Tag Archives: Roald Dahl

Adventure, Comedy, Family, No Spoiler Reviews

THE WITCHES (2020), The Things I Liked…

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The Witches (2020), Anne Hathaway, Warner Bros. Pictures
The Witches (2020), Anne Hathaway, Warner Bros. Pictures

Director Robert Zemeckis’s remake of Roald Dahl’s adventure/comedy classic The Witches promised a scary, funny and imaginative tale. One about a seven-year-old boy who has a run-in with some real-life witches.

Instead, ‘OK’ is the best I can say about the film. Anne Hathaway’s performance as the main witch wasn’t bad and I liked some of the special effects. Nevertheless, there’s a certain simplicity in the story execution that left me uninspired and dissatisfied.

In fairness, The Witches is based on a famous children’s book. So, naturally, I wasn’t expecting a sophisticated adult tale. Yet, I still hoped to feel more pleased to have watched it than I did.

Luckily, I managed to find parts of the movie that stood out to me in a good way. For example, the above perfectly infectious smile on Anne Hathaway’s face, Chris Rock’s fun voice/narration, the ‘comforted’ feeling I experienced once Octavia Spencer’s loving grandma character showed up. I also enjoyed the musical score and the wonderfully suspenseful scene that involves the task of getting the potion into the pea soup. A moment that took me right back to my favourite Disney Pixar movie, Ratatouille (2007). Lastly, there’s the very pleasantly dramatic dining scene that follows the pea soup ‘flavouring’ incident.

Overall, it’s ultimately the relationship between grandma and grandson that I loved most about The Witches. It’s just a shame that I didn’t find the film as a whole to be as satisfying as my favourite scenes in it.

Give The Witches a chance if you’re especially curious. Undoubtedly, it’s young children who will enjoy it most.

Happy Film Loving 

G

Adventure, Comedy, Family

THE WITCHES (2020): New Trailer From Robert Zemeckis, Starring Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer, Stanley Tucci, Chris Rock…

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The Witches (2020), Anne Hathaway, Warner Bros. Pictures
The Witches (2020), Anne Hathaway, Warner Bros. Pictures

Read my spoiler-free movie review of  The Witches (2020).

Forrest Gump (1994) director Robert Zemeckis has a new film starring Anne Hathaway, Chris Rock, Octavia Spencer and Stanley Tucci.

Based on Roald Dahl’s 1983 classic book of the same name, The Witches, this one promises to be a scary, funny and imaginative tale of a seven year old boy who has a run in with some real life witches.

‘Festive fun’ is the vibe I get from this one. I love the cast and I’m excited about the special effects. Naturally, I’m not a fan of mice in real life, but when they’re not real, even I can find a way to appreciate them.

Codie-Lei Eastick, Charles Edwards, Morgana Robinson, Jahzir Bruno, Eugenia Caruso, Simon Manyonda, Jonathan Livingstone, Philippe Spall, Zeke Taylor, Eurydice El-Etr and Anna Devlin also star.

The Witches Release Dates: October 22nd, 2020 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Adventure, Family, Fantasy, No Spoiler Reviews

THE BFG (2016): The Thing I Liked…

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The BFG (2016), Ruby Barnhill, Mark Rylance
The BFG (2016), Ruby Barnhill, Mark Rylance

The idea of a movie based on Roald Dahl’s famous children’s book The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) had me excited because I vaguely recall enjoying the story as a child. Having now seen the Steven Spielberg directed film, it’s clear for me that this is one of those instances where the book may definitely be much better than the movie.

The lovely nostalgic walk down memory lane I’d been hoping for really isn’t what transpired here. My biggest issue with Spielberg’s film is the pace. I found the pace to be so incredibly slow, that at one point when the ‘bad giants’ were looking for a human child for their afternoon snack, I may have uttered the words ‘Just find her and eat her already, so that this massive let down can finally be over!’

Unfortunately for me, things didn’t get interesting and engaging until the part that takes place at the palace towards the end. Another positive is the narration at the very end.

Prior to this definitely disappointing The BFG experience, I’d actually been thinking about re-watching the Spielberg classic, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982). I’m no longer sure about that now, though I may feel differently after a little while.

The BFG has reminded me that sometimes re-living stories and/or re-watching films I loved as a child, especially if they were made with children as the target audience may result in those films not being well received by my now adult brain. One such example would be The Never Ending Story (1984). I really wouldn’t recommend revisiting that. I did and I ended up wishing that I’d let it remain as magical as my young brain’s experience of it.

My main hope for The BFG  is that children, the key target audience for the movie actually have a good time when they watch it. Should I finally muster the courage to re-visit E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, I’ll certainly share my thoughts on here. Until next time…

Happy Film Loving

G

Adventure, Family, Fantasy

THE BFG (2016): New Trailer From Steven Spielberg & Mark Rylance

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The BFG (2016), Ruby Barnhill, Mark Rylance as The Big Friendly Giant
The BFG (2016), Ruby Barnhill, Mark Rylance as The Big Friendly Giant

Today’s trailer is for The BFG (The Big Friendly Giant), the latest film from Mark Rylance and director Steven Spielberg.

Based on the classic children’s book of the same name by Roald Dahl, The BFG is the story of a young girl called Sophie (Ruby Barnhill), and her encounter with a giant (Rylance).

Sophie’s big new friend is different because unlike his giant peers, The BFG is kind and completely uninterested in eating little boys and girls…

I wasn’t a fan of the original edit of The BFG trailer released a few weeks ago, but this new version has me very intrigued.

Rylance and Spielberg last worked together on Bridge Of Spies (2015); the film that lead to a Best Supporting Actor Oscar win for Rylance.

I’m almost certain I’ll enjoy this movie because it’s Spielberg and because I remember loving the book.

The BFG Release Dates: July 1st, 2016 (US & CAN); July 21st, 2016 (GER); July 22nd, 2016 (UK)…

Happy Film Loving 🙂

G