Watership Down

Plot synopsis:
The story begins with a prologue, narrated by Michael Hordern, establishing the Lapine culture and mythology and describing the creation of the world and its animals by Lord Frith, the sun god. All the animals co-exist peacefully and eat grass together but the rabbits, led by Prince El-ahrairah, quickly multiply and overwhelm the other animals with their insatiable hunger. When Frith warns El-ahrairah to control his people, the prince scoffs at him, claiming that his are the strongest people in the land. In retaliation, Frith gives to each of the other animals a gift, turning them into predators, or 'elil' that hunt and feed on the rabbits. However, Frith also bestows upon the rabbits the gifts of speed and cunning, enabling them a fighting chance against their enemies. All creatures may seek to kill El-ahrairah and his descendants but, with their wits and quickness, the rabbits may survive.The film then transitions to realistic animation and brings us to the English countryside of Sandleford. Fiver (Richard Briers), a young runt rabbit with prophetic abilities, foresees the end of his peaceful rabbit warren during an afternoon grazing, or 'silflay'. He exclaims to his older brother, Hazel (John Hurt), that the field they live on is covered in blood, but Hazel acknowledges the image as a trickery of the sunset. Regardless, he agrees to take Fiver to the Chief Rabbit to see if they can have the warren evacuated. However, the Chief Rabbit (Ralph Richardson) dismisses them, saying that leaving the warren in the height of the mating season is preposterous enough without it being based on a young rabbit's prophecy. Knowing that his brother's visions have always come to light in the past, Hazel helps Fiver gather any rabbits willing to leave the warren and they all sneak away during the night. They are briefly stopped by Captain Holly (John Bennett) of the Owsla, the rabbit police force, but they manage to fight past him. As they leave the safety of the warren, they pass a sign clearly stating that the lands of their home is due for residential development.In all, eight rabbits successfully defect: Fiver, Hazel, ex-Owsla officer Bigwig (Michael Graham Cox), cunning Blackberry (Simon Cadell), small Pipkin (Roy Kinnear), storyteller and runner Dandelion (Richard O'Callaghan), old Silver (Terence Rigby), and the only female, Violet. They travel into the woods and through the night, encountering dangers such as owls and a large badger, or 'lendri'. Their curiosity is aroused when they stumble upon a road and Blackberry explains that 'hrududu' travel on it but have no interest in rabbits. He proves this by sitting still as one of them, a car, approaches and speeds on by. However, the threat of being killed by such wayward creatures is made apparent when Blackberry is nearly hit by another. A bean field provides some shelter and the rabbits are able to rest. Come morning, Fiver wakes to see Violet leave the safety of the plants to feed on grass and watches in horror as a hawk swoops down and carries her off.One less, they move along and come to a creek in time to hear that there's a dog loose in the woods. With the dog on their scent, and Fiver and Pipkin unable to swim, the larger rabbits use a plank of wood to float them across, swimming alongside. They find refuge that night within a crypt in an old cemetery but are set upon by a band of black rats which draws the attention of an owl. The rabbits escape. The following day they meet a friendly, but odd, rabbit named Cowslip (Denholm Elliott) who offers them food and shelter at his warren. The group is grateful for the hospitality they receive and all but Fiver consider remaining at the warren permanently. He senses something terribly wrong and tries to warn the others of it but they refuse to listen. He leaves in a fit, followed by Bigwig who taunts him before suddenly being caught in a snare trap. Bigwig collapses and begins to choke as the others frantically try to dig out the post the snare is attached to. He coughs blood and appears to stop breathing just as the post is removed. The rabbits mourn their loss as Fiver admonishes them: the warren is given food and protection from a nearby farmer who occasionally snares the rabbits as retribution. After this terrifying revelation, Bigwig miraculously recovers and, on Fiver's advice, the band moves on with a new found respect for the seer's wisdom.Eventually, the rabbits come to Nuthanger Farm where Hazel discovers a hutch of female rabbits. Knowing that does will be needed to start a new warren, but deterred by the farm's dog and cat, he promises a young doe named Clover (Mary Maddox) that he will return. As the rabbits move alongside a field, they spot a fox, or 'homba', sniffing out their trail. Bigwig runs out to draw its attention away to the shelter of the woods nearby. The others hear a cry and think Bigwig has been caught but he soon returns and hurries them on, explaining that he ran into a couple of rabbits that tried to stop him despite his warning of the fox. It was presumably one of the rabbits that cried out when the fox caught up.The band continues onward until they find Captain Holly, badly injured and at the brink of death. He briefly recounts the destruction of the Sandleford warren as Fiver predicted, witnessing as the ground was turned up and how he was forced to leave his fellow rabbits within their burrows to suffocate to death by noxious fumes. He mentions a warren called Efrafa before he collapses. Once rested, Fiver leads the group to the place he envisioned, a hill called Watership Down where the rabbits discover empty burrows suitable to live in beneath the shelter of a great tree. They all settle in with Hazel informally recognized as Chief Rabbit. One day, an acerbic seagull crash lands on the warren, his wing injured and leaving him unable to fly. Hazel, seeing the potential of using the gull's skills of flight, offers to help him despite the gull's stubborn pride. Kehaar (Zero Mostel) is allowed to rest at the warren and, as Hazel hoped, notices with disdain the lack of female rabbits and 'chicks'. He berates the rabbits for not keeping a better warren but eagerly agrees to survey the area for females once his wing heals. When he manages to take flight, Hazel opts to return to Nuthanger Farm with two other rabbits to try and free the caged does.Hazel and Blackberry make it to the barn and start chewing away at the hinges to the doe's crate while Dandelion keeps watch. However, he inadvertently alerts the dog and farmer to their presence just as the crate door is broken open. The farmer wrangles up the does as the other rabbits try to escape. Hazel is hit in his hindquarter by shotgun pellets as they flee and Blackberry and Dandelion are forced to leave him behind. They return to the warren to tell Fiver of his brother's demise, sentimentally stating that the Black Rabbit of Inle, 'death', does no more than his appointed task. However, seeing a vision of the Black Rabbit, Fiver claims his brother is not dead and follows the vision to an old pipe where a trail of blood leads to Hazel, his heart still beating.Kehaar returns to Watership Down and helps remove the buckshot pellets from Hazel's hindquarters, using his beak. He speaks of the Efrafa warren nearby which houses many rabbits. Holly pipes up and warns the other rabbits not to go there; it is a dangerous warren ruled tyrannically by a chief named General Woundwort (Harry Andrews). It was Woundwort's Owsla that injured Holly and, were it not for the brave actions of a doe named Hyzenthlay (Hannah Gordon) and the appearance of one of Frith's 'messengers' (a train that cuts down pursuing Owsla), he would never have escaped. Bigwig offers to infiltrate the warren. Arriving at Efrafa as a newcomer wishing to join, he impresses General Woundwort and is offered a familiar spot on the warren's Owsla as an officer with the option of choosing a female for himself. He meets with Hyzenthlay and tells her of his free warren. In time, they recruit other defectors including Blackavar, a rabbit with several bodily scars and bitten ears, severely maimed for his many escape attempts.After meeting with Kehaar and relaying his plans to leave that very night, Bigwig is confronted by General Woundwort who overheard Kehaar's loud calls. Bigwig manages to convince him that their talk was of no concern, though Woundwort remains suspicious. That night, as a thunderstorm approaches, Bigwig takes his band of Efrafans and escapes. However, the ever-vigilant Efrafan Owsla gives chase, led by General Woundwort. A timed attack by Kehaar keeps the General at bay while the rabbits make way for the river. Echoing their earlier use of driftwood, the rabbits leap into a small boat and break off the moor just as the Owsla arrive at the banks. Bigwig and the other defectors safely drift downstream and make their way to Watership Down.However, several days later, their trail is picked up again by Efrafan trackers and General Woundwort vows vengeance on Bigwig. As an unknown to Woundwort, Hazel approaches the Efrafans to negotiate. He offers an alliance of free and independent warrens living peacefully together, but Woundwort casts his intrigue aside and dismisses Hazel, ordering him to tell Bigwig to surrender the defectors. Hazel returns to his warren and instructs all the rabbits to hole up inside their burrows and block the entrances as the Efrafans begin their assault. Panic-stricken, Fiver falls into a trance, moaning as he envisions a 'dog loose in the woods'. His sounds briefly scare the Efrafans and inspires Hazel to formulate a plan. He brings with him the fastest runners; Hyzenthlay, Blackberry, and Dandelion, and they escape the warren. Woundwort orders his Owsla to ignore them, intent on finding Bigwig whom he believes to be the chief rabbit.On their way, Hazel prays to Frith and offers his life in return for the safety of the warren, but Frith replies that it is a bargain he cannot honor. Along the way, he positions each of the rabbits at different intervals until he and Dandelion arrive at Nuthanger Farm. Dandelion exclaims that, if they succeed, theirs will be the greatest story ever told. Hazel assures him that he will be the one to tell it as he makes his way towards the farmer's dog, sleeping in its dog house. Hazel chews away at the dog's leash as Dandelion draws its attention. The dog chases after Dandelion as Hazel is pounced upon by the farmer's cat (Lynn Farleigh). However, the farmer's daughter, Lucy (Michelle Price), orders her cat to let the rabbit alone and Hazel is freed.The dog, meanwhile, is led by the rabbits in relay fashion back to Watership Down as General Woundwort makes his way inside the burrows, fiercely killing Blackavar after he attacks Woundwort in a delaying tactic. In a last ditch effort to protect the warren, Bigwig buries himself beneath the dirt of one of the tunnels and, as Woundwort approaches, lunges out in surprise and attacks him. The rabbits ferociously bite and scratch at each other until they are both bloodied. Woundwort asks why Bigwig won't simply surrender and Bigwig responds that his chief ordered him to protect the warren. Woundwort hesitates, surprised that Bigwig is not chief and imagines that he now has a larger rabbit to reckon with. At that moment, the dog arrives at the warren and begins tearing the Efrafan Owsla apart. They all scream and scatter as Woundwort emerges out of the warren and curses them for their cowardice, claiming that dogs aren't dangerous. He then sees the dog come out from behind the tree, dropping a dead Efrafan from its mouth before it charges towards him. Woundwort fearlessly leaps to confront the dog and it is said that, after this encounter, his body was never found and he wasn't heard from again. His legacy lives on as a story that does tell to their kittens as a way to keep them obedient; that if they misbehave, General Woundwort will get them.In epilogue, an elderly Hazel settles in to silflay when he is visited by a shadowy phantom, revealed as Prince El-ahrairah in the form of the Black Rabbit of Inle. El-ahrairah suggests that Hazel has been feeling tired of late and offers him a place with his Owsla. When Hazel looks back warily on his family at the warren, El-ahrairah assures him that they, and future generations, will be safe. Reassured, Hazel lays down in the grass and peacefully passes away. His spirit leaves his body and follows El-ahrairah through the woodland and into the afterlife."All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a Thousand Enemies. And whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first, they must catch you; digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks, and your people will never be destroyed."

Tags: allegory, violence, cult, atmospheric, psychedelic, romantic

Review:
British animated film about a bunch of rabbits leaving their old warren (which one psychic rabbit can tell is going to be destroyed) and searching for a new one.
I recommend reading the book first (also try "Traveler" by Adams, another classic), then purchasing the film, then the soundtrack--wait, better yet, write your Congressman and demand a DVD release.
Both symbolic and blunt, "Watership Down" is a triumph of emotional proportions and is exemplary of what adaptations, animation, scoring and good film-making should be about.
Like Orwell's 'Animal Farm', this isn't only a film for children but equally important for adults.
While not for the very young children (there is a bit of violence and gore), I think any kid 8 or above would really love this film.
Not only did I care about Hazel, Fiver and Bigwig, but I genuinely fell in love with them, and for 100 minutes I was completely absorbed in their strenuous but noble struggle for survival.The film is based upon the 1972 novel of the same name by Richard Adams, and was both adapted and directed by Martin Rosen.
But first they must catch you." The events take place in the English countryside, with the title stemming from a hill at Ecchinswell in the county of Hampshire; despite my initial preconceptions, 'Watership Down' was certainly not the story of a sinking ocean liner!Hazel the rabbit (voiced by John Hurt) may not be physically-imposing, but he is selfless, intelligent and mature, and this makes him a fine leader.
) but that is my one and only criticism of this superb animated adventure which can be enjoyed by anyone of any age In a nut shell WATERSHIP DOWN resembles one of those post apocalypse dramas by John Wyndham or more especially John Christopher except instead of humans it features rabbits that talk .
Of course it could be that the original novel of WATERSHIP DOWN was influenced by Conrad's HEART OF DARKNESS which seems to have influenced much of Alex Garland's work but even so A thoroughly enthralling adventure that may have children weeping at the sad bits will certainly keep adults interested as they try and spot analogies .
This was one of those books I lived in when I first read it, never has Richard Adams come close to what he achieved here, able to pull you the reader right down into the grass roots along with Hazel, Fiver and BigWig. And the animators did him justice...I don't have much to add here that others here haven't, save to say I enjoyed the classic voices used here a lot-from Joss Ackland as the 'Black Rabbit of Inle' to the late, much lamented Harry Andrews as Woundwort.
The music is pure class, the voice talent is remarkable, the animation is charming (as are the characters), the story relevant, witty, humourous, and thought-provoking.Although this is an animated film about a society of rabbits seeking to establish a new warren in unknown lands, "Watership Down" is perhaps not a good film for young children, as the mood can be creepy at times, and there is a bit of violence and blood shed; certainly not in the same mood as, say, "The Secret Of Nimh".After viewing this film, one thing is for sure: you'll never look at rabbits in the same way ever again.Sure delight!.
I finally got around to watching this classic tale about a group of rabbits who are convinced to leave their home after one of their friends has a bloody vision of danger that is about to come their way.This is a not a cutesy, Disney-style animation that sugarcoats the scary nature of the story.
Watership Down is that animated film you'll hear about from a friend- not usually when you're a kid unless you're the kind that hangs around those reading dark British animal novels written by Richard Adams- when you're an older teen or an adult, and that it's not you're garden-variety Disney movie with violent rabbit encounters and an animation approach that is not at all "fluffy" in description.
It's mostly a pure masterpiece of animation, British or otherwise, though for Britain it's an even more significant achievement if only because only a handful of movies made there have made it to the States (not counting Rankin/Bass stuff like the Hobbit, more like the 1950s Animal Farm adaptation).The approach from writer/director/producer Martin Rosen recognizes the source material as something very special; it's very much like one of those memorable books translated to screen without compromise that speaks to either very sophisticated older kids or to open-minded adults.
It's also not for those not ready for a sad story; while it doesn't quite end on a sad note (maybe more bittersweet with a touch of the spiritual in a sense), there's lots of struggle and adversity to face, and it even faces questions that probably mean more coming out of an English mind-set regarding the breaking out of the old guard in times of survival.Basically, it's about two rabbits, Hazel and Fiver, who lead a group of rabbits from their old homestead to a place that will be safe from destruction.
And yet, with Rosen's direction and the work of the animators, it's by a different impulse and mood, the film has the look of a *real* artistic drive- colors are usually (with a couple of exceptions like with that odd sun) very naturalistic, as most of the rabbits are, and because of this there's something going on one doesn't usually see in animated talking animal movies: a sense of the world presented as realistically (or at least honestly) as possible, and then pulsating with humanistic qualities through the characters and their journey.As I mentioned, it's not really for little kids.
When Rosen sticks to his guns and makes it a solid, unflinching story of rabbits out for survival in not-so-merry old England, it's exceptional, and surely one of the best films of the late 70s..
Watership Down's musical score hits you in just the right place to give you Goosebumps!When I returned the rental, I rushed to the Bookstore and bought Richard Adam's other book "The Plague Dogs", which in my opinion was a terrible book because it doesn't get interesting until the very last chapter...but that's a whole different story.Overall of the overall, I give the movie a 8/10.
Made infamous thanks to butchers urging people to buy the stew, not to mention an entire generation of traumatised children there's a lot more to this than just the recycled cliches.What we have is a very English cartoon with lush watercolours and frollicking rabbits making their way across the picturesque countryside after one of the band of rabbits has had a vision of the warrens destruction.Along their journey we are shown issues as ranging from the sadism of cats, to creationism and facism.
It's not really a kids film at all despite being a cartoon, there's plenty of graphic violence, nightmarish undertones and even bad language but it never ends up o.t.t. There's moments in it which can even bring up a lump in the throat of a grown man, which in my case is a rare thing indeed.The animation employed is wonderful, with amazingly realistic movement and hazy water-coloured backdrops Turner would be proud of.
Here, however, British animation reaches its peak.You might want to watch this film for the background animation, from the scenic beauty of the English countryside, painted in stunning watercolor and graphite, to the eerily surreal quality of Fiver's visions and the night scenes, and starting with the first scene dealing with the Rabbit's idea of the Creation, animated seemingly in the style of the Celtic engravings of ancient Britain.
The warm sense of brotherly love displayedby Hazel and Fiver, the nightmarish display of the warren's destruction, theraucous voice of Kehaar, the final battle between Bigwig and GeneralWoundwort, the witch-like voice of the Cat, and the incredibly powerfulsequence of Hazel's death, this movie is pure English, and all you British-film lovers must see this and gather your own opinion..
Animated films (I say animated because "cartoon" would be an insult) this good rarely come along.Excellent animation for the time (bare in mind this is 1978) and superb voice acting.Children may appreciate this film, but it might be mildly disturbing to them as well, especially the scenes of the rabbits being mauled.
I enjoy the older style of movies, especially animated ones.I noticed one good thing in this film was that you could tell each characters personality just like the ones in the book.
I hate how most people think that because its animated its for a child, But in this case I wouldn't recommend it to a child under the age of 10.I wouldn't say there is any thing bad about this movie, But I have noticed I CAN'T FIND IT LIKE ANYWHERE.
I highly recommend this film to adults and children alike, although, personally, I've never seen it as being a "kid's" movie - it's not, believe me..
"Watership Down " it's a great animated adaptation of the book of Richard Adams : even when the characters are talking animals ,it seems that it was aimed to a more mature audience , because this definitely isn't something like "Bambi " .But not for that is bad ,actually it is pretty good and faithful to the book ,even in the parts of emotional intensity nor mild violence .
Some of England's finest actors provide the voices for the rabbits (John Hurt, Denholm Elliot, Richard Briers and the late Sir Ralph Richardson).The film is also backed up by an utterly superlative soundtrack featuring a haunting instrumental score by Angela Morley, and of course the unforgettable soul-wrenching theme Bright Eyes written by Mike Batt and sung by Art Garfunkel.
Even though classified as a U, I strongly advise parents to watch with young children, as there are some powerful sequences that will make them exceptionally upset, though this is a film that all children (and adults if they have not seen it) should watch.All in all, this is a remarkable film, which not only portrays the ruthlessness of animal life, and in particular of Britain's beloved animal, the Rabbit - but it is also a continual parallel of the human world.
They had many human traits such as love, respect, mourning, etc.The score combined with the pastel-like style of the movie makes it an engrossing experience that you'll want to watch more than once.
Well, it's not at bad film, I like the animation, and it tells a pretty gripping story.
I also like how it incorporates the lapine language in a way that comes natural.But then again, the film does fail in making the characters from the book come truly alive on the screen, and it also fails at telling the fable about human nature that Richard Adams wants to tell.I know that a film can never be entirely true to a book, some cuts and changes must be made.
I wouldn't really hesitate to show it to a child more than 8 years old, and kids these days watch horror movies like Saw and A Nightmare On Elm Street anyway.
You can totally relate to each character and the storyline is incredibly mature and adult for a children's cartoon.I admit my childhood love for this film makes my opinion bias, and that only other people like myself will agree with my highly complementing review, yet if you have only recently discovered this film, believe me it's still brilliant!
The animated film was called, Watership Down.The movie is based on the book by the same name where a group of Rabbits flee there home to find a new one because one of the rabbits, Fiver, get's a vision where there warren will be destroyed.The film has some great animation it's like watercolor paint come to life and John Hurt(Who provided the voice of Snitter from, The Plague Dogs) does a good job as, Hazel.
'Watership Down' is a film that made a great impression on me throughout my childhood, and even today still ranks as my personal choice for the best non-Disney animated feature of all time; in fact, aside from the really exceptional cases like 'Bambi' and 'Fantasia', you could even say that it beats the cream out of most of Disney's output (particularly those that were being churned out around the time that this one arrived on the scene, which simply cannot stand comparison to it).
The music in this movie is completely entrancing, something which always stands out about it - a nice mixture of emotive melodies that accompany their pertaining moments in the story just perfectly, along with 'Bright Eyes', a beautiful little song that I have never since forgotten (and I dare you not to get dewy-eyed during the sequence where it plays).As an adaptation of a classic piece of reading, it doesn't fare too badly - the original story naturally had to be abridged considerably to suit the running time, and there are a handful of details that feel rather glossed over, but nonetheless, it gets enough right in all the important places to both do justice to the book and succeed as a brilliant movie on merits of its own.
Within the time it has, it manages to convey a great deal of character and depth, and defines each individual rabbit's personality very ably - the self-assured Bigwig's growing sense of respect for both Hazel and Fiver is especially well-woven into the story, and gives their interaction a lot of essence.The animation quality can be a little uneven at times (breathtaking one moment, slightly sketchy the next), but overall reflects a rougher, more realistic style that keeps it from ever becoming too cute or cuddly (a la Disney).
Some viewers have commented that the majority of Efrafan rabbits look so similar that it gets rather hard to tell them apart, which is true, but I personally feel that this is very effective in highlighting the lack of independence and individuality that most of them had amongst their ranks, contrasting with Hazel's group where everyone is respected and free.Above all, I applaud it for refusing to succumb to the Disney formula, which had been far too influential on most other animated features for decades beforehand and would continue to be so for some years to come.
It's one of the things that made 'Watership Down' such an outstanding piece of animation and why it still feels like such a one-of-a-kind film to this day - it wasn't afraid just to do its own thing, and people had seen very few like it before at the time; a serious and very mature kind of cartoon that remains truthful to the dark and turbulent spirit of the book.
There are times when this movie can become very bleak indeed, and as a very little kid I remember having a tough time trying to swallow a lot of the imagery - some of the sequences, including Fiver's vision of the field being 'covered with blood' and most of the traumatised Holly's flashbacks, are downright disturbing, and one key reason why this movie would probably be better appreciated by older kids and adults.But it's more than just a depression-fest, and the trials these rabbits must endure only bring you to appreciate their well-earned triumphs all the more.
As far as "I" am concerned the cartoons of today, just don't have "it" I love the characters of Watership Down, and it's been my favorite movie since I can remember...Everyone has a friend or family member that can compare to the characters, and the animation is so fluid for the technology of the time.
If you have seen any animated Walt Disney movies, you know what formula to expect: badguy, catchy songs, cute amorphous sidekick, happy resolution, and a real lack of any thorough-going artistic integrity (even in classics like "Mulan" or "Beauty and the Beast").
See this film, and let your kids watch it, for the timeless animation, its under-stated lyrical beauty, and the haunting theme song.
I'm sure it helped a lot that I like things grim and dark.This film being very little known in my parts (I've never even once seen this shown on television) it made me think of 'The Animals of Farthing Wood' ever since I first heard of it, and this still seems like an apt comparison to me.
I haven't seen that series in, like, 15 years so I can't confidently compare the two but I doubt it had even remotely the bravura of "Watership" which has unusually fast editing for an animated film and overall it seems quite intuitively put together, closer to a live-action movie rather than an animated one..
I watched Watership down as an 8 year old and all I saw was rabbits and bunch of pretty animations with a climatic ending.
This movie which is based on Richard Adams' novel is a film which can be enjoyed by adults and kids.
This movie needed that but decided to cookie cut most of the story.I don't mean to tarnish the films name but after reading the book I feel it necessary.
I have heard a lot of good things about this film, but I think I would have appreciated it much more if I watched it as a child, and it probably has a nastalgic feel to it too.
While this is no film for a five year old, it shows a rabbit's true way of life.
Until one rabbit discovers something that changes a certain group of rabbits' lives forever.As they set off to find a suitable place to live, they encounter deaths, blood, enemies and allies, proving that a rabbit's life isn't all it's cracked up to be.While this film is no where near as brilliant as Richard's novel, this movie is most likely less suitable for your child/children.
I highly recommend reading the book to anyone under eight.The animations are simply beautiful in this film.