Enchanted (WS) [DVD]

Great movie. Love to watch when I am a little down. It cheers me up right away good acting and funny

Fortunately for us in Australia, not just the USA, Walt Disney was forging ahead in leaps and bounds in both cinematic releases and television right up to his death in 1966.With television only being introduced in Australia in time for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, we were already starved for entertainment. The Disney Studios successfully exported the "Disneyland" and "Mickey Mouse Club" TV shows to Australia, where despite only having been made for 3 years, the "Mickey Mouse Club" shows were broadcast for 14 years!!! I even remember seeing the Mouseketeers when they toured here in 1959 and 1960, despite the fact that I was only 4 and 5 at the time... Yes I've been a Disney fan for almost 50 years! For those who need to catch up, see Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination (Vintage)Walt Disney was a true visionary and was responsible for the public acceptance of many major innovations including respectable theme parks and even space travel and exploration. Walt's attitude of "keep moving forward" never allowed numerous instances of impending financial ruin to daunt his efforts to produce astounding improvements within the entertainment industry - from his innovations in animation techniques to the planning of Disneyworld and EPCOT in Florida. Fortunately since his death in 1966, the Disney Corporation has continued this approach of constant improvement, despite ruining Walt's true plans for EPCOT.ENCHANTED IS THE EPITOME OF ALL THINGS DISNEY. It pays homage to Walt's great early animated triumphs, "Snow White" and "Sleeping Beauty" and infuses Walt's love for the combination of live action and animated characters right through to the extraordinary CG-animation perfected by the recently acquired Pixar Studios. Some critics have failed to grasp the relevance to so many great Disney offerings handled so well under the clever writing by Bill Kelly and precise direction of Kevin Lima. In true Disney form, characters fall in love almost instantly and are not daunted by their apparent non-conformtiy in modern day New York, for example, James Marsden's excellent portrayal of the affected Prince Edward.To the uninitiated, the ending may appear to go a little off track, but again refers to the early Disney classics, including the poison apple and the transformation of the evil queen into an equally evil dragon. Followed by the clever use of the pop-up book technique which takes Disney animation a step further. These are made totally transparent and obvious in the Disney Blu-Ray DVD release.Amy Adams portrays a true Disney Princess, like no other before her, and is offset well by the very corporatised Patrick (McDreamy) Dempsey. Susan Sarandon also appears to have been born to play a Disney Evil Queen and Timothy Spall (Peter Pettigrew from the Harry Potter series) is a real life version of so many animated Disney sidekicks. Congratulations also to (Aussie) John O'Connell for his all-inclusive, interpretative choreography so befitting a true Disney classic!To sum up, I believe that Walt Disney would be EXTREMELY PROUD of this great offering which has been produced truly in his style 40 years after his demise. For those with a Blu-Ray DVD player buy that version to truly appreciate the references to Walt's genius!

I had originally planned not to see this film ("Disney? Nah!") , but I did, for two good reasons: first, it starred the STILL woefully unappreciated Amy Adams (and if you haven't yet seen "Junebug", go rent it; you'll see why see got a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her work in that film), and second, my sister, a soccer mom with no tolerance for treacle, told me that it was something adults would enjoy. She was right, but on matters of popular culture, she always is.The action begins in the (animated) kingdom of Andalasia. Adams is charming as Giselle, the naive fairy tale maiden who falls in love with her prince, agrees to marry him as soon as they meet (this is Andalasia, not Earth) and is banished on her wedding day (the next morning) by his mother, the Wicked Queen, to a place "where there are no happily ever afters": Manhattan. There, in her full length hoopskirted bridal gown, she is adrift, vainly searching for some way to get back to her Prince, until she is reluctantly given shelter by a single father (Patrick Dempsey) and his little daughter, who sees more in Giselle than her father does.A special treat for me was seeing the places where I used to work, places I miss seeing and used to take for granted - Columbus Circle, Central Park, even the Time-Warner building! (I worked in the Paine Webber building). My spouse and I used to drive to work, and were always frustrated when the crosstown road running through Central Park was closed (or slowed down by rubberneckers looking for celebrities) because someone was making a movie. But in this instance, the time they took was well worth it.As Giselle, Adams is both beguiling and funny in a natural, artless way. As Edward, her Prince, who goes to Manhattan to find his Giselle, James Marsden is an absolute hoot. I've never seen a human being look so much like a Disney cartoon prince as Marsden does, and I don't intend that as an insult - he's just uncannily perfect-looking. He takes the role of Edward and plays it with such a goofy brio that I couldn't help but be delighted by his performance.This may be a fairy tale, but is is, for the most part, set in New York City, and so there are thousands of extras other than people - rats, pigeons, waterbugs and assorted vermin are the City's version of the "woodland creatures" who love and are loved by Giselle. New Yorkers will appreciate the nod to the realities of Manhattan, because a Manhattan without vermin is WAY too unrealistic, even for a fairy tale :)I don't want to say too much about the story, but I will say that it's a thoroughly enjoyable film. The ending sung, sung by Carrie Underwood, is pretty good too.

This movie is pure magic - a true gift to all movie viewers of all ages. In this day and age it is so important to have a movie that just makes you feel good and manages to give you a natural high. This movie is so well crafted. The story is very original - cartoon characters coming to life - but it could have been silly. Instead, it is handled by only the most talented at all levels from director to A++++ actors to bring pure art together.Amy Adams as the princess is a revelation. She inhabits this character with all she has. The princess becomes very real and you experience all the wonders of the world with her. Her comedic timing is impeccable and her singing is glorious. Adding Patrick Dempsey as her real life Prince Charming was ingenious casting. It is so great to see him away from Grey's Anatomy. He is a class act and truly personifies all that is good and caring in this world. He also manages to make his character believable and not a caricature.When the movie bursts into song your heart will sing. It is amazing. The entire package of this film from beginning to end is pure magic and a journey for people of all ages to take. Show it to your kids so they can see that positive, happy feelings are possible. And for me, being 47, I recommend it to all adults. It will make you see how we all become a little jaded in life and it reminds us that the world can be magic and love is the greatest gift of all. True love's first kiss.This movie will become a Disney classic. It ranks up there wih the best of them like Mary Poppins. It is honestly one of the best and most feel good movies I have ever seen.Kudos to ereryone involved and highly recommended.