Ella Enchanted - A movie that has nothing to do with the book

[Bookgirl91]

I think I've seen in some other forums people mentioning the movie version Ella Enchanted as being so disappointing in comparison to the book. I'm currently reading it to my niece and remembering how much I love this book. I read it once every 3 weeks for a year when I was 9; genuinely, I borrowed it out of either my school library or local library regularly. I loved it that much. I still remember leaving the cinema feeling utterly heartbroken. So that got me thinking, what is your favourite thing about the book? Can you appreciate the film as a separate entity? What was the most disappointing change to you between the book and the movie?

I do have an appreciation for the film, I am a massive Carrey Elwis fan, but to me, it just isn't Ella Enchanted.

[eliviac35]

I tend to look at the movie and book as two completely separate stories. It's like trying to compare apples to oranges. I loved the movie, and I loved the book.

[cookiedough]

The book and the movie for this story are two completely different creations. I enjoyed both. Ella is an inspiring character any reader can relate to.

[SMAhmed]

I, like most of the other posters, see the movie as a completely different entity. I think it fits the 'In name only' clause with the two only sharing a name and everything else being completely different. I didn't hate the movie as a kid or anything but I didn't really like it that much. It's fun if you want a comedic fantasy movie but I kind of prefer the books. As much as I love Anne Hathaway (and she did a good job in the movie) I really preferred the characterization of Ella in the books. I liked that she couldn't fight and that she had to rely more on her wit and charm. I also liked that her relationship with the prince wasn't super rushed in the books.

[Topsey]

I tend to look at the movie and book as two completely separate stories. It's like trying to compare apples to oranges. I loved the movie, and I loved the book.

Yes I agree with you completely. Often we compare books to films and are always disappointed. It is best to look at them as different stories. Different interpretations of a tale.

[yapashley]

I haven't read the book but I did hear the movie is way better than the book.

[Imperio]

Oh man, I'm so glad I came across this forum. Ella Enchanted was probably my favorite book as a child and is definitely up there in terms of my top ten favorite books. Gail Carson Levine actually came to my elementary school and sat in my classroom to give us a talk. One of the biggest things I would come to regret is not going up to her before she left and telling her how much I loved Ella Enchanted. Ella Enchanted was the first book I ever finished, said "wow" out loud, and immediately reopened it to read it again. The movie was a disappointment, definitely, but my love for this book usurps any negativity I have for the movie. At this point, I've just accepted it as "fine."

[PriyankaBeeput]

I remember watching the film when I was pretty young and having no idea that it was adapted from a book, but when I found out I gave it a read and was really shocked by how different the two stories were. I have a soft spot for the film because I loved it as a kid, but the book is clever and does a superb job developing characters and telling a continuous story and I feel like the film just commercialized the work too much, I totally understand why fans of the book disliked the film.

[MariaLivaniou]

Honestly I had no idea that it was a book first but I should have figured, it had all the potential for a wild ride in a book version.