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| Dvdivas
was founded by John Gabbard in 2000. It's purpose has been and
remains to be to provide you, the entertainment community with
the latest dvds and movie reviews. It will continue to be your
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“The Tale of Despereaux”-(Brian's Review)
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Reviewer:
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Brian
Ivie
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Studio: |
Universal
Studios |
| Genre: |
Family
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Release
Date: |
4/7/09
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| Special
Features: |
Sneak Peek of "Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey!"
The Tale of Despereaux: A (Mostly) Non-Fictional Making-Of,
Top Ten Uses for Oversized Ears, Interactive Map of the
Kingdom of Dor, Despereaux's Quest Game, Build-A-Boldo Game,
DVD-ROM-Card Creator, Fairy Tale Fantasy, Coloring Pages,
Wallpapers, Screensaver
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| Review:
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Amid the big-budget blockbusters of the holiday season,
solidified by Despereuax's opening contender, "Bedtime Stories,"
it is more than refreshing to see a return to simpler times,
when knights were noble, damsels were distressed, and the
unlikely hero triumphed over all. The Tale of Despereaux,
directed with poignant and perfected British knowhow by
Sam Fell (Flushed Away) is in many ways the antithesis of
our times. At first glance, this tale reminds one of older
adventures such as "The Princess Bride," "Time Bandits,"
or the lesser known "Adventures of Baron Munchausen." British-affiliation
aside, The Tale of Despereaux shares with these classics
an ability to combine multiple facets of film within a hundred-minute
capsule. W ith a gusto to turn Flynn on his heels, The Tale
of Despereaux is a buddy-film, coming-of-age tale, swashbuckling
adventure, and fairy-tale all at once. ****
The film, as a whole clearly benefits from rich source
material, which, although catering to a "happily-ever-after,"
state of mind, remains unpredictable and immersive. The
story, although seemingly generic feels constantly like
its bounding across new frontiers. By the end you won't
want it to end any other way. The animation is fairy-tale-esque,
with elongated faces, ever-rosy cheeks, and glimmering golden
locks, complimented by stunning wide-shots of the valley
beyond the kingdom, and Despereaux's daydream visuals, which
further a storybook beauty. Now in an animated film, as
in live action, the director and his affiliates make use
of the same tools to meet the same ends. But with=2 0fantasy,
the director is faced with generating life that completely
and sadly exists only in a writer's imagination. The director
stands upon the precipice, looking into the black void that
must become a mouse-village, with book-case skylines and
playing-card rooftops. The options seem limitless and freedom
of creativity boundless, but to create another world, and
immerse us in that reality is a different task entirely.
The reason why The Tale of Despereaux works is because it
is not soulless. The characters do not contain that lifeless
drain of expression and feeling that so terrorized director
Robert Zemeckis in his quest to mesh our world with the
animated. Even under a clouded sky, the life of Despereaux,
as well as his friends, family, and foes is vividly realized.
---
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| Special
Features: |
As mentioned earlier, the younger ones, or the target
audience should enjoy the Despereaux's "Inte ractive Map
of The Kingdom of Dor," as well as "Despereaux's Quest,"
staple games made infamous by Disney's "vault series." The
"Build-A-Boldo Game," although relevant to the film because
the character "Boldo," is usually in pieces is also just
added DVD fluff. But overall, the games are diverting enough
for the kids. Card creators, wallpapers, coloring pages,
screensavers, and printable activities are also available
beyond the movie, making the fantasy more tangible. Finally,
there is a "Sneak Peek of Curious George 2: Follow That
Monkey! And "The Tale of Despereaux: A (Mostly) Non-Fictional
Making-Of: a nice introduction to the creators, and also
to the source material, which is important to any adaptation.
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Final Words:
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In the end, The Tale of Despereaux
will likely be dismissed by some, simply missed by many, and
denounced as middling stock-fantasty by the critical world.
But every year there comes a film that is misunderstood, a
movie that is unde rappreciated, and often forgotten after
the winds of opening week die down. Last year, that film was
Stardust, a movie few saw, but all who did, loved. Despereaux
fills that void in 2008, as the type of movie that never forgot
where it came from, and was created by those who, above all,
sought to make a good movie. The truth is that I see too many
movies, at least in terms of the normal human. And there are
only a few experiences, when I find a reason to stick around
afterwards, to watch the credits roll, and absorb every last
silicon frame. When you love movies, like I do, to the point
of living for them, you often find yourself searching backwards;
for the early Reiner films, Weir's "once in a blue moons,"
or the ageless Curtiz classics. To get that feeling one has
to make an extra effort nowadays, strip the box-office of
its weekly facade, and uncover the gems underneath. People
need to see this film, and in writing reviews such as this
I find my purpose, in its simplest terms, and that is to encourage
people. For as critics, we relish in the ability to verbally
obliterate, to be cynical, if cleverly, and to bash and bruise
the ego of Uwe Boll whenever possible. But in the end, it
is these reviews that we truly enjoy writing. When we can
praise the triumphant, as well as the surprising. When we
find something special, stay a little while afterwards, and
can reflect on the simple wonder in that. |
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