Summer is creeping around the corner. Now represents the perfect period to catch up on old movies or those you may have missed. Disney dog-themed movies exist in abundance. What better way to deal with those impending “dog days of summer” than to revisit some classic canine fare, or perhaps catch them for the very first time.

Here are five of my favorites that make me shout “bow wow,” organized according to theme. And no, none of the Air Buddies or Beverly Hills Chihuahua films reach even close to making the cut.

First it was Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. Next were Maleficent and Cinderella. On the way are live-action remakes and new versions of The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast, and many others in development. Just last week came news of Disney intending to translate the “Night on Bald Mountain” sequence from Fantasia into its own film, along with perhaps a remake of Sister Act.

New ideas are not dead, per se, but rather relying on staples from the company’s history can keep these legacies alive. This inspired some thinking. Which movies actually deserve remakes? I have identified seven of them – most from the past three decades – as films that lend themselves to reinterpretation.

Michael Giacchino personifies optimism, vigor, and sentiment in his scores, thus serving as the consummate candidate for handling the orchestration for Disney’s Tomorrowland. His finest work since John Carter, a legitimately excellent score for anyone who enjoys listening to ambitious instrumentation, this soundtrack ascends even higher in quality. Giacchino’s score typifies why I extend my moviegoing experience beyond the theater and through my daily life of carrying around an iPod with film score playlists in tow.

Here’s my review of the Tomorrowland Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Michael Giacchino.

Brad Bird‘s latest action adventure is possibly his most complex, as he builds an intricate world with tons of “wow” moments – only matched by the same quantity of “oh, this could have been better” moments.

I loved Tomorrowland, even though I sighed nearly as often as I smiled with giddiness. The level of detail and consideration Bird and his production team put into Disney’s sci-fi flick speak to the genius of the group on board. But there could have been too many cooks in this kitchen – or rather, too many crafty individuals on set.

What made Tomorrowland work, where did it suffer, and what aspects could have lent themselves to opportunities that were sadly not embraced? Here is my rundown.

As Disney’s Tomorrowland hits theaters, we reflect back on those memories of visiting the futuristic area of the Magic Kingdom, whether Walt Disney World’s Florida park or Disneyland in California. Some may have even traveled to Disneyland Paris’s Discoveryland or the Tomorrowland found in Tokyo or Hong Kong.

My first experiences at Disneyland’s Tomorrowland occurred during a transcendent juncture, a state of transition for the now-dated environment. I initially crossed the cracked pavement in 1996, a period when Tomorrowland progressed into a state of massive refurbishment. New Tomorrowland would land in 1998. But its anticipated arrival would quickly cease. This is a story of great vision undermined by disappointment and dysfunction. Set on your Rocket Rod and shoot back 17 years to New Tomorrowland.