The Princess and the Frog Discussion - Part III

[Want2beBelle]

if anyone is interested not sure if this has been posted with $40 purchase in disney store you get a free ticket to this movie.

[pap64]

Moving on from reviews, I just saw a wonderful TV spot for the movie while watching the Pixar Shorts on ABC Family. It focused very little on the humor and more on the heart and magic.

[Marce82]

I saw that tv spot too! But it was during a Simpsons episode on a cable channel...

I was trying to find it on youtube, but its not posted yet!

Some great footage...I saw charlotte dancing with Naveen!

[Disney's Divinity]

What I am criticizing is that some reviews are using outside issues in order to judge a film or jump on it before they even get to see it.

The advertising of a movie is not an outside issue. If you're not getting what you paid for (based on what was advertised), then that is an issue. Some people actually want to know if the movie lives up to its claims before wasting money on it--I'm thinking most of them would be the black critics TP&TF had in its early stages. A review doesn't automatically equal an outlining of "Music= X points, Story= X points, Animation= X points, etc." A "review" can do many things and is made to do many things, and harping on someone's review because it doesn't do what you want is rather pointless.

But, do they have any role in the film's overall quality? You might say yes, but the truth is that they don't.

Not to a film's quality, but to the audience, it does. And considering the main purpose critics write reviews is for an audience trying to decide if they should see a movie--it is important. If the movie in question makes it seem like you're going to get A and instead you get B (ex: The Village; what manipulative advertising), some people would like to know that before wasting time on it.

And moving on to nicer feelings,

I saw the promo with Charlotte dancing during Rudolph (so sue me for watching; ). I think that's the first time the movie has looked impressive animation-wise. Everything looks so luscious in some of those swamp scenes. That advertisement actually reminds me of some of TLM's promos, where a lot of "magical" moments are emphasized (the only reason I thought of them specifically was because Facilier's explosion on the screen sort of reminded me of Ursula's green hands and blue cauldron scenes in the old promos).

[Cordy_Biddle]

Some great footage...I saw charlotte dancing with Naveen!

Geez, she's a little tramp!

[2099net]

To a certain extent, the race issue is important, because initially Disney made it important. And while they've toned down the importance of the "first black princess" in the movie's promotion - I think its pretty obvious that they have done so only after so many negative reactions to their initial publicity. So negative that the film was "reworked" in fact.

So, when the movie was promoted to some extent as (for want of a better word) "empowering" towards African Americans (especially young girls) then some people are going to judge it on that criteria. Especially those of a more political bent.

It's not uncommon for films to have political meanings or secondary currents. It's not uncommon for children's films or stories to do so. How many children's stories end with a message similar to "sharing is good" or "war is bad" or "listen and respect your elders", "save the animals" etc. They're all political points using politics in the wider sense of the word away from "party politics" which is all about interactions with people in society.

Of course, I've not seen the film and as I stated won't for a long time. But if "publicity" has led some people to expect one type of film, and they're not given it, then there will be a backlash. Perhaps after expecting a film to show and teach some recent American history (to some extent) as well as entertain and emote - some people are disappointed with the film - for perfectly valid reasons. Don't forget, the history is so recent lots of families will know or will have known a family member with first hand experience of the film's setting.

As far as I know, there was no racial backlash against That's So Raven - because Disney didn't present the show as a ground breaking "event". Quite frankly, I doubt there would be a huge racial backlash against Song of the South apart from the fact that by withholding the film from public release in the US didn't mean any subsequent release would be an "event".

People expect more from "events".

[Poody]

And while they've toned down the importance of the "first black princess" in the movie's promotion

Well, I saw "Precious" last week and they played the trailer for P&TF before the film. This is a rated R movie by the way.... Though a couple people brought their kids....

[blackcauldron85]

A Bayou Bash!
http://d23.disney.go.com/articles/12030 ... ogD23.html
(via disneyreport.com)

[blackcauldron85]

New The Princess And The Frog posters
http://animatedviews.com/2009/new-the-p ... g-posters/

[estefan]

Anika Noni Rose singing "Down in New Orleans" at Disneyland:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0OWJX3pDrE

[DisneyPrincessSyndrome]

So, my sister has been buying several of the PatF books and when I look at the copyright page and such, I noticed that the movie was based in part of The Frog Princess by E.D. Baker. I read the book in seventh grade and half of its first sequel Dragon's Breath. Has anyone read more of the series (I think there are about four or five total now)? Anyone think that it's interesting that not only PatF is based off a regular fairy tale but someone else's reinterpretation of that fairy tale?

I've been meaning to bring that up. :]

[IagoZazu]

Anyone think that it's interesting that not only PatF is based off a regular fairy tale but someone else's reinterpretation of that fairy tale?

Disney used the reinterpretation's idea of the princess turning into a frog after kissing the frog prince to have Tiana turn into a frog after kissing Naveen. It makes for a more bigger and intresting plot.

[PrincePhillipFan]

Just came back from the preview screening with Dusty last evening, and I must say that I absolutely loved the film! I went in expecting a good movie, but it even exceeded my expectations. It certainly is a bit more lighthearted fare than say Beauty and the Beast (I feel like it has a bit more common with Aladdin and Hercules in terms of its humor), but personally I think it works a lot better that way. It tells its moral simply without being completely heavyhanded.

The visual effects, backgrounds, and character animation were all beautifully stunning, especially the effects of the fireflies in the bayou. Tiana to me is one of my favorite princesses to have come along in a long time. Ariel, Belle, and Jasmine never appealed to me in that I pretty much found them very whiny or nagging in some form or other. Tiana though didn't have any moment I can recall like that. At times she did lecture Naveen, but I feel unlike the others, she has more of a great sense of humor about herself. And unlike those who just want "adventure for the heck of it", I admire that Tiana actually works hard for what she wants, but learns you can't be working hard all the time eventually.

Charlotte to me was one of the highlight of the pictures mostly. She was absolutely hilarious from start to finish, and just an anxious hummingbird type of girl. Dr. Facilier I found to be an interesting character. He doesn't have a huge amount of screen time, but I feel like Grimhilde, he certainly makes a great impact even when he's not there. His song "Friends On The Other Side" I think probably had the most amazing animation in the film, and the design and movement of the "friends" was remarkably creepy and almost nightmarish in a way. The character of Ray also took me by great surprise. I thought I was going to wind up hating the character, but he actually becomes a very endearing one, and one can't help but feel for him sometimes.

Finally, I come to Naveen who was pretty much the one I was looking forward to the most. And I must say, he's my 1.5 favorite prince. Phillip is still my top, but I love Naveen so much, there's no way I can call him number 2, so he's 1.5 for me. His whole smarmy but charming attitude, and his realization through the course of the film, just made him one of the most endearing characters for me and have sympathy for him.

Dusty even said he reminded him partly of myself. Besides the large rump scene, he remarked that the moment Tiana called him a "spoiled little rich boy," it made him think of me.

[katemonster]

Sounds so wonderful! I can't believe so many people have seen it already and I will be waiting until this weekend! I feel like I read something splendid about the movie on a daily basis. I am loving the TV spots as well!

[Sotiris]

Goldberg, Deja and Smith Talk Princess and the Frog
http://www.awn.com/articles/2d/goldberg ... page/1%2C1

Great article. Hope it hasn't been posted here before.

[Margos]

Wow! Thanks for the review, Tim! Now I'm looking forward to this film 10x as much as I was before. It seems that everyone on UD who has seen this really enjoyed it, and, as far as I'm concerned, Friday can't get here soon enough!

[ColorsOfTheWind]

I'm so glad you loved the film PrincePhillipFan! I too came back absolutely loving it and was hoping that it wouldn't be just me who did. I know I sure can't wait to see it again

[ajmrowland]

Now I'm looking forward to this even more!

[rj.disney]

NOOOOOO!!!!
My brother and sister told me that they just saw the local trailer for TPATF here in the Philippines and they told me it's play date here is April 3 2010!

WTF?

I hope it's a mistake

[Margos]

Jeez! I certainly hope you get it before then!