"For longer than forever."
Hello everyone!
I've fallen into a bit of a movie hole and am retracing my steps to some of the older ones that I loved, LOVED growing up.
Loved so much, in fact, that I might have worn out the VHS tapes we have them on.
Honestly, some movies just stick with you like that, is what I'm going to say.
Tonight's choice is exactly like it, because unlike modern interpretations that always have to have some sort of twist or whatever to them, this one follows the story pretty closely and doesn't try to be anything new or exciting.
Other than infusing it with humour where it can.
So make sure you have some snacks ready to feed angry swans, because they're vicious when provoked. The Swan Princess sails onto your screens, right now!
I'll have a link or two down below, as always, because I'm pretty sure that I have other animated movies unconnected to Disney which I've watched.
But for The Swan Princess specifically: once upon a time ... don't you just love the start?!?
Anyway, once upon a time, there lived a king, who was getting on in years and didn't have an heir, until a little girl was born. He named her Odette, and when emissaries from all around came to pay their respects, he and the queen from the neighbouring kingdom decided HEY.
Why don't we have his daughter and her son marry?
See, the queen had a young son, Derek, so by marrying the two, the kingdoms would unite under a single married ruling couple.
Sounds easy, right?
WRONG.
Derek and Odette couldn't get along AT ALL, and it becomes particularly obvious the more they grow how much higher on the maturity level Odette is in comparison to Derek, though granted he's not exactly lagging, it's just a marked difference.
Aaand then they both grow up, look at one another, and realize oh gosh - I've actually been secretly pining for this person all along because I know them so well!
Of course, just when Derek's fully prepared to have a wedding on the spot, Odette puts the kibosh on it by asking him WHY he wants to marry her (listen, I can commend her because the problem with Disney princesses is they just WANT to marry, without giving you much to work with, but at the same time, that's unfair pressure on the guy to try and cough up something just the same.)
Naturally, Derek botches this up spectacularly, saying he wants to marry her because she's beautiful, and what else is there? Odette and her father leave - he even asks what the hell she wanted to hear anyway? She's adamant she wants Derek to marry her because it's HER, not because of beauty or whatever, but the argument is interrupted.
Way back when, right after Odette's birth, an evil wizard Rothbart was trying to take over the kingdom, but Odette's father caught on, and banished him.
Now the guy's back, attacking the convoy, and only the captain makes it back to Derek (who is cursing his bad luck and being taunted by his best friend and the valet at the time). Finding the remains, Derek learns from the king that Odette's gone and that "it's not what it seems" with regard to the great animal which attacked them.
Then he dies, and Derek throws himself into the search for Odette, who obviously isn't dead. She's just stuck with Rothbart, who cursed her so that she's now a swan - unless she's on the lake when the moon touches her wings, at which point she turns back into a human.
Until the moon sets and the sun rises, of course.
The catch here is that the villain will let her go if she marries him so they can rule her father's kingdom together, which, fat chance my guy, your beard looks weird AND you're balding.
Odette is trying to figure out how to solve her problem, with the help of her friends, turtle Speed and frog Jean-Bob (who's convinced he's a prince and needs a kiss to be turned back), when they're joined by a wounded Puffin. After Odette helps him, they hatch a plan to find a map in Rothbart's castle so they can figure out where they are, and fly to Derek.
Successful, the two birded forms actually go, while Derek's been training to become the best hunter he can be so he can stand up to the Great Animal - and he actually comes fairly close to figuring out what's what with it, considering he deduces it must change shape (he also makes the castle band dress up as animals so he can shoot them with coloured arrows, while he's at it).
Hunting, he and Odette run into one another, but I'm not sure WHAT Odette's thinking there as she blazes at him full-tilt in swan form - which would scare any self-respecting hunter, so naturally Derek shoots at her.
They do lead him back to the lake though where the two lovers (yes, they do love one another despite it all) reunite, and she explains the only way to break the spell is if Derek swears everlasting love in front of the whole world. Seeing as his mother's planning some pageant ball for the next evening to find him a bride, Derek has Odette promise she'll be there then, and leaves.
Things will not, of course, go swimmingly, because Odette fails to trick Rothbart, and he knows Derek's been there because of the man's bow (some hunter he is, leaving his weapon behind!), and he also drops the little nugget that there's no moon the next night, so how is she going to go and dance?
He does hatch a plan however, and sends his lackey magically transformed into Odette to the castle (where there actually IS a pageant happening, honestly one of my favourite things in this cartoon LOL) to schmooze Derek. Madly in love as ever, Derek doesn't stop to ask why Odette's wearing black which she's never worn before (or how the hell she got a new dress as a swan) and despite the real Odette's efforts from outside, he proclaims his love.
This triggers the failsafe in the curse which will now cause the real Odette to die, and despite the fact Derek races off to get to her, there's no stopping that - but there IS something he can do about Rothbart, as the two engage in a fight once Derek realizes the man's the Great Animal.
He would have probably failed badly if the animals who love Odette didn't unearth his bow for him, and if his best pal hadn't been locked up with Odette by Rothbart but got free just in time to send him the arrow which in fact kills the evil geezer.
This breaks the spell and Odette revives, meaning there IS a royal wedding, and while you'd assume they're crowned King and Queen there at the same ceremony, it's kind of misleading because ... wait for it ... this movie kicked off an entire franchise, and apparently they don't get crowned until 2023, the latest installment!
I'm going to go with, they get crowned after they marry, though, and live happily ever after to the end of their days - because Derek promises Odette he'll love her for longer than they live.
Which is a lovely sentiment to end the movie on (not counting the fact Jean-Bob does not, in fact, turn into an actual prince).
This movie has it all, a committed couple (with some kinks to work out), brilliant side characters in the form of a French frog, a turtle who's super fast in the water, a match-making mama and the sassiest valet I have ever seen in any movie whatsoever. The twist might sound basic, but considering the obstacles set up for Derek and Odette to fail, it's actually quite ingenious.
And above all - beside the fact that Derek isn't exactly the brightest lightbulb in the box - it showcases just how steadfast love can save the day.
Plus, the music's stunning.
10/10 recommend!
xx
*images and video not mine
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