A children's movie, based on a children's novel, "Charlotte's Web" can be quite fun for the whole family. Mischievous boys can put toy spiders on their sister's shoulder from behind, or plop one in their laps. Or, a girl might do a finger crawl up the back of dad's head. A feather to tickle mom's ear from behind works too.
Seriously, this is a move with humor for adults as well as the kids and grandkids. I laughed each time Wilbur, or Ike the horse, or another animal fainted. That must be a trick of cinematography or very fast forwarding. One second the pig is standing and listening to a conversation, then in a split second he falls over on his side.
E.B. White's novel of a runt piglet and his spider friend Charlotte was published in 1952. A promo for the second animated film said that the book had sold more than 45 million copies. It was first put on film in an animated musical movie by Paramount in 1973. Joseph Barbera and William Hanna did the animation. Music and lyrics were by Richard and Robert Sherman. Some familiar and popular entertainers of the time voiced the various parts. Among them were Debbie Reynolds as Charlotte, Paul Lynde as Templeton, Henry Gibson as Wilbur and Agnes Moorhead as the goose.
A 2003 animated sequel, "Wilbur's Great Adventure," was made for video release in March. Nickelodeon made it with lesser known voices. It hasn't seemed to be very popular.
E.B. White is said to have disapproved of some of the scenes that were changed from his book in the first animated film. I wonder if he wouldn't have enjoyed this live-action version of his story much more. This edition has a new screenplay, and a bevy of popular voices do the animals – Julia Roberts, John Cleese, Oprah Winfrey, Kathy Bates, Robert Redford and more. Along with Dakota Fanning as Fern, Beau Bridges as Dr. Dorian and other actors, this ensemble makes for a fun and entertaining film for the whole family.
Seriously, this is a move with humor for adults as well as the kids and grandkids. I laughed each time Wilbur, or Ike the horse, or another animal fainted. That must be a trick of cinematography or very fast forwarding. One second the pig is standing and listening to a conversation, then in a split second he falls over on his side.
E.B. White's novel of a runt piglet and his spider friend Charlotte was published in 1952. A promo for the second animated film said that the book had sold more than 45 million copies. It was first put on film in an animated musical movie by Paramount in 1973. Joseph Barbera and William Hanna did the animation. Music and lyrics were by Richard and Robert Sherman. Some familiar and popular entertainers of the time voiced the various parts. Among them were Debbie Reynolds as Charlotte, Paul Lynde as Templeton, Henry Gibson as Wilbur and Agnes Moorhead as the goose.
A 2003 animated sequel, "Wilbur's Great Adventure," was made for video release in March. Nickelodeon made it with lesser known voices. It hasn't seemed to be very popular.
E.B. White is said to have disapproved of some of the scenes that were changed from his book in the first animated film. I wonder if he wouldn't have enjoyed this live-action version of his story much more. This edition has a new screenplay, and a bevy of popular voices do the animals – Julia Roberts, John Cleese, Oprah Winfrey, Kathy Bates, Robert Redford and more. Along with Dakota Fanning as Fern, Beau Bridges as Dr. Dorian and other actors, this ensemble makes for a fun and entertaining film for the whole family.