Originally Posted By DlandDug I can't stand it. I want to talk about this film. And since there have been public screenings in New York and LA, there's bound to have been some more LPers who want to talk about it. Just don't read any further if you haven't seen it yet. Otherwise, you will spoil a beautiful, beautiful film!
Originally Posted By DlandDug OK-- I really just want to show off that I spotted a great little Disney inside gag. At the end of the film, we see a full jazz band performing on stage. The name of the band (The Firefly Five Plus Lou)is, of course, a direct reference to Disney's Firehouse Five Plus Two. But take a good look at the piano player. It's Frank Thomas. The trombone player (also seen early in the film) looks a bit like Ward Kimball-- or at least his caricatured version of himself. Can anyone else confirm any other Firehouse Five alums in the band?
Originally Posted By CuriosWolfSo Saw it in at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank the night before Thanksgiving. Wowser! What a great movie and oh, DlandDug? That "The Firefly Five Plus Lou" band name was also shown in the Winter 2009 issue of "Disney Twenty-Three" Page 15. Loved every scene that Louis was in ! For a big fat alligator, he was really jolly, friendly and gentle. The only time he acted like a furious gator was scare people out of his way so he could go help Tiana from the shadow spirits that was after her.
Originally Posted By DlandDug <--- patiently waiting for the movie to actually open so more people will come in here! When Louis was charging at the people in the street, did he remind you of the frightening Ursula who scuttled across the deck at the height of the wedding scene in Little Mermaid?
Originally Posted By TMICHAEL Absolutely loved the movie! A wonderful "Welcome Back" to the traditional, hand drawn art of animation and GOOD story telling with strong characters. Am I the only one who got a bit choked up when Ray joined Evangeline? That scene was just so sweet and a great send off for the fallen little hero. I must add that although not a huge fan of Randy Newman, his writing dexterity and use of multiple musical styles, really work for this film.
Originally Posted By The Duck I just saw it and as a lifelong native of New Orleans and the surrounding area I can say that I loved it!
Originally Posted By magic0214 My new favorite Disney Princess movie. I agree, when Ray joined Evangeline, I smiled. I loved the music. I was expecting more from Dr.Facilier, but he was fine as he is. At the beginning of the movie, right when she is going to get on the trolley and they do an aerial shot of New Orleans, if you look to the right, on the balcony someone is drying out the Magic Carpet from Aladdin Again, so happy with this movie and my favorite Disney movie at the moment,(Now I have to wait till Rapunzel to make that my new favorite princess...it always happens )
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 <<<ACK! We saw it Monday at the Disney Studios (Burbank) and I SO wish I'd read Doug's post before hand. I guess we'll just have to go and see it again Yes! A new Disney Classic! We loved it.
Originally Posted By kookazoid92 LOVED the movie! a year and a half of waiting ever-so-patiently has finally paid off! Welcome back Disney! (I forgive you for making G-FORCE now)
Originally Posted By ToonKirby Directors Ron Clements and John Musker also make "cameos" in the movie, during the Mardi Gras scene.
Originally Posted By mawnck Color me delighted. Best Disney feature in a lonnnnnnnng time. Solid story plus a bunch of GORGEOUS musical set pieces, with animation that frequently screamed "let's see you do THIS with CGI and Flash, suckers!" Hopefully Zemekis goes to see it and decides to never make a motion-capture movie again. In my brain, it's slugging it out with The Secret of Kells and Mary and Max for the coveted Mawnck Best Animated Feature of 2009 Award. This is absolutely the best. year. for. animated. features. ever. When the year started, I thought Ponyo was going to be the one to beat, and it's currently in **5th place** on my list. Maybe my enthusiasm will settle down after a few days, but don't bet the farm on it. I hope the box office returns are up to expectations. The weather outside is frightful.
Originally Posted By Ursula I know I am biased, but I just loved it. My favorite part was when we are in the dream sequence and the artistic style just changes on us. I about cried, it made me so happy to see animation used to tell a story. I hope it wins the weekend.
Originally Posted By MouseBear Salutations All, I thought it was a beautiful animated movie with a wonderful message. The only thing that kept it from being completely wonderful is that the songs weren't memorable. They worked well for the movie but none of them rose to the level of Disney musical songs like "A Whole New World" or "Under the Sea" or "Circle of Life". But overall a great movie and one I would definately recommend seeing on the big screen. MB
Originally Posted By mawnck Regarding cameos ... here's a couple of comments from "Ted" on Cartoon Brew: >>Let’s see… Ron & John: Seen on the Mardi Gras parade float, briefly caricatured when the cake splatter creates a mustache and beard on the Fenner Bros. during the masquerade ball, and also caricatured in the voodoo masks in several shots (notably when the masks surround Naveen as the snakes tie him to the chair). Frans Vischer: seen tossing beads off the parade float next to Ron & John (who he animated) Animators & artists Eric Daniels, Lorelay Bove, Joe Pitt, and Todd Jacobsen can be glimpsed sitting at a table during the wide shot of Tiana’s restaurant in the “Almost There” sequence. Walt Disney (animated by Andreas Wessel-Therhorn) can be seen clapping on a upper right balcony during the outdoor wedding procession shot, during the Mardi Gras shot with the flame jugglers, and most clearly in Tiana’s restaurant when Tiana hugs Charlotte during the “Down in New Orleans” reprise. I’m sure there are plenty of others, but these are the ones that come to mind…<< >>Also, the guy scooping the horse manure up when Lawrence tells Naveen to “get a job!” is a caricature of none other than Eric Goldberg!<< <a href="http://www.cartoonbrew.com/disney/the-princess-and-the-frog-wide-release-talkback.html" target="_blank">http://www.cartoonbrew.com/dis...ack.html</a>
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <This is absolutely the best. year. for. animated. features. ever.> I agree. Interesting that the previous champ, IMO, was ten years ago exactly. 1999 featured, if I'm not mistaken: Toy Story 2 South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut The Iron Giant Tarzan Fantasia 2000 Princess Mononoke (or at least its US release) Not all the above were flawless, but they were all at least good and sometimes very good, and I couldn't remember a year before or since with 6 top-flight animated movies. But this year is even better.
Originally Posted By dizkid >>the songs weren't memorable<< That statement is a little to general, I mean you have the whole world out there. Me for instance. I listen to the soundtrack about twice a day, and whenever I am not listening to it, I find myself mentally humming, "where gonna take you there."
Originally Posted By JeffG >> "I hope it wins the weekend." << Looks like it did, but with only $25 million which is a bit of a disappointment. I suspect word of mouth on the film is going to be very positive, though, and it probably will pick up quite a bit of business once more kids are out of school. It obviously won't win the weekend again next weekend with "Avatar" opening, but I wouldn't be too surprised if it loses very little week to week or even increases a bit. -Jeff
Originally Posted By skinnerbox ^^ Doesn't matter. I think Avatar will pull in big numbers regardless of how weak the narrative. After seeing the IMAX 3D trailer a few months ago, I'm definitely seeing it. And I'm going into the theatre with zero expectations for a solid story. For me, it's all about the eye candy, and that's enough. It's going to look amazing.
