Classic Tim Burton stop-motion animation releases on Blu-ray *** Three Stars

By Gabrielle Pantera

Classic children's tale takes a quest from England to New York City

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 8/13/2010 – “The film really emposers you,” says James and the Giant Peach voice star Susan Sarandon. “It’s great for kids to know they can figure things out. Your fears won’t have any power you don’t give them.”

James and the Giant Peace is about a boy James, played by Paul Terry, who’s parents are taken away by a magical rino and he’s left to live with his two evil aunts Sponge, played by Miriam Margolyes, and Spiker, played by Joanna Lumley. His aunts starve and torment him with threats that a rhinoceros will get him if he doesn’t obey them. James dreams of getting away to a better place and a better life, the place his parents spoke of going, New York City.

“James and the Giant Peach was a favorite of my little sister,” says star Jane Leeves who voices Ladybug. “I used to read it to her all the time.”

“There’s something about James and the Giant Peach that will always be timeless with children,” says director Henry Selick. “It’s about children overcoming problems on their own with a lot of innovation, a lot of humor.”

James and the Giant Peach is based on the 1961 children’s book by Roald Dahl, who also wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Tim Burton produced the film James and the Giant Peach and directed the film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

James and the Giant Peach was created in stop-motion with some live action scenes. Originally released in 1996, this musical fantasy adventure took three years and 22 sound stages to complete. Selick also made Coraline and The Nightmare Before Christmas.

The Roald Dahl story is not childish. Some difficult topics are addressed. The animation and live action segments blend together effortlessly for the most part. It’s story of hope while living in dread of evil aunts and the unseen rhinoceros.

The photography is beautiful bat at times the colors look dull. The film looks very good on Blu-ray, but is not a restoration.

The extras are the same as the original DVD except for a new BD-J game. There’s a featurette that describes the making of the film.

James and the Giant Peach

• Created by: Walt Disney Productions, Skellington Productions, Allied Filmmakers
• Distributed by: Buena Vista Pictures
• Directed By Henry Selick
• Produced By Tim Burton, Denise Di Novi, Jake Eberts, John Engel, Brian Rosen, Henry Selick.
• Written By Karey Kirkpatrick, Jonathan Roberts, Steve Bloom, Roald Dahl.
• Running Time: 79 minutes.