Disney's last politically incorrect movie?

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Not sure about the live action movies, but what the animated canon is concerned, it seems to be Aladdin. In the original opening song, the lyrics went: "Oh I come from a land, from a far away place, where the caravan camels roam. Where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face, it's barbaric, but hey, it's home."

This was changed when the movie ended up on VHS and later DVD.

Then there was the scene where Jasmine gave an apple to the little boy, and the salesman accused her of stealing and would have cut off her hand if Aladdin hadn't saved her. Aladdin himself was almost decapitated at some point.

After that, the studio have tried really hard not to offend anyone.

Then there are characters smoking. Can't remember if the villain in Oliver smoked, but the villain in The Great Mouse Detective did.

[Jules]

Then there are characters smoking. Can't remember if the villain in Oliver smoked, but the villain in The Great Mouse Detective did.

Didn't Packard smoke as recently as in Atlantis: The Lost Empire?

[Rumpelstiltskin]

To be honest, I have only seen the movie once and don't remember much. But if he did, it cold be one of the last movies where it happened.

[Tristy]

Yes. Mrs. Packard smoked as did Sykes.

And there were also really brief scenes in Aladdin and Hunchback where characters smoked. (Genie when Aladdin's telling him about Jasmine and Laverne during Guy LIke you)

And if we want to get out of the canon, Centipede in James and the Giant Peach had a big cigar and Edna Mode smoked a cigarette.

[unprincess]

Can't remember if the villain in Oliver smoked,

yes he did, in his limo...he also carried around a gun...

[DisneyFan09]

After that, the studio have tried really hard not to offend anyone.

Oh really?

Pardon my smug undertone, but Aladdin was certainly not the last politically incorrect movie! At least in terms of racial backlash. What about the fuzz about the racial segregation in The Lion King? And what about all the criticism that Pocahontas received? And last, but not least about the huge controversy about Hunchback? While it never got backlash for racial issues, at least it was a movie that was blatantly violent and had sexual undertones.

If you're depicting other components that are seen as politically incorrect, then you're taking consideration into various elements. But I think all Disney films have some components that are seen as politically incorrect. The examples are many. But Disney mostly gets flack for it's racial depictions, though their other cues can get flack as well.

But as I previously said, this is completely debatable.

[Wonderlicious]

There are definitely many Disney films that can easily be classed as "politically incorrect", from having submissive heroines to containing racial stereotypes. However, the question as to what Disney's "last politically correct" film was is actually difficult one to answer. I can imagine that a lot of films that may not be classed as "politically incorrect" today could eventually be due to changing values as time goes by. Viewers today might find the heroines and their roles in Snow White and other early Disney films a bit old-fashioned, but the fact is that they probably would have conformed to societal norms at the time. Indeed, "politically incorrect" is quite a subjective term as the question remains as to what makes it so. Attitudes towards things like ethnicity, gender and sexuality are obvious factors, but would low-brow jokes about smells and certain bodily parts make a film "politically incorrect"? Indeed, how do you measure "political incorrectness" overall? Is a film like Aladdin, where the filmmakers likely knew little about the source culture beyond common stereotypes steeping from folklore and popular culture, any worse than films like Pocahontas and The Princess and the Frog, which attempt to be sensitive and proper in their approach to culture but come across as too condescending and historically unrealistic? What about underlying themes and more personal interpretations, such as with the claims that the hyenas in The Lion King represent marginalised stereotypes? Therefore, I don't think I can truly say what Disney's "last politically incorrect" film was. It may not indeed have been made yet.

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Yes. Mrs. Packard smoked as did Sykes.

And there were also really brief scenes in Aladdin and Hunchback where characters smoked. (Genie when Aladdin's telling him about Jasmine and Laverne during Guy LIke you)

And if we want to get out of the canon, Centipede in James and the Giant Peach had a big cigar and Edna Mode smoked a cigarette.

Sounds like Atlantis was the last movie in the canon where characters smoked, and Incredibles the last outside the canon.

yes he did, in his limo...he also carried around a gun...

Wonder if any of the villains and criminals in Zootopia will be armed.

Pardon my smug undertone, but Aladdin was certainly not the last politically incorrect movie! At least in terms of racial backlash. What about the fuzz about the racial segregation in The Lion King? And what about all the criticism that Pocahontas received? And last, but not least about the huge controversy about Hunchback? While it never got backlash for racial issues, at least it was a movie that was blatantly violent and had sexual undertones.

Actually, I can't see anything racial in Lion King. There are different species with different roles, and Scar has a black mane to represent his darkness, but nothing that could be seen as racism. I have not read any of the criticism towards Pocahontas, but since we are dealing with brutal Europeans who comes to America and meets "noble savages", that movie is a product of its time as well.

I'm not sure if sexual undertones, which children will probably be unable to pick up, is enough to call it politically incorrect. Could it have been made today? I don't know. And a little off topic; what was the idea with the living statues and goat? While it shouldn't be a goal in itself, Disney now had the chance to do something they had never done before; a movie with humans only, no sidekicks, no magic, sci-fi or talking animals. Personally, I doubt it would have had a negative impact on the film. Apparently it was a pet project of Eisner or some other boss at the studio back then.

There are definitely many Disney films that can easily be classed as "politically incorrect", from having submissive heroines to containing racial stereotypes. However, the question as to what Disney's "last politically correct" film was is actually difficult one to answer. I can imagine that a lot of films that may not be classed as "politically incorrect" today could eventually be due to changing values as time goes by. Viewers today might find the heroines and their roles in Snow White and other early Disney films a bit old-fashioned, but the fact is that they probably would have conformed to societal norms at the time. Indeed, "politically incorrect" is quite a subjective term as the question remains as to what makes it so. Attitudes towards things like ethnicity, gender and sexuality are obvious factors, but would low-brow jokes about smells and certain bodily parts make a film "politically incorrect"? Indeed, how do you measure "political incorrectness" overall? Is a film like Aladdin, where the filmmakers likely knew little about the source culture beyond common stereotypes steeping from folklore and popular culture, any worse than films like Pocahontas and The Princess and the Frog, which attempt to be sensitive and proper in their approach to culture but come across as too condescending and historically unrealistic? What about underlying themes and more personal interpretations, such as with the claims that the hyenas in The Lion King represent marginalised stereotypes? Therefore, I don't think I can truly say what Disney's "last politically incorrect" film was. It may not indeed have been made yet.

These days Disney is usually trying hard not to insult groups of people when making a movie. They did a lot of changes in Princess and the Frog for that reason alone. Pinocchio and Snow White, they way they were made back then, may have been unthinkable today, but as mentioned, that is also true for some elements in Aladdin. Those who claimed that the hyenas in Lion King represented "marginalised stereotypes" are most likely people who just love to find something to complain about. Politically incorrect in this context means elements that found their way into the movie because the studio itself found it to be a no-issue during production, only to be criticized after release, and/or would have been if the movie was made today. There will always be hypersensitive people out there who complains about everything, like Frozen being "too white", no matter how hard you try not to offend anyone. But movies that in hindsight makes you think; this could really not have been done today, is something else. As mentioned, parts of Aladdin could not have been made today, but I don't see how Lion King or Princess and the Frog could have been rejected.

[carolinakid]

In 2016, Aladdin seems less "stereotypical" then ever! ISIS, anyone?

[unprincess]

Wonder if any of the villains and criminals in Zootopia will be armed.

I mentioned Sykes gun b/c of the arms controversy right now in the States, though the character is a gangster, it would have been odd for him not to carry a gun. That film was made back in the 80s though, I dont know if they would have showed him carrying it around so much today, especially in the presence of a child(Jenny.) Same goes for Mcleach pointing his gun at Cody in RDU.

Dont know about Zootopia, maybe theyll carry guns but never draw them out/use them.

regarding Lion King, dont forgot some people thinking Scar was a negative gay stereotype...

[milojthatch]

This is kind of silly thread. As what is deemed "offensive" in PC culture continues to "evolve," things that were once not seen as offensive suddenly is years later. Especially in such a sensitive society, you literally can't make a movie that someone won't find offensive, even if it is in the future.

So you asked what was their last PC offensive film? I'd say whatever they came out with last. Give it long enough, someone will find something in it and blow it out of proportion.

[Rumpelstiltskin]

In 2016, Aladdin seems less "stereotypical" then ever! ISIS, anyone?

Perhaps, but it would still not be politically correct to but in a movie for children.

I mentioned Sykes gun b/c of the arms controversy right now in the States, though the character is a gangster, it would have been odd for him not to carry a gun. That film was made back in the 80s though, I dont know if they would have showed him carrying it around so much today, especially in the presence of a child(Jenny.) Same goes for Mcleach pointing his gun at Cody in RDU.

regarding Lion King, dont forgot some people thinking Scar was a negative gay stereotype...

The context probably count as well. While I think it is good that they exclude some things on purpose in the newest movies, it can be refreshing to see stuff in the old ones that would have been unthinkable today. Even if Disney and others have started to edit their older material.

Can't say I ever considered Scar to be gay. If someone does, it says more about them than the movie.

This is kind of silly thread. As what is deemed "offensive" in PC culture continues to "evolve," things that were once not seen as offensive suddenly is years later. Especially in such a sensitive society, you literally can't make a movie that someone won't find offensive, even if it is in the future.

Don't call somebody's thread "silly". And let's rephrase it a bit; what was the last movie that contains elements that is so politically incorrect seen through modern glasses that it would be considered unthinkable today?

[TheSequelOfDisney]

This is kind of silly thread. As what is deemed "offensive" in PC culture continues to "evolve," things that were once not seen as offensive suddenly is years later. Especially in such a sensitive society, you literally can't make a movie that someone won't find offensive, even if it is in the future.

Don't call somebody's thread "silly". And let's rephrase it a bit; what was the last movie that contains elements that is so politically incorrect seen through modern glasses that it would be considered unthinkable today?

You really shouldn't be telling someone to not express their opinion. If milojthatch finds this thread to be silly, then they're allowed to post that. You obviously weren't too harmed by it as you gave a response...

I also find this thread to be silly, so I've ignored it, but trampling on someone's opinion made me speak up.

[Disney's Divinity]

Can't say I ever considered Scar to be gay. If someone does, it says more about them than the movie.

Not really. In the past, Disney definitely coded their villains "gay," as well as non-white; villains in general are "othered" in every way possible. It's more odd considering it's often overlayed with English voice actors and marriage plots.

[DisneyFan09]

Actually, I can't see anything racial in Lion King. There are different species with different roles, and Scar has a black mane to represent his darkness, but nothing that could be seen as racism.

There were a lot of fuzz about the Hyenas being played by non-Caucasians. And how the film depicted the Lions vs. Hyenas dynamic and how the lions were superior.

I have not read any of the criticism towards Pocahontas, but since we are dealing with brutal Europeans who comes to America and meets "noble savages", that movie is a product of its time as well.

Fair enough, but the portrayal of the Natives in Pocahontas received a backlash, despite Disney trying too hard to portray them accuaretly. Perhaps due to the havoc about the bad depiction of Arabs in Aladdin.

Look, it's not my intention to seem condescending, but I'm just stating the facts.

[Rumpelstiltskin]

You really shouldn't be telling someone to not express their opinion. If milojthatch finds this thread to be silly, then they're allowed to post that. You obviously weren't too harmed by it as you gave a response...
I also find this thread to be silly, so I've ignored it, but trampling on someone's opinion made me speak up.

What planet are you from? This is a discussion board, where people in general are expected to behave and show common decency for the common good. Nothing too serious in this case, but close enough to give a little reminder when people seems to be on the brink of forgetting internet etiquette and that the posts are written by real humans (silly, as in stupid or foolish, is not a way to describe a thread). In this case by me, which gives me the right to point it out, but the advice include everybody except obvious trolling attempts. The words are not that relevant, it's the attitude and behavior. Claiming they are just being "honest" or "simply expressing their opinion" is the worst excuse in history. No, you can't say whatever you like just because that's the way you feel or think. But if you do, people have even more right to give you an advice in return. Your own interfering and attempts to make a storm in a teacup about a minor trifle that not really concerns you does you no good. And personally, I have no interest in continue to argue over something that is of no relevance to the topic.

Not really. In the past, Disney definitely coded their villains "gay," as well as non-white; villains in general are "othered" in every way possible. It's more odd considering it's often overlayed with English voice actors and marriage plots.

Never heard about that before.

There were a lot of fuzz about the Hyenas being played by non-Caucasians. And how the film depicted the Lions vs. Hyenas dynamic and how the lions were superior.

Sounds like a conspiracy theory.

Fair enough, but the portrayal of the Natives in Pocahontas received a backlash, despite Disney trying too hard to portray them accuaretly. Perhaps due to the havoc about the bad depiction of Arabs in Aladdin. Look, it's not my intention to seem condescending, but I'm just stating the facts.

Guess it is hard to please everyone. The difference is that the backlash about Pocahontas happened despite Disney's attempts to not offend anyone, while the reactions about Aladdin happened because Disney probably didn't make any attempts at all not to offend the arabs. I don't know if it makes any difference for those who feel insulted, but personally I find it to be a significant difference. And I don't think anyone is seeing your posts as condescending.

[TheSequelOfDisney]

What planet are you from? This is a discussion board, where people in general are expected to behave and show common decency for the common good. Nothing too serious in this case, but close enough to give a little reminder when people seems to be on the brink of forgetting internet etiquette and that the posts are written by real humans (silly, as in stupid or foolish, is not a way to describe a thread). In this case by me, which gives me the right to point it out, but the advice include everybody except obvious trolling attempts. The words are not that relevant, it's the attitude and behavior. Claiming they are just being "honest" or "simply expressing their opinion" is the worst excuse in history. No, you can't say whatever you like just because that's the way you feel or think. But if you do, people have even more right to give you an advice in return. Your own interfering and attempts to make a storm in a teacup about a minor trifle that not really concerns you does you no good. And personally, I have no interest in continue to argue over something that is of no relevance to the topic.

This is a discussion board, a place on the interwebs specifically designed for people to offer their opinions. It is my opinion that this thread is silly. In offering my opinion, I am relaying what I think. On a discussion board. A place designed to offer such thoughts. Nothing was said in hate. You were not attacked. Therefore, I am following the rules of the discussion board. If you don't like my opinion, then that's fine, but you can't demand the censorship of my opinion because you don't agree with it, no matter how minor the topic. If you were overtly affected by my opinion, then maybe you're taking the whole Internet thing a bit too seriously. I'm not disregarding your feelings--I've read them loud and clear--but this seems like an overreaction to me. In my opinion.

I am not a troll, either. Trolling is the constant hounding of one's opinion. I simply agreed with another person's point of view. If you've found offense in that, then I don't know what to tell you. I won't apologize. I also don't see this as an argument, but I guess you could see it that way (though, I'd be confused as to how you'd get to that). Making a mountain out of a molehill isn't my style, and I don't think I did that. If you believe I did, then that's your opinion.

And, I'm from Earth.

*Sequel Out

[Rumpelstiltskin]

This is a discussion board, a place on the interwebs specifically designed for people to offer their opinions. It is my opinion that this thread is silly. In offering my opinion, I am relaying what I think. On a discussion board. A place designed to offer such thoughts. Nothing was said in hate. You were not attacked. Therefore, I am following the rules of the discussion board. If you don't like my opinion, then that's fine, but you can't demand the censorship of my opinion because you don't agree with it, no matter how minor the topic. If you were overtly affected by my opinion, then maybe you're taking the whole Internet thing a bit too seriously. I'm not disregarding your feelings--I've read them loud and clear--but this seems like an overreaction to me. In my opinion. I am not a troll, either.

A last reply; you don't have to be a troll or expressing hate to write something where other words, or no words at all, would have worked better. Nobody has demanded a censorship, or trampled on someone's opinion. All of this has already been mentioned in the previous post, and I see no need to repeat it.

[DisneyFan09]

And I don't think anyone is seeing your posts as condescending.

Oh, thanks! (*Sighing with relief*)

[BelleGirl]

'Political correctness' is a plague! This discussion concerns only Disney movies and their potential to offend certain cry-babies (sorry, oversensitive people who apparently have nothing better tho do than complain about being offended), but what about more serious matters? if crimes are committed by people of an an ethnic minority for instance, people who know about it dare not tell, because they will be labelled as racist by the PC police. For instance in Rotherham, England, certain Pakistani have been sexually abusing young (white) girls, and this could go on for a long time because it was not considered PC to reveal this.

A bit of common sense would be healthy, this pandering to oversensitiveness is not.