slave2moonlight wrote:I don't understand what the big deal is about this Avatar movie. Can anyone explain that to me? I don't think it looks very good.
1. It's the return of James Cameron directing a film. 2. It's supposed to have the most amazing 3D ever. I don't often get as excited about non-Disney films as I am about Avatar- I mean, it's going to be huge, epic, wonderful-looking, and it has action and interspecies romance, and 10-foot tall blue creatures!
Marce82 wrote:As for the pacing...I agree with some people here that at times it felt rushed. Its like there are no "rest periods"...no breathers. And the climax isnt as....climactic as it should. But again, there is A LOT of story to tell in only 95 minutes. And I think most of it comes from editing...some scenes could have lingered a bit longer so we could really absorb what was happening.
I think my problem with the pacing was that there were too many stories to tell in 90 minutes (before end credits). They could have dropped some songs, gag sequences and possibly characters and replaced them with scenes developing the villain and giving the romantic leads more time to bond so the "I hate you!/I love you!" change wouldn't have appeared to happen as quickly.
Babaloo wrote:
-The Lawrence story not continuing did not bug me much. I actually thought him going to prison was enough. He was more just Facilier's minion, and I didn't care what happened to him.
You know, I think that was a problem with the film (or maybe just with the audience). I think people were supposed to feel sorry for Lawrence in a way, since his life seemed worse than most everybody else's. Not saying he shouldn't have gone to jail, but I think he and Naveen should've had some kind of face-off or something. And sometimes I think the audience has a tendency not to have sympathy for ugly characters.
Oh, and I forgot to mention how hilarious some of his scenes were when he was in Naveen's body (that voice was crazy!).
Overall, I think Facilier and Lawrence are good villains for this movie because they contrast with Tiana so much. They both apparently have dreams of their own just like Tiana, only Tiana isn't willing to take people down to get what she wants (though it is a temptation to do so). I think that's an important "lesson" for a film to approach these days.
Listening to most often lately:
Taylor Swift ~ ~ "The Fate of Ophelia"
Taylor Swift ~ "Eldest Daughter"
Taylor Swift ~ "CANCELLED!"
Babaloo wrote:
-The Lawrence story not continuing did not bug me much. I actually thought him going to prison was enough. He was more just Facilier's minion, and I didn't care what happened to him.
You know, I think that was a problem with the film (or maybe just with the audience). I think people were supposed to feel sorry for Lawrence in a way, since his life seemed worse than most everybody else's. Not saying he shouldn't have gone to jail, but I think he and Naveen should've had some kind of face-off or something. And sometimes I think the audience has a tendency not to have sympathy for ugly characters.
Oh, and I forgot to mention how hilarious some of his scenes were when he was in Naveen's body (that voice was crazy!).
I thought I was the only one who felt that way as well. Lawrence did get his just desserts, but I couldn't help but wish they had given him more interaction with Naveen, and at least maybe a few sentences explaining why. He obviously at some points does feel sympathy for Naveen as a frog, letting him go the first time, until Facilier persuades him.
I also loved the scenes that he was in with Charlotte. Hearing that prim and prissy English voice coming out of Naveen's body I thought was adorable as well. I love the real Naveen both as a human and a frog, but part of me really loves the Lawrence-Naveen as well. And maybe it's just me, but I thought Lawrence looked a lot more appealing as a character than he did before when he was halfway through transforming and still had Naveen's tan and hair, but had his own face and big bum.
So I finally got to see it last night and after sleeping on it here's what I have to say.
I had big hopes for this movie from the beginning. Not saying that my hopes were out of this world, because in no way did I ever expect it to come close to my four favorite Disney movies, Little Mermaid, Beauty & the Beast, Aladdin, and Lion King. But after seeing it, I really feel like it deserves to be placed right up there with those or at least right behind. I think the problem some people have with the story is that it is not an epic by any means. It's a local, centralized story but to me, that's what made it even better. It was something different. I really loved Tiana. She undoubtedly belongs in the ranks of the other Disney princesses. I loved that her goal wasn't just her own, and that it had a broader scope to it than, "I really want this". Naveen, whom I knew I would love already, I liked even more. I didn't feel like their relationship was rushed but I think it seemed natural. I felt like Naveen fell for her because she saw who he truly was, that no one thought he would ever amount to anything.. and that he was not just some pretty boy. She was the first person to do that and it makes sense for him to fall for her. I loved Ray and Louis also. Ray was the favorite of the group I went with. That and Charlotte. She was hysterical. Her comic timing was fantastic and was spot on. And the sweating scene was definitely my favorite of hers. There were a few parts that did feel rushed though. The ending... It went by so fast. I wished we could have seen more of the human side of them.. working together to build the restaurant. I also thought Ray's song should have had an instrumental section so the dance could have went on longer. I felt like we could have spent a little more time soaking up the atmosphere of Charlotte's party too and her dancing with Lawrence. It really reminded my of Cinderella and I wish we could have seen more of those shots and made it seem very romantic. Other than that I was so pleased with this movie. And the end with Ray's becoming a star, had just about everyone in tears. It was probably one of my favorite Disney moments ever. Honestly, I don't see how anyone could have disliked this movie. It's got a lot to soak in and it definitely had depth. I read a recent review calling it "as shallow as Saturday morning cartoons". This movie I think will live on for quite some time. I truly believe that over the years we will see this movie rise in the ranks of favorite Disney movies. It has so much to offer. I'm so happy they are back
Well TPatF came in at #1, but only with 25 million dollars.
Word of mouth of people who have seen it is VERY positive though, this movie has legs! And people are saying it's great to see that Disney is back at what they are good at doing! Telling great stories with heart!
Kind of disappointing first weekend numbers if you ask me, considering how long Disney has been advertising the film. Though I agree that word of mouth should help it stay afloat.
pap64 wrote:Kind of disappointing first weekend numbers if you ask me, considering how long Disney has been advertising the film. Though I agree that word of mouth should help it stay afloat.
Don't forget that they made it tricky for themselves by making this a movie with the word "princess" in the title. It's hard to get little boys in theatres for a movie about a princess. I'm not disappointed, especially considering the reputation Disney movies have been suffering the past few years. Now it's time to build this brand up again! Work on GREAT stories and make the magic shine!
I think this will be one of those movies that won't make lots during one specific weekend, but rather make lots through its run. Also I look more to how the movie does during its first week rather than its first weekend (because I know lots of people will go on Tuesday).
As for the word princess being in the title, I do think that Disney might have ruined its chances with younger boys, but I went Saturday and surprisingly most of the kids were boys . Actually the kid beside me (a boy) wouldn't stop laughing through the whole movie (good signs, but kind of annoying ). The way I see it is that parents will probably bring their kids to this movie no matter what because it portrays an innocence that has been absent in recent media made for kids.
robster16 wrote:
Don't forget that they made it tricky for themselves by making this a movie with the word "princess" in the title. It's hard to get little boys in theatres for a movie about a princess.
I was concerned about that before I went to see it. Young boys are naturally opposed to anything girly, even though this movie is anything but girly. However, that concern was gone when I saw plenty of boys at the theater, so it really does appeal to all kids.
Another way Disney hurt themselves was the release date of PatF. Here a couple of quotes from different articles I've read:
- “This did exactly what I’d expected,” Gitesh Pandya, editor of New York-based Box Office Guru LLC, said in a telephone interview. “Kid movies don’t usually open to more than $20 million in mid-December.” http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid= ... K8A_uijbBQ
The thing is that next week Avatar opens, and I am sure a great chunk of the movie going audience will go to it. Then, the Alvin and the Chipmunks sequel is released a few days before Christmas, meaning that the hype and appeal of the Chipmunks will drive people to pick it over any other movie playing, Princess and the Frog included.
Things will not be easy for the film. I do believe that word of mouth will help it reach its goals, but for a film that's been hyped for nearly a year, has been advertised at the Theme Parks and tons of merchandise... Ugh.
I know I shouldn't give up hope yet, but that doesn't make me any less worried, considering what's opening this week and next week. Oh, all I can do is hope that it will do well financially and domestically.
I think what frustrates me the most is that Disney, even at its best and most beloved, still doesn't seem to outdo Pixar or Dreamworks, whose openings break records. And they had the Disney Princess brand behind them!
Yet we have to remember who would be going to see Avatar...PatF is aimed at families and children, whereas Avatar isn't. I would be surprised if a family with little kids decide "Oh let's go see Avatar" . Obviously Avatar will beat PatF in sales and in box office, but it also has a much wider audience. Not every family goes to movies, but Avatar is aimed for people who would and could go by themselves to a theater. The only problem I have is the Chipmunks. Yet I as I watching the trailer for it, I was like wow! who would pay to see that (although I know many people would since everyone's opinion is different).
Another thing that gets me upset, is how most Pixar movies are slated for spring releases, whereas Disney's are winter releases. Obviously Pixar is going to make more money!
. Actually the kid beside me (a boy) wouldn't stop laughing through the whole movie (good signs, but kind of annoying 
). The way I see it is that parents will probably bring their kids to this movie no matter what because it portrays an innocence that has been absent in recent media made for kids.
