Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: Melissa Mathison (Screenplay) Roald Dahl (Book)
Starring: Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, Penelope Wilton, Jemaine Clement, Rebecca Hal, Rafe Spall, Bill Hader
Plot: A girl named Sophie encounters the Big Friendly Giant who, despite his intimidating appearance, turns out to be a kindhearted soul who is considered an outcast by the other giants because, unlike them, he refuses to eat children.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Slow Fantasy
Story: The BFG starts as we meet orphan Sophie (Barnhill) living in an orphanage in London when she accidently witnesses a giant roaming the streets in the middle of the night. The giant in question is the BFG (Rylance) known as the Big Friendly Giant takes Sophie back to giant country.
Back in giant country we learn what the BFG does by collecting and giving dreams but in a more threaten side of story we learn that there are flesh eating giants in this world who want to get back to the human world to feed. The BFG must work with Sophie to protect the humans as they get set to go into battle with the impending giants.
The BFG is a remake of a film that I really enjoyed as a kid, we had musical numbers and full blown fantasy elements which also included an actual threat from the giants. In this version the giants are barely involved with the final story which takes away from any threat as an audience to see. We also get very slow moving moments which just suck the life out of the film which should be pure fantasy. In the end the story is very weak for what the source material had.
Actor Review
Mark Rylance: BFG travels between the giant world and the human world where he sends dream to the innocent while living in constant fear of being captured by humans and of the other giants who always pick on him. He would like peace between the two sides but knows that won’t happen with the threat of the giants. Mark is good as this giant showing his skills as an actor.
Ruby Barnhill: Sophie is the little girl that gets taken from the orphanage to giant country by the BFG who wants to help him become brave when it comes to dealing with the rest of the giants. She is a dreamer much like any leading character in a Roald Dahl book. Ruby does great in this leading role as a potential new star.
Penelope Wilton: The Queen is who Sophie and the BFG turn to take out the dangerous giants as she opens her doors and leads the assault. Penelope is solid but in the end is very generic in this role.
Jemaine Clement: Fleshlumpeater is the leader of the giants who has been waiting and searching for the route back to the human world so he can finally eat the flesh of humans once more. Jermaine is solid but just doesn’t come off as terrifying as required.
Support Cast: The BFG has a supporting cast which we don’t get to see enough from to truly get an understand of monstrous side of the giants.
Director Review: Steven Spielberg – Steven is a director I would expect something even more from because this just ends up being very average.
Adventure: The BFG has elements of fantasy but in the end is way too one sided.
Animation: The BFG has great moments of animation but also has so you can see are stuck between the two animation and real.
Family: The BFG is one that I do feel the whole family could make it through but it is slow at parts which lose a younger audience.
Fantasy: The BFG is full blown fantasy with the world of giants which is all good throughout.
Settings: The BFG only has a couple of settings really and that is the giant world and London making it feel like it is all very much within one small part of the world.
Suggestion: The BFG is one I think people should try but otherwise it isn’t essential watching this year. (Try It)
Best Part: Visually great.
Worst Part: Slow moving.
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Budget: $140 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 57 Minutes
Tagline: From the human beans that created E.T. and the author of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “Matilda”
Overall: Very slow moving fantasy film that really just doesn’t hi all the marks.
Rating
