The movie is great, it is funny and with good character development. Spectacular scenery, great cast, funny characters, and of course - the romance. Anne Hathaway did a wonderful job, she is great actress and comedian.

Movies are rarely as good as the book they're based on, but I did still expected better. It seems the people who adapted the book into a screenplay said, "Gee, how can we take this truly wonderful book, take out all the depth, and add a lot of stupid junk?"

What happened to the finishing school? Why wasn't the ball a masquerade? Where were Lucinda's other 'gifts' and conditional redemption at the end? Why were the great species and characters squished into boring 2-dimentional gimmicks? The giants' wedding is fascinating in the book. The glimpse into the elven world is beautiful. Ella had a defiance and a knack for languages that fleshed her out from just a pretty face into a real character. Speaking of Ella, what happened to her surprise heritage? And the curse-breaking is the climax, not half-time! It was so much more dramatic in the book too, despite there being no daggers involved. The unicorn-hair soup, the gnome child, the palace's banisters, Hattie's hair, Sir Peter's books... Even such minor details are vital to the magic of the book, which is so conspicuously absent from the movie.

If you're wondering what was added that wasn't originally in the book, just look for anything incredibly stupid. Prince Char having a fan-club comprised of annoying, giggly teeny-boppers. The book being a transformed man. The talking snake. The incredibly over-used cliche of the regent seeking to permanently secure the throne. The incredible let-down of how said regent is defeated at the end. Ella's ridiculous ability to obey even when it defies the laws of physics or her actual abilities. Singing and dancing elves. All of the anachronisms. I don't know where any of these things came from, but they didn't come from the book!

Please, do yourself a huge favor and read the book instead. I first read the book back in '97 when it was new, and it still holds a special place in my heart. The movie, however, is something I hope to soon forget.

What was it about this movie that decided to steal a few of its ideas from Shrek? Why did they feel the need to borrow the landscape, and have a talking snake, instead of a talking donkey? (Which by the way was voiced strangely enough by an unrecognisable Steve Coogan. Obviously his normal voice instead of his Alan Partridge voice)

This movie wasn't as good as A Cinderella Story, which I already reviewed. It just didn't have the same magic, and does Hugh Dancy actually own a brush?! Is this what teenage girls fancy nowadays?

Lamia, the name of the city where Prince Char lives, is Latin for Witch or Vampire. Does anyone else think this was a indirect reference to Narnia, since it sounds so similar?

There is a whole host of stars in this, and you'll be trying to spot the stars (or in Steve Coogan's case his voice) rather than paying attention to the movie. Who did you spot? Cary Elwes, Joanna Lumley, Minnie Driver, Eric Idle, Jimi Mistry, Vivica A. Fox, Parminder Nagra, and Heidi Klum.

I think Anne Hathaway is a really good up and coming actress, but she's going to need to spread out her wings a bit, and stop taking these roles. Her character is no different from the character in Princess Diaries.

Like Shrek, there's a lot of modern-day references thrown into this, including the man powered escalator in the mall - and is that a lift I see in the background?

There are two song & dance sequences in this, totally corny beyond belief, and feeling a little out of place - and this is from a girl who loves Grease! I was quite surprised to see in the extras that it is actually Anne Hathaway singing (bets are on for her being the next Lindsay Lohan) - but not Hugh Dancy! She murders the classics she does sing though, including "Somebody To Love" by Queen, and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" by Elton John & Kiki Dee. Other well-known songs included on the soundtrack are "Walking on Sunshine" and "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing".

The extras include: commentary; deleted and extended scenes; "Prince Charmont's Fan Club" set-top game (how dull); Ella Enchanted Red Carpet Premiere Special (basically repreats all the other extras included); "Happily Ever After" DVD rom feature and a music video "It's Not Just Make Believe" Performed by Kari Kimmel.

I'm still not sure what to make of this movie, and have been left really sitting on the fence at the end of it all. I'd suggest you see it, but not if you've read the book that it's apparently based on. It's OK.

"Ella Enchanted" is a fun film for all ages. There is enough adventure for older kids and a great little love story for soft hearts and young girls. My three year-old daughter has completely engulfed herself into anything princess these days, from the Disney Princesses to movies with damsels in distress, she loves it all. Of course, Ella has captured her heart for many reasons, she's funny, beautiful, independent, and sings and dances in this film.

Anne Hathaway is truly a beautiful sight to see onscreen. She has a simple look to her that isn't plagued by slutty costumes or too much makeup. Also, Hathaway seems to be cornering the market on young free-thinking do-gooders, which makes her a good role model for any young girl.

The film itself is fun to watch. It is definitely geared at a younger age group, but I find myself watching it with my daughter every time she asks to see it. There's music, comedy, dancing, and plenty of other things to keep anyone interested.

Lucy Punch is downright hilarious as Ella's evil stepsister, Hattie. Prince Char is played with dash and flair by Hugh Dancy. Even better is Cary Elwes as the devilishly funny uncle of Char who, as in every fairy tale, wants to eliminate the competition so that he can become king. The rest of the cast is wonderful, most notably Minnie Driver as a house fairy who lends her boyfriend(he's a book) to Ella so that she can find the well-meaning but mean-tempered fairy(Vivica A. Fox) who "enchanted" her by making her obedient to any and every command given to her.

There are bits and pieces of a ton of other fairy tales and films scattered throughout this story, but no so much that they are annoying. "Shrek" is represented best by the contemporary languge used in the film, a few musical numbers and the modern feel of the towns visited by Ella and her companions(they have escalors and a community college). Disney's adaptation of "Robin Hood" is here thanks to Elwes' talking snake. You can even see a remote "Matrix"-like reference in the big fight scene with ogres(though it seemed more like a nod to Princess Fiona's martial artistry in "Shrek").

Overall, a good film for the whole family. I don't recall any strong language, just a few adult inside jokes. One of my favorites is when Benny, Driver's bookish boyfriend, refers to an elf's dream of becoming a lawyer as "small claims court, no doubt."

Highly recommended to families with children twelve and under, or for anyone who wants to watch a fun film with nothing too offensive in its bag of tricks.

I really loved this movie!! It is really great and totally fun!! I hope others feel this way, too!!