Watership Down | | Cast : | John Hurt, Richard Briers, Ralph Richardson | | Director : | Martin Rosen | | Studio : | Warner Studios | | Format : | Color, Animated | | Released Date : | November 01, 1978 | | DVD Released Date : | June 07, 2005 | | Language : | English (Dubbed) | | Audience Rating : | PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | June 30, 2005 | | Summary | ..One of those that sticks! | Content
 | I was just reading through the other reviews, and one of them struck me. The reviewer was explaining how he/she used to watch this movie when he/she was a kid, and it scared him/her, but at the same time he/she loved it.
This is exactly how I felt when I was a young child.
This was one of those movies that I always used to rent at the video store. I loved it. It scared me very much, but it was, at the same time, amazing. I actually rented the movie so many times when I was little, that the video store ended up giving it to me...
Anyway.
If you are one of those parents who doesn't let your kid watch scary movies, I do not recommend this film. But, if you are able to convince your children (as my parents convinced me) that everything they are watching is "pretend," then I definitely do recommend you purchase this movie. It is one of those films that has stuck with me since the time I was probably about 5 years old. I'll never forget it, and it will always be one of my favorite films.
As for comparing it to the book... Well my class read the book in 8th grade, and I volunteered to bring the movie in for the class to watch. There are some differences (of course), but if you're looking for an interesting movie, you've found it here.
Enjoy!
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| Rating | | | Date | June 06, 2005 | | Summary | Disappointing | Content
| Many of the unfavorable reviews here condemn the movie because it is too violent and dark for children. IF the book were a children's book, and if this movie were aimed at children, this would be a valid point. Both the book and the movie, however, are clearly aimed at young-adult and older audiences. Therefore, any review that says, "This was bad because I showed it to my children and they were horrified" misses the point altogether.
In addition, this movie is an English production from 1978. The movie-making style is (a) European and (b) typical for the time period. Modern American audiences who are uncomfortable with lyrical sequences and gentle, hand-drawn animation will find fault with this film for those reasons. If, however, your taste in film is sophisitcated enough to not expect the latest computer-generated, pop-music-filled, thrill-a-minute Hollywood product, the style is not an issue.
That said, I can't recommend the movie enthusiastically. Rarely do movies do complete justice to the books on which they are based, but usually one can appreciate the movie for what it did with the material and the difficult job of compression and abridgement that must take place. In this case, however, the movie is a poor representation of the book, lifting only major plot points and leaving behind the rich allegory and societal issues that are the heart of the story. Also left behind are the humor and the matter-of-fact explanations of Rabbit Society: "Rabbits can only count to four," etc. The film sometimes uses the "rabbit language" terminology without explaining it, even by context. Even though the movie merely omits, rather than changes, characters and incidents, so much is lost in the translation that it renders the end product a bit lifeless (despite the frequent conflict and danger) and even pointless. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 16, 2005 | | Summary | They don't make them like this anymore. | Content
| I saw this film when I was a child. I think I was maybe 5 or 6 at the time, and it frightened me terribly, but at the same time I was transfixed and couldn't turn away. I never saw it again until I bought the DVD yesterday, and I've watched it twice.
First I'd like to comment that this probably isn't the best movie for very young children. I would say they would need to be at least 10 to fully understand some of the concepts of the film. As a reviewer stated, and I agree, this is a wonderful movie to introduce the concept of death to a child. The film can be a wonderful learning tool to show that the world is not all sunshine and roses... However it also teaches you that if you believe strongly enough, and are willing to fight for it, you can find a place where the sunshine and roses are.
I won't give any plot details, since so many other reviewers did that. However I will say there are moments when I was watching this as a 30-year old adult that I was left speechless. Good examples are the loss of Violet, and when Fiver says "Look! You can see the whole world!"
And if you don't well up when The Black Rabbit comes to Hazel at the end and asks him to join his Owsla, something is terribly wrong with you.
I'm very happy I reconnected with this part of my childhood. Seeing this now I can understand why it affected me the way it did as a child. But, at the same time I wouldn't say this isn't for children. Just know that this isn't like animated feature films of today. There is no sugar-coating to soften the blows of harsh reality. I wish they would make more animated films like this now.
I'm giving it a 4 because the DVD doesn't have much in the way of special features. The movie itself gets a 5.
I've never read the book, but I think I'll pick it up tomorrow and give it a go.
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| Rating | | | Date | April 24, 2005 | | Summary | Dark Childhood | Content
| I saw this film in Brighton, England when it was released. I was eight years old.
If I could sum up one influence on my own writing and thought processes this film would probably be up there. I recalled the film after seeing it as a reference in "Donnie Darko". I'm going to buy it now for my 6 year old daughter. My hope is it will teach her something about the serious hardship of life without exposing her to grim facts of America in 2005. George Bush is a fascist rabbit.
This film is a cinematic gem.
Adam |
| Rating | | | Date | April 17, 2005 | | Summary | It's alright, but read the book instead | Content
| The movie adaptation of the book was decent, but it jumped around and left out some important details which gave the book its substance. For instance, in the movie, the viewer is often unaware of the rabbits motives. This was a huge theme in the story not to mention the stange way they left Strawberry out and the horrific details of the second warren in the story also lost its impact. The end was very rushed and seemed to leave me with a sence of disapointment where as the book was very enjoyable from start to finish. I would suggest that anyone read the book over watching the movie. |
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