The Tale of Despereaux movie vs. book

[400%mama]

How can they call the movie the same title? Egads.... they butchered the story beyond recognition. :

My little ones and I enjoyed the book on CD- a magnificent reading that I highly recommend.

The movie, however, do not bother.

Gor!

[ollineeba]

I didn't care for the movie, either.

[CheapPearls]

My mom bought the movie for our boys for Easter. The kids don't seem to like it much but I think a big part of that it's a bit over their heads. We haven't read the book yet, I was planning on picking it up soon. I didn't realize that it was that different.

[KaraBoo]

I haven't seen the movie yet. But honestly, as the book went on, I cared less and less for it. So the movie has to work awfully hard to be any worse than the book, imo.

[greeny]

I never read the book.

The movie, though, was a snoozer. I literally had to try really hard to stay away during it. *snore*

[Storm Bride]

I haven't read the book, but I want to after seeing the movie. The movie was really strange and some of the plot elements seemed really random and disconnected from everything else. I wondered if the book explained things like why there needed to be soup, in order for there to be rain - stuff like that.

I thought the movie featured really pretty and impressive CGI, but it fell pretty flat for me, otherwise. DH felt the same way. DD and ds2 loved it, though. I think they liked the veggie guy.

[ma2maya]

Are we speaking of the original "short story" picture book or the chapter book adapted from the screenplay?

We enjoyed both the chapter book and the movie. Mostly because the chapter book was a relatively easy read for my 7yo and reading it was motivation to get to see the movie. Though neither was terribly exciting. But a cute story and the animation was nice. I especially liked the rat world. Kind of reminded me of Mad Max Thunderdome.

[journeymom]

Originally Posted by ma2maya

Are we speaking of the original "short story" picture book or the chapter book adapted from the screenplay?

We enjoyed both the chapter book and the movie. Mostly because the chapter book was a relatively easy read for my 7yo and reading it was motivation to get to see the movie. Though neither was terribly exciting. But a cute story and the animation was nice. I especially liked the rat world. Kind of reminded me of Mad Max Thunderdome.

There's a picture book? The chapter book was published in 2003. I think it came first.

[SparklingGemini]

Oh darn.

I was really looking forward to watching this movie because I adore the book.

But now, maybe I'll just skip it!

[lorijds]

The book came first, then the movie. There is also a "junior novelization, movie tie-in" book, that must be somewhere between the book and the movie. There is also a story-book, tie-in version to the movie.

I haven't seen the movie, and am not planning on doing so. It's obvious from the trailer that it doesn't really even keep the feel of the book.

If you read the book, make sure you are picking up the original book. The Newberry Award winner, published in 2003.

Here:

http://www.amazon.com/Tale-Despereau...0574252&sr=8-2

and

here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tale_Of_Despereaux

[delphine]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

I I wondered if the book explained things like why there needed to be soup, in order for there to be rain - stuff like that.

I haven't seen the movie, but DS and I read the book together. I don't remember anything about needing soup for there to be rain. The soup was significant because of the queen's death (won't go into details, don't want to spoil it for anyone). Nothing to do with rain, unless I am forgetting something.

I'm kind of disappointed to hear that the movie doesn't follow the books. This is one of my favorite children's books.

[ma2maya]

Originally Posted by lorijds

The book came first, then the movie. There is also a "junior novelization, movie tie-in" book, that must be somewhere between the book and the movie. There is also a story-book, tie-in version to the movie.

Ah. Now I am annoyed with the lady at Borders. I would have much rather purchased the original book than the "junior novelization".

[journeymom]

Go get the original book, it's well worth it. I can't figure out why they'd bother with a junior novelization anyway. The book isn't that long to begin with. It's not short, though. Maybe medium-ish.