Aside from the title and the names of the characters, this movie has nothing really in common with the charming TV series which I grew up with, and which my two boys (aged 5 and 3) love on video. The characters have all been "re-imagined" as is the current trend, and re-voiced, as one might expect in the absence of Eric Thompson.
But why does the Magic Roundabout have to change so much? Dougal and the Blue Cat was still a "real" MR movie, complete with all the charm (and, it just so happens, the voice of my 2nd cousin, Fenella Fielding). It was as long as the new movie, but it still looked and felt like the real McCoy! The white abstract background of the "Magic Garden" is gone, replaced by pretty but not very original CGI which actually took away more than it added. I don't know why they had to introduce the Magic Village, which makes it obviously French - the old garden was no particular place except in the imagination. And as for the new use the Magic Roundabout is put to at the start of the movie, why oh why oh why? It was just a magic roundabout, why did it need to be anything else??? I think that Mr. Rusty must be turning in his grave (storage box/display case?) at the very thought of it.
My greatest complaint is that the whole thing has lost the wonderful innocence of the original. Yes, it contained much political satire and social comment, but there was no need to refer to smutty or sexual innuendo. Why did Ermintrude's concert have to include a song with the lyric "girl, you really got me going..." which is obvious as to what it means. There are plenty of other rock songs they could have used.
The best part of the movie was Tom Baker's characterisation of Zeebad, who is the best over-the-top villain of recent years. He has all the best lines, and his sense of irony is wonderful.
I bought the special edition DVD (British, zone 2) and loved the extras, but I wouldn't have bought it at all if I'd seen the movie first. If I could have given a negative number of stars, I would have!
But why does the Magic Roundabout have to change so much? Dougal and the Blue Cat was still a "real" MR movie, complete with all the charm (and, it just so happens, the voice of my 2nd cousin, Fenella Fielding). It was as long as the new movie, but it still looked and felt like the real McCoy! The white abstract background of the "Magic Garden" is gone, replaced by pretty but not very original CGI which actually took away more than it added. I don't know why they had to introduce the Magic Village, which makes it obviously French - the old garden was no particular place except in the imagination. And as for the new use the Magic Roundabout is put to at the start of the movie, why oh why oh why? It was just a magic roundabout, why did it need to be anything else??? I think that Mr. Rusty must be turning in his grave (storage box/display case?) at the very thought of it.
My greatest complaint is that the whole thing has lost the wonderful innocence of the original. Yes, it contained much political satire and social comment, but there was no need to refer to smutty or sexual innuendo. Why did Ermintrude's concert have to include a song with the lyric "girl, you really got me going..." which is obvious as to what it means. There are plenty of other rock songs they could have used.
The best part of the movie was Tom Baker's characterisation of Zeebad, who is the best over-the-top villain of recent years. He has all the best lines, and his sense of irony is wonderful.
I bought the special edition DVD (British, zone 2) and loved the extras, but I wouldn't have bought it at all if I'd seen the movie first. If I could have given a negative number of stars, I would have!