THE BFG Trailer
There’s something timeless about Roald Dahl’s children’s stories that always made me assume they were older than they were. The effect likely comes from their blend of weirdly dark situations and moralistic underpinnings, which feels very much like old fairy tales. Most modern pieces for children are toned down or bland, but Dahl didn’t speak down to kids. His respect for his young readers are a big reason his works are so beloved, leading to numerous film adaptations like Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and Fantastic Mr. Fox. Next up is The BFG, which ranks among his most famous works.
The story of a girl and a friendly giant attracted none other than director Steven Spielberg, who hasn’t been on the hottest streak of late, but the project sees him reunite with E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial screenwriter Melissa Mathison. What the two accomplished together with E.T. seems like the exact tone you want for a Dahl adaptation, so expectations should be pretty high. In a sad turn, Mathison died of cancer after completing the screenplay for BFG, so I’m sure there’s added pressure on Spielberg to get the film right.
Many are criticizing the trailer for its subpar effects, but my guess is that it’s an intentional style. It appears to be going for a storybook feel even in its live-action scenes, so it would be wrong of Spielberg and company to make the effects seem too realistic. Keep in mind, the effects are being done by Weta Digital, who’s been leading the motion-capture charge with The Lord of the Rings the new Planet of the Apes series. If Spielberg wanted photo-realism, they would deliver it. The effects we’ve seen so far clearly aren’t working for audiences, but there’s time for some fine-tuning. Besides, shouldn’t we extend a bit more faith to Spielberg?
The BFG is directed by Steven Spielberg and stars Mark Rylance and Ruby Barnhill. It is being released in the U.S. on July 1st, 2016 and in the U.K. on July 22nd, 2016. For international release dates, click here.
Do you think this will rank among the best Roald Dahl adaptations? Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
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