Product Details

• Actors: Kate Winslet, Jeremy Irons, Dougray Scott, Michael Burrell, Charlotte Coleman
• Directors: Gary Hurst
• Writers: Jocelyn Stevenson
• Producers: Dan Maddicott, Dorian Langdon, Naomi Jones, Peter Orton, Robert Leighton
• Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: September 26, 2000
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0792168356
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #137,379 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A holiday at Faeryoak Farm introduces Gordon and his sister, Nellie, to an enigmatic raven, and finds the pair unwittingly bound for the mystical world of Faeryland. Getting into Faeryland is easy, but returning to the farm entails a trip to see the Prince. The Prince asks the pair to perform three tasks as payment for their release. When the children are summoned for their first task, Brigid, a helper at Faeryoak Farm, follows them to the entrance of Faeryland, where the Prince falls instantly in love with her. Recalling a prophecy about his betrothal to "a beauteous Princess named Brigid, astoundingly bred," he bids the children to bring her inside Faeryland so he can propose marriage to her. All goes according to plan until Shapeshifter, the Prince's exiled brother and the aforementioned raven, stirs up trouble and seeks to fulfill a dark prophecy of his own. Will human resourcefulness and a little help from a resident hobgoblin be enough to save Faeryland and return the children to their own world?

This beautifully animated 75-minute production, which premiered on the Bravo Channel, features bright, bold colors and a picture that's amazingly sharp and clear. Add the voice talents of well-known stars such as Kate Winslet, Jeremy Irons, and Dougray Scott (Mission: Impossible 2), and you've got a video with widespread appeal. So what are you waiting for? Flitter on in to Faeryland! (Ages 3 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enthralling and refreshing, October 11, 2000

By 

L. Rogers (Germantown, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Faeries [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is definitely a great show for children and people who enjoy a good fairy story. If you liked "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," you'll probably like this one as well. The plot is simple, and geared toward a child's pace and grasp of conflict. But it has an ample supply of magical and unexpected twists that keep the story enthralling, even for some adult viewers like me.

The animation is different from what you might expect. It's nothing like the mega-budget eye candy typically put out by Disney, Dreamworks, and other media giants. (Some of us actually consider that a plus.) "Faeries" uses a combination of 2-D hand-drawn animation and very simple 3-D, flying-toaster-like computer animation. The result, as I said, is quite different. But it's not unpleasant, and I found myself getting quite used to it after only a few minutes. So while the animation technique is unusual and more economical than some, the artists use it well, and the result is a beautiful and effective piece of visual story-telling.

The voice acting is also very good, with excellent performances all around. And it's fun to recognize the voices of the three adult stars (Kate Winslet as Brigid, Jeremy Irons as Shapeshifter, and Dougray Scott as the Prince).

All-in-all, it's a fine piece of work. But since not all people enjoy this sort of thing, I'll just say this: If you don't get it... don't get it. The rest of us will enjoy a great show!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting -- And good for kids, October 9, 2000

By 

L. Rogers (Germantown, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Faeries [VHS] (VHS Tape)

About the animation: Whatever you're expecting, this film isn't like that. "Faeries" in no way resembles the mega-budget masterpieces you might expect from Disney, Dreamworks, or other media giants specializing in state-of-the-art, rapid-fire eye candy (though departure from that can sometimes be a good thing). It's definitely a lower-budget production, utilizing a rather conspicuous blend of hand-drawn animation and very simple, flying-toaster-like computer animation. To the artists' credit, they've managed to do a very credible job within the obvious limitations of their technique. And younger children (the audience to whom the film is targeted) probably won't mind the animation style. Some adults might not either. I found myself getting quite used to it after only a few minutes, and was rewarded with a very charming and enjoyable experience. However, if you're a person who tends to be distracted by film styles that fall outside the popular media norm, then maybe "Faeries" isn't for you. It might be kind of like having to watch PBS when you're really in the mood for a big-budget hit.

The voice acting is very good, with fine performances all around, and it's fun to recognize the voices of the three adult stars (Kate Winslet, Jeremy Irons, and Dougray Scott). The story itself I found engrossing, despite its very simple plot which is geared toward a child's pace and grasp of conflict. It is magical and has an ample number of twists, not unlike "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," which also takes place in England in roughly the same time period. And importaly, this particular fairy story enjoys the distinct advantage of NOT being two-hundred years old.

So for younger children (and for the young at heart), I definitely recommend "Faeries." For people not so easly enchanted, perhaps you'll want to think it over more carefully before buying it.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Entertainment For Kids of All Ages!, November 4, 2000

By 

JoAnn Critchfield - See all my reviews

This review is from: Faeries [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I watched this (and bought it) movie recently. It's very cute indeed. I must confess the reason I even watched was because the WONDERFUL Kate Winslet lent her beautiful voice for this film. Though I am glad I checked it out! If you have young kids, you may want to check it out! It's brilliant!