Rating: 
Summary: A BIT OF FLUFF THAT IS FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY...
Review: This is a charming, light hearted film that is fun for the whole family. It is a bit of fluff that tells the tale of a gawky and shy fifteen year old misfit named Mia, who is, in reality, princess of Genovia. Mia, played with adolescent charm by beautiful newcomer, Anne Hathaway, is just another adolescent living in San Francisco with her artist mother, when her estranged, paternal grandmother, Queen of Genovia, swoops down on her and tells Mia that she is, in fact, a princess of royal blood and the next ruler of the kingdom of Genovia. Granny, regally played by the stately, always lovely, and seemingly ageless Julie Andrews, is determined to turn her awkward granddaughter into a princess worthy of her crown. Mia, a most reluctant royal, agrees to these "princess" lessons, and along the road to royalty learns a few hard lessons about growing up. An excellent supporting cast, Hector Elizondo, Heather Matarazzo, Mandy Moore, Caroline Goodall, and Robert Schwartzman contribute to the charm of this film, which is good, clean fun for the entire family. The DVD itself has a number of enjoyable bonus features including a commentary by director Garry Marshall, eight deleted scenes with an explanatory introduction by Garry Marshall, a "New Princess" behind the scenes featurette, two musical videos, and "The Ultimate Tea Party" audio commentary by Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews. All in all, this is a value packed DVD.
Rating: 
Summary: Delightful movie
Review: Anne Hathaway plays Mia,a gawky, self-conscious 15-year-old who lives with her mother in a converted fire station in San Francisco. She goes to school and is alternately mocked or ignored except by her best friend, Lily. Suddenly her grandmother appears in town from her home in Genovia and informs her that she is heir to the throne, since the death of her father, long since divorced from her mother. Mia reacts with revulsion and disbelief. Her grandmother convinces her to give herself a chance as a princess and begins grooming her for the throne. Julie Andrews strikes just the right tone as the regal queen who is still a loving grandmother. Anne Hathaway is excellent as the awkward Mia who is transformed by her grandmother. There are some laugh-out-loud moments and all in all this is a charming film.
Rating:
Summary: A charming diversion from reality.
Review: Let's get a few things clear for those of you who have not yet seen "The Princess Diaries..." no, the movie is not one of the best pictures of the year; no, the movie is not Oscar material; no, the movie is not one of Disney's best. But is it funny? It can be. Does it have a good deal of charm as promised in its promotional campaign? Yes. Is it worth the time and money? I like to think so. "The Princess Diaries" is a basic, rags-to-riches Cinderella story given a modern makeover with some new and different characters, all uplifted by a cast and a director who seems to bring out the best the material has to offer. I'll be honest: movies like this are usually a hit-or-miss with me, and this latest addition was no exception to my skepticism. All-in-all, it's nothing too terribly special, and the comedy isn't as present as it could be, but it's not a total waste of time, and it can be a lot of fun. At the center of the story is misfit Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway), the classic klutz case who can't seem to get her act together, bumping into objects and people, becoming the center of attention in the worst possible way. Life is just one barrage of insults and mean-spirited jeers for her, so it makes little impact when her paternal grandmother decides to pay a visit to San Francisco with news of her succession to the throne of the country Genovia after the recent death of her father. At first, Mia becomes rebellious towards her grandmother, Queen of Genovia (Julie Andrews), and her mother, who she blames for keeping her royal stature a secret from her for all of her fifteen years. Then, of course, she starts getting more into the spirit of things, with a flashy new makeover to rid her of her bushman eyebrows and her frizzy hair. She soon rises to stardom as the people at school are eager to gain her attention and some small share of her fame. As with any teen-oriented movie, there are going to be setbacks that dot the fairy tale countryside: here, it centers on Mia's crush on a hunky jock who only sees her for her fame, and little else. Immediately smitten, she blows off the boy who really cares for her, as well as her friends, only to realize the trouble she has caused herself, leading us into the mandatory happy ending that Disney is always so masterful at achieving. It's nothing new, and the movie does have its shortcomings. The movie doesn't really have a great deals of comedy to it, and what laughs it does have are few and far between. There are some priceless lines of dialogue interspersed in the script: at one point, Mia's makeover artist refers to her eyebrows as "Frida" and "Kalo," while the wonderful wit of her driver, Joseph (Hector Elizondo), is wonderful. And just as Elizondo hits a high note, so does much of the cast. Andrews is back in fine form, reprising much of the charm and charisma from her past roles and giving it all she's got here. Hathaway does a good enough job of playing the turn-around princess trying to make a splash, while Heather Matarazzo and Robert Schwartzman are equally well-cast as her two closest friends who see her through tough times. Teen idols Mandy Moore and Erik von Detten make appearances as two of Mia's tormentors, so it's no surprise that I found myself cheering her on when she exacts her revenge on each of them. When it's all over and done with, "The Princess Diaries" doesn't add much to the cuteness, but it doesn't give it a bad name, either. It's a pleasant enough diversion from reality that doesn't overstay its welcome, and continues to charm with its well-rounded cast of actors. If for nothing else, watch it for the chance to see Andrews make a wonderful comeback, and, of course, to see Mandy Moore get slopped with an ice cream cone... ahh, sweet revenge.
Rating:
Summary: A New Twist To An Old Fairy Tale
Review: This movie tells the story of 15-year-old Mia, a girl who wants to be invisible and shrinks from public attention. When her estranged grandmother, the Queen of Genovia, arrives and informs Mia that she is heir to the throne, we witness an amazing transformation. Mia goes from the ugly duckling to the beautiful swan right before our eyes. Under the tutelage of her grandmother, she learns how to be a graceful and regal princess and, in the process, learns what is really important in her life- putting the needs and welfare of others before her own. The plot was a bit implausable in places, and Mia's transformation is just too easy, but all in all this is a good family movie with a good moral to the story.
Rating: 
Summary: Geek like me
Review: Hey. I'm 11 years old and absolutly love this movie. I saw it in theatres for my birthday party and it rocked. The main character, Mia Thermopolis, is someone I could really relate to. She lives in her own world ignored by everyone and just wants to get by in life. She dreams of a "foot-poppin'" kiss from the cutest guy in 10th grade but knows it will never happen in a million years. But suddenly she is the popular one when she finds out she's roalty. Definitly worth the buy. 2 thumbs up.
Rating:
Summary: School Girl Fantasy
Review: I am sorry to say, this should be rated at least PG for kissing scenes. The ratings on the movies I have been seeing lately seem a bit confusing to say the least. I watched this with my niece on Christmas day, so I think it is fine for anyone who is 13 and older. She really enjoyed the movie and we both laughed at the same scenes. I think almost every girl dreams of being a princess. She wanted to know why Mia would not want to be popular as Mia said her main goal in life was basically to be invisible. I basically think being original is more important than fitting in with the crowd. This is a funky Cinderella version, where Mia (Anne Hathaway) lives in a remodeled fire station with her mother who has kept a secret from her all her life. When her grandmother reveals she is really a princess, Mia is just slightly upset that she never was able to get to know her father and feels in many ways, betrayed. Her friend Lily is supportive of her and Lily's brother Michael (who sees her inner beauty) has a crush on Mia. Mia of course is dreaming about kissing Josh (who doesn't see her at all). Isn't that the way it sometimes goes. Julie Andrews almost seems out of place in this teenage world of short skirts and lollipops, however she added a wholesome aspect to the movie. Mia realizes that each of us needs someone who sees us when we are invisible to others. That one person who sees our inner being, and knows how to bring out the best in us.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie, Better DVD!!!
Review: THE MOVIE: Although a bit formulaic with the "ugly duckling" storyline, this movie really was a great way to spend two hours. The basic storyline has Mia (Anne Hathaway), an unpopular (to put in mildly) school girl finding out that she's the heir to the throne of a small European kingdom when her long-lost grandmother (the legendary Julie Andrews!!!) shows up to claim her for the throne. The rest of the movie basically shows Mia taking the hilarious steps to refine and (physically and socially) transform herself for the throne while she tries to survive the tenth grade, find the right boyfriend and battle off the paparazzi. While the plot may sound cliché, the movie really is a great flick taking you back to those less than secure days of high school. You'll really feel for Mia as she battles her own self-doubts, feelings, emotions and those sometimes cruel classmates of hers (including pop superstar Mandy Moore). Highlights: - The first state dinner!!! - Beating the ticket!!! - Those high school adventures... - The hilarious lessons in etiquette... - The makeover... - A young girl finds herself!!! The best scenes in the movie for me were the "State Dinner" and the part where they tried to beat a ticket from a cop. THE DVD FEATURES: Overall, Princess Diaries DVD is basically a great representative of what most DVD movies SHOULD be like as it is just chalked full of great extras. 1. 8 deleted scenes from the movie, including commentary from director Gary Marshall introducing each scene and then subsequently explaining why they were cut from the movie. GREAT extra. 2. Behind-the-scenes documentary/featurette "A New Princess." Truly one of the better behind-the-scenes documentaries I've seen with tons of cast and crew interviews, including looks at the different cast members and why they were cast for their specific roles. You'll get to see a lot of the cast interaction including a cast and crew party. 3. Two music videos including Myra's "Miracles Happen" and Krystal Harris' "Supergirl." These were cool... 4. TWO OPTIONAL AUDIO COMMENTARIES: One from Gary Marshall and one from Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews. The commentaries actually run throughout the movie where they explain and give their thoughts on each scene. Summed up, this is basically a really, really good DVD and definitely a must-see if you really liked the movie. Disney's done a great job on it. Overall, if you dig those "teen/chick" types of movies, you'll go for this one. I'd equate this to a cross between "Miss Congeniality" and "Never Been Kissed." It's a fun movie to kill a few hours with or to catch while on a date. If you're a guy, I'll guarantee your spouse/girlfriend will probably like it... THE VERDICT: The Movie: Recommended The DVD: Highly Recommended If You Really Loved the Movie
Rating:
Summary: A decent rental for the entire family
Review: "The Princess Diaries" is a very cute comedy that is suitable for the entire family. It seems to cater more to teenaged girls, but as a 30something, I really enjoyed watching this film. It was funny, and charming in a very family oriented way. Parents can watch this with their teenagers or even younger children(above age 7, as I can't see why younger children would be interested) and not be embarrassed at any of the dialogue or scenes in the movie.
Overall, it was charming and quite an enjoyable film to watch.
It's basically : nerd, Mia(played to a tee by newcomer Anne Hathaway), finds out she's princess...learns to act more like princess..then she starts to realize who she really is, and what she really wants..to rule Genovia? or to be a regular teenaged girl? Watch it to find out!
The acting was very good. Of course, Julie Andrews brilliantly plays the Queen of Genovia and Mia's grandmother.
Heather Matarrazzo, of Welcome To the Dollhouse fame, plays Mia's best friend, and Hector Elizondo, who plays the driver. He is very funny in this, he's a great character actor.
It's worth the rental fee for a night of family entertainment, even worth buying for a family with older children.
Take a peek into the Princesses' diary..
Rating:
Summary: Kind of Disappointed
Review: After reading the reviews on the Amazon web site, I felt I just had to see the Princess Diaries. So I bought the movie at a local store. I was kind of disappointed it wasn't REALLY funny, plus it was a worldly movie. I thought it would be a nice clean movie. I must admit for a new movie, it didn't have any swearing, so that was great. But the story is based around popularity and her being a princess. Other than that, I thought it was a great movie. (starring Julie Andrews, it would have to be great)
Rating:
Summary: 10 and under
Review: I read the book and then saw the movie. I might have liked it more if I hadn't read the book, which was more PG-13 than G. It was about teenagers, and they had teen issues. It wasn't a bad movie, I just felt that too much had been changed from the premise of the book for me to enjoy it. Her grandmother was not nice Julie Andrews, she drank, was not very nice to Mia or Phillippe (Mia's dad, who was not dead in the book) and Mia had known her all her life, having spent summers in France with her. The move to SF from NYC didn't help a whole lot either. Like I said, it wasn't a bad movie, it just deviated from the book a lot. Which probably had to happen for it to get a G rating and be suitable for kids under 10.
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