Product Details

• Actors: David Jason, Amanda Root, Angela Thorne, Ballard Berkeley, Michael Knowles
• Directors: Brian Cosgrove
• Writers: John Hambley, Roald Dahl
• Producers: Brian Cosgrove, John Hambley, Mark Hall
• Format: Animated, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: A&E Home Video
• DVD Release Date: July 25, 2006
• Run Time: 87 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000FOQ02I
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #10,317 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
When a giant silently snatches little Sophie from her orphanage bed and takes her through a vortex into another world, she has no idea she has just been rescued. The particular giant who kidnaps her is the friendly one of the title: an elf-like creature who forces himself to eat foul-tasting cucumber-like things instead of children and spends his nights delivering good dreams to them. Sophie and the BFG form a fast friendship in this animated feature based on the Roald Dahl book. But when they go back to England the next night, one of the evil giants follows them and eats several children, prompting the pair to seek intervention from the queen and a team of military helicopters. Once again Dahl's unique vision blends modern-day realism with a fantastical world, captured superbly in this 91-minute British production, starring the voices of Amanda Root and David Jason. Young ones may have a few anxious moments during Sophie's original abduction and a later chase by the meanest of the giants. But the scariness of child-munching is more than offset by the dream-like quality of the land of the giants, the BFG's sing-songy mangling of the English language, and the heroic pairing of orphan and oversized sprite. (Ages 3 and older.) --Kimberly Heinrichs

Product Description
One moonlit night, little Sophie is snatched from her bed at Mrs. Clonkers’ orphanage by an awesome giant who whisks her away on a magical, thrilling and funny adventure. Roald Dahl’s (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach) enchanting, best-selling children’s book comes to life in this classic, animated musical feature by the award-winning Cosgrove Hall Studio, makers of DangerMouse and The Wind in the Willows. Unlike the Bloodbottler, the Fleshlumpeater and the Bonecruncher, the Big Friendly Giant is a good giant who blows sweet dreams into the bedroom windows of children as they slumber. When Sophie learns that the monstrous crew of meanies is off to England to gobble up innocent boys and girls, she sets out to stop them once and for all, with the help of her new, rather large, friend. The BFG shows the most tender and dreamlike side of celebrated author roald Dahl as he depicts the amazing friendship that grows between a little girl and a big-hearted Giant. DVD Features: Roald Dahl Chronology and Selected Bibliography; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fine Family Entertainment, May 17, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Big Friendly Giant (B.F.G.) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

My four year-old loves this well-done animated version of Roald Dahl's BFG book. She enjoys the animation (with a great, pleasingly spooky beginning, though not too scary) as well as the story itself.

The Big Friendly Giant visits children's windows each night and sends them pleasant dreams; his other job is to catch the bad dreams out there and bottle them up so they don't frighten children, as well as prevent the evil giants from eating children! A lonely girl, Sophie, is one day whisked away from here dreary orphange by the BFG to help him with his task. Thereafter the plot thickens and in the end the two must enlist the help of the Queen of England to make all well again.

This is a wonderful show. Made in the UK, the only difference I can see from the usual Disney fodder is that Big Friendly Giant is not nearly as loud, yet it captivated my child throughout, the songs sent her into peals of laughter. As far as I can tell this tape has not been dubbed or the voices altered in any way for the American market (a la Bob the Builder, Brambly Hedge, etc.)

I also recommend (based on my child's response): William's Wish Wellingtons, Noddy, Old Bear Stories, Rupert and the Runaway Dragon, Postman Pat, Brum and the Baby Carriage, The Secret of Roan Inish, The Borrowers, Thomas the Tank Engine, the Princess and the Goblin.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulously Inventive, June 13, 2000

By	John Peter O'connor - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Big Friendly Giant (DVD)

This is an animated version of the children's story "The Big Friendly Giant" by Roald Dahl. While ostensibly a childrens story, it contains much that will keep mothers and fathers watching as well.

As befits a children's story, the plot is simple and direct. A small girl, Sophie, is kidnapped by a friendly giant when she catches him at his work delivering dreams. She discovers many things about giants and their world including the fact that there are also some very bad giants who want to eat people.

Eventually, Sophie and the Big Friendly Giant enlist the help of the Queen of England and they set out to catch the bad giants.

Children as young as four years old will enjoy this film. They may be little afraid but it's not so bad as to give them nightmares. The film will also appeal to older children too as the story, while simple in it's barest form, contains enough detail and wit to maintain interest.

Also, children will find a lot to talk about in the film and, if parents buy the original novel, they have something to read to, or with their child.

Sometimes, children watch a film over and over until it is worn out. In this case, be warned, they may watch this one so much that they wear out the player!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BFG, July 28, 2003

By A Customer

A truly enchanting video i watched as a child and occasionally dig out of the cupboard on rainy days now (i'm 17!)
The story is classic Dahl and thus complex enough to keep even adults interested (especially if they look for analogies of daily life in children's entertainment) and yet perfect for children of all ages who want some excitement that isn't quite nightmarishly frightening and all ends well, with some bravery and boldness from a down-trodden orphan and the Queen of England being rather forceful with her pompous Armed Forces Cheifs.
worth the price asked for here, and more