The Tale of Despereaux

[altivo]

We missed this when it was in theatres. Finally got hold of the library copy today so we watched it tonight. It's adorable. Alterations from the book seem minor and forgiveable for a nice change. Dustin Hoffman and Matthew Broderick played rat against mouse wonderfully. The lighting and scenery were enchanting and powerful. I don't regret casting my Ursa Major vote for Bolt, but this film is equally worthy. In the short feature on the DVD, "The tale of the tale..." (which is, of course, a "making of...") the designers admitted to taking their vision from classic Dutch paintings by Vermeer, Bosch, and Brueghel. I think they did a masterful job of their own in capturing the simplicity of one, and the hellish complexities of another as suited to the scenes being portrayed. Five apples for this one. ;D

Some similarities to scenes from Ratatouille must be coincidental, but it's amazing just how similar they were. ^.*

Comments

SPOILER ALERT!

[silver-kiden.livejournal.com]

now, you see, i thought the movie was mediocre at best. fine for little children, but other than that, a waste of money. there was barely any plot, the characters couldn't make up their minds on if they were good or bad, half of them were simpletons, and, except for the 'evil leader' and the sailor (yes, i've forgotten their names already), the rats were nothing but mindless eating machines. and a couple questions...just what is served by sending veggie-man off to save the princess, only to have him fall and be eaten before he even reaches rat city? and why is the princess saying she misses rats and wants them back, then five minutes later screaming in fear of one, while at the same time wanting to talk to the mouse?!

Re: SPOILER ALERT!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Maybe I have a childlike mind. Most of what goes out to theatres these days you couldn't pay me to sit through.

I thought it had plenty of plot, though as usual the conversion from text to film muddied the plot line. Yes, the characters behaved like humans, and I expect anthropomorphic creatures to do that. They change their minds, they repent, they have weaknesses. Many are stupid, many are followers who get caught up in the mob without questioning it. The princess behaved much as I'd expect: people often say they want something back the way it was, or changed to something other than what it is, only to recant when offered the reality. The servant girl also learned that being a princess wasn't as simple as she thought it would be. As for Boldo (the vegetable humanoid,) he was comic relief, a twist on the anthropomorphic concept, and yet another borrowing from classical artwork (see Arcimboldo, whose name they even used.) He was the chef's familiar, of course, which is clever, but his purpose in the end was just to urge Despereaux in the right direction, rather than to take action on his own.

[bladehorse.livejournal.com]

I wasnt excpecting much when colty brought it out of blockbuster last time. I was surprisingly surprised at the show :) I too loved the mideval type of art for a lot of the scenes.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I will probably buy this one, when I find it at a good price. It deserves several viewings if just for all the art references. They are brilliantly done, I think. The mouse himself is, as I said, adorable. What persistence of character.

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

I've not seen that one either. Will have to give it a go.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I thought it was very much worthwhile. The book won a Newbery medal, America's most prestigious award in children's literature, and the film does it reasonable justice. Visually, I just couldn't resist it because of the way it draws from the imagery of museum masterpieces. Vermeer's architecture and lighting, El Greco's anatomy, Bosch's visions of hell are all wrapped into the imagery.

[heavens-steed.livejournal.com]

I agree with you. I was not familiar with the story and so I wasn't sure what to expect but I was delightfully surprised. Beautifully animated and all the elements of a good, classic fairy tale.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

The book is better, of course, but they didn't do it any great harm and for once, the visuals are really well integrated. I liked Kate Di Camillo's (the author) comment in the short feature on the making of the film. I don't always agree with this, but she said it was good to be able to bring the story and the ideas behind it to an audience that would never actually read her book. I might hope that at least a few will be moved to read the book who wouldn't otherwise have done so.

[saythename.livejournal.com]

You know, I need to rent Ratatouille now that you mention it.

And this "The Tale of Despereaux" now too, I loves me the
Flemish masters.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

If you haven't seen either one, yes, do it. They're both great. Sure they have flaws, like all movies (usually due to the editing rather than the concept) but both are fun and well done.

If you see them close together in time, you'll probably notice a lot of similar moments. Odd, because most of those are right out of the book in Despereaux, which I'm sure was never influenced by Ratatouille since the book predates that film by a couple of years.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

I probably liked Ratatouille better but I did like Desparaux which I felt was a "darker" film.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Ratatouille is polished and well done, and excellent as light entertainment.

Despereaux is much deeper and more complex than that, and has occasional rough edges, but a lot more substance, I think. It leaves you with things to think about, and images that are actually haunting.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

It also delved into the darker aspects of the psyche and what causes it.

Still Ratatouille looked so cute making that omlette :D