The Princess and the Frog thoughts - Page 3

[BroadwayBenny]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 12:00pm

Things are still kind of up in the air for future 2D animated films. Right now the only sure thing being produced in 2D is a new "Winnie the Pooh" film for 2011. The one I am holding my breath for, is the fate of "The Snow Queen." It's been an on/off/on project for about 8 years now. Alan Menken wrote a few songs for it, but it was scrapped back in 2002 for Disney thinking people didn't want to see anymore fairy tales. Of course after the "Princess Collection" explosion they have obviously changed their tune with "Frog" and next year's CGI "Rapunzel"

Grapevine is that Snow Queen is back on the drawing board, but nothing officially announced. Menken mentioned in an Italian interview that it still on his projects plate.
http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/spettacoli/200906articoli/44340girata.asp

An early sketch from the 2002 proposed film.

[degrassifan]

Posted: 12/25/09 at 12:44am

Saw Princess and the Frog again. It's even better the second time around! It's surprising how much you miss when you first watch it. For example, the first five minutes of the movie (where Tiana and Charlotte were girls) took place on November 6, 1912 or around that time.

[HollyGolightly2]

Posted: 12/25/09 at 1:59am

BroadwayBenny, Snow Queen has indeed been confirmed as a 'go'. Peter del Vecho (a producer of Princess and the Frog) included it in a listing of Disney's future movie lineup.

I believe it was originally slated for 2013, but has since been moved up to 2012 because King of the Elves either has story problems or has been killed completely (I've heard both).

It's got an IMDb page and everything.



(here's Peter del Vecho confirming it) Updated On: 12/25/09 at 01:59 AM

[BroadwayBenny]

Posted: 12/25/09 at 2:23am

Thanks HollyGolightly2,

"The Snow Queen" is one of my favorite of Hans Christian Anderson's stories. I can't wait to see what approach they take with this. It looks as though we will have quite a few fairy tales in the next few years, what with PIXAR releasing "The Bear and the Bow" as well. Very excited!!

[HollyGolightly2]

Posted: 12/25/09 at 2:32am

I'm excited too! While I loved Princess and the Frog, it's a twist on a fairy tale, and Rapunzel appears to be shaping up to be a bit of a fractured fairy tale, a la Shrek, but with less pop culture references. (I've also heard that the 'moving painting' quality Disney has been telling us about in Rapunzel is extremely exaggerated. Someone who saw footage at d23 said it looks just like Bolt, only a little nicer, which makes me disappointed.)

I'm excited for Snow Queen because it will be Disney's true return to form and will apparently be a straight up fairy tale. Add in 2D animation and a Menken score, and you've got the type of movie that Disney does best.
Updated On: 12/25/09 at 02:32 AM

[BroadwayBenny]

Posted: 12/25/09 at 2:58am

So they are resorting back to their original approach with Rapunzel? I thought they were ditching the fractured fairy tale idea. I seriously can't keep up with this movie. It's been through more changes than an old woman in a nursing home. At least Menken is on the project, so even if it's more "Enchanted" than "The Little Mermaid" I can live with it as there are bound to be a few nice tunes in there.

[HollyGolightly2]

Posted: 12/25/09 at 3:29am

Not exactly as fractured as it was when it was 'Rapunzel Unbraided', but still very twisted. Rapunzel herself is described as "an imaginative and determined teenager" "longing for adventure", as well as being full of.... (pardon me while I shudder)... 'girl power'. Her 'prince' is a bandit. Menken also said rock and roll of the 60s was his inspiration for the score. (??)

Rapunzel's hair was described as being ALIVE, and she had to tie it to trees to keep it from going crazy. She also used it as a whip, among other things.

I have no idea if those particular plot points have been removed or not.

Updated On: 12/25/09 at 03:29 AM

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 12/27/09 at 11:28am

Just saw the movie last night. I really enjoyed it and it was great to see another hand-drawn princess story from Disney again, but I agree with most of the complaints here, specifically about the forgettable music and Facilier's lack of character development.

I am a huge Disney fan (I'm nearly 25 and a member of the Disney Movie Club), but I wouldn't put this movie in my top ten. Very entertaining though.

I, personally, would award Best Animated Feature AND Best Picture of the Year to Up!, but we'll see what happens in March.

Updated On: 12/27/09 at 11:28 AM

[zoraksferal]

Posted: 12/27/09 at 11:34am

I thought Dr. Facilier had enough character development, though I do wish he would have gotten more screen time... especially during the dryer parts... which for me were whenever Dr. Facilier wasn't there. Come to think of it, excluding the villain scenes, I found the movie somewhat dull. Eh, but I suppose I feel that way about all Disney movies anyway.

[HollyGolightly2]

Posted: 12/27/09 at 10:41pm

Does the villain need character development? I don't remember Ursula having any.

What I would have added in is some sort of explanation or backstory for his voodoo powers. His demise and the whole thing about not 'paying back his debt' was really vague. You sort of have to fill in the blanks with assumptions you make yourself.

[strummergirl]

Posted: 12/27/09 at 11:03pm

I agree you don't need character development to be a great villain. In fact you could argue when we know so much about certain classic villains (Hannibal Lecter and Darth Vader) what made them so fascinating and interesting quickly fades.

On Facilier, I think he was in the same situation as Naveen. In debt to your past that includes all its perks both bad and good. The fact that he crossed paths with Naveen should not be a coincidence. Though I still see Facilier more of a snake oil salesman trying to own up to a promise that is in a delicate balance.

[BroadwayBenny]

Posted: 12/27/09 at 11:49pm

but Ursula's plight had a backstory, with her being banished from the palace and wanting revenge in addition to absolute power. She served a much deeper dynamic with her history with Triton. Facilier doesn't seem to be personally connected to any of the characters...just another creep out to get rich and powerful. (Not knocking him, but he isn't even close to being as great a villain as Ursula)

[HollyGolightly2]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 1:59am

Facilier just likes to screw with people. As a hobby. LOL

He's not a great villain, but I think he's a great character. "Very charismatic" is right.
Updated On: 12/28/09 at 01:59 AM

[Eye_Know_Bway]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 11:44am

When's the stage version coming!?

[BroadwayBenny]

Posted: 12/31/09 at 1:44pm

here is a newly released image from Rapunzel





Disney's Rapunzel Updated On: 12/31/09 at 01:44 PM

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 12/31/09 at 2:33pm

I love the prince's little goatee!

[strummergirl]

Posted: 12/31/09 at 3:23pm

I agree Schmerg. It makes me think of Phoebus from The Hunchback of Notre Dame:

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 12/31/09 at 3:37pm

That's what I was thinking!

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 12/31/09 at 4:43pm

Loved the movie!

Anyone notice how Mama Odie was the same animation as Mama Proud, same with the animation of Lawrence, same as the servant animation in Enchanted...

That said, it was great...

*Spoiler*
-Choked up when Ray become a star, did not see that coming.
-Loved how Louis resembled the Lion from the Wizard of OZ personality wise.
*End of spoiler*

[me2]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 3:20pm

I forgot to mention, did anyone notice the STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE reference? I loved it!

[degrassifan]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 4:18pm

STELLAAAA!!!!!!!