The Princess and the Frog - MiceChat Reviews

[sir clinksalot]

Disney's newest Animated movie "The Princess and the Frog" hit's theatres today.

So what did you think? And don't forget to vote in the poll.

[OogieBoogie]

Re: The Princess and the Frog - MiceChat Reviews

Here's what the SF Chronicle is saying about it:

And we thought the era of cartoon Disney princesses was over. Old-school animation and all of its trappings - the tiaras, the enchantment, the wishing on stars - make a gently bewitching comeback in "The Princess and the Frog," a starry-eyed, two-dimensional, G-rated anachronism that pairs its retro aesthetic with a few small adjustments for the modern world.

For starters, The Mouse has officially crowned its first African American princess. Her name is Tiana, and she's not sitting around waiting for some pretty fella in tights to whisk her away on horseback. Voiced by Tony Award-winner and American Conservatory Theater alum Anika Noni Rose, Tiana is a jazz-era waitress in New Orleans; and once she scrapes together a down payment, she plans to open a classy restaurant. Her mother (Oprah Winfrey) objects, thinking she ought to get out there and "meet (her) Prince Charming," but Tiana has zero interest in men.

Naturally, one arrives: Prince Naveen of Maldonia (Bruno Campos), a rakish party-boy who's in town shopping for a wealthy bride. He gets sidetracked when an evil witch doctor (Keith David) turns Naveen into a frog - and Naveen, mistaking Tiana for a princess, gives her a smooch and turns her into a frog.

Our leads then spend the bulk of the film in amphibious form, searching for blind voodoo queen Mama Odie (Jenifer Lewis) in the hopes they might switch back. Directed by Ron Clements and Jon Musker of "Aladdin," "The Princess and the Frog" is packed with infections tunes, all of them courtesy Randy Newman. To my ears, this is some of the catchiest, smartest Disney music since "Beauty and the Beast." The animation, sparkling and graceful, also ranks as the studio's best traditional work in ages (and its first since 2004's "Home on the Range").

Still, not every kid will pirouette on tippy-toe in excitement. Although my eighth-grade daughter adored the film, my fourth-grader and his buddy found it a tad schmaltzy. As for Disney, it's nice to know that the studio behind Cinderella can still cast a spell in two dimensions.

E-mail Amy Biancolli at [email protected].

[JFSebastian]

Re: The Princess and the Frog - MiceChat Reviews

I thought it was absolutely amazing. A true return to form for Disney Animation Studios, indeed. It was everything I'd hoped it to be. Maybe the best since The Lion King?

[AE_Fan]

Re: The Princess and the Frog - MiceChat Reviews

While I haven't seen it yet, I'm really irked a review I read gave away a spoiler to one of the characters.

[dead_Mau5]

Re: The Princess and the Frog - MiceChat Reviews

Positive Aspects
-First real Disney film in 51/2 years.
-Beautiful score, story and breathtaking presentation of setting and character design.
-A++ Villain and Fairy Godmother.
-Nice "Romantic Comedy"-like romance.
-No cultural reference jokes.
And most importantly,
-First African Disney Princess!

Negative Aspects
-Still hymns bland cookie cut-out "princess" story even after gravying of modern plot.
-Too many country bumpkin jokes.
-Over-referencing of Little Mermaid.
-Certain Body styles reused from Aladdin.
-Money, wealth and hard work prudent plot elements.(reference to recession)
-Have a sinking feeling this film wouldn't exist if Obama wasn't President.

It still remain a quite high Matinee in my books!

[sir clinksalot]

Re: The Princess and the Frog - MiceChat Reviews

-Have a sinking feeling this film wouldn't exist if Obama wasn't President.

You realize the film was in devlopment LONG before he became president right? I don't think it has ANYTHING to do with that.

[aashee]

Re: The Princess and the Frog - MiceChat Reviews

You realize the film was in devlopment LONG before he became president right? I don't think it has ANYTHING to do with that.

I was just going to say that Clinks. Do people think cartoons are made in 9 months?

[disneyjedi1]

Re: The Princess and the Frog - MiceChat Reviews

Positive Aspects

-Over-referencing of Little Mermaid.
-Money, wealth and hard work prudent plot elements.(reference to recession)
-Have a sinking feeling this film wouldn't exist if Obama wasn't President.

Okay the film was in development long before Obama was elected, #1. (I've been following the film since early 07 maybe even late 06)

I could be wrong, but I didn't see the whole money/ working hard issue that way. I felt it was more of racism (and I'm glad they at least hinted at it.) that Tiana had to work so hard than a reference to the recession.

And for the Little Mermaid, are you talking about the parade float? Because there's an Aladdin one directly behind it, and the first one you see is a Treasure Planet one!!!! ) They're actually referencing past movies Ron and John have directed. (not sure if there was a Hercules one, I'll get back to you on that.)



I LOVED the movie and am excited to go see it again (probably tonight)

[HalloweentownAlice]

Re: The Princess and the Frog - MiceChat Reviews

I thought it was EXCELLENT.
Music was catchy and well done and the characters where lovable.

I thought the animation was beautiful and the story was heartwarming and breaking.
There were a few characters I wish I could have had more background and development on, but it was excellent nevertheless.

Definitely in my top 5 or 10 Disney movies, and I have a hard time calling it a "princess" movie, despite its title and merchandise, it was so unlike any previous princess movie.

Speaking of references to other movies, in the title sequence, keep a sharp eye out for the Magic Carpet from Aladdin

Also: all of the dresses (the Lily Pad dress, the other green/white dress, the blue dress) Disney is selling and advertising with for kids make me smile because Tiana wears them for all of two seconds in the film xD

[Tolkoto]

Re: The Princess and the Frog - MiceChat Reviews

Wow, wish I noticed the Treasure Planet float. Something to look for next time.

Anyways, I thought the movie was fantastic. Surprisingly sincere and emotional, without coming across as corny or commercial.

Also, the idea that this movie was made to capitalize on Obamania, while not just impossible, is ridiculous.

[Mac Daddy]

Re: The Princess and the Frog - MiceChat Reviews

I caught the 10:05 showing this morning at DTD, and thought it was wonderful. As far as the story line goes, it doesn't have quite the same creative spark or emotional power that WALL-E or UP had, and you could tell what was going to happen a mile away, but it was still a VERY good story line. Predictable, but very good. And I love the fact that there has never been a princess quite like Tiana. Beyond the fact that she's the first Black Disney princess, she had taken charge of her life and realized that no star was going to give her a handout. She wasn't sitting around waiting for Prince Charming.

I think a large part of the success of this movie can be attributed to the change that Lasseter made in switching to Randy Newman rather than Menken. Newman had already been VERY successful with music of this time period having scored one of my favorite soundtracks from "Avalon," not to mention his work on "Ragtime." He also has an innate, honky-tonk quality in his writing aside from scoring for film. I really do think he was the perfect choice for this film. If the movie were comparable to a big pot of gumbo, Randy Newman was the roux. (I stole that metaphor from Wynton Marsalis.) If you pulled his music out of the film, it would have been an interesting film, but not nearly as effective.

In terms of the overall plot, it seemed that everything happened pretty fast. I think it might have been more believable if the story took place over several weeks, giving them a chance to get to know each other. But beyond the predictability, I loved the characters, the voices, the singing, and the music overall. I thought the animation was outstanding, and it really warmed my heart to see traditional 2D on the big screen again after watching a friend of mine who had worked for years in Florida get layed off after that studio was shut down. I really thought that Disney had moved on and wouldn't look back. I think this film PROVES that if you start with a solid story (predictable or no) and you weave in some fun music with some great characters, it doesn't MATTER what type of medium you put up on the screen. People will still respond to it. My wife and I watched a half completed Beauty and the Beast in our living room with our friend months before it came out, and we were COMPLETELY drawn in to the story even though half of the film was still in pencil or storyboard. I really hope Disney PRESERVES this "old fashioned" medium for years and years.

Five stars and two thumbs up from me.

[RumRunner31]

Re: The Princess and the Frog - MiceChat Reviews

My favorite reference was actually the band name at the end. As a huge Disneyland history nut, I freaked out when the band name was "The Firefly Five Plus Lou" - a reference to "The Firehouse Five Plus Two": the Disneyland dixieland jazz ensemble that included many of the Disney animation greats like Ward Kimball and Harper Goff.

[Mac Daddy]

Re: The Princess and the Frog - MiceChat Reviews

My favorite reference was actually the band name at the end. As a huge Disneyland history nut, I freaked out when the band name was "The Firefly Five Plus Lou" - a reference to "The Firehouse Five Plus Two": the Disneyland dixieland jazz ensemble that included many of the Disney animation greats like Ward Kimball and Harper Goff.

Good catch! I totally missed that!

[royaldisneyfan]

Re: The Princess and the Frog - MiceChat Reviews

Amazing movie. Two thumbs, five stars whatever. Wonderful return to 2-D for Disney! Ray was awesome! Naveen and Dr. Facillier exceeded my expectations. Tiana met my expectations (which is a good thing). She was better than advertised.

Without giving too much away, my favorite scene was the firefly scene.

[Starshyne]

Re: The Princess and the Frog - MiceChat Reviews

I saw the movie tonight and I totally loved it! It is so exciting to see a Disney film on the opening night. I enjoyed the story line and the message it gave. I loved the friendship between the two girls and how their race and background didn't stand in the way of the blonde trying to help her friend towards the end (even if it was too late).

My boyfriend, however, really disliked the movie. I figured since he wasn't much on "princesses" to begin with he would dislike it. However he grew up in Louisiana and the sterotypes were a little too much for him. He felt like the movie made it look like they always ate gumbo and talked like a hillbilly. I didn't get that feeling from it at all, but everyone is welcome to their opinion.

I will be buying this on DVD when it is available. Great movie!

[Barbossa]

Re: The Princess and the Frog - MiceChat Reviews

I haven't seen it yet, will probably see it somtime in the run-up to Christmas next weekend. I thought this quote in Ebert's review was interesting:
The Princess and the Frog :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews

It is notable that this is Disney's first animated feature since "Song of the South" (1946) to feature African-American characters, and if the studio really never is going to release that film on DVD, which seems more innocent by the day, perhaps they could have lifted "Zip-a-dee Doo-Dah" from it and plugged that song in here. Though the principal characters are all black (other than the rich man Big Daddy and the Prince, who is of undetermined ethnicity), race is not an issue because Disney adroitly sidesteps all the realities of being a poor girl in New Orleans in the early 1920s. Just as well, I suppose.

[Radiobarry]

Re: The Princess and the Frog - MiceChat Reviews

I was just going to say that Clinks. Do people think cartoons are made in 9 months?

Haven't seen this latest one yet, but Disney's animated stuff has been heavy on the "PC" for about 20 years now, which is longer than nine months, last time I checked.

[Joshrzmeup]

Re: The Princess and the Frog - MiceChat Reviews

I saw it last night and I really enjoyed it. The music was catchy, but wasn't too crazy about the songs themselves (lyrics going with the plot and such) it just didn't do it for me. But the colors were amazing and it was such a great all-around story. Naveen's accent kind of got to me after awhile, though.

[dead_Mau5]

Re: The Princess and the Frog - MiceChat Reviews

And for the Little Mermaid, are you talking about the parade float? Because there's an Aladdin one directly behind it, and the first one you see is a Treasure Planet one!!!! ) They're actually referencing past movies Ron and John have directed. (not sure if there was a Hercules one, I'll get back to you on that.)

From Little Mermaid:
-King Triton float
-The pearled clam that imprisoned Ariel's voice is seen twice in Mama Odie's boat cabin.
-"Ma Belle Evangeline" has the same color,tone and conclusion as "Kiss the Girl"

From Aladdin:
-Aladdin float
-Carpet appears in opening credits
-Facilier and Naveen's human form have the same body style as Jafar and Aladdin respectfully.Yet, the doctor is more elastic and top heavy while Naveen has a more sharper chin.

[disneyjedi1]

Re: The Princess and the Frog - MiceChat Reviews

From Little Mermaid:
-King Triton float
-The pearled clam that imprisoned Ariel's voice is seen twice in Mama Odie's boat cabin.
-"Ma Belle Evangeline" has the same color,tone and conclusion as "Kiss the Girl"

From Aladdin:
-Aladdin float
-Carpet appears in opening credits
-Facilier and Naveen's human form have the same body style as Jafar and Aladdin respectfully.Yet, the doctor is more elastic and top heavy while Naveen has a more sharper chin.

-Yeah, that was a little MORE than obvious.
-Really? I didn't see it! Hmmm... I'll definitely be on the lookout next time I see it.
-I just listened to Ma Belle Evangeline and Kiss that Girl (and saw the movie again last night) and although similar colors are used (they both take place at night! and on water!) and the sounds are *somewhat* similar.... I don't really see the comparison between the conclusions... is it because they almost end with a kiss in both films? They're interrupted for totally different reasons. In the Little Mermaid, the kiss was going to happen between Eric and Ariel, had Flotsam and Jetsam not interfered, but in the Princess and the Frog, the kiss almost happened, but Tiana was the one who stopped it, for she was denying her feelings for Naveen, because she knew that he was supposed to marry Charlotte. And the music towards the end of the songs are different too. "Kiss the Girl" gets more excited and louder as the kiss approaches, while "Ma Belle Evangeline" remains soft. That and "Kiss the Girl" is directly trying to get the characters to kiss, while "Ma Belle Evangeline" is Ray singing to his love, and then as Tiana and Naveen start dancing, it parallels the two. I dunno, I may have missed your point completely, but this is how I feel about it.

-Yeah again the float thing is a little obvious, but since it is behind the Little Mermaid one it's a little less noticeable maybe?
-The first time I saw the film (seen it twice now, the count begins) I didn't even notice carpet! And one of the reasons I looked for it was because someone else here mentioned it!
-I guess so.... but I'm looking at pictures of Naveen and Aladdin, and I see the body type thing, but their faces are totally different. People do have similar body types sometimes.

And there was no Hercules float... Oh well... The Treasure Planet one makes me happy. )