Post by Abaratian on Dec 27, 2009 1:05:27 GMT -5
I thought Disney was dead. Their new movies sort of make me physically ill, with the complete lack of depth and songs that fall flat. Not to mention the plots are so gimmicky, trying their hardest to use fancy 3-D and impress all the kiddies with action and colors. The exception to this, for me, was Enchanted, which I thought poked fun of all of this stuff while presenting a cute, but simple, movie at the same time.
After seeing The Princess and the Frog, all hope for Disney has been restored.
Has anyone else seen this movie? Am I crazy for thinking so highly of it?
The plot was a combination of The Princess and the Frog novel and The Frog Princess tale (by the Grimms, I believe). Of course it wasn't mind-blowingly innovative, but I really felt that it had enough unique qualities that it wasn't completely predictable. The plot was not what impressed me so much, though. The animation! It took my breath away! An updated 2-D animation that was still very, very true to the Disney classics that captivated me as a child! And the songs had me humming along just like the old Disney songs did. In fact, I quickly added The Princess and the Frog soundtrack to my Disney playlist on my iPod.
So, for me, it had everything that the old Disney movies had, but with one huge improvement - CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. As an adult, this is so incredible to me that it leaves me slightly breathless. Let's not lie to ourselves... the Disney Princes and Princesses of the past were sort of dull, cut-out copies of one another. I mean, Prince Phillip, Prince Charming, Prince Eric... and don't get me started on the Princesses. I LOVE them, but at the same time... they're bland women who dream constantly of idealistic love and they get everything they want through some magic or fate or luck (except Pocahontas, if you count her as a Disney Princess). I'm not dissing Disney, well... maybe I am a little, but their characters lack depth. And then we get Tiana and Prince Naveen!!!
Without revealing too much of the plot, let me just say that everything is flipped upside down from what you'd expect. Tiana has a dream that she works for, putting fun AND romance on the backburner so that she can start up the restaurant her father always wanted to open. She works her butt off at two jobs, taking other jobs on the side as opposed to hanging out with friends. She's a workaholic, and the reason for this is because she has goals and plans for her life! I feel like Tiana is such an excellent role model for little girls. Despite that she has poverty working against her (and race, considering this movie takes place before Civil Rights Movement in America) she works and makes something of herself.
And Prince Naveen... the play-boy who's being disowned by his parents if he doesn't make something of himself. His love for jazz music, women, and parties has made him lazy and his wealth (which is about to be taken away from him) has made him helpless in the real world. He's a bit like if the only Disney Princes with personality (Aladdin and Beast, IMO) combined with lots of flavor and spice, creating this handsome, charming JERK of a guy who you come to love with your whole heart through a realistic transformation process.
Plus the whole array of side characters... OH! I feel just... in love with this movie. Maybe it's just shock, because I had really thought Disney had jumped the shark. But if you used to love the old Disney classics, and even if you really didn't, I beg you to see this movie.
I know they aren't on board with Abarat anymore, but after seeing Princess and the Frog I could somehow see them doing it correctly! Maybe it's just my enthusiasm talking.
Anyone want to agree? Disagree? I'd be interested in hearing from someone who didn't like this movie! (Just please don't argue that it's not accurate - Disney has NEVER made an accurate movie, I realize this)
BTW: Throughout this post, I am NOT talking about Disney/Pixar films - which are all, in my opinion, brilliant (honestly because of Pixar).
After seeing The Princess and the Frog, all hope for Disney has been restored.
Has anyone else seen this movie? Am I crazy for thinking so highly of it?
The plot was a combination of The Princess and the Frog novel and The Frog Princess tale (by the Grimms, I believe). Of course it wasn't mind-blowingly innovative, but I really felt that it had enough unique qualities that it wasn't completely predictable. The plot was not what impressed me so much, though. The animation! It took my breath away! An updated 2-D animation that was still very, very true to the Disney classics that captivated me as a child! And the songs had me humming along just like the old Disney songs did. In fact, I quickly added The Princess and the Frog soundtrack to my Disney playlist on my iPod.
So, for me, it had everything that the old Disney movies had, but with one huge improvement - CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. As an adult, this is so incredible to me that it leaves me slightly breathless. Let's not lie to ourselves... the Disney Princes and Princesses of the past were sort of dull, cut-out copies of one another. I mean, Prince Phillip, Prince Charming, Prince Eric... and don't get me started on the Princesses. I LOVE them, but at the same time... they're bland women who dream constantly of idealistic love and they get everything they want through some magic or fate or luck (except Pocahontas, if you count her as a Disney Princess). I'm not dissing Disney, well... maybe I am a little, but their characters lack depth. And then we get Tiana and Prince Naveen!!!
Without revealing too much of the plot, let me just say that everything is flipped upside down from what you'd expect. Tiana has a dream that she works for, putting fun AND romance on the backburner so that she can start up the restaurant her father always wanted to open. She works her butt off at two jobs, taking other jobs on the side as opposed to hanging out with friends. She's a workaholic, and the reason for this is because she has goals and plans for her life! I feel like Tiana is such an excellent role model for little girls. Despite that she has poverty working against her (and race, considering this movie takes place before Civil Rights Movement in America) she works and makes something of herself.
And Prince Naveen... the play-boy who's being disowned by his parents if he doesn't make something of himself. His love for jazz music, women, and parties has made him lazy and his wealth (which is about to be taken away from him) has made him helpless in the real world. He's a bit like if the only Disney Princes with personality (Aladdin and Beast, IMO) combined with lots of flavor and spice, creating this handsome, charming JERK of a guy who you come to love with your whole heart through a realistic transformation process.
Plus the whole array of side characters... OH! I feel just... in love with this movie. Maybe it's just shock, because I had really thought Disney had jumped the shark. But if you used to love the old Disney classics, and even if you really didn't, I beg you to see this movie.
I know they aren't on board with Abarat anymore, but after seeing Princess and the Frog I could somehow see them doing it correctly! Maybe it's just my enthusiasm talking.
Anyone want to agree? Disagree? I'd be interested in hearing from someone who didn't like this movie! (Just please don't argue that it's not accurate - Disney has NEVER made an accurate movie, I realize this)
BTW: Throughout this post, I am NOT talking about Disney/Pixar films - which are all, in my opinion, brilliant (honestly because of Pixar).