Pete’s Dragon (1977)
…………………………………………………
Pete’s Dragon Movie Review
Pete’s Dragon is a 1977 live-action/animated musical fantasy film from Disney. It’s one of their weakest efforts in this particular mixed medium.
………………………………………………….
“Well, if there’s enough room for a chowder-head like you,
then there’s more than enough room for a dragon“
…………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………..
Yes, I have never liked this one all that much and I find the 2016 remake much better actually, and much more modernized and improved. The main problem I’ve had with this flick is its inability to stay entertaining for longer periods of time.
Not only is the movie incredibly long, clocking in at around 130 minutes, but it’s also immensely slow in pace and meandering in its overall arc and structure so it ended up being very boring for adults, and I expect for children that would be an even bigger case.
It’s a film which has a mediocre story overall, but some good moments here and there. The moments make this movie fine and passable as some scenes are very sweet, charming and overall quite good, but the story itself is weak and some scenes with the hillbillies are ridiculously dated and annoying.
I did like Elliot and Pete, and their friendship is wonderful. Nora is also a terrific, sympathetic character. All the others are bland and even frustratingly annoying. I wish the movie focused more on the main duo as those scenes were the best, while the others are all the worst.
Pete’s Dragon is a musical and it actually is quite solid in that regard. Certainly it has many songs and thus a lot are bland and forgettable, but Brazzle Dazzle Day is quite solid and fun overall whereas Candle on the Water is truly wonderful, well sung and a beautiful, moving number that lights up the movie so successfully. It thus deserved its Oscar nomination.
…………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………..
Yes, I really liked that lighthouse and the scenes there are great. The animation of the titular character is standard in the character design, but that classical nature to it made it charming and sweet. But the acting overall is goofy as are the character and the humor is the worst aspect to this movie. It just might be for all of those reasons the weakest live-action/animated hybrid that Disney has produced so far.
Pete’s Dragon has its charming moments, some characters are fine and the music is pretty solid overall with Candle on the Water being very strong, but the supporting characters are annoying as is the humor. The pacing and the very long runtime made it a pretty boring watch. It’s thus inferior to the remake and one of the weakest live-action/animated hybrids from Disney.
