70s Films Header Image

Watership Down

Watership Down – 1978
Director
Martin Rosen

Writers
Richard Adams – novel
Martin Rosen

Cast
John Hurt
Richard Briers
Ralph Richardson

Review by Wayne Malin

Excellent animated film–more for older children and adults,
British animated film about a bunch of rabbits leaving their old warren (which one psychic rabbit can tell is going to be destroyed) and searching for a new one. The movie recounts their adventures searching for one.

It may sound like a movie ideal for little kids–but it really isn’t. It’s an excellent adaptation of Richard Adams book which was written more for teenagers and adults. It’s an ecological tale of how men are destroying the earth and (inadvertently it seems) killing innocent wildlife. It’s also a very interesting story about how a group of rabbits survive on their own.

The animation is excellent–right up there with Walt Disney. The score is great, the script intelligent and the voices used perfectly match the characters. However, as I said, this isn’t really for little kids. The story is dead serious and the only humor is provided by the bird Kehaar (who I personally found very annoying although Zero Mostel DOES have fun with the voice). Also, at the end, it gets very violent and quite bloody.

When I saw it in a theatre in 1978 one small kid was in tears by the conclusion. So, use your own judgment but I would never let a small kid see this. This is perfect for teenagers and adults. A 10.

Review by Zetes

Watership Down – 1978

Would have been my favorite film if I had seen it when I was a kid,

If I had had this video when I was 8 or 9, I think I would have watched it as much as or more than I watched any other video that I had at the time. It’s quite an extraordinary film. I’m 21 now, and I found it very exciting and involving throughout. The only problem is that it always seems like the episodes in the film happen a bit too quick, making it pretty obvious that it was adapted from a much longer novel.
Episodes that seem very important only last for three minutes or so. And they never did free the rabbits in the pen at the farmhouse.

Still, it’s a great movie. While not for the very young children (there is a bit of violence and gore), I think any kid 8 or above would really love this film. Learn that you don’t have to just buy videos of recent films for children. Some of the older films are much better. 9/10.

Share it now

70s Films

A tour through the great and not so great films of the seventies The seventies saw a huge change in styles and genres from the advent of the slasher horror movies like Halloween and the blockbuster summers films started by Jaws. More...

Join the Discussion

Register now & join in the discussions, this will allow you to add your own comments, memories, photographs and stories to our ever growing website dedicated to the Seventies. Simply sign up using your Facebook, Twitter, Linked In or Google+ Account

Your API connection setting not working. try to change setting from module option or check your php.ini setting for (cURL support = enabled OR allow_url_fopen = On)

Like this Film ? Share it now