The BFG is not without its flaws. The pacing is deliberately slow, which may test the patience of younger viewers accustomed to faster storytelling. The middle section, while beautiful, meanders through dream-catching sequences that, though lovely, lack narrative urgency. Furthermore, the final act’s shift to Buckingham Palace—while delightfully silly (featuring a flatulent Queen and dreamy military parades)—feels abrupt, almost as if the film changes genres from gothic fairy tale to royal farce in its final twenty minutes.
The BFG (2016) is a rare Spielberg film that feels more like a gentle whisper than a grand statement. It may not reach the iconic heights of E.T. or the thrilling pace of Jurassic Park , but it captures a specific kind of quiet magic—the magic of being understood by a friend.
The BFG (2016) Director: Steven Spielberg Starring: Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, Penelope Wilton, Jemaine Clement, Rebecca Hall, Rafe Spall Based on the novel by: Roald Dahl
The nightmare-fueled villains are a highlight. Jemaine Clement’s Fleshlumpeater is a hilarious and terrifying blend of schoolyard bully and primordial monster, voiced with a pompous, growling swagger. The other giants—The Butcher Boy, The Gizzardgulper, etc.—are disgusting, bickering, and genuinely menacing, providing the necessary stakes for the film’s third act.
The film’s heart is Mark Rylance, who delivers a career-defining motion-capture performance. Using his own subtle physicality—hunched shoulders, giant, cautious hands, and a face that crinkles with both wisdom and childlike innocence—Rylance makes the BFG feel utterly real. His invented, muddled language (e.g., "whizzpopper," "snozzcumber," "cobbled together") is delivered with such sincerity that it never feels like a gimmick, but rather the speech of a lonely creature who has only had his own thoughts for company.
“I is your friend, Sophie. And I will never let you go.”
Fans of Roald Dahl’s original text, viewers who appreciate slow-burn fantasy, and anyone looking for a visually stunning bedtime story about kindness and courage.
★★★½ (3.5/5)
The BFG is not without its flaws. The pacing is deliberately slow, which may test the patience of younger viewers accustomed to faster storytelling. The middle section, while beautiful, meanders through dream-catching sequences that, though lovely, lack narrative urgency. Furthermore, the final act’s shift to Buckingham Palace—while delightfully silly (featuring a flatulent Queen and dreamy military parades)—feels abrupt, almost as if the film changes genres from gothic fairy tale to royal farce in its final twenty minutes.
The BFG (2016) is a rare Spielberg film that feels more like a gentle whisper than a grand statement. It may not reach the iconic heights of E.T. or the thrilling pace of Jurassic Park , but it captures a specific kind of quiet magic—the magic of being understood by a friend.
The BFG (2016) Director: Steven Spielberg Starring: Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, Penelope Wilton, Jemaine Clement, Rebecca Hall, Rafe Spall Based on the novel by: Roald Dahl
The nightmare-fueled villains are a highlight. Jemaine Clement’s Fleshlumpeater is a hilarious and terrifying blend of schoolyard bully and primordial monster, voiced with a pompous, growling swagger. The other giants—The Butcher Boy, The Gizzardgulper, etc.—are disgusting, bickering, and genuinely menacing, providing the necessary stakes for the film’s third act.
The film’s heart is Mark Rylance, who delivers a career-defining motion-capture performance. Using his own subtle physicality—hunched shoulders, giant, cautious hands, and a face that crinkles with both wisdom and childlike innocence—Rylance makes the BFG feel utterly real. His invented, muddled language (e.g., "whizzpopper," "snozzcumber," "cobbled together") is delivered with such sincerity that it never feels like a gimmick, but rather the speech of a lonely creature who has only had his own thoughts for company.
“I is your friend, Sophie. And I will never let you go.”
Fans of Roald Dahl’s original text, viewers who appreciate slow-burn fantasy, and anyone looking for a visually stunning bedtime story about kindness and courage.
★★★½ (3.5/5)
