Writer:
Martin Rosen
Based
On The Book By: Richard Adams
Director:
Martin Rosen
Feature
length: 92 minutes
Extras:
Richard Adams Profile, Watership Down Today, Bunny Talk Glossary, and Theatrical
Trailer
Languages:
English and French Dolby Surround 2.0
Subtitles:
English Captions and Closed Captions and French, Spanish, and Portuguese
Subtitles
Packaging:
Snap Case
Chapter
Stops: 28
Sound:
Dolby Stereo Surround Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1978/DVD Release: 2002
Home
Video Distributor: Warner Home Video
MPAA
Rating: PG
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
Richard
Adams’ “Watership Down” is a brilliant book of epic proportions involving
the odyssey a group of rabbits take after one of their own, who just may be
clairvoyant, has a vision of impending doom to their warren. The doom comes in
the form of land development at the hands of men, whom the rabbits think “will
never be happy until they’ve ruined the Earth.” This film based on the book
presents a tale set in our world, but told from the point of view of the rabbits
complete with a creation myth and animal heritage original on to themselves.
Eventually the rabbits come upon a dictatorship run by the stern and deadly
General Woundwort. Fleeing for their lives and ultimately fighting to save their
promised land, “Watership Down” should appeal to both children and adults.
The tale is an analogy to the struggle of the British during World War II, but
it also draws parallels Judeo Christian mythology as well as Greek mythology.
There is a bit of bloodletting and animal violence when one falls prey to
another, but the story is so well told on the screen by Writer, Producer, and
Director Martin Rosen that I think as long as no one expects to see a Walt
Disney type fairy tale, parents can easily enjoy the film with their children
and be there should they have a question or are troubled. Martin Rosen followed
up this feature with an animated adaptation of Richard Adam’s “The Plague
Dogs” in 1982.
Warner
Home Video’s DVD edition of “Watership Down” presents the animated film in
the matted (1.85:1) widescreen aspect ratio of the theatrical exhibition. The
transfer has also been enhanced for widescreen televisions. The picture quality
is free of color bleeding, but is a bit soft because of the fine grain that
appears to be more inherent to the animation style than the film to video
transfer. For a non-Disney animated feature film that is well over 20 years old,
I think “Watership Down” actually looks great on DVD.
The
English Dolby Surround Soundtrack is clear and free of hissing and mixes the
distinctive voices of John Hurt, Ralph Richardson, Denholm Eliot, and Zero
Mostel among others quite well with the music and sound effects. The song
“Bright Eyes” is sung by Art Garfunkel. A French Language Dolby Surround
Soundtrack is also provided along with optional English Captions and Closed
Captions and French, Spanish, and Portuguese Language Subtitles.
The
theatrical trailer is in surprisingly good shape. Almost as good as the feature
presentation on the DVD and the trailer is presented in a (1.85:1) aspect ratio
with English Dolby Surround Sound too. The other extra features are text notes
that include a credit list for the film, biographical notes on Author Richard
Adams complete with a bibliography of the author’s books, information of the
real lands surrounding “Watership Down” of today, which are owned by
Playwright Andrew Lloyd Webber, and a glossary of “Bunny Talk” with brief
definitions for the words the rabbits use to describe the world around them. The
menus are standard interactive still frames that are easy to navigate.
I
have always liked this animated film and think Warner Brothers has done a fine
job with releasing it to DVD-Video. “Watership Down” is available on DVD now
from Warner Home Video.
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.