James and the Giant Peach (Special Edition)

James and the Giant Peach (Special Edition)
by Henry Selick

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DVD details

Actor: Joanna Lumley, Paul Terry, Pete Postlethwaite, Richard Dreyfuss, Simon Callow
Director: Henry Selick
Brand: Disney
Producer: Henry Selick
Producer: Brian Rosen
Producer: Denise Di Novi
Writer: Jonathan Roberts
Writer: Karey Kirkpatrick
Writer: Roald Dahl
Writer: Steve Bloom
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, Live, NTSC, Special Edition
Picture Format: Letterbox, 1.66:1
Running Time: 79 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2000-10-03
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Walt Disney Video

DVD Reviews of James and the Giant Peach (Special Edition)

DVD Review: Colorful, Inventive Dahl Adaptation
Summary: 4 Stars

Here's another inventive film, based on a book by the famous author of child books, Roald Dahl, who wrote "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory."

The animation, featuring stop-action stick figures, is outstanding, as are the colors. Each character is unique, like none I've seen before in other animated flicks. Not only the characters, but how they are dressed. (i.e. long gloves and stockings on a spider). The aunts in here are a real hoot to look at, particularly the one with the pronounced teeth.

The storyline is simple and there is absolutely nothing offensive. The only warning I would give is there is a bit too much violence for very small kids and the ending is a bit silly for adults.

This is a musical, and the songs are nothing special. There are not a lot of them: five to be exact. In all, good entertainment and a good visual and audio film for a nice DVD system. Boy, I'd like to see what this looks like on Blu-Ray!

DVD Review: fast good service
Summary: 5 Stars

Quick Delivery, factory sealed as noted. Haven't watched it yet giving that it is a Christmas present but I am for sure my son will be happy with it.

DVD Review: AMAZING BOOK, HORRIBLE MOVIE
Summary: 1 Stars

As a mother of two kids (ages 8 and 6), I have read nearly all of the Roald Dahl books multiple times in the past few years. We all love his writing - his stories are usually quite dark and yet offer a lot of humor, warmth and love as well. James and the Giant Peach is a wonderful story and well worth reading with your children. Mind you, there is the usual dose of Dahl meanness and nastiness but it is great story with many wonderful characters, budding relationships, and ultimately a very happy ending.

I was thus incredibly disappointed when we borrowed this DVD from our local library. The screenwriter took far too much liberty in changing things. I found it crude and insulting to the memory of Roald Dahl. If you have read the book, you know, for example, that the two horrible aunts are "disposed of" by the peach quite early in the story. In this movie, the aunts live on and actually follow poor James and his friends to New York City. Unbelievable.

Do read or listen to James and the Giant Peach (along with Matilda, the BFG, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) but skip this movie. If you do want to see a Roald Dahl movie, you would be much better off with either Matilda or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Mind you, neither of these is as good as the books they portray, particularly the latter, but they are still pretty good movies.

DVD Review: Please Release This On Blu-ray !
Summary: 4 Stars

I really enjoyed this movie

However since I upgraded to a widescreen TV, this letterboxed edition just doesn't cut it anymore. The picture only fills a tiny little area in the middle of the screen.

Disney, please remaster this great movie and release it on Blu-ray. With extras...

DVD Review: Roald Dahl and Tim Burton
Summary: 3 Stars

When I first heard Tim Burton was making a film of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, I knew the mesh of styles was a very natural fit. The same thing applies here.

However, I believe this was based on a short story. So the folks responsible for this film padded it with musical numbers -- I hate singing in my movies -- and still wound up with only 80 minutes.

And that is the ONLY reason I dropped this down to three stars. Everything works, and quite well.

Description of James and the Giant Peach (Special Edition)

Take a bite out of Disney's delicious Special Edition of JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH and celebrate the 40th anniversary of the popular children's book by Roald Dahl that inspired this imaginative film. This amazing mix of live-action, stop-motion animation and computer-generated special effects includes bonus materials never before available. When young James spills some magic crocodile tongues, a giant peach grows as huge as a house. Climbing inside, he embarks on a thrilling and magical odyssey that only the creative team from TIM BURTON'S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS could bring you. Along the way you'll discover the famous star voices of Richard Dreyfuss and Susan Sarandon, Jane Leeves (FRASIER), and Simon Callow (SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE), plus the inspired music of Randy Newman. Enjoy -- it's a peach of a journey!

Roald Dahl's modern classic for children becomes a delightful combination of live action and stop-motion animation by the team that made The Nightmare Before Christmas: director Henry Selick and producers Tim Burton (Batman) and Denise Di Novi. The story concerns young James (played for real and through voice-overs by Paul Terry), who is orphaned and left in the charge of two cruel aunts (Miriam Margolyes, Joanna Lumley). Rescued by a mysterious fellow (Pete Postlethwaite), James ends up inside a giant peach, drifting over the Atlantic Ocean in the company of a gentleman grasshopper (voiced by Simon Callow), a fast-talking centipede (Richard Dreyfuss), an anxious earthworm (David Thewlis), a matronly ladybug (Jane Leeves), and a sexy spider (Susan Sarandon). The collection of actors and their creepy-crawly alter egos are a delight, especially when some of the song-and-dance numbers (tunes are written by Randy Newman) get everyone going. --Tom Keogh

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