Les Voyages de Gulliver

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.

We all know bits and pieces of Gulliver's travels. Tiny people, yeah, sure. Liliputians. Giants too, some of us may recall. Some might remember the word yahoo comes from here. That's were it stops for most people.

Swift's book is omnipresent in school libraries. That's were i first read it, and there's were a lot of people read it for the last time. It is treacherously lightly written, like many of the old adventure books. Children can read it. Still, it's dripping with satire, black and uncompromising. That's something I think most screen writers forget when they adapt this movie.

This movie remembers, however. Our hero, Ted Danson, gives a credible and serious performance as the world-adjusted man who's thrown to mysterious countries so like our own. Gulliver's travels criticizes everything. Theists, scientists, government, commonfolk, ethnicity, humanity itself. Few are spared, and most of the satire is just as fresh today.

While very faithful to the story, the movie also dares adding new angles, all which work very well. The screen writer deserves all credit for managing to balance so well between time and activity(it's not boring, that is).

Production values are way beyond a TV movie. With some marketing this movie would have done well at the box office. All of the fantastic worlds Gulliver visits are well-made, explained in detail and often very funny, much like Swift's book.

Actors are all pros, since this is a British production. Mary Steenburgen stands out, along with James Fox's Dr. Bates, the chillingly cruel doctor who, much like nurse Ratched, only wants the patient's best.

So, a modest proposal, if you ever get the chance to get this movie, do so. It's a real treat.

GULLIVER'S TRAVELS (1996/MTV/NBC) ***1/2 Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, James Fox, Peter O' Toole, Alfre Woodard, Ned Beatty, Thomas Sturridge, Sir John Gielgud. Excellent mini-series adaptation of Jonathan Swift's classic satirical novel about Lemuel Gulliver (Danson in a fine performance) and his near descent into madness after his journey and many adventures amongst many different people including the legendary Lilliputians (the wee folk) and the the Brobdingnagians (giants) with splendid supporting cast and grandiose production design. Hats off to the special effects thanks to Jim Henson's effects shop and able direction by Charles Sturridge.

I guess I have to write something here, although I think my one summary says it all. I'm not a huge Ted Danson fan... nothing against the man, just hasn't "done it" for me. This covers the sides of Swift's novel that were never covered before. You can tell the cast was having a wonderful time filming this.

This film is wonderful example of the quality dramas that Channel 4 and the BBC have produced over the years. Ted Danson delivers a powerful performance of a man tormented by memories noone will accept, and a society that believes he is insane. It is a remarkable performance by a man most known for his role in Cheers, a TV comedy sitcom. The supporting cast are all very well chosen, not least Mary Steenbergen, Danson's wife, who acts the part of Gulliver's wife in the film. But above all it is the seamless and very delicate shifts between our world and Gulliver's world that make this film. The difference in perspective between giants and midgets, all acted by real actors is beautifully captured. A rare treat of cinematography and direction.