The BFG, being released by Disney Studios and Amblin Entertainment, is directed by Steven Spielberg and is based on the novel by the same name written by Roald Dahl.
It’s an interesting mixture of CGI and real-life acting, with a heavy dose of special effects, and fantastical realms.
The cast includes Mark Rylance as the BFG (Big Friendly Giant), Ruby Barnhill as the orphan Sophie, and Penelope Wilton as The Queen (of England).
Sophie is an orphan whose parents died when she was a baby and she spends her days and nights in a London orphanage. Sophie is an insomniac with a huge imagination, and she spends her long nights making sure the doors are locked, and the windows are closed, and reading her books. She is spooked by things that go bump in the night, but it doesn’t stop her from investigating the bumps that she hears!
One night during her investigations, she inadvertently spies a giant roaming the streets of London. Having been discovered, the BFG snatches up Sophie and runs back the Giant Land with her as his prize, in hopes of keeping his secret (the fact that he exists at all!) safe.
Sophie finds herself literally in the Giants frying pan! Fortunately for her, this particular giant is a vegetarian and doesn’t eat ‘human beans’. The same cannot be said, however, for the BFG’s nine brutish brothers, who are loud and ugly, uncouth, and definitely DO eat human beans.
While the BFG tries to keep Sophie from becoming a tasty snack for his bean eating siblings, he takes her along on his nightly errand of catching dreams and spinning them together for the children of Londons nightly dream-adventures.
Sophie hatches a plan to be rid of the fearsome human hunting Giants, and enlists the help of the Queen of England.
As if this movie weren’t already fantastical enough, this part of the movie really was the most difficult for me to accept.
My almost 8 year old son however, loved every single moment of The BFG. While some children’s films have a tendency to scare him (he was frightened by parts of Zootopia), The BFG made him laugh, and it had him on the edge of his seat at times, but only in anticipation, and not in fear. I heard him holding his breath at times, as well as saying under his breath ‘awwww….’ during particularly emotional moments.
His response when asked what he thought of the movie was ‘I LOVED IT’ and ‘I want it to be in stores!!!!’…. Which, for the record, is his backwards way of saying he wants it to be available on DVD RIGHT NOW, so that he can watch it every day.
If for no other reason than that, I would recommend this as a great family film. It isn’t often that my son has that good of a reaction to a movie that we screen.
We saw the movie in 3-D, and for me, the first person aspect of some of the shots was disconcerting and made me vaguely sick to my stomach, but overall, I feel that the 3-D version is probably a good choice.
My son had no issues whatsoever with the 3-D.
I would give this film 4.25 out of 5 stars, (bumped up from 3.75 that I would’ve given It on my own, sheerly for my observations of HIS reactions) but my son gave it a solid 5 out of 5.
Second Review by Sasha Glenn
Spielberg has delivered once again! The “BFG” is an adventure that cannot be compared.
The story of an orphan girl, Sophie, played by Ruby Barnhill, an amazing young actress. She is completely authentic in her role, and takes the audience on a somewhat epic journey.
Alone in an orphanage, Ruby is the last one to go to sleep at night. Eerily similar to the boogey man, the BFG comes by her window at night, and her curiosity takes her to the land of giants.
Extremely enjoyable and magical – “BFG” takes you into a land full of cannibalistic giants, psychedelic dream capturing, and the realm of the Queen and her corgis. The film is done quite well, with a unique feel that reminds the audience of 80’s children’s movies like “Labyrinth” or “Dark Crystal.” The magic is innocent, yet dark and twisted.
The trailers make this look like an entirely animated film, but it actually is a mixture. The graphics are a perfect mix of CGI fantasy and live-action; putting you right into the strange world that Sophie ventures to discover.
Definitely a film that families should go see this summer. Although, I would be wrong to say it wouldn’t give me nightmares as a kid.
Pleasantly creepy, I give “BFG” 4.5 out of 5 stars.
