Another
poster inspired by the movie,
featurette about the songs and other promos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nSm4fz9BeE
https://twitter.com/enchanted/status/15 ... 3350361088
https://twitter.com/enchanted/status/15 ... 9657529344
https://twitter.com/enchanted/status/15 ... 3522485248
https://twitter.com/Essence/status/1594421068474814466
Adam Shankman has also shared some behind-the scenes stuff, including a couple of costume sketches, here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/ClSS3_prVb4/
Marce82 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:38 am
The resolution to the story: that climax was way too long.
And can someone explain to me why the torn memory tree sheet suddenly turned magic and started swirling around? Cause neither Giselle nor Malvina made it do that.
I actually liked that the climax was long on this occasion. I was afraid things would be solved too easily, so I was glad more stuff kept happening. As for your question, as
Disney Duster said,
Nancy said that the magic from that tree was the strongest in Andalasia or something like that, and the memories seemed to have like a mind of their own when they swirled around Morgan during "Love Power" and then flew towards her bedroom, so I think they were so powerful that even after being torn by Giselle, they still "survived" and carried out their mission. That's what I personally understood, but I could be wrong about it.
Marce82 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:38 am
All those thorned brambles covering the building seemed to be no impediment at all (why have them??) and the storypoint of Morgan being choked by the branches gets dropped almost immediately.
I think the vines were partly a reference to Sleeping Beauty, but I agree they could've done more with that.
UPDATE
Marce82 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:38 am
But I would say this is a pretty good sequel, and (sadly) the best live action movie I have seen from Disney in a long time, which isn't saying much. And I do think this film is one I might revisit on occasion.
I agree, despite its flaws it's better than most recent live-action films from the studio (not counting Marvel and other divisions). I watched it again and I enjoyed it even more this time.
Marce82 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:38 am
One big disappointment: at the end of the first film, Giselle takes over Nancy's studio and turns it into a children's boutique. That was great, and completely dropped in the sequel. Like others here have said: what has Giselle been doing the past 10 years, other than getting pregnant a year or so ago?? Moving on...
Well, in one of the drawings from the prologue a notebook with some fashion sketches can be seen next to her, so I guess she still had her boutique before moving to the suburbs, but it would've been nice if they had explained some of that in the movie.
By the way, I never realized she took over Nancy's studio! I thought she just created her own. That was quite a clever idea, since Nancy leaves it to live in Andalasia and wouldn't be able to work there anymore and Giselle is very good at making clothes, so it's a perfect business for her. They not only exchanged fiancés, but also jobs.
Marce82 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:38 am
SADLY, like Fareb said, Giselle grew in the first film, and stopped singing as a consequence. Here she still sings, making it seem like something she has been doing for 10 years, and makes her seem a little deranged to me. Imagine how much more powerful it would have been if there had been zero singing until that first morning after she makes the wish!
To me it makes sense she sings at the beginning of the movie. She has been missing Andalasia and her previous life recently and has been thinking about that place more, plus the suburbs remind her of it. She's also happy at first because she thinks all their problems will be solved there. She even starts bursting into song when they're going to sleep, as she's so excited.
Aside from that, the fact that in the first movie she stops singing as the film progresses, doesn't necessarily mean she has completely lost that ability. I think the first movie's message is about learning to take the best of both worlds, and the shot at the end when Giselle, Robert and Morgan are playing together, I think shows just that. That she still retains some of that innocence and playfulness and infects others with it. So, to me it all makes sense. Though, to be honest, I didn't expect they would have her sing before the spell at first.
Marce82 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:38 am
Some here have said they liked the beginning and the ending, but not the middle. I felt the opposite. To me, the sweet spot was between her wish coming true until the animated segment. Watching her dynamic with the town and with Morgan was really great to me.
Personally, I liked that part too. I just noticed the pacing was a bit off. Maybe it's Robert's scenes since they weren't too good; I'm not sure. But on my second viewing I didn't have the same feeling. Perhaps, because I already knew what to expect from the film.
Marce82 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:38 am
The songs: they were ok, if not kind of unmemorable. But to me, what made the songs work so well in the original was that each song was a parody/reference to a very specific type of song in Disney movies (the wishing for a prince song, the cleaning song, the show stopper song)... the songs here had the occasional lyric reference, but the overall song itself was not a reference to specific KIND of Disney song. Unless I'm missing something... do tell!
That's true. And "Happy Working Song", for example, not only referenced songs like "Whistle While You Work", but also added a twist to it. In that case, that the animals that come to help Giselle are filthy city ones like rats, pigeons or cockroaches, which was a brilliant idea. Here, the most similar thing is "Badder", which is a parody of a Disney villain song (a type of song the original didn't have) and the twist here is that there are two villains instead of one, who fight for being the leader. "Andalasia" is also clearly an homage to "Cinderella" and other Disney opening songs from the '40s and '50s, and "Perfect" reminds of the "I Want" songs from the Renaissance. The latter, though, has some moments of parody, but for the most part is just a straightforward Disney "I Want" song. "Andalasia" at least has some humor to it, which is a bit of a twist. There are some references in the other songs, like the singing objects in "Fairytale Life", but they seem more based on Broadway musicals in general and are not that specifically Disney.
I have to say, though, that I like the new songs much more now after having listened to them more. It tends to happen to me sometimes that when I've been anticipating something very much I get a bit disappointed at first when I finally see/listen to it simply because I expected something different and I need some time to get used to what it actually is. I tried not to have too high expectations this time, but you can't help imagining things a certain way. These songs are not as good or instantly catchy as the ones from the original, but are still really good, in my opinion. As well as the score. It's a shame there's only one score track in the soundtrack.
Marce82 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:38 am
It was mainly the humans that were poorly animated, the animals were pretty ok. And as for John Pommeroy... I always thought he was an overrated animator, and that link to him drawing Edward... um... that was a pretty bad drawing.
The animals also looked better than the humans to me, but maybe it's that we aren't that demanding when it comes to animals? Or are they easier to draw? Regarding John Pomeroy's drawing, I wouldn't say it's bad, but it's not very on model. But many times when animators do these type of "how to draw" videos the characters are quite off-model. I guess it's easier to draw them with model sheets next to you, as they do when they're animating. Plus, I imagine it must be difficult to draw them perfectly by heart, especially if a lot of time has passed since they animated them.
Marce82 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:38 am
And... did any character have an arc? Did anyone change after this whole adventure?
Maybe they were more subtle than usual, but I think Giselle and Morgan, at least, definitely had arcs.
Giselle learned to be more accepting of changes in life and also not to idealize her homeland and be careful what she wishes for. And Morgan I think understood her mother's point of view more and how much she loves her and not to be ashamed of her in front of others. And the relationship between them, of course, improved. Robert and Malvina also changed a bit, but at the end of the movie, Giselle and Morgan are the only ones who know this whole adventure took place; for the others it was all a dream, so they couldn't change that much.
Anyway, personally I don't mind it if some characters don't have arcs or don't learn anything in a movie. In fact, sometimes I find it refreshing, as normally everyone has to have their arc and sometimes it's too evident which I find a bit annoying. Though, of course, a character arc is an important element that contributes to make the story interesting and I like it when it's well done and feels organic.
By the way, sorry if it seems I'm trying to refute all your points,
Marce82. I actually agreed with a lot of the things you said.
