The world began its love affair with Anne Hathaway when she appeared in The Princess Diaries. I didn’t see the movie at that time but I remember seeing the commercials with Anne as Mia Thermopolis with the crazy bushy hair, wicked bushy eyebrows and looking schlumpy. Then she was transformed into this beautiful poised young woman. This was not one of those hot girl who doesn’t know she’s hot in a pony tail and glasses who gets the glasses off and suddenly everyone sees she’s hot sort of story. Well, it was, but it wasn’t shallow in that she gets the hot guy who never gave her the time of day. Her transformation gave her more confidence to continue to be the wonderful person that she already was and realize that there was someone who had been in love with her even before she blossomed into a princess. Prior to her transformation I really couldn’t see it coming because the transformation was very, very different. Crazy bushy hair straightened and glasses gone, she became more confident as she learned not to be afraid and she became the princess that she had always been inside.
Hector Elizondo and Julie Andrews were delightful in this movie. I enjoyed them both very much. This was one of Eva’s first live action movies and she immediately identified with Mia and got upset when the kids at school were not nice to her. Seeing Mia become a princess was a joy to watch through Eva’s eyes. Eva’s such a sensitive kid and when Mia was upset she was a bit upset. We asked her what her favorite part was and it was Mia’s cat Fat Louie at the end of the movie. I think that since Fat Louie was black and white and we just lost Duncan it made an impression on her even more.
We’re going to watch the second movie together sometime this week and probably a bunch of the special extras, which there are many. This is a nice set of movies to have and share with your daughters. Here is more information on the movies:
A Modern Day Princess Fairytale Comes to Life on Blu-ray!
Don’t Miss the Chance to Own This Very Special 2-Movie Collection For the First Time on Blu-ray
To commemorate the 10th anniversary† of a cherished family classic, Disney proudly presents a special movie collection featuring two modern-day fairy tales, The Princess Diaries and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, for the first time ever on Blu-ray!
Starring Academy Award®-Winning Actress Julie Andrews (Best Actress, Mary Poppins, 1964) and Academy Award-Nominated Actress Anne Hathaway (Best Actress, Rachel Getting Married, 2008), these two heartwarming and hilarious movies will touch your heart. As the future queen of Genovia, Princess Mia has everything a girl could want – except the enchanting romance she’s always dreamed of. Comic complications rule the day in these delightfully engaging stories about finding out who you really are and discovering what it takes to make your dreams come true!
Relive all the magic and excitement of these two beloved favorites on this 3-Disc Combo Pack, which includes a DVD of each film. Share the laughter and the love for the first time on Disney Blu-ray.
The Princess Diaries Film Synopsis:
Mia Thermopolis is the average teenager – sweet, a little geeky and pretty much invisible to everyone with the exception of her mother, best friend Lilly and Lilly’s older brother Michael. Making it through high school without throwing up is a challenge in itself for Mia, so it doesn’t come as welcome news when her estranged grandmother shows up out of the blue and calmly informs her that she is in fact the heir to the throne of a European country called Genovia. Suddenly Mia’s life is thrown into complete overload. She’s being taught about scarves, waves and pears in order to become a perfect princess, she gets a makeover and a tough looking yet sweet bodyguard/limo driver called Joe. Things get out of hand when the media gets a hold of the story and suddenly Mia is thrust into the spotlight in both the newspapers and in school. On top of all that Mia has a choice to make. She must decide by Genovia’s Independence Day Ball whether she longs to relinquish her claim on the throne or to become the princess and heir to the throne and father and grandmother want her to be.
The Princess Diaries 2 Film Synopsis:
Starring the irresistible Anne Hathaway and Academy Award winner Julie Andrews (Best Actress, Mary Poppins), this modern-day fairy tale picks up right where The Princess Diaries left off! As future queen of Genovia, Princess Mia (Hathaway) has everything a girl could want – except the magical romance she’s always dreamed of. But soon, Mia’s shocked to discover that she needs to get married right now or her family will lose the crown! Comic complications rule the day in this delightful family story about finding out who you really are and discovering what it takes to make your dreams come true!
Talent/Cast:
Julie Andrews (Sound of Music, Mary Poppins)
Anne Hathaway (Alice in Wonderland, Get Smart)
Hector Elizondo (Pretty Woman, Valentine’s Day)
Heather Matarazzo (Scream 3, The Devil’s Advocate)
Mandy Moore (Tangled, A Walk to Remember) – The Princess Diaries
Chris Pine (Star Trek, Unstoppable) – The Princess Diaries 2
Director: Garry Marshall (Pretty Woman, Beaches, Valentine’s Day)
Producers: Debra Martin Chase (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants)
Whitney Houston (TV’s “Cinderella,” The Preacher’s Wife)
Mario Iscovich (Sister Act, Freaky Friday)
Writer: Gina Wendkos (Coyote Ugly)
Disclosure: I received a copy of the movie on Bluray. The opinions about the movie are 100% my own.