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The Tale of Despereaux - Should I take my kids?  

post #1 of 16
12/26/08 at 5:44pm
Thread Starter 
My dd loves the book The Tale of Despereaux and desperately wants me to take her to the movie... it's all she's talked about for months! We almost NEVER see movies in the theater because it's hard to justify spending $30 to go to the movies when we can rent it off netflix in a few months... but she really has her heart set on it.

So, have you seen it? Is it well done and true to the book or a big dud? Would it be worth the money to take my dd or should we just wait for the dvd?

Thanks,
A cheapskate momma.
post #2 of 16
12/26/08 at 7:09pm
I LOVED the book.
I thought the movie was ok: humorous, sweet, but not as good as the book (a few changes).
I WOULD take the kids.
post #3 of 16
12/26/08 at 7:45pm
We're going. We loved the book. The movie, however, is not like the book. LOTS of little changes that ended up making it an entirely different story, imo.
post #4 of 16
12/26/08 at 9:43pm
I agree with the others. It was a cute movie, and my dh really liked it, along with my dss. It was very different from the book...and there were no clouts to the head. Okay, maybe it wasn't THAT different, but there is a new character, a veggie guy who I didn't like much.

I would take them, I always like the opportunity to see a movie based on a book we read, it opens up discussions further. I did ask my dss which was better and he said the movie. He's grounded now. lol, kidding of course. Maybe I need to work on my storytelling.

I would go, it was worth the astronomical amount of money, but we didn't take my 4yo. It was just us 3.
post #5 of 16
12/27/08 at 12:53am
We went today (me, my 9, 7, and 5 year olds) and really loved it.
post #6 of 16
12/27/08 at 12:56am
never read the book.
took both kiddos (2 and 4 ) and they sat through it and loved it!
it is a bit redundant in the them (bravery etc) but i think most preschoolers/elementary kids would love it!
post #7 of 16
12/27/08 at 1:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oriole View Post
I LOVED the book.
I thought the movie was ok: humorous, sweet, but not as good as the book (a few changes).
I WOULD take the kids.
Agreed.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ArtsyHeartsy View Post
I agree with the others. It was a cute movie, and my dh really liked it, along with my dss. It was very different from the book...and there were no clouts to the head. Okay, maybe it wasn't THAT different, but there is a new character, a veggie guy who I didn't like much.
The veggie guy, Botticelli, was probably supposed to evoke this painting by 16th century painter, Arcimboldo.

The mice and rats were dressed sort of Dutch/Flemish with their caps. The mouse elders had those ruffled collars, Despereaux's dad had a white collar, and Miggery Sow had that skull cap. Not terribly important, but I noticed it!
post #8 of 16
12/27/08 at 1:22am
I love that painting. My kids were all worried about what happened to the veggie guy at the end. It was the one loose end they didn't tie up.
post #9 of 16
12/27/08 at 1:28am
I wasn't crazy about it. We walked out of the theater saying to each other - "well that's one off our must rent list...."
post #10 of 16
12/27/08 at 11:30am
We took our 3 y/o dd and our 6 y/o ds. They both enjoyed it. Nothing scary. I thought it was a sweet story and we will definitely look for the story book based on all your comments about how much better it was.

Visually it was beautiful and not overdone like a lot of animation these days. I especially liked how the people looked liked Medieval Paintings.
post #11 of 16
12/27/08 at 5:33pm
The veggie guy, Botticelli, was probably supposed to evoke this painting by 16th century painter, Arcimboldo.

The mice and rats were dressed sort of Dutch/Flemish with their caps. The mouse elders had those ruffled collars, Despereaux's dad had a white collar, and Miggery Sow had that skull cap. Not terribly important, but I noticed it! [/QUOTE]

Ya think I would have noticed that considering I am an art major. Duh. I have never seen that painting though. Although I like the idea of the animation not replicating life, but art....I still could have gone without the veggie guy. I thought that was pretty lame. I like in the book how they use art references, such as Roscuro's name. I def like the book more. For..it was a good opportunity for some art education. Those of you who haven't read it, I think the book is much more mature and a little darker than the movie. They took a lot out....like the selling of mig....and her califlower ear? (that part was really disturbing to me)
post #12 of 16
12/28/08 at 4:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Igraine View Post
We took our 3 y/o dd and our 6 y/o ds. They both enjoyed it. Nothing scary.

Holy cow, are you serious? My 4 year old was terrified!

We don't go to the theater much, and I was really REALLY kicking myself for taking her to this. I thought with a G-rating there might be some mild peril, but it felt like every other scene was a chase scene. And the whole gladiator thing with the rats about to eat the princess was terrifying (for her).

She's a somewhat sensitive kid, for sure... but I really was disturbed by the fact that this had a G rating. I'd rather my kid see a few fart references than be scared.

If I knew how many scary moments this movie was going to have, I'd definitely not have brought DD. Maybe a rental would have been less intimidating for her.
post #13 of 16
12/28/08 at 4:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SpringRain View Post
My dd loves the book The Tale of Despereaux and desperately wants me to take her to the movie... it's all she's talked about for months! We almost NEVER see movies in the theater because it's hard to justify spending $30 to go to the movies when we can rent it off netflix in a few months... but she really has her heart set on it.

So, have you seen it? Is it well done and true to the book or a big dud? Would it be worth the money to take my dd or should we just wait for the dvd?

Thanks,
A cheapskate momma.
Wait for the DVD.
post #14 of 16
12/29/08 at 8:25pm
We loved it! Very cute animation, nice story.
post #15 of 16
1/3/09 at 11:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by chinaKat View Post
Holy cow, are you serious? My 4 year old was terrified!
She's a somewhat sensitive kid, for sure... but I really was disturbed by the fact that this had a G rating. I'd rather my kid see a few fart references than be scared. .
We did not know about that crazy scene either. Here is a great web site that lets you in on all the details. Which I found after seeing this movie


http://www.kids-in-mind.com/t/taleofdespereaux.htm

We have been talking a lot with our kids lately about make believe and movies and how no one is really getting hurt. I am not one to expose my kids to violence or aggression on purpose. We talked about the movie afterwards and they each enjoyed it. My ds is much more sensitive than my dd. Having an older brother may has prepared her for such things.

Now the review on Marley and Me, no way are we going to see that one! Talk about trauma!
post #16 of 16
1/10/09 at 9:33pm
hmm... I was going to take my 2 and a half yr old to see it tonight. His first movie in a theater. Maybe it's too much?
http://www.crunchyreviews.com/a-pare...of-despereaux/

http://www.screenit.com/movies/2008/...espereaux.html

http://www.kids-in-mind.com/t/taleofdespereaux.htm
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