MovieChat Forums > Le petit prince (2016) Discussion > I can't believe it get such a high score

I can't believe it get such a high score

posted 9 years ago by JaneAtHK
11 replies | jump to latest

For the fans of the original novel, this animation kills the sincerity, fun and philosophy of the original work. It turns a touching, thoughtful story into a cheap industrialized fast-food animation, just what itself is trying to mock. I know I cannot expect an exact copy of the novel, and the story of the little girl was what attracted me into the cinema. Yet it was so poorly plotted that I was bored from the middle and totally shocked and disgusted by the final quarter of it.

The twist of the plot is so superficial, the characters setup so stereotypical and, worst of all, the "transformed" prince so deliberately oily, it ruins the little pleasure I got from the nice scenery design of the original story. The added sequel might want to show the irony of the strictly molded modern life and some sense of salvation, but its dry and senseless depiction without real wisdom is the big irony itself.

I was appalled by its IMDB ratings, and had to sign up to write this comment. Totally agree with some others that it's better to read the novel itself!

[–] Kaito_Kars 9 years ago

Yeah, the original story from the novel was perfect and they should've just kept it at that. The little girls story was alright, but the whole "mother relationship" felt so artificial and fake that it was hard for me to feel invested in it. The movie turned for the worst in the third act and I felt it totally lost the meaning of what the original source material was all about. What really brought me into the movie was the animation style when the old man was narrating his story of his meeting with the little prince. Those scenes were just so amazing I can't help but feel that even a 30 minute adaptation of the story using that form of animation would've been enough for me to even pay a full ticket price to watch. Those were the best scenes in the movie by far.

[–] dreaming-stranger 8 years ago

I disagree, I was very unsure of how this story could be well-adapted for the screen. But.... It was fantastic!

[–] JrnlofEddieDeezenStudies 8 years ago

For the fans of the original novel, this animation kills the sincerity, fun and philosophy of the original work. It turns a touching, thoughtful story into a cheap industrialized fast-food animation, just what itself is trying to mock.

Basically, this is a complaint based on purism. Precursor material--in this case, the original book--is such and such way, has such and such tone, etc., and you're demanding that a new work based on the previous work retain significant similarities.

But not all of us are purists. I rate subsequent works derived from precursors on their own merit. I don't expect them to have any particular relation to the precursor. Insofar as they reference the precursor, I don't put any expectations on the new work. I let it be its own thing.

As for you not enjoying this film beyond purist complaints, that's another matter, but I don't feel the same way about it--insofar as I can understand you, that is. For example, I have no idea what "deliberately oily" would amount to.