After Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas", whose marvellously entertaining blend of stop-motion animation and catchy music was let down only by a rather amateurish screenplay, it must have made sense to turn to Roald Dahl's much-loved novel as source material for a follow-up from ... Read review
Roald Dahl's modern classic for children becomes a delightful combination of live action ... more
and stop-motion animation by the team that madeThe Nightmare Before Christmas: director Henry Selick and producers Tim Burton (Batman) and Denise Di Novi. The stor...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Roald Dahl's modern classic for children becomes a delightful combination of live action ... more
and stop-motion animation by the team that madeThe Nightmare Before Christmas: director Henry Selick and producers Tim Burton (Batman) and Denise Di Novi. The stor...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 1 to 3 weeks...
After Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas", whose marvellously entertaining blend of stop-motion animation and catchy music was let down only by a rather amateurish screenplay, it must have made sense to turn to Roald Dahl's much-loved novel as source material for a follow-up from the same producers and director.
Bizarrely, the resulting script this time round is far, far weaker than 'Nightmare', and the music is ... ...in a student musical, but are simply unacceptable in a major movie, and underscore how desperately weak the industry's pool of talent is these days except in the acting and visual technology departments.
Character design is also weaker than in 'Nightmare', so that all the hard work of a talented vocal cast can't stop them being a bit bland.
... more
After Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas", whose marvellously entertaining blend of stop-motion animation and catchy music was let down only by a rather amateurish screenplay, it must have made sense to turn to Roald Dahl's much-loved novel as source material for a follow-up from the same producers and director.
Bizarrely, the resulting script this time round is far, far weaker than 'Nightmare', and the music is downright appalling - the songs might just have passed muster in a student musical, but are simply unacceptable in a major movie, and underscore how desperately weak the industry's pool of talent is these days except in the acting and visual technology departments.
Character design is also weaker than in 'Nightmare', so that all the hard work of a talented vocal cast can't stop them being a bit bland.
Mohammed 10.08.2000
Ciao members have rated this review on average:
very helpful
Review of Five Children And It / Two Brothers / James And The Giant Peach - Live Action / Animated (DVD)
Advantages: Brilliant story, well adapted for teh screen Disadvantages: The real life bits
James And The Giant Peach is a splendid film version (part real life, part animation) of a wonderful book by Roald Dahl.
It tells the story of a boy who is orphaned and goes to live with his foul old aunts but ends up sailing away on a giant peach which grows in his garden. Sounds pretty naff, don't it? But rest assured the reality is a wonderful thing and the book is as good as any that Dahl ever wrote.
The film version, however, is absolutely ... ...voyage by all manner of friendly but very prickly giant insects (the spider is a worrying, perverse, very sexy creation).
I've seen the film several times and believe me it doesn't age with the viewings - this is one of those timeless family entertainment films that gives the genre a good name. I don't know anyone apart from one other writer on Ciao who doesn't love this film. I can't see the problem and I disagree with a lot of what he says.
Trust ...
dave27 23.03.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Five Children And It / Two Brothers / James And The Giant Peach - Live Action / Animated (DVD)
Three features. In 'Five Children And It' a Psammead is 'It', an ancient, irritable, ugly sand fairy, which five children find one day in a gravel pit. As a reward for finding him, It grants the children one wish a day, the results of which will last until sunset. The children soon discover that making sensible wishes without any troublesome repercussions is more difficult than they first thought! Also features: 'Two Brothers' and 'James And The Giant Peach'.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
PATHE DISTRIBUTION; 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
"...Finally a fun-house whirl that's not just for the kids....It's bliss..." (Rolling Stone, p.72, 16/05/1996)
"...One of the most striking works of animation of the last ten years..." (Sight and Sound, p.54-5, 01/08/1996)
"...JAMES is a stunner with a breathtaking array of eye-teasers..." -- 3 out of 4 stars (USA Today, p.1D, 12/04/1996)
"...A delightfully demented creation that's every bit as surreal and scary as it is touching....An extraordinary achievement..." (Variety, 08/04/1996)
Technical information
Aspect Ratio
1.85 Wide Screen, 16:9 Wide Screen
Special Features
Original Theatrical Trailer, Music Video, Production Featurette
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
DVD Description
Three features. In 'Five Children And It' a Psammead is 'It', an ancient, irritable, ugly sand fairy, which five children find one day in a gravel pit. As a reward for finding him, It grants the children one wish a day, the results of which will last until sunset. The children soon discover that making sensible wishes without any troublesome repercussions is more difficult than they first thought! Also features: 'Two Brothers' and 'James And The Giant Peach'.
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