Thursday, 12 March 2015

Thursday Movie Picks: Live Action Fairy Tale Adaptions

This week’s theme is right up my street. I love fairy tales! Or so I thought. Once I got my notebook out and thought about all the live action fairy tale movies I’d seen, I realised I’d seen, um, 2. Well, if I stretched the definition of fairy tale a bit too much, then maybe it could be more, but seriously, how have I only seen 2?! And so, in the ritual of picking 3 movies to discuss, I’ve come up a little short.


I won’t give up that easily though. Instead, I’ve chosen 3 live action fairy tale adaptations that I really want to see soon, so you can expect to see reviews of these on the blog sometime in the near future.

stardust-fairy-tale-movies

Stardust (2007) is based on a tale by Neil Gaiman of the same name. I only know of Neil Gaiman through his work with The Sandman at DC Comics, but that alone makes me interested in Stardust. I guess the real question is, should I read the book first or watch the movie?

enchanted-fairy-tale-movies

Enchanted (2007) is something I need to watch very soon. From what I gather, it’s sort of like a Disney movie making fun of itself? All I really know is my 20 year old brother who’s a complete lads lad loves this movie, and he and my Mum are often found singing duets from it, and well, how can it be bad?

into-the-woods-fairy-tale-movies

As soon as Into the Woods comes out on DVD here in the UK, it’ll be straight on that night. I simply ran out of time this January to watch it in the cinema. With Chris Pine as a complete over the top Disney prince, this movie really can’t go wrong for me. Of course, I love the rest of the cast too!
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26 comments:

  1. Anonymous12 March 2015 at 09:40

    I haven't seen Stardust and Into the Woods... but I'm sure I'll get Into the Woods as soon as it's available. Enchanted is a great choice, too!

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    1. Unknown12 March 2015 at 10:26

      I think I might actually try and convince my fiance to watch Enchanted with me tonight...blogging about it has made me want to see it even more!
      - Allie

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  2. Myerla12 March 2015 at 10:25

    Stardust - A crossing dressing Robert Di Niro, how could possibly go wrong?

    I'd like to check out Into the Woods as well to check out Meryl Streep's performance. She is an superb actress but the academy probably would nominate her even if she wasn't in a film that year.

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    1. Unknown12 March 2015 at 10:27

      Oh wow, now I really do need to see it!
      I felt the same way you know, it's almost like she has to get a nomination no matter what. She's great though :)
      - Allie

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  3. Brittani Burnham12 March 2015 at 11:42

    I never saw Into The Woods and I only saw bits and pieces of Stardust, but I loved Enchanted. Amy Adams is so sweet in that movie. I actually bought the soundtrack. lol

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    1. Unknown17 March 2015 at 10:16

      Yeah, I think I'm going to need that soundtrack in my car very soon!
      - Allie

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  4. Anonymous12 March 2015 at 13:00

    YOU MUST SEE ENCHANTED! Amy Adams is incredible. I actually just watched that with my girls last night. It was the first film my eldest daughter saw in the theater. It came out when she was like four months old. Even then she loved it...sat wide eyed in the theater at like 2 in the afternoon...and ever since she's done nothing but aspire to be a real life princess :-P

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    1. Unknown17 March 2015 at 10:17

      I DID! I literally went home Thursday night and watched it. I've never seen such a reaction to one film on this blog before!
      - Allie

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  5. Daniel12 March 2015 at 13:27

    Stardust is so much fun. One of my favorites and a great pick!

    Enchanted is so good I saw it twice in theaters... ON OPENING WEEKEND. Saw it Friday night and loved it so much I dragged a friend to see it on Sunday. Amy Adams should have gotten an Oscar nomination for her bonkers brilliant work as a Disney princess transported to the real world.

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    1. Unknown17 March 2015 at 10:20

      Oh wow, that's dedication! I'm gutted she didn't get anything for it, she was brilliant! Have you seen her in The Muppets?
      - Allie

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  6. joel6591312 March 2015 at 14:00

    I didn't much care for Stardust, the cast was good but I couldn't engage with it, however I know a couple people who really loved it so ya never know.

    Enchanted is a great choice. I usually can't stand Amy Adams but she is good in it, maybe the only time I've ever enjoyed her in a film and Susan Sarandon has a blast as the queen.

    I meant to see Into the Woods in the theatre but I loved the stage version so much I was wary of the film waited too long and missed it but will be catching it on DVD release.

    Since you're planning to catch up on your movie viewing I'll offer up my three picks as suggestions in case you haven't seen them:

    Freeway (1996)-Undeniably unique adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood. Reese Witherspoon plays Red, here reimagined as a pea brained, white trash southern teen named Vanessa whose mother is a meth head hooker and her stepfather a leering junkie. When they are arrested Reese handcuffs her truant officer to the bed and hits the road in an old junker to Grandmother's house. When the car breaks down she crosses paths with the Big Bad Wolf here in the form of a sleazy Keifer Sutherland. Strange, dark and deranged but definitely different.

    The Glass Slipper (1955)-High gloss MGM semi musical adaptation of Cinderella with Leslie Caron ideally cast in the lead. Takes a few liberties but stays pretty close to the story. Michael Wilding is a bit long in the tooth as the prince but aside from him the supporting cast is full of colorful characters and the film is a visual treat.

    Ball of Fire (1941)-In this spin on Snow White and the Seven Drawfs Barbara Stanwyck plays nightclub singer Sugarpuss O'Shea who while dodging a subpoena to testify against her mobster boyfriend hides out with seven professors who are complying an encyclopedia of slang of which she is a master. Stanwyck and Gary Cooper are charming together and the professors standing in for the dwarves are a collection of some of the most distinctive character actors working at the time. If you only know Barbara Stanwyck from Double Indemnity or perhaps The Big Valley TV series she's a comic revelation in this.

    Hope you like them if you decide to check them out.

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    1. Unknown17 March 2015 at 10:21

      Oh wow, thank you for the suggestions! I constantly have a list as long as my arm of suggestions so these will go straight onto there. Then I'll be able to say I've seen loads of fairy tale adaptations!
      - Allie

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  7. Dell12 March 2015 at 14:43

    I've only seen Enchanted and like everyone else here I love it. Adams and Sarandon are both great. Yes, it is totally Disney making fun of Disney.

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    1. Unknown17 March 2015 at 10:22

      Seriously, what can be better? I watched it as soon as I got home after this post, and loved it!
      - Allie

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  8. Jay12 March 2015 at 14:58

    I didn't love Into The Woods but did think Chris Pine singing in the waterfall almost made it worth it.
    Stardust is great, but I decided to save it for next week ;)

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    1. Unknown17 March 2015 at 10:23

      I'm sorry, I stopped reading after Chris Pine and waterfall, haha!
      Oh snap, that's so clever! Curses.
      - Allie

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  9. Wanderer12 March 2015 at 15:06

    Sorry to be nitpicky and maybe I missed it - but if you're joining in the series, you'll have to have a link in your post to my blog.

    That said...
    I love Stardust. It's so magical, sweet and lots of fun. I have the book but have not read it. Some that have read said the book was boring and the movie was better. Hmm so maybe just watch the movie first and be enchanted by it. And that song Rule the World by Take That, it was written for Stardust.
    Enchanted is like the what if a fairy tale character is plucked from its world and placed in the real world...it's super cute...Amy Adams is just so adorable.

    Wandering through the Shelves

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    1. Unknown17 March 2015 at 10:24

      Whoops, sorry that's me that's missed it. I'm pretty sure I put it into the other week's I've participated! :)
      - Allie

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  10. Mike12 March 2015 at 19:33

    I was the same way when I first saw this topic, thinking I've seen many fairy tale adaptations, until I went through my movie log and noticed only a few titles that would definitely qualify and a couple questionable ones.

    I haven't seen any of the movies you chose, I am interested in seeing Enchanted from all the praise it's getting here, as well as Into the Woods later this year.

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    1. Unknown17 March 2015 at 10:26

      Oh I'm glad it's not just me then! I can definitely recommend Enchanted now. I watched it the very evening of this post after all the comments!
      - Allie

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  11. Unknown12 March 2015 at 22:13

    Stardust and Enchanted are perfect choices!

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    1. Unknown17 March 2015 at 10:42

      I ended up watching Enchanted straight away, now I need to find some time for Stardust :D
      - Allie

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  12. Anonymous13 March 2015 at 01:13

    I love "Stardust" and "Enchanted!" I started the novel "Stardust" and didn't like it as much as the film, however, I would highly recommend Neil Gaiman's book 'Neverwhere,' it was really good. However, I didn't particularly dislike the "Stardust" book either and will probably return to it at some point. Frankly I would suggest that you watch "Stardust" first and then decide about reading the book. Cheers!

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    1. Unknown17 March 2015 at 10:43

      Ooh, thank you for the insight on this one, I'll definitely do that :) And I'll look up Neverwhere too!
      - Allie

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  13. Big Screen Small Words13 March 2015 at 02:37

    Enchanted was fantastic! Amy Adams was so wonderful in it.

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    1. Unknown18 March 2015 at 09:31

      She's amazing! I love her more and more with every film I see her in :)
      - Allie

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