Review by arc_a2007

I've got to be honest... I expected this movie to be bad. The trailers gave me a bad impression and the film's poor IMDb rating didn't help. But I was pleasantly surprised. The graphics are impressive, some of the most realistic yet. The mice and rats are just a bit too real for some people; just as easily creepy as they are cute. The environments are meticulously designed, creative and clever, and lighting certainly plays an important role.

But an animated film is not measured by its visuals (at least in my mind). The story is always the driving element, and Despereaux spins a layered tale of redemption. The big-eared hero Despereaux is not the sole focus of the film. It's split between him and Roscuro, with slices of the king and the servant girl as well. Each character has a tale of redemption, and those who become villains are seen in a sympathetic light. These aren't larger-than-life Disney villains, they're human beings (well, not always but you get the point). There's a reason why they turn to negative deeds. And they don't have to die for there to be a happy ending. The emotions are real. The scene where the king plays the lute for example, is heartbreaking without uttering a word.

I really enjoyed this film. Like all of you, I saw the IMDb rating and expected something pretty bad. But after seeing it, I just don't understand the negative hype.