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The Tale of Despereaux

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  • The Tale of Despereaux

    Albert and I saw The Tale of Despereaux today at the Ward Theater.

    It's an animated movie about a kingdom that is famous for it's annual soup day and on one such event it ended in tragedy, such that the King outlawed various stuff almost a kine to outlawing Monday's (well that's how the narrator in the movie tells it).

    Even though it had starting credits to it the only voices I could recongize was Dustin Hoffman as the rat who accidently caused the tragic event and Sigourney Weaver as the narrator.

    The movie was kind of enjoyable, the character of Despereaux was pretty good.

  • #2
    Re: The Tale of Despereaux

    It's based on Kate DiCamillo's Newbery Award-winning 2003 children's book. Which means Scrivener read it for his thesis. (See? Some of us were paying attention.)

    Voice talents also include Matthew Broderick, Tracey Ullman, Kevin Kline, Robbie Coltrane, Frank Langella and Christopher Lloyd.

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    • #3
      Re: The Tale of Despereaux

      Of novels I read for the first time in my research, it is the most heart-wrenching, tear-inducing, beautifully written experience of my entire thesis-writing ordeal. It is a special book; so special that I am reluctant to see the film. I cried nearly all the way through it; when I gave it to a friend for Christmas, SHE cried nearly all the way through it. Do yourself a meaningful favor and read the novel. It is one of the most Newbery-worthy novels to bear the medallion since the award's inception in 1922.
      But I'm disturbed! I'm depressed! I'm inadequate! I GOT IT ALL! (George Costanza)
      GrouchyTeacher.com

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      • #4
        Re: The Tale of Despereaux

        I find helen's summary kind of amusing. This movie is not about soup. Yes, there is soup, as well as a spool of thread, but what this film is about is a small, heroic mouse who loves a princess.

        Dang it. I'm got teary just typing that last sentence.
        But I'm disturbed! I'm depressed! I'm inadequate! I GOT IT ALL! (George Costanza)
        GrouchyTeacher.com

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        • #5
          Re: The Tale of Despereaux

          Ah yes I forgot to mention that Despereaux is the small, heroic mouse who fails at mouse school.

          Did like the scene where Despereaux's parents are talking to the mouse school's principal.

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          • #6
            Re: The Tale of Despereaux

            This is funny. The town up the road actually has a soup day...called The Garburade, after garbure, the local soup...we can buy even the soup plates to take home.
            http://thissmallfrenchtown.blogspot.com/
            http://thefrenchneighbor.blogspot.com/

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            • #7
              Re: The Tale of Despereaux

              Originally posted by scrivener View Post
              Of novels I read for the first time in my research, it is the most heart-wrenching, tear-inducing, beautifully written experience of my entire thesis-writing ordeal. It is a special book; so special that I am reluctant to see the film. I cried nearly all the way through it; when I gave it to a friend for Christmas, SHE cried nearly all the way through it. Do yourself a meaningful favor and read the novel. It is one of the most Newbery-worthy novels to bear the medallion since the award's inception in 1922.
              With an endorsement like this, how could I resist? Bought a copy yesterday; probably won't get to reading it for a couple more weeks, but when Scrivener speaks so emotionally about a book - well, I'll plop down the dollars and take that risk. Will report back after I've read it.

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              • #8
                Re: The Tale of Despereaux

                Read it all the way through in one day (today) - had a hard time putting it down. Definitely a very sweet book, and incredibly well-written; the weaving together of stories in a fashion that young readers could follow being one highlight, another was the way the narrator would tell the tale with asides to the "reader".

                Through my eyes, I viewed it as a gentle tale about how love can inspire you to do things that are not "normal" for your world - the concept of "quest" summed it up nicely. A lovely book - read it out loud to children, if you can; I'd bet that it would become a favorite of theirs. (The publishers recommend 7-12 year olds.)

                It sounds like the movie takes a fair amount of liberties with the story, though. Soup Day...Mouse School...not in the book. I'd like to see it someday, but I'll wait until it's on TV down the road.

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                • #9
                  Re: The Tale of Despereaux

                  Thanks, Leo! Gotta get that one. Am currently waiting for my son to let me read his "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes"--he has gone over the edge telling me how good this book is (and he is a "reluctant" reader.)

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