JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH [1996 / 2010] [Two-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo] [USA Release] A Stunning Breathtakingly Array of Amazing Animation!
In an all-new digitally restored special edition from Tim Burton, the acclaimed director of ‘Alice In Wonderland,’ comes the astounding film that captured the hearts of fans and critics all around the world. Inspired by Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s book, Tim Burton [Producer], Denise Di Novi [Producer] and director Henry Selick combine a fascinating mix of live-action, stop-motion animation and computer-generated special effects to create a world beyond your imagination!
After the daring rescue of a spider, a young boy named James [Paul Terry] finds gains possession of some magic crocodile tongues. When James spills them in the garden, out sprouts an enormous peach! Climbing inside, he meets an astonishing cast of characters and embarks on a magical odyssey full of thrills and adventure. Voiced by an all-star cast, including legendary actors Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Sarandon, Simon Callow and Jane Leeves, and featuring the celebrated music of Randy Newman, this classic story is delicious entertainment for the whole family!
Voice Cast: Simon Callow (Grasshopper voice), Richard Dreyfuss (Centipede voice), Jane Leeves (Ladybug voice), Joanna Lumley (Aunt Spiker voice), Miriam Margolyes (Aunt Sponge / Glowworm voice), Pete Postlethwaite (Old Man voice), Susan Sarandon (Miss Spider voice), Paul Terry (James voice), David Thewlis (Earthworm voice), J. Stephen Coyle (Reporter #2 voice), Steven Culp (James’ Father voice), Cirocco Dunlap (Girl with Telescope voice), Michael Girardin (Reporter #1 voice), Tony Haney (Reporter #3 voice), Kathryn Howell (Woman in Bathrobe voice), Chae Kirby (Newsboy voice), Jeff Mosley (Hard Hat Man voice), Al Nalbandian (Cabby voice), Emily Rosen (Innocent Girl voice), Mike Starr (Beat Cop voice), Susan Turner-Cray (James’ Mother voice), Mario Yedidia (Street Kid voice), Jeff Bennett (Centipede singing voice) (uncredited), Larry Blackman (Beat Cop voice) (uncredited), Phoebe Dahl (New York Girl voice) (uncredited), Bob Dini (Milkman voice) (uncredited), Jamie Donovan (Additional Voices) (uncredited), Shawn Flanagan (Man in Bathrobe voice) (uncredited) and Sally Stevens (Glowworm singing voice) (uncredited)
Director: Henry Selick
Producers: Brian Rosen, Denise Di Novi, Henry Selick, Jake Eberts, John Engel and Tim Burton
Screenplay: Jonathan Roberts (screenplay), Karey Kirkpatrick (screenplay), Roald Dahl (based on the book) and Steve Bloom (screenplay)
Composer: Randy Newman
Make-up and Hair Department: Karen Bradley (Make-up Artist), Judith E. Disbrow (Make-up Artist), Leslee Newcomb (Make-up Artist), Richard Snell (Key Make-up Artist), Howard Leonard (Assistant hair stylist), Janice Alexander (Hair stylist) and Jessica Clay (Assistant hair stylist)
Costume Design: Julie Slinger
Cinematography: Hiro Narita (Director of Photography: live action) and Pete Kozachik (Director of Photography: live animation)
Image Resolution: Blu-ray: 1080p + DVD: 1080i (Color by Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 (Panavision)
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
French: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Spanish: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Subtitles: English, French and Spanish
Running Time: 79 minutes
Region: Blu-ray: All Regions + DVD: NTSC
Number of discs: 2
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. /Walt Disney Pictures
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH’ [1996] uses brilliant stop-motion animation, live-action and computer animation for a seamless mixture of pure fantasy. It tells the story of James [Paul Terry] who escapes from his wicked aunts and travels to New York City inside a giant peach with a group of insect friends. The story's opening is about how an orphan named James [Paul Terry] is abused by his two mean, tarted-up aunts Aunt Spiker [Joanna Lumley] and Aunt Sponge [Miriam Margolyes], who gloat while saddling James with miserable horrible chores.
James's only friend is a Miss Spider [Susan Sarandon], whose presence predicts things to come. When at long last a mysterious Old Man [Pete Postlethwaite] hands James a bag of magic crocodile tongues, the boy accidentally drops these near the aunts’ fruit tree. And on the tree grows a huge peach that becomes James's salvation. Using a magical premise and including many scary scenes, it is a moral tale, but watch out for the magical parts in the film.
Roald Dahl, whether you like him or not, captured children’s imagination with his storytelling especially about young children opposing the oppressive nature of grown-ups. This has been translated into the film’s adaptations of Roald Dahl’s work, and of course one of these is the movie adaptation of ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH.’
Roald Dahl’s book merged the grave formality of a Victorian fairy tale with something more deliciously far-fetched — a gentle psychedelic lyricism. This 1996 film, based on the original book published in 1961, was directed by Henry Selick and was produced by Tim Burton and Denise Di Novi. Henry Selick had directed ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ beforehand, which was also produced by Tim Burton and Denise Di Novi. A trend we get view here!
Nine-year-old James Henry Trotter, a young orphan, has been sent to live with his wicked, miserly aunts Spiker and Sponge. Life is the pits for the lonely boy, who dreams of going to New York City. He finally gets his chance when he meets a mysterious hobo who presents him with a bag of magical “crocodile tongues.” Accidentally spilling his precious treasure at the base of a peach tree, James Henry Trotter is astonished to see a peach on the tree grow to an enormous size. Finding a secret entryway into the peach, he crawls inside where he meets a wondrous group of human-sized insects – including a brash centipede, a grandfatherly grasshopper, a motherly ladybug, and a dotty glow-worm. When the peach breaks loose from the tree, James and his insect pals find themselves on a roll, headed for the adventure of a lifetime.
Conceptual design comes from Lane Smith, much admired as the cutting-edge illustrator of children's books; much of this film's design resembles Mr. Smith's other images. And the score is by Randy Newman, the great and witty misanthrope who has somehow adapted himself to the Disney ethos. Mr. Newman, whose ‘Toy Story’ score was more effortlessly pleasant, is better suited to puncturing platitudes than to forcing good cheer.
Together, this prodigiously clever group has come up with expert animated effects and some boldly beautiful sights unlike anything else on screen: the sight of the peach being pulled by a flight of sea gulls through a starry sky, for example. The airborne middle section of the film is filled with such memorable visions, but it takes a lot to send ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH’ afloat.
Buoyed with songs by Randy Newman, the troupe sets off for New York City, but not before they do battle with some terrible mechanical sharks and underwater pirate skeletons. ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH’ celebrates the solidarity of all creatures and proclaims proudly that every child must eventually stand tall and square off against his or her worst fears.
‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH’ is marvellously inventive fairy tale based on Ronald Dahl's 1961 children's book and Directed by Henry Selick. We're all used to thinking of bugs as icky, ugly, squishy, and repellent. ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH’ is a film that mixes live action and amazing stop-motion animation, will change your view of bugs forever.
Directed by Henry Selick and stars Miriam Margolyes [Sponge, Glow-worm], Joanna Lumley [Spiker], Paul Terry [James], Pete Postlethwaite [Old man], and the voices of Richard Dreyfuss [Centipede], Susan Sarandon [Miss Spider], Jane Leeves [Lady Bug]), David Thewlis [Earthworm], and Simon Callow [Grasshopper].
This marvellously inventive and emotionally involving fairy tale is based on the Ronald Dahl's 1961 children's book. From the creators of THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, comes Disney’s ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH.’ Using stop-motion animation, live-action and computer animation for a seamless mix of pure fantasy, it is a faithful adaptation of the novel by Roald Dahl. The movie starts out with James on an English beach with his parents, where they dream of going to New York City. Suddenly, a rhinoceros-shaped storm cloud charges out destroying his parents. James goes to live with his two mean aunts, Spiker and Sponge. One day, an old man offers James a bag of magic crocodile tongues saying they make his dreams come true. James, excited, trips under a peach tree, spills the bag and it begins to grow an enormous peach. James crawls inside of it one day and discovers a group of human-sized insects. James and his new friends battle storms, sharks, skeletons, and more as they make their way to New York City.
Technically brilliant, the movie may put some people off by many scary scenes and images. ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH’ is a fairy tale and uses a great deal of magic to create supernatural realities. All good things stem from the grace of God, not willpower or magic. It is an excellent movie with edge-of-your-seat entertainment.
The fantasy scenes were filmed using stop-motion animation enhanced by computer-generated imagery and digital effects. Live-action photography took place in a large hangar at a decommissioned naval base on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay and at nearby Hunter’s Point. The animation was done at Skellington Productions in San Francisco, the same studio where ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ had been produced and it utilised some of the same crew. In the underwater sequence, one can even find a cameo appearance by Jack Skellington from the earlier film. More than 50 peaches were constructed for the film, ranging in size from three-inch miniatures up to 20-foot diameter jumbos. Two granddaughters of Roald Dahl, children of his daughter, Lucy, appear briefly as extras in the film. Lucy wrote the movie scrapbook, published by Disney Press and illustrated with her own photographs.
Like that film, this one is stronger on design ingenuity than on storytelling. And it doesn't help that Mr. Roald Dahl's chatty, whimsical book offers few real guidelines. The book is cinematic only in its idea of a huge peach and a voyage through the sky, where Mr. Roald Dahl's James finds out how hailstones and rainbows are made. The film drops these weather-related scenes and substitutes battle scenes that for their entire dazzle have less magic.
‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH’ is rated PG (Parental guidance suggested). It includes brief violence and occasional ghoulish effects that could frighten young children.
JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH MUSIC TRACK LIST
Partita for Violin No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1006: Gavotte en Rondeau (uncredited) (Written by Johann Sebastian Bach)
SAIL AWAY (Written by Noël Coward) [Performed by Noël Coward]
MY NAME IS JAMES (Written by Randy Newman) [Performed by Paul Terry] [Additional vocal by Drew Harrah]
HEROES RETURN (Composed by Arnold Steck)
THAT’S THE LIFE (Written by Randy Newman) [Performed by Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Sarandon, Jane Leeves, Simon Callow and Miriam Margolyes) (all uncredited) [Additional vocals by Jeff Bennett and Sally Stevens]
THAT’S THE LIFE (Reprise) (Written by Randy Newman) [Performed by the cast] [Additional vocals by Jeff Bennett]
EATING THE PEACH (Music by Randy Newman) (Lyrics by Roald Dahl) [Performed by Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Sarandon, Simon Callow, Jane Leeves, Paul Terry and David Thewlis] (all uncredited) [Additional vocals by Jeff Bennett and Sally Stevens]
FAMILY (Written by Randy Newman) [Performed by Simon Callow, Richard Dreyfuss, Jane Leeves, Susan Sarandon, David Thewlis, Miriam Margolyes and Paul Terry] (all uncredited) [Additional vocals by Jeff Bennett]
GOOD NEWS (Written by Randy Newman) [Performed by Randy Newman] [Arranged and Produced by Mervyn Warren] [Horn Arrangement by Jerry Hey]
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Blu-ray Image Quality – Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc., and Walt Disney Pictures presents us the film ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH’ with a very nice 1080p high definition transfer that maintains the film's original 1.66.1 anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio. It has a very fine layer of film grain is noticeable right from the start but this doesn't come at the cost of detail or sharpness. Texture looks very strong, detail as well, in both the foreground and the background of the picture. Colours are good as are the black levels as well, and with nice shadows and no evidence of compression artefacts to complain about. If you've seen the animated film before and are aware of some of the stylistic choices that were made while making the picture, you'll be quite pleased with how the film looks on this Blu-ray release as it does offer a substantial upgrade in image picture quality from the previous standard definition release. If you haven't seen it before, you might not be quite as impressed as the colours don't constantly leap off the screen and the image sometimes leans towards the dark side of things, which can cause a little bit of flatness here and there. As to the HD clarity, I have to points out that some of the effects work looks better than others but you can't fault the film for it is beginning to show its age, and for some of us at least, this will add to the charm. Overall, this is a strong image transfer that does a good job of replicating the source material it was culled from. Fans of the animated film who were expecting a visual high-definition feast will be slightly disappointed, but despite this, it added to the charm of the film. But despite this, I still thoroughly enjoyed watching ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH.’
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc., brings us the film ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH’ with a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio experience and should please everyone. It's quite an active mix with a lot of discernible surround activity from all channels. Dialogue is always clean and clear and easy to understand and the levels are balanced perfectly. The score has just the right amount of poignancy to it and it punctuates the storyline very effectively here as you're able to very clearly make out the different instruments used in the music. There's a strong low end when the movie calls for it, strong enough that you'll certainly notice it but never overpowering, while the higher end frequencies are succinct and crisp without any noticeable hiss or distortion to complain about. All in all, the audio experience on this Blu-ray release is very strong and really enhances the film.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Our Family Scrapbook [2010] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:04] With this featurette, it tells you how to preserve your favourite Disney Memories with this Family Scrapbook.
Special Feature: Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue [Blu-ray] [2010] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:31]
Special Feature: Disney Anti-Smoking Campaign [2010] [1080p] [1.37:1] [0:20] Discouraging people from smoking cigarettes.
Special Feature: Games and Activities: Spike the Aunts Game: With this featurette, we get to view an interactive game interactive game called “Spike The Aunts” in which you smack some aunts around with a rhinoceros horn in order to score points. It might amuse youngsters for fifteen minutes or so. While it's a cute idea to base a game on something that appears in the film itself, the execution requires no sort of skill.
Special Feature: Production Featurette: ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH’ [1996] [480i] [1.37:1] [4:34] With this featurette, we get to view a promotional piece and is basically an extended trailer of behind-the-scene filming of ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH’ and is an all-too-brief sound bites from director Henry Selick and a few voice cast members are interspersed with some narrated ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH’ film clips and a few behind-the-scenes shots. Contributors include: Henry Selick [Director], Pete Kozachik [Director of Photography / Visual Effects Supervisor], Mike Belzer [Animator], Susan Sarandon [Miss Spider], Jane Leeves [Ladybug] and Brian Rosen [Co-Producer].
Special Feature: “Good News” Music Video by Randy Newman [1996] [480i / 1080p] [1.37:1 / 1.66:1] [2:29] With this featurette, we get to view this very standard music video performed by Randy Newman. The video itself is nothing special as it's merely Randy Newman in the recording studio intercut with film clips. The song itself is jovial and catchy. As an added bonus we get to view few clips from ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH.’
Special Feature: Still Frame Galleries: With this featurette, we get to view colour images related to the 1996 film ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH’ and you get to view the following: Concept Art (9 images), Puppets (9 images), Behind The Scenes (9 images), and Live Action (9 images).
Special Feature: Theatrical Trailer [1996] [1080i] [1.37:1] [1:27] With this featurette, we get to view the Original Theatrical Trailer for the animated film ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH.’
Special Feature: Learn How To Take Favourite Movies On The Go [2010] [1080p] [1.78:1 / 2.35:1] [1:04] With this featurette, we get to find out about the Disney File Digital Copy, where you can watch your favourite Disney movies on the go with your digital copy when you purchase a Disney Blu-ray / DVD disc and then you got to the website www.DisneyFile.com
Special Feature: Sneak Peeks: With this featurette, we get to view the following trailers: Beauty and the Beast [Diamond Edition] [Blu-ray + DVD] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:08]; Disney Movie Rewards [1080p] [1.78:1] [0:20]; Disney Movie Magic [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:07]; Prince of Persia [The Sands of Time] [Blu-ray + DVD] [1080p] [2.35:1] [1:21]; DisneyNature: Oceans + DisneyNature: Mystery of the Flamingos [Blu-ray + DVD] [1080p] [2.35:1] [1:22]; Alice in Wonderland [Special 60th Anniversary Edition] [Blu-ray + DVD] [1080p] [1.37:1] [0:49]; A Christmas Carol [Blu-ray + DVD] [1080p] [2.35:1] [1:27]; The Lion King [Diamond Edition] [Blu-ray + DVD] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:23]; Disney Parks.com [1080p] [1.78:1] [0:31]; Our Family Scrap Book [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:04]; Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:31].
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DVD Special Features and Extras: As is typical with Disney's Blu-ray releases, there's also a standard definition DVD version of the film included, plus of course all the Special Features and Extras that are included on the Blu-ray disc that are also featured on this DVD disc. This will annoy those who already own it on standard definition who want to upgrade at the lowest price possible, but potentially, those who don't already have the film on DVD may have young children who might want to watch it on a portable DVD player.
Finally, ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH’ [1996] is a film I hold very cherished memories, especially as an adaptation of one of Roald Dahl’s works. It has an intriguing blend of stop-motion animation by Henry Selick and his team as well as live-action. As to the singing, the music and songs are provided by composer Randy Newman, and yes, that’s right! Randy Newman also provided the music and songs for the ‘Toy Story’ animated films. Randy Newman provides original songs including ‘Good News’ at the film’s end credits. ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH’ is a children's literary classic, and director Henry Selick does a great job at capturing the zaniness of Roald Dahl's story without really trying to explain what it all means. It may be easy to get lost in the craziness of it all, but it's supposed to be that way. It's supposed to look and feel like it was extracted straight from a child's imagination, that's what makes it so fun. It's a shame that the video just doesn't deliver like Walt Disney Studios did with its 'Nightmare Before Christmas' Blu-ray release. The audio presentation is totally amazing, but without a stellar looking image presentation, it's a little hard to give out a recommendation on this one. ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH’ remains one of the more underrated films under the Disney banner and has the memorable characters and animation. ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH’ is a film adaptation that remains true to the original Roald Dahl book. It is very creative with the bizarre mixture of live action and brilliant stop motion animation can vary at times. By the way, what is it with James’ aunts journeying all the way from their presumably British island and through to New York City where James is? How could they have survived all that way throughought the journey? Why didn’t they take a boat? Despite this slightly negative comment, I thoroughly enjoyed the very magical ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH.’ Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
