We can tell right off the bat that Mary Poppins is going to have some magical powers due to the fact that she appears initially on a cloud. Additionally, we also know it's very "Disney-esque" because it starts off immediately with a lot of songs. Admiral Boom's house looks like how I expected it, so it seems as though the movie is going to at least stick somewhat to the book. Additionally, the nanny quitting and leaving the house is the same. Also, similarly to the book, the adults like Admiral Boom and Mrs. Banks so far already seem somewhat stupid/unaware. The silliness incurred, however, such as Boom firing his cannon at 6, for example, does definitely fit the Disney vibe. There are a lot of gender themes already prevalent through Mister and Misses Banks, each carrying their own agenda promoting their own sex's authority through song.
I think it's definitely interesting how all the kids really want is attention, as Michael subtly hints that if his father helped him make the kite, it wouldn't have gone as poorly. However, Mr. Banks being is unaware of his children and strict to his perfectly planned life (a satire on businessmen for sure) is too dumb to understand this, which is both Traver's and Disney's way of depicting how adults seem to misunderstand children and not be there for them. I like how the movie (and Traver) mock many of the things that are held in such high esteem in adult life, such as being following the rules, while it rewards adventuring away from them and being free. The kids just sang their nanny song to their parents and once again, unsurprisingly, Mr. Banks did not take the hint, but it's apparent that Mrs. Banks takes more note of such things based on her reaction. Unsurprisingly, something the movie didn't change once again is the way the kids' advertisement blew up through the chimney to summon Mary Poppins from the East.
Mary is like what George Banks asks for but also what the kids asked for; she comes off as strict, to the point, and firm, however, her actual traits are closer to what the kids wanted. Mary shows off her fantasy immediately by riding up the stair's side, which is similar to the books as well. Mary Poppins pulling things out of her bag is exactly like how I remembered it from my childhood, but that's just about the only thing I remember. Jane first shares in some of Mary's fantastical power while cleaning because she's fond of Mary, while Michael struggles to gain power until he finally starts smiling and having a good time. Mary unsurprisingly denies the magic in front of the chimney cleaner when he says she takes people to magical places. Additionally, it seems like the chimney cleaner is acting like a second-hand narrator to the story. This started at the beginning when he introduced everyone and the idea is continued here with his drawings on the sidewalk.
Of course, when the chimney cleaner tries to do magic, it doesn't work, but when Mary does it, they all are transported into the art. I would say that in this Disney version so far, Mary is far more likable and agreeable than in the book. She's not as strict or as vain, and while she mildly retains some of these qualities, it's by no means the same as in the book. I think Disney did this very much on purpose because he wants Mary Poppins to be likable since she's the Title character. The turtles Mary and the chimney cleaner ride on in the water are DEFINITELY the same ones from Snow White.
Also, Disney just did not hold back with the silliness/making the story child-friendly with the extremely excessive amount of songs and dancing. The combination of animation and real life is also very interesting and I'm sure it was one of the first times it had ever been premiered, which would've been a technological marvel for its time. The individual stories that comprise the actual Mary Poppins novel are not all used in the movie, but the ones that are, are extended in my opinion to make the feature-length film flow together. Going to the races is also changed in the movie significantly from the book, as it's just a quick experience here that seems more of an excuse to once again show off Disney's technology. I entirely forgot that "Supercalafajalistickespialadojus" came from Mary Poppins until Mary started singing it again. Also, her notable and well-known use of her umbrella did (even though it came later and was based on it) remind me of the scene from Guardians of the Galaxy where Yondu is compared to Mary Poppins.
Mary makes everything enjoyable for the kids like cleaning, but even medicine (if you couldn't guess from the song) even though it's something kids traditionally hate. Once again, we reinforce the idea that Mary Poppins denies her fantasies as she is now denying the horse race ever happened or her involvement in it, similar to the book, even though the happenings were different. While there are similarities between the movie and the book so far, I would say that they're more different than alike. Uncle Albert and Bert laughing like crazy and floating lowkey seems like a metaphor for drugs and being high to me. The floating tea party is here, but once again differently, as in the books, it's with Mr. Wigg.
Mary Poppins's manipulative side definitely showed in that last scene where she convinced Mr. Banks to take the kids to the bank and not fire her. Bert and Mary Poppins also help the children get closer to their father through having them go to the bank with him because when that goes South, Bert talks to them and makes them realize that their father's pragmatic life is actually sacrificial for their sake.
Watching all this chimney action really reiterates how well Disney can waste time with a bunch of songs and dancing... Finally, near the end now, Bert and Banks are having this interaction that's making Banks realize how he hasn't been able to interact with his kids or be there for them. Mr. Banks's punishment is extremely childish, but he finally sees Mary Poppin's side. I really can't tell if the point is that Mr. Banks's madness is a good thing or not. Finally, as Mary Poppins is leaving, she is acting more like the Mary Poppins I'd expected from the book. Far more cold and strict. However, even though Mary Poppins is leaving, Mr. Banks is finally in a position to take care of the children.
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