I'm not sure why, but I get a really uneasy feeling watching Charlie Brown specials on TV. The comic strip is funny, but for some reason the movies and specials have a "dark" side to them. I haven't figured it out, but it's weird.
shareWell, this movie in particular has a huge air of downheartedness to it: Lila's letter to Snoopy, them meeting at last and trying not to let each other go, and of course, Charlie Brown's song "It Changes". The movie has a lot of downers for songs...
"Mark well me words, mateys: Dead men tell no tales!"
Don't forget about the psycho song by the deranged girl that kidnapped Snoopy & Woodstock!
I have a new philosophy. I'm only going to dread one day at a time.
I think that psycho song might be the cause of my uneasiness now that you mention it! It scares me more than a million Jason's, Michael Meyers', Leatherface, etc...... That song is creepy!
share"Lila's Theme" (the song that goes, "Do you still remember me...") is a really sad song -- it haunted me for days after I saw the movie (and drowned out the joy of the happy ending).
shareSimple Answer: You're right. All the Charlie Brown shows are depressing.
I DESPISE them, and see zero of the merit that the fans do
Dude i agree with you guys entirely, i get an uneasy feeling when I think about and watch these movies.
shareSnoopy Come Home takes the cake when it comes to depressing, though. When they throw Snoopy that going-away party, and all of the kids are sobbing their eyes out? That is seriously depressing!!!!
shareThis one, especially, tackles issues of loss and grief that few "family" films take on with any honesty. Even with this movie, the loss is a little candy-coated because Snoopy comes back. But the meantime, when Charlie deals with the loss and grief, and he and his friends cope with the self-recrimination that accompanies these situations, can be a real downer...but kids who have experienced such things can relate and know they're not alone.
Autobiography in six words: "Baby, you ain't seen nothin' yet!"
This one has the propensity to TRAUMATIZE a kid! LOL, I was inconsolable after some of these songs!
shareThis air of melancholy is one of the things that makes these cartoons GREAT. They're honest, but not to the point of hopelessness, not by a longshot. They deal very effectively with a sense of longing and loss that most adults struggle with, much less kids. Nothing wrong with that at all. And it's not as if it's all about loss, gloom, and doom. The balance is nice. Most things in entertainment are so one-dimensional and phony, especially these days. Kids should be exposed to these kinds of issues. For another superb kiddie film (10-15 years) along these same lines, i.e. genuine and honest, see "Kenny and Co."
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I think the comic strips have a dark side to them, too. Many of the characters are mean and/or sarcastic, then you have Charlie Brown who is always depressed. I read that Charles Schulz was surprised that people found his comics "cute" because he always thought it showed how tough it is to be a kid.
shareI get the same feeling from watching the movie. In fact I can't even bring myself to watch it anymore, it's just too depressing. I haven't seen the whole movie in years.
share"This movie makes me sad, depressed, and uneasy for some reason!"
You're describing LIFE.
This movie is realistic, it shows you life 'as-is' instead of sugarcoated syrup, as is the norm. The people that made it were brave enough to break the mould.