Childhood, Revisited (Needs More Thrust???!!)

You really have to hand it to the makers of children's movies. The ones that are well done have many rich layers, that appeal to children and adults. They reference things you never even begin to spot when you see it as a kid. A few days ago, I watched Chicken Run. Still the best! But this viewing was very different that my previous viewings as a child and young adult. I was completely oblivious to the WWII references ("how can you be so naive??"-you may find yourself asking). I had just studied the Holocaust in one of my classes so the images were still fresh in my mind and when the beginning sequence started, I knew recognized it instantly.








The chicken coups are heavily barbed wired, the coups look like rows of barracks, they way the chickens line up for the selection process.. some people on the IMDB message boards even related the chicken pie machine to the Final Solution.

I can definitely see the similarities. Some people have interpreted this film as pure Zionist propaganda... This is actually a major criticism  from many Iranian reporters and film critics. They acknowledge the subtext as a crafty trick for Zionism. Hahah, those anti-Semitic (in some Islamic circles) worrywarts! You'll always find it if you're looking for it!



More than likely, however, Chicken Run is a spoof on the 1963 film The Great Escape. Apparently, there are a lot of similarities. I haven't seen that movie, so I wouldn't know. Looks good, though!

Here is a trailer for both Chicken Run and The Great Escape, if you feel so inclined.




The moral of the story is that I had no idea this was going on in this film as I watched it as a child. It makes me eager to revisit all my childhood favorites and reevaluate them.

There is also an article that I love which discusses how RACIST the Disney movies we know and love are! I think its hiLARious... & not surprising.

http://www.cracked.com/article_15677_the-9-most-racist-disney-characters.html
Most of the youtube clips in the article do not work, so I found this little gem to supplement your reading!


With this in mind, everything is awful so we might as well enjoy it anyway!

Leave me some sugar! What do you think? Can you think of other childhood movies that are CRAZY to  watch as an adult? I remember something strictly not "child-friendly" about All Dogs Go To Heaven. Maybe it was all the drinking, smoking, gambling and violence? Ahh...one of my favs.