(44 votes, average: 3.75 out of 5)
Loading …Rent Movie.com movie reviews presents Charlottes Web Movie Review a 2006 film starring Julia Roberts, Steve Buscemi and directed by Gary Winick.From the opening credits (done with skillful paper art used for a storybook, “3-D” effect), Charlotte’s Web is charming. To quote the spider, Charlotte (and I suspect author E.B.White would agree), this film version of his story is both “Terrific” and “Radiant”. I was in tears by the end; this film spins a web of great humor and visual delight, and a very moving sort of beauty in both content and form. I was very struck by the art direction….moonlight on Charlotte and her web, the lane turning from Summer to Fall; the wonder of the Fair, with multitudes of details, all done in bright, small spots of color, equally treated, whether balloons or people. much thought and talent was put into the making of this film.
Without ever being didactic or simple, the messages, too, are lovely and clear. When Wilbur the Pig speaks highly of Charlotte (voiced beautifully by Julia Roberts), a sheep asks, “Are we seeing the same creature?”; “I guess not,” he replies.
In a similar, quietly understated way, the entire barn is awoken to the miracle of Sunrise, as they share the experience with their new young friend, Wilbur. “Has it always been this way?” they wonder. The simple handling, too, of Wilbur’s heart-break, as Charlotte’s hundreds of newly born babies go flying off: “I had so much I wanted to tell you,” he says, “And someone I wanted to tell you about.” There are the makings of a classic fim in this movie rendition of a well loved book.
The funniest moments? Steve Buschemi’s Templeton the Rat, on his back in the buttermilk, the Crows with their discussions of, and adventures with the scarecrow, but the most side-splitting and also most endearing moment was the flying spiders, imitated by the Sheep.
Dakota Fanning, impressive previously for her charismatic role in Man on Fire, is well-cast as Fern, and I was intrigued by Louis Corbett as her brother, Avery. In his initial scene, he asks why Fern gets to have a pig. We laugh, and we feel for him; the screenplay has Avery as a younger brother, and less of an adversary, which works very well.
See this movie with every artist you know, every child you know, and every cynic you’d like to reawaken to Wonder.
Shanti Mai
shantimai.rentmovie.com
