OK for kids 6+
Touching, beautiful tale is an excellent family film.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that although it's animated, this adaptation of Kate DiCamillo's popular Newbery-winning fantasy about a brave mouse tackles mature themes like longing, grief, loyalty, and hurt. There's nothing worrisome in the story aside from a relatively minor character's sudden heart attack and a few scenes of implied violence (there isn't any blood or guns, though Despereaux has a fascination with swords). But because the story's pacing is slower than most animated films and the themes could be difficult for preschool children to grasp, it may be hard for the family's littlest members to understand what some of the characters are feeling.
- Families can talk about typical fairy-tale adventures. How is this movie similar and different from other fairy tales?
- How many "heroes" are in this story? What makes Despereaux a differentkind of hero?
- What messages does that send to people watching hisstory?
- Kids who are familiar with the book can compare the novel withthe film. Did it meet your expectations?
- What changes were made? Didthe changes help the movie? Which adaptations of your favorite books doyou like, and which were disappointing? Why?
The good stuff
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Messages: Characters' fates are all intertwined, so when each of them makes a wise, unselfish decision, everyone lives happily ever after.
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Role models: A brave little mouse refuses to cower and instead decides to live bythe chivalrous code of knights. A rat acts against his self interest tosave a princess.
What to watch for
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Violence and scariness: A relatively minor character dies of a sudden heart attack; a group of rats threatens to kill a mouse; a rat is killed by a cat (off-camera); a couple of characters are tied up and imprisoned; a mob of rats is bloodthirsty; Despereaux duels with rats and outruns human guards.
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Sexy stuff: Not an issue
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Language: Not an issue
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Consumerism: Not an issue
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Not an issue
Fan Reviews provided by
3
The Tale of Despereaux by conradwsba1
This movie was okay. Good at some parts. I would recomend this movie.
4
?THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX? -- A Mouse shows the Power of No-Cower = by jimchudnow
This is the animated story of an unusual little mouse with super big ears named Despereaux (voiced by MATTHEW BRODERICK). The other mice see him as somewhat odd because, rather than ?cower? about things as they?ve been taught to do, he instead has an outgoing, fearless and brave attitude towards the world around him. Rat Roscuro (voiced by DUSTIN HOFFMAN) plays a discontented and role-shifting character as the cause of sadness in the kingdom, and servant girl Miggery Sow (voiced by TRACEY ULLMAN) lives an equally unhappy role in the palace. The human characters have the angularity and bulbousness of Dreamworks-type animation, while the animals have a wonderful, sophisticated sense of movement and character. While I found the story somewhat convoluted and weak in parts (& possibly scary to some very young kids), there?s an infectious enthusiasm of all involved, and thus you?ll be likely to enjoy seeing why the tag line ?Small Hero. Big Heart.? is very appropriate.
4
cute movie a bit of shrek slides in by cyndifox
we werw 3 children 6,7,and 11 all enjoyed it. 7 yr old thought it went to fast. my husband and i thought beginning slow. my 11 yr old said the beginning didn't make much sense.
but all did enjoy it
4
i was surprized! by GreenShorts
my family and i went and saw this movie for my little brother and i was shocked on how good it was, the plot was like any kids movie, the voices went well with the animations, great visuals, this a good family movie so take the kids when ever you get a chance, one thing tho the nose of emma watson's character bugged me so bad, that was the only bad part
5
The kids and grandparents loved it! by dreamshot
It's a fairy tale, in the spirit of the Brothers Grimm. Sad things happen, bad things happen, and there's a moral there if you choose to walk away with it.
My kids (8 and 6 years old) both loved it, and couldn't stop talking about the scenes they enjoyed most. My parents came with us, and I was curious if my father (NOT the fairy tale type) would like it. I needn't have worried, Dad truly enjoyed it.
I can't understand the negative reviews. The pacing was just right, the scenes were dark only when necessary, the animation was first-rate and the story was touching.
I suppose in the age of gaudy, eye-blistering graphics this movie is out of place, but I am very pleased that I took the family to see this.
1
Moody, Dark, Dreary...this is a Christmas Release??? by aldyn1
Unbelievably slow, dark, dreary, and altogether miserable! I am an artist/illustrator and animator, so have great respect for the medium, and am blessed to have twin four and a half year old daughters who share my joy in going to see the latest animated features...not to mention, I'm familiar with the book! I know it's not a joyful book by any means, but this movie was so QUIET, and slow and damned depressing, I can't believe this was a Xmas release?! A hushed silence...awkward...fell over the crowd as the movie ended (here in Chicago), because there was just no joy there...and by all intents, it was a "happy" ending. But scary rats, mean people. hostage taking, heart attacks and death, depression and sadness overwhelmed the movie. From a storytelling standpoint, it was disjointed, not on par with the book, the characters were not well-developed, nor were their actions justified from scene to scene (esp. Roscuro's good-to-bad-to-good journey). Utterly disappointed with this film.
1
Desperaux is not for small children!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! by Moviemomx39
I took my daughters ages 5 and 3 to see this movie today. What a disappointment!! It was too scary and the overall theme too dark and morbid. The main plot revolved around death, pirate rats and revenge. Some scenes reminded me of Pirates of the Carribbean 3 which was equally distrubing. Furthermore, this cartoon was overly violent.
My children asked to leave the theater before the end of the movie. That about says it all. I want a refund.
4
Tale of Deperaux by ksprice0577
I really enjoyed the movie. "My kids really enjoyed it too.
4
Despereaux by lido14
We saw this with my son's class. It was fun being there with all those kids! They had read the book in school so then went to see the movie. It was cute. My 8 year old son loved it and said it was 'the best movie ever". I wouldn't go that far but I did enjoy it. People were saying it was dark, but from what my son tells me the book was darker. Sometimes that makes a good story. As long as there's a good lesson and a happy ending.
5
good movie by Cinamaniac
It teaches you to fallow your dreams.. dont let parents hold u back~