49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful to look at, true to the novel,, March 3, 2006
Unlike other adaptations of Anna Sewall's classic, this film version respects the intentions and the words of the book. We read the novel aloud with my 6 year old daughter and got this DVD as a treat for her to watch. We were not dissapointed. For one thing, Black Beauty himself narrates the film in a voice over (there's no corny talking animals), just as the novel is written in the first person from the p.o.v. of the horse. The film also does a nice job of retaining the message of the novel about treating animals fairly.
As others have mentioned, the score is lovely and the cinematography is beautiful. There are lots of little animals to see and pretty landscapes, etc.
Highly recomended, a very nice family film.
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37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of the most faithful Black Beauty movies, December 28, 2004
Considered to be the truest filmed version of Anna Sewell's timeless book,1994's Black Beauty follows the unstable life of an intelligent ebony stallion (played by Doc's Keepin Time) in Victorian England. As he does in the novel, Beauty narrates the tale (he's voiced by Alan Cumming) from his idyllic birth, through the tragic events that led to him having to be sold, and how his happiness was completely at the mercy of those who held his reins. Masters both kind and cruel shape the horse's rather Dickensian life, as do his closest equine companions: A mare called Duchess and a self-willed pony named Merrylegs. Very nicely filmed and well-acted.
Staci Layne Wilson
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24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Splendid In Every Way, November 28, 2004
A simply perfect story told with exquisite compassion
and artistry.
This version of BLACK BEAUTY should be considered the
unsurpassable classic of its genre - as well as one of the
truly memorable films of the '90s - if only for these few
reasons:
Danny Elfman's soulful score.
Alex Thomson's gorgeous cinematography.
A perfectly balanced ensemble of actors, all of whom
add great heart to the story.
All-around production design of wonderful taste and period
versimilitude.
Most of all, director Caroline Thompson's obvious love
and dedication. She has made of this simple story of the
life of a horse a movie that puts to shame all but a slim
few involving people about whom we are expected to care
and empathize with.
This interpretation of Black Beauty is touching and...beautiful.
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