Film Review

Conventions

A film review is a reflection or analysis of a film’s facets and overall quality.
They examine key aspects such as cinematography, dialogue, plot, acting, etc. and
explain how their portrayal either improves or detracts from the media. Additionally,
they often discuss the specific directors, cinematographers, animators, etc. involved
and how their contributions reflect on their careers as well as the film. Although
these reviews are written from personal opinion, they are still backed up by evidence
and analysis. Film reviews will begin with a blurb and later dive into the specifics,
concluding with an overall rating and possible recommendation. Similar to blogs,
film reviews are usually informal, concise, and require an engaging voice.

The Character Design of James in the Giant Peach

James and the Giant Peach (1996) is a live action and stop motion film adaptation of the
1961 novel by Raold Dahl of the same name. The film is directed by Henry Selik, starring
Paul Terry as James, Miriam Margolyes as Aunt Sponge, Joanna Lumley as Aunt Spiker,
featuring the voices of Simon Callow as Mr. Grasshopper, Richard Dreyfuss as Mr. Centipede,
Jane Leeves as Mrs. Ladybug, Susan Sarandon as Miss Spider, David Thewlis as Mr. Earthworm,
and Miriam Margolyes as Mrs. Glowworm. The film follows James—a recently orphaned boy
taken in by his dastardly aunts. His life is pure misery; malnutrition, endless chores, and
physical and verbal abuse. Thankfully, a strange old man comes to his rescue, offering him
magic beans that later grow into a giant peach. After protecting a spider from death by his
aunts, he finds his way inside the peach where he meets several anthropomorphic insects.
With these newfound friends, James travels across the ocean to New York City—a place
he longed to go to with his parents before they died—and has many life-threatening
adventures along the way. James and the Giant Peach is a film about perseverance,
kindness, found family, and never giving up on your dreams.

From director to cinematographer, there are many roles that go into making a great film.
In stop motion films such as James and the Giant Peach, the character designs are paramount
to its success. American writer and illustrator Lane Smith spent an exuberant amount of time
designing and putting together the claymation puppets: “Contractually, I was only supposed
to do 20 inspirational paintings and designs, but I ended up doing 50. It was also supposed to
be just a six-month job, but I stayed on for a couple of years just because it was really fun.
I wasn’t obligated to do any more work, so I kept coming up with excuses to come back”
(Lane Smith, 2016). His great passion and quality of work was even recognized by Roald
Dahl himself, commissioning him to re-illustrate the novel. These designs are not only
memorable, their details effectively represent the characters. They all have distinct backgrounds
which differentiates their personalities and species. What is interesting about this is that the shape
language in each character reflects such. Mr. Centipede is an old man with a Brooklyn accent. He is
brash and condescending, and likes to tell tall tales of his many daring life experiences. Unlike the
other insects, his face is lumpy and compressed like the loose skin of the elderly. This exemplifies
his age and the roughness of his life. This can also be seen in his clothes; plaid overalls and a
newsboy cap, he appears to be a working man. This reinforces a life of struggle which would
inform his current personality. Mr. Centipede is almost the complete opposite of Mr. Grasshopper,
his friendly rival. Mr. Grasshopper is a posh and sophisticated grasshopper, often found boasting
about his intellect. In contrast to Mr. Centipede, Mr. Grasshopper's face is smooth, mirroring a
cushioned lifestyle. This is further emphasized by his monocle and tailcoat, clothing which we
often see on old and knowledgeable characters. He also plays the violin, which is a notoriously
difficult and expensive instrument. The differences between these character designs reinforces
their individuality and makes for an interesting character dynamic. Overall, this film’s fantastical
atmosphere would not exist without these insects and their charming designs. I would recommend
this film if not for its fun and engaging plot, then for its whimsical art and characters.