Charlotte's Web; A Dry film of Minimal wit or charm
Written: Jan 01 '07 (Updated Jan 01 '07)
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: Dakota Fanning, and the cuteness factor
Cons: underwhelming and dry style, ineffective narrative device, and misplaced soul and wit.
The Bottom Line: Charlotte's Web, a forever childhood favorite book has come to the big screen without any game, a rigid basis of plot, that leaves no room for spontaneous wit.
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| commair03's Full Review: Charlotte's Web |
Growing up as a child, through class readings of the charm and inspired tale of a runt piglet, who finds a dear and courageous friend where they both capture the morality of forever friendship, and the filled affection of eternal memories, I was always emotionally inspired. When I saw that the book, Charlotte's Web, was coming to life in a full film production, I was excited to see a childhood memory, and a tribute to a tale that teaches the golden token of friendship. And then the film rolled.
I'm sure that everyone gets, at least, if not a lot, tickled and lured by the sight of little pink pigs on the big screen, and truth be told, it's definitely one of the movies strong holds. The cute factor. The natural urge to say, "Aw", and then a little light comes on in our head that for some odd reason, our eyes are trapped on the, yes, cuteness! Now I wasn't complaining either sitting in the movie with all this adorable farm animals come to life, however, I was hoping, that this movie would carry me more along with soulful inspiration, then butter bathed pigs in strollers.
The style of Charlotte's Web is, a lack for better words, underwhelming and dry. The film moderately trots along, blending neat transitions with an overall, ineffective narrating device, and through the rushed style of allowing the narrator to tell the tale of morality, the movie loses its simplicity. Charlotte and Wilbur's relationship grows without much screen time, and the two, without the cuteness factor that grows continuously, are rather rushed by back story situations of no importance. Luckily the movie gathers a lot of its charm from the lovable relationship of Charlotte and Wilbur, with the lack of a gradual build. The movie seems to be missing that extra something, that witty unusual, the spontaneous what-ya-ma-gigger, and unfortunately the movie never seems to find it. Why you might ask? Because the film assumes on the wrong levels. Instead of supplying screen time to the gradual growth of Charlotte and Wilbur's relationship of treasured friendship, the film strays off in an instance to the mother talking to the doctor about her daughter spending too much time with animals.
On a better chord, I do have to say the movie did bring to life a story that young children can begin to love, even before they have read the book. The execution of the morality, unfortunately displayed through a narrative device instead of directly from the souls of the characters, but even so, carries values of friendship and courage.
I could not help but think, through some of the dryer parts of the movie, how interesting it would have been if Tim Burton would have been the director. Danny Elfman is already the score writer for the film's musical soul, and I could not help but wonder, was that what this movie was missing. Burton's style of a darker depth, colorful sets, and exaggerated circumstances. We will never know. Never mind I won't be pessimistic, I guess it's a possibility!
All in all Charlotte's Web had some charm, definitely supply’s cuteness by the hand full, however never fully reaches the level of a successful or witty affair. I would have to forward that the film's heart never truly reaches yours, and that through an ineffective narrative device, they slap words, not actions, onto a platter of misfortune.
Recommended:
No
Movie Mood: Good for Kids
Viewing Method: Press Screening
Film Completeness: A few glitches, but mostly complete.
Worst Part of this Film: Pacing
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Epinions.com ID:
commair03
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Member: DJ Nutter
Location: Austin, TX, United States
Reviews written: 39
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me:
I'm a Sophomore at Texas State University, majoring in English, minoring in Journalism.
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