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Magic Roundabout [2004]
![Magic Roundabout [2004]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51R5754V38L._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £15.99
Our Price: £1.57 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Magic Roundabout is another in a long list of 1960's and 1970's television shows updated and adapted for the big screen. The original show has since become a cult favourite due to its hallucinatory double-entendres, and the powers that be realised that the fans of the television series now had children of their own. Therefore, the film version of The Magic Roundabout attempts to strike a balance between appealing to both children and their parents. To that end, they've recruited a whole host of celebrities to provide voices: Robbie Williams as Dougal the dog, Kylie Minogue as Florence, Tom Baker as the evil Zeebad and Ian McKellen as Zebedee, amongst others. The story involves Dougal accidentally releasing Zeebad from prison, then joining up with his friends to save the day--ideal good-versus-bad kid's entertainment. The DVD release has two different versions. The single disc version includes character profiles, a quiz and a look at the UK premiere of the film. The two-disc version, meanwhile, also has behind the scenes documentaries and, best of all, some classic black & white episodes of the original series--the perfect piece of nostalgia to entertain the parents. --Ted Kord
Fabulous
Review date: 2008-03-09 Rating: 10 out of 10
This film is fabulous. My 8, 5 and 3 year old love it. It has us dancing around the living room with the wonderful music (and I'm not a Kylie or Robbie fan) and the story really keeps the childrens attention. It's not as entertaining on the level of something like Monsters Inc for the adults but trust me the children will love it.
It was on a loop continuosly for days when we first got it and even now the children watch it and I am dragged around for an obilgatory dance.
Tom Baker is wonderful in it, Robbie isn't bad but Lee Evans is underutilised. The rest of the cast is brilliant too - Bill Nighy etc - real talent.
I was wonderfully surprised by this film. It isn't anything like the cartoon I remember from my childhood but I don't find that a problem.
Well worth buying.
The soundtrack is called 'Doogal' and available on Amazon too.
It's magic you know....
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Reviews
If you have any doubts, listen to the laughing children!
Review date: 2007-10-17 Rating: 6 out of 10
I took my little boy to see this for his third birthday treat. Initially I prepared to switch off and day dream while he watched it but I was quite surprised. There are some genuinely funny moments, mostly courtesy of Bill Nighy. It's quite sweet and charming, although I suspect that those folk who loved the original will dislike this effort and justifiably too, as it isn't a patch on that. However, children will love it and their laughter was infectious enough for me to actually pay attention and enjoy this film.
Cynical commercially exploitative trash displaying a cold indifference to its subject matter
Review date: 2007-08-05 Rating: 2 out of 10
Okay, fair enough, I can't comment on the good sounding extras in the package, as I haven't bought it, nor will I. However they surely cannot make amends for a truly crass rehash the film was, which barely resembled the enchanting animated series I saw as a kid. Believe me, it wasn't the first time I've walked out of the picture house in abject disgust, but this was one of the most disgusting in memory. I really wanted to ask for my money back, but I just had an overwhelming feeling of being made a fool of, and knew I should just skulk my way back home. This joke of a film version was not made by people who had any love for the original series, or even any love for animation, as that was all computer generated stuff, and very, very poor. The writers (yes, there's always more than one for this kind of dross) should have been exiled in shame.
To prove it can be done, I once had on video, but lost long ago, a film remake they did not long after the series ended, called Dougal and the Mystery of the Blue Cat: Excellent film version that looked and sounded like the real thing.
Merchandising wins over content (again)
Review date: 2007-07-16 Rating: 2 out of 10
I thought about giving everyone the long version but, to be frank, The Magic Roundabout is not worth it.
This has a formulaic plot (a quest to retrieve diamonds that will save the world from a permafreeze existence - as if) that involves the characters performing some very unlikely moves.
Instantly forgettable.
It is a sad day when one has to say that the only reason this doesn't get a total thumbs down is that the voice ensemble is, generally, very very good. After all, a film is all about visual entertainment - something sadly lacking here.
But the class of the voices doesn't make up for the film's serious shortcomings in plot and sheer audience involvement. It is very, very hard to care whether the goodies win or not, indeed, as Tom Baker magnificently voices the villain, it is pretty easy to start rooting for the rotters.
Children seem to like it, but in that fleeting 'so what' fashion that is concomitant with a throwaway society that cherishes useless plastic toys and scorns lasting quality.
The production ethics of this film seems to have followed the formula of the Star Wars prequels - don't worry about the film, the name will sell the t-shirts.
I spent most of this film waiting for the one possible redeeming feature, the theme tune. Regrettably, those 'in the know' deemed pulsating rock music somewhat more appropriate.
The fools.
Funny, and Silly
Review date: 2006-09-14 Rating: 8 out of 10
I took my son to see this at cinema and he loved it. I have never seen a 2 year old sit through an entire film, but thats exactly what he did. Then when it came out on dvd, he asked for it. Since then he has watched it repeatidly, and still asks for it, and talks along with characters as he now knows the words. But 2 years on, he still loves this film, and dillon has an amazing fight bit in the middle. LONG LIVE DILLON!!!! xxx
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Bill Nighy
Joanna Lumley
Robbie Williams
Kylie Minogue
Ian McKellen
Director(s):
Recording label: Pathe Distribution
Manufacturer: Pathe Distribution
EAN: 5060002833810
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, Animated, PAL,
Release date: 2005-07-18
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Audience rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region code: 2
Running time: 78 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2004
Language: English (Original Language)