Comments on: Read Anything Good Lately?

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 01:39:35 +0000

Just read the Ebert article that is lovely and awesome. Currently reading “Cleaving” by Julie Powell and am still unsure about whether I love it or not. It’s such an odd mix of butchery and confession that I’m not even sure I’m supposed to like it.

By: All Women Stalker

All Women Stalker — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 01:05:06 +0000

I read the Ebert’s article. I have to reread it. It seems unreal. It kinda made me sad and appreciative at the same time. Sad for the man who has lost the dining experience; appreciative for the fact that I still have mine. Dining and eating will never be the same thing for me.

By: Bianca

Bianca — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 04:34:54 +0000

Yes, I can see what you mean about the specifics making more sense because she was black. I think I meant if change only a couple of details, it could have been a girl of any race. I think the in series they based it on the girl is not black. My daughter loves those books. They are very funny.

By: mo pie

mo pie — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:52:55 +0000

Thanks for letting me know, Jezebella, I fixed it!

Geans, Tiana was originally written as a maid named Maddy; both her name and her occupation were changed.

By: Geans

Geans — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:12:11 +0000

Maid? I thought Tiana was a waitress. did I see a bootleg version?

By: Lauren

Lauren — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:56:33 +0000

Reading the article about the Princess and the Frog reminded me of an article I read. It was written by a very talented illustration student and is entitled “When did we start hating everything?” http://news.deviantart.com/article/103809/ The article is mostly in reference to that hate on Avatar, but its message is more or less universal.

“My point here is that why are people so critical and cynical of entertainment these days? Whatever happened to being able to just sit back and enjoy something for what it is? Why does everything need to be critiqued down to the smallest, most insignificant detail?”

Blogging is great in that it allows people to share their lives and interact with others. But it also allows anyone and everyone to become a critic. And sorry, but just because can type and have internet access does not make you a literary, cinema, or television critic. At least, not a good one.

I did see Princess and the Frog and as a whole I loved it. As I started watching it I felt myself going down that road and picking out the stereotypes and possibly offense aspects of the film. But about twenty minutes in I caught myself and just stopped. And I think I had a better movie going experience because of it.

Anyone can pick out and spew the bad aspects of a film. But knowing when to keep your mouth shut and just enjoy it… now that’s an admirable skill.

By: Jezebella

Jezebella — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 08:38:42 +0000

Can you fix the link for the Big Bang Theory article? Right now it goes to the Avatar article instead.

By: mo pie

mo pie — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:07:28 +0000

I loved the movie too, but I almost felt the opposite, if that makes sense… it felt like it was a very specific story of that time and place, and incorporated the New Orleans setting, jazz, white voodoo magic like the bottle tree, the contrast between Tiana’s life and Lottie’s, and other details that wouldn’t have resonated as much if they’d just plunked in a white character.

I also loved the fact that she had a dream of her own, not just to meet a prince and live happily ever after.

By: Bianca

Bianca — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:37:58 +0000

Not a good read, but a note about one of the articles above:

“Deciding to suddenly be historically accurate while telling a fairy tale about a black princess seems a little suspect.”

LOL Srsly, this poor little movie cannot win. There were tons of other complaints about how historically inaccurate the friendship between Tiana and “Lottie” would have been. :-P

I completely enjoyed the movie, and felt like anyone who had problems with it were LOOKING for problems. KWIM? Cinderella was a maid too. Good grief. I felt like it it was very well done – as if they wrote the movie, and *then* decided the girl would be black, instead of writing a movie for a “black” character. Which is how it should be.