DVD REVIEW: The Princess and the Frog (widescreen version)
Here‘s the full review I wrote when the movie was in theaters, but for for a quick recap of the story, Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) wants to open a restaurant in honor of her father (Terrence Howard), but she’s lost how to have fun in the process. After kissing a frog who says he’s Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos), she gets turned into a frog as well, and hijinks (and romance) ensue.
DVD FEATURES
Something that Disney started doing lately with DVD releases is add deleted scenes to their special features section. This section is one that always hit-or-miss with me, mostly because I’m spoiled by Pixar’s deleted scenes. Since Pixar’s scenes are in the computer, most of them are in a stage where they can move the characters like puppets, meaning that the deleted scenes read more like live-action deleted scenes. Disney animated deleted scenes, however, are still in their rough storyboard form, so it takes out of the scenes a bit. The way the deleted scenes are set up for The Princess and the Frog is a bit too revered for deleted scenes; co-writers/directors John Musker and Ron Clements walk the viewer through the scenes, which are shown like hung art pieces, which can feel a bit…weird. But it’s a must-see for any die-hard PatF fan.
The commentary, with Musker, Clements, and roducer Peter Del Vecho, is highly informational (as informational as the book The Art of the Princess and the Frog) and insightful. The best review I can give for the commentary is that if you’re a person who likes commentaries, you’ll like this commentary. You learn a lot about the film and the crew that isn’t mentioned in the Art of book, like the fact that the girls around Naveen during the opening song sequence are caricatures of women who work at Disney Animation. It can be dry-you can tell that the commentary is by three guys seasoned by the long years of being in the movie-making business-but if you are a Disney fan, you should give the commentary a listen.
Other features include one-reels-Dylan and Cole Sprouse: Blu-Ray is Suite, Learn How to Take Your Favorite Movies on the Go with Disney Digital Copy, a game called What Do You See: Princess Portraits, and sneak peeks of upcoming Disney blu-ray movies and theatrical releases, including Rapunzel and Toy Story 3 and Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue.
All in all, you get your approx. $15.oo for the regular widescreen version. The blu-ray version ($19.99)* and three disc version ($26.99)* are also available
For more Princess and the Frog interviews, essays, etc, click here.
*prices from Target.com
