The BFG (2016)

Great Film overall

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Was happily surprised about how wonderful this film was. It's idyllic optimism is barely weighed down by the quick resolution.

Insomniac orphan Sophie sees something she shouldn't in the small hours, and finds herself whisked away to Giant Country in the company of an oddly-spoken giant who collects and dispenses dreams. But he is the smallest giant, and the others are bullies with a taste for human beans... After a cel-animated British TV version in 1989 (where the Big Friendly Giant was voiced by David Jason), Spielberg directs a big-budget cinema take on Roald Dahl's novel. And it is terrific. Dahl is a wonderful author for children (his adult work is less well-known, but also excellent) because, as well as having great stories, he never talks down to his audience, and never sugar-coats things. The BFG is fun despite, and perhaps also because of, its dark areas. The mix of CGI and real-life is done so well that you can never see the join. Real-life Ruby Barnhill as Sophie plays much of the film, which is largely a two-hander, with Mark Rylance's CGI BFG, and it is to their joint credit that the relationship between them is so genuine and affecting - despite their being on set together, the greenscreen and artificiality must have made it difficult to bond.The look of the fantasy throughout the film is flawless, and effortlessly pulls you in. The other giants are genuinely threatening, but just cartoonish enough to be funny, which takes the edge off the menace. Dahl's source material, augmented here and there, is clearly visible in the late Melissa Mathison's screenplay, especially the BFG's unique, hilarious and gloriumptious take on language. The story is simple but fun.For me, despite the eye-dazzling look of the movie (don't bother with the 3D, by the way, a distinct disappointment after Tintin), the chief joy here was the relationship between the two main characters. Ruby Barnhill is excellent as Sophie, but Rylance as the BFG is simply sublime, the touching subtlety of his performance crystal clear through performance capture applied to a character map based closely on his face. After a long and successful theatrical career, his screen work (big and small screens) over the last couple of years has been breath-taking and here, fittingly, it is magical.This film will be an all-time classic. In case it's not clear, I loved it.

Before to see the adaptation, the mix of emotion and prudence defines me. because, from an early age, I was one of small fans of the book. and the name of Steven Spielberg, as always, represents a good promise. but each adaptation of a lovely book is a challenge first for viewer. and the film is real beautiful. for that, not only the technology has a significant role but the option, a profound inspired one, of director for the couple Mark Rylance and Ruby Barnhill. Rylance is the expected BFG for me. so familiar and admirable performed than the respect for its performer becomes more than great. Barnhill is and she is not the Sophie who I imagine. but she has the all virtues for become, scene by scene. it is a lovely film. and that is only important thing. because it seems bizarre to compare it with more than the novel of Roald Dahl. and the verdict is real favorable for Steven Spilberg project.

I've loved Roald Dahl's writing as long as I can remember, and I can tell you straight up front that this is no match for the lively and enjoyable book it is based off of. (In addition to it not always living up to the book, some things were added, and though I enjoyed some of those things, others just stunk and made no sense.) However, if we have no comparison, it's fantastic. Mark Rylance did a wonderful job as that Big, Friendly Giant, and the little girl, Ruby Barnhill, who played Sophie was a really good actress as well. The CGI was brilliant, and the entire family enjoyed this. I loved "catching dreams" and the dreams themselves.There's not much more left to say. It's a great and enjoyable movie, but don't have high expectations if you compare it to the book.