Piglet's Big Movie

Normally we avoid "modern" Pooh, preferring the classic Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

I saw The Tigger Movie when it first came out (and wasn't very impressed) but thought we'd take a gamble on Piglet's Big Movie on a day when we needed a little entertaining around here. Delightfully, we were very pleased with the film in general. We watched this some time back (right after reading some Winnie the Pooh stories) but then watched it again last week and I thought I'd give it a mention.

Piglet's Big Movie does open up with a scene not in the books and there is a soundtrack with songs that play over certain scenes in the movie which are not so very traditional. But the animation sticks close to Disney's original Pooh film which I definitely appreciate.

In this movie, it opens up with a scene which includes Rabbit, Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore working at one of Pooh's schemes to obtain honey from the bees. Piglet approaches the gang but they think he is too small to be of much help or use to them in their project. The opening scene definitely shares the message that "Little people are important too!" Seeing that I don't have any objections to this on its face (and it's presented in a subtle way) it didn't bother me. The friends realize though that Piglet is a small and useful creature that they care about. However, by the time they notice he is missing from their company, they can't find him. They do, however, find a scrapbook that Piglet made which contains pictures of various activities that the Hundred Acre Wood gang have done all together. They decide to use the "scrapbook full of memories" to find Piglet and so begins an adventure full of flashbacks to good times in the Woods.

I love that they included the following stories (from the books!) in the movie:

1. The time Kanga and Roo moved to the Hundred Acre Wood and the animals all thought that Kanga was a fierce animal. We follow Rabbit and friends as they plot to get rid of Kanga and Roo by having Piglet switch places with Roo. Of course, in the end, they discover that Kanga and Roo are friendly companions and they are glad to have them. "Ah-HA!"
2. The time that the group went with Christopher Robin on an expotition to the North Pole. (They aren't followed by all of Rabbit's relatives but you get the basic concept of the story.)
3. In Which a House is Built at Pooh Corner for Eeyore. (They open the story with Piglet and Pooh singing Tiddly Pom.)

(Tiddly Pom)
The more it goes
(Tiddly Pom)
The more it goes
(Tiddly Pom)
On snowing.

And nobody knows
(Tiddly Pom)
How cold my toes
(Tiddly Pom)
How cold my toes
(Tiddly Pom)
Are growing.

The more it snows
(Tiddly Pom)
The more it goes
(Tiddly Pom)
The more it goes
(Tiddly Pom)
On snowing.

And nobody knows
(Tiddly Pom)
How gold my toes
(Tiddly Pom)
How cold my toes
(Tiddly Pom)
Are growing.

I think on the whole, this movie is true to Milne's stories and it helps to familiarize the younger generation with these delightful tales of life in the Hundred Acre Wood. Yes, a few liberties are taken but I can live with the liberties if they hold true to the spirit of the books - which I think Piglet's Big Movie does.

In case you hadn't heard the news, Disney is releasing another big screen edition of Pooh stories this summer. (It comes out July 15th to be precise!) I was suspicious at first but after seeing the trailer for it, I was appeased and we look forward to taking our boys to the theater to see it when it comes out. Here is the trailer, for your convenience:



I'm so glad that my little ones love Pooh! The innocence and fun in the Hundred Acre Woods is a delight. I like the characters, the stories and the way that Disney brought Pooh and friends to life. I'm sure we'll be enjoying Pooh for a few years yet and I couldn't be happier about that!