so much.