James and the Giant Peach

James and the Giant Peach is based on the children’s book of the same name by Roald Dahl. This is director Henry Selick’s first film after The Nightmare Before Christmas and already an improvement in the quality of the stop motion animation is evident. The film opens with a boy named James (Paul Terry) living happily with his parents as they picnic and plan to move to New York. Unfortunately they are killed by a rhino. This occurs off-screen, but it's also the only explanation ever given about their deaths. When James lives with his Aunts, they often use the rhino as a threat, making it more of an intangible representation of fear; not unlike the boogey man. James' Aunts, Spiker (Joanna Lumley) and Sponge (Miriam Margolyes) are cruel and grotesque. They beat and starve James while obsessing over their own vanities. Actually, they are far more disturbing than anything that James encounters throughout the film. When a mysterious traveler (played very theatrically by Pete Postlethwaite) gives James some magic crocodile tongues, they create the giant peach and James himself ends up entering it and meeting the insects. Together, they all decide to journey to the wonderful land of New York and escape James’ Aunts. The characters that make up the insects are terrific. There’s the tough talking Centipede (voiced by Richard Dreyfuss), the French spider (Susan Sarandon), the wise Grasshopper (Simon Callow), the negative and depressed worm (David Thewlis), the sweet old ladybug (Jane Leeves), and the half-deaf glowworm (also voiced by Miriam Margolyes). One of the first things to notice about this film is the way it blends live action and stop motion animation in a manner that's almost completely seamless. The first part of the film, being the opening scenes and those of James and his aunts, are done entirely in live action. The environments however, are spectacularly animated and picturesque. The neighboring town and ocean seen in the distance seems so much more vivid and peaceful than the dead, lifeless hill where James’ two Aunts reside. It's only when James enters the peach that everything, including James, becomes fully animated. The animation is incredibly detailed and nuanced; the characters can display a wide variety of emotions and movements that it's even a step up from The Nightmare Before Christmas only 3 years before. I would argue that this film is much more established as a Henry Selick film than The Nightmare Before Christmas, which obviously retained a lot of influence from Tim Burton’s designs and style (though Jack Skellington does make a cameo appearance in this film). In James and the Giant Peach, there are more bright colors and surreal images. The shark that attacks them in the sea for instance is not a typical shark, but a mechanical monstrosity that grinds up fish and shoots out their heads on plates. The best example however, is the “Family” song sequence. During this sequence, the insects sing a song for James and as the song progresses, the world around them becomes filled with moving colors and objects, floating around in the sky to the point where the very peach itself becomes part of a spinning mobile, which James then plucks from the background and takes into his hands. It's a highlight and the creativity and imagination at work here makes this entire film stand out as a great movie for children and adults to see. All the music is done by Randy Newman and with the exception of the song during the credits (the only one that he sings personally) it doesn’t sound so typical of his normal musical style. Nearly every song is both catchy and memorable and all of them feel like they belong within the story. James and the Giant Peach is a wonderful film and one of Henry Selick’s best to date. There are some surrealistic qualities about this film but it always feels accessible and natural to the tone and visuals of the story. Even though this particular style of animation is more advanced and sophisticated now, as seen in more recent Henry Selick films like Coraline, this one still holds up very well in terms of sheer technical quality and great storytelling.

James and the Giant Peach is like if Tim Burton had a fever dream after eating expired fruit. It’s weird, whimsical, and just the right amount of unsettling. Giant bugs become James’s ride-or-die crew, and somehow we all just accept that a giant flying peach is a reasonable way to escape awful aunts. The animation is delightfully creepy, the story is wild, and the seagull-powered flight scene? Iconic. Great for kids, nostalgic for adults, and slightly disturbing for everyone—just how Roald Dahl intended. 🍑💥

Great Halloween movie Family favorite

I love this movie! Thanks!

Marvelous things will happen when you purchase this DVD

This is a quirky kids movie that even parents can enjoy. The animation is more similar to "claymation" and not the CG graphics of most newer animation. This said, it is very colorful and a delight to watch. The characters are by far what makes this a great movie. From a psychological standpoint, they may represent various archetypes within the peach. Hmmm... am I sensing some Jungian psychology at play? But play is what it is about. James finds himself without a happy family and then finds an unsuspecting family in the oddest of creatures. It is a great film for the family and I highly reccomend it. I bought a copy for my family and 2 more for others. The only reason for not giving it 5 stars is that it could be a bit dark and "scary" for some younger children, but really... it is worth buying.

Great movie

Fun film for the whole family!

Parfait!

James & The Giant Peach is a delightful adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic tale that captures the imagination with its unique blend of live-action and stop-motion animation. The story follows young James, an orphaned boy who embarks on a fantastical journey aboard a giant peach with a quirky cast of insect friends. The animation is mesmerizing, with Tim Burton’s signature style evident in every frame. The characters are charming and distinct, from the wise Old Green Grasshopper to the motherly Miss Spider. The voice acting is superb, adding depth and warmth to the whimsical storyline. The film balances its darker elements with humor and heart, making it equally enjoyable for children and adults. The music, composed by Randy Newman, is another highlight, perfectly complementing the magical and sometimes eerie atmosphere. This DVD offers decent picture quality for its age, and the bonus features provide an insightful look into the making of this cinematic gem. Whether you're a fan of the book or new to the story, James & The Giant Peach is a must-watch—a timeless adventure filled with wonder, friendship, and a touch of Dahl's signature eccentricity.

Este Blu-ray en alta definición es excelente en comparación con el DVD anterior. Las partes de la película donde aparecen actores reales se ven un tanto extrañas (con grano) probablemente porque utilizaron film y una iluminación oscura pero eso solo muestra que la película fue grabada en una época en la que todavía no se utilizaban cámaras digitales. Las partes de la película donde aparecen las animaciones (que es la gran mayoría) se ven increíblemente nítidas. El único pero que le pongo son los contenidos extras. Ya no hacen contenidos extras como en Los tiempos dorados del DVD, por lo que no hay prácticamente ningún contenido de buena calidad sobre cómo se hizo la película, una lástima considerando todo el trabajo que implica la animación en stop-motion. En fin, es una excelente película animada con una buena historia, bonitas canciones y en una gran calidad de imagen! Recomendada!

Ich habe die DVD leider zurückgeschickt ,weil sie nicht in deutscher Sprache war. Innerhalb kürzester Zeit war das Geld auf mein Konto überwiesen.

love Disney movies & watch it