I'm not gonna get into tons of details, just get a couple things off my chest.
We saw The Princess and the Frog last weekend. Now, when I first saw the previews a while ago I knew Disney was in for a shitstorm on the racial front, merited or not. For people sitting on the fence about seeing the movie because of this issue, know this: There are people who will never be satisfied. For every problem that could be fixed, another will pop up in its place, either derivative or caused by it. Any complaint lobbied could probably be countered with another, and for the same reason. "Tiana gets turned into a frog, and somehow that makes her white." Well, change it and "Nothing magical happens to Tiana like other Disney princesses, because nothing magical happens to black girls." Both are head-scratchers.
I read an article which, had their changes been implemented, essentially would've left things at the end of the movie the way they were at the beginning because NOTHING would have happened. I'm sure that would raise complaints about no happily ever after, and then the end of the movie is the beginning, and still NOTHING happens.
What these critics fail to notice or even care about is that it doesn't matter that Tiana is black. She could've been any race and the movie would've been exactly the same. Hell, maybe that's their gripe, but it's a stupid point of view. The race angle is never played up in the movie or focused upon. It's just there, the way it's just there for most movies of this ilk. Same critics fail to notice that Tiana is one of the better characters Disney has produced, probably best since Aladdin. I think Belle is cool because I can relate to her in some ways, but Tiana is actually admirable and someone to take to heart in how important hard work is.
But I'll note that this is irrelevant to those tearing at the movie for perceived racism, or lack of elevation of racial overtones. The movie isn't important to them. This is once-in-a-lifetime chance to them to shred "Disney's black princess movie", and if they try to view things reasonably/logically/or even like movie critics, they'll miss that chance. Better to get their digs in, because their voices will fall away in time, whereas The Princess and the Frog is going to be around as long as Disney's other princess movies.
So the only long-lasting misfortune is how Tiana will be shoved into the Disney Princess lineup and the merchandising deals that are trite and stupid, and thank you John Lassetter that there won't be a direct to DVD sequel.
Anyway, that's my observation. We're going to see Avatar today, so I'll be back later for some more juicy faux racism.
BTW: I really enjoyed The Princess and the Frog. It was lively, the songs were good and didn't stop the movie in its tracks (instead they moved it forward, like it should be), the characters were well-rounded, and I'd love to see it again soon.
We saw The Princess and the Frog last weekend. Now, when I first saw the previews a while ago I knew Disney was in for a shitstorm on the racial front, merited or not. For people sitting on the fence about seeing the movie because of this issue, know this: There are people who will never be satisfied. For every problem that could be fixed, another will pop up in its place, either derivative or caused by it. Any complaint lobbied could probably be countered with another, and for the same reason. "Tiana gets turned into a frog, and somehow that makes her white." Well, change it and "Nothing magical happens to Tiana like other Disney princesses, because nothing magical happens to black girls." Both are head-scratchers.
I read an article which, had their changes been implemented, essentially would've left things at the end of the movie the way they were at the beginning because NOTHING would have happened. I'm sure that would raise complaints about no happily ever after, and then the end of the movie is the beginning, and still NOTHING happens.
What these critics fail to notice or even care about is that it doesn't matter that Tiana is black. She could've been any race and the movie would've been exactly the same. Hell, maybe that's their gripe, but it's a stupid point of view. The race angle is never played up in the movie or focused upon. It's just there, the way it's just there for most movies of this ilk. Same critics fail to notice that Tiana is one of the better characters Disney has produced, probably best since Aladdin. I think Belle is cool because I can relate to her in some ways, but Tiana is actually admirable and someone to take to heart in how important hard work is.
But I'll note that this is irrelevant to those tearing at the movie for perceived racism, or lack of elevation of racial overtones. The movie isn't important to them. This is once-in-a-lifetime chance to them to shred "Disney's black princess movie", and if they try to view things reasonably/logically/or even like movie critics, they'll miss that chance. Better to get their digs in, because their voices will fall away in time, whereas The Princess and the Frog is going to be around as long as Disney's other princess movies.
So the only long-lasting misfortune is how Tiana will be shoved into the Disney Princess lineup and the merchandising deals that are trite and stupid, and thank you John Lassetter that there won't be a direct to DVD sequel.
Anyway, that's my observation. We're going to see Avatar today, so I'll be back later for some more juicy faux racism.
BTW: I really enjoyed The Princess and the Frog. It was lively, the songs were good and didn't stop the movie in its tracks (instead they moved it forward, like it should be), the characters were well-rounded, and I'd love to see it again soon.
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. But yeah, I'm not saying they didn't try, or fail miserably. I'm sure Disney had a crack team of lawyers and all sorts of other people to make sure the movie hit the race issue juuuuust right in the comfy zone.