James and the Giant Peach (1996)

Release date: 1996-04-12
Country: UK|USA
Language: English
Director: Henry Selick
Production Co: Walt Disney Pictures, Allied Filmmakers, Skellington Productions Inc.
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Rating: 6.7/10
Length: 1h 19min

Storyline

James' happy life at the English seaside is rudely ended when his parents are killed by a rhinoceros and he goes to live with his two horrid aunts. Daringly saving the life of a spider he comes into possession of magic boiled crocodile tongues, after which an enormous peach starts to grow in the garden. Venturing inside he meets not only the spider but a number of new friends including a ladybug and a centipede who help him with his plan to try and get to New York.

Plot Keywords

rope, giant spider, giant insect, england, calendar, blindness, birthday, gift, rivalry, nightmare, neglected child, mysterious stranger, mirror, little boy, hunger, bag, surrealism, cult film, surprise after end credits, sea

Short Review

Dahl himself thought his book would be impossible to translate into film, and for all the ingenuity that's been thrown at the screen, perhaps he was right. This overgrown peach never ripens.