The Princess and the Frog (2009); animated family film review

Poster artwork for the comedy romance family animated film The Princess and the Frog.

Fairytale Frogs by Linh

The Princess and The Frog is the animated family film from Disney that moves away from the computer generated imagery and 3D technology of recent films such as Up and WALL-E. Disney returns to its traditional story-telling of fairytales and dreams come true in hand-drawn visuals in 2D format with a contemporary re-telling of the classic children's story.

AMOROUS AMPHIBIAN: Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) is taken aback by a talking frog (Bruno Campos) in the animated film The Princess and the Frog. Image: Walt Disney Pictures.

The Princess and the Frog is loosely based on the classic German fairytale The Frog King by the brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, which was later translated into English and renamed The Frog Prince. In Disney's updated version, the story is set in the mid 1920s New Orleans with an attractive and determined young African-American woman named Tiana who only dreams of saving enough money to open her own restaurant. Tiana's childhood friend Charlotte offers her a catering job for a social function at her mansion where Prince Naveen of the fictional country Maldonia, would be in attendance. At the party, Tiana meets the realtors who were going to sell her the property for her new restaurant, but they reject her offer. In dismay, Tiana accidentally creates a mess and ruins her dress, so Charlotte lends her a beautiful gown and tiara for the rest of the day. While Charlotte waltzes away to seek out the prince, Tiana is startled by a talking frog who claims to be Prince Naveen and is under the spell of a voodoo witchdoctor.

LOCKED LIPS: Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) agrees to kiss the frog (Bruno Campos) in the animated film The Princess and the Frog. Image: Walt Disney Pictures.

The storyline may follow the traditional path of poor girl meets prince, falls in love, gets married and live happily ever after, but there is a twist to this Disney tale. There is also a touch of feminism and underlying race relations in this version; where a young African-American woman who is hardworking, intelligent and independent, develops an interracial romance with the Eurasian prince, who happens to be a slack and gullible lad of luxury. The setting of the tale in New Orleans allows for a fabulous jazz-inspired soundtrack and the new characters in the film add to the fun and adventure along the way.

TONGUE TIED: Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) and Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos) discover they have poor tongue co-ordination in the animated film The Princess and the Frog. Image: Walt Disney Pictures.

The voice cast is fantastic with Anika Noni Rose beautifully creating a highly spirited and strong-willed woman in Tiana; Bruno Campos shows off a smooth and seductive voice as Prince Naveen; talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey provides the comforting and reassuring presence as Tiana's mother Eudora; Keith David gives his character, the evil Dr Facilier who turned Prince Naveen into a frog, the right amount of charm and nastiness; Michael-Leon Wooley is hilarious and affable as the trumpet-playing and jazz-loving alligator named Louis (after jazz musician Louis Armstrong); voice artist Jim Cummings gives light and laughter to the ebullient and lovable firefly Ray.

JUST JAZZ: Louis (Michael-Leon Wooley) shows off his jazz skills on his trumpet with backing vocals from Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) and Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos)  in the animated film The Princess and the Frog. Image: Walt Disney Pictures.

Directors Ron Clements and John Musker have directed together on previous Disney animated features including Aladdin and The Little Mermaid, and brings the same amount of humour, fun and wonderment in their collaboration forThe Princess and the Frog.

BURNING BOTTOM: Ray (Jim Cummings) shows that his bright side is his best side in the animated film The Princess and the Frog. Image: Walt Disney Pictures.

Composer Randy Newman's toe-tapping jazzy musical scores is a treat and the drawings of the bayou scenes are reminiscent of Disney's Bambi with a sense of nostalgia when animation was more about characterisations and story-telling than whiz-bang visual effects. Unlike other more recent animated films with more mature messages and themes, this film evokes some messages that are pure and simple: never judge by appearances because things may not be as they seem, and never let go of a dream even if things look grim. The Princess and The Frog is a moving, funny and captivating animated film that's a little whimsical with some magic moments to entertain children and the young at heart.

MALEVOLENT MAGICIAN: Dr. Facilier (Keith David) plays with voodoo magic in the animated film The Princess and the Frog. Image: Walt Disney Pictures.

Directors: Ron Clements and John Musker

Writers: Ron Clements, John Musker, Rob Edwards, Don Hall, Greg Erb, Jason Oremland

Voice Cast: Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, Oprah Winfrey, Keith David, Michael-Leon Wooley, Jim Cummings, Jennifer Cody, Jenifer Lewis, John Goodman, Terrence Howard, Elizabeth M. Dampier, Breanna Brooks

Producers: John Lasseter, Craig Sost, Paul D. Lanum, Peter Del Vecho

Original Music Composer: Randy Newman

Film Editor: Jeff Draheim

Production: James Aaron Finch (Production Designer), Ian Gooding (Art Director)

Running Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

FAMILY AND FRIENDS: Big Daddy (John Goodman), Tiana's mother Eudora (Oprah Winfrey) and Tiana's friend Charlotte (Jennifer Cody) cheer on Tiana as she marries her prince before opening her new restaurant  in the animated film The Princess and the Frog. Image: Walt Disney Pictures.

3D Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs (2009); animated family comedy film review

Poster artwork for the comedy family animated film Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs.

Culinary Chaos by Linh

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs is another 3D animated feature film, with more expected to follow as the cinematic technology grows in popularity with audiences. Sony Pictures Animation unites with Columbia Pictures to present a fun and light-hearted family film based on Judi Barrett's children's book of the same name.

INNOVATIVE INVENTION: Flint (voice of Bill Hader) tests his fantastic food machine in the animated film Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. Image: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation.

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs follows the life of an intrepid inventor, Flint Lockwood, from childhood to adulthood, whose goal in life is to invent something that will benefit humankind.

Flint lives on the island of Swallow Falls with his father Tim Lockwood, and has created numerous gadgets and gizmos that have all ended in disaster for him, his family and the community.

Among his mildly successful inventions are the spray-on shoes and the Monkey Thought Translator, which he attaches to his pet monkey named Steve. This is very similar to the voice translator as seen in the Pixar animated film, Up, which is worn on the dogs.

Flint comes up with an idea to create food by adding water, with an aim to solve the world's hunger crisis. Unfortunately, things go wrong and his food machine is blasted into the air where the water from clouds causes the machine to rain hamburgers. Flint achieves instant fame and popularity, with many requests flowing in from everyone, such as ice-cream, steak, pancakes, lollies, hotdogs etc. It all goes awry, when Nature fights back, causing Spaghetti and Meatball cyclones and floods.

BURGER BONANZA: Flint revels in the success of his food machine in a shower of hamburgers in the animated film Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. Image: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation.

The voice cast gives a fantastic performance with some standout moments and unexpected surprises, but with mostly predictable outcomes. Saturday Night Live regular Bill Hader voices Flint Lockwood with much appeal and the audience can sympathise with his failed attempts in creating unique and beneficial inventions. Flint's only friend and trusted companion is his pet monkey named Steve, who wears Flint's Monkey Thought Translator and is usually hungry and loves eating Gummi bears.

After her surprise comedy hit The House Bunny, Anna Faris again shows off her comedic charms in her portrayal of the cute, feisty and intelligent weather reporter Sam Sparks, whose big break arrives when she is the first in the world to report on the hamburger rain in Swallow Falls.

Former Law and Order regular, Benjamin Bratt, voices Sam Sparks' stoic camera operator, Manny, whose secret hidden talents are unexpectedly revealled at the most crucial times. Bratt gives Manny the right amount of mystery and affability despite being mostly seen and seldom heard in many scenes.

WEATHER WISE: Sam Sparks (Anna Faris) announces a breakfast shower of bacon and eggs in the animated film Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. Image: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation.

The film is peppered with some cheesy food-related puns, some corny visual gags and the characters need further development for the audience to really connect with them and their plight.

The story features strong messages about responsible use of new technology, personal gain versus public benefit and the obesity problem.

FOOD FUN: Earl (Mr. T) and his son Cal (Bobb'e Thompson) share a father and son moment in the animated film Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. Image: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation.

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs may not have the intense charm of Dreamworks' animation or the emotional pull of Pixar's animated films, but it is an entertaining, engaging and visually delightful family film. A sequel to this film will be released in 2013.

A PASTA DISASTER: The spaghetti and meatballs tornado leaves a trail of destruction behind in the animated film Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. Image: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation.

Director: Chris Miller, Phil Lord

Writers: Judi Barrett (book), Phil Lord (screenplay), Chris Miller (screenplay)

Voice Cast: Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Andy Samberg, James Caan, Bruce Campbell, Mr T., Neil Patrick Harris, Benjamin Bratt, Bobb'e Thompson, Al Roker, Lauren Graham.

Producers: Pam Marsden, Lydia Bottegoni, Chris Juen,Yair Landau

Original Music Composer: Mark Mothersbaugh

Film Editor: Robert Fisher Jr.  

Production: Justin Thompson (Production Designer), Michael Kurinsky (Art Director)

 

Running Time: 1 hour and 21 minutes.

FOOD FRIENDS: Flint (Bill Hader) and Steve the monkey (Neil Patrick Harris) share love of food and technology in the animated film Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. Image: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation.

3D Up (2009); animated family adventure comedy

Poster artwork for the adventure comedy family animated film Up.

Hitting Humourous Heights by Linh

When life gets you down, you get yourself up. That’s exactly what retired 78 year old former balloon salesman Carl Frederickson does in Disney and Pixar’s latest collaboration Up.

Following the passing of his beloved wife and childhood sweetheart Ellie, Carl was to be taken into a retirement home, but he decides to fulfill a promise he made to Ellie.

They were going to find Paradise Falls together in South America and place their house on the edge of the falls, just as Ellie had drawn in her Adventure Book when she was a teenager.

HIGH FLYERS: Russell comes along for the adventure of his life unbeknownst to Carl in the film Up. Image: Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios.

Carl’s adventure to ‘the land lost in time’ begins when he ties thousands of coloured balloons to his fireplace leading out through his chimney, which lifts his entire house up into the air.

He is joined by an optimistic and excitable young Wilderness Explorer scout named Russell, they discover a rare giant rainbow bird which Russell calls Kevin, and befriends an affectionate golden retriever named Dug.

The talented vocal cast keeps the film engaging with Edward Asner giving Carl the ‘grumpy old man’ humour; Pixar’s first Asian-American character, Russell, is voiced by Japanese actor Jordan Nagai, who displays enough innocence, pluckiness and energy to make his character affable; Christopher Plummer convinces with his charm to provoke ambiguity in Muntz; writer and co-director Bob Peterson provides Dug the dog with the goofiness to delight and endear him to audiences.

ADVENTURE AWAITS: Carl, Russell and Dug attempt to save Kevin from the nasty Muntz in the film Up. Image: Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios.

Up is one of Disney/Pixar’s best animated features, and possesses a maturity in narrative and characterisation not fully developed or seen in their previous animated films.

Up draws in the audience with action motivated by emotions and suspense created from the sense of danger the characters face.

A few times during Up, the viewer is drawn into believing things are going well for the characters until something quite dramatic and emotionally-charged causes abrupt shifts in the situation. This is a wonderful change compared to other animated films that are superficially emotive or add superfluous tactics that make the film drag in parts.

There are plenty of symbolisms and metaphors to be found throughout Up, including the coloured balloons that are tied to Carl’s coloured house which in a way resembles Kevin; the numerous dogs controlled by Charles Muntz seems to represent the relationship between man and his best friend – the dog; the name Paradise Falls and the place itself, is where one seeks to fulfil a dream but it comes crashing down, just as Muntz’s pursuit of rare and exotic flora and fauna led to his downfall.

WILDERNESS WRECKER: Charles Muntz will stop at nothing until he captures Kevin in the film Up. Image: Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios.

As with the usual Disney family films, Up does carry messages for children and adults including helping and respecting senior citizens; saving and protecting endangered species; and one can fulfill a dream at any age.    

My only gripe is the 3D presentation. Only one third, maybe a bit less, of the ninety-six minute film is actually in 3D, so the amount of 3D technology shown in the film falls short of its mark.

Watching the film again in regular format was no different to the hyped-up 3D version. The standard 2D format is equally enthralling and still looks amazing. Up is entirely entertaining and immensely impressive, and won Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Achievement in Music.

EXTREME ALTITUDES: Dug, Carl and Russell head for home after a life-changing adventure in the film Up. Image: Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios. 

Director: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson

Writers: Bob Peterson (screenplay and story), Pete Docter (screenplay and story), Tom McCarthy (story)

Voice Cast: Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson, Delroy Lindo, John Ratzenberger, Elie Docter, Jeremy Leary, Pete Docter, Jerome Ranft, Josh Colley, David Kaye, Danny Mann

Original Music Composer: Michael Giacchino

Film Editor: Kevin Nolting

Production Designer: Ricky Nierva

Running Time: 1 hour and 36 minutes.

Azur and Asmar (2007); animated family French film review

French poster artwork for the animated French film Azur and Asmar.

Brotherly Love by Linh

Writer and director Michel Ocelot has created a sumptuous feast for the eyes in his first 3D animated feature film Azur and Asmar.  Ocelot is better known for writing and directing his animated films Kirikou and The Sorceress, and has deliberately used 3D for the characters and 2D for the backgrounds to create a cartoon-like appearance rather than a mimic of reality for Azur and Asmar.

The result is a visually stunning family animated film with enchanting characters that are inspired by the Arabian Nights and Sinbad adventures. The film not only includes swashbuckling action on horseback and mythical creatures,  but also a message of peace and acceptance between the Middle East and the West.

In an interview for 'The List' (issue 595), Michel Ocelot explains his message of racial acceptance in his film Azur and Asmar as being part of his response to the current War on Terror: "I was thinking about the current political situation in the world even though the story takes place a few centuries ago. People think that this idea for the film was conceived after 9/11 but no, the genesis of the film started before that. We saw the Twin Towers coming down on television while we were drawing the opening scene and we had the feeling that this has to be made."

 

BLACK AND WHITE: Azur and Asmar are raised as brothers in the animated film Azur and Asmar. Image: Mac Guff Ligne Studio O.

Azur and Asmar tells the story of two boys who were born at the same time, raised as brothers and become rivals in the quest for love and honour to release the beautiful Fairy Djinn.

Azur is blonde and blue-eyed and the son of a rich nobleman, while Asmar is dark haired with brown eyes and is the son of Azur's Nanny, Jénane, who raises the two boys as brothers, treating them equally and fairly. The two boys fight over most things like brothers and are enthralled with Jénane's bedtime stories about the tales of a Djinn Fairy awaiting the love of a prince to release her from an enchantment.

When Azur returns home after being sent off to boarding school, he finds Asmar and Jénane have been harshly dismissed and he sets off to find them and rescue the Djinn Fairy.

The film has a cast of wonderfully intriguing and flawed characters as well as exquisitely drawn and colour-enriched scenes featuring houses, markets, gardens and the majestic interiors of Jénane's residence and Princess Chamsous Sabah's Palace.

The mythical beasts which guard the Djinn Fairy are splendid in colour, shape and movement, with the rainbow bird and blue clawed Scarlett Lion lighting up the screen with glorious hues and tones.

The magic and mysteries of the days of the Arabian Nights are blended with the timeless theme of seeking racial harmony among people of different cultures living in the same land. A striking example is Yadoa, the philosopher and tutor to Princess Chamsous Sabah, who has lived in a land where he was tormented for his differences and now resides where he is accepted despite being a foreigner.

When Azur reaches the land of the Djinn, where Jénane and Asmar now live, he also experiences intolerance and superstitious fears due to his blue eyes.

A character that has shown how being different can be advantageous is the cynical, conniving and blue-eyed beggar Crapoux who befriends Azur and helps him on his adventure to seek the Djinn Fairy. Crapoux has spent the last twenty years in the land of the Djinn, wearing thick dark glasses to hide his blue eyes, after failing on his mission to release the Djinn Fairy and spends his days lying, cheating and begging while entertaining the locals. Crapoux insults and belittles the land which has sheltered him, yet he is unusually content with life as an outcast.

Other interesting characters are the delightfully spunky young Princess Chamsous Sabah whose open-minded outlook and keen curiosity is beguiling; Jénane appears as a humble Nanny in the first few scenes, yet in later scenes she is the fearless and successful merchant who is an excellent example of how acceptance and love can work wonders; Yadoa, the foreigner and descent of immigrants, is the silent achiever who works hard and minds his own business which represents the majority of people who are seeking to find a place where your identity and integrity remains intact and is accepted regardless of your race or culture.

Azur and Asmar is a film that is appealling on many different levels and covers themes of racial and religious tolerance/acceptance, respect towards women, the virtues of good manners and co-operation. An engaging and entertaining film for all ages with beautiful music from composer Gabriel Yared which adds aural texture to the sensationally lavish animation.

 

VISUAL DELIGHT: Jénane and Azur in her beautiful garden. Image: Mac Guff Ligne Studio O.

Director: Michel Ocelot

           

Writer: Michel Ocelot (screenplay/story) 

Voice Cast: Cyril Mourali - Azur adult, Karim M'Riba - Asmar adult, Hiam Abbass - Jenane, Patrick Timsit, Crapoux, Fatma Ben Khell - Princess Chamsous Sabah, Rayan Mahjoub - Azur infant, Abdelsselem Ben Amar - Asmar enfant, Thissa d'Avila Bensalah - The Djinn Fairy, Olivier Claverie - Yadoa, Steven Kynman.

           

Producers: Patrick Juarez, Ian McIntyre, Christophe Rossignon, David Shead, Stéphane Sorlat, Viviana Turchi

           

Original Music Composer: Gabriel Yared

           

Casting: Hiam Abbass, Gigi Akoka

           

Art Direction: Daniel Cacouault

Set Decoration: Anne Lise Lourdelet

Language: French with English subtitles

Running Time: 1 hour and 40 minutes