The Princess Diaries

1)It's nothing new. I actually read a critic review that called it revolutionary. Excuse me? What's so revolutionary about a movie that rehashes the same themes that have been used for decades? Then I realized that he was talking about the movie's rating. I'm sorry but this movie just proves why G rated films get such a bad rep from the begining. Predictable plot, unrealistic dialog(When a cheerleader's outfit gets ruined by ice cream she screams "You're a freak" to the girl who did it. What the hell? I know this is Disney but trust me, when someone ruins your outfit, "freak" ain't the word that will flash in your head. It would have been better if she had called her a witch or something) and the obligatory happy ending(humor me once Disney and make a realistic ending in a G rated movie) there's no new ground broken, no new message given. This is probably why most of the time movies that win Academy Awards are PG-13 or R.

2. It tries too hard to be cute. I rented the DVD, so I can't say how the people in my theater reacted to it, but I didn't laugh once. The movie relies too much on slapstick humor, than witty dialog for laughs and for me it falls flat. I guess kids younger than me will find Mia's clumsiness funny but I sure didn't.

3. Not everyone wants to be a princess. I don't blame Mia for not wanting the job(yes it is a job like the wonderful Juile Andrews said). All one has to do was watch the Princess Diana E! True Hollywood Story and see that being a princess isn't all that glamorous. I was a bit disappointed for Mia's reason for becoming a princess. It seemed like she doing it because it was the "right" thing to do, other than what she wants to do.

and finally,
4. It's just bland. There's no spice, no flavor to make it memorable. The Lion King was funny as well as touching and original. There are just so many better ugly duckling stories(IMO Mia wasn't ugly to begin with) like My Fair Lady.

So in conclusion if you want to show your kid something entertaing while inoffensive, take them to see Monsters Inc. I recommend avoiding this movie at all costs.

The story begins with a peek into the somewhat average life of Mia Thermopolis, a geeky San Francisco misfit who lives with her single, artist mother in an old fire house that has been transformed into a fascinating home. She attends a private school that is paid for by her father, where she has only one friend. Lily, played by actress Heather Matarazzo, is a quirky, sweet girl whose wants to make a difference using her television show "Shut Up and Listen". Everyone at school makes fun of Mia or simply ignores her. Everyone accept for Lily and Michael, Lily's adorable but somewhat unique older brother played by Robert Shwartzman. Unfortunately, Mia doesn't notice Michael's admiration of her as she has eyes only for the school hot shot, Josh, played by Erik von Detten, who is dating Lana Fontana, the stuck school cheerleader played by pop singer Mandy Moore. Of course Josh doesn't even acknowledge that Mia even exists until one day ...
Nearing her 16th birthday, Mia suddenly receives a surprise visit from her grandmother and finds out that she may not be so normal as she first expected. Queen Clarice informs Mia that her recently deceased father was the only remaining blood heir to the throne of Genovia. Accept for Mia that is. Mia is next in line for the crown, but surprisingly she doesn't want it. Angry with her mother and grandmother for not telling her the truth about her family, Mia refuses to have anything to do with being a princess, until her mother encourages her to give Princess Lessons a try. Using all of her resources, Queen Clarice transforms Mia from a geeky klutz into a stunning beauty. This transformation only increases Michael's admiration for her, but when the word gets out that Mia is not only now gorgeous but also a princess, Mia heads into a boatload of trouble. As Mia deals with pressures at school, in her friendships, and her family, she must choose who are really her friends and what she must do with the rest of her life.

This DVD also contains neat extras. You can watch several originally deleated scenes, a behind the scened featurett, as well as several movie trailers. It is beautifully displayed with soft music and pink roses blooming on the menu screens.

Unfortunately, Disney can be a bit predictable at times with the storylines but with The Princess Diaries they did a good job of telling the Cinderella tale in modern-day language that today's kids can understand.

This Cinderella story has a twist, with the odd girl finding out she's a princess - and the only descendent that can keep the throne of Genovia in her family. Unrealistic, sure, but it's good for kids to dream.

Many issues are discussed in the film: Dealing with the loss of a parent at a young age, dealing with people who like you only for what you have not for who you are, dealing with a family that has kept its distance. Children won't see or understand the deeper meanings but the storyline teaches those points as best it can.

Definitely a fun movie to watch.