THE BFG

THE BFG:  Take a book by Roald Dahl,  add a helping of Steven Spielberg, a splash of Disney enchantment, a brilliant motion-capture performance by Academy Award winner Mark Rylance  and you have the makings of an all-time classic.  And while it has all of that going for it, it sadly falls short a bit. Just a bit.  Perhaps it is just TOO nice, which is certainly not the fault of  newcomer Ruby Barnhill who portrays 10-year old Sophie, the kidnapping victim of the BFG (Big Friendly Giant) She is snatched because she has seen the giant and he is afraid she will tell the world.  At any rate, it is worth a visit and technically it is flawless, in scene after scene whether the giant is capturing dreams or simply cloaking himself to blend in with the scenery of nighttime London.  It's cinema magic. . I must mention there are other giants in the land with names like Bloodbottler, Butcherboy and Fleshlumpeater.  As you can imagine they are not so nice and always on the lookout  for a tasty meal of "Human Beans." All of which is essential to the plot, a plot that even involves the Queen of England (a wonderful Penelope Wilton from"Downton Abbey) and a comical scene that rivals "Blazing Saddles" in the flatulence department.  While I think, younger children will be bored with all of this, older ones will be thrilled as was I.  Enchantment can be gigantic.