Awesome Movie

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

TYPICALLY VIDEO RENTAL Stores (remember them?) would classify any animation that they had available as being "Children's" fare. For this reason, many folks dismissed the original "Cartoon" CHARLOTTE'S WEB (Hanna-Barbera, Paramount, 1973) as being unworthy for serious consideration. We must confess that we were once influenced negatively in this manner.WELL, THANKS TO our two, young Grandsons, Jack and Patrick Corry, we have been converted. Having screened it several times with the two little guys (in both partial and full showings), we now see the live action/computer generated animation version from 2006 in a far different light.THE PRODUCTION COMPANY takes the original story, which certainly appears to have some very serious philosophical underpinning at its heart and brings that aspect to the screen intact. At the same time, we are treated to a story that is at once comedic, dramatic and highly entertaining to all ages.IT WOULD THAT no expense was spared in mounting this film. Starting with its outstandingly talented and well-known performers. Numbered among those providing voices for the animals of the farm are: Julia Roberts, Robert Redford, Steve Buscemi, Kathy Bates, Oprah Winfrey, Cedric the Entertainer, Reba McEntire, Sam Shepherd, John Cleese and many others. The live action players include: Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Gary Basaraba, Beau Bridges and Nicholas Bell.THE COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY is outstanding, even breathtaking. Sweeping panoramic shots mark almost every outdoor scene. No rural settings in any film could possibly outdo those contained within the frames of the film. The meaning, hidden or not comes through, loud and clear. Simply stated, Life has meaning for what ever the creature.AS OUR ABOVE written Summary states, this CHARLOTTE'S WEB is worthy of a story committed to the screen by Mr. Walt Disney, himself. Likre all Disney full length animations, there is at least a touch of the horrifying contained in the story. Much in the same tradition as BAMBI (his mother's being killed by hunters), DUMBO (his mother's being wrongly locked in cage for defending her calf) and the horrifying transformation of the wicked Queen into the Witch in SNOW WHITE, CHARLOTTE'S WEB has its scary spots.IN THIS CASE it's the reference to the smokehouse and Wilbur's apprehensive gazing at it. Although there is never any on screen depiction of any slaughter and use of this said smokehouse, the meaning is clear and very present.WE CAN'T HELP but wonder if Wilbur's being spared the ax as the odd piglet "runt" was a plea for respecting human life yet to come. Just give them a chance.

Albeit slightly sugarcoated it follows the book quite well.We start the movie with this beautiful opening that showcases the film's setting. We then see John Arable trying to decide what to do with a pig who is a runt. But, before he can do away with it his daughter Fern is able to stop him. John then decides that Fern can raise the pig until he's big enough to be sold. She develops a bond with the piglet and names him Wilbur, but the bond is cut short. Much to Fern's protest John then decides to sell Wilbur to his brother in law Homer Zuckerman this way Fern can come for a visit. Wilbur is lonely until he meets a spider by the name of Charlotte A. Cavatica. The two become friends and although Wilbur is excited to have made a friend he later learns that he will be slaughtered in the fall. Charlotte decides to help save Wilbur's life. With the help of a rat named Templeton Charlotte is able to write messages in her webs to describe Wilbur. The pig becomes famous and Zuckerman decides to take him to the county fair. Where a final message from Charlotte decides the fate of Wilbur. "Humble" is the word that makes Zuckerman decide that his pig will live to a ripe age. Charlotte is proud of Wilbur and decides to show him her egg sack containing 514 baby spiders. Sadly, Charlotte tells Wilbur she will not be able to go back to Zuckerman's farm because she is too old and exhausted. Charlotte passes away and Wilbur is saddened. Taking her egg sack Wilbur decides to keep her children safe until Spring when they hatch. 511 spiders are seen leaving the farm and this upsets Wilbur. Until he sees three little spiders up where Charlotte's Web used to be. He christens them Joy, Aranea and Nellie.This movie does a good job telling the story but the emotional scenes were toned down compared to the 1973 animated film. Added slapstick involving Templeton and a couple of crows and a celebrity heavy voice cast including Julia Roberts and Reba McEntire. Personally I think it's a fine adaptation and families will love it.

It questionable why it took a long time for a live action version of the classic E.B. White story to be made, because the only version you may know is the Debbie Reynolds/Hanna-Barbera 1973 cartoon, but they did. So you know the story, Wilbur the Pig (Dominic Scott Kay) is born a runt, and little girl Fern (War of the Worlds' Dakota Fanning) saves him from the chop. Then when he's big enough he is taken to the farm across the road belonging to Fern's uncle Homer Zuckerman (Gary Basaraba) to live in a large barn with a bunch of other animals. There is Samuel the Sheep (John Cleese), Gussy (Oprah Winfrey) and Golly (Cedric the Entertainer) the Geese, Bitsy (Kathy Bates) and Betsy (Reba McEntire) the Cows, Ike the Horse (Robert Redford) and Templeton the Rat (Steve Buscemi). As time goes by he still isn't aware that being a spring pig has certain consequences, but he has his new friend Charlotte the Spider (Julia Roberts) to distract him until this is found out. Of course when he does find out that he is going to be urned into bacon, sausage or chops, Charlotte makes him a promise that she will help save his life. So she comes up with a plan to spin her web to read the words "SOME PIG", and the gullible humans will believe it is a miracle. As time goes by, the words "TERRIFIC" and "RADIANT" also get spun into Charlotte's web, and Mr. Zuckerman gets a leaflet in the post for the county fair, and he is convinced Wilbur could win first prize. Charlotte initially doesn't want to leave the barn because she is expecting, and Templeton with his words duty isn't interested, but Charlotte doesn't want to miss Wilbur's big moment, and Templeton has all the fair food to guzzle. It looks like Wilbut has lost first place to the pig next door, but the head of the fair takes him to the stage, not long after the word "HUMBLE" appeared in the web, to receive an honorary medal. This has confirmed that Wilbur will stay alive the rest of his natural life, but Charlotte is dying after finishing her nest sack for her 514 baby spiders. Wilbur returns to Zuckerman's barn with Charlotte's babies safe and sound, and they hatch in the spring, with all but three flying away, to live happily ever after. Also starring Sam Shepard as Narrator, Thomas Haden Church as Brooks the Crow, Julian O'Donnell as Henry Fussy, Men in Black's Siobhan Fallon Hogan as Mrs. Zuckerman and Beau Bridges as Dr. Dorian. The voices do pretty good, I suppose Fanning is more bearable than her other films, and the Babe style animation does reasonably well accompanied by the CGI needed fro Charlotte. It isn't an improvement on the cartoon, it is pretty much the same kind of standard, but it is a likable part-animated fantasy comedy drama film for all the family. Worth watching!

I rented this movie last night and just finished watching it. It was excellent in every way it was done. I also own the cartoon version and love that one too. Eventually I will buy this version on DVD and watch it pretty often. Some movies that I have seen that has been done from a cartoon version are not all that great but this one was and I really enjoyed it from beginning to end. I definitely recommend this movie to anyone; and not just kids either. Just like the cartoon version, I laughed and I cried at the same exact parts with some differences between the two but other than that; I really loved this movie and look forward to owning it soon on DVD to watch all over again.