3 ms·

"My younger siblings had seen the animated adaptation and had told me there was a lot of blood." I too always associated this story with violence before I read

"My younger siblings had seen the animated adaptation and had told me there was a lot of blood." I too always associated this story with violence before I read it. The violence in the adaptation has really shaped the reputation of the story. The story has some intense moments, but there are far more memorable bits, like the language and the puzzles and the relationships. The movie feels like Miike or Tarantino in comparison.

TeddyDD 9y ago
There is animated serial that's less voilent than the movie. There are differences in comparative to the book but I liked it anyway.
erasmuse 9y ago
The 1978 movie adaptation is superb and deeply memorable. Voices actors include the great John Hurt and Richard Briers. Here's a taste: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGyQmH9NZcw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGyQmH9NZcw There's at least one thing about the film, though, that I find mysterious. It was given a 'U' rating in the UK (which means universal, i.e. suitable for all ages). Yet many people find it scarily unwatchable -- why? SPOILERS. True, there's blood, which is unusual for a children's animation. The enemy warren, savagely run by General Woundwort, is terrifying. But I think the real objection seems to be the perception that vulnerable little rabbits are being picked off one by one as our group journeys across the countryside. Yet, if you look closely, you notice that only one member of the group, a minor character, is actually killed (Violet; by a bird of prey). Bigwig escapes from the snare, Hazel recovers from being shot, and so on. UPDATE. I think I've figured it out. Because of the beautiful song 'Bright Eyes' (sung by Art Garfunkel), we have mourned Hazel even though he was only wounded. So it feels as if he has died, even though he hasn't.
- johntaitorg 9y ago
  Bright Eyes is a very emotional song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elkCXVp_BqU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elkCXVp_BqU
- richardjdare 9y ago
  Don't forget the scene where the rabbit warren is gassed. Imagine you are ~five and you see that for the first time:) What really hit me was the haunting, archetypal imagery surrounding the rabbit mythology and the Black Rabbit of Inle. When you are a kid just figuring out that you and your loved ones will die and you see that kind thing it has an impact. Honestly, the emotional music and expressionist death imagery combine to create almost an initiation-like experience for the unsuspecting kids who sit down to watch a cartoon about bunnies!
  - erasmuse 9y ago
    >Don't forget the scene where the rabbit warren is gassed. Good point and you're not the first to point this out to me today. I may have to amend my thesis...
sideshowb 9y ago
I think both book and movie are wonderful. The artwork in the film captures the spirit of the English countryside in a way I've never seen elsewhere. The only thing I think it really misses from the book, is the depth of the rabbit religion.
gaius 9y ago
I have lost count of the number of non-Brits I know living here that have watched Watership Down as adults and expressed incredulity that it is considered a children's film here!

TeddyDD 9y ago

There is animated serial that's less voilent than the movie. There are differences in comparative to the book but I liked it anyway.

erasmuse 9y ago

The 1978 movie adaptation is superb and deeply memorable. Voices actors include the great John Hurt and Richard Briers. Here's a taste: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGyQmH9NZcw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGyQmH9NZcw There's at least one thing about the film, though, that I find mysterious. It was given a 'U' rating in the UK (which means universal, i.e. suitable for all ages). Yet many people find it scarily unwatchable -- why? SPOILERS. True, there's blood, which is unusual for a children's animation. The enemy warren, savagely run by General Woundwort, is terrifying. But I think the real objection seems to be the perception that vulnerable little rabbits are being picked off one by one as our group journeys across the countryside. Yet, if you look closely, you notice that only one member of the group, a minor character, is actually killed (Violet; by a bird of prey). Bigwig escapes from the snare, Hazel recovers from being shot, and so on. UPDATE. I think I've figured it out. Because of the beautiful song 'Bright Eyes' (sung by Art Garfunkel), we have mourned Hazel even though he was only wounded. So it feels as if he has died, even though he hasn't.

johntaitorg 9y ago
Bright Eyes is a very emotional song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elkCXVp_BqU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elkCXVp_BqU
richardjdare 9y ago
Don't forget the scene where the rabbit warren is gassed. Imagine you are ~five and you see that for the first time:) What really hit me was the haunting, archetypal imagery surrounding the rabbit mythology and the Black Rabbit of Inle. When you are a kid just figuring out that you and your loved ones will die and you see that kind thing it has an impact. Honestly, the emotional music and expressionist death imagery combine to create almost an initiation-like experience for the unsuspecting kids who sit down to watch a cartoon about bunnies!
- erasmuse 9y ago
  >Don't forget the scene where the rabbit warren is gassed. Good point and you're not the first to point this out to me today. I may have to amend my thesis...

sideshowb 9y ago

I think both book and movie are wonderful. The artwork in the film captures the spirit of the English countryside in a way I've never seen elsewhere. The only thing I think it really misses from the book, is the depth of the rabbit religion.

gaius 9y ago

I have lost count of the number of non-Brits I know living here that have watched Watership Down as adults and expressed incredulity that it is considered a children's film here!