I’ve always loved Roald Dahl’s stories; his eclectic imagination always made them strange yet fascinating, always including quirky and odd characters, and a touch of dark humor too. Many of them were inspired by his real-life childhood experiences. There’s plenty of magic and mystery in each one, including lots of funny vocabulary and you will find many of these qualities in the new live-action film adaptation of The BFG. Plus, what better way to commemorate a great writer than to release this film in the year that marks the 100th anniversary of his birth! Many have waited several years for this film to be made and finally the collaboration of Disney, Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall, and Amblin Entertainment have made it possible.
The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) is surprisingly a very light-footed, nimble, 24-foot giant, who captures a young girl named Sophie from an orphanage. They travel to several different worlds, including Giant Country. This world is his home, but is filled with man-eating giants much larger than him. They have very interesting names like Fleshlumpeater, Childchewer, and Blood Bottler, not anyone I’d ever want to run into! Throughout the movie, the BFG shows us how he is vastly different from the others. He may be the “runt” of the giant inhabitants, but he certainly doesn’t bully others like they do, and he sure knows how to outsmart them! There’s a very close similarity between the BFG and Sophie, which may just be what brings them together.
I had the opportunity to preview The BFG in 3D and while I enjoyed it, there was nothing convincing enough for my son to join me for this movie. Initially bummed that I didn’t have a “date” for this screening, I was actually glad that he didn’t go. At 4 1/2 years old, I’d bet money that he would have totally flipped out throughout most of the movie. The very beginning of the film alone illustrates that strange things happen in the darkness and wee hours of the night. The whole movie isn’t grim, but while it may not be as gruesomely vivid as the words in the book, it still does a good job of conveying the story. The kids will definitely love the language of the BFG, Gobblefunk, that includes words like, “whizzpoppers,” “frobscottle,” and “phizzwizards.” (Download a free printable copy of the full Gobblefunk glossary for your kids to enjoy!)
In the end, unless your young children are not easily scared, I would not recommend this film for kids under the age of 7 or 8. However, I do think it would be a great read for a child of that age or older before seeing the movie to really appreciate the classic tale that it is. Overall, it is a sweet story that will live on for many years.
At about two hours long, The BFG is a rather lengthy film (another reason to avoid bringing the little ones), so be sure to grab your snacks and get your potty breaks done before sitting in your seats. Get to know The BFG and his story, now in theaters!
Vanessa Morales is currently a full-time mom to a very busy preschool boy and 1-year-old girl. She and her husband share a love of traveling and enjoy sharing those adventures and different cultures with their children. Vanessa also loves to bake and always looks forward to trying new recipes.Disclosure: We were provided a complimentary advance screening of The BFG in order to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions are our own.
Images courtesy of Disney
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