After a decade of mediocre characters, Disney has created a handful of their best creations in this film. First and foremost, Tiana is simply a marvelous character as she more than deserves to be mentioned firmly in the conversation for greatest Disney royal. Her characterization reminds me of Belle from Beauty and the Beast (and if you can remember back to my review of the current #1 film in my rankings, you'll know that is a huge compliment to Tiana). Her path to royalty is filled with obstacles, but above it all, Tiana maintains her composure, grace, and determination. I have often applauded certain Disney characters for being excellent role models for everyone to look up to, and Tiana is one of the most upstanding individuals Disney has ever brought to life (more on that thought and Tiana in general below). Her prince, Naveen, is given such an intriguing and incredible character arc. Sure, Naveen rules over Maldonia, but his parents have cut him off from the royal money, leaving him dead broke. He begins his journey down the bayou with one goal in mind: to marry a rich woman to recoup his losses. However, as he meets and gets to know Tiana, his life is radically changed, no longer desiring endless riches, but looking instead at the riches to be found in his love for Tiana. It is a superb twist on the typical prince arc, and in a film that thrives on its unpredictability, it suits the plot exquisitely. Anika Noni Rose and Bruno Campos turn in career-best performances as Tiana and Naveen, respectively. Whether they are singing or conversing, Rose and Campos shine in some of the best voice acting in Disney history.
Our supporting characters are up to the task of matching Tiana and Naveen's greatness. Louis, the jazz-singing alligator, is one Disney's best sidekicks. He enters the film and you can immediately sense the film's already elevated energy level rise even more. Louis is one of those characters that you simply cannot look away from because he is that hilarious and that integral to the story. Also, Ray, the Cajun firefly, is an absolute riot with a tender soul. For every classic Ray zinger ("Y'all from Shreveport?!"), there is also a number of sweet moments between him and his girl, Evangeline. Ray's innocence towards his thoughts about a star being his girl is so expertly handled by the filmmakers. In a world where innocence is lost far too often, it is such a breath of fresh air to witness a character going through life with such purity. Finally, the film's villain, Dr. Facilier/The Shadow Man, is one of my personal favorite Disney villains to date. As is the case with most classic Disney villains, the voice acting is the key, and Keith David provides the perfect voice for Facilier. He is menacing, cunning, and downright dastardly. The Shadow Man commands not only his friends on the other side, but he never ceases to command the screen as well. Dr. Facilier definietly deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Cruella De Vil and Maleficent for the greatest Disney villain of all-time.
One of the primary reasons The Princess and the Frog was able to break Disney out of the mires of mediocrity was its music. Welcoming Pixar veteran Randy Newman to the Disney family, the music in this film is some of the best ever produced by the studio. The opening number, "Down in New Orleans," is such a flawless introduction to the glamorous streets of New Orleans. The lyrics are catchy and infectious, and the animation is sensational. Tiana's show-stopping tune, "Almost There," is simply fantastic (that's all I will say about this song now...read more about it below). Dr. Facilier's "Friends On the Other Side" is, without question, one of the best villain songs ever. Just when you think the Shadow Man could not get any creepier from his physical appearance, cue this song. The reveal of his dealings with voodoo and dark magic is something that will probably frighten young viewers, but for me, this song and sequence is downright awesome. Louis's chance to shine, "When We're Human," is the quintessential New Orleans number, offering an excellent blend of jazz and swing. Ray's "Gonna Take You There" and "My Belle Evangeline" are outstanding in every facet, and Mama Odie's (another phenomenal character, by the way) is spectacular. This soundtrack is expansive, and luckily for us, every single number is a classic worthy of multiple listens for days upon days. Like the film itself, this music is an ode to the greatness of New Orleans.
I cannot overstate the importance of The Princess and the Frog in the context of Disney history, It had been seven years since Disney had released a universally recognized great film. Now, since they were returning to fairy tales, the thought was that if they couldn't master this genre anymore, there was barely any hope left for the studio's future. However, we know how the rest of the story goes. The Princess and the Frog is one of Disney's finest films to date. From its memorable characters to its beautiful animation to its supremely entertaining soundtrack, this film exudes classic Disney from beginning to end. Welcome back, Disney.
Rating: 10/10
Historical Significance: The Princess and the Frog is the first Disney animated feature to star an African-American princess (and it was the first fairy tale from the studio since Aladdin in 1992). The film was originally entitled The Frog Princess, but test screenings claimed that the title along with some additional elements implied racial insensitivity. Tiana was initially named Maddy, and there featured a sequence in which she worked as a maid for another job. Audiences accused 'Maddy' of sounding too similar to 'Mammy,' a derogatory remark towards African-Americans, so her name was eventually changed to Tiana while the maid subplot was dropped in the final, retitled film, The Princess and the Frog. This film is Disney's first hand drawn film since Home on the Range in 2004, and it also was the first time since Beauty and the Beast that all the actors voiced both the speaking and singing parts. Randy Newman made his Disney debut with the music (he had previously worked exclusively with Pixar), but he was not the original choice to provide the music. Alan Menken was the studio's first choice, but producer John Lasseter wanted Newman due to Menken's recent involvement with Enchanted in 2007. Lasseter wanted to avoid the studio of being accused of appearing repetitive in their music. Ironically, just one year later, Menken would bring his talents to Disney's fiftieth film, Tangled.
Behind the Scenes: Legendary animator Eric Goldberg oversaw production of Tiana's fantasy sequence during "Almost There" in which she imagines what life would be like owning her own restaurant. Goldberg drew inspiration from paintings by Aaron Douglas, one of the most prolific artists during the Harlem Renaissance (read more about Douglas and see some his work here). One can also see a striking resemblance between this sequence and Goldberg's most famous work: the Rhapsody in Blue segment from Fantasia 2000. Furthermore, stars such as Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson, and Tyra Banks were originally considered for the role of Tiana. Beyonce Knowles even was on Disney's radar, but lost out due to her unwillingness to audition. Anika Noni Rose got the part in the end, and despite voicing the daughter of Terrance Howard's father, Rose is only three years younger than Howard. Rose wanted Tiana to possess her own unique personality, and one way of displaying that was her request to make Tiana left-handed since she was also left-handed.
Favorite Character: As much as I love Dr. Facilier, I would be remiss if I didn't select Tiana for my favorite character in The Princess and the Frog. It's one thing to bring to life Disney's first African-American princess in its history; it's another thing entirely to make her one of the studio's greatest characters to date. Tiana dares to dream. She so longs to one day open her own restaurant to fulfill the dreams of not only herself, but for her hardworking father. However, Tiana is rooted in reality, an attribute that is crucial for her characterization. Yes, she wishes upon stars and hopes for the best, but just as she was advised by her father, she knows she has to work hard each every day. She's got to make it happen, it all depends on her (I apologize for the cheesy incorporation of those "Almost There" lyrics). That twist in character is a subtle one, but it gives Tiana such an added dimension that it makes her stand out in the pantheon of Disney legends. Anika Noni Rose is simply superb in this role, flawlessly serenading us with Tiana's musical numbers while also being totally capable of providing that signature Disney emotion. If The Princess and the Frog reignited Disney's passion for great stories, Tiana reignited the studio's passion to create iconic characters. There ain't nothing going to stop her now (I apologize once again...I couldn't resist)!
Favorite Scene/Song: Given my obsessive use of this song in the previous section, it should probably not come as a surprise to you that my favorite scene and song is the "Almost There" sequence. The soundtrack for this film is one of Disney's best, and "Almost There" is its highlight. Returning to the musical formula that worked so well during the Renaissance, Tiana proclaims to the world what she really wants. She wants her own restaurant, and she is almost to the point where she can have it. It is a wonderfully upbeat tune, an ode to hard work, determination, and dreaming. Anika Noni Rose steals the entire film, but with this song, she becomes a bonafide superstar and elevates Tiana to legendary status. As if the song wasn't enough, the animation on display here is absolutely breathtaking. Taking place inside Tiana's expansive imagination, this sequence showcases exactly how she pictures her life playing out as owner of Tiana's Place, and it is a spectacle to behold. This scene is so unique and creative that I usually find myself simply watching in amazement. It is the perfect backdrop for such a perfect song.Updated Ranking: With the third Golden Age arriving, expect some shifting taking place near the top of the leaderboard, and that shifting begins today.
- Beauty and the Beast
- The Lion King
- Aladdin
- The Little Mermaid
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- Peter Pan
- Cinderella
- The Jungle Book
- Sleeping Beauty
- Lilo & Stitch
- The Princess and the Frog
- Hercules
- Mulan
- The Emperor's New Groove
- Tarzan
- Pinocchio
- Lady and the Tramp
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Alice in Wonderland
- Dumbo
- Bambi
- 101 Dalmatians
- Pocahontas
- Treasure Planet
- The Great Mouse Detective
- Fantasia
- The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
- The AristoCats
- Fantasia 2000
- Meet the Robinsons
- The Rescuers Down Under
- Fun and Fancy Free
- The Fox and the Hound
- Robin Hood
- Bolt
- Dinosaur
- Melody Time
- The Three Caballeros
- Saludos Amigos
- Brother Bear
- Oliver & Company
- The Rescuers
- Atlantis: The Lost Empire
- The Sword in the Stone
- Make Mine Music
- The Black Cauldron
- Chicken Little
- Home on the Range
Tomorrow, Pixar reduces every human being with a fraction of a soul to tears with Toy Story 3!
-Cody Fleenor
No comments:
Post a Comment