Watership Down
by Martin Rosen
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DVD details
Actor: John Bennett, John Hurt, Michael Graham Cox, Ralph Richardson, Richard BriersDirector: Martin Rosen
Brand: Warner Brothers
Producer: Martin Rosen
Writer: Martin Rosen
Editor: Terry Rawlings
Writer: Richard Adams
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Animated, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 101 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-03-26
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product features:
- Watership Down
- STORY
- CLASSIC STORY
- CHILDREN
- BEST FOR CHILDREN
DVD Reviews of Watership Down
DVD Review: Watership Down - A Tale for the Ages
Summary: 4 Stars
Watership Down is listed in listed in the on some sites in the Family/Children Category and in my opinion it should not be. It should be listed under Anime/Animation. This is a wonderful movie & animation was the most logical format for the story considering the setting & characters. But, I think the subject matter is far too mature for young kids to grasp. It is slow in some parts that children may find boring & even I was disturbed by some of the violence portrayed in the film. It's very unusual to see rabbits tearing each other apart (perhaps that is precisely the reason Richard Adams chose rabbits for his story). I would highly suggest to parents, watch the movie on your own prior to showing it to your kids to determine if it is suitable for them. You know your kid best. I do however, think it's appropriate for kids 11 years old and up.
The animation in the movie may not live up to today's standards, but the animators took great care in their work. This is most obvious in the impressive way they animated the rabbits' movements. I have owned pet rabbits since I was a little girl & I can say with a great amount of certainty that the movements & natural rabbit behavior was animated not only beautifully, but realistically as well.
There are so many valuable lessons pointed out in this movie that are directly related to the Human Condition such as fighting tyrannical authority, standing up for what you believe in, friendship, following your own path, the pursuit of happiness etc. But one issue that hasn't been discussed much here that is very relevant is the film's portrayal of how humans are so apathetic towards their environment & fellow creatures. A great example of this is in my favorite scene when Captain Holly locates the wayward bunnies & recounts to them how the humans destroyed the warren. BigWig then says "Humans have always hated us," & ever so poignantly Holly replies, "no. We were just in their way." This film is disturbing yet, inspiring & thought provoking. It will affect all who view it.
The Soundtrack: The score is pretty standard as far animated features go. Each musical piece is emotionally appropriate to each scene it's matched with. Nothing incredibly memorable, however. And there is strange interlude mid-film which contains the musical "highlight" of the film, a song called "Bright Eyes" sung by the legendary Art Garfunkel (you can tell this movies was made the year I was born 1978, my mom was a huge Garfunkel fan!).
DVD Special Features: The DVD that I watched was released in March 26, 2002. For those of you who are big fans of the "WD" saga (Jenn that means you should pay attention, LOL) a deluxe collector's edition with filmmaker interviews and other interesting bonus material will be released October 7, 2008. The particular release I watched extremely lacking in entertaining or informative extra footage but here's a brief rundown anyway:
Richard Adams Profile: A brief biography about and list of other written works of the book's author.
"Watership Down Today": A brief history & geography lesson on the actual location.
Theatrical Trailer: I think this one is self-explanatory.
Bunny Talk Glossary: The most useful of all the bonus material. If you are unfamiliar with Watership Down you should know that the Rabbits have their own language & religion. I would highly suggest that newbies to this story peruse this Rabbit-to-English Translation Guide before viewing the film. It will make the story easier to follow & the movie more enjoyable to watch.
Description of Watership Down
It is rich storytelling, populated with very real individuals inhabiting a very real world. A band of rabbits illegally leave their warren after a prophecy of doom from a runt named Fiver (Richard Briers).Much like Richard Adams's wonderful novel, this animated tale of wandering rabbits is not meant for small children. It is, however, rich storytelling, populated with very real individuals inhabiting a very real world. The animation is problematic, sometimes appearing out of proportion or just subpar; but it seems to stem from an attempt at realism, something distinguishing the film's characters from previous, cutesy, animated animals. A band of rabbits illegally leave their warren after a prophecy of doom from a runt named Fiver (Richard Briers). In search of a place safe from humans and predators, they face all kinds of dangers, including a warren that has made a sick bargain with humankind, and a warren that is basically a fascist state. Allegories aside, Down is engaging and satisfying, and pulls off the same amazing trick that the novel did--you'll forget that this is a story about rabbits. --Keith Simanton
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