James and the Giant Peach

Long-time Tim Burton collaborator Henry Selick (here's my feature on James and the Giant Peach ) adds ecstatic visual effects and immersive 3-D to the tactile pleasures of his signature miniature stop-motion. Neil Gaiman 's original 2002 story is as old as the hills, from The Secret Garden to Pan's Labyrinth: lonely kid in old house finds fantasy world through keyhole. ... Full Review

The computer generated animation is superb, capturing the depth of this collage of intricate characters, and the surrealism of the live action sequences gives James and the Giant Peach an added depth. The film, which is faithful to the novel, beautifully explores the complexities of childhood and the meaning of friendship, in an allegorical tale that has been so lovingly brought to the screen by a skilled team of film makers. ... Full Review

But the worst part is that they changed the story so much and took all the fun out of it. but the movie is a disappointment ... Full Review

Smith (who also designed the characters for Tim Burton's film version of Roald Dahl's "James and the Giant Peach") created the book's retro, handmade look - weathered wooden toys, old-time wrapping paper, photographs - on a computer, giving context to the characters with "a little back story that still got across the humor that Jon wanted to convey," he said from his studio, a renovated one-room schoolhouse in Connecticut. ... Full Review

Unfortunately, the Randy Newman-penned kid-friendly musical numbers are... Though Tim Burton's recent (acid) trip to Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory will undoubtedly be Dahl's highest profile adaptation, the author's work has consistently been skillfully represented on the big screen. ... Full Review

Claymation, computer animation, and special effects combine to create real movie magic.....Children will also enjoy Dahl's "Matilda," another story of a child overcoming cruel adults..... ... Full Review

James drops the bag and loses all of the magical tongues. Based on a childhood story, James and the Giant Peach is a wonderful story told in the most remarkable way! ... Full Review

``James and the Giant Peach'' is frequently so alluring that viewers may feel the urge to get lost in the picture's curious shadings and fantastical atmosphere. James discovers a magic opening and, when he climbs inside, turns from a live-action boy into an animated version. ... Full Review

the film features many stylistic nods to Selick's far more fascinating short film, SLOW BOB IN THE LOWER DIMENSIONS.....As with THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, director Henry Selick's animation is wonderfully expressive and impressively surreal -.... ... Full Review

JAMES falls just short of being a perfect film....Nevertheless, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH is a satisfying experience that's perfect for anyone who needs a quick fix of pure imagination.....Selick wisely chose to give these sequences the surrealistic look of stop-motion, which not only sets up the nether¬world quality of the film.... ... Full Review