The Princess and the Frog

I saw this movie at work a couple weeks ago. I know, my job is chill. But moving on.

I remember that as I was watching it, I thought to myself, "Self," (because that is how I refer myself in my head) "you should blog about this." I don't think I ever did. I read through some previous posts and didn't see anything about it, but I totally thought I'd gotten off my lazy bum (or just relocated it to the computer chair) and blogged what I saw in this movie. I guess not.

I hadn't heard much about it before I saw it. Nothing good or bad. It was one of those days right before spring break when classes were winding down and the teacher threw in a feel good movie to pass the time. The princess was pretty, the music was whimsical and catchy, and the story was cute. In a lot of ways it was a typical disney movie.

But there were a few scenes that apparently parents felt were potentially too scary for some kids. They were right -I think they should even be too scary for an adult. Before you ask, this isn't a movie review of the Princess and the Frog. I thought that a good point was made when the "princess" found out that the prince had used voodoo, and she thought he was a fool. It was a good point that she rejected the glamour of evil at the end (uh...spoiler alert?) and smashed the talisman. She wasn't going to give in to the promises of the witch doctor, or make a deal with the devil.

I highly doubt Disney set out to create a movie about the danger of voodoo and spiritual warfare. To them this is all fantasy. It's a made up story that just happens to actually walk the line of some kind of theological idea. They don't outright recognize it, but any Catholic with some most remote understanding of Satan could probably draw their own conclusion here.

There it is in the mainstream entertainment industry, folks: Satan is real. Evil exists. And maybe a lot of voodoo practicers aren't happy with Disney's portrayal of life on the bayou and dealings with witch doctors, but we as Christians need to realize the danger in consulting mediums and objects of superstition. Disney animated an extreme idea, and threw in snazzy colors and jazzy tunes. Getting involved with voodoo, seances, satanism, whatever it is, probably won't (usually?) lead to a musical number with the room filling with neon demons, at least not in a way we can perceive. But actually, Disney wasn't SUPER far off in showing the affects of getting involved with evil -looking to anyone but God for help in this life.

Evil works the same way in our lives. The ways Satan "helps" us (whether you even recognize his influence and involvement or not) is similar to what happens in the movie. The promises are false. They aren't lasting the way God's are. They leave us dependent on evil. Dealing with Satan. We become pawns in his game.

So watch the movie. Think about it. Maybe you'll see what I mean. I had more clearer thoughts, but these allergies are kinda clouding up my head.

One last piece of advice to everyone. Pray the rosary. Mary is the one human that has every existed who wasn't fully divine (referring to Jesus there) who Satan is afraid of. She is the co-redemtrix -she played an irreplaceable role in salvation, her fiat was the answer God needed to execute His plan to save us. With her son, she crushed the head of Satan. A meek humble virgin defeated the Devil, and she will protect you from him.