A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Reviews from Video Reviews of the Classics Personal Background

Title: James and the Giant Peach

Date of original theatrical release: 1996

Details:

Paul Terry

Joanna Lumley

Miriam Margolyes

Voice talent: Simon Callow (Grasshopper)

Richard Dreyfuss (Centipede)

Jane Leeves (Ladybug)

Miriam Margolyes (Glowworm)

Susan Sarandon (Spider)

David Thewlis (Earthworm)

Director: Henry Selick

Produced (in part) by: Tim Burton

Score: -

The Review: Boring and overlong, mixed live-action and stop-action animated version of Roald Dahl's (1961) children's book.

James (Terry) is an orphan -- whose parents, we are reminded repeatedly, were attacked by a rampaging rhinoceros -- living in the doldrums of two horrible old aunts (Lumley and Margolyes). One day, after being given, by a mysterious stranger, a bag of magic stewed crocodile tongues, he accidentally lets them escape, and in the aftermath a giant peach appears as his savior and transport vehicle, inhabited by suitably giant-sized critters.

I cannot comment on the accuracy of the rendition and its translation to the screen, having never partaken of the story in print, but I doubt it reads as long-winded and sleep-inducing, else it would never have become as memorable as it apparently is among children of a certain age. Even the occasional songs -- this is Disney, after all, so it is mandatory to have the hero bemoan his or her fate in 4/4 time (these by Randy Newman) -- were so benignly saccharine (with bizarre lyrics) as to not raise my ire. The animation sequences were not of particular interest. The acting is overly broad and nearly satiric. The voice talent under the insects included some rather big names, but was not particularly well done. The snippet of Bach was appreciated, however. I can see I'm being an adult curmudgeon here, but so be it.

At least at one point -- when I was awake -- the background contained some interesting and amusing things flitting around just at the edge of attention, especially during the flight after the escape from the polar realms, so watch for these clever inserts.

(11-Aug-05)

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