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Watership Down
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Outstanding adaptation of the book that unfortunately skims over the last half
Review date: 2008-08-16 Rating: 8 out of 10
I have loved this film since I first saw it as a child. The sense of menace and foreboding which hangs over it is truly disturbing, as are the flashes of savage violence. The 'Bright Eyes' moment about half way through turns the supposed death of Hazel into one of the most moving moments in cinema history, and the 'Black Rabbit of Inle' ending is hardly less moving.
Bigwig, Hazel and Fiver are brought to life with a huge amount of warmth and 'humanity'. Before reading the book I always thought the gull Keehar rather embarrassing, with his strange Middle-East-sounding accent, but after reading the book I think he actually is supposed to sound like this and I have come to really like the characterisation.
I always found the ending confusing, and after reading the book I understand why. 'The film makes some conflations here and there (particularly regarding the character of Holly) but this probably serves to speed up the narrative without any detrimental effects. The film does, however, unfortunately skim over the second half of the book rather quickly with the result that some aspects of the plot are confusing, resulting in loss of interest. It would be great if we found out that this was due to some studio-imposed cutting and that an extended version of the film exists with about 20 minutes of extra footage in the last half. It would serve to make this very good film into an excellent one.
How did this film get a universal rating, by the way, with its sustained sense of menace, frequent blood and violence, and the words "Piss off" hissed at a rabbit by a black-headed gull? Hardly a good example for human children, rabbit kittens or gull chicks (or whoever else may be watching).
Similar Products
- Watership Down (Puffin Books)
- The Secret Of Nimh [1982]
- The Secret Garden [1994]
- James And The Giant Peach [1996]
- The Wizard Of Oz [1939]
Reviews
A Masterpiece
Review date: 2008-07-31 Rating: 10 out of 10
Watership Down is one of those films which you'll never forget!
I first watched it when I was a youngster back in '81 or something, and have watched it several times since (and read the book).
The plot, story line, directing, and especially the voice overs (John Hurt again - what an Actor and what a voice!) is superb.
Others have reviewed this film fully, but to those who criticize it, they misunderstand it, and have completely bypassed the ethical and moral lesson, and the sheer innocence and wonder which this film is presenting in so beautiful a form.
Rosen has done extremely well with this, and with the "Plague Dogs" (Another of Adams' books/films I recommend) It's delightful in parts, dark in others, and to be moved by it is something to be proud of, as it taps into the purity of the heart! It portrays an innocence which is sadly lacking in these days of despair, kids are prone to watching rubbish rather than masterpieces like this.
Buy it and treasure it and when the kids are old enough, let them watch it and love it too!
Delightful
Nightemares!
Review date: 2008-07-22 Rating: 8 out of 10
I watched it on VHS when i was little and its given me night mares ever since! i love the film to pieces but it still scares the hell out of me so i cant bring myself to watch it!
Rabbits on the Run BUT........
Review date: 2008-06-21 Rating: 8 out of 10
Another classic film from many people's childhood including my own. One of those films where the old VHS tape was worn out it was watched so much.
The animation is good but the pre-credit sequence is amazing, very stylish indeed. There are also lots of voices here that you go...."Who is that? Now I know who that is but I can't remember his name". It's funny in places too especially the scenes featuring the seagull. "Biiig Vaater!" Great music too featuring the great song sung by Art Garfunkel "Bright Eyes". A very touching film indeed.
However Disney this is not......
It's strange how you look at a film like this differently when you become an adult. Even though my personal memories of this film are very good I cannot help but share some of the concerns that have been raised by one of the other reviewers here. The subject matter here is certainly not of a childish nature. There are some quite adult themes displayed and a few images of death which could be viewed as harrowing bearing in mind this is a cartoon. The themes include almost dictatorships, blood and mild torture. I still think this is a good film and it possibly can teach children that the world is not always a friendly place. On the basis of this then, a note to parents: if you have not seen this film before I would recommend you watch it first without your children and then decide whether or not you feel it suitable for your children. As a result I too find it quite shocking that this film is classified as Universal.
A very good film though but not without it's weaknesses.
Completely pounds these 3D animated films kids are spoon-fed nowadays
Review date: 2008-06-20 Rating: 10 out of 10
As you probably know, this is based off a novel of the same name, which was a bestseller and crossed age boundaries, being enjoyable by children and adults alike.
As a book to film translation it is reasonable, but if you put the novel comparisons to the film aside the film has a lot of magic and life of its own. The voice acting is great, with John Hurt at the helm how could it go wrong?
The storyline is cut down but pretty much unchanged from the novel, it's a very simple story but it's the atmosphere throughut the film that carries it. The comic relief from the gull Kehaar could have been a lot worse, and it's needed for the younger audience, and hell some of it still raises a smile from me.
However, as people have said this deserves a PG rating, if you want to get this for a child under 10 I'd advise you watch it yourself first. It's very different in style and tone to say, a Disney film, even if the DVD cover doesn't suggest this.
Story - ****
Soundtrack - *****
Animation - ***** (look at the detail put into those backgrounds)
Rewatchable value - ***** (I'll watch this every year or so, and I'm 20! When I was younger I wore the tape down)
And it's barely £4 on here new, if you want your kid to have something different and, without wanting to sound pretentious, meaningful than another hollow CGI farting animal/car/surfing penguin extravaganza, then get this.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
John Hurt
Ralph Richardson
Joss Ackland
Richard Briers
Hanah Gordon
Creators:
John Hurt (Primary Contributor)
Joss Ackland (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321900374811
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: Animated, Box set, PAL, Special Edition,
Release date: 2005-08-29
Audience rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region code: 2
Running time: 88 minutes
Language: English (Original Language)