Watership Down

I remember seeing the original film as a kid at the cinema, and not really understanding what was going on, as a child it just went over my head. So with this version, OK, the graphics aren't great, but it is easier to follow. But really, it is the story that matters. A story that was written over 40 years ago I think, and is even more relevant today, as it shows how mankind is destroying the natural world and everything in it with their want and greed and selfishness. I just hope if children do watch, as well as adults, that they realise just what man is doing to the planet and try to change things before it is too late. I enjoyed it, but with sadness in my heart at how true this tale is. I will be watching the second part on BBC tomorrow.

OK. I've only seen part 1. I'm apparently supposed to be have been 'traumatised' by the 70's version (I was). This was an attempt to bring an old tale into the modern age. Personally I think it was off. The animation/cgi is worse, a LOT worse - it's 2018 folks! The storyline is weaker and flakey. Ok ... it's 'tamer' than the original one to get it onto mainstream UK TV, but the script is weak and patchy. They've brought in some high flying actors to voice our 'bunnies'. I'm not sure it's cutting it though. Changing our favourite German seagull to Scot's is weird, and less amusing. There's a lot of oddities - e.g. there's mention of a 'homber' consistently - which was never a fox. No proper expansion of the orginial gore how humans affect our countryside. I'll see how part 2 does. Still a good old tale, it needs a lot more improvement to bring it into this generation who probably think it strange, rather than the hard core originals who know the story.

Richard Adams didn't write a book for children about fluffy wuffy bunnies. He wrote the story for adults about life from a real wild rabbit's perspective. I agree that the animation makes them look more like hares but up to now, this version is more true to the book. I find it full of emotion and I'm expecting to laugh and cry. I've read the book many times over and I only have to turn to the back page and read the final paragraph to be consumed by tears. A wonderful story.

I notice that the 1-star ratings are pouring in, and I can't help finding it rather odd. Yes, the animation is a little off. Yes, the plot can be hard to follow at times because some of the rabbits look a little too alike. Yes, it's a bit too long at nearly three and a half hours. And no, it doesn't compare well with the 1978 film... but 1/10? Really? People need to look beyond the problems and see the story. They need to think about what the story is putting across, and how a new generation who might not have seen the 1978 version are being allowed to see this message... They might even be curious enough to check out the film after seeing this. Look beyond the nostalgia or your hatred for CGI, and ask yourself... is there something more than nothing here. Don't be put off if the rating continues to slide, because whilst there is plenty to criticise here, it is far from a complete loss.

ETA: The third and fourth parts were weaker than the first two, and I have to admit that I lost interest during part three, it was just too drawn out for how little was going on. Part four was slightly better, but three and a half hours was simply too much in the end.

Okay, I haven't read the book or seen the first movie, so for me it was all new. And for a bunch of talking rabbits it was not bad I guess. A bit of an adventure about rabbits, watched all episodes after another, yeah had nothing better to do.

Like I said in the title, it's one of the better things I've seen on Netflix lately, reason is that all Netflix originals are the same: they start really strong but halfway down the movie or series it's like the money is gone or the writers are in a hurry and it gets worse and worse and fades slowly to a bad ending.

This bunny-adventure kept interesting till the ending, and yes the CGI wasn't great and it wasn't as dramatic as I was expecting and maybe a watered down version for more a broader audience but it wasn't bad or boring.

So if you can see through the fact they are talking rabbits it's just a fun little adventure with of course a deeper message about being nice and all that stuff.