Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORWEN: Well, ducklings, I hope you'll indulge a cauldron girl, here, while she comes forward to cry on all your shoulders about something that has her troubled to the point where she's ready to just GIVE UP!! After conjuring up a few different articles on the upcoming Disney and CGI version of RAPUNZEL, it seems that a certain producer, who's in charge of this project and--who's name escapes me at the moment--wants to bring two modern characters into the story, which I'm sure is going to detract and distract from the over-all tone of the movie. ORDDU: The article you're referring to, dear, went on to say that Glen Keane--since he's the supervising animator of RAPUNZEL UNBRAIDED--didn't really want to go this particular route, himself. Yet he's being forced to--all because of a producer who perfers a more 'hip and edgy' version of this fairytale. He wants to take a modern couple and plunge them into the midst of poor Rapunzel's story and complicate the plot with THEIR disfunctional situation. Not at ALL a good way to go. ORWEN: So, along with everything else, we hate to see Glenn Keane getting blamed for what's going to be wrong with this movie, since he preferred a more traditional re-telling of the classic. ORDDU: Perhaps it's not too late for them to do RAPUNZEL in a more traditional Disney way. Then, again, maybe it is. All we know is that Reese Witherspoon is supposed to supply the voice of the 'modern girl' who is thrust into the story. It seems as though Disney is determined to try and copy-cat SHREK with their own twisted version of a fairy tale. But, in this case, their motives are so transparent it's amazing they don't realize they're only making themselves look ridiculous with such an attempt. ORWEN: The one GOOD thing about RAPUNZEL UNBRAIDED is the lush and classical look Gleen Keane has come up with. But 'hip and edgy' just doesn't blend well with his classical artwork. I mean, can you imagine Princess Aurora--in the midst of all those Eyvind Earl backgrounds--suddenly talking and acting as though she's a girl from the 21st century? It just doesn't work! ORDDU: (sigh) I guess it's time for you to come down off your soap box by now, dear...
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Hi Witches! Haven't seen you for a while -- thanks for the post. Are those stories you referenced online anywhere? I'd love to read about it.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Why, Jim in Merced CA, duckling!! How nice to see you again, too! Actually, my sisters and I have been spending so much time over in the Hong Kong Disneyland sections, lately, that we haven't made it to very many other sections of the Laughing Place Pond, recently. But we certainly haven't left. ORWEN: And to answer your question--we didn't keep very good track of where we came across the articles. But I'm sure if you do one of those google search things inside your crystal ball--which is what we always do--you'll find a wealth of material on RAPUNZEL UNBRAIDED. ORDDU: One article we conjured up mentioned some truly bizzare twists on the tale. One has a witch--in a modern setting--taking two romantically challenged teenagers from YOUR world and plunging them into a storybook where they, themselves, actually become Rapunzel and her prince. ORWEN: There was also an interview conducted with Kristin Chenoweth, who claims she's to do the voice of Rapunzel as a squirrel--with a long tail instead of long hair. I must say! If they're stupid enough to change the story THAT much, it'll be a traumatic experience for Rapunzel fans everywhere! ORDDU: Anyway, just start conjuring up your google search's in your crystal ball, dear, and I'm sure you'll find some interesting articles which you, yourself, are welcome to share with us. ORWEN: You do own a crystal ball, don't you? ORDDU: Of course he does, dear. He IS a warlock, after all...
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Here's one letter to the editor of Ain't it Cool News regarding 'Rapunzel: Unbraided' that is very positive... from August 8th. <a href="http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=20944" target="_blank">http://www.aintitcool.com/disp lay.cgi?id=20944</a> He showed a still of Rapunzel in an environment that looked cool… Nice still.. very pretty. But THEN HE ROTATED THE CAMERA! A fully 3D environment. Then he went on to show a short (3-5 second) test clip of the animation… this movie is both BEAUTIFUL and truly, deeply, and recognizably a Disney Feature Length animation in the tradition of Snow White and Cinderella. I am totally jazzed. The guy next to me was losing his mind over it. If only the title would lose the lame ass “Unbraided†at the end. Disney marketing needs an enema. Glen Keene is a genius… and I got his autograph. I guess “Disney Magic†didn’t totally die with them losing the 2D crew afterall. I know I was as worried as you were, Harry. I also saw some Chicken Little footage. Cute movie, but not like as magic as Rapunzel by far.>
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan And another pretty positive article from Jim Hill. <a href="http://www.jimhillmedia.com/mb/articles/showarticle.php?ID=1589" target="_blank">http://www.jimhillmedia.com/mb /articles/showarticle.php?ID=1589</a> I'm not giving up on this one just yet, Witches. And look at the bright side: even if the movie stinks, there's always the snack bar!
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORWEN: Hi, Kar200nMan, duckling! It's ever so nice to see you again! ORDDU: I agree. And thanks to both you and Jim for those missing links you provide. I think my sisters and I have already conjured those up before, if I'm not mistaken, but there are many others who most likely have not. ORWEN: The art work we've seen on RAPUNZEL is actually stunning-and only one had a squirrel in it. But the squirrel seemed to be a pet for Rapunzel, rather than the squirrel portraying some twisted animal version of Rapunzel. ORDDU: There are just so many rumors floating around about this film that we won't know, for certain, what to believe until the final product comes out. One synopsis we read had the prince calling out to Rapunzel to drop her hair, only to be told--by the heroine, herself, that climbing her hair was no longer possible, since she'd just cut it all off. The reason? Because of some fashion magazine she'd been reading which said short hair was back in style for women. ORWEN: Now that's just not RIGHT!! Toying around with a classic in such a bizzare way!! It's enough to make a witch want to curse a certain producer!
Originally Posted By arstogas >>>All we know is that Reese Witherspoon is supposed to supply the voice of the 'modern girl' who is thrust into the story.<<< Pretty sure Reese hasn't been part of the movie for some time. She's actually looking to produce and provide voice work in another animated movie, with another studio.
Originally Posted By Imagineer This If the movie stinks it will be bad for Disney and bad for us. But I don't expect qualtiy out of Disney anymore. No one does. ( "Disney, the best junk that money can buy!"
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <No one does.> Speak for yourself, ImagineerThis, you ol' grump!
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORWEN: I wonder, arstogas, duckling, if Reese's voice will still be the one we hear in the final film. She could have done her 'thing' and then moved on, since most actors who give their voices aren't required to hang around the studio on an on-going basis after they've finished donating their vocal chords. Of course they do receive call backs for changes in the script. But were you thinking that Reese Witherspoon didn't actually lend her voice at all?
Originally Posted By arstogas >>> But were you thinking that Reese Witherspoon didn't actually lend her voice at all?<<< As I understand it, they tried her, and decided to go another way. I can tell you she wants to do a different animated film, for the specific reason that this project didn't go well for her. And just FYI, actors don't hang around, like you said, but they are definitely under contract to return on regular occasions, as needed, up to a certain number of contracted times. My understanding is that Reese's voice won't be used in the film. But she might just be in ANOTHER film...
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORWEN: Thank you for your information, arstogas, dear. It's nice to have someone around--like yourself--who has the insights for things like this. It will be very interesting to see how RAPUNZEL UNBRAIDED actually turns out. So many different rumors flying about, you know.
Originally Posted By Imagineer This Morva with Chicken Little looking like a turkey do you think Rapunzel has a slim chance? I don't really look forward to any Disney movie except maybe for Cars. And that's mostly a Pixar movie. Except for the Disney/Pixar movies Disney animation has been very disappointing and medicore. Why is Disney dragging behind the crowd instead of being the leader again? What went wrong? Can you into your crystal ball for any answer? )
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: No need to look into a crystal ball for the answers, dear. The reasons are already painfully obvious. The current managements of so MANY studios--these days--are concentrating to hard on the financial bottom lines that they don't allow the more creative geniuses out there to have their way. Glen Keane, for example, is reported to be having his own ideas thwarted by the whacky producer of RAPUNZEL. Those in the know--on other web-footed sites--have already been talking about how distressed they are over what Glen is having to go through in trying to make sure RAPUNZEL is a hit. (sigh)
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA I've watched the preview for 'Cars' and I must say, it doesn't interest me in the least. Cars watching other cars race, and there are cars as the pit crew, and then the tow truck who talks like Jim Varney/Ernest. It's just not working for me. Of course, I'm prejudging here, and I'm being cruel and mean-spirited toward John Lasseter and his entire family.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA I just got a call from John Lasseter's wife -- his kids are so upset with my comments about 'Cars' that they're crying.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<I don't expect qualtiy out of Disney anymore>> You could have fooled me. ::rolls eyes::
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<it seems that a certain producer, who's in charge of this project and--who's name escapes me at the moment--wants to bring two modern characters into the story, which I'm sure is going to detract and distract from the over-all tone of the movie.>> Kinda like the way Disney took classics like BatB, and added a talking clock, candlestick, and teapot? Or with Cinderella and anthropomorphic mice?
Originally Posted By basil fan I don't think those are the same thing at all. Bringing 2 characters from our time into the past vs. making the mice in Cinderella talk. The latter is just an extrapolation on the mice that are in the original tale. So are the talking objects. The point is, I think, that the Morvites want a traditional fairy tale film, not a modernized version of the old tale, nor a Shrek-like movie in which fairy tales are parodied. Whether you agree or not, it's a legitimate point of view and has nothing to do with making general changes to the original story per se. Imagine the difference between Disney's Tarzan as we have it--additional character of Terk, Tantor changed into a specific elephant, parents killed by a leopard instead of an ape, Jane becomes an Englishwoman...--to a version that might have been, in which Jane is a 21st century activist, Clayton is a modern terrorist, Tarzan learns gangsta & hip-hop slang, etc. I see the difference, & I get their point. And for the record, I think Cars looks awful. If it wasn't Pixar, you couldn't drag me to see it. And if Incredibles had been as dull as Nemo, I wouldn't even consider it. But the quality of Incredibles makes me think I'll try it. That, & the moviecoupons I got at work.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Why is Disney dragging behind the crowd instead of being the leader again? What went wrong? Can you into your crystal ball for any answer?< The answer to the riddle is, much of the talent also left the studio and is working elsewhere....
