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Title: Animal Farm (1999)
Region: One
Genre: Literary Classic
Featuring The Voices Of: Kelsey Grammar, Ian Holm, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Julia Ormond, Pete Postlethwaite, Paul Scofield, Patrick Stewart, Peter Ustinov, with Pete Postlethwaite as Jones
Writers: Alan Janes and Martin Burke
Based On The Novel By: George Orwell
Director: John Stephenson
Feature length: 91 minutes
Extras: Interviews with Kelsey Grammar and Sam Halmi Sr., Storyboard Comparisons, Trailer, The Animal Rules, Historical Background, Cast and Crew Bios, Production Notes
Languages: English Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: N/A
Packaging: Alpha Keep Case
Chapter Stops: 32
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Sound
Year of Television Broadcast: 1999/DVD Release: 2000
Television Producers: Turner Network Television and Hallmark Entertainment Productions
Home Video Distributor: Artisan Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
FILM/PERFORMANCE - 40 out of 40
VIDEO - 18 out of 20
AUDIO - 20 out of 20
SUPPLEMENTS - 20 out of 20
TOTAL - 98 out of 100 = A
DVD Rating: A
Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
Sam Halmi, Sr., Hallmark Entertainment, and Turner Network Entertainment undertook an ambitious goal to bring to life George Orwell's novel "Animal Farm" using live action with the help of some of the finest actors working on screen today and the marvels of Jim Henson's Creature Shop as well as CGI Computer Animation. The result aired on Sunday, October 3, 1999 on Turner Network Television. I was fortunate to review an NTSC VHS Screener before the film made it's World Television Premiere that night and was stunned by the achievement. Now Artisan Home Entertainment has released this film on DVD with a number of extra surprises and one feature not noted on the Alpha Keep Case's outer artwork. The film is presented in a matted 1.85:1 aspect ratio and is 16 by 9 enhanced. The outer artwork states that the film is full framed. I was happy to buy the DVD with the expectations that I would be getting a better transfer than my VHS Screener, but a widescreen 16 by 9 enhanced version is simply a wonderful surprise.
Anyone who has read this book in school or has studied it in some form probably already knows that "Animal Farm" is an allegory for the betrayal of the proletariat in Stalin's Russia. It is probably George Orwell's second best known book, the first being "1984." The story of farm animals revolting against their human taskmasters is sobering and bleak. While the box cover art seems to entertain the idea that this is a family movie in the same ballpark as "Babe," that is simply not the case. Parents should be mindful that younger children may find scenes of animals being executed by other animals with a pig ordering their death as judge and jury to be either unintentionally funny or simply nightmarish depending on the youth watching it. "Animal Farm" is a film that should be viewed by families and is a great reinforcement tool for those who have read the book first, but make no mistake; this is not "Babe" or any other cutesy family film. It has no gory scenes and there are some moments that do have humor, but this film does deal with adult matters that may require the discretion of a parent or guardian being present or screening this film first before letting a young child see it at all.
Artisan has done a good job of packing a lot of extra value at a reasonable price. The suggested retail price is $19.99 or so, but the DVD edition can be easily purchased for $14.99 and less at online retailers like DVDEXPRESS. The widescreen 16 by 9 picture is a bit dark, but is still quite clear even if it is not reference quality. Unfortunately, the clarity this DVD gives to "Animal Farm" sometimes betrays the suspension of disbelief the VHS screener provided. The CGI can easily be delineated many times as well as the puppetry in many scenes whether it is some blatant scenes where a pig is writing or rewriting the rules of "Animalism" or the simple way in which the animals speak. There is not much that can be done about this of course, but it should be mentioned in case someone should be unsure of purchasing this title, it might be wiser to rent first.
The sound on the other hand is a very well mixed English Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. Unfortunately there are no subtitles or other language options on this DVD.
The menus are animated with a projector style movement illustrating scenes and stills from the film. There are two excellent interviews on this DVD. One is with Kelsey Grammar and the other with Sam Halmi Sr.. The method used is a question is highlighted using the arrow keys on your DVD player's remote and then after you press enter, you go to the videotaped answer. I found Sam Halmi Sr.'s insights to be moving and can understand and respect the great work he is doing in trying to bring the literary classics to the masses through television. Sometimes they do not work, but in many ways I can understand the draw that brings the great talent he employs into his projects and if you are reading this Mr. Halmi, it would be an honor to work as a Writer on one of your upcoming projects if you are looking for a gifted young aspiring screenwriter and playwright.
Another great extra are the "Animal Rules" which are illustrated with scenes from the film after they are highlighted and chosen. Many of them change to illustrate the added phrases the pigs impose upon the other animals as they pervert the ideals of "Animalism."
Storyboard comparisons, production notes, Cast and Crew Biographies along with a select list of some of their film projects are also included along with Historical Background relating to George Orwell and the Russian Revolution.
This is a good DVD. Now that "Animal Farm" is available, I hope the later version of "1984" starring John Hurt will soon be released on DVD too.
Mark A. Rivera - A