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Charlotte's Web (Full Screen Edition)

Charlotte's Web (Full Screen Edition)

List Price: $12.99
Your Price: $10.39
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Absolutely Delightful!!!
Review: I can hardly believe another "reviewer" thought the "songs were pretty boring"... I LOVE the songs! My favorite is "Chin-up", which I am trying to find the lyrics for. This is a song that I want to learn and sing every day to my kids.
If there is a soundtrack to this movie I want it!
Not only are the songs wonderful, but the movie is a treasure!
My kids could watch this a million times over and it would never get old!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This movie really touches your heart
Review: I don't think you can help but shed a few tears in this movie. It deals a lot with death, and friendship. They don't go overboard with the death theme, they keep it very appropriate for the age group. They talk about how they were going to kill Wilbur because he was the runt of the litter (they obviously don't, but the father goes out with an ax to do it) and how it's a fact of life that pigs are raised to make ham and bacon. Even at the end when Charlotte dies, they don't show her dying, she just sinks behind a peice of wood, but you know she's dead. Death is a fact of life, and one kids are going to have to deal with eventually, and this movie could start an excellent conversation with your children. Watch this movie and buy a box of tissues along with it!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not a 5 star movie but still a good movie!
Review: I have to agree with Teddy Schwarzman when he stated that it is werid that his girlfriend has him say "I'm your Charlotte", she is the one that it is really say that he should be sayomg "I'm your Wilbur". "I'm your Wilbur". If you love Charlotte's Web, Charlotte's Web 2, Wilbur's Great Adventure is coming out next year. Charlotte's Web is this animated movie of E.B White's book. The movie was out in 1973. As the movie opens, Fern (Pamelyn Ferdin) saves a baby pig from her father when he decides to kill the runt. She names the pig Wilbur and keeps Wilbur as a pet until he is 6 weeks old when her father finally decides that Wilbur as to be a pig and not a pet and as to be sold. The pig is sold to Fern's uncle Homer Zuckerman (Robert Holt). Where Wilbur (Henry Gibson) learns to talk and is freindless and wants a freind and at the same time misses Fern.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Best Children's Movie Ever
Review: I love Charlotte's Web.I remember as a kid that I use to watch the movie & read the book.At the end of the movie I thought it was sad when Charlotte died.I love Wilbur,Fern,Templeton & the Goose.I love the songs that they have on the movie especially Smorgasbord.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: This movie [is terrible]!
Review: I read hte book and saw the movie, and "Charlotte's Web" [is terrible], including the pig, crying like a big baby because a spider dies, and if this ever got an award, I give it "Dummest book of the year." I give this * (1 out of 5).

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: good
Review: I really like children's videos that stay true to the books by which they were inspired. This video does not change or deface E.B. White's classic book, which is one big reason why it's so good. It's just like the book coming to life. Very well done and child-friendly.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: 5 stars is not enough
Review: I recently went rug shopping for my new house. I got bored and let my mom and aunt do the rest. So I went to the movie corner and other than this, was not able to find any thing that wasn't disney, wee sing, or barney. But this was the top. It was full of songs, animation, and music, which held interest not only of children, but of adults as well. I'm nineteen years old and discovered it when I was 4.

Charlotte was spoken by Debbie Reynolds. She played Cathy in "Singing in the Rain." I began to wish Debbie was in the room with me. I want to meet her someday.

I hope that Paramount pictures decides to do a drama re-make of it like they did of Stuart Little.

Enjoy!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great Compliment to Book
Review: I watched this DVD with my 7-year-old son after we had finished reading the children's classic of the same name by E.B. White.

The majority of this movie is straight out of the book, line for line. There are a few differences that you will notice, or your child if he/she is as observant as mine:

Some things happen out of order (Wilbur's fainting episodes were in the wrong spots);
A gosling grows attached to Wilbur that is unmentioned in the book;
There were many songs added to the movie that are not in the book, however these really add to the movie to give it more charm and make it more interesting.

I really enjoyed the scenes in the movie with Templeton and the Goose. The voices for all the characters are a perfect match. The movie does not make Charlotte's "death scene" too traumatic for children, however it is lacking the beloved *wink* by Wilbur before he leaves the fair for home.

Even though it was made approximately 30 years ago, the animation does not seem "old".

Overall, I would recommend this movie to anyone and everyone who's read the book. Your children will enjoy it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Delightful rendition of the 1952 classic children's novel.
Review: I'm amazed that the animated film "Charlotte's Web" is almost thirty years old, but it's as wonderful today as when it was released (1973) and the production values equal those that we judge children's films by even today. This movie is the only animated version of E.B. White's novel by the same name (c. 1952) that I've found. The novel was a 1953 John Newbery Honor book (not the 1st-place prize, the "Newbery Medal" but one of the runners-up). Hanna-Barbera produced a faithful rendering of the novel, which is one of the reasons for the film's success.

Another reason for the enduring popularity of this VHS is the brilliant casting of voice talent. The chief characters' voices are played by some of America's most prolific actors of the early 1970s, including Rex Allen, Paul Lynde, Agnes Moorehead, Debbie Reynolds, Henry Gibson, and Pamelyn Ferdin. Don't remember some of these people? Here are some reminders:

The late Rex Allen (narrator) was the quintessential dispassionate narrator of so many Walt Disney nature specials and made many early movies; late comedian Paul Lynde (rat), who is the only Templeton I can ever imagine as he's the only actor I think has mastered the art of the "verbal sneer," had his own variety show; the late Agnes Moorehead (goose), played Endora the witch on the "Bewitched" series and had parts in over 70 feature films; tiresomely-perky Debbie Reynolds (Charlotte), known for movie musicals and dancing, is fairly inoffensive in this movie, even during the relatively brief vocal numbers; Henry Gibson (Wilbur), is a comedian whom you'll remember from the TV series "Laugh-In"; and Pamelyn Ferdin (Fern), who must have had voice lessons after she did the voice of Lucy Van Pelt in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" (what, 1969?) and before she participated in this project--somehow she lost the "whine" that makes her so distinguishable-- (Remember Pamelyn? You can also easily pick her out in an old original-series "Star Trek" episode in which she plays a SCARY child named Mary! Sorry, I'm off the subject.)

There's so much to love about this film. I always laugh at the scene in which the goose encourages Wilbur to speak for the first time and he grunts/oinks and then stammers, "W-w-w-w-w-w-Wilbur! " (Overlook that he immediately discovers that not only can he talk, but he can SING!) Gibson's portrayal of Wilbur, the shy, queasy, litle-bit-naive young pig is very endearing, but his voice isn't as distinctive as that of other actors of that era (George Lindsey, for example). If someone ever re-makes "Charlotte's Web," their greatest obstacle to true success will be replacing Paul Lynde, the ideal Templeton.

Templeton staggering drunkenly back to Wilbur's crate after gorging himself all night long at the fair is a classic scene. His grossly distended belly seems to have a life of its own as it ripples and burbles along independent of the movement of the rest of his body. Great animation!

I really like the score by a couple of guys named Sherman (brothers?) and the orchestration by Irwin Kostal; in addition to the expected lively numbers, there are some very nice gentle songs, one of which is beautifully sung by a men's choir. My own favorite number is the one sung by a barbershop quartet (a genre which deserves more attention than it gets) at the fair.

Even though this film is so "old," I think it was used as casting inspiration by CBS/Endemol when they selected George Boswell for "Big Brother." My favorite scene is an exchange between Mrs. Zuckerman and her husband as they discuss the meaning of Charlotte's first spiderweb message. Edith: "Seems to me you're a little off; seems to me we have no ordinary spider." Homer: "No, it's just a common grey spider. See? It's sittin' right there." If "Charlotte's Web" is made into a live-action film, BB's George would be ideal for the role of dim-witted, understated Homer Zuckerman. George even looks like the cartoon character!

On a more serious note, Charlotte's straightforward attitude about her approaching death offers an opportunity to talk with children about death. This movie also presented my first chance to talk with my son (almost 4) about where meat comes from. When the Arabels discuss Wilbur being turned into bacon and ham, my boy was quite curious. He seemed alarmed, but so far hasn't refused to eat meat!

So if you don't already have a copy of "Charlotte's Web," buy this video before it's taken out of circulation; it's a gem you'll want in your collection. Need a memorable birthday or holiday gift for a child? You can't go wrong with a classic movie, and this is sure to be a favorite--as you will be if you give "Charlotte's Web" to a lucky boy or girl.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Delightful rendition of the 1952 classic children's novel.
Review: I'm amazed that the animated film "Charlotte's Web" is almost thirty years old, but it's as wonderful today as when it was released (1973) and the production values equal those that we judge children's films by even today. This movie is the only animated version of E.B. White's novel by the same name (c. 1952) that I've found. The novel was a 1953 John Newbery Honor book (not the 1st-place prize, the "Newbery Medal" but one of the runners-up). Hanna-Barbera produced a faithful rendering of the novel, which is one of the reasons for the film's success.

Another reason for the enduring popularity of this VHS is the brilliant casting of voice talent. The chief characters' voices are played by some of America's most prolific actors of the early 1970s, including Rex Allen, Paul Lynde, Agnes Moorehead, Debbie Reynolds, Henry Gibson, and Pamelyn Ferdin. Don't remember some of these people? Here are some reminders:

The late Rex Allen (narrator) was the quintessential dispassionate narrator of so many Walt Disney nature specials and made many early movies; late comedian Paul Lynde (rat), who is the only Templeton I can ever imagine as he's the only actor I think has mastered the art of the "verbal sneer," had his own variety show; the late Agnes Moorehead (goose), played Endora the witch on the "Bewitched" series and had parts in over 70 feature films; tiresomely-perky Debbie Reynolds (Charlotte), known for movie musicals and dancing, is fairly inoffensive in this movie, even during the relatively brief vocal numbers; Henry Gibson (Wilbur), is a comedian whom you'll remember from the TV series "Laugh-In"; and Pamelyn Ferdin (Fern), who must have had voice lessons after she did the voice of Lucy Van Pelt in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" (what, 1969?) and before she participated in this project--somehow she lost the "whine" that makes her so distinguishable-- (Remember Pamelyn? You can also easily pick her out in an old original-series "Star Trek" episode in which she plays a SCARY child named Mary! Sorry, I'm off the subject.)

There's so much to love about this film. I always laugh at the scene in which the goose encourages Wilbur to speak for the first time and he grunts/oinks and then stammers, "W-w-w-w-w-w-Wilbur! " (Overlook that he immediately discovers that not only can he talk, but he can SING!) Gibson's portrayal of Wilbur, the shy, queasy, litle-bit-naive young pig is very endearing, but his voice isn't as distinctive as that of other actors of that era (George Lindsey, for example). If someone ever re-makes "Charlotte's Web," their greatest obstacle to true success will be replacing Paul Lynde, the ideal Templeton.

Templeton staggering drunkenly back to Wilbur's crate after gorging himself all night long at the fair is a classic scene. His grossly distended belly seems to have a life of its own as it ripples and burbles along independent of the movement of the rest of his body. Great animation!

I really like the score by a couple of guys named Sherman (brothers?) and the orchestration by Irwin Kostal; in addition to the expected lively numbers, there are some very nice gentle songs, one of which is beautifully sung by a men's choir. My own favorite number is the one sung by a barbershop quartet (a genre which deserves more attention than it gets) at the fair.

Even though this film is so "old," I think it was used as casting inspiration by CBS/Endemol when they selected George Boswell for "Big Brother." My favorite scene is an exchange between Mrs. Zuckerman and her husband as they discuss the meaning of Charlotte's first spiderweb message. Edith: "Seems to me you're a little off; seems to me we have no ordinary spider." Homer: "No, it's just a common grey spider. See? It's sittin' right there." If "Charlotte's Web" is made into a live-action film, BB's George would be ideal for the role of dim-witted, understated Homer Zuckerman. George even looks like the cartoon character!

On a more serious note, Charlotte's straightforward attitude about her approaching death offers an opportunity to talk with children about death. This movie also presented my first chance to talk with my son (almost 4) about where meat comes from. When the Arabels discuss Wilbur being turned into bacon and ham, my boy was quite curious. He seemed alarmed, but so far hasn't refused to eat meat!

So if you don't already have a copy of "Charlotte's Web," buy this video before it's taken out of circulation; it's a gem you'll want in your collection. Need a memorable birthday or holiday gift for a child? You can't go wrong with a classic movie, and this is sure to be a favorite--as you will be if you give "Charlotte's Web" to a lucky boy or girl.


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