Rabbit Ears: Jack and the Beanstalk
- Video
- 1991
YOUR RATING
Photos
Michael Palin
- Narrator
- (voice)
Storyline
Featured review
Great entertainment up the beanstalk
'Jack and the Beanstalk' is not one of my favourite stories, but it is good fun and Jack and the giant are memorable characters, as are the escapades. It has often been spoofed to great effect in animation, Looney Tunes did so a few times for instance, and has also been adapted frequently with more varied success. Had no doubt that Rabbit Ears Productions would do well adapting the story, with them being such a great company, or that Michael Palin would be an at least good narrator.
Although not one of my favourites of Rabbit Ears Productions' adaptations of family literature available as animation and as audio books overall, or one of the best of the "We All Have Tales" series (which had jewels such as 'The Fool and the Flying Ship', 'Peachboy' and 'East of the Sun, 'West of the Moon'), 'Jack and the Beanstalk' is still well worth watching. Also think it is one of the most entertaining adaptations of theirs.
Other Rabbit Ears Productions' adaptations had a more consistently appealing visual style. Some of the drawing is a little too scratchy, especially for the ogre's wife.
It is also a rare excursion for the company into having splashes of crude humour. While some is very funny indeed, others felt out of place.
Much of the visual style however is fine. Although the beanstalk is imposing and the character design for the ogre is one of the most unique for any ogre character anywhere, it's the backgrounds that shine the most. Especially for the forests and the ogre's garden, it is amazing at how such an ugly character inside and out could have such a beautiful garden full of lush colour. Also liked the music, there is a mysteriousness at times while also a very fun beat.
Palin is another big part of 'Jack and the Beanstalk's' success, he was clearly enjoying himself and it made it easier for the viewer to enjoy him and the story. Absolutely loved his Monty Python-like line delivery, while toning it down just enough to avoid it getting inappropriate, that still manages to be very varied in use of vocal colour and jovial. Without his delivery, the very witty burp description would not have been the same amount of comedy gold that it was. The writing is very witty and the story always goes at a lively pace, maintaining faithfulness while having enough of its own touches.
To conclude, not one of my favourites but very entertaining. 8/10
Although not one of my favourites of Rabbit Ears Productions' adaptations of family literature available as animation and as audio books overall, or one of the best of the "We All Have Tales" series (which had jewels such as 'The Fool and the Flying Ship', 'Peachboy' and 'East of the Sun, 'West of the Moon'), 'Jack and the Beanstalk' is still well worth watching. Also think it is one of the most entertaining adaptations of theirs.
Other Rabbit Ears Productions' adaptations had a more consistently appealing visual style. Some of the drawing is a little too scratchy, especially for the ogre's wife.
It is also a rare excursion for the company into having splashes of crude humour. While some is very funny indeed, others felt out of place.
Much of the visual style however is fine. Although the beanstalk is imposing and the character design for the ogre is one of the most unique for any ogre character anywhere, it's the backgrounds that shine the most. Especially for the forests and the ogre's garden, it is amazing at how such an ugly character inside and out could have such a beautiful garden full of lush colour. Also liked the music, there is a mysteriousness at times while also a very fun beat.
Palin is another big part of 'Jack and the Beanstalk's' success, he was clearly enjoying himself and it made it easier for the viewer to enjoy him and the story. Absolutely loved his Monty Python-like line delivery, while toning it down just enough to avoid it getting inappropriate, that still manages to be very varied in use of vocal colour and jovial. Without his delivery, the very witty burp description would not have been the same amount of comedy gold that it was. The writing is very witty and the story always goes at a lively pace, maintaining faithfulness while having enough of its own touches.
To conclude, not one of my favourites but very entertaining. 8/10
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- TheLittleSongbird
- Mar 5, 2021
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