Did you know that they are making a new movie adaptation of The BFG? What’s more, it will be directed by the one and only… Steven Spielberg! Production started in 2015 and the movie is currently in post-production. It is expected to be released in 2016.
Roald Dahl (1916-1990) was a British writer born to Norwegian parents. He is the author of many beloved children’s stories and is often titled as one of the greatest storytellers for children of the 20th century. He also wrote for adults and is one of the world’s best-selling authors.
His more famous children’s books are: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and Fantastic Mr. Fox. Many of his stories have already been filmed and are still being redone (f.e. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory from 2005 with Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka).
The BFG or Big Friendly Giant is about a young orphan girl who becomes friends with a big and friendly giant. It was first published in 1982 with illustrations by Quentin Blake and has been turned into an animated film in 1998.
I read most of Roald Dahl’s children’s books, including The BFG. My personal favorites are Matilda and The Witches. The second one is a little less known (though very infamous), and I only read it after seeing the movie (which scared the crap out of me).
I am not sure what to expect of this movie adaptation. I love to read and play the stories out in my head (what the characters look like, what they sound like, how they dress and behave, …). That is why I am not always a big fan of movie adaptations; they are bound to let you down. It will never turn out exactly the way you imagined it (which is quite impossible, due to the insurmountable differences between the two mediums). There are times though, when the movie really surprises me: when the directors succeed in making their own story, based on the book. When you can watch the movie and not feel like you understand it better having read the book, when you aren’t explaining the storylines to the friend that hasn’t read it. When the story in the movie can stand on its own.
For example, I really enjoyed the 2005 movie adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka. I think Tim Burton was a great fit for this adaptation because he is known for the same style as Roald Dahl: dark humour, surprising twists and turns, children’s stories with a lot of levels so that adults can enjoy them as well, …
I’m definitely excited to see what the movie will be like! How about you guys? Any ideas on how it’s going to turn out? Any DOs or DONTs you insist upon? Let me know in the comments!
Happy reading,
Loes M.
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