The BFG

2016 • 117 minutes

About this movie

The talents of three of the world’s greatest storytellers – Roald Dahl, Walt Disney and Steven Spielberg – finally unite to bring Dahl’s beloved classic “The BFG” to life. Directed by Spielberg, Disney’s “The BFG” tells the imaginative story of a young girl and the Giant who introduces her to the wonders and perils of Giant Country. The BFG (Mark Rylance), while a giant himself, is a Big Friendly Giant and nothing like the other inhabitants of Giant Country. Standing 24-feet tall with enormous ears and a keen sense of smell, he is endearingly dim-witted and keeps to himself for the most part. Giants like Bloodbottler (Bill Hader) and Fleshlumpeater (Jemaine Clement) on the other hand, are twice as big and at least twice as scary and have been known to eat humans, while the BFG prefers Snozzcumber and Frobscottle. Upon her arrival in Giant Country, Sophie, a precocious 10-year-old girl from London, is initially frightened of the mysterious giant who has brought her to his cave, but soon comes to realize that the BFG is actually quite gentle and charming, and, having never met a giant before, has many questions. The BFG brings Sophie to Dream Country where he collects dreams and sends them to children, teaching her all about the magic and mystery of dreams. Having both been on their own in the world up until now, their affection for one another quickly grows, but Sophie’s presence in Giant Country has attracted the unwanted attention of the other giants, who have become increasingly more bothersome. Sophie and the BFG soon depart for London to see the Queen (Penelope Wilton) and warn her of the precarious giant situation, but they must first convince the Queen and her maid, Mary (Rebecca Hall), that giants do indeed exist. Together, they come up with a plan to get rid of the giants once and for all.

Ratings and reviews

I concepted this film, that is the basic idea was stolen from me--(as was E.T. where my name appears on the doodles shown to the camera just before the frog release), and it was developed further by the rest of these guys. Sadly, they distorted it beyond my ken, that's for sure, probably to fit it into one of their tidy molds somehow. Stevie should actually work with me, and pay me something, to prevent disasters like this in the future.

The book will forever stay as my favorite fantasy book, but the movie fails to stay interesting. I mean the film doesn't have its moments, but it lacked something new that I just can't comprehend. I was very suprised that such a visionary director like Spielberg would make a bland film like this. I'd say watch it or dont, nothing really changes.

Like being in a charming and delightful little dream one might've had as a child. Don't expect to be wowed or to find a very deep movie here though. Definitely loved it; 5 stars. Kind of liked that it didn't get too serious and intense actually. Nice to have a lighter full fledged movie to play for a simple good time.