Matilda (DVD)

Matilda based on the Roald Dahl book was another film I watched this afternoon. 27th December. Being a lover of reviewing films I have decided to review this too.

Danny DeVito starred in this as well as being a most talented director. It is rated PG although the theme of this whereby children can get awful things happen to them by adults and not tell the police about them just use psycho kinetic powers or spells is bad for very young ...
...film as we shall see Matilda was definitely not born the same. Mind you with parents such as the worm woods who could blame her?

This film is narrated at the beginning when it introduces Matilda. The narration adds to the style of Matilda as does Matilda herself. Matilda was left on her own and that was how she liked it.

From the beginning of this film it is funny. With Matilda getting up to mischief. By the age of 4 ... more

Matilda based on the Roald Dahl book was another film I watched this afternoon. 27th December. Being a lover of reviewing films I have decided to review this too.

Danny DeVito starred in this as well as being a most talented director. It is rated PG although the theme of this whereby children can get awful things happen to them by adults and not tell the police about them just use psycho kinetic powers or spells is bad for very young children.

It is Colour, Closed-captioned. Columbia/Tristar Studios. Video Release Date: June 25, 2002 Running time 94 minutes.

“Everyone is born , but not everyone is born the same.” these are the words the film starts on and it is a fantastic way to introduce the film as we shall see Matilda was definitely not born the same. Mind you with parents such as the worm woods who could blame her?

This film is narrated at the beginning when it introduces Matilda. The narration adds to the style of Matilda as does Matilda herself. Matilda was left on her own and that was how she liked it.

From the beginning of this film it is funny. With Matilda getting up to mischief. By the age of 4 Matilda had read every magazine in the house and asked her dad for her first present a book. Matilda knew that she would have to get everything she wanted herself so that morning she left in search of a book. Matilda went to the library, by herself.

Matilda was a special girl with a very special intelligence for her age. Her parents did not help her more concerned about themselves and their money.

It’s already starting to get very funny and when Matilda learns from her dad no less that she could punish her parents DeVito and Rhea Perlman she all out goes to get revenge. When Matilda puts peroxide in her dads shampoo bottle and he comes down for breakfast with his hair blonde it is hilarious. It is this type of humour that you can expect from watching Matilda. Like super gluing your father’s hat to his head. Ah isn’t no sweeter revenge for Matilda than this!

This film will have you rolling on the floor laughing and also saying, “good for you Matilda”.

Matilda’s father forces her to conform, but Matilda who is stubborn does everything she can to rebel.

I like the way before a new part of this film is going to start or something important the writer draws your attention by having the narrator narrate this to you. This effect has been used before in other films, but it really works with Matilda.

Matilda gets her wish and goes to school, but is any school better than no school at all? The stage manager has certainly created the perfect image for this school as it is big, dark, well black to be precise with overgrown trees and plants. The windows are all scratched and need cleaning.

The Principle is wicked she goes out of her way to be cruel to the children flinging them with her big mighty hands. Holding a stick. She has the right costume which is incidentally all black like the school. I also recognised her too which I think she’s been in The Witches, but she certainly looks like a witch.

Then Matilda, Mara Wilson (Mrs. Doubtfire) meets Honey her class teacher. Honey has a secret of her own. Honey is very gentle in her ways. She wears dresses and is the typical feminine figure. Honey has an instant liking to Matilda. She goes to the headmistress asking her to put her in an older class, but the headmistress threatens to lock Matilda up and thinks Miss Jennifer Honey, played by Embeth Davidtz is just casting her off because she can’t cope with her. Matilda’s father reports to the Principle that Matilda is a postulating pustule.

The principles Miss Trunchbull (Pam Ferris) idea of school is one where there are no children whatsoever. The principle is awful, really evil, but funny. The principle soon shows her soft side to her hard exterior when she drinks a glass of water with a newt in it. The principle is not fond of the newt which she thinks is a snake. Matilda looks at the glass with the newt in it wishing it was on the principle and soon the glass topples over and the newt lands on the principle. In this hilarious scene where the principle shakes all over in a frantic attempt to get the newt off. What is so hilarious about this scene is that the principle is a person that is on the outside so stern. Even in her costume. She looks like a prison warden with her black top and skirt. Then these really ridiculous bright coloured striped socks.

The Principle makes an example of Bruce Bog Trotter who snuck into her office and stole a cake then ate it. Principle puts him in front of the whole school giving him a huge mound of this chocolate cake to eat and he says he doesn’t want any, but she forces him. Then more comes out absolutely mounds and the boy mustn’t leave the room until he eats it all every last speckle. I can’t actually describe just how big this cake is it must of cost them a fortune to make, but he has to eat it in front of the whole school. Well I’m not going to tell you what happens as that would spoil it, but lets just say the plan sort of back fires on her.

Matilda’s parents are the most stupidest, thick people you are likely to come across. They do look the part. The father played by Danny DeVito is small and fat. The mother has blonde hair in beads and I suppose they made her blonde cause of all the blonde bimbo jokes. Being blonde myself I’m not saying blonde people are thick, but it does seem the stereo typical image.

What is particularly beautiful about Matilda is the friendship her and Honey share. Matilda is desperate for a friend that she can relate to and she can relate to Honey especially when she shares with Matilda her secret which I’m not going to tell you as that would spoil it.

One part of the film I didn’t like and I was glad my black cat, Cuddles wasn’t in was when Principle kicked a black cat that went near her. The black cat went flying which I know did not happen in real life, but nevertheless I don’t believe in animal cruelty. (I am not really being that serious about this part of the film and if you knew me you’d know I was just being tongue in cheek)

Principle is a really good character actress who manages to characterise her character so well that sweat even drips off her face. She is a big actress and has a big mouth, big body movements and a big voice.

At parts this film has you biting your nails when we have the scene in Principles house which I am not giving away too much about. Here is another massive portion of cake scene this time with the principle herself eating it.

I particularly like the set outside the principle’s house what I am talking about is her garden because it’s like a garden from a fairy tale. It is over grown and wild. It has strange kind of trees in it with real character. The garden actually helps you to feel the fear around the principles house.

I really like it when Matilda discovers her pscyho-kinetic power and the fact that she can move things with her eyes. It’s really funny when Matilda has a dance scene and gets all the plants, cards, chairs and lamps dancing with her whilst she is listening to the radio. Matilda soon discovers that the fact that she can move things can come in really handy even getting her out of trouble. Like when she takes a tape out of the police men’s camera. Or when her little brother throws a carrot towards her and just seconds away from her face she stops it and turns it back towards her brother which then lands in his mouth making him choke.

The set is really cool especially the Principles house as it is just what you would expect in a fairy tale and reminds me of a witches type house.

I find the scene towards the end in the Principles house is a bit scary and I think it would frighten small children, but then again I did find some stories when I was little scary. I think this could be particularly frightening because it is about cruelty to little children and so therefore little children watching this themselves could become very scared. If I was this young I think I would have night mare’s after watching this film.

I think what is really good also is the interaction of Miss Honey with Matilda. It shows the relationship an adult can have with a child and the type of friendship shared. I really like it because they work together so well and there is a bond their between them. It looks like they really enjoyed acting together on stage and off.

I also think it is quite scary with Matilda and her powers and think this could really scare someone little. Like the writing on the blackboard cause this was really realistic. Though there are some parts in Matilda’s acting of her powers that are really funny like when she sends the little boy flying into the principle. Or when the principle is flung onto the globe and then sent flying round the classroom.

When the children get the principle back for all the terrible things she has done to them this is really funny. The story has a really good ending which I’m not telling you cause you will have to watch it to find out, but it’s really heart warming and good. It’s like the happy ever ending fairy tale. Unlike other fairy tales though this is a really different tale that really stands out and is unique. It’s a classic and original. It’s frightening, sad, happy, funny I think this film has it all in. As bad as things were before that’s how good they became. The happiest part of the story is that Matilda and Honey got the happiness that they had always wanted.

A word of advice never buy a car from Mr Wormwood. 

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