Faeries Review

Faeries

Broadcast Date: 20th November 1999 - Australia

Production Companies

Cartwn Cymru 

HiT Entertainment PLC

United Productions

Genre: Animation/Family/

Fantasy

Rating: G

Runtime: 90 minutes

Plot Summary

While holidaying on a

farm, two children find

themselves transported to

Fairyland, but after one of

them eats an enchanted

fairy cake, they must

perform three tasks before

returning to their world.

Unbeknownst to the two

children and the faeries

of this realm, an evil

shapeshifter plots to take

over the fairy kingdom

and has heard of a

prophecy about what will

happen if he plans to

usurp the throne!

Voice Cast

Ciara Hanson - Nellie 

Freddie Ridge - George

Kate Winslet - Brigid

Jeremy Irons - The Shapeshifter

Dougray Scott - The Fairy Prince

Michael Burrell - Mr.

Coombs/Fume

Patrick Marlowe - Mone

Jane Horrocks - Huccaby
Charlotte Coleman - Merrivale

Tony Robinson - Broom
John Sessions - Chudley

Jessica Martin - Helen/Skrawk

Elizabeth Morton - Princess Brigid

Tracey-Ann Oberman - Tippycott

June Whitfield - Mrs. Coombs

Crew

Designer/Director - Gary Hurst

Writer - Jocelyn Stevenson

Executive Producer - Kate Fawkes

Co-Executive Producer: United Productions - Dan Maddicott
Producer - Naomi Jones
Folklore Consultant - Juliette Wood
Directors of Photography: 3D Sets -

Mark Chamberlain, Simon Jacobs and

Sam James

Motion Control Camera - Peter Tyler

Background Layouts - Christopher Evans,

Mark Morgan and Chris Glynn

2D Backgrounds - Graham Howells,

Mike Wall, Monica Herman and

Jocelyn Smith
Animo Supervisor - Martyn Yates
Animatic Editor - Keith Ware

Sound Designer & Re-Recording Mixer -

Peter Jeffreys

Sound Design & Editing - Ian "Spike" Banks
Music - Colin Towns

Review

I didn't imagine HiT Entertainment (the company renowned for its preschool shows) was responsible for this animated movie. Under the careful guidance of looking at the Internet Movie Database (IMDB), the film never existed in its home release in my country and was only shown on television. To my surprise, FAERIES is said to have featured a few talented actors known for their heritage in Britain. The film has good points, such as an advanced visual treat of 2D animation merged with live sets. However, it suffers from disappointing CGI. The movie's story feels underdeveloped and episodic if it could be an animated kids' program. Deeply undeveloped is the interracial love relationship, which failed to engage its audience if Disney or any hand-drawn studio would allow this poorly-developed story to be on their hands for any better development. This disaster could likely be redeemed, which is very optimistic.

My only reason for wanting to watch the movie is that, surprisingly, it contains the benefits of one actor, Jeremy Irons. It's not the first time he's played a power-hungry evil brother. In many similarities, the character is a somewhat less successful and deadly villain than our favourite evil cat, Scar. Still, he did a good performance with his recognisable deep voice. I could have the pleasure of saying he was perfect in this role because he is one of my favourite actors, but unfortunately, I cannot.

It makes FAERIES a dull and prosaic movie that, at the point, needed character building or a sense of adventure. I always believed it was half misconceived and thought it'd turn out worse as a non-Disney musical. I'm Film Guru Lad, and this is my critique of FAERIES.

Star rating: (4/10) Below Average

Back to Home