Enchanted – Hope Triumphs Over Evil
Many little girls have grown up fantasizing about princes and knights in shining armor, “once upon a times” and “happily ever afters”. In the latest Disney DVD release Enchanted, the fairy tale world is alive and well. 
A naïve young woman named Giselle (Amy Adams) has her plans to marry Prince Edward (James Marsden) thwarted when she is banished to the real world of New York City from the animated 2D world of Andalasia by the evil Queen (Susan Sarandon). Giselle struggles to fit in to her new surroundings while waiting for her prince to rescue her, but by staying true to herself she ends up influencing the lives of those around her for the better. Fans of Disney musicals will not be disappointed – three original songs from this soundtrack was nominated for an Academy Award this year.
This half animated half live action movie portrays the classic struggle between good and evil, and is full of references to past Disney favorites like Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast. But beyond the charming story, I think Enchanted has a great message. I found Giselle to be an inspiration…despite being somewhat oblivious and innocent. Not many people when faced with adversity can retain their optimism and hope. In fact, it is all too easy to become cynical and bitter in a world full of hatred and sorrow. But take heart, there is hope and a happy ending for Giselle. This is a fairy tale, after all.
What makes us (as children and adults) eager to embrace the world of fairy tales? Do you think it is possible to have hope in a world full of strife? How do you stay optimistic when troubles arise?
Tags: disney, fairy tales, Movies
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Fairy tales endure because they resonate with us. It’s not just the happy ending, because not all of them have happy endings; some of them are cynical and even cruel. (“The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean” and “Clever Gretel” are two that come to mind.) To survive, they only have to tell us something true about ourselves–and, if they’re really good, function as a way of working out the relationship between things that are irreconcilable. When we can’t square things up, we tell stories about them. They can, but don’t have to, end happily. The important thing is dealing with the tough questions in a sort of para-rational way that gives us a measure of emotional satisfaction.