The Tale of Despereaux (2008) Reviews
- Starring:
- Matthew Broderick, Robbie Coltrane, (more)
- Director(s):
- Mike Johnson, Rob Stevenhagen, (more
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- G
- Category:
- Family & Kids, Animation
Member Rating
My RatingAverage Ratings
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful I'm still trying to figure out how this movie got a single good review. Is the American public so inert that they honestly don't know what a good movie is anymore? The movie starts out absurd and ... Read More I'm still trying to figure out how this movie got a single good review. Is the American public so inert that they honestly don't know what a good movie is anymore? The movie starts out absurd and moves on to being incomprehensible and garbage.
Oh, and boring. Don't expect anything resembling excitement. Or fun. Or a pulse. It is essentially mice and rats droning on and on for and hour and a half and then an ending that is literally..."Then the king stopped being depressed and everyone lived happily ever after."
I swear, I'm not making it up. That's the ending.... Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful This movie may seem very happy and cheerful while boasting a "G" rating, but beleive me it isn't. While not containing any gore or sex, it does contain many horror elements and themes. Some of ... Read More This movie may seem very happy and cheerful while boasting a "G" rating, but beleive me it isn't. While not containing any gore or sex, it does contain many horror elements and themes. Some of which are things such as human skeletons and bones in the sewer setting of the movie and the overly disgusting rats. It even includes things such as the eating of mice and humans and a rat roman gladiator scene. The Tale of Despereaux also has many sad and scary parts. It is my opinion that this movie was underrated and that it is not good for kids 7 and under. I strongly suggest that if you are a parent or caregiver, watch this movie before showing it to your children. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
4 out of 6 people found this review helpful Parents beware - if you want your children to be exposed to loads of negativity, death and implied death, inappropriate language (dumb, stupid, idiot, etc.), violence including but not limited to a ... Read More Parents beware - if you want your children to be exposed to loads of negativity, death and implied death, inappropriate language (dumb, stupid, idiot, etc.), violence including but not limited to a scene whereby rats are going to eat a princess alive, characters with severe emotional problems, and worst of all, parents of the mouse Despereaux who literally let him be sent away (equivalent of life in prison and a sure death) even though the mouse is the "good guy", then watch this movie. If you think this kind of stuff is ridiculous and don't want your children exposed to multiple adult situations and characters with a variety of psychological issues, tell everyone you know to save themselves an hour and a half of garbage! And this is supposed to be a "G" rated movie - wow!!!!!!!!!!!!! What has our society become? Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
5 out of 8 people found this review helpful This movie has a pedigree: helmed by directors Fell and Stevenhagen out of the Dreamworks/Aardman animation schools, stuffed to the gills with top-grade character actors even in inconspicuous roles, ... Read More This movie has a pedigree: helmed by directors Fell and Stevenhagen out of the Dreamworks/Aardman animation schools, stuffed to the gills with top-grade character actors even in inconspicuous roles, and based on the Newbery Medal winning book by Kate DiCamillo. Unfortunately, its pedigree fails to deliver the goods, at least as I had hoped. The animation beautifully captures the style of fairytale picture books, but it seems stark and often lifeless. Voice actors give competent but unremarkable performances, except for excellent ones by Ciaran Hinds as Botticelli the leader of the rats and Christopher Lloyd as Hovis the blind threadmaster. And the rearranged and trimmed script deprives the novel of its perfect narrative sequence and many of its darker themes. It's a fine little movie, but those who loved the book for its simple and elegant prose and its heartbreaking but ultimately hopeful story will be disappointed. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
6 out of 10 people found this review helpful Definitely not for preschool age children because of some scenes. However, it is a great movie for kids over 7. This is the traditional fairytale complete with the princess, the hero, and a happy ... Read More Definitely not for preschool age children because of some scenes. However, it is a great movie for kids over 7. This is the traditional fairytale complete with the princess, the hero, and a happy ending. The characters are well developed and the plot is wonderful. It has a good message for young and old alike. I took four of my grandkids ages 7, 8, 8, and 10 and they all loved it. Even my skeptical granddaughter said at the end that it was a great movie. I walked in thinking it would be just another cartoon movie to see with them and was involved from the start and so were the kids. So much that not one of us took a break for more treats or the restroom (for anyone taking kids you know that is a GOOD SIGN ). I would recommend this one to be added to your list. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
6 out of 10 people found this review helpful My family went to this show yesterday, including my 4 and 6 year old. Being a "G" movie I never thought about checking the reviews. This should NOT be a G movie, it includes: the mouse is banned ... Read More My family went to this show yesterday, including my 4 and 6 year old. Being a "G" movie I never thought about checking the reviews. This should NOT be a G movie, it includes: the mouse is banned from mouseworld because he has his own ideas, the mouse is put in a colosseum against a cat in which they are to fight to the death, a woman is coaxed to kill a girl--plans it out and tries to follow through (including going to the kitchen to get a butcher knife). I am so disappointed in not only the creators of this movie based on the way it was presented through the trailers, but also those gave it a G rating. The kids were scared and we walked out. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
2 out of 4 people found this review helpful I didn't read the book, so based on just this movie the story didn't quite flow and many things happened out of context and didn't make much sense. I guess this film was created with the assumption ... Read More I didn't read the book, so based on just this movie the story didn't quite flow and many things happened out of context and didn't make much sense. I guess this film was created with the assumption that the audience is familiar with the book. Also, there were too many times where nothing was happening and the dialog was boring. My 4 year old daughter was also noticebly bored and kept moving in her seat. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
4 out of 8 people found this review helpful So great!! I t is not THAT dark, and it has a great message. What can beat that?? With so many movies out there with no moral, or heroic characters, it is always a pleasure to see a film like this. ... Read More So great!! I t is not THAT dark, and it has a great message. What can beat that?? With so many movies out there with no moral, or heroic characters, it is always a pleasure to see a film like this. Plus, the animation is great!! Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
3 out of 9 people found this review helpful I watched this movie with my wife and 4 year old daughter who are both African American and I was really disappointed. According to this film, you have to be anorexic, white with blond hair and blue ... Read More I watched this movie with my wife and 4 year old daughter who are both African American and I was really disappointed. According to this film, you have to be anorexic, white with blond hair and blue eyes to be a princess. You have to be built like Arnold Swarzenegger to be a prince and if you are overweight (by modern American standards) you're supposed to be a pig farmer who is given away by your own father. I am so glad that I watched it with my daughter, so I could explain that you don't have to be any of these things to be loved and a good person. I told her Michelle Obama and President Obama are like a real life King and Queen and their daughters are like two princess'. Hopefully, everyone will tell their children that you don't have to meet these Hollywood stereotypes to be loved and / or a hero. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No |
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