For the last few months, we've been enjoying all of what Disney + has to offer. We're already halfway through the entirety of The Simpsons, have watched almost all of the Marvel superhero films, and are getting started on Star Wars. For self-isolaters everywhere, the £5.99 monthly package may yet prove the wisest investment of your old fancy-coffee-on-the-way-to-work purse yet, especially now that Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is flying in to join the selection.
Angelina Jolie stars as Maleficent, the winged villain from Sleeping Beauty reimagined. In the first film, you'll recall that she developed a loving, mother/daughter friendship with Elle Fanning's Aurora. Now, she must protect her charge again, and oppose the despicable Queen Ingrith.
It's a must watch, and continues to deliver some striking Angelina looks. Take a look at how she prepared for filming, horns and all, and then see what else is on offer on the streaming service.
The Mandalorian
The marketing gift for Disney Plus was the revelation of the most memeable creature in the solar system, a pint-sized creature most commonly referred to as ‘Baby Yoda’. BY is the centrepiece of this further Star Wars live action series, a screen magnet which launched more than 10million global worldwide Disney Plus subscriptions in a week. Now it’s our turn to spend a little time in the company of the cutest screen icon of its age. Think of him to Dinsey Plus as Jennifer Aniston was to Apple Plus. The trinket by which a new streaming portal defines itself.
The Simpsons
All thirty – yes, thirty – seasons of the animated yellow emblems of American dysfunction will be made instantly available as the portal arrives. We’re not saying they’re all flawless but between 7 and 13 you have an impeccable dissection of a family split between malfunction and humour, in which at least partial recognition is unavoidable. For Lisa’s saxophone alone, The Simpsons continues to rock on.
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
In a pop will eat itself moment, we trip back to East High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico (they were there before Breaking Bad, location scouts!) to find a new set of classmates attempting to put on a show. The show in question? Why, High School Musical, of course. HSM was the seat of more sexual awakenings than a One Direction arena tour. It taught us good from bad and lent the inescapable phrase ‘We’re all in this together’ to everything from David Cameron’s Big Society (remember that?), the corona fightback and your every one of your mum’s mate’s most shared Facebook wisdoms. Retro.
WandaVision
Scheduled to release soon and starring the inimitable Avenger’s: Endgame alumnus Elizabeth Olsen, WandaVision is an extension of the Marvel Universe cannon. Wanda Maximoff has telekinetic powers. She has a love interest called Vision, which given its Paul Bettany we’ll just about let them get away with. The series will explain the entire backstory of how Wanda became known as Scarlet Witch. Was all that telepathy used for the greater good? Wanda, reveal yourself.
Frozen 2
More than 80 Disney movies will be available on the portal, including absolute timeless, lip chewing tear-fests Bambi, Pinocchio and – be still my beating, if animated heart – Dumbo. Its is Frozen 2 that proves the exclusive though, with its first visitation to the small screen. Let’s face it, if you are home schooling any child under 10, this could turn out to be a gift sent from the Disney gods themselves. A word of parental advice. Stick it on loop
And the rest...
Other films include, but are not limited to - take a breath! - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, Bambi, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmatians, The Sword in the Stone, The Jungle Book, The Aristocats, Robin Hood, The Rescuers, The Fox and the Hound, The Black Cauldron, The Great Mouse Detective, Oliver & Company, The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Thumbelina, Aladdin The Return of Jafar, The Lion King, A Goofy Movie, Pocahontas, James and the Giant Peach, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan, Hercules, Lilo & Stitch, Tarzan, Frozen, Moana, Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Mary Poppins, The Sound Of Music, Freaky Friday, Splash, Hocus Pocus, The Parent Trap, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Then, all Star Wars films, most Marvel films, and a whole host of documentaries from National Geographic.
See you in 2021?
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