Promotion for the next high-profile animated feature (guess what it is?) kicks into higher gear with recent new clips on the internets ...
... and star on Hollywood Boulevard for a veteran Disney composer. (Can you say "Beauty and the Beast"? "Aladdin"?)
Today in Hollywood Alan Menken got his own star in Hollywood with the cast of Tangled (Disney's new movie) standing by his side. The star, a real honor for anyone who is part of the entertainerment business definitely was well deserved. ...
We don't know what kind of opening "Tangled" will have (naturally we hope it's big), but the publicity has ramped up. (Clips yesterday. Star today.)
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43 comments:
Looks damn good! Hope it makes a killing.
FIrst let me say that I hope it does well and can drag Disney out of the major slump they've been having.
That siad I'd like to kjnow why there was such a concertede effort by artists working on this film to try and claim that the trailers did not represent the true nature of the film and they were deceptively trying to make the film seem more Shrek-like than it really was...?
Apparently that is pretty much what the film is according to the reveiws that are coming in - Disney trying to do their take on the fairtytale humor in the vein of Shrek and Enchanted and is NOT a straight fairytale film like Sleeping Beauty or Mermaid.
I don't have a poroblem with that, but for some reason those that spent large amounts of time here and on Cartoon Brew denying this fact seem to.
Poster above seems to think that Shrek and Enchanted are in the same vein.
I disagree.
It's a lot more like Enchanted than Shrek.
Actually, it's not like Enchanted in that it's not meta-aware.... but the tone is closer... gentle playfulness rather than all-out skewering.
The film it's most like, IMO, is Romancing the Stone. But even that was a self-aware meta-skewering of the format of the Romance Novel.
I think what the artists involved were saying is that the film is honest. It isnt cynical. It isnt "making fun" of fairy tales: it IS a classic Disney fairy tale, complete with dramatic broadway-style music and heart.
However, the humor and dialogue is more contemporary, and the two reviews that you're mentioning (I assume you mean Variety and The Hollywood Reporter) are reacting to that. And by more contemporary, they dont mean fart jokes and modern music, they mean the delivery of the phrases like "Yay!" and the "best day EVER" lines seen in the trailers. For some reason, these reviewers feel that using more modern jargon somehow lessens the product. Thats their opinion and they're entitled to it.
So, what Im saying is, the artists werent lying. Its just that the messages from both sides are a bit muddled. Tangled is DEFINITELY not Shrek.
Kind of like dancing on the head of pin, eh?
You can split hairs all you want, but it isn't the film many of you claimed it was and the trailers did indeed convey the correct tone.
Why is that something to be ashamed of?
I would also like to add that The Little Mermaid and Sleeping Beauty are NOTHING alike.
Could you imagine "Under the Sea" in Sleeping Beauty? Little Mermaid was VERY contemporary for its time. Its only in retrospect that it seems "classic."
I think whether a film is more cynical or self-aware is the actual discussion, not whether or not its contemporary. Tangled is neither cynical nor self aware.
Gotta love the person who hasn't seen the film telling the people who have what it's like...
"Tangled is DEFINITELY not Shrek"
I wish it was. These schmaltzy trailers make me want to punch myself in the groin over watching the film.
Oh boy hope it does well against potter.
"You can split hairs all you want, but it isn't the film many of you claimed it was and the trailers did indeed convey the correct tone."
You, sir/madame, are an idiot.
Please watch the movie, then come back and tell me that a trailer with ass-whipping hair and Pink music correctly conveyed the movie that Tangled is. Please.
At least Tangled LOOKS great. Shrek wasn't exactly easy on the eyes, and they stopped being funny after the first viewing of the first one.
Here's hoping the story on Tangled holds up. These new bits look like a LOT of fun!
Disney is irrelevant.
Potter will be a mass hit. Perhaps its not a bad thing Tangled comes one week after Potter. Maybe the people who couldnt get tickets to Potter will go see Tangled.
Anyway,I certainly will not go see tangled.
Megamind was awesome, btw!
"Shrek wasn't exactly easy on the eyes, and they stopped being funny after the first viewing of the first one"
Box office receipts would disagree. Lets meet back here after tangled opening w'kend and continue the discussion.
Hey Dreamworks employee. Next time, at least TRY not to be so obvious.
This looks vastly, vastly better than 'Megamind.'
There's not even a comparison.
Hey Disney employee. Next time, at least TRY not to be so obvious.
Not a Disney employee. But thanks for confirming what we all suspected was true...
That disney can't make a good film?
Have you seen the movie yet, as opposed to just clips and trailers?
I know it's early yet, but its 4/4 on Rotten Tomatoes. Im suspecting it'll land in the 90's.
And to the Dreamworks employee, lighten up, will ya? Tangled is a good movie (I'd argue that its a great movie). Credit where credit is due.
Ummm...
The reviews for this movie so far are terrible. Add to that, the simple fact that it is from a genre with dozens of classics to compete with. All said, there isn't going to be a strong urge to see this film from adults who know they have better fairy tale films at home on DVD, and the cinemas have other more interesting options.
The same old story: Disney plays it safe and follows a formula - and the release is a failure. Just like P&TF.
No risk. No return.
"The reviews for this movie so far are terrible."
No, none of them have been terrible. They've ranged from somewhat impressed to cartwheel-turning ecstatic. Not a single negative one yet ... from people ho have SEEN IT. Watch out for those Billy Goats Gruff - I hear they can be rough on your sort.
I've seen both Tangled and Megamind. It's like comparing Beauty and the Beast to Shark Tale (almost literally). They aren't even in the same league quality-wise, and I *liked* Megamind.
If Disney can get those butts in the seats on opening weekend (big if, with the competition being what it is), then word of mouth should make Tangled a certified blockbuster.
Let's look at those 4 reviews. On closer examination, they're all pretty good, but not quite so stellar.
'Boxoffice Magazine' gave Tangled the same 4/5 it gave Megamind. They gave Shrek 4 a 4.5/5. They also gave a 'fresh' rating to Jackass 3-D.
'Screen International' gave Tangled a 3.5/5 compared to Megamind's 4/5.
The Hollywood Reporter calls Tangled "a passably entertaining hodgepodge of old and new animation techniques, mixed sensibilities and hedged commercial calculations." Sounds like film-making by committee, with marketing calling the final shots. Though they like it, they make it clear that Tangled is far from a Disney classic. The HR review of Megamind was purely positive, and didn't have all the qualifiers that are in their Tangled review.
Variety says of Tangled, "Old-fashioned storytelling barely prevails over sassy contempo attitude," and notes the "catchphrase-ready humor" is "off-putting" (exactly my reaction to the trailers). They like it, but grudgingly. Variety was also grudging in their reaction to Megamind, which they found better than Despicable Me, but complained that it felt derivative coming so soon after Despicable Me.
So far Tangled hasn't generated any cartwheel turning or ecstasy, but the reviews are trending more positive than Disney's previous CG films.
I saw "Tangled" today and liked it. But it is in a very crowded market. The sequence with all the ruffians in the restaurant is fabulous.
Are we really doing this? I guess if I must...
Regarding the Oscar race:
"The one you're probably thinking of that I have already seen and am ready to outright dismiss is this weekend's release Megamind. Critics are currently split on the film and I expect that will continue as reviews continue to come in. My opinion is to tell you this is not a good film by any stretch. It feels like a cheap Monsters vs. Aliens knock-off that's trying to be The Incredibles and in terms of the bad guy turned good, it's already been bested by Despicable Me. If my opinion is worth anything, count it out right now.
As for the two that stand a serious chance, Disney has an absolute winner with Tangled. The trailers don't do this film justice (although the new TV spots are a drastic improvement) and the reasoning is simple, Disney is trying to attract both a male and female audience, scared that if they show too much of Rapunzel the boys will be turned off. Forget about all of that, Tangled returns Disney to their animated roots. This is the first CG movie from Disney Animation that feels like classic Disney. I loved this film, it's a ton of fun and filled with adventure, the perfect mix of villainy and heroism, the animal sidekicks are hilarious and the artistry (the lantern scene is virtually perfect) is top notch. Tangled is a true contender. Is it good enough to beat out Dragon and Toy Story? Eh, that's a tough battle."
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/oscar-update-the-tangled-un-train-ed-story-of-the-animated-race
Let's wait and see til all the reviews come in, shall we?
I'm sorry, but who or what is 'ropeofsilicon.com'? It appears to be a vanity website done by a single guy with no background in film or journalism. Seriously, how is this not just some random fan in Seattle, spouting his opinion?
On the other hand, the generally upbeat and positive, and very knowledgeable, Jerry Beck had this to say over at Cartoon Brew. Which fits with the other kinda-positive-but-kinda-disappointed reviews the film has gotten so far.
Oh yes, Cartoon Brew is notorious for being pro-Disney. Give me a break.
Dear Dreamworks Employee,
Why do you care if Disney makes a good film? Eat your free lunch and mind ya business.
Sincerely,
Everybody Else
The animation looks great but even jerry over at cartoon brew is saying that tangled is a not good. And he is usually very positive and forgiving.
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/disney/disney-tangled.html
I want this film to do well, but the princess musical has been flogged to death and the desperation here to try and talk it up and disparage Dreamworks success is ridiculous. The oscar race is between Toy Story and Dragon.
I'm one of the anonymous posters pointing out the less-than-Pixar-quality reviews for Tangled. I don't work for either company, but I do work in the industry. I'm not part of the knee-jerk contingent on either side, though I am amused by those at both DreamWorks and Disney/Pixar who are too happy to drink the Kool-Aid. I'm just trying to keep this debate honest.
I've seen the film. It has some great stuff, but my overall sense it that it tries way too hard to please all people, and be modern and classic, without enough sense of what either of those words mean. I think most people will like the film, and that it'll do pretty well, but it's not the ground breaking, best film of the year film some of the Disney fanatics think it is. Sorry to say that. Now I'm going to go pay for my lunch, and do some real work.
Sorry to hear these early reviews on tangled. Disney is in need of a hit since lilo and stitch. I'll still go and support it in an affordable bright 2d theater
I haven't seen the finished film (saw an early screening), but I do notice that most of the negative reviews, rather than reviewing the movie itself, seem to filter it through a lens of what they think Disney should be today, according to them.
It seems that Disney is in a lose-lose position. Their legacy, rather than something to be proud of, is simply a deadweight they are chained to. Deviate from the usual, and you aren't fulfilling expectation. Conform to it, and you're just being derivative. Something in the middle? Now everyone hates you from both sides.
I note with amusement that virtually every criticism I've read so far unknowingly wishes the film was the Glean Keane/Dean Wellins version, rather than the "Lasseter-ized" version being released now. But if that version had indeed been made, these same people would probably be howling the movie wasn't traditional enough!
Oops, Glen, not Glean. :p
I just saw the film today at a friends and family screening. Man, what a great movie!! Congrats to the crew.
I just saw the film today. Man, somebody had to wake me up cause I fell asleep in the theater.
Sorry but, strong female character, with a witty retort has been done by Disney a million times before. Nothing new to see here.....
You just saw the film today? Before 8:51am?
Sorry, I call bullshit. You lose, Dreamworks employee.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but Rapunzel never gives a witty retort. She is naive and sweet and ignorant about the world, and only finds her strength late in the film as part of her character arc. I don't think the above poster actually watched the movie. I think they are lying
They are definitely lying. For some reason, there seems to be a few people who, despite never having seen the movie, have an agenda against it.
The film has a 5 day holiday weekend open. I would expect that the take has to be north of 50 - 60M plus.
Right, because you must be an employee of dreamworks or a liar if you don't like the film... sheeeeeshhh
No, but if you're claiming that you "saw the film today," and you're posting at 8:51am, you're lying. How the hell did someone see Tangled at 7 in the morning? Does that make sense to anyone? As for Dreamworks, one of the haters above admitted to being a Dreamworks employee. I frankly don't understand the employee rivalry--we're all hourly workers, not owners of the film or studio. We should be supporting each other.
NO ONE said they are a dreamworks employee, its was just a desperate accusation from people who don't seem to be able to accept that someone doesn't like the film.
As for the 8:51 am poster, who cares what day he saw it, he is allowed to not like it. Get over it!
Don't you understand that if Tangled fails it's much easier to believe that failure is due to a conspiracy than that Disney/Lasseter made another film no one wants to see. Which will be the only reason why the film fails - if it does fail. If in the opening weekend (a 5 day weekend to boot) the film doesn't hit it big it will have nothing to do with a strong or smart ass female character or if the songs are memorable or not or a dozen other reasons.
It will be because John chose wrong - again and the audience was not interested in even checking it out. These other reasons would only come into play on the second weekend and cause receipts to plummet.
If it is a hit then he would have finally chosen the right film and proven that there is life left in the animated fairytale musical - if done in CG and not 2D.
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