Common Sense Note
Parents should know that, although there are animated bunnies, this is no cartoon. Kids who watch this movie will see battles among rabbits and with other animals (and humans) that result in bloodshed, serious injury, and occasional death. Rabbit characters die onscreen. A dog attacks and kills several rabbits in the climax. There is a recurring character known as the Black Rabbit of Death.
Families who see this movie may want to read the book on which it was based. How do they compare? Which do you like better? Would you have done anything differently if you were making this film?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Brian Camp
A rare British-produced animated feature, WATERSHIP DOWN demonstrates how an animated film about animals can avoid the Disney model. It's an original drama with realistic animation, sharp characterizations, and brutal honesty about the territorial imperative.
A feature-length theatrical release based on Richard Adams's book, Watership Down follows a group of rabbits, led by Hazel (voiced by John Hurt), Bigwig, and the hyper-sensitive Fiver. They leave their endangered warren (earmarked for real estate development) in search of a new home and female rabbits with whom to mate. Their journey is laced with numerous obstacles, including a dog, a cat, rats, men, cars, birds of prey, and other rabbits. In the final stage of their quest, they find a secure habitat but incur the wrath of a militaristic band of rabbits led by the dictatorial General Woundwort. A deadly battle ensues as our heroes attempt to secure their new home.
Parents of older kids seeking an animated alternative to the glitzy musical numbers, cutesy characters, and sentimental excesses of Disney movies should try Watership Down. Forget about mugging, merchandisable sidekicks; this is a realistically animated non-musical tale of rabbits in conflict with their natural and human enemies as they seek a new home in the modern English countryside. For older kids and adult fans, the story offers plenty of drama, suspense and action as the rabbits make their way through an idyllic landscape that turns out to be quite treacherous.
It's all set against beautifully designed backgrounds and enacted by realistically drawn rabbits, all convincingly differentiated from each other. The superb voice acting is performed by a notable cast of British performers (and one American). They treat their characters with as much gravity as they would any of the Shakespearean roles on their resumes. Noted names in the cast include John Hurt, Ralph Richardson, Denholm Elliott, and Zero Mostel. Complementing the drama, is a music score that subtly and effectively accentuates the emotional twists and turns of the proceedings.
Another, more mature animated feature is the filmed adaptation of George Orwell's classic political allegory Animal Farm.
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ViolenceBattles among rabbits and with other animals (and humans) result in bloodshed, serious injury, and occasional death. Frightening situations: Rabbit characters die onscreen. A dog attacks and kills several rabbits in the climax. There is a recurring character known as the Black Rabbit of Death. |
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