The Princess and the Frog Discussion - Part II

[goofystitch]

I've always been wary of the project turning out a little too reminiscant of prior Disney films and my expectations were realized in the latest trailer.

This is how I feel too. I mean, I'm sure it'll be a good film, but based on everything I've read and heard, it seems more like Disney has consciously made it from the mindset of "let's recapture our glory years in this!" rather than "let's make a good film!"

albert

I don't want to give anything away, but from what I saw it felt like the filmmakers were trying to take the basic formula for a Disney animated classic and turn it on its head. So it has all of these elements from the classics, such as wishing on a star, an underdog trying to beat the odds, etc..., but they are done in a new way that makes them feel fresh. When you watch it, you will be reminded of iconic Disney moments, but I was really impressed with they way they did things.

[pap64]

I've always been wary of the project turning out a little too reminiscant of prior Disney films and my expectations were realized in the latest trailer.

This is how I feel too. I mean, I'm sure it'll be a good film, but based on everything I've read and heard, it seems more like Disney has consciously made it from the mindset of "let's recapture our glory years in this!" rather than "let's make a good film!"

albert

Who says you can't recapture your glory days and STILL make a good film?

I understand the doubt comes from all the hype Disney is using to sell the film, but I also believe that they have to sell the movie that way because, truth to be told, that's how people know Disney. They know Disney as the great teller of classic tales. Don't believe? Seth McFarlane certainly didn't use Atlantis Disney or Oliver and Company Disney to do his Disney parody.

But I am also surprised that people complain about Princess and the Frog being "too familiar" when nearly all of their animated classics share the same elements, even the wildest and most different Disney film.

Let's do a run down, shall we?

Atlantis: Unlikely hero discovers an ancient civilization where he gains the strength to defend this new world.

Brother Bear: Young man refuses to accept his fate and goes on a spiritual journey where he learns the importance of family and brotherhood.

Home on the Range: Three very unlikely heroes set out on a journey through the old west to catch a criminal and earn the reward money to save their farm.

Chicken Little: Underdog character makes a mistake, people judge him based on that and wishes to be accepted (and upon a star no less), and ends up being the town's hero.

Meet the Robinsons: Young boy wishes to discover and learns that not only does he have a future he finds the one thing he wished the most: a family.

Bolt: A dog learns to find his true self, learns the importance of friends and family and experiences a life changing journey.

And now...

Princess and the Frog: A young woman works hard to get a restaurant, but instead goes on a journey where she learns what truly matters in life.

Let's see, what common themes do we have here?

Acceptance, love, learning what's important in life, unlikely heroes becoming beloved heroes, self discovery, a life changing journey, having faith in your dreams, so on and so forth.

The only thing that changed were the theme, the story, the settings and the characters. But the core elements of a Disney film remained intact. And that's what is going to happen to Princess and the Frog.

In fact, its already different from the earlier Disney films...

- It's a classic fairy tale envisioned as an American story
- Takes places in 1920s, Jazz age New Orleans around the French Quarter and the bayou
- The princess is a working woman
- Many of its characters are African-American
- Has voodoo as its main magical element
- EXTREMELY CONTROVERSIAL (Funny how people say Princess and the Frog feels too familiar, yet I don't recall there being a huge uproar over the film's leads being different in the other films)

Yes, the film has an air of familiarity (and this is something Disney is selling very well), but it takes the familiar and puts it in a completely different setting that feels familiar but not the same.

Another thing...

Its been 5 years since they did a 2D animated film. Its been LONGER since they did a fairy tale story. The complains would be understandable if Disney had kept making fairy tale films like clockwork, but the films have been very different for a while now, and Princess and the Frog is the first instance in YEARS of doing a fairy tale musical.

What's the bother?

[Escapay]

This is how I feel too. I mean, I'm sure it'll be a good film, but based on everything I've read and heard, it seems more like Disney has consciously made it from the mindset of "let's recapture our glory years in this!" rather than "let's make a good film!"

albert

Who says you can't recapture your glory days and STILL make a good film?

I never said that. I said that it seems like they made it from the mindset that leans more towards the former rather than the latter. That's the way they're promoting it, as if the film doesn't have enough on its own that they have to remind people "We did this, this, and this, so you'll enjoy this one too!"

Its been 5 years since they did a 2D animated film. Its been LONGER since they did a fairy tale story. The complains would be understandable if Disney had kept making fairy tale films like clockwork, but the films have been very different for a while now, and Princess and the Frog is the first instance in YEARS of doing a fairy tale musical.

What's the bother?

My bother really just stems from the heavy marketing of it as a return to the company's former glory (were the past 10 years that bad?), and fans gushing endlessly about it as if it were the Second Coming. Like I said in another thread, it's one thing to be enthusiastic for a film, but sometimes it goes too far (such as when they label it the beginning of a new wonderful era).

Like I said, I'm sure it's a good film, but the fact that it's being marketed and branded virtually as an instant classic by everyone and their brother just gives it a sour taste in my mouth. I wasn't very enthused for the movie before all the hype (I just don't care much for the Frog Prince story), and the excess hype is just making my lack of enthusiasm even more lacking.

albert

[Disney-Fan]

I never said that. I said that it seems like they made it from the mindset that leans more towards the former rather than the latter. That's the way they're promoting it, as if the film doesn't have enough on its own that they have to remind people "We did this, this, and this, so you'll enjoy this one too!"

I'm usually right there with you on your critique about Disney's ways but this time I'll respectfully disagree. Disney has been promoting its movies like this for years now. Just pop in your Aladdin PE and watch the trailer, or download the Enchanted trailer from iTunes. Heck, even Pixar do this constantly and that has never hurt the quality of their movies.

[Poody]

(were the past 10 years that bad?)

To some people, they probably were....

[Old Fish Tale]

First six minutes in portuguese! Sorry...

[blackcauldron85]

Thank you SOOOO much, Old Fish Tale!!!

1. If Randy Newman sings the opening song in English, I prefer the lady that sang for the Portuguese version.
2. I'm surprised that the storybook is in English (and "Tiana's Place"), unless this is just the English version dubbed, versus the actual Portuguese language version, with the Portuguese text and all, if that makes sense...?
3. Little Tiana is beyond cute.

[singerguy04]

It's amazing how enthralled i just was even though I didn't understand much of what they were saying! It looks great!!! I'm sooooooo excited!

Thanks Old Fish Tale!!!!!!!!!!

[PatrickvD]

the opening reminded me of Lady & the Tramp.

[Old Fish Tale]

"New" stills!

[Just.A.Friend]

1. If Randy Newman sings the opening song in English, I prefer the lady that sang for the Portuguese version.

Agreed.
I'd prefer a woman singing the opening song (nice song by the way!) to a male singer.

[goofystitch]

1. If Randy Newman sings the opening song in English, I prefer the lady that sang for the Portuguese version.

Agreed.
I'd prefer a woman singing the opening song (nice song by the way!) to a male singer.

Anika Noni Rose sings it. Randy Newman only sings in the version on the trailer.

[DisneyJedi]

Agreed.
I'd prefer a woman singing the opening song (nice song by the way!) to a male singer.

Anika Noni Rose sings it. Randy Newman only sings in the version on the trailer.

I thought that was Dr. John singing it in the teaser trailer/theatrical trailer?

[goofystitch]

I thought that was Dr. John singing it in the teaser trailer/theatrical trailer?

They are talking about the song with these lyrics

"The evening star is shinning bright
So make a wish and hold on tight
There's magic in the air tonight
And anything can happen..."

In the original teaser, the whole thing was sung by Randy Newman. In the most recent trailer, Randy Newman sings the first line and Anika Noni Rose sings the rest. But in the 30 minute preview I saw at the D23 Expo, it was only sung by Anika.

And I don't know the name of the song, but I'm guessing its called "Down in New Orleans." That bit is the intro and then the tempo picks up and it becomes a jazz song. I've had it stuck in my head ever since and Anika sang it live at the Expo.

[blackcauldron85]

See, I knew that, about Anika singing it, I think, because I think I heard it in the trailer, but I didn't remember until you said that...? I don't know... thanks!

And thanks for those pictures, OFT! I especially like the one of Ray illuminating Tiana & Naveen.

[Siren]

Remember tonight on USA, clips from Princess and the Frog during the showing of Sweet Home Alabama. No idea if the stuff is brand new clips, but still, it may be cool

[Siren]

I watched it last night and was disappointed. I saw nothing really new. I think maybe 3 seconds of it was new bits I never saw, but it was so quick, I could have missed it with a blink.

[pap64]

Disneylicious did an interview with the artists behind the Princess and the Frog Golden Book, and she reveals that she is working on the end credits sequence!
http://www.disneylicious.com/modules.ph ... le&sid=489

[PixarFan2006]

I saw the first six minutes and I think it looks okay. It probably will not change the face of Disney, but it looks far from bad.

[DisneyJedi]

Hey, look. The first five minutes is in English now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrKHRuonD_U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ebG1unD ... re=channel