I'm updating my original review that I don't think had been published yet. It's not much different but after reading some other reviews from people who took an "I'm so far above you ALL in my knowledge of changing the format of a book into a film," I've decided to add a few points myself in those regards. I have BA in Theatre and Film. I've worked in both on books that have been adapted for film and for theatre. All three are different and therefore all three require different ways of telling the same story. For those "I'm so much more intelligent than the rest of you," reviewers please note that yes, changes are not only inevitable, they are necessary to capture an audience's attention and to tell a story in about two hours or less, that it would normally take a few days to read (granted that you don't read straight through.) However, The Ella Enchanted movie did not just change to fit the story better into a movie format, it bears little resemblance to the book at all.
It added many unnecessary plot lines that have nothing to do with the book at all. I hate the political issues that were added. I watch fairytales to get away from the real world not to have more of it shoved in my face as basically a real world story told in fairytale format. I say real world in the sense that Char is essentially on par with a hit Hollywood actor, they have segregation, slaves, and the typical over the top evil person who murders his or her way into what they want. There was so much anger and controversy added to the story that did not need to be there. Those things that were added were not needed to make this book "better" on screen. Just like any other Cinderella story there is enough conflict in the book already from the cruel Stepfamily, plus the addition of the curse that is put on Ella at birth. Even though I really hate that they added the so called master villain I can understand that because in the book one of the reasons Ella doesn't want to marry Char is that she's afraid that someone will make her do just what his uncle tries to make her do. Showing it happen is a better device in a movie than trying to explain Ella's fears. The way she gets rid of the curse in the book is far more powerful and it lines up better with her mother telling her that she's stronger than any curse. In the book, her love for Char and her fear of hurting him, allows her, after a big struggle, to finally break free of the curse on her own. She doesn't look into a mirror and command herself. That's frankly too easy.
I would have enjoyed this movie so much more if they hadn't tried to bring real life into it, such as the political issues that we face right down to the opening of a new mall. Those additions to a lovely little love story took a great deal away from what is supposed to be a fairytale; a place where we can escape the troubles of our world, not bring them with us.
It added many unnecessary plot lines that have nothing to do with the book at all. I hate the political issues that were added. I watch fairytales to get away from the real world not to have more of it shoved in my face as basically a real world story told in fairytale format. I say real world in the sense that Char is essentially on par with a hit Hollywood actor, they have segregation, slaves, and the typical over the top evil person who murders his or her way into what they want. There was so much anger and controversy added to the story that did not need to be there. Those things that were added were not needed to make this book "better" on screen. Just like any other Cinderella story there is enough conflict in the book already from the cruel Stepfamily, plus the addition of the curse that is put on Ella at birth. Even though I really hate that they added the so called master villain I can understand that because in the book one of the reasons Ella doesn't want to marry Char is that she's afraid that someone will make her do just what his uncle tries to make her do. Showing it happen is a better device in a movie than trying to explain Ella's fears. The way she gets rid of the curse in the book is far more powerful and it lines up better with her mother telling her that she's stronger than any curse. In the book, her love for Char and her fear of hurting him, allows her, after a big struggle, to finally break free of the curse on her own. She doesn't look into a mirror and command herself. That's frankly too easy.
I would have enjoyed this movie so much more if they hadn't tried to bring real life into it, such as the political issues that we face right down to the opening of a new mall. Those additions to a lovely little love story took a great deal away from what is supposed to be a fairytale; a place where we can escape the troubles of our world, not bring them with us.