THE DISNEY NUTI’m a Disney nut. More specifically, I’m a Disney 2D animation nut.
So I went to see the Princess and the Frog yesterday. . . I went in with little to no expectations. I went in not knowing that it was based off of a book that I had read several years ago. All I knew was that it was an old-school Disney movie, centered around a place that is very near and dear to me. Because I held no standards, I came out extremely pleased.
It easily competes with Ponyo for best animated movie that I’ve seen this year. The flip side is that it is, at best, cute, and there are some cultural inaccuracies (which anyone will find with any Disney movie–nearly any movie, period, at that). I will be one of the first to admit this. But it’s full of beautiful scenery, smooth animation, a rip-roaring plot, and a fantastic soundtrack.
What saddens me is that some–no, most–people will not feel that same connection. Most viewers will not understand the movie from the point of view of a Southerner, especially those living in and near New Orleans. I think almost the entire theater laughed at the Shreeveport joke. What especially will go misunderstood is the voodoo. Yes, it really was practiced (and still is, to a degree). Yes, it involves making contracts with the devil, blood sacrifices, and all that fun stuff. I was surprised that Disney went into as much detail as the movie did, despite most it being only implied. But, rather than being tasteless, it shows that at least a little bit of research was done for the movie.
On the supposed racism controversy: Bullcrap. Disney stuck as truthfully as they could to the era without being offensive. Just because a white, Asian, or African-American from flippin’ Ohio got upset over what was portrayed does not mean anything. “Ethnic” does not stop at skin color–it’s freaking regional. So to those trying to sling crap–get a clue, it’s a kids’ movie!
I’ve got a lot more to say on this movie, but I’m gonna end the ranting here.
THE VEGETARIANBefore going to the movie, we (me and those I was with) ate at Newk’s. For a place that serves soups, salads, sandwiches, and pizzas, it’s surprisingly lacking in vegetarian options. But I’m not even talking vegan–there were barely any meatless options to satisfy a lacto ovo vegetarian such as myself. Out of the sandwiches, there is only one meatless option (and it has “grilled portabella mushrooms, roasted red and yellow bell peppers, pesto and goat cheese”). As for as the soups offered yesterday, there were no options. Salads–two, maybe three. The pizzas had the most options: four, I think, but that’s no good if you’re watching calories. But, the good thing about this situation was that I was forced to try new, healthier foods–like, say, a cucumber in the “Simply” salad.
THE BOOK NERDFor festivity’s sake, I was rereading
The Hogfather a couple of days ago and was struck by this quote: “
Besides, it was nice to hear the voices of little children at play, provided you took care to be far enough away not to hear what they were actually saying.” Not being around young children very often, I laughed it off as satirical exaggeration.
Man, when I’m wrong, I’m wrong. >.>
I was browsing through the fiction at Barnes&Noble’s when I heard a toddler say this about her doll:
“Imma cut her hair!”
“Oh, does she need a hair cut?” This was a grown woman. Her mother, perhaps?
“Imma. . . Imma cut her head off!!”
“And why would you do that?” Laughter came from the woman.
“Imma cut her body from her head!! Imma cut her head off!”
More laughter from the woman.
Mr. Pratchett, I doubt your observational skills not.
PLUGS: Simply Precious, Daniella, Olivia, Smartee, Julie
