Was at the world premiere of ENCHANTED tonight, and...

[Nickhutson]

Posted: 10/20/07 at 6:35pm

WHILST I'VE MAINTAINED THE STRONGEST EFFORT NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS - DO READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.


Hey all. I've just returned from, apparently, the first public showing of Enchanted at London's Odeon West End.

Firstly when I arrived, I was surprised a the grandness of it all - we got the red carpet treatment! There was press everywhere - it was quite a bizarre feeling for me.

I got my seat in the cinema, and found free Disney stuff (a bottle of water [wish I'd known before buying my own soft drink], an Enchanted Question Ball and a mini program. I was settling down waiting for the movie to start, when - out of the corner of my eye...Alan Menken, Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey and James Marsden appeared to give us a brief introduction to the movie. One of my life goals is complete - and that's to be in the presence of Alan Menken. Alan said in his speech that he musically, the score grows from the traditional style of Disney movies from the 40's (Pre-Ashman he called it) and then the music grows up as the film develops.

Anyway - the movie started...

Where do I start, though? I love the way we lead into the movie - it's visually beautiful, and I was instantly transported back to my childhood when I was presented with image styles of Beauty and the Beast. However, musically we were not treated to a song immediately. We had the "I Want Number" first - sung by Giselle - our feminine beauty princess. I guess musically this was reminiscing back to the days of Snow White, Cinderella and certainly Bambi - there are lots of little critters running around.

As we enter the real world (I am not going to give much away) the humour really kicks in. Certainly Disney have matured as there are some wonderful adult jokes in this movie. I've never been in a cinema where people clap after songs - or jokes! Throughout most of the songs, people were laughing so much at the great visual elements that it was hard to hear many of Stephen Schwartz's lyrics - which is a great shame, because they're worth hearing.

Elements of Giselle's arrival in NYC reminded me heavily of "Jungle 2 Jungle" and many of those movies with a newly arrived member into an unfamiliar society - and I can guarantee this movie has many memorable comic moments.

I like the way in the movie that the expectations we've come to expect from fairy tales are stamped upon by a muddy boot in the "real" world, but we still get a familiar feel of happiness within this rather uncomfortable, and all to familiar world in which Gizelle - and we - are stuck in.

The big musical number in the movie (I won't ruin how the song situation arises) reminded me somewhat of any scene in A Christmas Carol where the ghost of Christmas Present is showing Scrooge how great the world is. This was a really wonderful number and it was greatly received by the audience - and the melody is still in my head now ::hums:: Thanks, Alan!

The cathartic effect this story was having on kids is something I haven't seen in a Disney movie for a very long time. At one point one child was screaming "Don't drink the poison! Don't drink the poison". For the British readers, it was almost as if I had been transported into the pantomime world!

The film is beautifully made, with stunning attention to detail - and I very much enjoyed the songs - what there were of them. This is, I guess, my only downfall with the movie. There were so many chances for more songs; for example - Queen Narissa [the villain} has no song and Idina has no song - sorry Wicked/Rent fans!). There was also a pop style number that didn't agree with me very much - BUT, I understood the reason for them using that timbre - was because we're in the modern world now - not the fairytale world. I just feel when you see the situation in which the song appears, you may agree with me - or you may not.

Regardless, the songs were strong - I will just need to hear them again, as the audience overpowered many of the singers. The principal singers were very powerful as well - Amy Adams' voice sounding beautiful and pure and Marsden's voice being very strong as well.

Marsden knew the character he was playing (a nice Gaston with shoulder pads, I'll call him) and he does it exceptionally well. Adams plays the unfamiliar - teaching yet taught - women. Her character really matures through the story's development, and she was a delight to watch.

Of course I am sure there were many mentions to fairy tales and other Disney movies that I missed, so I am going to catch up now on all of them and see the movie when it comes out again for you peasants to see. And that line will mean so much more to you once you've seen the movie.

My final thought is that if Disney keep this up - it will be their rebirth, and I think it only right that they've gone back to their roots and are re-writing their style for a new audience. The audience loved it - and so will millions others.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 10/20/07 at 7:47pm

I'm excited!

[EganFan2]

Posted: 10/20/07 at 8:18pm

Hopefully this will mark a return to "traditionally" animated cartoons.

[alliez92092]

Posted: 10/20/07 at 8:22pm

I was psyched to see this before and after reading your review, I'm even more excited! This is so great.

And does Idina really not sing at all? In interviews it said she did.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 10/20/07 at 10:37pm

I thought Idina sang the Title song in the credits or something?

[Eris0303]

Posted: 10/21/07 at 12:07am

The Giselle merchandise has already hit the shelves in Disney store and little kids stare in awe at the trailer whenever it comes on the big screen at the store. I really think this is going to be a very special movie. The type of movie that today's youth will hold close to their hearts. The way my generation holds movies such as Princess Bride and Neverending Story.

I also heard a rumor that there is another traditionally animated film in the works at Disney. Word on the street is that there will finally be an African princess.

[Nickhutson]

Posted: 10/21/07 at 3:27am

The movie, I think, will be quite special; a lot of children were pretty happy and smiley last night.

Idina was meant to sing a song, but she was replaced with Carrie Underwood.

And there is a movie called "The Frog Princess" - which is fully 3D Animation - but, that won't be as exciting because Alan Menken and Glen Slater were replaced by Randy Newman - which is a HUGE mistake in my opinion. Whether or not this is the movie of which you're talking about, I am not sure - we'll wait and see :)

[Nickhutson]

Posted: 10/21/07 at 3:28am

The movie, I think, will be quite special; a lot of children were pretty happy and smiley last night.

Idina was meant to sing a song, but she was replaced with Carrie Underwood.

And there is a movie called "The Frog Princess" - which is fully 2D Animation - but, that won't be as exciting because Alan Menken and Glen Slater were replaced by Randy Newman - which is a HUGE mistake in my opinion. Whether or not this is the movie of which you're talking about, I am not sure - we'll wait and see :)

[jeffrey2]

Posted: 10/21/07 at 10:15am

How much screen time does Idina have? Is it a good role for her?

[Nickhutson]

Posted: 10/21/07 at 10:20am

Her role was entertaning - and certainy got lots of laughs. However, she is only a supporting role - and she is in the way of the audience's desire for the two main characters outcome.

[biggest CHENO fan]

Posted: 10/21/07 at 11:18am

Thanks for the great review! I can't WAIT to see this one.