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What makes "Enchanted" so different?  

post #1 of 23
10/23/07 at 11:31am
Thread Starter 
Disney will soon be releasing a movie called "Enchanted". The movie will be both a spoof of their past animated movies and a fit with them as well.

Info can be found here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0461770/

I plan on seeing this movie in the interest of fairness, but what gets me about what I've read is that it's Disney parodying their past animated successes. I can live with that, but what I can't understand is the people who say that this is a new and fresh idea.

Spoofing Disney's animated films and ideals has been going on for decades, from Jay Ward's "Fractured Fairy Tales" in the 60s to sketch comedy shows of many decades to the 90s Spielberg/Warner cartoons and the SNL TV Funhouse short "Titey" to this decade's "Shrek" and the animated series "Drawn Together".

I think that people think this is a new idea because Disney is doing the spoofing, but still, it all seems too derivative of other studios' work.

Do you think that it's derivative or that it's a new idea, or is it somewhere in-between?

Sincerely,

John Kilduff...

Or am I just thinking too much?

Gear mentioned in this thread:

Enchanted [Blu-ray]
Enchanted (Full Screen Edition)
Enchanted (Widescreen Edition)
post #2 of 23
10/23/07 at 11:43am

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

Well, what I do know is that I would rather they take all that time and energy they are spending on a "spoof" and instead make some new animated classics.

With a 4 year old girl, I've actually been enjoying quite of few of their animated films, and we are all looking forward to Princess and the Frog in 2009.
post #3 of 23
10/23/07 at 12:27pm

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

I think Enchanted is considered noteworthy because even if the film is using parody (and it's mostly live-action), it is nevertheless the first traditional animation project Disney has done since it originally turned its back on it in favor of CGI animation.
post #4 of 23
10/23/07 at 1:24pm

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy Sheets
I think Enchanted is considered noteworthy because even if the film is using parody (and it's mostly live-action), it is nevertheless the first traditional animation project Disney has done since it originally turned its back on it in favor of CGI animation.

Agreed. When my little girl saw the trailer (which started with animation), she got really excited, then kind of let down when it switched to live action.
post #5 of 23
10/23/07 at 1:43pm

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Kilduff
I plan on seeing this movie in the interest of fairness...
Fairness to whom or what?

As for what makes Enchanted so different, I didn't realize it was. It's a mixed animation, live-action feature. And it looks like something of a parody of classic Disney fairy tales. These are unusual traits for a Disney movie. But I'm not sure I'd call it "special" or "so different" based on that. Because, in large strokes, it looks like a pretty generic, "modern" fairy tale. Based on the previews, in the interest of fairness (to myself), I don't plan on seeing this movie. But who knows, maybe this will be The Matrix for six year old girls.
post #6 of 23
10/23/07 at 2:05pm
Thread Starter 

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF
Fairness to whom or what?

As for what makes Enchanted so different, I didn't realize it was. It's a mixed animation, live-action feature. And it looks like something of a parody of classic Disney fairy tales. These are unusual traits for a Disney movie. But I'm not sure I'd call it "special" or "so different" based on that. Because, in large strokes, it looks like a pretty generic, "modern" fairy tale. Based on the previews, in the interest of fairness (to myself), I don't plan on seeing this movie. But who knows, maybe this will be The Matrix for six year old girls.

Well, when I say in the interest of fairness, I meant that I don't want to pass judgment on the movie without having seen it (although my words in the first post may negate that statement). The topic header was also meant to invoke my feelings that this premise has been done before, albeit under different circumstances.

Sincerely,

John Kilduff...

I'll see it. After all, what do I have to lose (besides 10 dollars for a ticket, 8 dollars for refreshments and 90 minutes or so of my day)?
post #7 of 23
10/23/07 at 9:45pm

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

Seeing the trailors has only made me realize how absolutely brilliant and groundbreaking "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" Was/Is.
post #8 of 23
10/24/07 at 7:12am

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

Easy answer: Amy Adams
post #9 of 23
10/25/07 at 10:56am

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

I'll be taking my daughter to see this one, but I will also admit to some interest on my own part. That's slightly unusual as I have tended to fall asleep in the last couple of Disney movies I've taken her to.
post #10 of 23
10/26/07 at 6:20pm

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck Mayer
Easy answer: Amy Adams

I would not have been interested in this movie very much if it was without her. She gave one of the truly devastating performances in Junebug. Her character starts with a smiley facade, but by the end, she lets all emotions go, and it's hard to keep the tears back as a viewer.
post #11 of 23
10/29/07 at 1:42pm

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

Yep, Amy Adams is definitely a selling point in this one. She's a great actress, and also really adorable. The perfect human Disney princess, if you ask me.

I still think it's a pretty fresh idea, I didn't think Disney would ever spoof their classic formula, and I'm really impressed and happy that they are.
post #12 of 23
10/29/07 at 1:54pm

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

I haven't seen the trailer, but it sounds like Disney is trying to follow the Dreamworks process of pop culture spoofing, as opposed to creating classic stories that can be identified by generations to come. Pretty sad really.
post #13 of 23
10/31/07 at 2:26pm

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

Yea but the fact that's it's animation to live-action makes it different, in my mind. Plus, it looks like it's still going to have their "classic story" formula woven in with the Patrick Dempsey/Amy Adams relationship. So I think it'll be a Disney classic in its own right.
post #14 of 23
10/31/07 at 3:45pm
Thread Starter 

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

Quote:
Originally Posted by MandyHan
Yea but the fact that's it's animation to live-action makes it different, in my mind. Plus, it looks like it's still going to have their "classic story" formula woven in with the Patrick Dempsey/Amy Adams relationship. So I think it'll be a Disney classic in its own right.

Okay, the bulk of it is being done in live-action, but live-action spoofing of Disney movies has been going on for a long time. Granted, not on the massive level that will be found in this movie, but movies ranging from the Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker canon to "Not Another Teen Movie" have done takes on Disney films, or concepts most commonly associated with Disney's cinematic output.

It's been the same way on sketch comedy shows throughout the decades. I find myself thinking of a "Mad TV" sketch where a woman who was obsessed with Disney to the point of dressing as a Disney Princess sang about being in a movie. The movie turns out to have the title "Snow White And The Seven Positions".

Maybe I'm thinking too hard, but this movie seems to be going over ground so worn that the tracks are six feet under.

Sincerely,

John Kilduff...

Sorry I couldn't think of a better analogy.
post #15 of 23
11/1/07 at 11:57am

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

Yes but in answer to your original posted question, what makes Enchanted "different," it's that Disney is actually doing it this time, and Gisele (the princess in this movie) is going to join the ranks as a real Disney princess - the first human one to ever join. So I think that's why people are saying it's original. Originality discussion aside (and it's my personal belief that dissecting the originality of movies is pretty useless as all movies ever made have certain similarities), it looks to me that the movie is going to do pretty well, given its cast, the fact that so many Disney classic fans are excited, and the early positive feedback it's getting.
post #16 of 23
11/3/07 at 8:01pm
Thread Starter 

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

Quote:
Originally Posted by MandyHan
Yes but in answer to your original posted question, what makes Enchanted "different," it's that Disney is actually doing it this time, and Gisele (the princess in this movie) is going to join the ranks as a real Disney princess - the first human one to ever join. So I think that's why people are saying it's original. Originality discussion aside (and it's my personal belief that dissecting the originality of movies is pretty useless as all movies ever made have certain similarities), it looks to me that the movie is going to do pretty well, given its cast, the fact that so many Disney classic fans are excited, and the early positive feedback it's getting.

Disney spoofing itself and its' conventions isn't anything new, either (The applause sign at the end of "Friend Like Me" in "Aladdin", the "It's A Small World" joke in "The Lion King", the merchandising gags in "Hercules").

I guess I'm just too emotionally attached to these movies to find any humor in what they'll be doing with "Enchanted". Much like how I can't bear it when people make snide remarks about 80s culture, which helped me through a lot of rough stuff, it's a little irritating to me when jokes are made about Disney movies. I identify with the characters in them, wishing for something better, struggling through hardships, always singing...To see the stuff turned on its' ear is indescribable. I wish I could cogitate it better, but I can't really laugh at the things, people and pop culture that bear importance to me. I feel like I would be disrespecting these things, and disrespecting myself as well.

Sincerely,

John Kilduff...

I hope that was spoken well. I can explain further if need be.
post #17 of 23
11/5/07 at 7:56am

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

I see what you're saying, but I really don't think they're doing the spoofing in a mean or nasty way. I think it will be done tastefully and the story will still be a Disney story - hardships, singing, romance, etc. Only this time the humor will come from the "fish out of water" element.
post #18 of 23
11/5/07 at 8:32am

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

Exactly; this does not look like Shrek. I strongly suspect that, when all is said and done, this will wind up reaffirming all the things that people like about the Disney formula and showing that it is still relevant. The heroine just has to be challenged in order to realize that.
post #19 of 23
11/5/07 at 11:42am

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

I agree...I actually just found this behind-the-scenes video that pertains to the movie's loyalty to Disney classics. Maybe it will put your mind at ease a little, John?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GhtpKPvpeI
post #20 of 23
11/17/07 at 6:59pm
Thread Starter 

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

Quote:
Originally Posted by MandyHan
I wanted to bump this as I just saw the film a couple days ago and I think I can put any unease anyone might feel about it to rest. It was most certainly an homage to the classic Disney cartoons, and definitely did not poke fun or disrespect them in any way. The soundtrack/musical numbers are actually really reminiscent of the old classics, so that element was one of my favorites. And Amy Adams did a great job capturing the essence of a Disney princess. The cartoon conventions were used kind of as a springboard for a lot of the humor in the film, and pointing out how ridiculous some of the Disney characters would be in modern NYC was hysterical. There was still a love story, you were still rooting for the princess to win in the end, and it was visually mesmerizing. So there you have it! I'd say it's a new modern Disney classic

You say it's a homage and doesn't poke fun or disrespect the older movies.

A person on a Disney board I'm on had this to say about the movie:

"It was really well done and the spoofs on the classic fairy tales are in your face and yet subtle at the same time."

I don't like the sound of the term "in your face". Once again, I find myself thinking of "Shrek" and the like. Those spoofs were very in your face, so this once again begs the question: What makes this movie so different?

Sincerely,

John Kilduff...

Just waiting for the movie to be released so I can go see it and then state my verdict.
post #21 of 23
11/20/07 at 7:21am

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

And there's the new Goofy short "How To Hook Up Your Home Theater." We're going...
post #22 of 23
11/20/07 at 9:26am

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

Quote:
And there's the new Goofy short "How To Hook Up Your Home Theater." We're going...

They didn't show that at the pre-release screening we went to, but I would love to see that.
post #23 of 23
11/21/07 at 8:55am

Re: What makes "Enchanted" so different?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam Gregorich
They didn't show that at the pre-release screening we went to, but I would love to see that.

I heard Disney delayed the release of that new Goofy animated short film about a month.
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Enchanted [Blu-ray]
Enchanted (Full Screen Edition)
Enchanted (Widescreen Edition)
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