Animal Farm
Our Price: $99.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $6.99 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Ian Holm, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Julia Ormond, Kelsey Grammer, Pete PostlethwaiteDVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 91 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2000-01-18
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Lions Gate
DVD Reviews of Animal Farm
DVD Review: English teacher gives this DVD a C-
Summary: 3 Stars
Reading some of the other customer reviews, it seems this DVD runs the gamut of emotions for many viewers. Some liked it; while others felt that too many liberties were taken with the book. I recently showed this DVD to my Sophomore English class after reading the novella with them. I think my students probably would have rated this DVD higher than I did; however, there were far too many differences from the text for my liking.
For starters, the story is told from the perspective of Jesse, one of Mr. Jones's dogs. While this may not seem like a major flaw, I feel it overly inflates the importance of a minor character in the book. Secondly, while there is no nudity in the DVD, there is an implied sexual encounter between Mr. Jones and Mrs. Pilkington about 15 minutes into the movie. Mr. Jones finds Mrs. P in his bed; Mrs. P assures Mr. Jones that her husband is fast asleep; camera pans up to headboard; Mrs. P says "Oh, Mr. Jones" and then the headboard begins knocking. Some of my studetns did snicker at the scene; most were nonplussed. (In fact, an earlier scene were Old Major's carcass is being butchered elicited far more shock than this one.) The "sex scene" was not an issue with my class, as I'm sure most have seen far more suggestive things on regular TV. However, USE YOUR OWN DESCRETION. You may want to fast-forward scene. While I did not find the scene overly objectionable, it was yet another deviation from the text. Lastly, and more importantly, the DVD does alter the ending of the novella. Whereas the book ends with the pigs playing cards with the humans and everyone looks the same, the movie continues on with Jesse and the animals running away from the farm upon this discovery. Eventually the farm is bought by new owners (a young American family), and Jesse and her pups return. I feel the "happy Hollwood ending" runs counter to the spirit of the novella, as did many of my students.
On the positive side, the effects were (for the most part) rather clever. I think there was only one scene (Squealer painting "Animal Farm" on the front gate) that seemed hokey and cartoonish. This updating, by itself, overcame most of the flaws in the adaptation and is why I chose this version over the earlier cartoon one. I remember seeing the cartoon version when I was in high school 25 years ago; I didn't like it then, and I don't like it now. (I feel the very fact that it IS a cartoon belittles the importance of Orwell's message. I mean, who takes a cartoon seriously?) The movie also does a good job showing how governments use the media to control public opinion. Particularly haunting was the black-and-white newsreel toward the end of the DVD which was highly reminiscent of Hitler's Nuremburg rallies. This particular scene is a microcosm of how I feel about the movie: While it is beautifully shot and imaginative, it is reminiscent of Hitler (not Stalin) and goes for far too long. Some editing and a more literal rendering of the book would have gone a long way in improving this movie.
Overall, this version is better than the earlier cartoon one. However, "better" in this case does not mean "good", just "OK".
Bestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video