- Film Review
- Reviewed By David Parkinson
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4 out of 5
For a writer of children's stories, Roald Dahl undoubtedly had a dark imagination. Here, though, there will only be squeals of delight as James and his insect allies escape from a killer shark, skeleton pirates and a couple of awful aunts as they ride a giant peach to the city where dreams come true. It took three years to combine the live-action sequences with state-of-the-art model animation, and the latter is greatly assisted by the personality-packed voices of Susan Sarandon, Richard Dreyfuss, Simon Callow and David Thewlis. However, it's Joanna Lumley and Miriam Margolyes as the ghastly Spiker and Sponge who steal this wonderfully pantomimic show.
Plot Summary
Part-animated fantasy adventure based on the novel by Roald Dahl. When James's parents are killed, he is packed off to live with his mean-spirited aunts who make his life quite miserable. However, everything changes when the young boy receives a magical gift from a stranger.
Cast and crew
Cast
- James
- Paul Terry
- Aunt Spiker
- Joanna Lumley
- Aunt Sponge
- Miriam Margolyes
- Old Man
- Pete Postlethwaite
- Grasshopper
- Simon Callow
- Centipede
- Richard Dreyfuss
- Ladybug
- Jane Leeves
- Spider
- Susan Sarandon
- Earthworm
- David Thewlis
Crew
- Director
- Henry Selick
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