James and the Giant Peach (1996)

Director:

Henry Selick

Writers (WGA):

Roald Dahl (book)
Karey Kirkpatrick (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

12 April 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Musical

Tagline:

If you really don't go to the movies, you won't see...

Plot:

An orphan with terrible aunts for guardians, befriends human like bugs who live inside a giant peach, who take the boy on a journey to New York City.

Plot Keywords:

Aunt | Peach | Spider | Friend | Orphan

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Simon Callow	...	Grasshopper (voice)
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Centipede (voice)
Jane Leeves	...	Ladybug (voice)
Joanna Lumley	...	Aunt Spiker
Miriam Margolyes	...	Aunt Sponge / The Glowworm (voice)
Pete Postlethwaite	...	Old Man
Susan Sarandon	...	Miss Spider (voice)
Paul Terry	...	James
David Thewlis	...	Earthworm (voice)
J. Stephen Coyle	...	Reporter #2
Steven Culp	...	James' Father
Cirocco Dunlap	...	Girl With Telescope
Michael Girardin	...	Reporter #1
Tony Haney	...	Reporter #3
Kathryn Howell	...	Woman in Bathrobe (as Katherine Howell)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some frightening images.

Runtime:

79 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:Livre | Iceland:L | Finland:S | USA:PG (certificate #34530) | South Korea:All | Philippines:G | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Germany:6 (bw) | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/6 (video premiere) | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | UK:U | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Allied Filmmakers

Trivia:

Jack Skellington, the hero of The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) makes a cameo when Centipede explores the sunken pirate ship. Centipede even says "Its a Skellington."

Goofs:

Continuity: When James wakes up from the fall onto the Empire State Building, he is inside the peach, with a red light flashing on him. But he has to open the hatch in the peach to get atop it, so, the light shouldn't have illuminated him at all, as it is from a light above the peach.

Quotes:

Aunt Spiker: [Swatting a butterfly] Ew, wouldn't want one of those nesting in your knickers.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Will & Grace: Sons and Lovers (#3.22)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Eating The Peach

Well done, just about the way I would have wanted.

Like all Roald Dahl novels, this one had a very specific way it would require were it to be adapted to a movie. Like such stories of this, Tim Burton used his specialty, fantasy. His style of such formula had proved to be successful in the previous years "The Nightmare Before Christmas". So why not do it again? With colorful characters and imagery to be seen only while using the imagination, Stop-Motion was a good idea, especially for films like this.

Young James is orphaned when a terrifying rhino storm takes away his parents. He is then left to defend for himself as he lives with his agonizing Aunts, Spiker and Sponge. Soon enough, a mysterious man gives him a sack of magical worms that will allegedly change his world, forever. After time goes by, a peach begins to grow on a blackened tree, drawing attention and money to his money-hungry aunts. After a chance encounter with a green worm, James is then transformed into a world with a few new friends. Escaping his evil aunts, James, and his new family begin a journey for a better life in the city where dreams come true! Before they reach this dream, they must face fears and monsters to challenge the dream.

The acting and voicing is very warm, and young Terry is convincible, as opposed to many other child actors who never had the right moment. Richard Dreyfuss, Simon Callow, Susan Sarandon, and Jane Leeves offer tender voices to the lovable creatures in whom James finds a new meaning to the word 'family'. Miriam Margoyles and Joanna Lumley are hysterical, if not over the top as the orphans wise cracking, crabby, and creepy aunts. Good direction and some often pleasing music accompany the actors as they compliment this journey of courage.

The imagery is remarkable. Tim Burton has always had a unique talent for a style of imagery and picture. The story and events are almost surreal at moments, but that is a wonderful thin g. Most films today are too nice, or way too family friendly, and the dark touch to such stories as this are well needed. I would say that this adaptation is the right type of film this novel could have to serve its' justice as far as visionary techniques are concerned. As for the rest, the film can speak for itself. It's just a fun little movie for all ages.