Gulliver's Travels (1996) -
I remember seeing this film for the first time back when it was released as a two part TV special and I remember being awed by it and inspired by its brilliance.
It's such a clever and witty story that has been made with justice and a plethora of big names and equally good smaller names too.
There is a shiny and colourful quality to it that is joyful and incredibly entertaining. For years I have been waiting to see it repeated on TV or to find it on DVD, which I finally did. I am so pleased to finally have it to watch whenever I like, because it is a film that you can see over and over and not get bored of.
It also breaks down in to five small segments covering not just Gulliver's trip to Lilliput, but his other travels as well, the only version of this story to do so.
To think that the book that this film was based on was written in 1726 is extraordinary, as it is such a fantastic tale full of outrageous and hilarious characters. Perhaps a lot of that has been added by the film, I don't know as I haven't read the book just yet, but if so, then all the better for their ingenuity to bring the tale to a new audience.
I love the way that the story is edited together and overlaps in to "Reality", it shows Lemuel's return to England at the beginning of the film and through his ravings at the sanatorium we find out where he has been and the great adventures he has had.
Despite the chronology jumping around in this way, it was still incredibly easy to follow and actually helped to move the story forward.
The cast is outstanding, with too many acknowledgements to be made for this short review and despite Ted not being British, like all the others and, as far as we know, the character he is portraying, he actually played his part exceedingly well, especially when you consider that my only other references to him are 'Cheers' (1982-93) and '3 Men And A Baby/Little Lady' (1987/1990).
The humour is simple and inoffensive, while the story explores more complex issues such as the misunderstanding of Mental Health issues and their treatments, or lack there of in the 18th Century.
It also looks at forms of government and how bizarre they may seem to an outsider. The author, Jonathan Swift, must surely have been mocking the British Government with what he wrote. He seems to also be saying that we should be more tolerant and accepting of other cultures and races, because our institutions may seem just as queer to them as theirs do to us.
He puts our society and cultures in to question by observing it from the perspective of other species, other laws and regimes.
As such it is full of Morals, ethics and important messages for the viewer to take on board and I believe that it would be a valuable and enjoyable watch for any age.
I may actually have to get on a boat and try to find my way to Brobdingnag, as it sounds like a haven compared to the fumbling rules and laws of the Britain I currently live in. If only I didn't suffer so badly with sea sickness.
Even the special effects were good for the time that this film was made, although I didn't like the wasp bit, close up bugs freak me out.
Thoroughly enjoyable and unrivalled in its telling. As the only version to tell the whole story, it is a charming fantasy tale, ideal for all the family on a bank holiday weekend and easy to pause for toilet and snack breaks.
921.11/1000.
