When I originally heard about this film during production, I admit, I was not excited at all. There have been so many Shrek-esque films lately, with pop culture jokes put in to fairy tale worlds that they’re getting rather tiresome. Not to mention how disappointed I was in ‘Ella Enchanted’ which was a beautiful book and got turned in to a shocking parody of a movie (read the book, its completely different!) However, after Enchanted was released it received so many glowing accolades from my friends I decided to be a little more open minded.

Unfortunately I missed the film while it was in the Cinemas, during school holiday time here which does not make for enjoyable viewings, but I finally got to see it on DVD today! I really enjoyed it after all!

Enchanted is the tale of Giselle, a girl from an animated fairy-tale world called Andalasia who meets her Prince in true Disney style and is rushing off to her wedding when the evil Queen Narissa, disguised as an old woman, pushes her down a well. This well, as it turns out, is a portal to our world and the poor girl, still in her wedding dress, comes out a man-hole in to New York. A land, as the story says, where there are no ‘Happy Endings.’

The plot isn’t terribly inspired, though it is sweet, but what really makes this a lovely film is Giselle. I had fully expected an over-the-top parody performance of the silliest aspects of the Disney Princesses, and that’s exactly what she is however she manages somehow to make it seem sincere and charming. There were still points where I cringed, like the fish tank scene, but as the movie progresses she gets deeper while still keeping that joy and innocence. Her dresses (which she makes from curtains in a miracle of efficient sewing) are gorgeous and worth watching the film for alone! I doubt I’m the only princess sighing over the turquoise and pink gown she wears for the big dance number.

I really liked the soundtrack as well, there were some subtle jokes slipped in to the lyrics but the music was still well orchestrated and both Amy Adams and James Marsden had good voices for the musical style. One of my favourite features was how they managed to merge parts of different fairytales together in the storyline, there’s Sleeping Beauty’s Dragon, Cinderella’s Ball, Snow White’s Apples and they even play music from the Little Mermaid in the background of the fish tank scene. A very sweet film with a true touch of Disney magic. Now I’m even more excited about Rapunzel!

Congrats to Mystique for winning Sabraelle’s Garden’s ‘Princess of…’ Contest! Sabraelle’s Garden is a pretty little pixel art site run by the lovely Dalliann. Over the past month she has run a contest for other pixel artists to participate in and the theme was ‘The Princess of..’ so the artists created imaginary Princesses of everything from Pandas to Tea parties. The winning graphic shows the beautiful Princess of Winter.

I love pixel art and I thought it was such a cute idea for a contest that I offered to post the winner here! Please have a look at the rest of the winning entries they’re all beautiful!