I actually did see the previous film version of the classic children's book as a child - in fact, it's one of the few Canadian films I have seen in a theater. I don't remember too much about the previous version, except that it stuck pretty close to the book. When the opportunity came to see this remake, I decided to give it a chance - especially since it was a chance to see it free, and I have been burned too many times from other government-funded Canadian films.
I didn't think this version worked for a number of reasons, mainly the following three:
(1) It's pretty cheap. Now, I will admit that the production values of this movie are superior to the no-budget original movie, but the movie still looks pretty shabby. Even the scenes that take place outdoors in the "real world" look undernourished.
(2) The child actor playing Jacob Two Two was very uncharismatic. I suppose some people will give him slack because he's just a child, but I have seen over the years a number of child actors his age who could easily beat him at the acting game.
(3) The decision to make this as a musical was a bad one. Now, it COULD have worked. But the songs in this movie are HORRIBLE. There is not one song that is memorable or catchy enough that you'll be humming afterwards There is a faint pulse of life with the scenes involving Gary Busey. But even then, he seems to be phoning in a lot of his dialogue. I suspect that he felt defeated by being in this low-budget foreign (to him) production, and decided to quickly get through his scenes without working at making his role REALLY memorable and campy. I suspect that even kids who watch this movie will notice this, and the movie's other problems.
I didn't think this version worked for a number of reasons, mainly the following three:
(1) It's pretty cheap. Now, I will admit that the production values of this movie are superior to the no-budget original movie, but the movie still looks pretty shabby. Even the scenes that take place outdoors in the "real world" look undernourished.
(2) The child actor playing Jacob Two Two was very uncharismatic. I suppose some people will give him slack because he's just a child, but I have seen over the years a number of child actors his age who could easily beat him at the acting game.
(3) The decision to make this as a musical was a bad one. Now, it COULD have worked. But the songs in this movie are HORRIBLE. There is not one song that is memorable or catchy enough that you'll be humming afterwards There is a faint pulse of life with the scenes involving Gary Busey. But even then, he seems to be phoning in a lot of his dialogue. I suspect that he felt defeated by being in this low-budget foreign (to him) production, and decided to quickly get through his scenes without working at making his role REALLY memorable and campy. I suspect that even kids who watch this movie will notice this, and the movie's other problems.