a_baron
Although this adaptation of the classic Orwell satire is extremely clever, it might have rendered better as a cartoon, but as that had already been done, someone decided to give it an original twist. This 1999 version follows the script fairly faithfully, although at the end, after seeing the transformation of pig into man, it appends a nod to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union, which as he died in 1950, Orwell did not live to see and would probably not have predicted had he lived another decade.The film has more humour than the book - cynicism aside. The original score, largely by Richard Harvey, is thematic.
jakmanuk99
I love the book and it may even be one of the best books I've ever read with complex characters and a interesting storyline that becomes even greater when you remember that it's a satire on the Russian Revolution. This captures none of that, focusing on Jessie (A character that plays no part except for giving birth to Napoleon's bodyguards) and while I don't like that, it is quite interesting as the book is told from the point of view of the animals. The ending is completely changed which also changes the whole meaning of the story that the government always becomes corrupt with the workers rebelling but soon becoming the same corrupt government that they had despised. The whole film feels rushed and wouldn't if they didn't dedicate around 60% of the film to the humans who have nothing interesting but to make fun of Mr Jones with their painful accents. There are so many moments where I actually burst out laughing at how badly made it is, that it's actually quite depressing. I was further shocked to learn that it had stars like Kelsey Grammar and Patrick Stewart in it! I bet they regret that now. The death of Boxer feels rushed to hell, it should be sad and disorientating, instead it's funny. I know it's going to be near impossible to capture the Orwellian feel to it, but they could have tried. This film is a joke to the film industry. Going with the whole metaphor, if this film was an animal, I'd put it down. Seeing the animals speak with the horrendously obvious CGI is excruciatingly painful and don't get me started on how bad the pigs look. To conclude, this film is awful. If you liked the book, avoid this film. If you loved the book, AVOID THIS FILM. The film's only good quality is that you can joke about it with friends
promiseofanewday88
This movie does have a good message, but I found extremely weird. There is good representations in this movie about society and how a society becomes elitist and tyrannical. I also liked how it showed political stuff people talk about today; like the pigs using the TV to distract the other animals like people talk about how politicians use the media to control who gets the vote. It also had a healthy dose of satire, and a little bit of slapstick to lighten some of the dramatic moments.On the personal level though....Bolshevik farm animals? Gestapo dogs? Dictator pig? How bizarre! It found it very weird to just see such on screen like its one of those kiddy talking animal movies. So I finish watching this movie and all I can think is "that was a weird movie!" Back to the message, more should watch this, definitely.
stefknet
... if you see it without blindfolds... if you see it just as it is, a fairy tale... just for kids... forget the story that supposed to be...If you take it serious like the most does, it is like a bad joke... Orwell have never been in USSR and what he knew about it was from stories that he heard from thirds... thirds like the traitors white Russians that escaped from Russia to england after Bolsheviks victorious revolution...So those stories were groundless and lies... After many years Orwell also proved to be a sting, that wrote down names of maybe communists, like Chaplin's and gave them at a semi secret British agency, so they could run them down... That was Orwell, just a big brother that put mad on the name of real heroes of the people, like comrade's Stalin...
