Watership Down [DVD] [1978]

Product Information

Originally set for release on 25 December 2018, [8] Watership Down was released on 22 December 2018, on BBC One in the UK and on 23 December 2018 on Netflix, internationally. [9] [3] [2] Episodes [ edit ] No. Alexander Walker, Icons in the Fire: The Rise and Fall of Practically Everyone in the British Film Industry 1984–2000, Orion Books, 2005 p6 Adams, Richard; Rosen, Martin (1978). The Watership Down Film Picture Book. Harmondsworth: Penguin. ISBN 9780140050639. But how can it be four episodes when only two are seemingly scheduled? The original film is only 91 minutes long, and also a U-certificate despite its gore, while this new version is technically four parts, of around 50 minutes each, but this BBC/Netflix co-production is broadcast with the episodes doubled up and shown over two nights, so you have two 100-minute films on consecutive evenings. In a joint review of Watership Down and Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings, animation historian Michael Barrier described both films as "very stupid movies, of a special kind" and that "the films themselves show no sign that any intelligence was at work in making them" due to their "grim literalism" in adapting their source texts. He did describe Watership Down as the "least offensive" of the two but nevertheless characterised the animation style as "graceless" and expressed disappointment that the vision of the film's original director John Hubley was never fully realised. [26] Newsweek 's David Ansen also drew comparisons with The Lord of the Rings, but while he disliked Bakshi's film he was more effusive about Watership Down, which he said "has the relentless momentum of a good war movie" and "is swift of foot, graced with wit, and capable of touching the hearts of both children and adults". [27]

Watership Down is a 1978 British animated adventure- drama film, written, produced and directed by Martin Rosen and based on the 1972 novel by Richard Adams. [5] It was financed by a consortium of British financial institutions and was distributed by Cinema International Corporation in the United Kingdom. Released on 19 October 1978, the film was an immediate success and it became the sixth-most popular film of 1979 at the UK box office. [6] On the plus side, if you know the 1978 film inside out, then this will have more to add (but of course, it was originally a book by Richard Adams), but on the downside… ooh, nooooo… that CGI…Prudom, Laura (23 December 2018). "WATERSHIP DOWN REVIEW". IGN. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023 . Retrieved 26 December 2018.

Watership Down" (PDF). British Board of Film Censors. 15 February 1978. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2014 . Retrieved 21 July 2023. The Guardian and The Independent both gave it two stars out of five, calling the production "tame, drab and deeply unsatisfying." [15] and "spectacularly ho-hum – less tooth and claw than head shake." [16]The rabbits discover Nuthanger Farm, which contains a hutch of domesticated does. Before they can free the females, the farm cat and dog chase them away. Later, they are found by Captain Holly, who recounts the destruction of Sandleford by humans as well as an encounter with vicious rabbits called the "Efrafans". Fiver finally finds the hill he envisioned, Watership Down, where the group settles in with Hazel as their new chief. Watership Down was first released to the UK on 19 October 1978, and was later released in the United States on 1 November 1978, where the movie was distributed by AVCO Embassy Pictures. In British cinemas the film was preceded by the 1974 live-action short film Tahere Tikitiki: The Making of a Māori Canoe. [15] Box office [ edit ] It's not every day that animated films---especially those featuring "furry woodland critters"---delve into extensive mythologies, introduce us to multi-layered characters and manage to insert genuine senses of danger into the story---but then again, Martin Rosen's Watership Down (1978) isn't your average animated film. Based on Richard Adams' book of the same name, this tale of rabbits and their struggle for survival has captivated fans of all ages during the past 29 years. Produced on a shoestring budget, Watership Down beat plenty of odds to become a true animated classic...so if this is your first introduction to Rosen's captivating film, you're in for a real treat. Watership Down to be adapted on TV". Digital Spy. 10 July 2014. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015 . Retrieved 29 November 2018. a b "Watership Down". British Board of Film Classification. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016 . Retrieved 5 March 2022.

What makes this rabbit tale so grand is the believable world which Adams creates with his own colorful Lapine vocabulary in which the rabbits use, his unique twist of how rabbits perceive the world around them, and what is predominantly a spectacular cast of characters, the varying personalities of each rabbit that distinguishes them not only from each other but of a variety of themes of life and death. You will find that Hazel's world is very much like our own, filled with danger around every corner, and yet these tales will empower you with a seriousness unlike any other, so realistic and mischievous that you will sit on the edge of your sit to see what happens next. The film was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation in 1979. [18] Reception and legacy [ edit ] I highly recommend Watership Down for family viewing, and especially for children. Read full reviewMangan, Lucy (23 December 2018). "Watership Down review – CGI rabbits can't save this Christmas turkey". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 January 2019 . Retrieved 12 February 2019– via www.theguardian.com. The BBC's Watership Down reboot simply isn't scary enough". The Independent. 10 December 2018. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019 . Retrieved 12 February 2019. Though it's gradually slipped under the radar in today's Disney-dominated world of animation, Watership Down remains a compelling and mature film that continues to captivate fans of all ages. Featuring terrific artwork, strong music and a stellar lineup of voice actors (all of which completely defy the film's extremely modest budget), it's still the poignant story that propels everything forward. Warner Bros.' long-awaited Deluxe Edition marks a notable improvement over the out-of-print original release---and while the bonus features aren't quite as extensive as we'd like, these quality supplements are certainly worth watching. Those completely new to the film (and parents unsure if their children may be ready for it) are encouraged to rent this one first, but there's more than enough here to consider Watership Down a worthy addition to any respectable animation library. Firmly Recommended. I can understand them wanting to remake this, since it’s 40 years since the 1978 original, but that looks amazing with its animation and, here, they use CGI which looks like it’s a cut-scene from a dodgy late ’90s / early ’00s videogame like Thief II: The Metal Age and Kingpin: Life Of Crime. Four-screen dashboard". BARB. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019 . Retrieved 2 January 2019.