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Have you noticed how popular fairy tales are today? Not only do we have Grimm, Once Upon a Time, and Beauty and the Beast on television, all of them dealing directly with modern interpretations of old fables and fairy tales, but Snow White and the Huntsman was so big a hit that even with the controversy surrounding a certain actress’s indiscretions, they’re planning a second one.
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (starring Jeremy Renner) will be out in the next few months, and earlier this year we had Mirror, Mirror, yet another Snow White tale, out in theaters. There’s also Supernatural on TV, where the grimmest of the old fairy tales generally turn out to be true.
But what is it about fairy tales that makes them so popular today? The cynical part of me wants to say that it’s because the stories aren’t owned by anyone, which makes them some of the cheapest intellectual property around. While that may be part of it, though, I think it’s more than that.
Fairy tales are the first spooky tales I ever remember hearing. Stories that scare me a little tend to stay with me. And according to the Brothers Grimm, some of them are pretty violent. In the original version of Cinderella, 
for instance, one of the evil stepsisters cuts off her toes so her foot will fit in the glass (or rather, fur) slipper. I suppose all that means they translate pretty well for contemporary audiences.
Most of all, though, in fairy tales the good guys win. The bad guys are punished, usually with some pretty awesome poetic justice. And we know who the heroes and evildoers are. Snow White might not realize right away that she needs to look out for her stepmother, but the reader or the audience knows it. And that’s kind of comforting, I think.
And of course, the heroines get to wear some very pretty clothes and be sought after and rescued by some pretty handsome heroes, which is always nice.
Do you like fairy tales? What’s your favorite screen translation of a fairy tale? Do you think the messages still apply, or are they too simplified for life today?
69 Comments on “Once Upon a Time…”
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I watch both ONCE and GRIMM, and they’re both among my favorite tv shows nowadays. I think both have really interesting premises and they give awesome insights on the ideas of fairy tales.
In ONCE, they have adaptations of many fairy tales, some of them better than others. By far, the best they have done was with Little Red Riding Hood. It has never been my favorite story, but what they’ve done in ONCE was so absolutely brilliant (and the character of Red is the best!), it’s hard not to love.
Interestingly enough, I also love the movie that came out in 2011, Red Riding Hood. It’s my favorite Fairy Tale adaptation movie ever. I love the way they adapted that story, which, again, isn’t a favorite but was so well done that I was completely engaged. In fact, I’ve watched this movie several times and only love it more every time (despite the fact that I can’t stand Amanda Seyfried).
As for GRIMM, which I may actually love more than ONCE, the best character is also the reformed Bludbad, vulgarly known as the Big Bad Wolf from LRRH. It just follows me around!
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 5:42 am.
I really like the twists they’ve put on some of the classic tales too, B. And I love Monroe — who doesn’t like a vegetarian Big Bad Wolf? *g*
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 12:26 pm.
I like both Grimm and Once, but like you I think I like Grimm better.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 6:56 pm.
My favorite of all time is Pretty Woman, for me, the quintessential Cinderella story. The balcony scene is classic. I also watch Grimm, which is pretty violent and right up my alley. You’re right about original fairy tales being, well, grim. Hansel and Gretel comes to mind.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 6:40 am.
Nothing quite like cannibalism to really scare children into making good choices! I can’t resist candy myself, so into the witch’s oven I’d go!
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 8:22 am.
Great example, Donna! I’d forgotten about “Pretty Woman” and it’s great twist with “she rescues him right back”.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 12:28 pm.
Just like Dbrown3400, my all time favorite in fairy tales on the silver screen is Pretty Woman. I’m just a hopeless romantic at heart, and still waiting for that knight on a white horse.
We (still) don’t get to see GRIMM or ONCE in Belgium, but I’ve seen Snow White and the Huntsmen and quite liked that movie.
The message carried in fairy tales is still one we’d better remember. Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen a lot in real life. Here the criminals are treated like innocents, and psychologists find all sorts of reasons for their crimes in a bad youth and upbringing. I so think this is wrong. Imo you can become a good person, even if your environs are bad. It just depends on character. If you’re strong enough you can escape your environs and become a better person.
I also think this is why Sharia law is so popular with the moslims. They go back to the time of the Bible. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth…
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 6:53 am.
Good point, Nickie. I think fairy tale morals are very “eye for an eye”, which can be very satisfying in times of moral ambiguity.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 12:29 pm.
I’m not into fairy tales. I haven’t seen the new movies that are fair tale related, and I only watched one show a couple of weeks ago that involved the tales. I didn’t watch it again (I don’t remember the name but it is the one where it flips back and forth between now and then and takes place on an island). Something about modern graphics takes away from the story for me. I don’t know why. I prefer the simple stories of Red Riding Hood, and Cinderella to the modern adaptations. However, give us the marvel comic movies any day of the week. Just this weekend, Son was asking to see “The Avengers” again.
Speaking of Disney Princesses, I always said Snow White was my favorite because she was the only one with brown eyes. But, I secretly loved Aurora because she got to wear the blue ball gown. Then Belle hit the scene with that awesome yellow dress, and she was my new favorite. Yeah, it is all about the clothes.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 8:16 am.
LOL, Amanda. I agree — nobody gets to wear cool clothes like Disney princesses.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 12:30 pm.
I watched Once until they killed off my reason to watch a few episodes in. I love fairy tale plots when interjected into romance novels. Give me a beauty and the beast story any day and I’m a happy girl. I’m not big on Cinderella stories since I often find them superficial.
My fav fairy tale story? Into the Woods, the musical.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 8:17 am.
I know who you’re talking about, cail. But try again — Captain Hook has arrived on the scene, and he’s, well, he’s not hard on the eyes or ears. At all. *g*
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 12:32 pm.
I love fairy tale plots. Am loving Grimm and once. That Jeremy Renner version looks good to me. I always loved the original Beauty and the Beast on tv. The new one not so much.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 8:42 am.
I’m the same way, Lori! The guy in the new “Beauty and the Beast” isn’t…beastly enough for me. And a Buffyed up H & G? I’m in.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 12:34 pm.
Oh yeah!
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 3:47 pm.
I’ve always been a fan of fairy tales, and still love them. I love some of the movies, but already have enough tv to watch without adding Once & Grim (they also look kind of scar!).
B, I love Red Riding Hood, too. Really lush and beautiful.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 9:45 am.
LOL, Barbara. I understand. I won’t recommend any new shows, then. Although the one where the young boy has to cope with his adopted mom being THE evil queen is pretty clever. *g*
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 12:37 pm.
I thought Everafter was an excellent rendition of Cinderella.
In a time when it seems that the good guy never wins and that we are all struggling, Fairy Tales tell us that there is hope.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 10:26 am.
Hey Pesky! I forgot about Ever After. It is one of our favorites in the house during Christmas time! Love it when she carries the Prince away from the gypsies.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 10:35 am.
Oh, Ever After! One of my favorites. I love the way she rescues herself.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 12:37 pm.
I love that movie – even with Drew’s horrid accent.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 1:13 pm.
I love fairy tales and hea endings. I lean toward the fairy tales where the heroine takes care of herself. The original story of East of the Sun, West of the Moon is one of my very favorites. Don’t even get me started on Tinkerbell and what a poor role model she is for young women.
I too watch OUaT and enjoyed the first season much more than this current one. Rumplestiltskin is such an amazing character and is visually stunning. Robert Carlyle must have so much fun!
My favorite version of a fairytale is still Disney’s Little Mermaid. It is not at all faithful to the original story but when DD1 was little we watched it every day for months. My heart still turns to mush when I hear “I want to be where the people are…”
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 10:32 am.
kez, I’m with you. My new favorite Disney film is “Tangled”. Well, and “Brave”. *g*
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 12:40 pm.
I loved fairy tales as a child. I liked the fact that there was hope for something good to come of the story.
I watch Once Upon A Time, but not any of the others currently on tv. Saw Mirror, Mirror and liked the fact that it had some humor in it.
Disney takes on fairy tales are the best of the lot. Good animation and great music.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 10:37 am.
I agree, Angela. Nobody does fairy tales like Disney!
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 12:41 pm.
I loved Ever After too! I don’t watch the fairy tale TV shows because I didn’t get into them from the beginning, but now I’m intrigued. Can I just start watching? I like to hop onto my treadmill and watch a show on my iPad and I need a few more favorites to make the time pass.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 11:14 am.
Once Upon a Time has a more complex back story, Christie, but I think it’s totally worth watching. Grimm is pretty straightforward: a cop discovers he’s one in a long line of Grimms, defenders of humanity against fairy tale creatures. But to most people, the creatures look just like the rest of us. And not all of them are evil.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 12:43 pm.
I like fairy tales, but really didn’t think too much about them until I got into Grimm. I really love that show! I tuned in once in a great while to Once Upon A Time and liked it, but never watched it faithfully. I think the messages still apply, just with a new age twist!
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 11:23 am.
Isn’t it cool, Kelly, that stories hundreds of years old are still around, and still timely? I love it!
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 12:46 pm.
I haven’t watched Once Upon a Time or Grimm, simply because we are never sure when we will be home and I already have a ton of shows I have yet to watch on my DVR, I don’t dare take on any more.
But, they do intrigue me. I will likely try to find the season DVD’s to watch. 
I loved Ever After and Ella Enchanted. I also liked Snow White and the Huntsman (not just because of the absolutely dreamy men, but the plot changes were interesting) and Red Riding Hood (great plot changes and unbelievable casting). I had not heard of the new version of Hansel and Gretel with Jeremy Renner, but I’ll definitely check that out, too. Movies are much easier for me to invest in than TV shows.
And, I can’t forget Princess Bride. It was so fantastically done with the storyline, the humor, scenery and casting, it’s one of my all time favorites. Also liked Princess Diaries–humor, nerd to princess story, and Julie Andrews. Speaking of Julie Andrews, Sound of Music is amazing, too. I guess I’m just a romantic at heart.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 11:39 am.
Oh, “The Princess Bride”! One of my all-time favorites, Julie!
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 1:00 pm.
Fairy tales are just the best… I loved Ever After and Princess Bride are my favorites… I’ve got to NetFlix the current ones on tv..
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 11:50 am.
Aren’t they, CateS? I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks so.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 1:00 pm.
Messages still apply!
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 12:23 pm.
And that’s kind of comforting, isn’t it, Julia?
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 1:01 pm.
I always liked the Fractured Fairy Tales on Rocky & Bullwinkle.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 1:16 pm.
LOL, LauraR! I remember those!
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 2:38 pm.
I love fairytale stories and the twists they are putting on them. I am a big fan of Beauty and the Beast stories, I always grab any book that is based on that fairy tale and am a big fan of the old Beauty and the Beast tv series and don’t mind the new one either. I enjoy Once Upon a Time and love the twist they did with the Beauty and the Beast tale with Rumpelstiltskin. I think he is one of my favorite characters on the show. My favorite fairy tale movie is Ever After, which is a based on Cinderella.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 1:22 pm.
I’m a big fan of the Beauty & the Beast dynamic too, Joan. It makes for SUCH an interesting, romantic story.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 2:39 pm.
ok, I watched a few episodes of Grimm and could not get into it.. all I could think was if I was the wolf guy and some punk kept calling me all the time needing me to bail his butt out of another situation, I’d get a new number. I like the premise of ONCE, but I am just not that into keeping up with it. But this may be because I am not much of a series watcher..however:
I LOVE fairy tales. I love books based on them and some of the movies (yeah, I am partial to Disney once a lot of the time) Some re-imaginings work for me and some don’t, though I will give the new ones props on the costumes and scenery – gorgeous.
I also love to read them – or used to, I have not picked up my fairy tale books in a while. How can you not love suspense, evils do-ers and a little magic tossed in from time to time?
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 1:22 pm.
Amen, Sheridan! And you just need a duller life. It gives you more time for TV. *g*
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 2:40 pm.
I’ve always been a huge fairytale fan. I’m writing a few ‘takes’ on fairytales now — my next book in May, HOW TO PURSUE A PRINCESS is about a Prince named Piotr Romanovin, Prince Wulfinski of Oxenburg (Get it … he’s Piotr Wulf!) and yes, his lady love is nicknamed ‘Red.’ And starting next week, I’m writing a Beauty and the Beast themed book.
I’m also a huge fan of ONCE UPON A TIME. I haven’t seen Grimm, although I’m tempted. Hmmm. Maybe I should tape it and start. Suzie, once again, you are introducing me to a slippery slope of fun. I love it when you blog!
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 1:24 pm.
Bwa haa haa! Always glad to get you into trouble, Karen.
BTW, this Sunday on the Science Channel is “Firefly: Browncoats Unite”, a retrospective on the TV series with most of the cast since it’s the 10-yr anniversary of the show. I already have it set to DVR.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 2:43 pm.
I feel people like them because it is something new and refreshing for a change. It’s for the most part, not full of sex, violence and swearing. It puts a neat edge on the fairy tales we were brought up on. It’s wholesome, entertaining and suspensful. I love “Once Upon A Time.”
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 1:31 pm.
Exactly, Becky! Well said.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 2:44 pm.
I love Once Upon a Time too.
I haven’t seen Grimm or Beauty and the Beast.
I saw Mirror Mirror. Enjoyed it.
Have to see Snow White and the Huntsmen. Its in my NetFlix queue.
But first I have to go see SkyFall. I LOVE James Bond!! Most versions anyway.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 1:37 pm.
LOL, colinfirthfan. I don’t know if Bond is a fairy tale, but he is nice to watch. *g*
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 2:44 pm.
Fairy godmother (Q and M
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 8:46 pm.
I actually love fairy tales. Since I was a child I have loved the fantasy of the stories. Sleeping Beauty, by Disney was always my favorite. Today, the adaptations found in the tv series Grimm are the ones I enjoy the most.
I remember that my favorite story book as a child was the “The Twelve Dancing Princesses”, story by Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm Retold by Jane Werner with pictures by Sheilah Beckett
c. 1954
A great little book! Loved the drawings by Sheilah Beckett.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 1:42 pm.
It’s cool the way those stories stay with us all through child and adulthood isn’t it, Debbie?
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 2:47 pm.
Yes, so many of them stay with me. I use fairy-tales in my class. My college students must take a fairytale and interpret it in their own way for their mid-term. This is a studio drawing course.
In my art history courses I have used some accurate historical romances for reading material. The students find it an enjoyable addition to the text book.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 7:08 pm.
I am a fan of fairy tales. Always have been despite knowing their original purpose; to scare children into behaving. *G* One of my favorites was The Red Shoes (for anyone who knows me, no surprise there). As for contemporary retellings, of those, I’m not much of a fan. The cynical edges, the warping of favorite tales doesn’t appeal, although I must say, Snow White and The Huntsman enthralled, and Mirror Mirror entertained (but the Bollywood ending threw me a wee curve). Both Julia Roberts and Charlize Theron impressed within the context of their roles. As for simplistic, no, I don’t believe they’re too simplistic for today’s audience. With the insidious and pervasive ‘dumbing down of America’ that seems to be hiding behind topics like equality and self-esteem, simple is probably best.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 2:18 pm.
I know what you mean, Gwyn. Hansel & Gretel is kind of the ultimate “don’t take candy from strangers” story after all, isn’t it?
I especially loved Charlize Theron’s wicked queen. Very interesting character.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 2:50 pm.
I remember that I liked the Fractured Fairy Tales the best; especially one where the damsel saves the hapless-hero who is dressed in armor too heavy for him to move!
My recent favorite Fractured Fairy Tale is the first Shrek movie… I like the scene where Fiona goes all “ninja” on the Robin Hood gang.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 2:46 pm.
LOL, Susan – exactly! I did love how they turned the tales on their heads.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 2:51 pm.
Love Grimm beyond words, I adore Monroe. I like fairy tales for the most part, never a fan of Goldilocks or Sleeping Beauty though because they were both B&E artists. The differences in the two is Goldilocks was also a thief and vandal, she broke up the furniture, stole their food, and then messed up the bedrooms. Sleeping Beauty had a Merry Maid fixation so she cleaned up everything, but did she ask if they wanted the place rearranged? I don’t know about others but I really hesitate to go into a strange house without an invitation. Don’t get me started on Hansel & Gretel, they were literally eating the witch out of house & home.
I loved Pretty Woman, Julia Roberts was wonderful in that role. She had the Cinderella thing down.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 3:36 pm.
LOL, evlqn. Did you mean Sleeping Beauty, or Snow White? I don’t remember SB cleaning up stuff. Just narcolepsy. *g*
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 5:35 pm.
I stand corrected, all those vapid heroines look alike to me. I want less flight and more fight in my heroines.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 5:58 pm.
I love fairy tales. I am really loving Once Upon a Time and loved Drew Barrymore’s version of Cinderella. That are a lot of things in fairy tales that are timeless. However, kids do seem to be more jaded earlier on these days.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 4:06 pm.
I agree, Archer. And I love that in “Ever After”, Danielle’s character doesn’t change. It’s the prince who needs the makeover.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 5:36 pm.
Once Upon a Time is my favorite show! I can’t get enough of it. I love stories that are based on fairy tales or are a twist on fairy tales, like Eloisa James’ fairy tale series. I also adored Wickedly Charming by Kristine Grayson, a romance between Cinderella’s Prince Charming and a “wicked” step-mother.
Knowing that fairy tales are so popular these days, I talked the director of my local middle school musical into doing Once Upon a Matress this year. I can’t wait!
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 4:58 pm.
Oh, awesome, Kimberly! I bet it’ll be terrific.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 5:37 pm.
I ADORE fairy tales. Some stories more so than others.
ONCE does a good job incorporating a lot of the stories, though I don’t watch it religiously. Some of the other adaptations were better than others. I will say, I don’t know if I had a fave adaptation, but I had enjoyed a lot of them.
So long as the basic theme of the fairy tale is intact, I’m okay with the twists and turns. I probably will be picky of what to read, but I’m okay with it.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 5:49 pm.
I like fairy tales from back when but the versions that are on tv, I don’t care for.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 5:51 pm.
I liked “Mirror, Mirror” but had no desire to see “Snow White and the Huntsman”.
“Forever After” is one of my favorite movies with Drew Barrymore, but I do not like it enough to have my own copy.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 9:50 pm.
I’ve loved fairy tales my whole life and of course, mythology, too. I think there’s an appeal to both fairy tales and mythology that speaks to people. I guess, you could insert some Joseph Campbell comment. This past year I bought my daughter the sanitized version of the Grimm fairytales and a purple, leatherbound version of Hans Christian Andersen. She’s always reading them when she’s not reading about Pokemon or Bad Kitty.
I watch both Once and Grimm. I prefer Grimm to Once because it feels like there’s definite good side vs bad side. I’m kind of starting to lose a some interest in Once.
I’ve loved Eloisa James’ fairy tale series.
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 10:50 pm.
I love fairy tales, especially in shows like Once Upon A Time and movies like Ever After and Princess Bride. However, I love reading variations of fairy tales in romances. There was an entire series in the late 90′s called “Faerie Tale Romances” that I was able to collect almost all of. They are wonderful adaptations of the standard fairy tales with romance thrown in to boot. All are out of print now and difficult to find but a search through UBS’s can sometimes turn up these treasures.
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 1:04 am.
I do love Fairy Tales Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and TANGLED are two favorites.
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 3:34 am.
I love Tangled, Mary! The story is great and the music is good, as well.
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 10:00 am.