THE BFG is Steven Spielberg’s latest offering aimed at kids and family audiences after a series of serious movies. He teams up with his favorites for this “sweet as candy” movie in trying to adapt a tale set in 1982 written by Roald Dahl.
BFG is big, fanciful and grand. The story labours on while the narration in old fashioned story telling mode would surely impress kids, but will make the adults wonder “Why”. There are a lot of unanswered questions which would disappear seeing the glee on a kid’s face. The movie will charm kids with its gentle pace and smooth screenplay. The sudden friendship between the main characters has no sound grounding and the story touches zenith of pompousness and audacity but delivered craftily in the form of some very sound CG with a touch of old grandeur. The adults might find flaws but the kids will enjoy every bit of it. The filmmaker has a lot of liberties with such a script and Spielberg delivers impressively on the big screen. The film could have been more exciting had they deviated a little from the original book, but being faithful to the book, the makers stick to the movie being largely harmless.
Rylance is on whose “Big” shoulders the movie rests on. He is instantly likeable with his gentle demeanour and warm innocence. His performance as the old man with a heart of gold makes him a marvelous watch not just for kids but for everyone. Sophie is cool as the curious little girl and the one who wishes someone takes her away far. In her dull attire and boring spectacles she fits the bill perfectly.
Technically the movie is spectacular and a visual treat. The CGI is top notch with the camera bringing the fantasy to life. The background score is quite apt. The direction is close to being very good, largely playing honest to the script.
THE BFG is like a bed time story told to kids, soft and gentle with lot of hopes and fantasies, less on horror and wickedness. Good enough to bring a smile on a child’s face and happiness to the parents.
3/5
THE BFG – a Big Fun Goodie for kids…
Shreesha B.U
