@Background Pony #907F
Very good point there.

@SuperSonic15
It wasn’t just Tempest’s magic on the princesses. It was also the Storm King’s Magic that cause destruction, captivity, and slavery across the entire kingdom because he’s responsible for conquering Equestria and overthrowing Celestia, Luna, Cadance, and Twilight at the beginning of the film and ruining the Friendship Festival.

@Magma_ERuptiOn
Or King Sombra because he turned Princess Amore into a statue.

@cloudkicker108  
That much I’m willing to agree with.

@cloudkicker108  
I haven’t seen the footage from SDCC, but I did hear the audio. And I got a different vibe from the audio than I did reading the book in places. For instance, in the book, Tempest just seems annoyed by the Storm King’s bumbling around with powers he doesn’t understand. In the movie, however, her tone of voice makes her sounds like she’s actually afraid of him as well. Not to mention, the book is devoid of certain lines that help make scenes pack a little extra punch, spice, and character. Like that joke with the hippos.
 
So…yeah, I’d say it’s watered down. Definitely looking forward to the movie, despite knowing how it’ll play out.

@cloudkicker108  
That’s why I’ll get the book after I see the movie. Besides, no reason for me to spoil the movie just by reading the book first.

@cloudkicker108  
So it’s a watered down version of the movie essentially.  
I rest my case.

@Esteban  
@Mike  
Also of importance is the fact that the novelization (which was meant for young readers) boiled the movie’s plot down to practically a cliffnotes version. I too concur with the notion of watching the movie first before jumping to conclusions.

@Esteban  
Irrelevant. That’s a novel. Books are a lot more text heavy, so it’s going to come off as a bit blander.  
You should wait til the actual movie.

@Mike  
I have read the book version. They spent half the page describing the same fight sequence of Tempest and a big fish guy so i don’t expect the movie to gave any more additional build up to any of the scenes mentioned in the book. They just skipped the songs which are irrelevant to the story.

@kleptomage  
I, too, would like to see them put up more of a fight before succumbing to the story’s need for them to be “out of the picture”.

@Esteban  

 
So you’ve seen the movie? Please, give us a link so we can see what you’re talking about!

@Jarkes  
I don’t suppose you would consider the possibility that some want the Princesses to have the dignity of a good fight before being defeated again.

@Jarkes  
Dude, we already know that you’re biased against any critcism. You would have liked it no matter what went down. You would’ve still rationalized it as being awesome because MLP is holy in your eyes.

@Esteban  
True, but the novelization is one thing. I may get the novel, but I’m still going to watch the movie proper to see exactly what the novel only describes in detail without much animation or pictures. After all, I really doubt they will leave the Princesses petrified until way after the Mane Six have won.
 
As far as the dialogue is concerned, I’m thinking that Celestia realized the danger Tempest’s magic held after it took out Cadance, and knew Queen Novo was the only person with the magic to revert it, leaving it up to the Mane Six to seek out Queen Novo to undo Tempest’s spell on the other Princesses and return them to normal.
 
@Jarkes  
I’m going with Jarkes here and see what all happens in the movie along with reading the novel as well. I know a lot of people don’t appreciate the treatment the Princesses get whenever they appear, being used solely as plot devices for the drama most of the time, but it would be more of a Curb-Stomp Battle if they even were given that chance to fight back anyway.

@Esteban
 
Dude, we already know that you’re biased against McCarthy. You wouldn’t have liked it no matter what went down. You would’ve still rationalized it as being terrible because McCarthy is Satan in your eyes.

@Jarkes  
No, i have made up my mind that it suck because i have read the whole story. Its uncreative, it’s recycled Twiligh Kingdom, it has pointless characters. It is all about Twilight. The villains are basically even stupider Starlight Glimmer and even blander Tirek. The only thing that can save it are visuals and songs.

@Esteban
 
“I have already made up my mind that this movie will suck based solely on the fact that the princesses can’t just solve everything.”

For fuck’s sake people, you guys seriously wanted the Princesses to defeat all the villains effortlessly and end the movie in 5 minutes?

@SuperSonic15  
Yup, the writing in the movie suck. Imagine the mane6 chamistry and absolute focus on Twilight from Equestria Girls 1 and mix it with entire premise of Twilight Kingdom episode. Replace Discord with new OC Tempest and you have a very bland adventure episode.

Well, the junior novel for the movie confirms it. Whatever that orb is that Tempest bucks in the trailer towards the ponies is what is able to turn the Princesses to stone, making it easier for Tempest to transfer their magic to the Staff of Sacanas.

@Background Pony #72AC  
I think he will make a cameo with Fluttershy on either end or intro of the movie.

@Esteban  
It would have been good if he did showed up in order to help the girls (Mane 6)

@Background Pony #1152  
Yes, soccer. …OF DEATH! XD

So far, it seems only Cadence has been turned to stone. The others are just playing soccer.