The BFG

Watched BFG yesterday at TGV Bukit Raja. Read the review of the movie before that. It was mixed. Some even say it is disappointing. But who cares? I love the movie! Have watched many of the other movies from Dahl's books such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, The Witches, Matilda and Fantastic Mr. Fox. Loved them all!

The Movie

The Book

The BFG is about friendship in the most unlikely places, doing something, taking the lead, fighting against abuses, believing in something or someone. Sophie is an orphan who lives in an orphanage in some English town. One night, at the witching's hour, she happens to catch sight of a giant wearing a cloak and carrying a suitcase and a trumpet. As it happens, the giant catches her looking at him. As BFG later explains, he has to snatch Sophie because if "human beans" see a giant they would catch him and put him in a zoo or bunkumhouse, locking him into a cage to be stared at.

Frankly, I feel that Roald Dahl is one of the best children author of all time, perhaps at par if not more than J.K.Rowlings herself. Dahl wrote from the perspective of a child, thereby familiarising the child with the story. More often than not his story is narrated by the child protagonist himself or herself. His books encourages children to lead, act on their own, establish their independence, use their imagination and make them want to explore. But most importantly, the books encourage children to read because they are full of things that children love such as magical places, witches, giants, unfortunate children, neglected children, strict adults, kind adults in the midst of it all and last but not least nonsense, made-up words.