Charlotte's Web DVD Review

When Wilbur (Scott Kay) is born the runt of the litter, Fern (Fanning) decides to raise the piglet until he is strong enough to return to the barn. Once there, the little pig soon becomes a firm favourite in barn but when Templeton the Rat (Buscemi) points out that no spring pig survives past the Christmas dinner table, the animals don’t know what to do. Then a voice comes from the door saying that she will make Wilbur a promise that he will see the winter snow, the little pig knows he has found a true friend in Charlotte (Roberts), the spider.

When it comes to picking out some of the most beloved children’s novels of all time, there is one that will definitely make most people’s lists, ‘Charlotte’s Web’.

E.B. White’s novel about a spider that saves a pig from ending up on the dinner table is one that has enthralled children since its publication in 1952. Its endearing animal characters and its major accomplishment in making a spider a beloved icon for all that is good. This is a story of tolerance, acceptance and hope and one that still resonates today.

Now that computer technology has given filmmakers the ability to create anything on onscreen and this means that we can finally see ‘Charlotte’s Web’ as a life action movie. The beloved animated version of the novel has been a firm favourite since its release in 1973 but now filmmakers can create performances from animals by using the wonders of computer animation. Combining live action and computer generated animals, Wilbur, Templeton the Rat, Samuel the Sheep, Gussy and Golly the Geese, Bitsy and Betsy the cows and Ike the horse all talk and can anything that the story demands, with the technology been so good that you cannot see the difference between the real and artificial animals.

Dakota Fanning is the go-to girl when it comes to casting a female child part in a movie and her role as Fern proves again that she is an actress of great ability and currently the best in the business. The all-star vocal cast for the animal characters is the highlight of the movie however and most of them have real fun with their roles. None more so than the always-brilliant Steve Buscemi as Templeton the Rat, the rodent who needs to be bribed to help Charlotte save Wilbur. Julia Roberts provides warmth and compassion as Charlotte and there are also excellent turns from John Cleese, Oprah Winfrey, Cedric the Entertainer, Kathy Bates, Robert Redford, Thomas Haden Church, André Benjamin and young Dominic Scott Kay as Wilbur.

‘Charlotte’s Web’ is a charming, timeless story that is a joy for all the family, especially younger viewers. With excellent family values and a few lessons to teach, this is a wholesome movie that is destined to be a firm favourite with the younger members of anyone’s family.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Widescreen 1.85:1 Anamorphic with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the transfer is good.

BONUS FEATURES

Commentary by director Gary Winick The man at the helm talks about updating the classic story into live action and the technical difficulties in doing so. From working with real animals, the construction of animatronic versions and the computer-generated creatures, the director reveals how this all came together to make the barnyard come to life. He also talks passionately about the vocal cast and the performance of Dakota Fanning in the lead human role, as well as the differences between the book and the film version.

Commentary by producer Jordan Kerner and visual effects supervisor John Andrew Berton Jr Talking about the more technical aspects of the film’s production, this commentary looks at the creation of the animals in the barn and how the story is just as relevant today as it was when the book was published back in the 1950s.

Making Some Movie (28.27 mins) Director Garry Winick, producer Jordan Kerner, executive producer Bernie Williams, production designer Stuart Wurtzel, production designer Seamus McGorvery, screenwriters Susannah Grant and Karey Kirkpatrick, visual effects supervisor John Anderson Berton Jr., stars Dakota Fanning, Kevin Anderson, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Gary Basaraba, Nate Mooney, Essie Davis, Louis Corbett and vocal star Thomas Haden Church take you behind the scenes of the live action version of ‘Charlotte’s Web’. The group talk about working with the animals, filming in Australia and how the E.B. White novel is still as much loved now as it ever was.

Some Voices (8.46 mins) Director Garry Winick, producer Jordan Kerner, executive producer Bernie Williams and vocal stars Julia Roberts, Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Thomas Haden Church, Kathy Bates, Cedric the Entertainer, Reba McEntire and Dominic Scott Kay talk about creating the voices of the animals for ‘Charlotte’s Web’

Flacka’s Pig Tale (11.29 mins) One of the many pigs that worked on the movie talk about the animals of the film and teaches you some new words.

How do they do that? (4.54 mins) Producer Jordan Kerner and lead trainer Larry Payne reveal how the animals were trained to work on the movie.

What makes a classic? (5.20 mins) Producer Jordan Kerner, screenwriters Susannah Grant and Karey Kirkpatrick and author of ‘E.B. White: The Children’s Book’ Lucien L. Agosta talk about the impact of ‘Charlotte’s Web’ and the reason why it is such a firm family favourite.

Where are they now? (6.54 mins) Executive producer Bernie Williams reveals were all of the pigs used in the production of the movie have found good homes, thanks to ‘Animals of Australia’.

Music Videos ‘Ordinary Miracle’ by Sarah McLachlan and ‘Make a wish’ by Bob Carlisle and Lucy Kane Watch the promotional music videos for ‘Charlotte’s Web’

A Day at the Fair (0.55 mins) A behind the scenes montage of images from the fair sequence

Farm Photo Album A collection of images from the Zuckerman farm

Gag Reel (3.03 mins) Watch a montage of animal and human mishaps

Deleted Scenes (6.53 mins) Entitled ‘Wilbur’s wild ride’, ‘Henry Fussy in town’, ‘Henry Fussy in a tree’, ‘Lurvy and Pretty girl’, ‘Dismantling the fair’ and ‘Susy the dog in the crate’, these deleted scenes have optional commentary from director Gary Winick

Trailers Previews of ‘Barnyard’, ‘Flushed Away’ and ‘Shrek the Third’

OVERALL

The DVD treatment for ‘Charlotte’s Web’ is excellent, for a single disc release. There are features to enjoy, whatever age you are, making this an excellent package for fans of the film.