The Princess and The Frog
When we were at Disneyland in November, there was a daily parade through New Orleans Square of characters from the new movie The Princess and The Frog. We hadn't seen the film, so the jazz-filled procession was simply a fun way to liven up the afternoon.
Well, we still haven't seen the movie, but I've heard plenty about it.
Did you know that Time Magazine declared The Princess and The Frog to be the Best Film of 2009?
That's some high praise, especially when there are other critical favorites like The Hurt Locker, Up In The Air, Avatar, and Invictus to be considered.
So it strikes me as odd that a charming, timeless tale that is beautifully animated in the traditional 2D style is actually struggling at the box office.
And that the movie most parents are bringing their kids to is Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.
Alvin is simply destroying all comers, far out-earning Princess and almost assuring that Disney won't take another chance at traditional hand-drawn animation.
This is the same Alvin movie that is described by critics as soul-sapping, and packed with gags that involve violence and humiliation.
Given a choice between the two, I would hope parents would opt for the uplifting, wholesome experience over the cruel and tedious one.
Or at the very least, save the farting chipmunks for a DVD rental.
Permalink posted by Idaho Dad at 12:24 AM
6 Comments:
I've seen alvin - and it's pretty poor.
We'll be going to princess and the frog when it comes out. the kids are both pretty hyped for it actually.
And you're right - it would be areal shame for cell animation to die.
Well... I've learned I can't trust the critics. Most of the time, my family and I enjoy the stuff they lambast, and are shrugging our shoulders and going "Meh..." at the movies they laud. (We do occasionally agree as well.)
That being said, I'm interested in The Princess and the Frog but not enough to rush out and see it right now. I do know many parents are avoiding it because of the voodoo themes in it.
Interesting hearing that parents are avoiding it because of the voodoo. What's the difference between the voodoo and Snow White's spell due to a witch or the spell the princess was under in Shrek?
I haven't seen either movie and probably won't until they come out on dvd. I have a hard time paying so much to see a movies that so many times let me down.
I completely agree about your hope that parents would choose the more wholesome movie. We all have to remember that every time we spend money on a movie we are casting a vote for what types of entertainment will continue to be produced.
I completely agree here. Great post.
Another consideration is that this is the first African-American "princess" character for Disney. It would be a real shame if they took the poor box office results as an indication that ethnic diversity impacted sales. Mulan did realtively well in the box office, so I'm optimistic that Disney will overlook this point.
My wife and daughter (age 6) went to see "The Princess and The Frog" and they both loved it.
I'm a big fan that Disney created an African-American Princess and love the fact that it's set in and around New Orleans.
If the quality of the film is based on box office earnings, then that's a shame.
It should be based on a young lady chasing her dreams of opening a restaurant, with success. Might I add, no matter what color her skin is or what town the movie is set in.
I was really happy that our daughter came home and told me that is what she took from the movie. And she mentioned that it took place in Louisiana, which is where daddy is from.
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