I first came across this movie in 2003 under its American title of MR TOAD'S WILD RIDE. I purchased it for my then 9 year old daughter who became very much taken with it. The movie served as her introduction to the MONTY PYTHON performers and to actors Steve Coogan and Stephen Fry. She still very much enjoys it today for, like the book, it is just as much for adults as it is for children.
WILLOWS had a limited distribution which is why I, a big MONTY PYTHON fan, had never heard of it. Marketed strictly as a children's movie in the U. K, the movie seriously underperformed at the box office. Sony bought it for distribution in America but then decided to dump it. The film sat on the shelf for 5 years until Disney purchased the rights so they could market it as MR TOAD'S WILD RIDE after the ride at Disneyland. The movie then went straight to home video.
As an adaptation of the famous book, it is about 65% Kenneth Grahame & 35% MONTY PYTHON which is a good mix. Terry Jones captures the spirit & the camaraderie of the book which, in the end, is about preserving friendships through thick and thin. Grahame originally created the characters in letters that he wrote to his 7 year old son. He was then persuaded to expand those letters into THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS which was first published in 1908 & has never been out-of-print.
In addition to the theme of friendship, the book reflects Grahame's love of nature & of the English countryside. That aspect has been modernized & expanded by Jones to criticize & satirize commercial development at the expense of natural beauty. Most of Grahame's dialogue has been retained word for word along with Mr Toad's self-glorifying song which is still as funny as ever. Only the Weasel's CATS style musical number & the BRAZIL like finale are pure PYTHON, but it works.
What made the movie work for me and what makes it an ideal adaptation is that instead of performers hidden behind animal masks & prosthetics, you have recognizable actors, ACTING. Eric Idle & Steve Coogan & Terry Jones are the embodiment of Rat & Mole & Toad. Nicol Williamson is everything that Badger should be & Anthony Sher is delightfully villainous as the Chief Weasel. John Cleese, Michael Palin & Stephen Fry have prominent cameos.
I have both the American & the British DVDs & while the British version retains the original title of THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS & has loads of extras, it is not enhanced for 16 by 9 TV screens (which it claims) & it does not contain subtitles which would add to the viewing experience. The Disney version contains no extras but does have yellow subtitles & is in the proper aspect ratio so the choice is yours...For more reviews visit The Capsule Critic.
WILLOWS had a limited distribution which is why I, a big MONTY PYTHON fan, had never heard of it. Marketed strictly as a children's movie in the U. K, the movie seriously underperformed at the box office. Sony bought it for distribution in America but then decided to dump it. The film sat on the shelf for 5 years until Disney purchased the rights so they could market it as MR TOAD'S WILD RIDE after the ride at Disneyland. The movie then went straight to home video.
As an adaptation of the famous book, it is about 65% Kenneth Grahame & 35% MONTY PYTHON which is a good mix. Terry Jones captures the spirit & the camaraderie of the book which, in the end, is about preserving friendships through thick and thin. Grahame originally created the characters in letters that he wrote to his 7 year old son. He was then persuaded to expand those letters into THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS which was first published in 1908 & has never been out-of-print.
In addition to the theme of friendship, the book reflects Grahame's love of nature & of the English countryside. That aspect has been modernized & expanded by Jones to criticize & satirize commercial development at the expense of natural beauty. Most of Grahame's dialogue has been retained word for word along with Mr Toad's self-glorifying song which is still as funny as ever. Only the Weasel's CATS style musical number & the BRAZIL like finale are pure PYTHON, but it works.
What made the movie work for me and what makes it an ideal adaptation is that instead of performers hidden behind animal masks & prosthetics, you have recognizable actors, ACTING. Eric Idle & Steve Coogan & Terry Jones are the embodiment of Rat & Mole & Toad. Nicol Williamson is everything that Badger should be & Anthony Sher is delightfully villainous as the Chief Weasel. John Cleese, Michael Palin & Stephen Fry have prominent cameos.
I have both the American & the British DVDs & while the British version retains the original title of THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS & has loads of extras, it is not enhanced for 16 by 9 TV screens (which it claims) & it does not contain subtitles which would add to the viewing experience. The Disney version contains no extras but does have yellow subtitles & is in the proper aspect ratio so the choice is yours...For more reviews visit The Capsule Critic.