The Tale of Despereaux
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Emma Watson, Dustin Hoffman, Tracey Ullman, Kevin KlineDirector: Robert Stevenhagen, Sam Fell
Studio: Universal
MPAA Rating: G (General Audience)
Format: AC-3, Animated, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Running Time: 93 minutes
DVD Release: April 7th 2009
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DVD Review
THE TALE OF THREE UNLIKELY HEROES - A MISFIT MOUSE WHO PREFERS READING BOOKS TO EATING THEM, AN UNHAPP RAT WHO SCHEMES TO LEAVE THE DARKNESS OF THE DUNGEON & A BUMBLING SERVANT GIRL WITH CAULIFLOWER EARS - WHOSE FATES ARE INTERTWINED WITH THAT OF THE CASTLE'S PRINCESS.
User Reviews
WHAT A CUTIE! - Rating: 4/5
CUTE STORY. I'm not sure it is that good for kids under 5. Most of them 3-4 year olds seemed to lose interest. But good for 5 and up.
not memorable - Rating: 3/5
It was refreshing to see one of these Toy Story-style animated movies take its time and not crowd me with too much action, razzle-dazzle, or sappy songs. Certainly the movie cannot be faulted for visual majesty. Mouseworld and Ratworld are particularly delightful.
But you can see what other reviewers are talking about when they say the story is a mess. Leave the room for a minute and you'll be completely lost when you come back.
It's not just the convoluted nature of the plot that's a problem: it's that, since the story gets you emotionally connected to one character for about twenty minutes, then abruptly changes course and follows another for 20 minutes, you find yourself feeling disconnected and uninvolved.
Additionally, elements of the plot are downright illogical. Since when was its the rats' goal to consume the princess? Seemed like that came out of nowhere. And that part about how the mice are deliberately taught to be craven? That might have sounded okay on paper, but it certainly doesn't fly on screen.
I'm sure this works much better as a book.
Book: GOOD, Movie: BAAAD - Rating: 1/5
I read the book, and urged my mom to read it. We both loved the book, so when I saw the previews for the movie, I thought it would be good, right?
WRONG. I took a friend and my mom to the movie. By the end, my friend, who had also read the book, and I were comparing differences!!
If you still want entertainment from something like this, read the book.
Good Family Movie - Rating: 4/5
This is a pleasant children movie. Not too long, easy plot for the 5 and 7 year old to follow.
Children's DVD's: Despereaux - Rating: 5/5
This is a wonderful tale and my three year old Great Granddaughter
loves it. We watch it over and over.
