Film of the Week: The BFG

Roald Dahl’s classic children’s story about a big friendly giant befriending an orphan girl, Sophie has been adapted into faithful live-action film. For those that have grown up with the story, this adaptation will reintroduce you to the magical world once more, as well as introduce a new generation for the first time. The book had been adapted once before into an animated film in 1989. Staring the voice of David Jason as The BFG, and Amanda Root as Sophie, and it aired on ITV on Christmas Day. This was long before I was born, so when I came to discover the book and subsequently the animated film, whilst it was an entertaining film that stuck firmly to the book throughout, I was too young to fully appreciate it as it was, so I was pleased when a new adaptation was announced.

I’m 22 years old now, so I haven’t read the book or watched the animated film is a rather long time, but it never faded from my memory. Sitting in the cinema, at first I did feel completely out of place, but as soon as the movie started, it had pushed the big refresh button on my memory. Being an adaptation, I was expecting some differences from the book. The animated film is still the most faithful, but it’s understandable why there were some changes, although subtle, as there is only so much that can be done with a live-action film. However, when I was watching that story unfold once more after such a long time, seeing the magical world once more, and the characters being brought to life once more in a new and original way, I simply didn’t care that there were changes. I don’t need to actually compliment the story or anything really as the film did such a good job sticking to the book that none of the story was ruined. There have been so many adaptations of classic books that didn’t do as well as people would have liked, so I’m glad that I don’t have anything to say for all the right reasons.

Stephen Spielberg, who is known to be one of by some, but the best director of all-time by others, used his incredibly skill to give us, not just a stunning story, but stunning visuals as well. The story of the BFG is a unique one in that it works brilliantly as a life-action film. When I read the book, Road Dahl’s talent drew me into the BFG’s world, and when I sat down to watch the animated film, I was once again drawn into the world, but in a completely different way as before. Seeing the story brought to life, especially from the eyes of a young boy, was something I hadn’t quite gotten used to yet. Now, so many years on, after I heard that they were doing a live-action adaptation, I had to go and see it as I wanted to experience the story from a new angle once more. Seeing the story being brought to life through adult eyes was once again a new experience. It might be because I have a more of an understanding of the story, the concept of a live-action film, or because I am simply older than I was before, but seeing the magical story alongside real people and real locations gave off another unexplored level of immersion once again. Looking back at the animated film, it feels even more fictional than the live-action film, which I certainly wasn’t expecting to be saying. Seeing the real people and the real locations actually made the story seem more real than I expected.

But then, that’s the impact Roald Dahl’s storytelling has, isn’t it? James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Matilda – all three were three other stories that I considered my favourite of the author’s when growing up, and each one has been adapted into a live-action feature film, (I will add that I mean Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, staring Gene Wilder, nor the 2005 version) and each one pulled us into a new world that we’ve never seen before, even after reading the books so many times over again. The incredible storytelling talent of Road Dahl and the incredible directing talent of Stephen Spielberg has proven to be an unbeatable combination, as this film has instantly become my favourite live-action adaptation of one of Roald Dahl’s stories.

Dare I say it – it may make you go “wow”, but I’m going to say it anyway. James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and now The BFG – there’s a sense of satisfaction now. All of my favourite stories have been fully adapted into a live-action feature film, essentially completing the set. The BFG is no longer the odd one out. I can now experience the entire set of my favourite stories by Roald Dahl without missing a beat within that new level of immersion that a live-action adaptation delivers.

Thanks for watching

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)