The Fox and the Hound

        Sorry...I'm late again. Bad blogger! Bad!. Anywho, if you read my blog and you enjoy it, please click the little follow button. Also, if you have an opinion, please vote at the bottom of the page. Thanks, darlings. 

        This week I did the saddest movie known to man. It makes Titanic, The Green Mile, and Steel Magnolias look like comedies. No matter what age you are, you will need a bucket to catch your tears while you watch this movie. This movie is (in case you didn't catch the title of this post): The Fox and the Hound. 

         Let the viewing commence! First question:

      

   Who is Buena Vista and why do all of the older movies credit them? Why don't they still do that today? I mean, I get that they are a "film distribution" company, but why aren't they still distributing? And what does the film distribution industry do? 

    The beginning animation in this movie is flawless! I love this era of Disney. Right before the first chase scene, the camera focuses on a spider web. What are spiders? They're predators. They kill other insects. This is introducing the food chain theme and the topic of aggression. Circle of life, babe. Now we hear the violent yelps of hounds and the image of a running fox with a baby. Hmmm...what is this trying to say? 

     The music is, once again, very well composed in this movie. There's two contrasting melodies. There's the strings, which are playing very smooth melodic lines. Then, there's the brass section which is playing rapid, jumpy beats. The two sections are fighting on articulation, melody, instrumentation, and style. In short, the music is mimicking the combative nature of the fox and the hound that will be examined throughout the movie. 

      So mama fox drops the baby and runs, so that the hounds chase her and she goes down in a death that rivals Bambi's mom. Don't you just love the motherly sacrifice though? People complain that Disney parents die a lot, but the truth is that those parents are all demonstrations of how parents should love their children. 

       The baby fox is found by a wise owl named Big Mama. Because why not? Big Mama, being the strong independent female that she is, says "heck no" to raising the fox. Instead, she finds a way to get an elderly widow to stumble across him and take him in. And it's love at first sight. She bottle feeds him and names him Tod. 

         Then there's a bit of a culture clash as the picture moves from the domestic bliss of Widow Tweed's well-manicured lot to Amos Slade's redneck haven. And we see the cutest dang puppy to ever grace the animated screen!

    

                                                         "I'm a hound dog!"

          The interesting thing about this film is that there is no direct antagonist. Most people probably dislike Amos, but he isn't a villain. He just embraces a different lifestyle. Instead of a good vs. evil concept, the movie embraces a species vs. species conflict. It's fox vs. hound, and bird vs. caterpillar, man vs. woman, and even caterpillar vs. plant at one point. 

           Tod and Copper both wander from their respective homes. This is the comparison portion. So far, the movie has focused on how the two species are different. Now, they are being compared. The two meet and because society has not yet told them they're enemies, they become friends. They're friends because no one has told them that they can't be. There is so much foreshadowing though in Copper's character. The "I'm a hound dog" line shows that he is already being told what and who he is. The whole purpose of this scene is to demonstrate that the two are the same:

         

                                         Congratulations. Your mind is thoroughly blown.

           

        Big Mama sings this absolutely love song called "Best of Friends". Here are the lyrics: http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/classicdisney/bestoffriends.htm. If you're too lazy to click on the link, you're stupid but not to worry. The song just talks about how society is full of stupid heads who just want to destroy happiness. True story.

         Then they have to go and say, "We'll always be friends forever." WHY?! The whole thing just kills me inside. Copper has to go back home. This is a subtle indication of disapproval from authority figures. Amos starts working to keep Copper home, therefore blocking his free spirit and naive relationship. Tod, being the little rebel that he is, goes and visits the restrained Copper. They chat a little, and Chief, who is luckily asleep, starts dreaming. He is dreaming that he is chasing a fox. Seriously, could they emphasize the feud between species more than they are? The themes in this movie are completely idiot-proof. 

          Chief wakes up (oh no!) and Amos runs out of the house like a mad man. Turns out that the mighty hunter is a horrible shot. Why is it that only the good guys can shoot well in movies? Stuff happens, and it turns into a car chase scene, with Tod and Widow Tweed leading the way. I'd like to take a moment to comment on how one bullet simultaneous puncture several holes in three different milk jugs in the back of Widow Tweed's car. The magic of Disney, folks. Widow Tweed gets out of her car and let's Amos know what's up. This woman is a firecracker. This scene really does have some great quotes though. "You blasted female!" (Yeah! That'll show her). And of course, my favorite word (You'll understand if you've read post 2), "Poppycock!" Who does that remind you of?

       

                  

   
        Disney must love that word...then again, who doesn't? I think we should bring "poppycock" back into style.

            Now Tod and Copper can't be friends. Widow Tweed shuts Tod up in the house and Copper is back on the rope. Basically, they are the platonic Romeo and Juliet. A plague on both your farms! The fact that when not being able to see each other, Tod and Copper are confined, resembles how avoiding different cultures makes a person sheltered. They aren't experiencing life- just confinement. That is what happens when ignorance forces a person to only acknowledge people who are like them. The beauty of life is diversity. 

            Amos takes Chief and Copper on a hunting trip and makes Copper ride in the back. Isolation is showing that Copper, at this moment, is different than the hunters. He is more of a free spirit than a conformist at this point. Copper howls at Tod as they pull away. Let's talk about that though, shall we? This is the second time Copper has howled at Tod. The first time was when they met in the forest. The howl does a couple of things. First, it points out Copper's true nature. Copper is bred and raised to find foxes. He is a hunter. Howling at Tod shows who he is, and what he's meant to do. The howl also foreshadows Copper's aggressive pursual of Tod. 

              With Copper gone, Big Mama seizes the opportunity to warn Tod about his ignorance. She tells Tod that despite his friendship, Copper is still a hound dog and Tod is still a fox (what's in a name? A fox by any other name would still smell as sweet...or however foxes smell). Big Mama shows Copper Amos' shed full of fox furs.

     

          HOW IS THIS OK?? This is a kid's film! If this were about humans, then this would be a horror movie. Imagine Big Mama opening the door to see a bunch of human carcasses. Also, is that Tod's mother on the left? Because that is definitely NOT okay!

          Tod assures Big Mama that he trusts Copper, which is good. Trust is good. I'm just more of an advocate of cautious trust. In other news, this turns out to be the longest fricking hunting trip known to man. They show seasons passing. That's how long it is. Also, Squeaks is still alive! That's good news, right? Squeaks is the caterpillar by the way. I don't think I've talked about him. He's cool. Dinky and Boomer, the two birds who are always trying to make a meal of him (and failing miserably) are perfect examples of how grudges will consume you. These birds are spending their every moment chasing this caterpillar and are suffering as a result of it. Once again, idiot-proof. Squeaks avoids the two birds by sneaking into Widow Tweed's house and curling up in a plant pot. When spring comes, the plant is dead. The birds kill the bugs, the bugs kill the plants. The fox and the hound is being paralleled throughout the movie. 

          The hunters are on their way home from the hunting trip (finally) and Big Mama's prediction is true: 

     

                                             This fool is even wearing Amos' hat.

          Copper, over the course of however long this trip has been, became more like his hunting friends. He is a changed man, I tell you. Tod is all excited that his platonic soulmate has returned and declares that he will go visit him when it is safe. Here's my question: Why does Tod STILL want to be friends with Copper? Time has passed. He needs to move on. And sure, Copper was a big part of his childhood, but did he not just see Copper riding back into town in a truck with a pile of fox skins? "My best friend murders everyone who's like me, but that's okay. I still love him to death (literally)." Use your head, Tod!

           Copper is bragging to Chief about his master hunting skills, and Chief isn't having any of it. He says that being able to track isn't enough; "you gotta think nasty." Um, I'm sorry. I'm from flippin' Idaho. I know dang well that "think[ing] nasty" isn't a priority in hunting. Anyone ever seen Avatar? They hunt. They're not nasty. Pocahontas? More friendly hunters. Nobody hunts for the sake of being evil. They do it for either sport or survival. You'd have to be an idiot to have a grudge on an animal to the extent that that's the only reason you hunt. 

            At night when everyone is asleep, Tod goes to visit his good friend, the murderer. Copper is all like, "good to see you, bro, but we ain't that tight no more." (not a direct quote). Basically, for Tod, it's like when your bestie joins the football team and all of a sudden doesn't want to sit with you at lunch. Copper is exiling Tod from the cool kids' table. Just as Tod's trying to apply some metaphorical aloe vera to his emotions wounds, Chief wakes up. Cue chase scene. We also return back to the string and brass music. This time, however, it's more personal. Tod is the strings and Copper is the brass. They're both music, but they're different. Amos is involved now. Tod hides under a log, and Copper finds him with his expert tracking skills.  Then he pretty much says, "next time I see you in these here parts, imma kill you, fool!" More directly, he says that this is the one time he will let him go, which is still a colossal leap from "We'll be friends forever." 

           Tod takes off and Chief follows him. They go to the train tracks. Now I've watched enough movies to know that nothing good ever happens at night at the train tracks. Sure enough, Chief gets taken out by a train, but he survives, and no one liked him anyway. Copper, despite the fact that it wasn't Tod's fault, he and Chief weren't super close, he and Tod are former BFFs, and Chief is not dead whatsoever, declares that he will seek vengeance on Tod. That seems like a pretty douche-y move to me. Honestly, take a chill pill or two, Copper. Sure, Tod remotely had something to do with your friend breaking his leg, but you wiped out like half of his species. Who's really at fault here?

            It's crazy how rapidly Copper's loyalty shifts. I think it's a combination of duty and pressure. He spent a long time with just Chief and Amos. Their nurturing probably wore off on him quite a bit. Meaning that the only thing saying that Tod and Copper can't be friends is what society is telling them. 

          Amos has finally had it up to here (holding hand over head) with Widow Tweed's fox so he marches down there to tell her so. Notice that Amos only ever calls her "female", "woman", or "widow". He doesn't call her by name. He doesn't identify her as an individual, but as a general. That's the whole premise of the film. It's "The Fox and the Hound" not "Tod and Copper." It's about labels and being who you are versus who you're supposed to be. 

           Another fun theory: when Tweed is sitting in her living room, you can see a picture hanging on the wall behind her. I think that this is her deceased husband and for a couple of reasons. First, it's the only distinct picture on the wall (besides some birds in a later shot). They wouldn't have put detail into animating it without reason. Also the movie begs for some information about her husband because she is so prominently identified as a widow. It's a small hint, but it's something.       

     

                                                  That is a sexy mustache...

     After duking it out, Tweed decides that it's time to call it quits with her buddy, Tod. For this next part you need to prepare. Everybody take a short break and return with the following items: kleenex (the ultra soft kind), a pint of ice cream, a spoon bigger than average, sweat pants, makeup remover, and a good friend on speed dial. Got that? The makeup remover is to take off your mascara because I guarantee you, it will come off the hard way or the easy way, but it's coming off. The friend is for emotional support in case you go into a sudden depression in the next few minutes.

      Tweed starts driving Tod off in the truck. Tod is, once again, naive and thinks it's just a fun road trip. Widow Tweed, with a tear in her eye, mentally recites a poem about her beloved friendship with Tod. It's quite beautiful. Let's talk about it. So the poetry really enforces the idea of how beautiful and profound their love was. The poem is written in near rhyme, however. It's not completely a rhyme. Just almost. Tod and Copper were almost the same. They were both adventurous and curious. They were compatible. They had free spirits and full hearts, but then society intervened (scumbag society), reminded them of what they were supposed to be, and that was that. They were close, but not quite. Imma just let the pictures speak for this next part:

     

                                                 SO DANG SAD!!!!!!!

         

                          THIS WOMAN JUST WANTS TO BE WITH HER FOX!!!!

                                                          LOOK AT IT!!!!   

   

                         Of course it's raining...why the heck wouldn't it be?!?!?!

          If you need to take a breather, call that friend, finish your ice cream, whatever you need, now's the time to do it. 

          Back on track (as if we aren't emotionally numb by now)...There's a lot of shots of animals and if you pay attention you can tell that most of them are animals Amos has referenced killing. Tod is just another opportunity now. Tod struggles with making friends with the rugged forest folk until a lil' porcupine or hedgehog or something comes over. "I've been watching you, sir." How is that an okay way to start a conversation? It's not! But, you know, Tod hasn't proven to be the brightest crayon in the box so he moves in with the smallish creature. 

         The next morning, Big Mama flies in. She mentions needing to loose a few lbs, which is not good for an owl to say. For an owl a few lbs is the difference between life and death. Enter Miss Flirty McFlirtson. 

     

     Her name is Vixey (get it? Like a vixen?) because the friendly folks at Disney weren't feeling original that day.

      Tod, because he's a guy, is all for it. Since the babes like athletic dudes, she propositions that Tod catches a fish for her. Tod, once again being a guy, is all like, "Yeah. It's not like I was raised in a farmhouse next to a fireplace or anything."  So Vixey, who is totes testing him out to see if he's got potential, watches as Tod literally fails harder than any one else in this movie, and that's saying something considering an avid hunter missed the same fox about thirty times.  The fact that Tod can't catch a fish, however, separates him from Copper. Copper is a born hunter. He could do it in his sleep. Tod....let's just not talk about it. He sucks. 

       Vixey laughs coyly and Tod thinks she's making fun of him so he throws a fit, because he's a GUY.  He calls her a "female." Notice that's what Amos calls Tweed. Winky face. When Big Mama tries to convince Tod to win her back, he says the greatest phrase ever uttered on film (besides poppycock): "Oh raspberries! I've had it!" Let that sink in. I'm using that one. He goes and kisses up to Flirty McFlirtson who takes his apology a little...too friendly. 

  

                                                           I'm calling slut.

       They go on a walk and suddenly she's bringing up the topic of babies! Who is this lady? You just met him, honey! We all saw what happened to Anna. 

         Back to Amos and the dogs...they see a "No Hunting" sign and just dang ignore it! Quick PSA: Hunt responsibly! The end. 

            Aaaand back to our fox friends. They...um...wake up...together...in a cave. So that's, um, a little suggestive.

    

                                          Proof that Disney isn't just for kids.

         Copper finds Tod, and instead of congratulating him on scoring like a bro, he starts going for the kill. Jerk. There's some chasing, and Tod and Vixey hide in a brush-y bush thing. And Amos sets it on fire. Of course. Ever been so desperate to catch a fox that you risked starting a forest fire? Smokey would not approve of this. By the way, our favorite music motif is back! Then the movie introduces another participant in our lovely war.

   

                       I'd just like to say: Is the bear really necessary? Come on!

         The bear targets Copper and Tod comes to his rescue faster than you can say "Oh raspberries". See? Tod doesn't hold grudges! Tod doesn't care if you've tried to kill him countless times, wiped out half of his species, begged for his death. Tod is still there for you. I like Tod. Both the bear and Tod fall off a cliff...rather unfortunately. This does say, however, that hate doesn't just take others down; it takes you down too. But the bear dies and Tod lives so that's good news right? Amos, who I assume has been sitting there rubbing his hands maniacally together whispering, "I'll get that fox" under his breath, steps up to shoot Tod. Copper, in a valiant act of redemption, pulls a Pocahontas!

       

                   But, Daddy, I love him! (note: that's from The Little Mermaid NOT Pocahontas)

             Amos finally gets some sense and takes Copper and leaves without touching Tod. This is what I just don't understand! The stupid fox and the hound just want to be friends, dangit! Just let them be friends!!!! Why would you stinking try to just plain kill their spirits?! Friendship is a beautiful thing no matter who had it! You're just like that scumbag Ewel trying to kill a mockingbird. SOCIETY SUCKS!!!! MLK did not have a dream so that idiots could go tell a hound dog who he can and can't play with. What if Copper doesn't like hunting? Huh? What if he wants to play fetch or compete in dog shows? Huh? STOP TELLING PEOPLE WHAT TO DO! A fox is not better than a hound! A hound is not better than a fox! If we keep acting like this, we will fricking get attacked by a bear! So you all just need to go home, apologize to your mother for being a worthless human being, and start loving people, darnit! 

             Inhale. Exhale. Ok. Squeaks turns into a butterfly. That's cool because it shows that we are not all what we appear to be. Tod is more than a savage to be hunted. It also shows how beautiful we can become when we avoid aggression. Also, Widow Tweed is nursing Amos' wounds. He needs her. He underestimated her when he NEEDED her. The movie ends with Copper going to sleep as Tod and Vixey watch from afar. They do an audio replay of "We'll be friends forever, won't we?" So they can't be friends but they'll always love each other. Tod moved on. Copper moved on. People change. Life goes on. It sucks. It's sad. It happens. I don't even know what to say anymore. 

                          I just....I don't know...moral of the story: people suck. The end.