Ella Enchanted | | Cast : | Anne Hathaway, Hugh Dancy, Cary Elwes, Joanna Lumley | | Director : | Tommy O'Haver | | Studio : | Miramax | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Dolby | | Released Date : | April 09, 2004 | | DVD Released Date : | May 03, 2005 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 06, 2005 | | Summary | Completely Sad to Watch | Content
 | This movie really was quite sad for me to watch, because I disliked it very much. There is hardly any "magic and charm" from the original book. It was just absolutely corny, and the book isn't that way. Although it didn't have to go by the book, the movie itself was pretty horrible. I was embarrassed the whole time while watching it, and then when it was about to end, where everyone starts singing Kareoke, I was gone. It just wasn't worth our money and time. Too bad it wasn't that great, because the book is definitely magic. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 02, 2005 | | Summary | 4 stars for the movie 0 stars for the book adaptation | Content
| If you loved the book Ella Enchanted, don't expect to recognize it in this "modernized" and popularized skim. The only similarities are the names of the characters and the curse that Ella is under. I treasure the book that Gail Carson Levine wrote for its humorous and simple storytelling. It has a great plot and the only "bad guys" are the Evils. Mandy, the fairy godmother is a caring and capable middle-aged woman, not the mid thirtys ditz she's made out to be. Ella is between twelve and fifteen and is forced to attend finishing school when her father, an uncaring and uninvolved merchant, remarries shortly after her mother's death to save them from poverty. Both of Prince Char's parents are alive and well and there is no evil Uncle.
This movie did to Ella Enchanted what a Knights Tale did to Medieval Lore. It ruined it. I admit, that for it's entertainment value, I appreciated it. It did have an interesting plot and intriguing characters. It's a shame that Parminder Nagra had such an abriveated role, because I believe that she is capable and deserves time to show it.
This movie, however is just proof that the movie industry does not believe that the American Public and teenagers specifically are willing to see movies that haven't somehow been brought into the present. If a book sells as well as this does, I should think that would be reason enough to trust its draw at the box office. If it had been a more faithful rendering of the book I would probably have seen it more than once and I would probably own it right now. If you haven't read the book please do. It actually ranks higher on the amazon book sales list (around 6,500 on the book list) than the DVD does (around 7,500 on the DVD list) and there are a lot more books than movies. Also consider that it will probably retain its rank whereas the DVD will not. |
| Rating | | | Date | July 23, 2005 | | Summary | A REAL Fun-For-All-Ages Movie | Content
| Most seeing the previews for "Ella Enchanted" will probably think it's solely for six-to-twelve year-old girls. While I imagine it probably goes ever very well with that audience (I don't know for sure; I'm not now nor was I ever a six-to-twelve year-old girl) I can say that its appeal is most definately not limited to one particular audience. This is fantastic fun no matter your age or gender. What the "Lord Of The Rings" movies are to the genre of epic fantasy novels, "Ella Enchanted" is to the classic fairy-tale genre, albeit with a bit of more modern allegory and contemporary-world-derived humor added in. These additions don't detract from the fairy tale appeal; they just make "Ella Enchanted" an even better movie.
Everything form the colors of the world to the rolling green landscapes to the everyday mannerisms of the characters make it clear that we're in a different world, one of great whimsey and fantasy, where realism can be joyously brushed aside for a while. The title character Ella (charmingly played by Anne Hathaway) was 'gifted' at birth with an unusual charm from her fairy godmother (in this world all newborn children get them from their respective fairy godmothers) - the gift of obediance. Thus susceptible to being anyone's pawn, Ella has to carefully hide this gift all her life until one day it's discovered by - in perfect fairytale fashion - her newly arrived wicked stepsisters, just in time to play havoc with Ella's budding new romance.
Quite aside from the fantasy elements, this is one of the best comedies I've seen in years, one of relatively few laugh-out-loud comedies I've recently encountered. "Lilo & Stitch" was like that too - it's getting so there are almost more great comedies in the Family section of the video store than the Comedy section itself. A lot of the comedy comes from a great, over-the-top turn as the lead villain by Cary Elwes.
If you love classic Disney like "Beauty And The Beast" and "Cinderella" complete with the singing mice and dancing teacups (those aren't here, but they're an example of the Kind of element that usually gets omitted when a Disney-esque tale makes the transition from animation to live action, but is present here); if you love anime along the lines of the wonderous "Kiki's Delivery Service", if you love the superb "Fairy Tale: A True Story" (less 'out there' and more of a realworld setting for the story than "Ella") or if you love the glorious romance of "Serendipity" but would also like something the little ones can watch along with you, go for this unique and adventurous fantasy comedy. A real rarity. |
| Rating | | | Date | July 19, 2005 | | Summary | Silly but Fun | Content
| In this take on the Cinderella story, as a baby, Ella of Frell was given the "gift" of obedience by a fairy. This causes all kinds of complications, as Ella must literally do what she is told, so if someone tells her to hold her tongue, she grabs it and holds it. Things get worse when her father marries and his new wife and daughters discover that Ella has to do whatever they tell her to do. When her stepsister, Hattie, forces her to shoplift, Ella is desperate to get help, and, armed with a talking book, she sets out to find Lucinda, the fairy that gave her this "gift". Along the way, Ella meets Prince Charmont (Char) and the two fall in love. This causes all kinds of complications, as Char is about to become King, but his uncle, Prince Edward, who unbeknownst to Char, killed Char's father, and will do anything he can to stop Char from becoming King. When he discovers Ella has to do whatever he says, he decides to use her to help him kill Char. Ella needs to find out how to lose the gift of obedience before it's too late.
This was a silly, goofy little movie and I loved every minute of it! It effortlessly mixes elements of classic fairy tales - fairies, giants, elves, ogres, and enchanted books - with modern touches such as a shopping mall with wooden staircases that move like escalators and modern song and dance routines. There are a lot of clever touches; one of my favorites is when Hattie has Ella shoplift glass slippers. Ella is a strong heroine even with the gift of obedience. She knows what is right and wrong and isn't afraid to speak out about it, telling Char he needs to tell his uncle to stop mistreating the elves, ogres, and giants.
The actors in this movie seem to be having a lot of fun with their parts. Anne Hathaway is perfect as Ella, very spirited and with a smile that can light up a room; Hugh Dancy is a handsome Prince Char; Cary Elwes is comically evil as Char's uncle. Minnie Driver is good but wasted in a small role that seems to exist only to give Ella the enchanted book.
This was a light, fluffy movie that was fun to watch.
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| Rating | | | Date | July 14, 2005 | | Summary | Ella is not Enchanting Enough | Content
| I read the book and love the laugh it gave. So when I knew that a movie was being made and it was played by Anne 'Princes' Diary' Hathaway, I thought It would be GREAT!
But after watching it, I don't think I like it. Yes, there were some differences with the book, like other book-based movies, but it lacked of 'energy' that filled the story from book. The fairies seemed flat, the unicorn just appeared out of nowhere in the first title song (though I don't remember any unicorns in original story), the prince (oh, yes, he was quite charming) seemed not having any serious thoughts of his own.
Perhaps if the ending wasn't that far different, it would be nicer. Not the sort of happy all-sing-along ending. I think the Brandy's Cinderella is better than this.
But I'd say Anne did a very good job in it, though not fully supported by the story nor other characters. |
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