Another look at the movie

After seeing the movie, "The Tale of Despereaux" I had mixed feelings. The book is very touching and well written. Parents, if you have not read the book, I highly recommend it.

However, the movie was entertaining and cute. It also brought home the overwhelming theme of forgiveness. I decided to consult an online, Christian movie review Plugged In, to explore other opinions. Here is their conclusion:

Over the centuries, fairy tales have been used to teach real-life lessons in more enduring ways than realistic fare often can. In The Tale of Despereaux, perhaps it's the wonder of talking animals coupled with classical nobility, courage and hope that makes facing serious subjects such as longing, forgiveness, fear and bravery less daunting for young audiences.

And indeed, children are likely to be as significantly influenced by the movie as they are by the Newbery Award-winning book of the same title. Author Kate DiCamillo says of Despereaux's encouraging plot, "We're always underestimating children, but those major themes of how to be brave, how to be courageous, how to love, how to forgive, those things are constant themes in their lives, too."

They usually come with a bit of darkness designed to drive home their points (here, sword-swinging knights, a fire-breathing dragon, a kidnapping and life-threatening Colosseum-style clashes fill that role), but fairy tales can still provide a refreshing perspective on life's heavier moments—even for adults. Yes, we adults all feel small sometimes, too. We all feel some tasks at hand are insurmountable. And honest and simple stories such as Despereaux's can encourage both child and parent in fantastical yet important ways.