Movie Review: The BFG
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What Parents Should Know
Parents should know that Sophie is kidnapped by a giant
cloaked in a grim-reaper cape. A barbaric giant tries to eat
Sophie, and later he and other giants massacre a whole school
of children (though off-screen). The ending battle between the
British and the giants may be scary, but doesn't involve any
bloodshed. The ominous music and dark images of dangerous
giants may scare younger and more sensitive viewers. And the
giants, with war paint, earrings, and darker complexions, could
be interpreted as people of color.
Families can use the film to encourage fanciful creativity in their kids by telling stories or encouraging them to tell stories. Children who watch this DVD may start to pay close attention to their own dreams, and ask you to share your own. They can also talk about how Sophie helps the BFG stand up for what he believes in. How do you stand up for what you believe in with your friends?
Families might also want to compare the DVD to the book upon which it's based.
Common Sense Media Review
THE BFG is no
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
, but it does share a warm heart, fanciful language, a
strong child hero, and a creator with the famous movie. And
both started life as children's books by
Roald
Dahl. Dahl is known for his dark themes and fun with words,
and both are present in this direct-to-DVD release.
The BFG is a surreal adventure designed to release
your child's imagination and encourage dreaming, both awake and
asleep.
In the Clonkers Home for Girls, young Sophie can't sleep. Her late-night curiosity reveals a giant, cloaked man blowing fairy dust into bedrooms. When the large and ominous figure spies Sophie, he snatches her and takes her to his lair, where she's sure she will be killed. Instead, she's treated to a scrodcumber (which tastes just as gross as it sounds), a drink that makes her whiz-pop (that is, fart), and a song from the big and cuddly Big Friendly Giant (or BFG). The BFG adopts Sophie and takes her on an adventure through the fearsome world of giant country, the ethereal dream way, and his dream cave, where he stores the dreams he's captured. There, he mixes together bits of dreams and delivers the sweetest ones to children around the world.
The BFG is a giant in the fine tradition of other big, imposing softies, like Hagrid in Harry Potter . He's loveable and gives the very serious Sophie a welcome dose of silliness, with his "twist-tickly time with words," and the opportunity to dream.
But when the other giants threaten to eat whole schools-worth of British children, Sophie and the BFG hatch a plan to save them with the help of the Queen of England. And believe it or not, it just gets more surreal from there. Along the way, the BFG and Sophie learn about courage, loyalty, and love.
Despite the wonderful story, the DVD has some drawbacks. The story is slow to start and the animation is Xanadu-level bad. It's likely to bore children brought up with Toy Story and Finding Nemo . While some songs are likely to have children spinning around the living room, others are downright sappy and forgettable, making this production uneven. And, inexplicably, the human-eating giants are also dressed up in aboriginal garb -- with face paint, body piercings, and dark skin. Since all the other characters are white and British, the choice of making the villains dark skinned is conspicuous at best.
The BFG is still a worthy rental for some, but better choices include the masterful Spirited Away and the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
