It’s been a while since, I’ve done a Review. O.O
So, Best try to spark this again, seeing what I can find. =3
I’ll begin with a book, I was able to buy in a, Charity Store (Which is A Store which is sort of like a, Yard Sale, only the profits are donated to, Charity) and I happen to come across a “101 Dalmatians” book which was released in, 1981.
For those whom may not have the book, this is what it looks like…
So, We best take a look on how this tells the, Loving tale of, “101 Dalmatians”. X3
Let’s check in then….
What can I say about, “101 Dalmatians”?
Awesome, Beautiful, A Well Made Disney Film, based on the Well Written Novel of, Dodie Smith with a simple, yet easy to follow storyline, Loveable And Rememberable Characters, Interesting, yet appealing Animation Styles and amongst one the First Disney Animated feature films to be set in a, Modern Setting.
It’s practically, Disneys greatest Film, It does deserve more credit than, Films Disney seem to be forcing in our faces lately (Trust me, I get annoyed with all the Marie from AC they force on us at Disney, Previous time I recalled, she kept causing troubles).
So, When I got this book, I am expecting to see a nice retelling of the story…However…I did notice a couple of Strange Differences.
Book Review
“101 Dalmatians” 1981 Disney Wonderful World Of Reading
Rating: 7/10
Our story begins with an introduction to the, Dalmatian Family, with Pongo, Perdita, Their Ten Puppies and…WAIT! TEN!? Why ten!? What was wrong with Fifteen? Like in every single adaptation of, “101 Dalmatians”…You can’t blame it on, They aren’t able to draw all, Fiffteen Pups on the page, there’s an entire page where they draw, all, “101 Dalmatians” on it later. So what was wrong with, Fiffteen? Did the Writer of this Adaptation have a Phobia of the Number Fiffteen?
And apparently the, Family (Roger & Anita aren’t named in the book, only refered to as “Very Nice People”) like buying Carpets with, Copyright information printing on them.
The Pups then head for a walk with, Pongo, Perdita & Their Humans, as they walk down the street, it is here we are introduced to, Cruella, whom eyes them from her car.
According to the book, Her Occupation is, “Dog Thief”. Yeah, Cause I’m really going to go to an, Employment office and ask what jobs they have, before they give me a list which has “Dog Theif” as an Option, You can also find, located next to it, “Head of World Domination Team” & “British Guy In An American Action Film”.
They may be tough jobs but the Pay is good.
However, Cruella notices the Fift...Oh, I mean Ten Dalmatian Puppies and decides she must have them.
So, she hires, Horace & Jasper to sneak into the House during the, Night and steal the Pups while everyone is asleep, Again different from the, Disney Film. Though, I guess it can work as then, no one will recognise them taking the Puppies.
Although, The Family apparently doesn’t have any Locks on their windows or any Burgalar alarms as they are able to go straight through the window and back out again, without being detected, although there is, Pups Barking.
This then wakes, Pongo & Perdita and notice the Pups are missing, So they instantly decide to use the, “Twilight Bark” to find them.
Though, Why do this straight away? How do they know that the Pups aren’t just playing, Hide & Seek? I mean, In the “Animated Film” and even the, “Original Novel”, a couple of days were on before they decided to use the, Bark.
But, they just say “Their Beds are empty! They must be missing!” within a single glance.
But still, At least check that they’re not in the house before saying that they’re missing and telling anyone.
Meanwhile, In A Barn near the city (They don’t even name the city…), The Colonel, Sergeant Tibbs (Whom from some reason has been coloured, Grey instead of his, Brown Fur) & Captain get the message.
“They Heard Barking, It was coming from the City…”No duh, Sherlock, Where else were you expecting it to come from? Disneyland?
However, My Question is answered when the group hear, Barking coming from an old House down the road (So, That’s fair enough…), So The Colonel decides to investigate…
“’Why must we do that?’ asked Captain.”Were you even paying attention to what’s happening or the barking coming from the city was saying, Captain?
So, All three of the Military Animals (Yeah, Even Captain gets to come along for the ride) decide to check in the House.
Tibbs claims there is something odd there because one of the lights is on…
“Why is that odd?” asked the Captain.
“Because No One Lives There…” said Tibbs…OH MY LORD! THE HOUSE IS POSSESSED! EVERYBODY HIDE!
They then spy through the window and see, Horace & Jasper pouring the Puppies from the bag for, Cruella to see…
I will say, one of the Pups makes an “O.O” whilst falling from the bag and it does make me laugh in amusement.
“Now, I have 99 Dalmatian Puppies! Tommorrow, we’ll sell them to the Circus and the three of us will be rich!”WHAT!? SELL THEM TO THE CIRCUS!?
Why have they decided to change, Cruellas plan completely from wanting a Fur Coat to selling them to the Circus!?
Did the writer of this one even watch “101 Dalmatians”!?
First off, They get the amount of Puppies, Pongo & Perdita have wrong and then they get what, Cruella is planning wrong too.
Also, If almost one hundred and one Dalmatians seem to become missing and all of a sudden, All these Dalmatian Puppies appear in a Circus show, people are going to ask questions.
Why a Circus, of all things, as well? Wouldn’t they get more money in selling them to individual dog breeders or rich famililies or something like that?
Plus, What sort of threat is there in “Selling To The Circus”? What is wrong with the original Coat plan? This is a story everyone knows, did someone complain “No! It’s too scary for the children, protect the children!”
To which I counter with “Come on! Let your children grow a backbone…”
With the news of Cruellas plans, The Colonel, Captain & Tibbs send the word back to the city.
Upon getting this message, Pongo & Perdita decide to rescue them by…Jumping out the window…That would be so akward if they were either on the top floor or if they lived in an apartment building…Seriously, the art work shows, they’re practically up to roof top heights, that’ll smart…
Also, I’m surprised that neither, Roger, Anita or Nanny have come down yet to find out what the barking is all about, maybe they could call the Police to help at least.
They then reach, The Colonel, Captain & Tibbs who take them to the old house (Somehow all three canines, cat and horse getting in unheard through the door)
But apparently, Horace & Jasper soon hear the noise of Five Animals in the house and glance to see the Animals looking in to the Pups (whom apparently seem to be doing quite fine).
Pongo then unleashes all heck upon the Badduns with a scary leap upon them with Perdita, along with Tibbs pouncing Horace head (I guess he thinks, Horace was the artist whom coloured him grey, or he’s being paid by the page time…)
Upon sorting with, Horace & Jasper, they discover that there are now, 99 Dalmatian Puppies and decide to take them back home with them (Apparently not asking why Cruella wants them).
While they try to get back to the city though, Cruella spots them in her car…
“Somebody stp those dogs!” she cried “I have to sell them to the circus!”Err, I don’t think it’s a smart move to ask people to help you do a sinister thing…
That’s like saying “Somebody! Shoot those two guards and policemen on duty! I need to rob this bank…
The Dalmatians are soon able to reach the village and Cruella starts looking about for them. While she searches, the Pups seem to start playing in the soot, which gives Pongo the idea of disguising themselves as Labradors which enables them to sneak past Cruella and to the Van.
However, Cruella spots one Pup that isn’t fully disguised and…Runs…after the truck, Calling after it.
In the words of Spot in the “101 Dalmatians The Series” Episode, “Channels”…
“We just run 60MPH and keep yelling ‘HALT!’…”Also, What happened to Cruellas car? She is perfectly capable to chasing them with it in the “Animated” film, what’s wrong with a nice car chase here?
Soon, Pongo, Perdita and the Pups all make it Home. And now it seems the Humans have quite a Large Number of Canines.
“Good thing were two very NICE People…”Well, for this Story, While I will say that it does pretty much change all the important elements of “101 Dalmatians”, As If the Author only heard the Title and some Pictures, and made up the Story as he went along.
But it’s innocent enough, Not really something so bad, unless you’re nit picky when it comes to The Actual Story Outline, and along with some art pieces, which could been drawn better.
It is a fine book which offers an interesting twist, and I recommend it to any “101 Dalmatians” fan known. X3
So, Like said, While maybe somewhat, twisting of the original “101 Dalmatians” plot and could have some better images, still an enjoyable book. X3
I’ll see what I can do about posting another Review as soon as I can. ;3
What do you Pups think then, eh? *Hugs* X3