Thanks for the review, miafka! It’s good to know that there are animated movies out there that have great stories and great animation 
Although I do want to read the book before I watch it. I’ll be interested to see what anyone who has read the book and seen the movie thinks.
Yeah, that’s a really helpful review, miafka! I’m surprised- and pleased- that it has substance and story and isn’t just a pretty film. I might actually go and see it at some point.
We’re going to see it tomorrow so i’ll post a review here once we come back.
Okay…here is that review;
Pro’s
-The ability to keep Desp. as a young kid and not let him grow out of that ability. He seems to know more then the adults.
-They do a nice job at making Desp. seems spirited and youthful. Very energetic and dare-devilish.
-The adventure would make a young-teen thrilled. It is almost too much for younger kids.
-It talks about chivalry and honor. Two aspects of today’s world that are totally gone. Nobody talks about those things anymore;
-Most of the sayings are quite true…“A true Hero doesn’t appear until he is needed.”
-The character of Roscuro becomes one of sin and evil. [spoil]The part where he changes shows what really happens when sin takes over your life. I love the part where they said…“He searched for someone in the same sense of mind and anger.”[/spoil] That idea is so true…
-The narrator and storyline are well done and will grab you and drag you through the entire film.
-The message behind the story was perfect and is never told anymore…
Cons
-The adventure is a little too intense for kids 3-6. It takes sudden turns into “scary-ness”. Thankfullly the jumps are rather quick and don’t last “too” long. [spoil]When Desp. first goes into the “ratworld”. When he first sees the skeleton face…that was much too intense for young kids, caught me in a scary place as well.[/spoil]
-The soup and color loss is rather weak. It makes sense but is a stretch and requires the viewer to make the connections.
Review-9/10
The animation was adequite but then again is from Universal. (home of The Land Before Time) The storyline is rather intruiging and really tries to bring out a new idea into movie watching. For me the “new idea” was revolutionary and fantastic. I loved watching it…it is more for the age group of 8-15 since there are a few really intense scary scenes…but nothing tramatic.
I saw it Monday (I believe) and I thought it was a pretty good movie. I haven’t read the book yet so I can’t tell you how much it relates to it. I think I agree mostly with Al-Bob when it comes to this movie.
Now that this movie is out, i really want to see it. It looks like a good movie, i like the style is portrays also! Im excited for this one!
This was a film that had a lot of potential unrealized, likely due to real-life human frailty. The overall concept was great, the muted color palette and character designs were well used to convey a sense of time and place, and the story flowed well…until the build-up to a scattered climax. Logical gaps and timing flaws (simultaneous events don’t realistically unfold time-wise) weigh on the proceedings, lending less “Hooray!” and more “Huh?” to the resolution. Also, Despereaux gets much less screen time than one might expect. It’s more like The Tale of A Bunch of Interrelating Characters.
According to WikiKnowitallia, the Boldo “soup spirit” character was not in the book, which would explain why the character’s presence is a mystery without explanation. Perhaps it was added by character designer and original director Sylvain Chomet, who was allegedly released from production for using Despereaux funds to animate The Illusionist. It could be that the need for fill-in directors explains the logical jumble toward the film’s end. It seems a reasonable assumption that Chomet damaged Despereaux in bringing The Illusionist to life.
Anyway, it’s too bad that a good concept was shortchanged by faltering execution. The Tale of Despereaux was Framestore Animation’s only foray into feature-length CG work, and it would be hard to blame them for feeling soured on the experience. At least they’re still busy providing visual effects for other features.
Cheers! Steve
Honestly, the movie’s cute and all, and if I had watched it without reading the book, I would’ve really liked it. But in comparison to the book, it’s not that good. I feel the story has more meaning if Roscuro came from the dark dungeon and saw light for the first time…and my favorite part from the book was taken out! My favorite part was [spoil]when Desperaux’s father thinks he sees his ghost and starts begging for mercy, showing how much he regrets sending his son to exile[/spoil]…it was a touching moment for me. But in the movie they just turned it into something “funny” [spoil]"AHH A GHOST! faint[/spoil]. 
It’s like the father never missed him or feels regret or anything. If they had at least kept that amazing part the way it was, I would’ve liked it more.
And in my opinion, Desperaux’s voice sounds too low…too old.
It’s one of my fave books, but I think the movie could’ve done better. I’m not saying they have to follow the book word for word, because I know some things that are brilliant in books are hard to translate in a movie, but I say the movie lightened up the story too much.
The only merit this film had at all was Emma Watson’s voice…
But the book was stupendous.
The only reason I want to see this movie is because of Dustin Hoffman. He’s in this right, or am I thinking of something else?