The BFG [Includes Digital Copy] [Blu-ray/DVD]

Director: Steven Spielberg Steven Spielberg

Overview

Steven Spielberg directed this adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved novel, which centers on the unlikely friendship between a lonely orphan named Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) and the titular "big friendly giant" (brought to life via a motion-capture performance from Mark Rylance). Together, the pair explore Giant Country and collect dreams; later, they try to warn the Queen of England (Penelope Wilton) about the threat posed by the other giants, who, unlike the vegetarian BFG, eat children for sustenance. The BFG made its world premiere at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, and is dedicated to the memory of screenwriter Melissa Mathison (who also wrote the script for Spielberg's E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial). Rebecca Hall, Bill Hader, Jemaine Clement, and Rafe Spall co-star.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/29/2016
UPC:	0786936849028
Original Release:	2016
Rating:	PG
Source:	Walt Disney Video
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:58:00
Sales rank:	21,409

Special Features

Blu-Ray Bonus Extras: ; Bringing The BFG to Life - take a phizz-whizzing journey through the making of the movie with Ruby Barnhill ("Sophie").; The Big Friendly Giant and Me - a short about the friendship between the BFG and the little "bean" who lived in giant country before sophie.; Gobblefunk: the wonderful words of The BFG - a whoopsey-splumkers tutorial on the BFG's gloriumptions gobblefunk.; Giants 101 - meet the frightsome giants portrayed by actors Jemaine Clement, Bill Hader and more.; Melissa Mathison: a tribute

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Mark Rylance	The Big Friendly Giant,Voices
Ruby Barnhill	Sophie,Palace Staff #4 (aka Footman)
Rebecca Hall	Mary
Penelope Wilton	The Queen
Jemaine Clement	Fleshlumpeater
Bill Hader	Giant,Voices
Ólafur Darri Ólafsson	Maidmasher/Cook
Adam Godley	Manhugger/Lout #1
Michael Adamthwaite	Butcher Boy/Danish Driver
Daniel Bacon	Bonecruncher/Lout #2
Jonathan Holmes	Childchewer/Pub Landlord
Chris Gibbs	Gizzardgulper/Late Night Walker
Paul Moniz de Sa	Meatdripper/Lout #3
Marilyn Norry	Matron
Callum Seagram Airlie	Danish Boy
Haig Sutherland	Danish Boy's Father
Shauna Hansen	Danish Boy's Mother
Denise Jones	Danish Driver's Wife
Gabrielle Rose	Cook
Anthony Ingram	Footman
Chris Shields	General #1
Matt Frewer	General #2
Geoffrey Wade	General #3
John Emmet Tracy	Palace Staff #1 (aka Footman)
William Samples	Palace Staff #2 (aka Footman)
Andy Thompson	Palace Staff #3 (aka Footman)
Lucia Ryan	Orphan Girl #1/Sophie Understudy
Julia Torrance	Actor
David Jason	Actor
Amanda Root	Actor
Angela Thorne	Actor
Ballard Berkeley	Actor
Jeff Kent	Air Force Military Aide
Julia Elizabeth Torrance	Orphan Girl #2
Cal Davis	Piper #1
Kyle Maloney	Piper #2
Michael McLeod	Piper #3
David Orr	Piper #4
Zachary Read	Piper #5
David Glover	Piper #6
Joshua Callagan	Piper #7
Todd Biffard	Pipe Drummer
Rafe Spall	Voices
John Williams	Composer

Technical Credits

Melissa Mathison

Steven Spielberg	Director,Producer
Frank Marshall	Producer
Sam Mercer	Producer
Kristie Macosko Krieger	Producer
Michael Siegel	Producer,Executive Producer
Melissa Mathison	Screenwriter
Kristie Macosko-Krieger	Executive Producer
John Madden	Executive Producer,Producer
Kathleen Kennedy	Executive Producer,Producer
Samantha Becker	Executive Producer,Producer
George Atkins	Sound Effects
Brian Chumney	Sound Effects
Ryan Cole	Sound Effects
Richard Hymns	Sound Effects
Gary Rydstrom	Sound Effects,Sound/Sound Designer
Christopher Scarabosio	Sound Effects,Sound/Sound Designer
Charlotte Gray	Special Effects
Seth Kenlon	Special Effects
John Sore	Special Effects
Tyler Bilodeau	Special Effects
Andrew Durno	Special Effects
James Kozier	Special Effects
Charles Jarman	Stunts
Eli Zagoudakis	Stunts
Timmy Broderick	Producer
David Conley	Executive Producer
Nina Gold	Casting

Editorial Reviews

After teaming up for the understated Cold War drama Bridge of Spies, director Steven Spielberg and actor Mark Rylance join forces once again for a very different kind of movie. The BFG, a fantasy film based on a children's story by Roald Dahl (author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Fantastic Mr. Fox), centers on a precocious orphan named Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) who spots something truly unbelievable in the middle of the night: a giant creature (played by Rylance with the help of some special effects) who quickly snatches the little girl from her bed in order to keep his existence a secret. While he might seem like a force to be reckoned with in the human world, Rylance's vegetarian leviathan -- called "the BFG" for "the big friendly giant" -- is constantly picked on and teased by the larger, meat-eating members of his race in his home country. As Sophie joins the BFG on his travels, the pair have some traumatic run-ins with giant, dim-witted bullies with names like Bloodbottler and Fleshlumpeater (played by versatile comedians Bill Hader and Jemaine Clement, respectively). When the other behemoths begin to take children from their beds for the purpose of eating them, Sophie gets the BFG to control the Queen of England's dreams (a special talent of his) in order to prompt her, and the military forces of the Crown, into action. For readers who don't find that plot description fanciful enough, Spielberg and his creative team have also brought to vivid life the city streets of England at dusk, a dreamscape full of orbs that represent our nighttime visions, and the secluded land of the giants. As for the human components of the story, the heavy lifting falls on the shoulders of Rylance and relative newcomer Barnhill (whose only previous acting credit was a recurring role on the British TV series 4 O'Clock Club). In a charming, wide-eyed performance reminiscent of Mara Wilson's turn in Matilda (another Dahl adaptation), Barnhill manages to imbue her character with a great deal of wit and wonder. Viewers are able to go on a hero's journey along with Sophie, watching as her independent streak crystallizes into a sense of leadership and she evolves from a victim of circumstance to the person driving the plot forward. Much less surprising is Rylance's terrific performance as the title character, which is equal parts heartwarming and devastating. The CGI necessary to animate the BFG can't mask the British theatre veteran's gift for conveying a tremendous amount of emotion in a single facial expression. The movie mostly succeeds in translating this highly imaginative yarn to the big screen, as it skillfully traces Sophie's journey from her orphanage to a behemoth's lair to the Queen's abode. However, the film becomes a little too breezy just as it should be ramping up for a thrilling climax. Spielberg weirdly packs most of the big emotional moments into the first half of the story, which means that there's little sense of catharsis at the end since the BFG has already confronted his demons. Essentially, the movie builds toward a treacly letdown rather than a genuine emotional release. While the narrative peters out at an inopportune moment, Rylance and Barnhill remain capable guides through a fantastic world that represents our everyday obstacles and fears. Aimed squarely at the heartstrings and imaginations of young viewers, The BFG mostly hits the mark as a touching and visually appealing experience.