MOVIE ROUNDUP: ‘PRINCESS & THE FROG’ / ‘THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES’ / EDDIE’S NEW FILM GETS NO LOVE
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Disney released the teaser trailer for their 48th animated musical “The Princess and the Frog” this week. The film based off the classic fairy tale The Frog Princess, is set in New Orleans during the 1920s with Disney’s first Black princess Tiana (voiced by Anika Noni Rose).
Also lending their voices to the film are Angela Bassett, Jenifer Lewis, and Keith David. The movie is set to hit theaters on Christmas of 2009…
THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES TEASER
Another teaser released this week was for the film “The Secret Life Of Bees”, with a phenomenal cast including Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Sophie Okonedo, and Alicia Keys.
Adapted by the original novel, the film is tells the story of Lily Owens, a 14 year-old girl who is haunted by the memory of her late mother (Burton). To escape her lonely and troubled life, Lily flees with Rosaleen (Hudson), her caregiver and only friend, to a South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother’s past and is taken in by the Boatwright sisters.
MEET DAVE GETS NO LOVE

Though Eddie Murphy new film “Meet Dave” was already released on July 11th (who knew right?), the film has already broke record.
In its 3rd weekend, it broke the record for being biggest theater drops in wide release ever, losing 2,523 theaters from its 3,011 theaters the week before. It grossed an estimated $5,300,000 when it took reportedly $55 million to make, not to mention the film got no love from critics. Looks like its back to the drawing board for Eddie…








68 Comments
1.
jz
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
LOVE IT!!
2.
H-Town Chic***
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
LMAO about Eddie!!!
3.
BEAUTY Q.T.
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
Yaaaa!!! The first black animated princess! Can’t wait for the movie and promotional items, like clothing, bed sets, curtains, book bags, etc… I love it that they gave her an ethic name and made her pretty!!! Sometimes they make the black cartoons/dolls really ugly, which doesn’t reflect the beauty of us black women..
Kudos!
4.
AHARRIS
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
That Eddie Murphey film was a flop from the beginning!!!!
5.
ChiCHI
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
i hat to say this but i think im first…..LOL….that J-Hud movie looks unfinished….but i would go see the disney movie….but christmas 2009? why so long….its animation and voice overs…lol
6.
mphsmade
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
SECRET LIFE OF BEES!!!! I CAN”T WAIT!!!! I LOVED THE BOOK and it looks like this movie’s gonna be GREAT! GO J HUD!!!!!!
7.
Cass
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
What happened to the Eddie Murphy who used to make movies like Beverly Hills Cop, Coming To America and Boomerang.
Eddie Murphy’s latest movies are just whack. It is like he just doesn’t care anymore.
Looking forward to seeing ” The Secret Life of Bees” as the book was really good.
8.
AButta
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
Why does the black Disney movie have to have the ghetto ass fly or whateva it is which the snag-a-tooth??? Just blatant racism.
9.
Kia Carter--Apparently The World Is Attracted To Talentless People
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
Meet Dave, looks corny as hell. The previews were so WHACK!! If I was to even see that movie it be only because of Gabrielle Union.
10.
MizzBlaze
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
Am I the only one not feeling that cracked out, bo jangling ass fire fly??? I’m going to need Disney not to have characters like that in their first movie featuring a Black princess.
11.
Ladyssolady
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
Can’t wait to see ‘Bees’. I look forward to TPTF so that my students will be excited about something other than hannah montana and Disney Princess.
12.
ladytroublesome
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
Meet Dave is WACK.
13.
MAI03
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
Can’t wait for the Frog Princess & The Secret Life of Bees!
Yeah Eddie, Meet Dave looked dumb as hell in the previews. Just stupid. But Eddie will bounce back.
14.
let's not lie
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
the trailer for the princess movie looks cute. i don’t have any kids but i’m watching it anyway. took long enough to have a black princess. she’s beautiful too and seems to actually have a personality
i read secret life of bees and loved it (didn’t love it enough to read it twice though). i wonder how this’ll turn out
15.
Da Diva
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
I really hope people of all races will go see “Princess”.
16.
Greg_Arious
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
I hope The Princess movie does well. But I havent seen an animated movie come out in forever everyone is doing CGI nowadays so cartoon animation may be an outdated medium.
HAHA at Eddie Murphy! Thats payback for creating Norbit! Put some thought into your projects from now on you tranny loving asshole.
@#5 Animation takes MUCH longer to create than live action does. I heard somewhere that it takes like 24 hours to porduce a minute of animation(or something like that)
17.
******Dame(Oh Luda Luda what I am going to do with you)
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
Eddie SMDH he knew better
The Secret Life of Bee movie looks good
18.
STLCHICK
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
The Secret Life of Bees is a phenomenal novel! I can’t wait to see the movie. That’s the girl from “Uptown Girls” right? She’s grown hasn’t she? J.Hud is my girl so is A.Keys and Queen Latifah. W/ that being said A.Keys has never really impressed me w/ her acting skills. In Nanny Diaries she was unbelievable and Smoking Aces left much to be desired from her. I hope she does better cuz if she sucks she will REALLY stand out in this movie w/ this cast.
We got a superhero and finally a Disney princess. I’m glad they used Anonki, or however you spell her name’s, voice for the part. She sounds cute.
Eddie, Karma is a Bitch! Nuff said.
19.
Emma V's Great-Grandaughter
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
The two moives look interesting.
Why can’t they release the animated movie this year?
LMAO at Eddie Murphy and I guess his career is over.
20.
LuvsIt
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
I agree w/ #s 8 & 10. That fly was country and uneducated and they trying to be racsist on the sneak. Not feeling that shit. But I AM glad that they FINALLY gave us an effin Black Princess. I mean hell, this should have been done years ago. Like why couldn’t The Lion King been about an ACTUAL king? Consideirng the movie took place in Africa anyway. Just make it The African King or something. Oh sorry. lol Don’t get me started!
As for the Bee movie. Can’t wait! I never heard of the book. I think i’ll pick it up.
21.
DiamondLatrelle
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
The frog in the animated movie sounds like “Pops” from the Wayans Brothers. Why wait so long to bring out an all-African American cast movie?????? The secret life of bees looks like it will be an excellent movie to go see with the family.
22.
kennedi
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
I mean really….who’s genuinely surprised by the Eddie Murphy flop? He’s movies have been going from shit to shittier lately. He need to stop accepting / writing these dumb as roles and stick with regular characters. Eddie’s best movies were the ones in which he was playing a regular dude (48 Hrs. Life, Coming 2 America, etc).
23.
TeTe(LOVIN KID CUDI)
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
i agree@#8
lmbao..eddie is pitiful
24.
Aries
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
So excited about the Princess and the frog!! I wish I had a neice or daughter to take to see it. Im 23 and I grew up on Disney movies, so this would have been a nice treat! But it doesnt matter, ill be there anyway lol. But can anyone tell me what the hell was up with that FLY? see I knew they were going to try to find a way to place something in the movie that was disrespectful.
Life with bees: looks very interesting and different. The lady who wrote this is from my hometown. Chas, SC
25.
thoro
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
That’s what up DISNEY IT IS ABOUT G**** D TIME! ALL THAT MONEY WE SPEND IN DISNEY LAND, WORLD ECT!. DIsney is trying to get their mony up!
My wife ttried to get me to go see EDDIE’s movie and you can tell from the trailer that the movie was going to be straight trash! HELL EDIIE DID NOT EVEN GO TTO THE PREMEIR!
26.
YEAH, I SAID IT!
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
Meet Dave didn’t look too appealing to me. The last Eddie Murphy role I liked was his performance in Dream Girls (James Early). Oddly enough, I went to see Norbit in Georgetown (largely white affluent suburb of D.C.) and the audience was literally rolling in the aisles and applauding when it was over. Go figure…
I would still go see Eddie do some stand up.
27.
tjack25
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
“Meet Dave” looked like it was going to be WACK before it even hit theaters.
28.
SAY WHAT:O
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
YAY!!! finally disney princess getting some color. now lil black chick-a-dee’s can have a princess like them to favor. hope the movie does more than well so it can become a classic along with Pocahontes, Cinderella, and the rest of them.
lil confused on the movie bout the Bee’s. I goin to have to read the book. But i’ll check out the movie anyway!! (im from SC!!)
wow, not surprised. Garbrille should’ve known better too. They both need to start choosing better roles b/c they falling. Hard (escpecialy Eddie)
29.
hollywood here i come...
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
is that dakota fanning playing the part of the 14yr old? cuz if so..i will def be goin to see it..that lil girl is amazing
30.
Tiffany
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
To the peoples comments about the firefly in the “Princess and The Frog” its not racism its REALITY hellooo the story takes place in the 1920s and in Louisiana and thats how people spoke back them! do your research!
31.
KOKO
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
I can’t wait for The Secret Life of Bees..
32.
shida
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
yea that Eddie movie did look whack though. smh sad story.
but yea! that new disney movie is what I’ve been waiting for. Being someone who becoming an animator i can apprecite this. taking it back to the original style. Hand drawn…lets go!!
33.
FallBackHaters
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
Wow what a way to bow out Eddie.
34.
WillPwr
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
Damn, Jennifer Hudson is really doing the damn thing one hit movie after another!
……take notes Halle
35.
OyVey!
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
Yeah that firefly threw me off to! Like what the hell!
They mine as well have thrown some of those big ass pink lips on it like in the blaxploitation toons. I know this is supposed to be set back in the day. But kids don’t know about all that. They’re just gonna see some fly talking funny. Hopefully the firefly won’t be in the movie at all or just in a small bit.
36.
Missez [So What If I Like Rh Rhi]
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
Damn Somebody Better Find That Other 50 Million Or Ain’t Nobody Getting Royalty Checks lol
37.
blaq
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
I think I should start and ethnic sensitivity company, to let these companies know when they have crossed the line. It seems like they don’t have a clue, but more than likely are attempting to throw some ish in there on the uner.
38.
algie
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
its about time for disney to do a movie like this, i also can’t wait to see the movie with jennifer queen latifah and alicia as well
39.
Nicole13
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
Loved reading Secret Life of Bees. Can’t wait to see the movie!! Def will also check out Princess and the Frog. Yeah, that firefly was a little over the top… I don’t mind the accent, but his teeth were very scary. Oh well, I’m not complaning…can’t judge till I see the whole thing!
40.
Desirae
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
I’m so excited about The Princess & The Frog movie. I remember doin a speech on this last year, and telling everyone this would be the first BLACK princees. Itz nice to see its coming out!!! I’m gald they changed her name from Maddy to Tiana. So, move over Snow White, Cinderella, Phocohantas, Jasmine…etc…now the little black gurls actually have a princess of their own to look up to. This is history!!!
41.
Jazz
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
THERE WAS A LOT OF GRAMMAR MISTAKES IN THAT EDDIE MURPHY PARAGRAPH. YOU SHOULD PROOFREAD IT.
42.
Jazz
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
LOL @ 8. YOUR RIGHT.
43.
Aries
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
@ 30. So are you trying to tell me that ALL black people in the 1920’s had little to no teeth and spoke like they never picked up a book?
I dont think any of us on here, think that it didnt exist, but we also know that that type of character was an extremely offensive and sterotypical “tribute” to black people. I believe we had some quite educated and beautiful people in those times. Why couldnt the firefly represent that type of “1920’s” character
44.
Tasha
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
Can’t wait to see the disney movie(and I don’t have any children)! And I really cannot wait to see the bees movie. I am picking up the book this weekend. And I think alicia keys acting skills are wwwaaaayyyyy better than some entertainers who come from singing/rapping and try to act.(and yes i’ma say it …wait for it….BEYONCE!!) I actually loved her in smoking aces…
45.
big z
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
NICE! My friend recommended me a very interesting place ☆☆☆”NYwealthyMatch . c o m”"”"”"”"☆☆☆ If you’ve ever been there you will know what I mean….
46.
Nikki
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
#43 Aries the Fly or whatever it is NOT a person it is an insect so it’s not a reflection of Black people. You obviously have never seen some Disney movies I guest The Stupid bird from The Little Mermaid was a bad reflection of White people. It’s a freaking bird.
47.
Nikki
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
Yes it is Dakota Fanning, She is the star of the movie actually.
48.
TS
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
Wow, so let me get this straight. Disney’s first black princess has to kiss a frog in order to get a man worthy of her time. She has a malaria infested mosquito/firefly as a friend, and she talks like Celie from the color purple. Her flying friend looks like my drunken uncle Teddy with only 3 teeth in his mouth. All followed by a lovely negro spiritual solo played on a piano in the background…
This shit is too funny ROFLMAO
49.
Linda
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
I don’t like the name Tiana she sounds like an R& B chick, I think Madeline was much better. Why did they change it?
ummm, This isn’t in the actual movie. you guys know that right. This is just a TEASER, usually in animated movies the Teaser isn’t actually in the movie and no the firefly isn’t her friend.
The Frog Princess is based on an European fairytale, The girl has to kiss the from and he becomes a Prince.
50.
Missez [So What If I Like Rh Rhi]
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
DAMN DOKATA GREW UP … THE LAST TIME I SEEN HER WAS IN HIDE & SEEK AND SHE WAS STILL PRETTY YOUNG…. SO FAR IT SEEMS LIKE HER PARENTS ARE RAISING HER RIGHT YOU ALWAYS SEE HER EVERY NOW AND THEN NOT PUSHED TO MAKE MOVIE AFTER MOVIE TO SUPPORT THE HOUSEHOLD HAND CLAP FOR GREAT PARENTING SKILLS
51.
smiley
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
For those of you who haven’t read “Bees”, I would suggest reading the book before seeing the movie. Of course the movie won’t be as nearly as good as the novel. One of my fav reads.
52.
Steph
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
Please read Secret Life of Bees. I read this and recommended it to my daughters (which are both pre-teens). It an amazing book with STRONG black women as some of the central characters and tackles some rough issues. Please read it. My daughter are so HYPED about the movie. I pray they did it some justice b/c the book was really amazing. I love J Hud and Queen Latifah as the cast. Sometimes it seems as though there are so few black actresses that are cast that we seem to constantly see the same ones. If only they (major movie makers) would expand their minds. There are some awesome talented actors and actresses if only they were given the chance. Either way, I’m happy this is being made into a movie…none of the women are hootchies or stereotypical roles. I”M EXCITED!!!!!
53.
MzCynik
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
I dont know what to say about that Eddie Movie….
but I know I have been waiting for the Frog Princess since I heard the first buzz in 2007….kinda disappointed that I have to wait another whole year…but trust and believe I WILL be at the theater watching it, bout time Disney did an African American cartoon….Ive been waiting!!
54.
BRIANA
Thursday, July 31, 2008 /
lol @ 8….i agree
but i’m still looking forward to this movie..it’s about damn time for disney to embrace all races!
55.
Reelaphro
Friday, August 1, 2008 /
@37…
It’s not the companies that we need to worry about, it’s our own people that believe that…just because she’s black makes it all better. I’m sad to hear that some of us are jumping on the bandwagon of a film that doesn’t make black people look good at all. When will we wake up?
To be honest, the film industry realized that we (black people) are the ones that buy into commercialism. Being that there are very few movies with people of color, I think they may have thought that the way to rebound the animation game is to create a black movie. They know if we’ll spend money to see Tyler Perry…we’d definitely see their movie. It’s all a racket. And I’m not feelin’ it one bit!
56.
YAAYYYY
Friday, August 1, 2008 /
Jasmine was te closest to the black princess. and they have that NEW ORLEANS acent to it. ohhh cant wait.
and she soo pretty to. bump the other movies this is gonna make alot money disney and hes brother had to die. till we got a black princess. alot of racist is gonna fuck it up probaly. yooo im excited.
57.
Reelaphro
Friday, August 1, 2008 /
Thought this might shine some light on the subject.
http://www.womanist-musin...st-black-princessthe.html
58.
Shelby
Friday, August 1, 2008 /
why couldn’t disney come up with somwthing orginal for the black princess, they did for pocahontas and jasmine
59.
Kellz
Friday, August 1, 2008 /
Everyone knew that Eddie movie was gonna be crap from the trailer. I mean… it looked hella corny. It kills me how we allow product companies to put millions into flops and not into real social issues like urban decay and the homeless. Also to #8 and the rest of the Fly Stans… ITS A DAMN FLY. It has NO ethnicity or correlation to the main character herself. Please shut up and sit down and stop bitching about things you take OUT OF CONTEXT.
60.
Disturbia video is BANGING
Friday, August 1, 2008 /
My god! Sometimes I just cant stand black people. Why are you ppl complaining about her voice. The story is set in the 1920’s in New Orleans. WTF dd you expect her to sound like ????Becky? HELLO???I mean DAMN. Sometims black people are way too sensitive. Although I agree that that fly is a little stereotypical and offensive. But anyway, Im most def gonna see this movie OPENING DAY! But I do have my worries about it. Since its hand drawn and not CG Like all these other animations. I wonder if kids would wanna go see it or not. BUT i do like that they kept it classic with the hand drawings. So that when they release the box set with all the other princesses. Its not gonna stick out like a sore thumb. Cant wait for all the merchandise(curtains, books, pensilc, clothes etc.) to come out.
@ #49. The princess’s name wasn’t Madeline. It was Maddy. People were outraged(and rightfully so) because it sounded too much like Mammy. But idk, Tianna is better. But I do they could’ve came up with a better name.
Oh and why in the world did I think the Secret Life of Bees was gonna be an animation???LMAO, for some reason that animated movie Bee life just popped in my head and stuck with me from then on. But the movie looks good. And im gonna go see it.
No Comment on Eddie.
61.
a
Friday, August 1, 2008 /
i’ve seen the teaser for the princess and the forg like 20 times and i never get bored i hope it does really really well i really LOVE IT
62.
lilblackfan
Friday, August 1, 2008 /
secretlifeofbees!secretlifeofbees!secretlifeofbees!
i fell in love w/ that book when i read it my junior year of high school. me and my bestie “fell in love” with zach. i heard tristian wilde’s supposed to be playing him. too excited.
and the princess and the frog seems so cute! too excited. just hoping the frog is a black prince.
63.
WHY?!?!?!
Saturday, August 2, 2008 /
WHY????????? Are you guys complaining so much?
That clip is fine. Black people will never be satisfied. Just because this movie is a black cast and it is set in New Orleans does not mean that every creature/person/tree/curtain/lamp post in the movie represents black people! Her name is Tiana…..Now people complain because it “sounds” ghetto but if her name was Samantha then everybody would be complaining about how they are trying to white wash the character. That firefly has an accent, missing teeth etc. oh well. There are some black people with missing teeth and a down south accent. Don’t get your panties in a bunch. And this is New orleans in the 1920’s if they play black “southern” music dont be mad, be appreciative that they took the time to make this film authentic.
The ONLY problem that I had with the clip posted above, and I mean the ONLY problem — is that we did not get an original storyline for our first movie. I feel like Cinderella, Snow White, Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Little Mermaid etc all had very original plots and storlines whereas we just got an old plot/storyline and they just gave us some black characters and put them in New Orleans.
64.
Rashad
Saturday, August 2, 2008 /
Anika is gonna rock this movie! What a big achievement for us African Americans! I love it!
65.
kayshia
Monday, August 4, 2008 /
CAN’T WAIT 4 THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES. THAT EDDIE MURPHY MOVIE…NEXT!
66.
ChokLitFactory
Friday, August 8, 2008 /
I’m excited for Disney’s new movie, I miss traditional animation!
Eddie –> no comment!!
67.
NayNay
Saturday, August 9, 2008 /
That’s what Eddie gets, God don’t like ugly. You reap what you sow. Now maybe he can take some of his time and focus on his little girl.
68.
cocoamama
Monday, August 11, 2008 /
*sigh* I know this post is old, but for all of y’all who keep saying that the “fly” from the Disney movie (it’s actually a firefly) is ghetto and whatnot, it’s really not. That’s a Cajun accent, people, and Disney has said that it was a “lovesick Cajun firefly”. I don’t know how much you know about Louisiana, but I have yet to meet a Cajun that wasn’t White…