Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement teaches us many lessons.

We learn about how even royalty has to follow the law.  So no one is above the law unless you are like Joe and have diplomatic immunity.  By seeing that Princess Mia is being held up to a the law when it comes to her being married before ruling, we see that even though she rules the country she has to abide by the laws.

 It also shows that sometimes people can think they are doing the right thing but they aren't.  This also kind of goes with the topic last week of people using you to get what they want.  Nicholas's uncle had him convinced that getting the throne was the right thing to do for various reasons.  But in reality Nicholas's uncle was using Nicholas for his own greed.

We learn that a small act of kindness can mean the world to someone.  Especially when it comes from a princess.  Mia stops the parade in order to confront two little boys who were picking a on a little girl.  She also showed compassion towards the children at the shelter, most of which were orphans.  Mia bought them all crowns and had them be "princesses and princes" for the day and walk in the parade with her.

We also learn that sometimes we can lose it and that things will work out if you do.  Even Mia has those moments.  It just so happened that she was in the spotlight more than us.  When she tells the queen, "sometimes I just lose it" we see the queen doesn't react well to it but in the end it worked out.

We also learn that we don't need a man at our side all the time.  Mia tried to do what she needed to for her country but she finally broke down and motioned for the law to be changed.  This would abolish the law that a queen needs a man by her side to rule.

Princess Diaries

"no one can make you feel inferior without your consent"-Eleanor Roosevelt
The Princess Diaries is a movie that teaches us a lot of valuable life lessons.

It taught us that you can overcome your fears.  It may take time and work but you can.  Mia couldn't even speak in front of her class at school, but she overcame her fear.  She needed to be able to do this because she has to speak in front of a lot of people.  Whether its press or the guests at a ball, she now cam tackle public speaking.

It also teaches us that we need to be careful with our words.  Although it may not seem offensive to you it can be to other people.  For instance Mia tells her grandmother to "shut up." This is harmless language to Americans but people who aren't used to our slang can misinterpret it as a bad thing.

Mia also showed us that we need to show our inner beauty.  It not only makes us feel more confident but our confidence then shows to others. This confidence gains us respect.

We learned the important lesson that some people just want to advance themselves and if that means through you, they don't care.  They will do whatever it takes.  If it means hurting or using you, it doesn't matter.  To them you are just a tool to their way to life.  These people need to be stopped.

We also get an important quote that I think everyone should know and live by.  When Mia is upset he tells Mia a quote originally said by Eleanor Roosevelt.  "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

Big Hero 6

Big Hero 6 is a little different from my usual posts, but when I watched the movie I knew that it would make a great post dealing with lessons learned from the movie.

This movie shows just how far knowledge can take you.  Whether you use it for good or bad is up to you as the movie demonstrates.  Just know that using knowledge for good can take you many places and can help advance you in your life.

Big Hero 6 also showed us that your friends are there for you no matter what.  They could help you in awesome car chases, through a death of a loved one or even to help you advance in what you believe in.  This doesn't mean that they won't set you straight if you thoughts aren't on track with what will help you.  Because they only want the best for you.

Also, we learned to not let anger get in the way of our judgement.  When this happens we don't always think rationally.  We jump to the thing that is the easiest for us to do or accept or we tend to try to blame someone for our anger.  In your mind they were the one who caused that.  But it doesn't matter because you need to forgive and move on that way your judgments aren't built on anger.

Finally Baymax taught us a lot about puberty and how we need to take the time for others.

Peter Pan

Peter Pan is set in the late 1950s or early 1960s.  Knowing this helps us realize just what Peter Pan teaches us.  For instance, Michael is wearing pink pajamas.  Some may find this weird but for the time period pink was used for boys not girls.

It also taught us that we can accomplish many things by staying positive.  When the lost boys, Wendy, and her brothers were trapped by Hook on his ship, they stayed positive and believe that Peter will come for them.

We also learn that jealousy leads to bad things. When Tink is influenced by her jealousy between Wendy's and Peter's relationship, she make the bad decision of helping Hook find where Peter lives.  This was a bad decision on Tink's part because Peter almost died because she had clouded judgement.

We also learn that your friends are always there for you.  Whether you are brother and sister, or even just friends, they are there for you.  There are countless times that this is shown in the movie but the most memorable one is where they help each other fight Hooks crew and take over his ship.

But not everything that Peter Pan taught us was good.  It taught us the stereotype of Native Americans.  The Native Americans had noticeable red skin and danced and spoke in a very stereotypical way.

Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping Beauty taught us many things as we watched it.  First of all it taught us that family isn't defined by blood.  Even though the fairies weren't her Aurora's parents, they raised her.  When people who have been around your whole life help you along your journey of growing up, they are family, even if you aren't blood related.

Another thing we learned is just how great animals are.  They may just be animals but they are always there for you.  They can sense how you are feeling and know when they need to help you.

When it comes time for the curse that Aurora faces, they try to keep it from happening.  In the end it happens anyway.  This teaches us if it is meant to happen, it will.  It may not always be a good thing but bad things happen too.

The last things Sleeping Beauty taught us is love conquers all and you need to stop evil with kindness.  These two go together because Prince Philip goes to rescue Aurora because he loves her.  When he goes to rescue her Prince Philip, who represent kindness and love, fights Maleficent, who represents evil.

And a not so serious one for the end.  Magic is some peoples only hope.

Cinderella

Cinderella is full of lessons for children to learn.   First of all, you learn that life isn't fair.  Cinderella may be filled with kindness and a beautiful young lady but she isn't treated fairly by her step mother and step sisters.

Cinderella also taught us that we shouldn't let others define you.  Her step mother treated her as a slave or a house servant never as a daughter.  Even though she was treated this way she knew that she was better than that.  

She also taught us to live in the moment and relax.  When she was with the Prince she wasn't worried about time until the clock struck.  She stayed with the Prince and enjoyed every moment she could with him.

Cinderella and Fairy Godmother taught us to appreciate what we have.  Cinderella may have had a time restriction but she appreciated that she got a chance to go to the ball and in a beautiful dress at that.

Most importantly she taught us that a dream is a wish your heart makes.

Life Lessons from Aladdin and Jasmine

The movie Aladdin taught us many things.  We learned lessons from both Jasmine and Aladdin with some help from Genie.

Princess Jasmine taught us to be your own person.  Don’t be who everyone else wants you to be, be who you want to be.  She taught us this by not conforming to what everyone thought she should conform to (marrying off to a random prince). 

She also taught us an important lesson about women.  They aren't someone’s trophy and should never be thought of like that.  You are you and not someone’s possession.  So demand to be treated like a person not a possession. 

Together Aladdin and Jasmine taught us that dreams do come true.  Never give up hope.  If it was meant to be, it will be.  There may be obstacles getting there but in the end things will work out the way they were supposed to. 

Aladdin showed us that you should always remember who you are and where you came from.  Just because you currently are living a different life style doesn't mean that your roots cannot be helpful.

Also, Aladdin showed us just how special a diamond in the rough is.  Just because people don’t see your current potential doesn't mean it’s not there.  Most of the time it is hidden behind a rough exterior.  But once it is out there for everyone to see, you can do great things.life L

The Little Mermaid: A sea of lessons

            The Little Mermaid is filled with small morals that we may not have realized when we were kids but they are important lessons that we learn in life.

            As children we don’t realize but our parents will do so much for us.  The Little Mermaid demonstrates this when King Triton signs the contract to free his daughter.  Even though he didn't always agree with Ariel’s decisions, he still put her life ahead of his. 

            Another thing The Little Mermaid taught us is that our friends have our best interest at heart.  Listening to our friends is a good idea when it comes to big decisions because they are only looking out for you.  Whether it is your friend you have had your whole life or even a fury friend, they only want the best for you.

               One other lesson we learn is that we shouldn't judge people based on their culture.  Just because the majority of the culture is one way doesn't mean an individual is like the majority.  As an individual they are able to form opinions out of the status quo.   King Triton isn't accepting of the humans due to past experiences and doesn't like that is daughter is in love with a human.

            And for some interesting facts, that aren't life lessons, about The Little Mermaid.  Here you go.

Hercules: Mythology vs Disney

                Disney may decide to change things for the purpose of the movie but overall you can learn a lot about Greek mythology from Hercules.  Though the story line isn't accurate, it provides a basis for knowing the gods or goddesses and their domains of power.

                Hades the god of the underworld introduces us to a few characters that are in Greek mythology.  When Hades is entering the underworld we see Kharon rowing the boat.  This is a part of the movie that stuck to the mythology.  Kharon is the ferryman on the river, Styx, to the underworld.  Another portrayal of mythology in the movie is Hades three headed dog, Cerberus.  Even though we only saw these character in the movie, it introduced us to a few real aspects of Greek mythology.

               In the beginning of the movie it takes us through a gathering of the gods.  Each god has a symbol on them to give us an idea of their domains.  For instance, we see Dionysus carrying a wine glass around.  Athena with an owl.  Zeus with his bolts.  Hermes with his caduceus.

                Disney also introduces a lot of topics we could have missed.  Phil, the satyr, may not have been Hercules's coach in real Greek mythology, but he does go on a rant that includes a lot of actual mythology legends.

Another cool aspect the producers brought into the movie was that when Phil says, “I've got two words for you kid, ‘I am retired.’”  As a kid I always thought this was weird.  Its three words, not two.  Or is it?  In Greek, I am retired is only two words.

               But do you know the real story of Hercules?  Hercules is a demigod who is the son of Zeus.  He was known for his super strength.  In his adult life he married Princess Megara and had three children.  Hera, Zeus's jealous wife drove Hercules to insanity because she didn't like that Zeus was unfaithful to have Hercules. In the midst of his madness, Hercules kills his children.  Upset that he did this he visits an oracle and then visits Eurystheus.  Eurystheus sends him on 12 journeys.                                                                      *This video is the speech Phil gives in the                                                                                                   movie. Word for word.

What The Lion King Taught Us

         The Lion King is a phenomenal Disney movie.  The story follows Simba as he is raised by a meerkat and a warthog and his mission once he is grown.  This movie has been seen by many children from the 90s and 00s, but do they know the meaning behind some of the Swahili terms or even any knowledge on the basis of the movie. 

            Swahili is the native language of the Bantu on the East coast of Africa.  Places where this language is heard is Kenya and Tanzania.  

            You may not know but you already know a phrase in Swahili.  “Hakuna Matata” was a coined phrase in the movie.  When they say this phrase in the movie it is followed by them saying “it means no worries.”  This is the actual meaning in Swahili. 

            A few other words in Swahili that you have heard but not know the meaning to are the names of the characters.

Simba means lion

Nala means gift

Sarabi meaning mirage

Sarafina means bright star

Rafiki means friend

Timon means respect

Pumbaa means dull-witted

Zazu means movement

            Although we may not think of it.  Disney is actually expanded our vocabulary and teaching us the Swahili language in subtle ways.  Every Disney movie has a little something we can learn from it .