Your friendly dragon in the neighborhood
Seton Miller and S.S. Field thought about a dragon who had the ability to be invisible at will. He would help a troubled kid, who was inspired to help other children in distress. "Pete's Dragon" was an animated musical that divided the audience. The genre might not be right during the turbulent 1970s while moviegoers weren't receptive to animated films from other studios. (Disney had a monopoly on this genre during that time.) The movie deserved a remake.
David Lowery got the green signal (to do a remake) four decades later but thought about a fairy tale set in the Northwest. The Rockies seemed like an impenetrable fortress during winter while the long stretch of woods could turn this part of America into an enchanted realm. Think of Arthurian romance while Beowulf won't be too much of a stretch. The opening scene showed Robert Redford reading a story to a small group of kids, suggesting that this remake shouldn't be taken seriously. Lowery co-wrote the script with Toby Halbrooks, where they used Rudyard Kipling's "Jungle Book" as one of their references. The English author won't mind at all, as a dragon was a well-known mythical creature in Europe.
A road accident turned five-year-old Pete into an orphan and feral boy. He spotted a green dragon deep in the woods, and those yellow eyes warmed up to the young lad. Elliot was the name of the dragon, and he was Pete's father figure. They owned the northern woods, and the nearest community was unaware of their presence. Logging would lead the inhabitants to this big secret.
There wasn't a dull moment in Lowery's fantasy, and some viewers might wonder if this could be a volcanologist's romantic interpretation of Mount St. Helens. It would be far from it, as Elliot became a beacon of hope for Pete and some inhabitants. They would still believe in the fantastic aspects of their hometown, which was almost covered by huge woods. The Texan filmmaker could have succumbed to pretentious values, but it wasn't the case with "Pete's Dragon". This was the real surprise, which resonated with the audience as well.
How would "Pete's Dragon" fare with similar pictures? Let's rate it one by one:
Excalibur (1981) by John Boorman. The composition of Robert Wagner turned Arthur's saga into a mythical opera (if there would be such a term). The cast and crew might have trepidation during pre-production, but Boorman trusted the force. It won't be the Jedi, but rather the mysterious sword from the lake. This one stood out.
Beauty and the Beast (1991) by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise. This beloved French fairy tale was given a Broadway treatment by Disney, and it turned out to be a stroke of genius. Don't be surprised about a live-action remake (starring Emma Watson), as Disney retained the romantic aspects of the story (while restricting the Gothic elements). It would be another standout.
John Carter (2012) by Andrew Stanton. Edgar Rice Burroughs would be disappointed at the dismal figures of this film, which happened to be an adaptation of "A Princess of Mars". Everything was derivative, and some critics were right that Stanton could have done it better. Tarzan, the other famous creation of Burroughs, might have stuck with the audience.
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