DVD : Animal Farm [1999]

Rating: - Disappointing
I was really let down by this film. I'm a massive Orwell fan and this film strayed a little too much for my liking.

I got the film to do research for some illustrations I'm doing for animal farm. Don't watch this film instead of reading the book for school work because there are some major differences.

From an artists perspective I really like how they showed the pigs looking more human and the humans looking more pig like, that was a very clever idea.

The CG is quite frankly embarrassing and I realise this was a good 7 years ago but it made me cringe to watch the rat! Who's character was completely wrong. The animatronics were if possible worse. Shame on Henson's creature shop.

If you haven't read the book then I'm sure you will enjoy the film. Even after slating the film as much as I have it still brought me to tears, though not as much as the book does or in the same place. The film is also lacking an Orwellian ending.

All in all, don't expect too much from this film.

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Rating: - Nothing sadder than what could have been
Another potentially great movie ruined because the director feels he knows better than the original author. Why they had to tinker I cannot say, but it badly misses. Why do we need the story explained by a dog? (It's almost as if they saying that the regimes thugs "aren't bad, just misunderstood") Why is the death of Boxer almost funny? (This was the single greatest act of betrayal, confirming the final corruption of Old Major's vision) What was wrong with the original and powerful end? Just shows how small changes can ruin a story - because much is true to the book. Just seems that they felt that the book was too dark and brooding - well newsflash, it was meant to be. That was surely George Orwell's point, what the point of this version is I fail to see.

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Rating: - Pity, it could have been amazing!
Though I enjoyed the film, therre was a lot I wasn't happy with. This was mainly the animatronics and special effects. I thought they were really ropey, and Babe did much much better. There was something about the film that made it less impactive. I feel that it was done it a silly, camp way. Lets hope books like Watership Down don't fall into this directors grasp!

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Rating: - Can't Stand Comparison to the Book
A mostly disappointing live action adaptation of George Orwell's classic novel of communism and revolution, which has clearly been watered down to suit a younger audience. It does have its powerful moments, particularly when Boxer's doom is involved, but is mostly devoid of the book's gripping darkness, and has transformed the desolate, grim atmosphere which Orwell depicted in writing into a colourful and picturesque farmyard. The voices are mostly excellent; one of the film's saving graces is the splendid acting, both in person and voice-over, but the animatronics aren't particularly impressive. The liberties that have been taken with the book in terms of plot will also raise a few eyebrows to anyone familiar with the original book. It opts for a happy, fairytale ending, and thus loses a great deal of its potential power, while feeling the need to insert a narating herione into the story, and unwisely making it one of the dogs, the savage beasts of Orwell's novel. To make matters worse, the dramatic irony that made the book so remarkable is missing - the narating dog sees through the tyranical pigs too clearly and explains almost everything to the viewer. If none of this bothers you, then by all means buy it - you could well enjoy it - but you're still better off buying the book.

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Rating: - A satire of Stalinist Russia, Animal Farm
I never got to read Animal Farm in high school. Now after seeing the TNT Original Movie adaption of George Orwell's novel, I can't wait. The story was ever so capturing of one's mind. The symbolism of Napolean and the others and all of the animals in a society of constantly changing rules was vastly intriguing. Curious about the book? Check out the movie. It was great.