1996, Walt Disney Pictures
Live action & Animation
Rating: PG
Approx. 78 mins.
THE STORY:
James is an orphan being raised by two of the least pleasant aunts imaginable (Joanna Lumley & Miriam Margoyles). He is rescued from his misery by a mysterious man (Pete Postlethwaite), who gives him some magic crocodile tongues, which turn a peach and some bugs from his garden into massive giants.
The peach becomes a veritable tourist attraction which the aunts exploit to the best of their ability. James and his new giant insect friends, however, manage to escape from the confines of the garden and embark on an adventure across the ocean to New York. Along the way they have some interesting and frightening experiences, but these only serve to solidify their friendship.
The band arrive in New York to much acclaim and all live happily ever after.
The peach becomes a veritable tourist attraction which the aunts exploit to the best of their ability. James and his new giant insect friends, however, manage to escape from the confines of the garden and embark on an adventure across the ocean to New York. Along the way they have some interesting and frightening experiences, but these only serve to solidify their friendship.
The band arrive in New York to much acclaim and all live happily ever after.
QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:
- Eat me
- Ass
VIOLENCE:
- one potentially scary scene with underwater skeleton ghosts
TEACHING POINTS:
- Really just a little guy wins over bad guys fantasy without a lot of moralizing
THE UPSHOT:
Growing up, this was one of my absolute favourite books, so I was fully prepared to be disappointed. But I was not. It didn't blow the grown ups or the 6 year-old in the room away, but it was enjoyable, the perfect length and sweet. The 6 year old in the room was especially pleased by the music and by the depth of the relationships James formed with the insects. She was, however, scared during the ghost shipwreck scene.
Although we all liked the transition in theory, no one in the room was a fan of the stop-motion animation when it first appeared, but before long we had all got used to it. The old-fashionedness of it ended up adding to the quaintness.
Younger kids won't get some of the references and dialogue, but they will still get the most out of it. Worth an hour or so of your time.
Although we all liked the transition in theory, no one in the room was a fan of the stop-motion animation when it first appeared, but before long we had all got used to it. The old-fashionedness of it ended up adding to the quaintness.
Younger kids won't get some of the references and dialogue, but they will still get the most out of it. Worth an hour or so of your time.
3.5/5
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