Symbolism In "The Great Mouse Detective"
I think I may have found some symbolism in the movie:
@ All of Ratigan's thugs seem to mingle with one another. But Fidget appears to be very shy, & prefers to work alone.
@ During the Rat Trap scene, Dr. Dawson appears to have "social problems" with the bar patrons. Examples of his behavior & other bar-goers' throughout the scene are:
* When Dr. Dawson bumps into the lady mouse, he takes off his hat & says, "Oh, I do beg your pardon, madam. Quite unintentional, I assure you." The mouse woman's reaction is to blow cigarette smoke into his face & laugh.
* After getting blasted with cigarette smoke from the mouse woman, Dr. Dawson says angrily, "How impertinent!" Basil scolds Dawson, "Remember...we're low-life ruffians!" Dawson says in irritation, "But I was until that..." Basil immediately cuts him off.
* When the barmaid (Evelyn) asks what drinks Basil & Dr. Dawson want, Dawson requests politely, "I'll have a dry sherry...with perhaps a twist of..." Basil immediately covers his friend's mouth, & tells "Evelyn" in a gruff pirate voice, "Two pints! For me & my shipmate!" Evelyn then goes off to get the drinks (after a word from Basil about "an old friend...[who] goes by the name of Ratigan!").
Eventually, Dawson learns that not everyone is as polite & civil as he is.
@ The characters have certain color schemes for their clothing ensembles:
* Basil = Brown
* Dr. Dawson = Purple, black
* Olivia = Blue, green, pink, black-&-white
* Ratigan = Black, red
* Fidget = Purple, black
* Hiram = Brown, white, olive-green
* Kitty The Showgirl = Blue
* Bridget & Sheena (The two dancing girls) = Pink
* Evelyn (the Rat Trap barmaid) = Blue, white
* Auburn (the bartender) = Yellow, white, olive-green
* Peewee Pete (the little shrimp of a thug who laughs at Basil) = Blue
* Bill The Lizard = Brown, light-brown, blackish-brown
* Red (the thug who hangs out with Bill) = Red, orange, brown
* Snakes = Muave, blue, lavender, brown
* Gunsmoke Gary (the thug with the gray five o'clock shadow who sings in T.W.G.C.M.) = Green, gray, white, red
* Walker (the tall thug with the cigar) = Gray, navy-blue, black, blue
* Snotty Sam (the thug in snow clothes) = Red, orange, brown
* Mrs. Judson = Green, blue, white
* Don The R.T. Pianist = Green, blue, black, brown
Can anyone ELSE think of symbolism in the movie?
Symbolism In "The Great Mouse Detective 2: A New Beginning"
@ In
The Great Mouse Detective 2, the Reformed Ratigan's personality is totally different from that of the evil Professor Ratigan (i.e., he speaks slang, drinks no alcohol, acts like an American guy, eats junk food, plays with toys, reads comics, watches cartoons, doesn't use violence, hates being evil, acts more urbanized, talks in an American accent, etc.). Mouses Fiennes, the new villain, is a perfect balance to Ratigan's changed character. In the sequel, Mouses is everything Ratigan once was (i.e., he speaks in a British accent, wears fancy clothing, is very flamboyant, etc.), providing a perfect contrast to Ratigan's new childish, American, playful, & urbanized behavior.
@ Ratigan wears his royal garb from the Diamond Jubilee throughout the sequel. This regal fashion statement represents his new colorful personality (the jewels & ornaments), his desire to remain flashy (the whole costume), his crusade for righteousness (his sword & scabbard), his soft disposition (the fancy, fur-trimmed robes & cape), & his new role as "king of all things good & just" (the whole outfit, especially the crown).
@ The ballerina doll (from the original movie), in its repaired state, represents the promise of blessing later on in the movie.
@ Throughout the movie, the reformed Fidget goes through many different soul-searching moments. In the original
The Great Mouse Detective, Fidget is very timid, anxious, & unsure of himself, as well as constantly trying to please others. During several important moments in the sequel, Fidget gradually learns how to be confident in himself, & also how to be brave.
@ Cousin Timmy, due to spending most of his young life in a youth hostel/juvenile hall, does not know much about being part of a family. After seeing is new relatives act like a good family should, Cousin Timmy eventually learns how to act properly, open his heart towards other people, & be responsible for others.
@ Ratigan's tossing of the dinner bell during the "World's Greatest Brother Around" song scene represents his desire to show mercy towards others, & his decision to not use violence on those who upset him.
When you get a copy of the script, maybe you can tell me some symbolistic things in it that YOU found.
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And now another little poll for you guys. In this one, you have to tell me what you think the names of the minor charaaters in the movie are.
Here's MY list:
@ The Rat Trap Barmaid = Evelyn/Jaclyn
@ The R.T. Bartender = Auburn Patterson
@ The R.T. Band = Don (pianist), Tom (trombonist), Arnie (drummer), Jerry (trumpeter)
@ R.T. Showgirl = Kitty
@ Kitty's Sisters (2 girls in pink) = Bridget & Sheena
@ The Juggling Octopus = Jiggy Jugovsky The [Jewish] Juggling Octopus
@ The Woman Who Blew Smoke In Dawson's Face = Lola
@ Olivia's Dad = Hiram Flaversham (Well, he's not REALLY minor...
)
@ The Frog Performer = Rosie The Ribbiter
@ The Unicycle Newt = Ned The Newt
@ The Thug In Red, Orange, & Brown With The Cigar = Red (Appropriate name,
ne?)
@ The Lizard = Bill (DUH!)
@ The Thug In The Striped Shirt = Snakes (You'll know him better as Pete if you've read Gracie Gru's stories [they are MARVELOUS!!])
@ The Shrimpy Thug With The Blue Baseball Cap Who Laughs At Basil = Peewee Pete (How do you THINK he got his name?)
@ The Thug In Green With The Gray Five O'Clock Shadow Who Sings T.W.G.C.M. = Gunsmoke Gary (Gets his name because he's a great marksmouse)
@ The Thug In Snow Clothing Who Sings T.W.G.C.M. = Snotty Sam (Gets his name because he picks his nose all the time, eats his boogies, wipes them on everything, etc.)
@ The Two Brute Thugs = Thomas (in blue shirt) & Terry (in red shirt & green pants)
@ The Tall Thug In Gray & Blue Who Has Cigar & Sings T.W.G.C.M = Walker
What do YOU guys think the names of these guys are?
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And now, another poll: How old do you think the GMD characters are?
Here's MY estimates:
BASIL: 28
OLIVIA: 10
DR. DAWSON: 54
RATIGAN: 17
FIDGET: 15
HIRAM: 40
QUEEN MOUSETORIA: 70
EVELYN: 38
TOBY: 24 (in dog years)
FELICIA: 27 (in cat years)
BARTHOLOMEW: 29
MISS KITTY: 25
BRIDGET: 25
SHEENA: 25
LADY MOUSEWELL (The lady at the end of the movie): 24
What do YOU think the characters' ages are?
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And now for some unanswered questions I hope some of you can answer:
1. How do we KNOW the showgirl's name is Kitty? It doesn't say so in the movie.
2. Why does Basil say Flaversham right during the Big Ben scene? ("Dawson, Flaversham, gather up those balloons!")
3. Exactly WHY did Evelyn & Auburn drug the drinks?
4. How did Dr. Dawson get on the stage in the first place?
5. I heard once that Fidget had a song in the movie, but it was cut. Is it true?
6. During the LMBGTY song scene, when Kitty sings, "I'll take off all my blues", does she mean "clothes" instead? (Because everything she's wearing is BLUE, & the thought just crossed my mind.)
7. What elements were the chemicals in the scene where Basil tries to find out where the shopping list came from?
More questions will be added as soon as I think of them.
