When Disney plus came into our lives in the middle of lockdown, parents across the globe were united in relief. Here, every single Disney production is available to stream anytime, anywhere. But donβt think itβs just for lovers of Frozen and the Jungle Book, Disney also brings us the Marvel and Star Wars franchises, incredible documentaries and hidden gems you might have missed at the cinema.
Here is my pick of what to watch.
HamiltonΒ
Hamilton is one of those musicals we had all heard was incredible and yet was almost completely inaccessible, until now. Written by Broadway powerhouse Lin-Manuel Miranda, it tells the story of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, with songs and raps depicting his life.
As someone who worked in theatre and loves musicals I am a bit biased, but to me this is one of those performances that brings you to tears, not because of sadness or happiness, but because of how utterly brilliant it is. You also need to accept that you will be buying the soundtrack as soon as itβs finished.
Moana
To those of use who are over 30 and stopped watching Disney films after A Bug’s Life, there are a few things we may have missed. One of these is Moana, set on the Polynesia-inspired island of Motunui, it follows a young princess whose heart yearns for adventure and the call of the sea. With voices from Dwayne Johnson and a Bowie inspired song from Jermaine Clement as a giant crab (of course), the visuals are stunning and the songs are catchy. And if you ask me itβs much better than Frozen.
10 things I hate about youΒ
It may have come out in 1999, but this film is still one of the greatest coming of age comedies you will ever witness. Based on William Shakespeareβs βThe Taming of the Shrewβ the film stars a young Heath Ledger alongside Julia Stiles as he tries to tame her teenage angst so that Joseph Gordon Levitt can go out with her sister. The soundtrack will have you pulling out your old CDs from your teenage years but the fashion can very much stay within that era. Itβs simply brilliant and almost βjust too good to be trueβ.
Thor RagnarokΒ
If you havenβt seen any Marvel films at all, or if you perhaps watched a couple and didnβt like them, watch Thor Ragnorak. Directed by the insanely talented Taika Waititi, he injects some much needed comedy relief and storytelling into the franchise. Along with quirky characters such as Jeff Golblumβs Grand Master and Korg, made of rocks, the film follows Thor as he tries to defend his home planet of Asgard against his evil sister Hella, played by Cate Blanchett in full black leather. Its visuals are stunning, the writing is perfect and Chris Hemsworth is on fine form (or should that be βin fine formβ) as the god of thunder.
The World According to Jeff Goldblum
If youβre not a fan of the animated classics but youβre in need of a bit of escapism then look no further than this series. Put simply, itβs Jeff Goldblum learning about different sub cultures and industries and sharing his thoughts. If youβve never seen an interview with Jeff then you know youβre in for a treat, his eclectic nature and genuine interest in his subjects makes this joyful.
The MandalorianΒ
The first live-action series of the Star Wars franchise, it begins five years after the events of Return of the Jedi and stars Pedro Pascal as the title character, a lone bounty hunter who is hired to retrieve a child who we all now recognise as βbaby Yodaβ. What sets this series apart is its flawless special effects and epic storytelling. Produced by Jon Favreau, the series is what drew a lot of people to Disney plus in the first place, and if you ask me, it really is worth Β£5.99 for the Mandalorian alone. Although the series follows one narrative the episodes do work as stand alone stories. Listen out for familiar voices from the likes of Richard Ayoade and Taika Waititi as well as guest appearances from some old friends…
The SimpsonsΒ
Gone are the days when the Simpsons were on Channel 4 at 6pm everyday. Iβve found that catching the odd episode reminds me how funny and ahead of its time it was. With 29 seasons of Matt Groeningβs animated series, there is plenty to keep you entertained now that we all have more time on our hands. Maybe start at series 3 though, the animation in those first few episodes along with Homerβs voice is enough to put anyone off!
Sign up to Disney+ for Β£5.99 a month with no contract or pay a years subscription of Β£59.99. Keep everyone happy with streaming on up to 4 screens at once. Enjoy a cinematic experience on your TV, or download any title to watch on the go.
Sign up here www.disneyplus.com.
