If there’s one thing Steven Spielberg is not known for it’s subtlety. With a keen eye of detail, a firm grasp on the grandiose and the business savvy to pick bankable projects, he has managed to fill theaters for nearly 50 years with his historical filmography. Credited by some for “The Summer Blockbuster” trend with the record breaking Jaws in 1975, Spielberg may have picked a double threat with his next feature. Not only is The BFG a children’s film set of a summer release, which is known for bringing in a bigger audience, but also the source material comes from a beloved children’s book written by famed author Roald Dahl.
According to Roalddahl.com, The BFG tells the story of Sophie, a young orphan who befriends a Big Friendly Giant. Rather than eat humans like other giants, he captures happy dreams and gives them to children at night.
Not delving deeply into plot detail, the trailer instead flexes the film’s visual spectacle, which has long been a trademark of most Spielberg works. With the inky-dark tone portrayed in the preview, judging whether or not this will be a safe watch for the very wee-ones is yet to be determined, although the bigger kids shouldn’t lose any sleep afterwards. With a hint of Harry Potter-esque allure, the sets and sounds will most likely bring fans of the fantasy genre out as well.
Seeing promise in this project, I do have my reservations. Past collaborations with seasoned directors and Dahl’s books have had their snags, such was the case with Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Enjoyed by some, the end result was too over-the-top without the charm of the original. Being a different case, given the aforementioned was a remake, this film might end up being something special. A master at his craft, Steven Spielberg should have another hit film to add to his IMDb page with The BFG. Knowing the innovative work of Roald Dalh, the story should be wonderful. But that’s just my opinion. Watch the trailer for The BFG and be your own critic. I’m just here to help. Enjoy.
Release date: July 1, 2016
