When Wilbur (Scott Kay) is born the runt of the litter, Fern (Fanning) decides to raise the piglet until he is strong enough to return to the barn. Once there, the little pig soon becomes a firm favourite in barn but when Templeton the Rat (Buscemi) points out that no spring pig survives past the Christmas dinner table, the animals don t know what to do. Then a voice comes from the door saying that she will make Wilbur a promise that he will see the winter snow, the little pig knows he has found a true friend in Charlotte (Roberts), the spider.
When it comes to picking out some of the most beloved children s novels of all time, there is one that will definitely make most people s lists, Charlotte s Web .
E.B.
White s novel about a spider that saves a pig from ending up on the dinner table is one that has enthralled children since its publication in 1952. Its endearing animal characters and its major accomplishment in making a spider a beloved icon for all that is good. This is a story of tolerance, acceptance and hope and one that still resonates today.
Now that computer technology has given filmmakers the ability to create anything on onscreen and this means that we can finally see Charlotte s Web as a life action movie. The beloved animated version of the novel has been a firm favourite since its release in 1973 but now filmmakers can create performances from animals by using the wonders of computer animation. Combining live action and computer generated animals, Wilbur, Templeton the Rat, Samuel the Sheep, Gussy and Golly the Geese, Bitsy and Betsy the cows and Ike the horse all talk and can anything that the story demands, with the technology been so good that you cannot see the difference between the real and artificial animals.
Dakota Fanning is the go-to girl when it comes to casting a female child part in a movie and her role as Fern proves again that she is an actress of great ability and currently the best in the business. The all-star vocal cast for the animal characters is the highlight of the movie however and most of them have real fun with their roles. None more so than the always-brilliant Steve Buscemi as Templeton the Rat, the rodent who needs to be bribed to help Charlotte save Wilbur.
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