A Magnificent Piece of Cinema

Rating: 10/10 (10 December 2005)

I was so worried that this film would disappoint after all the hype surrounding it but I really was mistaken in my fears. A combination of solid acting, superb graphics and a classic story came together perfectly to provide what I believe to be the film of the year. There was no attempt to avoid the comedic value of the story which only added to the enjoyment factor but the fear was present as well. The acting was sensational on certain parts and the big names were not a disappointment- Dawn French particularly was superb. There is always a worry with child actors that they will fail to draw you into the story after their years of trained acting but this was not the case. There is no doubt that there is a hint of 'Lord of the Rings' throughout the film, despite the Director's protests, but the two original stories come from such similar backgrounds and genres this comparison is inevitable. Truly a film for all the family- adventure, comedy, romance, deceit, love and friendship all in one film.