Christopher Robin to be replaced (by a girl!!)

[wils]

Saw this article mentioned on another thread. Don't like the sound of itat all!

http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-12-06-winnie-the-pooh_x.htm

the thread is here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=974427&page=1&pp=15

 

[KayleeUK]

Oh no, why do they have to change it

 

[wils]

 

[Clare D]

A girl??? Surely this would cause some confusion for the little ones watching.

 

[Minniespal]

Why do they have to change winning formats

 

[Miffy2003]

That's never right!!! What would A A Milne say about this???

 

[bicker]

The discussion about this on the Community Board got quite heated. Clearly some folks are very passionate about their childhood memories. I personally think it is a good thing. I can think of many examples in literature where a re-telling of a classic story was especially wonderful (the best example being West Side Story).

 

[catherine]

Has Disney completely lost the plot!! The whole premise of the Winnie the Pooh stories is Christopher Robin and his imaginary friends! I guess the bottom line is they aren't concerned with integrity. If the Disney Co. feel that they might make a few $'s profit they will do anything!

 

[bicker]

The article didn't indicate that the changing of the gender of a character required a change of plot.

 

[fizz13]

No don't like this at all. If it had to be a girl, then why not make her Christopher Robin's little sister? Are we supposed to pretend that he's just not there any more?
It says in the article that this is a way to introduce a younger generation to the classic books. Well, these kids are going to be a little confused when they read about Christopher instead of Christina aren't they?

This is Disney saying its better than the classic talents of AA Milne and as much as I love my Pooh Bear on Disney Channel, this is a step too far.


Claire xx

 

[Night-train]

It's yet another concession to the pc prats in this world! Personally I find it nauseating that traditional stories get messed around like this just to appease a few nutcases! If AA Milne had wanted Christopher Robin to be a girl he'd have written it that way in the first place. My daughter will grow up knowing the original version and no other.

 

[bicker]

Just like Jerome Roberts was saying that his talent are better than William Shakespere? No, I can't agree that that's what they're saying.

 

[wils]

'lost the plot'

This is obviously a British expression it means that they have gone crazy/mad! It has nothing to do with plot (as in storyline)

I must admit I wasn't sure about the whole heffalumps being friendly but I love Lumpy. I guess it's just that I grew up with these stories and knowing that AA Milne wrote them about his son Christopher Robin Milne and his toys makes me sad that this is being left behind.

I've picniced in the 100 acre wood (or rather the place that inspired it) and thrown poohsticks off the bridge - have promised to take DD when we are down south next.

 

[Kernow_Clan]

"We got raised eyebrows even in-house at first, but the feeling was these timeless characters really needed a breath of fresh air that only the introduction of someone new could provide," says Nancy Kanter of the Disney Channel."

Excuse me for being English, but does the above sentence not contradict itself??? Typical American "we change the past to suit ourselves"

Rant on People

 

[bicker]

Ooops! Sorry for my confusion!

 

[wils]

 

[Richard Bruvofetc]

I propose we replace Snow White with male and name him Sleet Grey (sorry that should be "Gray" in the US), we could have a "Cinderfella" (though I think that has been done), and how about, instead of "Lady and the Tramp" we could have "Gentleman and the Tart"!

 

[EltonJohn]

That's never right!!! What would A A Milne say about this???

I don't think that he would care. Milne was quite annoyed with the success of his Pooh stories, and I can't blame him. His Pooh stories have pushed his other works into obscurity. Ever heard of "Once on a Time", "The Red House Mystery", "Wurzel-Flummery", "Toad of Toad Hall", etc., etc. Neither did I until I read the Wikipedia article.

The discussion about this on the Community Board got quite heated. Clearly some folks are very passionate about their childhood memories.

"Heated" is too weak of a word to describe the debate on the CB. People are reacting as if the sky is falling I think that most people on that thread are afraid of change.

In closing, too bad Christopher Robin Milne isn't around to witness this. Later in his life he resented the fact that his father named the famous Christopher Robin character after him. Knowing that, I think that this is a good move. Christopher Robin Milne would probably be pleased that another character is being pushed to Pooh's side.

 

[EltonJohn]

I propose we replace Snow White with male and name him Sleet Grey (sorry that should be "Gray" in the US), we could have a "Cinderfella" (though I think that has been done), and how about, instead of "Lady and the Tramp" we could have "Gentleman and the Tart"!

I just got a thought. Perhaps someone should write a play that switches the genders of famous characters to lampoon the people that get angry about a change in a story

 

[Miffy2003]

I don't think anyone is saying they are afraid of change.

I know I feel strongly about this as A A Milne and these books (and yes, I have read other AA Milne books but it is Winnie the Pooh that he is best known for) were written, and set in the UK and part of the heritage of many UK residents' childhoods. There is a special bond there.


Also, Christopher Robin was actually A A Milne's son! This is partly why I am surprised Disney are changing his gender.