Sunday, March 8, 2009

Ever After

I want to share one of my favorite movies.



It's not your average Cinderella story.

Ever After is set up to be the "real" story behind the fairy tale, set in medieval France.

There's no usual magic, like fairies, pumpkins into carriages, or talking animals.
There is magic of a different sort.


A strong, feisty heroine.
A handsome, confused prince.





You'll never find another fairy tale like this one.

It has the usual beginning, 8 yr old Danielle's dad remarries, then died, leaving the awful stepmother and stepsisters to be cruel to her.

Ten years later, the grown up Danielle is smart, but treated like a servant...until...

One morning Danielle (Cinderella) has a chance meeting with Henry, the Prince of France, in the apple orchard when he steals her father's horse while running away.

She knocks him off the horse with apples and, after he is revealed as the Crown Prince, he bribes Danielle for her silence, and rides off with the horse.

Not very far, Prince Henry comes upon Leonardo da Vinci,
whose painting, (the Mona Lisa), has been stolen by Gypsies.
Upon returning the painting, Prince Henry is captured by his father, the king's, guards.

Prince enry was running away from an arranged marriage with a princess of Spain.

Dnaielle borrows a courtier's gown and poses as a comtesse to visit the castle and free a servant her evil stepmother sold to pay some taxes.
That's when Prince Henry has a second chance meeting with Danielle where she is arguing for the servant's release, unaware that she is the same person he met earlier in the day.

Danielle quotes Thomas Moore's Utopia when she confronts the prince:

"If you suffer your people to be ill-educated and their manners corrupted from infancy, and then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them, what else is to be concluded, sire, but that you first make thieves and then punish them?""




Angelica Houston is the evil Stepmother, and she is awesomely cruel.





The gowns and costumes are so beautiful in this film, as is the scenery and visual effects.
A majority of the filming takes place in France.




Cinderella's gown at the ball is magnificent.

I think what impressed me the most about this movie is
the interplay between Danielle and the Prince.

She inspires him to become a better person.
To question what is and to want more.

I want to inspire like that.



If you haven't seen this movie, watch it.

If you have seen it, re-watch it.

It's amazing.
A fairly tale with the magic of wit, humor and heart.

It gets me EVERY time.

22 comments:

CrystalChick said...

I really love this movie and have seen it many times!
And YES, Danielle and Henry were totally cool together.
I like Angelica H. alot, so watching her as the wicked SM was really fun.

Keeper of the Skies Wife said...

OMG...it's one of my favorites, too!!!

Julie said...

I remember watching it years ago and my husband reluctantly watched it with me and he ended up really liking it. Now you've made me want to watch it again :)

The Blonde Duck said...

I love this movie!

Shannon said...

My girls and I like this one, too! We've got the DVD... and they'll ask to watch it every now and then...

but why does everyone talk in an English accent if it's supposed to take place in FRANCE?!?!??

:P


P.S... Dougray Scott is a hottie!

Linda said...

Love love love this movie too! I watch it at least twice a year.

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

I still haven't seen this movie. Sounds like I need to get on the ball!

koopermom said...

I love this movie too! My absolute favorite part is when she goes to the ball and says "Just breathe."

Mel said...

Love this movie!!

Christina - Rant Rave Roll said...

I love it too!

Unknown said...

I love that movie as well and have watched it quite a few times. It's a miracle the disc hasn't worn out..

That and 'Dirty Dancing', 'Pretty Woman' , 'Notting Hill' and 'Runaway Bride'...

They're my comfort movies...

Rachael Schirano \\ Rachael Schirano Photography said...

i haven't seen this since it first came out on video, but i did love it!

Anonymous said...

It's been awhile since I saw this. I like Ella too. Kinda goofy and Ann is soooo pretty!

Red from Ktown said...

LOVE that movie. I love the song that they use for the trailer "Tell me a fable" and took me years to find it because it wasn't listed in the movie anywhere and it wasn't on the soundtrack. I didn't even know the name but just took a shot.

Great movie!!!!!!!!

Unknown said...

I like this movie too- I'm a big fan of strong (if not quirky) female heroines.

Mama Dawg said...

Too freakin' funny. I JUST BOUGHT THIS MOVIE FOR LOML for her birthday! She loves it. We watched it Saturday night. I had forgotten how much I loved this movie.

Awesome. Great minds think alike, eh?

Sally-Ann said...

This is a great movie, one we don't have in our collection, think I will have to remedy that!!

Mrs. Hibit said...

The first time I saw this movie, I was so surprised by how great it was. I know a movie is special if it messes with my emotions - I still remember the intense anger I felt at times. I need to watch it again!

Jen said...

I LOVE this movie, too.

Screwed Up Texan said...

I remember this movie when it first came out...it was all the craze. I heard in the original story that one of the evil stepsisters cuts off part of her foot so her foot will fit the glass slipper. I dont know if that is true, but if it is gross!

April said...

oh, i ADORE this movie!

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

I'm putting it on my list. I LOVE Drew Barrymore.