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Black Beauty [1994]


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Our Price: £2.48 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Don't waste this one on your children: buy it for yourself. A spectacular adaptation of the Anna Sewell novel, this is faithful to the source material but creates a life of its own on the screen. Told from the point of view of the horse, it recalls a time and a place that could be both beautiful and cruel. Black Beauty faced both hardship and kindness as he passed through the hands of many owners throughout his life. Some are generous, but the agonies endured by the title character may be too harsh for small children. Unfortunately, director Caroline Thompson did not resurrect her magical touch a few years later with another animal tale, Buddy. --Rochelle O'Gorman, Amazon.com

Editorial
Special Features

1.85 Wide Screen
DVD 9
Dutch\French\Italian
English\Italian
English
Region 2
Dolby Surround Dutch English French Italian
Dolby Surround
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Trailer
Arabic\Bulgarian\Dutch\English\French\German\Italian\Portuguese\Romanian\Spanish

Editorial
Synopsis

This fifth feature adaptation of Anna Sewell's classic 1877 novel comes to life, told from the point of view of Black Beauty himself -- who narrates the film. Set in England, Black Beauty (who has a British accent) tells us the details surrounding his birth, his "colt-hood", and his perception of humans, since he has various owners throughout his life. While some of these proprietors are caring and compassionate, others prove to be cruel and crude to the vulnerable Beauty, often placing him in life-threatening situations -- which he may or may not survive.
Editorial
From the Back Cover

From the screenwriter of 'Edward Scissorhands' comes this stunning new version of Anna Sewell's beloved tale.

Beginning in a latern-lit stable on a country estate, Black Beauty's wondrous story is told through his own eyes.

His journey will take him through happy times and sad, good owners and bad, disasters both natural and man amde. Over two decades

Black Beauty will come to experience the best and worst of human nature, all the while seeking a safe place where he will be loved

and treated with kindness.


depressing.
Review date: 2008-08-13 Rating: 4 out of 10

I bought this for my 6 and 9 year old girls, we watched it once and they told me they never want to see it again.
They sat horror-struck at the worsening cruelty and rejection suffered by the poor horse. Me too.I kept wondering why it's hailed as a great family film when we all felt miserable by the end! Not even seeing Sean could cheer me up.
I daren't even give it to a charity shop for fear of traumatising any more kids.


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Reviews


Brilliant adaptation!!!
Review date: 2007-07-16 Rating: 10 out of 10

I first saw this film when i was 4 and i still love it!!! Unlike several other adaptations this film remains very true to the book. It really takes you inside the mind of black beauty and can be very emotional in places.
Overall this is a truely classic film all the family can enjoy again and again.

Easy Sunday Afternoon Viewing - and M.G.Hatfields Reviews are hilarious!!
Review date: 2007-06-03 Rating: 10 out of 10

First of all, the film itself.

I've seen several Black Beauty films over the years (and the television series). I am pleased to say that it's possibly one of the best adaptations I have seen. Beautifully staged, it will not dissapoint any horse mad daughters (or sons) in your household. As an equine neutral adult, I can appreciate the care taken in the production of this film, and as a previous reviewer commented, it indroduces fairly adult themes to younger viewers (in a gentle way), which is no bad thing.

And onto M.G.Hatfield - an earlier reviewer of this film. What a star!! If you like reviews devoid of punctuation and any clear train of thought, then have a look at other films this person has reviewed. A copy of 'Eats Shoots & Leaves' should be sent to this guy/women without delay.

I'm still laughing...

Black Beauty
Review date: 2007-04-04 Rating: 6 out of 10

This film has been done and redone over and over again and again which really begs the question why again.

Everyone knows the story of the beautiful black horse I can endorse this film as I am bored to the back teeth with the same film just updated for the next generation I also must say I hate the book version which the film is based upon.

There is a number of DVD's out here on Amazon which doesn't follow the book The New Adventures of Black Beauty are from an old TV series in my opinion far more appealing that a tired over used film idea.

I urge you not to bother if you own a older version of this film and try the title above it will be a better buy.

Nice to look at
Review date: 2006-12-30 Rating: 6 out of 10

I suppose you might be looking at this film if you like childrens films, horsey films or are a fan of some of the actors involved. Sceenplay by the woman that did the Corpse Bride, Edward Scissorhands , Nightmare before Christmas but more in line with her other, Homeward Bound, It's not a bad attempt, it's the main modern screen version, but it's by no means a stellar production. Although and names are English (Bean, Davidson, Cooke) and the accents generally in keeping save a bit of a Dick Van Dyke cockney effort with accompanying overly done kind hearted Londeners the slant here has a definate Disney effect, although it is infact a Warner Brothers effort. The country scenery is pleasant and the narration yes highly irritating, more unecessarily so than other talkie films like Babe or Stuart Little etc making you feel the audience is of the lower age range of the lowest bracket to begin with. The animal training is highly evident in the first half and you might be mistaken to feeling it very suitable for young children. As it progresses it has adult material and themes of violence, neglect, cruelty, fashion, poverty and although integral to the story and the appeal I think it was a mistake to be so overly sentimental with the first half to then follow through with this more teenage line in the second - it's audience is unclear and many age ranges would find it unsatisfactory as it competes for too many, delivering completely non. As an adult, I don't feel it's much appropriate or likable for adults either - even particularly horsey afficianados. Although dated and Lassie-esque, I much prefer the 1972 series, also available on 2 dvds now. The absence of Sean Bean makes it a tough choice but he's only in this film for about 10 minutes anyway, although a lovely 10 minutes it is.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Peter Davison
David Thewlis
Sean Bean
Alun Armstrong
Jim Carter

Creators:
Sean Bean (Primary Contributor)
David Thewlis (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321900144001
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2000-08-21
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Audience rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region code: 2
Running time: 84 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1994-07-29
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: French (Original Language)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Spanish (Subtitled)
Language: German (Subtitled)
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: Italian (Subtitled)
Language: Portuguese (Subtitled)
Language: Dutch (Subtitled)
Language: Arabic (Subtitled)
Language: Romanian (Subtitled)
Language: Bulgarian (Subtitled)
Language: Dutch (Dubbed)
Language: Italian (Dubbed)

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